Personal digital assistant with internal printer

• US 7,056,040 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US10/466,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20040086312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 347/42, 347/109, 400/88, 400/693
• US Class Current: 400/88
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/706 using a cutting tool mounted on a reciprocating carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/044 Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16 Production of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16552 using cleaning fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/023 with reduced dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
• 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 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/202 Air convective hinge
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 : Architecture adapted for a particular function

Abstract

A personal digital assistant (901) stores personal information in an electronic and transportable from. The digital assistant includes a body section (902) connected to a display screen (904). The body (902) houses a memory, control circuitry for operating the personal digital assistant and an internal printer (500) for printing stored and/or displayed information. The printer (500) has a removable ink/print media cartridge (504) disposed in the hinge joint (905) connecting the body section (902) and the display screen (904).

Claims

1. A hand held personal digital assistant including:

an information storage device;

a display;

a body section connected to said display through a hinge joint;

a printer including a pagewidth printhead wherein said printhead is an inkjet printhead; and

a user interface allowing a user to;

selectively retrieve and display information from said storage device on said display;

print said information using said printer; and

enter and store new information in said information storage device;

wherein said body section houses said information storage device and at least a portion of said user interface, and wherein at least a portion of said printer is disposed in said hinge joint.

2. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said printer includes a supply of print media disposed within said personal digital assistant.

3. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 including a supply of print media disposed in said hinge joint.

4. The personal digital assistant of claim 3 including a releasable cover portion through which a portion of said printer including said print media and/or an ink cartridge can be removed.

5. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said printer includes a monolithic pagewidth printhead.

6. The personal digital assistant of claim 1 wherein said user interface includes a touch screen integrated into the display.