Hand held internet browser with folding keyboard

• US 6,825,832 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seamless Global Limited
• Original Assignee: Vercel Development, Inc.
• Inventors: Chung, Caleb, Imai, Stuart K., Valenti, Victor J., Hubbell, Chris L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US09/727,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 345/901, 341/20, 341/21, 341/22, 235/380, 235/486, 455/343, 364/708
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/903 Modular display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A hand held computer is provided wherein data input is facilitated through a full function, folding keyboard, that is suitable for touch typing. In addition, the present invention utilizes an open architecture, embedded technology system design in conjunction with web based content to provide a full function affordable portal to the Internet. The hand held computer may be modified to play music files when in a closed position and may be modified to play game files when in a second position.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a display mounted in a first surface of said housing, said housing having a second surface opposite said first surface, said housing including operating controls;

a computer circuit within said housing including a processor and memory, said computer circuit being capable of operation in at least two different operating modes, at last one of said at least two operating modes being controlled by said operating controls on said housing; and

a folding keyboard hingedly connected to said housing and having an electrical connection to said computer circuit in said housing, said folding keyboard being positionable in a first position so as to adapt said computer apparatus for operation in a first of said at least two operating modes, said folding keyboard being positionable in a second position so as to adapt said computer apparatus for operation in a second of said at least two operating modes, ones of said operating controls being accessible for option when said folding keyboard is in said first position and when said folding keyboard is in said second position;

wherein said housing includes a recess on said first surface, and said folding keyboard fits into said recess when in said first position;

wherein said first operating mode is a music playing mode and said operating controls are music playing controls;

wherein said second operating mode is at least one of a game playing mode and a touch screen mode; and

wherein said game playing mode and said touch screen mode is characterized by said folding keyboard being against said second surface of said housing so as to expose said display and said operating controls for at least one of playing a computer game and use of said display as a touch screen.

2. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said music playing mode is characterized by said keyboard covering said display and leaving exposed said operating controls for playing music.

3. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ones of said operating controls operate to play music in said music playing mode and said same ones of said operating controls operate to play games in said game playing mode.

4. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said folding keyboard is folded into a position to cover alphanumeric keys on said folding keyboard while in said game playing mode.

12. A computer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said folding keyboard has an alphanumeric key arrangement and wherein said keyboard is positioned in a first position of said three different positions to block access to said second set of controls and to said alphanumeric key arrangement while leaving said first set of controls on said housing accessible for use in said first operating mode.

13. A computer device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first position of said folding keyboard covers said display.

5. A computer apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a display mounted in a first surface of said housing, said housing having a second surface opposite said first surface, said housing including operating controls;

a computer circuit within said housing including a processor and memory, said computer circuit being capable of operation in at least two different operating modes, at least one of said at least two operating modes being controlled by said operating controls on said housing; and

a folding keyboard hingedly connected to said housing and having an electrical connection to said computer circuit in said housing, said folding keyboard being positionable in a first position so as to adapt said computer apparatus for operation in a first of said at least two operating modes, said folding keyboard being positionable in a second position so as to adapt said computer apparatus for operation in a second of said at least two operating modes, ones of said operating controls being accessible for operation when said folding keyboard is in said first position and when said folding keyboard is in said second position;

wherein said first operating made is a music playing mode and said operating controls are music playing controls;

wherein said second operating mode is at least one of a game playing mode and a touch screen mode; and

wherein said at least two operating modes includes three operating modes and a third operating mode is a typing mode.

6. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said typing mode is characterized by said keyboard being fully open to expose a set of alphanumeric keys and function keys for typing use.

7. A computer apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a display mounted in a first surface of said housing, said housing having a second surface opposite said first surface, said housing including operating controls;

a computer circuit within said housing including a processor and memory, said computer circuit being capable of operation in at least two different operating modes, at least one of said at least two operating modes being controlled by said operating controls on said housing; and

a folding keyboard hingedly connected to said housing and having an electrical connection to said computer circuit in said housing, said folding keyboard being positionable in a first position so as to adapt said computer apparatus for operation in a first of said at least two operating modes, said folding keyboard being positionable in a second position so as to adapt said computer apparatus for operation in a second of said at least two operating modes, ones of said operating controls being accessible for operation when said folding keyboard is in said first position and when said folding keyboard is in said second position;

wherein said housing includes a recess on said first surface, and said folding keyboard fits into said recess when in said first position;

wherein said first operating mode is one of a game playing mode and a touch screen mode; and

wherein said game playing mode and said touch screen mode are characterized by said keyboard being folded against said second surface of said housing so as to expose said display and operating controls for at least one of playing a computer game and using said display as a touch screen while covering alphanumeric keys on said keyboard.

8. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second operating mode is a typing mode.

9. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said typing mode is characterized by said keyboard being fully open to expose a set of alphanumeric keys and function keys for typing use.

10. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second mode is a music playing mode.

11. A computer device, comprising:

a housing having a display mounted in a first surface of said housing, said housing having a second surface opposite said first surface;

a computer circuit within said housing including a processor and memory, said computer circuit being capable of operation in three different operating modes; and

a folding keyboard hingedly connected to said housing and having an electrical connection to said computer circuit in said housing, said folding keyboard being positionable in three different positions corresponding to said three operating modes;

wherein said housing includes first and second sets of controls corresponding to first and second operating modes of said three different operating modes.

14. A computer device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first set of controls operates to control said first mode of operation when said folding keyboard is in said first position and said first set of controls operates to control said second mode of operation when said folding keyboard is in said second position.

15. A computer device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said housing includes a recess on said first surface, and said folding keyboard fits into said recess when in said first position.

16. A computer device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said folding keyboard is positioned in a second position of said three different positions to block access to said alphanumeric key arrangement while leaving said second set of controls on said housing accessible for use in said second operating mode.

17. A computer device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said folding keyboard in said second position provides visual access to said display.

18. A computer device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said folding keyboard is positioned in a third position of said three different positions to enable access to said alphanumeric key arrangement.

19. A computer device as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

a stand on said housing disposed to support said housing on a surface with said display in a viewing position; and

wherein said folding keyboard in said third position is positioned substantially flat on said surface for typing on said alphanumeric key arrangement and said housing is supported on said stand in a position for viewing of said display.

20. A computer device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said stand is pivotably mounted on said housing, said housing including a recess on said second surface, and said stand being pivotable into said recess on said second surface.

21. A computer device, comprising:

a housing having a display mounted in a first surface of said housing, said housing having a second surface opposite said first surface;

a computer circuit within said housing including a processor memory, said computer circuit being capable of operation in three different operating modes, a first of said three different operating modes being a music playing mode and a second of said three different operating modes being a game playing mode and a third of said three different operating modes a typing mode;

a folding keyboard hingedly connected to said housing and having an electrical connection to said computer circuit in said housing, said folding keyboard being positionable in three different positions corresponding to said three different operating modes;

music playing controls on said housing at a position which is accessible for use while said folding keyboard is in a first of said three different positions to enable use of said device in said music playing mode;

game playing controls on said housing at a position which is accessible for use while said folding keyboard is in a second of said three different positions to enable use of said device in said game playing mode; and

alphanumeric keys on said keyboard at a position which is accessible for use while said folding keyboard is in a third of said three different positions to enable use of said device in said typing mode.

22. A computer device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said game playing controls are covered and inaccessible for use by a user while said folding keyboard is in said first position corresponding to said music playing mode.

23. A computer device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said display is covered while said folding keyboard is in said first position corresponding to said music playing mode.

24. A computer device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said alphanumeric keys are covered and inaccessible for use by a user while said folding keyboard is in said second position corresponding to said game playing mode, said display being uncovered and viewable while said folding keyboard is in said second position.

25. A computer device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said folding keyboard is folded against said second surface of said housing in said second position.

26. A computer device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said alphanumeric keys are covered and inaccessible for use by a user while said folding keyboard is in said first position corresponding to said music playing mode.

27. A computer device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a stand on said second surface of said housing, said stand being pivotable between a position in a recess in said second surface of said housing and a position extending from said housing to support said housing on a work surface with said display in a viewing position; and

wherein said folding keyboard in said third is positioned substantially flat on said work surface for typing on said alphanumeric key arrangement and said housing is supported on said stand in a position for viewing of said display.

28. A computer device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said housing includes a recess into which said folding keyboard fits in said first position.

29. A computer device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said music playing controls switch functions to become game playing controls when said computer device is changed from said music playing mode to said game playing mode.

30. A computer device, comprising:

a housing having a first surface of said housing, said housing having a second surface opposite said first surface;

a computer circuit within said housing including a processor and memory, said computer circuit being capable of operation in three different operating modes, a first of said three different operating modes being a music playing mode and a second of said three different operating modes being a touch screen mode and a third of said three different operating modes being a typing mode;

a folding keyboard hingedly connected to said housing and having in electrical connection to said computer circuit in said housing, said folding keyboard being positionable in three different positions corresponding to said three different operating modes;

music playing controls on said housing at a position which is accessible for use while said folding keyboard is in a first of said three different positions to enable use of said device in said music playing mode;

a touch screen display on said housing at a position which is accessible for use while said folding keyboard is in a second of said three different positions to enable use of said device in said touch screen mode; and

alphanumeric keys an said keyboard at a position which is accessible for use while said folding keyboard is in a third of said three different positions to enable use of said device in said typing mode.

31. A computer device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said alphanumeric keys are covered and inaccessible for use by a user while said folding keyboard is in said second position corresponding to said touch screen mode, said touch screen display being uncovered and accessible while said folding keyboard is in said second position.