Notebook computer with independently functional, dockable core computer

• US 7,010,634 B2
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Silvester, Kelan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TRISHA U
• Application Number:
  US09/470,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20030126335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,266 Days
• Field of Search: 710301-304, 361679-686, 707/203
• US Class Current: 710/303
• 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 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A notebook computer includes a docking port to receive a core computer. The processor of the core computer serves as the system processor for the notebook computer when the core computer is docked in the notebook computer. When the core computer is undocked, the processor serves as the system processor for the core computer. The core computer may boot a mini operating system when undocked, whereas the notebook computer may boot a full operating system when the core computer is docked. The processor of the core computer may operate at a lower voltage and at a lower frequency when serving as the system processor for the core computer than when serving as the system processor for the notebook computer. When the core computer is docked, the notebook computer memory is synchronized with the core computer memory, and a battery in the core computer is charged.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing to have the device docked into a notebook computer having a memory to store a first operating system;

an interface disposed on a surface of the housing to enable communication between the device and the notebook computer when the device is docked;

a memory to store a second operating system, the second operating system is smaller in size and provides less functionality than the first operating system; and

a central processing unit (CPU) to operate as a system processor of the notebook computer when the device is docked and to operate as a system CPU of the device when the device is undocked, wherein the CPU is to operate at a higher frequency and at a higher voltage when the device is docked than when the device is undocked.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an input controller to receive input data into the device when the device is undocked.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising core memory to store the input data when the device is undocked.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising an output controller to provide output data from the device when the device is undocked.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, further comprising a visual display disposed on a surface of the housing, the visual display being coupled to the input controller to provide the input data via pen-based entries on the display and being coupled to the output controller to provide the output data via the display.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a battery to provide power to the CPU when the electronic device is undocked.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the interface is coupled to the battery to charge the battery when the electronic device is docked.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the notebook computer is to provide power to the CPU when the electronic device is docked.

9. A notebook computer comprising:

a docking port to receive a hand-held core computer having a Central Processing Unit (CPU) to operate as a system CPU of the notebook computer when the device is docked, and to operate as a system CPU of the core computer when the core computer is undocked, wherein the CPU is to operate at a higher frequency and at a higher voltage when the CPU operates as a system CPU of the notebook computer than when the CPU operates as a system CPU of the core computer, the hand-held core including a memory to store a first operating system;

an interface in the docking port to enable communication between the core computer and the notebook computer when the core computer is docked; and

a memory to store a second operating system, the second operating system is larger in size and has greater functionality than the first operating system.

10. The notebook computer of claim 9, wherein the interface is to couple a power supply of the base computer to a battery in the core computer to charge the battery and to provide power to the CPU when the core computer is docked.

11. The notebook computer of claim 9, wherein the CPU is to operate in one of a high power mode and a low power mode according to user preference.

12. A method of operating a computer system comprising:

operating a Central Processing Unit (CPU) as a system CPU of a notebook computer when a core computer is docked in a docking port of the notebook computer, the notebook computer including a memory to store a first operating system; and

operating the CPU as a system CPU of the core computer when the core computer is undocked, the core computer including a memory to store a second operating system, the second operating system is smaller in size and provides less functionality than the first operating system, wherein operating the CPU as a system CPU of the notebook computer includes operating the CPU at a higher frequency and voltage than when operating the CPU as a system CPU of the core computer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising synchronizing memory of the notebook computer with memory of the core computer when the core computer is docked.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising charging a battery in the core computer when the core computer is docked.