Data processing apparatus

• US 6,593,859 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS JR, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US09/511,309
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683
• US Class Current: 341/20
• 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 1/1669 Detachable keyboards

Abstract

A data processing apparatus has a body portion incorporating a basic circuit and having a display panel provided on the front face thereof, a support portion rotatably linked to an end portion of the body portion, a key input portion detachably linked to an end portion of the support portion, and a communication portion for communicating data entered in the key input portion to the body portion on a cordless basis when the key input portion is detached from the support portion.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus comprising:

a body portion including circuit means for controlling the data processing apparatus and having a display panel provided on a front face thereof;

a support portion including a body member having a rear end portion rotatably linked to a lower end portion of the body portion so as to be integral therewith and inseparable therefrom and sized to support, by itself, the body portion in a generally upright position on a support surface apart from a key input portion;

a key input portion that has a top surface thereof formed within an identical plane with a top surface of the body member and that is detachably linked to a front end portion of the body member of the support portion; and

a communication portion for communicating data entered in the key input portion to the body portion on a cordless basis when the key input portion is detached from the support portion.

2. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the communication portion comprises:

a transmitter provided in the key input portion so as to transmit the data entered in the key input portion on a cordless basis; and

a receiver provided in the body portion so as to receive the data transmitted from the transmitter on a cordless basis.

3. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body member of the support portion has a size which is substantially equal to or less than one half the size of the body portion.

4. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a source of DC power for the body portion is located in the body member of the support portion.

5. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the source of DC power comprises a battery for supplying electric power to the body portion and for providing a weight for stabilizing the body portion.

6. A data processing apparatus comprising:

a body portion including a circuit for controlling the apparatus and having a display panel provided on a front face thereof;

a rotatable support portion linked to an end portion of the body portion so as to be integral therewith and inseparable therefrom and being sized to alone support the body portion in a stable generally upright position on a support surface; and

a key input portion detachably linked to an end portion of the support portion,

wherein the data processing apparatus can be brought into any one of the following three states;

a first state in which the support portion together with the key input portion linked thereto covers the face of the body portion on which the display panel is provided;

a second state in which the support portion together with the key input portion linked thereto is placed on a flat surface and the body portion is supported so as to be held in an inclined position away from the support portion and toward the rear of the display panel by the weight of the key input portion and the support portion; and

a third state in which the support portion, detached from the key input portion, is rotated behind the display panel and placed on a flat surface and the body portion is supported so as to be held in an inclined position toward the rear of the display panel by the support portion receiving the weight of the body portion.

7. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a transmitter provided in the key input portion so as to transmit the data entered in the key input portion on a cordless basis; and

a receiver provided in the body portion so as to receive the data transmitted from the transmitter on a cordless basis.

8. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6,

wherein the support portion and the key input portion are of a predetermined respective size and when linked together are approximately equal in size to the body portion.