Detachable coupling for handheld computer and peripheral attachment scheme

• US 6,490,155 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Patel, Sajid, Han, Amy, Sholl, Michael, Lam, Lawrence, McClendon, Philip S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/745,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/683, 361/687, 361/680, 361/681, 361/682, 312/223.1, 292/8, 292/30, 235/375, 235/462, 235/472.01, D14/100, D14/106, D14/107, D14/242, 713/321, 439/341
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• 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

Abstract

A peripheral device and attachment scheme is provided to enable peripheral devices to be detachably coupled to handheld computers. The attachment scheme enables a peripheral device to be piggy-backed with a handheld computer, with the two devices being connected so that the front face of the peripheral device is adjacent a back surface of the handheld computer. The peripheral attachment scheme includes a moveable latch element that is actuable through insertion of a laterally positioned mechanism. An operator may engage and disengage the latch element with the handheld computer with one hand.

Claims

1. A peripheral device coupleable to a handheld computer, the peripheral device comprising:

a housing including a front face and a back face, a pair of lateral sides of the housing defining a width of the peripheral device, and a top and bottom of the peripheral device defining a length of the peripheral device;

a printed circuit board contained within the housing;

a connector for extending communications to the handheld computer;

a latch element configured to couple the peripheral device to the handheld computer, the latch element being moveable to latch into an aperture of the handheld computer, wherein the latch element is moveable from an original position to an engaged position for inserting into an aperture of the handheld computer, and the latch element is movable from the engaged position back to the original position to latch into the aperture of the handheld computer; and

a push member moveable coupled to the housing on one of the lateral sides, the push member being configured to cause the latch element to move and latch into the aperture of the handheld computer when the push member is moved into the housing.

2. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the latch element is moveable in a vertical direction along the length of the peripheral device.

3. The peripheral device of claim 2, wherein the push member is positioned to move in a lateral direction along the width of the peripheral device.

4. A coupling mechanism for connecting a peripheral device to a handheld computer, the peripheral device including a housing having a top, a bottom, the coupling mechanism comprising:

a push member moveably coupled to the housing to move a distance into the housing from an original position;

a translation component coupled to the push member to move in a vertical direction towards the top or bottom of the housing when the push member is moved the distance into the housing; and

a first latch element coupled to the translational component and positioned within the housing to move into an engaged position for engaging a first aperture of the handheld computer when the push member is moved the distance, the first latch element being shaped relative to the first aperture to couple the peripheral device to the handheld computer when the first latch element is moved away from the engaged position by the push member being moved back towards the original position.

5. The coupling mechanism of claim 4, wherein the push member biases to move outward when moved into the housing.

6. The coupling mechanism of claim 4, wherein the translational component to move towards the top of the housing when the push member is moved into the housing.

7. The coupling mechanism of claim 4, further comprising an interior slope extending inward from the push member, the interior slope being moveable against the translational component to cause the translational component to move towards the top of the housing.

8. The coupling mechanism of claim 7, wherein the translational component is fixed to move only vertically with respect to the top and bottom of the housing.

9. The coupling mechanism of claim 8, wherein the translational component includes a contact surface that slides against the interior slope of the push member as the push member is moved inward the distance.

10. The coupling mechanism of claim 9, wherein the translational component moves vertically as the translational component slides against the interior slope of the push member.

11. The coupling mechanism of claim 6, wherein the latch element includes a hooked extension to extend into the first aperture of the handheld computer.

12. A coupling mechanism extending between a peripheral device and a handheld computer, the peripheral device including a top and a bottom, the coupling mechanism comprising:

a push member moveably coupled to the housing to move a lateral distance into the housing from an original position, the push member providing a sloped interior surface extending therefrom;

a wedge piece coupled to the push member to move along the sloped interior surface when the push member is pushed inward the lateral distance;

an latch element coupled to the wedge component to move vertically as the wedge piece moves along the sloped interior surface of the push member, the latch element being moveable into an engaged position for engaging an aperture of the handheld computer when the push member is moved the lateral distance, the latch element being shaped relative to the first aperture to couple the peripheral device to the handheld computer when the latch element is moved away from the engaged position by the push member being moved back towards the original position; and

a guide component that moves with the wedge piece to maintain a lateral motion for the wedge piece.

13. The coupling mechanism of claim 12, wherein the guide component reduces pivoting by the wedge piece as the push member is moved the lateral distance.

14. The coupling mechanism of claim 13, wherein the guide component includes a pair of flex members fixed to a common base.

15. The coupling mechanism of claim 14, wherein the flex members are positioned to be parallel, and wherein the flex members joined to the common base, but physically separated so as to move together when the push member is moved the lateral distance.

16. The coupling mechanism of claim 15, wherein the flex members are joined so as to move together and remain substantially parallel when the push member is moved the lateral distance.

17. The coupling mechanism of claim 12, wherein the push members are biased to move outward when the push members are moved inward.