Modular computer device and computer keyboard for modular device

• US 6,972,945 B1
• Filed: 10/17/1997
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kozak, Keith A., Poole, Anton R., Dammon, Charles T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US08/953,154
• Time in Patent Office: 2,972 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/686, 400/472, 400/479, 400/477, 400/486, 400/489, 364/708.1, 708/142, 341/22, 345168-172, 235/145.R, 235/146, 235/145.A, 705/25, 380/52
• US Class Current: 361/679.08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner

Abstract

A keyboard for a computer receptive to a modular or other device, and a modular touch screen device having at least one changeable virtual key, are described. The keyboard includes a connector receptive to a corresponding connector of a device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) device. The device communicates with a computer through the keyboard in a docking mode. The modular touch screen device extends the capability of a keyboard to which it is connected in a docking mode by providing changeable virtual keys. In a stand-alone mode, the modular touch screen device acts as a truncated wireless keyboard, or a dynamic remote control, for a computer.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising:

a housing defining a non-integral personal computer keyboard;

a plurality of keys disposed within the housing;

a communications link disposed within the housing, wherein the communications link is capable of communicating with a remote computer; and

,

a connector operatively coupled to the communications link, said connector being disposed within the housing and being receptive to a corresponding connector of a device such that the device communicates with the computer over the communications link when the connectors are coupled,

the housing having a cavity in an upper surface thereof and said connector being disposed proximate to said cavity so that the device is positioned in the cavity wherein the connectors are coupled.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the housing has a plurality of surfaces defining cavity proximate to which the connector is disposed, the cradle cavity being shaped so that the device fits into the cavity such that at least one surface of the device is exposed.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the cavity is shaped so that the device fits into the cavity such that at least a front surface of the device is exposed.

4. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the cavity is shaped so that the device fits into the cavity such that at least a top surface of the device is exposed.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the communications link comprises at least a cable for connecting the keyboard to the remote computer.

6. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein the cable is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) compatible cable.

7. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein the communications link also comprises at least a radio frequency (RF) transceiver.

8. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a recharger operatively coupled to the connector of the keyboard to recharge a battery of the device when the connectors are coupled.

9. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a power source disposed within the housing.

10. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the device is a personal digital assistant (PDA) device operable in a docking mode when the connectors are coupled and operable in a standalone mode when the connectors are uncoupled.

11. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the device communicates with the computer in a docking mode when the connectors are coupled and in a stand-alone mode via a wireless transceiver of the device communicating with a corresponding wireless transceiver of the computer.

12. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the device is a touch screen device having at least one changeable virtual key that interacts with the computer.

13. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the device includes a power source.

14. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the device is selected from the group of devices comprising a remote control for a television, a digital video disc (DVD) player, a compact disc (CD) player, and a telephone handset.

15. A keyboard comprising:

a housing defining a non-integral personal computer keyboard;

a plurality of keys disposed within the housing;

a communications link disposed within the housing, wherein the communications link is capable of communicating with a computer; and

,

a connector disposed within the housing and receptive to a corresponding connector of a personal digital assistant (PDA) device such that the PDA device communicates with the computer over the communications link when the connectors are coupled, said connector disposed within the housing being positioned on the housing such that a PDA that communicates with the computer when the connectors are coupled rests on an upper surface of the housing.

16. A keyboard comprising:

a housing defining a non-integral personal computer keyboard;

a plurality of keys disposed within the housing;

a communications link disposed within the housing, wherein the communications link is capable of communicating with a computer; and

,

a connector disposed within the housing and receptive to a corresponding connector of a personal digital assistant (PDA) device such that the PDA device communicates with the computer over the communications link when the connectors are coupled,

said housing having a plurality of surfaces defining a cradle cavity into which the connector is disposed, and the cradle cavity being shaped so that the PDA device fits into the cavity such that at least one surface of the device is exposed.

17. A keyboard comprising:

a housing defining a non-integral personal computer keyboard;

a plurality of keys disposed within the housing;

a communications link disposed within the housing, wherein the communications link is capable of communicating with a computer; and

,

a connector disposed within the housing and receptive to a corresponding connector of a device having a touch screen such that the device communicates with the computer over the communications link when the connectors are coupled,

the housing having an end surface in which the connector is disposed and against which the device abuts when said connectors are coupled, the connector of the device being coupled, in use, to the connector of the housing such that at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the device is flush with, so as to be disposed in a common plane with a corresponding surface of the housing.

18. The keyboard of claim 17 wherein said housing includes a cradle cavity in which the device nests and which includes a support surface on which a major surface of the device rests.

19. The keyboard of claim 17 wherein said keyboard and the device are coupled together by a coupling means including at least one projecting elements provided on one of the housing and the device and a receives for receiving said at least one projecting element provided in the other of and houses and the device.

20. A keyboard comprising:

a housing defining a non-integral personal computer keyboard;

a plurality of keys disposed within the housing;

a communications link disposed within the housing, wherein the communications link is capable of communicating with a remote computer; and

,

a connector operatively coupled to the communications link, said connector being disposed within the housing and being receptive to a corresponding connector of a device such that the device communicates with the computer over the communications link when the connectors are coupled,

said housing including a cradle cavity in which the device nests and which includes a support surface on which a major areal surface of the device rests.