Handheld computer with open accessory slot

• US 6,388,877 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: Hawkins, Jeffrey C., Twiss, Robert Gregory, Canova, Francis James Jr., Francavilla, Madeleine, Boyle, Dennis Joseph, Neist, Traci Angela, Tal, Elisha Avraham, Han, Amy Aimei
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/244,440
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/683, 361/686, 345/901, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, D14/341-343, D14/345, D14/347
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• 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 having a first and second elongate accessory slots associated with a left and right sides of the housing, respectively, the first and second accessory slots capable of receiving and accommodating at least one removable accessory device, each of the first and second accessory slots including a lateral opening extending along a majority of a length of that accessory slot so as to only partially enclose an elongated section of the accessory device within that accessory slot, and so as to enable a portion of the accessory device to extend out of or be exposed within that accessory slot.

2. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein a bottom of the housing is flared out and acts as a stop for accessory devices inserted into the accessory slots.

3. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory slots are substantially cylindrical.

4. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is a stylus device.

5. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is a cover device.

6. The handheld computer of claim 1, further comprising:

an external port in communication with the first accessory slot, the external port having at least one external port contact.

7. The handheld computer of claim 6, wherein the accessory device is an input/output stylus device having a plurality of contacts which connect to the external port contacts when the input/output stylus device is inserted into the first accessory slot.

8. A handheld computer, comprising:

a housing including a midframe and a front and back shells, the midframe being positioned between the front and back shells so as to separate the front shell from the back shell, the midframe being at least partially exposed to an exterior of the handheld computer, the midframe including a first and second elongate accessory slots associated with a left and right sides of the housing, respectively, each accessory slot capable of accommodating and at least partially enclosing an elongate accessory device along a substantial portion of the length of the accessory device.

9. The handheld computer of claim 8, wherein the first and second elongate accessory slots are integral with the midframe.

10. The handheld computer of claim 8, wherein a bottom of the housing is flared out and acts as a stop for accessory devices inserted into the accessory slots.

11. The handheld computer of claim 8, wherein the accessory slots are substantially cylindrical.

12. The handheld computer of claim 8, wherein the accessory device is a stylus device.

13. The handheld computer of claim 8, wherein the accessory device is a cover device.

14. The handheld computer of claim 8, further comprising:

an external port in communication with the first accessory slot, the external port having at least one external port contact.

15. The handheld computer of claim 14, wherein the accessory device is an input/output stylus device having a plurality of contacts which connect to the external port contacts when the input/output stylus device is inserted into the first accessory slot.

16. The handheld computer of claim 8, wherein the first and second accessory slots each include a retaining device for retaining accessory devices.

17. The handheld computer of claim 16, wherein the retaining device is a notch which mates with a detent on the accessory device.

18. A handheld computer, comprising:

a housing comprising;

a midframe, the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing, the midframe having a first and second accessory slots associated with a left and right sides of the midframe, respectively, the first and second accessory slots being elongate and capable of receiving and accommodating at least one removable accessory device, each of the first and second accessory slots including a lateral opening extending along a majority of a length of that accessory slot so as to only partially enclose an elongated section of the accessory device within that accessory slot, and so as to enable a portion of the accessory device to extend out of or be exposed within that accessory slot;

a front shell coupled to a front side of the midframe; and

a back shell coupled to a back side of the midframe.

19. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein a bottom of the housing is flared out and acts as a stop for accessory devices inserted into the accessory slots.

20. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the accessory slots are substantially cylindrical.

21. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the accessory device is a stylus device.

22. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the accessory device is a cover device.

23. The handheld computer of claim 18, further comprising:

an external port in communication with the first accessory slot, the external port having at least one external port contact.

24. The handheld computer of claim 23, wherein the accessory device is an input/output stylus device having a plurality of contacts which connect to the external port contacts when the input/output stylus device is inserted into the first accessory slot.

25. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the first and second accessory slots each include a retaining device for retaining accessory devices.

26. The handheld computer of claim 25, wherein the retaining device is a notch which mates with a detent on the accessory device.

27. A method of manufacturing a handheld computer, comprising:

providing a housing capable of substantially enclosing a plurality of components;

forming a first elongate accessory slot on a left side of a housing; and

forming a second elongate accessory slot on a right side of a housing, wherein the first and second accessory slots are capable of receiving and accommodating at least one removable accessory device; and

forming an external port in communication with the first accessory slot, the external port having at least one external port contact.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the accessory device is an input/output stylus device having a plurality of contacts which connect to the external port contacts when the input/output stylus device is inserted into the first accessory slot.

29. A handheld computer assembly comprising:

a cover device including an elongated member and a cover portion;

a handheld computer comprising;

a housing having a first elongate accessory slot associated with one of a left or right sides of the housing, the first slot capable of receiving and accommodating the elongate member of the cover device, the first accessory slot including a lateral opening extending along a majority of a length of the first accessory slot so as to only partially enclose the elongated member, and so as to enable the cover portion of the cover device to extend out of the first accessory slot.

30. The handheld computer assembly of claim 29, wherein the handheld computer further comprises a display, and wherein the cover device is extendable over the display when the first accessory slot receives the elongate member of the cover device.

31. The handheld computer assembly of claim 29, wherein the cover portion of the cover device extends over a majority of a first side of the housing when the first accessory slot receives the elongate member of the cover device.

32. The handheld computer assembly of claim 31, wherein the cover portion of the cover device extends over a majority of the first side and a second side of the housing when the first accessory slot receives the elongate member of the cover device.