Dual FPD and thin client

• US 6,421,232 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: XYBERNAUT CORPORATION
• Inventors: Sallam, Hussein
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/825,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20020015283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-687, 361/724-727, 361/752, 361/755, 361/796, 361/826, 361/827, 364/709.11, 709/236, 345/326
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• 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 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor

Abstract

The invention is essentially a flat panel display, preferably for use with wearable computers, which utilizes a display which is separate from the CPU, which can perform as a static flat panel display when connected to or in communication with the computer, but can also function as a thin client PDA when independent from the computer to which it was originally connected. The device will look and function as a flat panel display and include integral activation means either through stylus, touch panel, integrated pointing device, voice, or other activation means. This activation means will be available whether the device is functioning as a display or as a thin client PDA. The device will be small enough to be worn, carried or otherwise supported by the user, but can be utilized independently as a PDA to perform data input, calendars and scheduling, memo inputting and other thin client functions, and will run a thin client operating system such as Windows® CE or Palm® OS. The enclosure itself will contain hardware sufficient to support display functions as well as a thin client motherboard. It will also contain either a wired or wireless communication bus for communicating data to the computer from which it was disconnected. Additionally, it will possess a standard or proprietary video input plug for displaying output from the underlying computer.

Claims

1. A portable display device comprising:

an enclosure;

a first hardware means for enabling said display device to display output signals from a computer, said first hardware means residing in said enclosure;

a second hardware means permitting said display device to function as a PDA, said second hardware means residing in said enclosure, said second hardware means further allowing said display device to function independently when not connected to or communicating with a computer;

means for transferring any information obtained during independent operation to a fat client computer;

activation means integral to said display device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for displaying output signals from a computer comprises an integral display screen and hardware for supplying video output generated by a computer to said display screen.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for transferring any information comprises a wireless communication protocol and transceiver.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for transferring any information comprises a physical connector which joins said display device to a computer.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said activation means is a touch screen display, said touch screen being responsive to tactile stimulation, stylus stimulation and combinations thereof.

6. An apparatus for displaying computer video signals and functioning as a personal digital assistant, the apparatus comprising;

means for displaying video signals output from a computer;

means for communicating with a computer

means for performing PDA-type functions, when not connected to or communicating with a computer, said functions including data entry and storage, scheduling, form entry, and data recovery,

means for activation and control.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said display device contains hardware to permit said device to function as an independent thin client computer with integral central processor.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said display device contains communication means for communicating with another computer.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for activation and control is a touch screen display, said touch screen being responsive to tactile stimulation, stylus stimulation and combinations thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for communicating includes wired or wireless communication means.

11. A method for displaying computer video output on a portable display device and for selectively operating as a PDA on same display device, the method comprising:

displaying computer video signals on a portable display device when said device is connected to or communicating with a computer, wherein said display device contains hardware to permit said display device to function as a computer display;

performing thin client functions with said display enclosure, said functions including scheduling, data entry and retrieval and form entry, when said display enclosure is not functioning as a display device for said computer.