Portable communication apparatus

• US 6,760,600 B2
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nickum, Larry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/238,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/556, 455/575, 455/550, 455/552, 455/558, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 340/825.44, 340/7.29, 340/7.54
• US Class Current: 455/557
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

A personal computer apparatus includes a portable computer, a cellular telephone which can be connected to the portable computer, and a pager which can be connected to the cellular telephone. The portable computer, the cellular telephone, and the pager each have an independent power supply and are each detachable from the apparatus for individual functionality. When connected, the cellular telephone and pager can be coupled to the power supply of the portable computer.

Claims

1. A personal computer apparatus, comprising:

a portable computer;

a cellular telephone adapted to be removable connectable to the portable computer,

wherein the cellular telephone comprises an antenna having a microphone built into the antenna; and

a pager adapted to be removable connectable to the cellular telephone, wherein the pager is further adapted to operatively connect to the portable computer to control a function of the portable computer;

wherein the portable computer, the cellular telephone, and the pager each have an independent power supply and are each detachable from the apparatus for independent, individual functionality.

2. A personal computer apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the cellular telephone is adapted to engage a PCMCIA slot in the portable computer.

3. A personal computer apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the PCMCIA slot is a type 3 slot.

4. A personal computer apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the cellular telephone is coupled to the portable computer power supply.

5. A personal computer apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the pager is coupled to the portable computer power supply.

6. A personal computer apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the cellular telephone is operatively connected to the portable computer to control remote computer apparatus access.

7. A personal computer apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the function is selected from a list consisting of alerts, power up, and power down.

8. A personal computer apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the cellular telephone further comprises:

a digital signal processor operatively connected to assist in control of the interfaces between the portable computer, the cellular telephone, and the pager.

9. A personal computer apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein the cellular telephone further comprises:

a second digital signal processor operatively connected to assist in management of the input and output functions of the portable computer, the cellular telephone, and the pager.

10. A personal computer apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the microphone is attached to the distal end of the antenna.

11. A modular communication system, comprising:

a portable computer having an independent power supply and a PCMCIA slot;

a cellular telephone having an independent power supply and a PCMCIA interface, the cellular telephone removably connectable by the PCMCIA interface to the portable computer via the PCMCIA slot, and the cellular telephone capable of being coupled to the portable computer power supply so as to operate either under the cellular telephone power supply or the portable computer power supply, wherein the cellular telephone comprises an antenna having a microphone built into the antenna; and

a pager having an independent power supply, the pager removably connectable to the cellular telephone so as to operate either under the pager power supply or the cellular telephone power supply, wherein the portable computer, the cellular telephone, and the pager are each detachable from the modular communication system for independent, individual functionality, wherein the pager is further adapted to operatively connect to the portable computer to control a function of the portable computer.

12. A modular communication system as described in claim 11, wherein the microphone is operatively connected at the distal end of the antenna.

13. A modular communication system as described in claim 11, and further comprising:

a first digital signal processor operatively connected to assist in control of the interfaces between the portable computer, the cellular telephone, and the pager; and

a second digital signal processor operatively connected to assist in management of the input and output functions of the portable computer, the cellular telephone, and the pager.

14. A modular communication system, comprising:

a portable computer having an independent power supply;

a wireless telephone comprising an antenna having a microphone built into the antenna;

a pager; and

means for removably, operatively interconnecting the portable computer, the wireless telephone, and the pager to couple the wireless telephone and the pager to the independent power supply, wherein the portable computer, the wireless telephone, and the pager are each detachable from the modular communication system for independent, individual functionality, and wherein the pager is to control a function of the portable computer.

15. A method of assembling a communication system having a portable computer with a power supply, a cellular telephone, and a pager, each having independent functionality, the method comprising:

providing communication and power connections on the portable computer for the coupled connection of the cellular telephone to the portable computer, wherein the cellular telephone comprises an antenna having a microphone built into the antenna;

connecting the portable computer and the cellular telephone via the communication and power connections to couple the cellular telephone to the power supply of the portable computer; and

connecting the pager to the cellular telephone, wherein the portable computer, the cellular telephone, and the pager are each detachable from the communication system for independent, individual functionality, wherein the pager is further adapted to operatively connect to the portable computer to control a function of the portable computer.