Wall mount cradle for personal digital assistants

• US 6,519,144 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Henrie, R. Brigitte, Henrie, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US09/676,151
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, 710/303, 710/73
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

An apparatus for enhancing the placement and communication functionality of a palmtop computer. In one embodiment, the present invention has a mountable palmtop computer cradling unit. The palmtop computer cradling unit is adapted to facilitate the electrical and mechanical coupling of a palmtop computer to the palmtop computer cradling unit. In the present embodiment, the mountable apparatus has a surface mounting portion integral of the palmtop computer cradling unit. The surface mounting portion is adapted to provide mounting capabilities of the palmtop computer cradling unit. Furthermore, the mountable apparatus additionally has a communication connector interface portion coupled to the palmtop computer cradling unit. The communication connector interface portion is adapted to provide enhanced communication functionality to a palmtop computer, once the palmtop computer is coupled to the palmtop computer cradling unit.

Claims

1. A mountable apparatus adapted to enhance the communication functionalities of a palmtop computer, said mountable apparatus comprising:

a) a palmtop computer cradling unit, said palmtop computer cradling unit adapted to provide electrical and mechanical coupling to a palmtop computer;

b) wherein said palmtop computer cradling unit comprises a surface mounting portion adapted to provide mounting functionality to said palmtop computer cradling unit, said surface mounting portion configured to be mounted upon a substantially vertical surface; and

c) a communication interface connector coupled to said palmtop computer cradling unit, said communication interface connector adapted to provide communication functionalities for a palmtop computer, coupled to said palmtop computer cradling unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said palmtop computer cradling unit further comprises a mechanical slot adapted to receive said palmtop computer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said slot of said palmtop computer cradling unit is further adapted to provide passive retention of said palmtop computer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said palmtop computer cradling unit further comprises a latching mechanism adapted to retain said palmtop computer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said palmtop computer cradling unit further comprises a latching mechanism releasing button adapted to release said latch enabling the removing of said palmtop computer from said palmtop computer cradling unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface mounting portion of said palmtop computer cradling unit is adapted to enable mounting of said palmtop computer cradling unit to said substantially vertical surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface mounting portion comprises an opening adapted to receive a mechanical retentive device, said opening, through which said mechanical retentive device is inserted, enabling said palmtop computer cradling unit to be mounted on said substantially vertical surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface mounting portion comprises a magnetic coupling agent adapted to enable said palmtop computer cradling unit to be magnetically attached to said substantially vertical surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said substantially vertical surface, onto which said palmtop computer cradling unit is to be mounted comprises a magnetically compatible composition adapted to enable said magnetic coupling agent of said palmtop computer cradling unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communication interface connector of said palmtop computer cradling unit comprises a modem adapted to transmit and receive information.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said modem of said palmtop computer cradling unit is externally coupled to said palmtop computer cradling unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said modem of said palmtop computer cradling unit is internally coupled to said palmtop computer cradling unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said modem is further adapted to be removably coupled to said palmtop computer cradling unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said palmtop computer cradling unit is further adapted to receive said removably coupled modem.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said removably coupled modem of said palmtop computer cradling unit is adapted to receive said palmtop computer.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said removably coupled modem is adapted to be mechanically and electrically coupled to said palmtop computer cradling unit.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said removably coupled modem is adapted to be mechanically and electrically coupled to said palmtop computer.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said palmtop computer cradling unit further comprises a latching mechanism adapted to retain said removably coupled modem, provided said removably coupled modem has been received by said palmtop computer cradling unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said removably coupled modem further comprises a latching mechanism adapted to retain said palmtop computer, provided said palmtop computer has been received by said palmtop computer cradling unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said palmtop computer cradling unit further comprises a latching mechanism adapted to retain said palmtop computer, provided said palmtop computer has been received by said palmtop computer cradling unit.

21. A mountable apparatus adapted to enhance the mounting and communicating functionalities of a palmtop computer, said apparatus comprising:

a) a palmtop computer cradling portion adapted to provide electrical and mechanical coupling to a palmtop computer;

b) a telephone system coupled to said palmtop computer cradling portion, said telephone system adapted to provide telephone functionality to a user, said telephone system adapted to be mounted to a substantially vertical surface; and

c) a computer interface coupled to said telephone system, said computer interface adapted to provide enhanced communication functionalities for a palmtop computer.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said palmtop computer cradling portion is further adapted to receive said palmtop computer.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said palmtop computer cradling portion is further adapted to provide passive retention of said palmtop computer.

24. A cradle system comprising:

a mounting for receiving and retaining a palmtop computer system, said mounting adapted for surface mounting and comprising a connector for making electrical contact with said palmtop computer system, wherein the surface upon which said mounting is mounted is a substantially vertical surface; and

a communication interface coupled to said connector for providing a communication mechanism for said palmtop computer system.

25. A cradle system as described in claim 24 wherein said communication interface is compatible with a telephone jack.

26. A cradle system as described in claim 24 wherein said communication interface is compatible with a serial communication interface for a desktop computer system.

27. A cradle system as described in claim 24 wherein said communication interface is compatible with a serial communication interface for a modem.

28. A cradle system as described in claim 24 and further comprising a modem coupled to said communication interface.

29. A cradle system as described in claim 24 wherein said mounting comprises a mechanical slot for receiving said palmtop computer system.

30. A cradle system as described in claim 24 wherein said connector is disposed within said mechanical slot.

31. A cradle system as described in claim 24 wherein said mounting comprises a mechanical rail for receiving said palmtop computer system.