Expandable mobile computer system

• US 6,442,637 B1
• Filed: 08/12/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Handspring Incorporated (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lewis, Charles R. Jr., Wise, Michael, Kim, Daniel Sung-Hwe, Skillman, Peter, Hawkins, Jeffrey C., Raff, John, Boyle, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ray, Gopal C.
• Application Number:
  US09/374,058
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/300, 710/62, 710/72, 361/686, 361/726, 361/740, 361/683, 439/372, 439/153, 403/327, 403/325, 307/66
• US Class Current: 710/300
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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

An expandable mobile computer system is described. The mobile computer system includes a peripheral expansion interface that allows a large number of different sized expansion peripherals to be created and used with the mobile computer system. A pair of rails forms a first opening of the peripheral expansion interface wherein an expansion peripheral device may be inserted. Large expansion peripherals may extend in a first dimension out of that first opening. The rails also form a second opening along a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension. Large expansion peripherals may also extend outward from the peripheral expansion interface in the second dimension.

Claims

1. A mobile computer system, said mobile computer system comprising:

a processor;

an expansion bus, said expansion bus coupled to said processor; and

an expansion interface, said expansion interface comprising,

an electrical interface to said expansion bus, and

a pair of substantially parallel retaining rails, said pair of retaining rails spaced far apart along a first dimension such that said retaining rails substantially occupying a width of said mobile computer system along said first dimension, said pair of parallel retaining rails forming a first opening for insertion of a peripheral device along a second dimension, and said pair of parallel retaining rails forming a second opening along a third dimension such that said peripheral device may extend in said third dimension.

2. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peripheral device may extend to any width along said first dimension after extending out from said expansion interface through said first opening in said second dimension or said second opening in said third dimension.

3. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second opening is open along a substantial majority of said peripheral device.

4. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peripheral device comprises a battery.

5. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said battery is replaceable while said peripheral device is in said expansion interface.

6. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical interface comprises a PC-Card physical connector pin interface.

7. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said expansion interface is keyed not to accept standard PC-Card devices.

8. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first opening is on a top of said mobile computer system.

9. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second opening is on a back of said mobile computer system.

10. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said expansion interface includes at least one recessed shelf, said recessed shelf allowing a head of a screw in said expansion interface to be flush with a back surface of said expansion interface.

11. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said recessed shelf is concealed by a tab on a peripheral device inserted into said expansion interface.

12. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said tab includes a curved detent to accommodate said head of said screw.

13. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said expansion interface includes at least one detent, said detent for allowing an expansion peripheral to securely hold itself in said expansion interface.

14. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said detent is formed along a side wall of said expansion interface.

15. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

an external interface port; and

a separate cradle, said cradle for holding said mobile computer system and interfacing with said external interface port.

16. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said cradle comprises a retention pin, said retention pin engaging a hole on a back of said mobile computer system when said mobile computer system is placed in said cradle.

17. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said cradle further comprises a flexible resistance mechanism.

18. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said flexible resistance mechanism comprises electrical contacts on said cradle.

19. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said cradle comprises at least one alignment pin, said alignment pin engaging a hole proximate to said external interface port on said computer system when said computer system is placed in said cradle.

20. A mobile computer system, said mobile computer system comprising:

a mobile computer, said mobile computer comprising an external interface port having an electrical connector, said mobile computer having a first hole on a back surface of said mobile computer system;

a cradle, said cradle for holding said mobile computer and interfacing with said external interface port, said cradle comprising

a flexible resistance mechanism, said flexible resistance mechanism for pushing said mobile computer system away from said cradle, and

a stationary retention pin, said stationary retention pin for engaging said first hole on said back surface of said mobile computer when said mobile computer is placed in said cradle and pushed down against said flexible resistance mechanism such that said mobile computer is firmly held within said cradle.

21. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said flexible resistance mechanism comprises electrical contacts on said cradle for interfacing with said external interface port on said computer system.

22. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said cradle comprises at least one alignment pin, said alignment pin engaging a second hole in said mobile computer proximate to said external interface port when said mobile computer is placed in said cradle.

23. A mobile computer system, said mobile computer system comprising:

a mobile computer, said mobile computer comprising

an expansion interface, said expansion interface for accepting an expansion peripheral device, said expansion interface comprising a first electrical connector;

an external interface port, said external interface port comprising a second electrical connector;

a peripheral charge connector line that couples said first electrical connector on said expansion interface to said second electrical connector on said external interface port; and

a cradle, said cradle for holding said mobile computer and interfacing with said external interface port with a cradle interface, said cradle interface supplying power to said peripheral charge connector line.

24. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said cradle further comprises a retention pin and said mobile computer further comprises a detent that engages said retention pin.

25. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said cradle further comprises a flexible resistance mechanism.

26. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said flexible resistance mechanism comprises electrical contacts on said cradle interface.

27. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said expansion peripheral device comprises a battery.

28. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said battery is charged by said peripheral charge connector line.

29. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said cradle comprises at least one alignment pin, said alignment pin engaging a hole in said mobile computer proximate to said external interface port when said mobile computer is placed in said cradle.

30. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 29 further comprising:

a protective cover, said protective cover engaging said alignment pin.

31. The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 30 wherein said protective cover may be placed on a back of said mobile computer system or on a front of said mobile computer system.