Flexibly interfaceable portable computing device

• US 6,727,894 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Karidis, John Peter, Smith, Ronald Alan, Steinbugler, Robert Edward, Nathan, Krishna Sundaram
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US09/591,462
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/179, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 178/18.07, 178/18.09, 178/19.01, 178/19.03
• US Class Current: 345/174
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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

Abstract

A flexibly interfaceable portable computing device includes a display coupled to a processor, which is coupled or selectively coupled to either or both of a keyboard and a recording unit. The display and the keyboard provide a first user interface to the processor. The recording unit is superimposable with a removable markable surface. A stylus allows user marking on the markable surface. The stylus provides a stroke signal and a stroke mark. The recording unit, the markable surface, and the stylus provide a second user interface to the processor. Optionally, the display also contributes to providing the second user interface to the processor. Switching among viewing modes for the display, and synchronization of information between the processor and a processor of the recording unit are also provided. A casing can enfold the display, the keyboard, and the recording unit to form a relatively slim profile. A portable computer system can have a display, a keyboard, and thick components enfolded and/or located within an overall thickness substantially equal to a sum of a first thickness for the display plus a second thickness for the keyboard, to present a slim profile.

Claims

1. A portable computer system, comprising:

a display having a first thickness, said display consisting of a display element and associated display casing, said first thickness being a minimum total thickness necessary to contain only said display element in said display casing;

a keyboard having a second thickness, said keyboard consisting of a keyboard element and associated keyboard casing, said second thickness being a minimum total thickness necessary to contain only said keyboard element in said keyboard casing;

a plurality of other components including at least one component selected from the following group;

a battery, a hard file, a PCMCIA slot, a connector, a heat sink, a processor, and a cooling fan; and

wherein said display when stacked upon said keyboard, and said plurality of other components are at least one of enfoldable and locatable within a total thickness substantially equal to a sum of said first thickness and said second thickness, to present a slim profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system comprises first and second coplanar transverse sections, wherein said stacked display and keyboard are at least one of enfoldable and locatable within said first transverse section, wherein said plurality of other components are located within said second transverse section, and wherein said second transverse section has a total thickness not greater than a total thickness of said first transverse section.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a support arm including first and second parts, wherein said first part is pivotally connected with a position of said system, and wherein said second part is pivotally connected with said display.

4. The portable computer system of claim 1, wherein said display element has a thickness of 5-10 mm, said keyboard element has a thickness of 5-10 mm, said display casing has a thickness of 1-3 mm, and said keyboard casing has a thickness of 1-3 mm.

5. A method of presenting a slim profile for a portable computer system, said portable computer system including a display having a first thickness, said display consisting of a display element and associated display casing, said first thickness being a minimum total thickness necessary to contain only said display element in said display casing, a keyboard having a second thickness, said keyboard consisting of a keyboard element and associated keyboard casing, said second thickness being a minimum total thickness necessary to contain only said keyboard element in said keyboard casing, and a plurality of other components including at least one component selected from the following group:

a battery, a hard file, a PCMCIA slot, a connector, a heat sink, a processor, and a cooling fan, said method comprising;

selecting a total thickness for said portable computer system substantially equal to a sum of said first thickness and said second thickness;

stacking said display on said keyboard; and

locating said stacked display and keyboard, and said plurality of other components, within said total thickness, whereby a slim profile is presented.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said locating includes at least one of enfolding and locating said display stacked upon said keyboard within a first section of said portable computer system, and locating said plurality of other components within a second section of said portable computer system, wherein said first section and said second section are coplanar.

7. A portable computer system, consisting of:

a display having a first thickness equal to a minimum thickness necessary to contain only a display element in an associated display casing;

a keyboard having a second thickness equal to a minimum thickness necessary to contain only a keyboard element in an associated keyboard casing; and

a plurality of other components;

wherein said display when stacked upon said keyboard, and said plurality of other components are at least one of enfoldable and locatable within a total thickness substantially equal to a sum of said first thickness and said second thickness, to present a slim profile.

8. A method of presenting a slim profile for a portable computer system, said portable computer system consisting of a display having a first thickness equal to a minimum thickness necessary to contain only a display element in an associated display casing, a keyboard having a second thickness equal to a minimum thickness necessary to contain only a keyboard element in an associate keyboard casing, and a plurality of other components, said method comprising:

selecting a total thickness for said portable computer system substantially equal to a sum of said first thickness and said second thickness; and

locating said display stacked upon said keyboard, and said plurality of other components within said total thickness, whereby a slim profile is presented.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said locating includes at least one of enfolding and locating said display stacked upon said keyboard within a first transverse section of said portable computer system, and locating said plurality of other components within a second transverse section of said portable computer system, wherein said second transverse section has a total thickness no greater than a total thickness of said first transverse section, and said first transverse section and said second transverse section are coplanar.