Multifunctional cover integrated into sub-panel of portable electronic device

• US 6,842,335 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wong, Yoon Kean, Hanson, William Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/993,732
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-686
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• 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 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 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

A cover for an opening in the housing of a portable electronic device that provides a function in addition to that of protecting the opening from dirt. The cover can be coupled to the housing so that it can move between a closed position within the housing'"'"'s surface recess and an open position that allows access to the opening in the housing. In the closed position, the cover becomes part of the housing and the form factor of the device is generally unchanged. The cover can function as an antenna for wireless communication between the device and a network or access point, and it can contain circuitry for devices such as transmitter/receivers. The cover can also function as a display device, a speaker, or an alarm. Thus an existing cover that occupies space within the volume of a handheld device can be utilized for expanding the functionality of the device while generally retaining the current form factor of the device.

Claims

1. A personal digital assistant comprising:

a housing having an opening for inserting an expansion card within the volume of said housing;

a bus disposed within said housing;

a processor disposed within said housing and coupled to said bus;

a connector disposed within said opening, said connector coupled to said bus and for connecting with said expansion card;

a cover for said opening, said cover coupleable to said housing, wherein said cover performs a first function of enclosing said opening, said expansion card and said connector, and wherein said cover further performs a second function in addition to said first function.

2. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover is removeably coupled to said housing.

3. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover is pivotably coupled to said housing.

4. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover is slideably coupled to said housing.

5. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover is hingeably coupled to said housing.

6. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises an antenna.

7. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a speaker.

8. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover illuminates for alerting a user.

9. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover vibrates for alerting a user.

10. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises external connectors for coupling to an external device.

11. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a display.

12. A device comprising:

circuitry for coupling said device to personal digital assistant; and

circuitry for performing a function synergistically with a function performed by said personal digital assistant;

wherein said device is sized and shaped to serve as a cover for an expansion card port, wherein said device fits into an opening in a housing of said personal digital assistant, wherein said device resides within the volume of said housing and performs a first function of enclosing said opening and performs a second function synergistically with said function performed by said personal digital assistant.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said device is removeably coupled to said housing.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein said device is pivotably coupled to said housing.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein said device is slideably coupled to said housing.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein said device is hingeably coupled to said housing.

17. The device of claim 12 wherein said device comprises an antenna.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein said device comprises a speaker.

19. The device of claim 12 wherein said device illuminates for alerting a user.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein said device vibrates for alerting a user.

21. The device of claim 12 wherein said device comprises external connectors for receiving expanded functionality.

22. The device of claim 12 wherein said device comprises a display.