Multifunctional foldable computer

• US 6,480,373 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Information Technologies Group LP (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Youens, John E., Landry, Christian C., Scully, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/912,759
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/685, 361/724-725, 361/686, 361/677-679, 361/681-683, 361/687, 163/68, 163/08, 163/41, 163/42, 708/139-142
• US Class Current: 361/679.06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A multi-functional computing device that is configurable for a plurality of applications. The technique includes a space saving and configuration technique utilizing multiple joints disposed between multiple sections to facilitate rotational orientation of the sections to adapt to space limitations and other characteristics of a desired environment or application. The multiple sections include a display assembly and a housing assembly for computing components.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a multi-configurable computer structure, comprising;

a first section having computing circuitry;

a second section rotatably coupled to the first section; and

a display rotatably coupled to the second section, wherein the display is removably coupled to the second section via a display mount assembly.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the first section comprises a flat panel component housing.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computing circuitry comprises a processor.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the multi-configurable computer structure comprises a user interaction device operably coupled to the computing circuitry.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the second section and the display are foldable with the first section to form a generally flat geometrical configuration.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the multi-configurable computer structure comprises a support assembly configured to support desired angular orientations between the first and second sections and between the second section and the display.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a flat panel display.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display mount assembly comprises an electrical coupling assembly configured to facilitate separation of the display from the computing circuitry during operation of the computer.

9. The computer of claim 1, comprising a mount assembly coupled to the multi-configurable computer structure, wherein the mount assembly facilitates an upright orientation of the first section.

10. The computer of claim 1, wherein the second section is slidably coupled to the first section via a linear positioning assembly.

11. The computer of claim 3, wherein the computing circuitry comprises a mobile power assembly.

12. The computer of claim 4, wherein the user interaction device comprises a wireless communication assembly.

13. The computer of claim 4, wherein the user interaction device comprises a graphical coordination device that is separable from the multi-configurable computer structure.

14. The computer of claim 4, wherein the user interaction device comprises a keyboard that is separable from the multi-configurable computer structure.

15. The computer of claim 5, wherein the display is foldable to a closed position having a display screen of the display facing the first section.

16. The computer of claim 5, wherein the display is foldable to an open position having a display screen of the display facing outwardly from the first section.

17. The computer of claim 6, wherein the desired angular orientations comprise an upright orientation configured to facilitate positioning of the display in a desired viewing orientation.

18. A space saving system for a computing device, comprising:

a display; and

a multi-sectional body rotatably coupled together and rotatably coupled to the display to facilitate multiple geometrical configurations, wherein the multi-sectional body is configured to house computing circuitry, the multi-sectional body comprising;

a panel-shaped component housing comprising computing circuitry; and

a connector member having a first end rotatably coupled to the panel-shaped component housing and having a second end rotatably coupled to the display.

19. The space saving system of claim 18, wherein the display comprises a panel display assembly.

20. The space saving system of claim 18, wherein the first end is rotatably coupled to a central portion of the panel-shaped component housing.

21. The space saving system of claim 18, comprising a processor disposed in the multi-sectional body.

22. The space saving system of claim 18, comprising an input device removably coupled to the multi-sectional body.

23. The space saving system of claim 18, comprising a support structure for supporting at least a portion of the multi-sectional body in an upright orientation.

24. The computer structure of claim 18, wherein the multiple of geometrical configurations comprises a folded configuration having a substantially flat arrangement of the multi-sectional body and the display.

25. The computer structure of claim 18, wherein the multiple of geometrical configurations comprise an operational configuration having the display positioned at a desired viewing orientation and having at least a portion of the multi-sectional body positioned at a desired orientation for mounting on a surface.

26. A space saving system for a computing device, comprising:

a display; and

a multi-sectional body rotatably coupled together and rotatably coupled to the display to facilitate multiple geometrical configurations, wherein the multi-sectional body is configured to house computing circuitry

a display coupling assembly disposed between the display and the multi-sectional body, wherein the display coupling assembly is configured for removably coupling the display to the multi-sectional body.

27. A method of forming a versatile computing device, comprising:

rotatably coupling a plurality of body sections, at least one of which is configured to house computing circuitry, wherein rotatably coupling the plurality of body sections comprises rotatably coupling an arm section to a housing section;

rotatably coupling a display to the arm section of the plurality of body sections; and

facilitating geometrical adaptation of the plurality of body sections and the display to a desired application.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein rotatably coupling the arm section to the housing section comprises rotatably coupling the arm section to a central portion of the housing section.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein facilitating geometrical adaptation comprises supporting a folded configuration having a substantially flat orientation of the plurality of body sections and the display.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein facilitating geometrical adaptation comprises supporting an operational configuration having at least one of the plurality of body sections and the display in a substantially upright orientation.

31. The method of claim 27, comprising integrating the computing circuitry into at least one of the plurality of body sections, wherein the computing circuitry comprises a processor.

32. The method of claim 27, comprising removably coupling an input device to at least one of the plurality of body sections.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein integrating the computing circuitry comprises providing a wireless communication assembly.

34. A method for versatile computing, comprising:

geometrically adapting a computing device to a desired environment of a plurality of environments by manipulating a plurality of device sections about a plurality of rotational axes disposed between the device sections, comprising;

facilitating rotation of a component housing section about a first axis of the plurality of rotational axes;

facilitating rotation of a display section about a second axis of the plurality of rotational axes, wherein facilitating rotation of the display section comprises facilitating rotation of a connector arm that is rotatably coupled to the display section at a first end and that is rotatably coupled to the component housing section at a second end.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein geometrically adapting comprises configuring at least one of the device sections to adapt to an available space in the desired environment.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein facilitating rotation of the connector arm comprises facilitating rotation of the connector arm about a central portion of the component housing section.

37. The method of claim 34, comprising facilitating wireless communication between the computing device and at least one separable input device.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein geometrically adapting comprises manipulating the device sections to a substantially flat orientation.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein geometrically adapting comprises facilitating an operational configuration having at least one of the device sections positioned at a desired angle relative to the other device sections.