Handheld computer apparatus

• US 6,911,969 B1
• Filed: 05/01/1998
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Scott A., Lee, James C., Helgeson, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jimmy H.
• Application Number:
  US09/071,488
• Time in Patent Office: 2,615 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 345/163, 345/169, 345156-158, 345/347, 345/352, 345/357
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A computer apparatus includes a computer processing unit including a processor device for operating upon data and providing data for display. The apparatus further includes a handheld input/output display unit. The display unit includes a housing sized to be grasped by a user'"'"'s hand. A computer display is located within the housing at a position to allow the user to view the computer display through an eyepiece. A display driver is used for presenting data from the processing unit on the computer display. Navigational input tools are integrated with the computer display in the housing and operatively connected to provide user input to the processing unit. The navigational input tools are positioned for operation by one or more fingers of the user'"'"'s grasping hand. The computer processing unit may be integrated within the housing of the handheld input/output display unit. The navigational input tools may include a mouse having a force actuated pointer and at least one button, e.g., a single button mouse or a two button mouse, or may include a three button interface.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus comprising:

a computer processing unit, the computer processing unit including a processor device for operating upon data and providing data for display, and

a handheld input/output display unit, the display unit comprising;

a housing sized to be grasped by a user'"'"'s single hand, wherein the housing includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and an eyepiece,

a computer display located within the housing at a position to allow the user to view the computer display through the eyepiece,

a display driver for presenting data from the processing unit on the computer display, and

navigational input tools for navigating in computer program applications integrated with the computer display in the housing and operatively connected to provide user input to the processing unit, wherein the navigational input tools comprise a mouse including a force actuated pointer integrated within the housing for operation at the upper surface thereof, and further wherein the navigational input tools including the mouse are positioned for operation by one or more fingers of the user'"'"'s single hand such that the user'"'"'s single hand can simultaneously grasp the housing and operate the navigational input tools.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer processing unit is positioned within the housing of the handheld input/output display unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer processing unit is a separate computer processing unit operatively connected to the handheld input/output display unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the separate computer processing unit is a user wearable computing unit operatively connected to the handheld input/output display unit by an electrical cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the navigational input tools further comprise at least one button.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the navigational input tools include a single button mouse.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower surface includes a recessed thumb indent, and further wherein the thumb indent includes a switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the switch controls power to the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the switch controls activation of the mouse.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handheld display unit further includes one or more microphones integrated within the housing.

11. A handheld apparatus for use with a computing unit, the hand-held apparatus comprising:

a housing sized to be grasped by a user'"'"'s single hand and having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough from a first end to a second end, wherein the housing includes an upper surface and a lower surface extending from the first end to the second end, and further wherein the housing includes an eyepiece at the first end of the housing;

a computer display located within the housing at a position to allow the user to view the computer display through the eyepiece; and

navigational input tools for navigating in computer program applications comprising a mouse including a force actuated pointer, wherein the navigational input tools including the mouse are integrated within the housing with the computer display such that the navigational input tools are operable at the upper surface of the housing by one or more fingers of the user'"'"'s single hand such that the user'"'"'s single hand can simultaneously grasp the housing and operate the navigational input tools.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the computing unit is integrated within the housing with the display and navigational input tools, the computing unit comprising:

a transceiver interface for transmitting and receiving data in the wireless environment;

a processor device for operating upon such data presenting data for display on the computer display.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the navigational input tools further comprise at least one button.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the navigational input tools are a single button mouse.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the navigational input tools are a two button mouse.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lower surface includes a recessed thumb indent, and further wherein the thumb indent includes a switch.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the switch controls power to the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the switch controls activation of the navigational input tools.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handheld apparatus further includes one or more microphones integrated within the housing.