Housing for a handheld computer

• US 6,388,870 B1
• Filed: 02/04/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Francavilla, Madeleine, Neist, Traci Angela, Han, Amy Aimei, Hawkins, Jeffrey C., Twiss, Robert Gregory, Canova, Francis James Jr., Boyle, Dennis Joseph, Tal, Elisha Avraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/244,613
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/683, 361/686, 345/901, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, D18/11, D14/341-347
• US Class Current: 361/679.44
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

A handheld computer having a housing with a midframe construction is described. The housing includes a front shell and a back shell coupled to a midframe. The handheld computer also includes two accessory slots for a stylus or other devices on the left and right sides of the housing. The handheld computer also includes an infrared port which is an integral portion of the housing.

Claims

1. A handheld computer, comprising:

a housing including a midframe coupled to a front shell and a back shell, a substantial portion of at least one side of the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing, the housing capable of at least partially enclosing a plurality of components;

wherein a section of the midframe extends partially inwards towards an interior of the housing so as to be enclosed by the front shell and the back shell.

2. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the midframe is at least as wide as the front shell.

3. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the front shell and the back shell are coupled to the midframe with an adhesive.

4. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the front shell and the back shell are coupled to the midframe with at least one fastener.

5. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the midframe includes a plurality of engaging structures capable of engaging the plurality of components.

6. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the midframe, the front shell, and the back shell include a plurality of openings for a display, a user interface device, and an input/output port.

8. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the front shell and the back shell are made of a metal.

9. The handheld computer of claim 8, wherein the front shell and the back shell are grounded with an electrostatic discharge device.

7. A handheld computer, comprising:

a housing including a midframe coupled to a front shell and a back shell, a substantial portion of at least one side of the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing, the housing at least partially enclosing a plurality of components;

wherein the midframe is at least partially transmissive to infrared light.

10. A housing for a handheld computer, the housing comprising:

a midframe having a front side and a back side, the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing;

a front shell coupled to be adjacent the front side of the midframe;

a back shell coupled to be adjacent the back side of the midframe; and

wherein a section of the midframe extends partially inwards towards an interior of the housing so as to be enclosed by the front shell and the back shell.

11. The handheld computer of claim 10, wherein the midframe is at least as wide as the front shell.

12. The handheld computer of claim 10, wherein the front shell and the back shell are coupled to the midframe with an adhesive.

13. The handheld computer of claim 10, wherein the wherein the front shell and the back shell are coupled to the midframe with at least one fastener.

14. The handheld computer of claim 10, wherein the midframe includes a plurality of engaging structures capable of engaging the plurality of components.

15. The handheld computer of claim 10, wherein the midframe, the front shell, and the back shell include a plurality of openings for a display, a user interface device, and an input/output port.

17. The handheld computer of claim 10, wherein the front shell and the back shell are made of a metal.

18. The handheld computer of claim 17, wherein the front shell and the back shell are grounded with an electrostatic discharge device.

16. A housing for a handheld computer, the housing comprising:

a midframe having a front side and a back side, the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing;

a front shell coupled to be adjacent the front side of the midframe;

a back shell coupled to be adjacent the back side of the midframe;

wherein the midframe is at least partially transmissive to infrared light; and

wherein a section of the midframe extends partially inwards towards an interior of the housing so as to be enclosed by the front shell and the back shell.

19. A method of assembling a handheld computer, comprising:

providing a housing having a midframe, a front shell, and a back shell, the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing, the housing at least partially enclosing a plurality of components;

coupling at least one of the components to the midframe; and

coupling the front shell and the back shell to the midframe so that the midframe separates the front shell and the back shell.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the midframe is at least as wide as the front shell.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein coupling the front shell and the back shell to the midframe at least partially encloses the midframe.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein coupling the front shell and the back shell to the midframe includes using an adhesive.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein coupling the front shell and the back shell to the midframe includes using at least one fastener.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the midframe includes a plurality of engaging structures capable of engaging the plurality of components.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein coupling at least one of the components to the midframe includes using at least one of the engaging structures to engage at least one component.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the front shell and the back shell are made of a metal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein coupling the front shell and the back shell to the midframe includes grounding the front shell and the back shell using an electrostatic discharge device.

26. A method of assembling a handheld computer, the method comprising:

providing a housing having a midframe, a front shell, and a back shell, the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing, the housing at least partially enclosing a plurality of components;

coupling at least one of the components to the midframe; and

coupling the front shell and the back shell to the midframe, so that the midframe separates the front shell and the back shell.

29. A method for assembling a handheld computer, the method comprising:

securing a plurality of user interface features to a midframe for a housing of the handheld computer;

coupling a front shell for the housing to the midframe so that an interior surface of the front shell is adjacent to the midframe, the front shell being positioned on the midframe so that a plurality of openings on the front shell provide access to the plurality of user interface features secured on the midframe; and

coupling a back shell for the housing to the midframe so that an interior surface of the back shell is adjacent to the midframe.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the midframe is at least partially transmissive to infrared light.