Method and apparatus for synchronizing and recharging a connector-less portable computer system

• US 7,065,658 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Cheri, Yann, Baraban, Matthieu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Chun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Albert
• Application Number:
  US09/861,276
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 455/556.2, 707/203
• US Class Current: 713/300
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• 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 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A ruggedized connector-less cordless portable computer system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the portable computer system includes ports adapted to use wireless technology e.g., GSM. CDMA, LAN, Bluetooth, and infrared for synchronization. Furthermore, the device may be a palm-sized device having a rechargeable battery. In one embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer system includes a secondary coil of a transformer where the transformer'"'"'s primary coil resides in an electronic cradle. The portable computer'"'"'s rechargeable battery is recharged through an induction charging system. The wireless communication and induction charging system enables a device that is connector-less and therefor watertight and resilient to adverse climate conditions.

Claims

1. A portable computer system comprising:

a processor coupled to a bus;

a memory unit coupled to said bus;

a flat panel display screen coupled to said bus;

an internal battery;

a wireless induction charging system for providing an inductive recharging to recharge said internal battery; and

a wireless communication port, which is separate from said wireless induction charging system, for communicating with a host computer system to perform data synchronization while said inductive recharging occurs; and

a housing for containing said processor, said memory unit, said flat panel display screen, said wireless communication port, said internal battery and said wireless induction charging system, said housing being free of any physical connectors that provide mechanical connection to another electronic device.

2. A portable computer system as described in claim 1 wherein said wireless communication port in an infrared port.

3. A portable computer system as described in claim 1 wherein said wireless communication port is a Bluetooth wireless port.

4. A portable computer system as described in claim 1 wherein said wireless communication port is a wireless LAN wireless port.

5. A portable computer system as described in claim 1 wherein said wireless communication port is a wireless radio port compliant with the CDMA protocol.

6. A portable computer system as described in claim 1 wherein said portable computer system is a handheld personal digital assistant.

7. A portable computer system as described in claim 1 that is water tight.

8. A portable computer system as described in claim 1 wherein said flat panel display screen is a liquid crystal display screen.

9. A portable computer system comprising:

a processor coupled to a bus;

a memory unit coupled to said bus;

a liquid crystal display screen coupled to said bus;

an internal battery;

a wireless induction charging system for providing an inductive recharging to recharge said internal battery;

a wireless communication port, which is separate from said wireless induction charging system, for communicating with a host computer system to perform data synchronization while said inductive recharging occurs; and

a housing for containing said processor, said memory unit, said liquid crystal display screen, said wireless communication port, said internal battery and said wireless induction charging system, said housing being free of any physical connectors that provide mechanical connection to another electronic device;

wherein said portable computer system is a handheld personal digital assistant.

10. A portable computer system as described in claim 9 wherein said wireless communication port in an infrared port.

11. A portable computer system as described in claim 9 wherein said wireless communication port is a Bluetooth wireless port.

12. A portable computer system as described in claim 9 wherein said wireless communication port is a wireless LAN wireless port.

13. A portable computer system as described in claim 9 wherein said wireless communication port is a wireless radio port compliant with the CDMA protocol.

14. A portable computer system as described in claim 9 that is water tight.

15. A method of performing communication comprising:

placing a portable computer system that is free of any physical connectors that provide mechanical and electrical connection to another electronic device onto a cradle comprising an induction charging system for performing an inductive recharging an internal battery of said portable computer system; and

pressing a button on said cradle to invoke a wireless communication system separate from said induction charging system with a host computer system to perform data synchronization with said host computer system while said inductive recharging occurs.

16. The method as described in claim 15 wherein said cradle is free of any physical connection with said host computer system.

17. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said wireless communication is implemented using infrared communication.

18. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said wireless communication is implemented using Bluetooth wireless communication.

19. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said wireless communication is implemented using wireless LAN communication.

20. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said wireless communication is implemented using wireless radio communication that is compliant with the CDMA protocol.