Multifunctional portable computing device with special housing

• US 7,193,614 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward Bullister
• Original Assignee: Edward Bullister
• Inventors: Bullister, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US10/784,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 345/166, 345/168, 345/169, 400/680, 400/682, 400/692, 400/693, 361/679, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/05 composed of hingedly connected sections

Abstract

A portable computing device includes pivoting and hinging mechanisms which enable its housing to reconfigure to function in multiple modes. In one configuration the device functions as a laptop computer with keyboard input. In another configuration the device folds into a compact, hand-held, pen-based computer. In another configuration the device folds around the display for protection during transport. A set of adjustable stops enable easy and repeatable transitions between the different configurations.

Claims

1. A portable collapsible keyboard for input of data into a digital electronic device, said keyboard comprising:

a) a first keyboard section having a top surface, a front surface and a rear surface, and a first plurality of keys having keytops facing upward from said top surface, said first plurality of keys arranged substantially adjacent to one another to form a substantially contiguous first array of keys, said keytops of said first array of keys forming a substantially planar first keytop surface,

b) a second keyboard section having a top surface, a front surface and a rear surface, and a second plurality of keys having keytops facing upward from said top surface, said second plurality of keys arranged substantially adjacent to one another to form a substantially contiguous second array of keys, said keytops of said second array of keys forming a substantially planar second keytop surface,

c) a rear pivot mechanism for pivoting said second keyboard section with respect to said first keyboard section, said rear pivot mechanism connected to said first keyboard section adjacent to said rear surface and having an axis of rotation fixed with respect to said first keyboard section,

d) a front pivot mechanism for pivoting said second keyboard section with respect to said first keyboard section, said front pivot mechanism connected to said first keyboard section adjacent to said front surface and having an axis of rotation fixed with respect to said first keyboard section,

e) an elongate link of fixed length for spacing said first and said second keytop surfaces, said link pivotally connected at its first end to said front pivot mechanism, said link connected at its other end to said second keyboard section such that, when said keyboard is in an open configuration with said first and second keytop surfaces substantially parallel and facing the same direction, the frontward portions of said first and said second keytop surfaces are spaced apart from each other at least the length of the link, and

f) wherein said keyboard is collapsible through a pivoting action from said open configuration to a closed configuration in which said first and second keytop surfaces are in a face-to-face relationship.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein said first and second pivot mechanisms align any relative rotation of said second keyboard section with respect to said first keyboard section about an x-axis fixed with respect to said first keyboard section and resist any relative rotation about all other axes.

3. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein said second keyboard section rotates 180 degrees about said x-axis to collapse said keyboard from said open configuration to said closed configuration.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a substantially planar display attached to said first keyboard section, said display having a front surface for display of information from a multifunctional portable digital electronic device.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and said rear pivot mechanisms comprises a lug and axle.

6. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein said lug and said axle comprise journal bearing surfaces and wherein said lug comprises a thrust bearing surface.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein said first and second pluralities of keys comprise substantially all of the keys from the respective right and left halves of a “

QWERTY”

keyboard.

8. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of keys comprises a first space bar and said second plurality of keys comprises a second space bar.

9. The keyboard of claim 4, wherein:

a) said first and second pivot mechanisms align any relative rotation of said second keyboard section with respect to said first keyboard section about an x-axis fixed with respect to said first keyboard section and resist any relative rotation about all other axes,

b) said second keyboard section rotates 180 degrees to collapse said keyboard from said open configuration to said closed configuration,

c) at least one of said front and said rear pivot mechanisms comprises a lug and axle,

d) said lug and said axle comprise journal bearing surfaces,

e) said lug comprises a thrust bearing surface,

f) said first and second pluralities of keys respectively comprise keys from the right and left portions of a “

QWERTY”

keyboard, and

g) said first plurality of keys comprises a first space bar and said second plurality of keys comprises a second space bar.

10. The keyboard of claim 1, said fixed length comprising at least three keytop widths.

11. The keyboard of claim 1, said link connected such that when said keyboard is in said open configuration, the front portion of the inward facing surfaces of the keyboard sections are spaced from each other at least three keytop widths.

12. A multifunctional portable electronic device, comprising:

a) A display,

b) A collapsible keyboard attached to said display, comprising;

i. a first keyboard section having a top surface, a front surface and a rear surface, and a first plurality of keys having keytops facing upward from said top surface, said first plurality of keys arranged substantially adjacent to one another to form a substantially contiguous first array of keys, said keytops of said first array of keys forming a substantially planar first keytop surface,

ii. a second keyboard section having a top surface, a front surface and a rear surface, and a second plurality of keys having keytops facing upward from said top surface, said second plurality of keys arranged substantially adjacent to one another to form a substantially contiguous second array of keys, said keytops of said second array of keys forming a substantially planar second keytop surface,

iii. a rear pivot mechanism for pivoting said second keyboard section with respect to said first keyboard section, said rear pivot mechanism connected to said first keyboard section adjacent to said rear surface and having an axis of rotation fixed with respect to said first keyboard section,

iv. a front pivot mechanism for pivoting said second keyboard section with respect to said first keyboard section, said front pivot mechanism connected to said first keyboard section adjacent to said front surface and having an axis of rotation fixed with respect to said first keyboard section,

v. a link of fixed length for spacing said first and said second keytop surfaces, said link pivotally connected at its first end to said front pivot mechanism, said link connected at its other end to said second keyboard section such that, when said keyboard is in an open configuration with said first and second keytop surfaces substantially parallel and facing the same direction, the frontward portions of said first and said second keytop surfaces are spaced apart from each other at least the length of the link, and

wherein said keyboard is collapsible through a pivoting action from said open configuration to a closed configuration in which said first and second keytop surfaces are in a face-to-face relationship.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said display is pivotally attached to said second keyboard section.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said display is attached to said first keyboard section.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein said first and second pivot mechanisms align any relative rotation of said second keyboard section with respect to said first keyboard section about an x-axis fixed with respect to said first keyboard section and resist any relative rotation about all other axes.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said second keyboard section rotates 180 degrees about said x-axis to collapse said keyboard from said open configuration to said closed configuration.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein said display is substantially planar and has a front surface for display of information from said device.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein at least one of said front and said rear pivot mechanisms comprises a lug and axle.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein said lug and said axle comprise journal bearing surfaces and wherein said lug comprises a thrust bearing surface.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein said first and second pluralities of keys comprise substantially all of the keys from the respective right and left halves of a “

QWERTY”

keyboard.

21. The keyboard of claim 12, wherein said first plurality of keys comprises a first space bar and said second plurality of keys comprises a second space bar.

22. The device of claim 12, said fixed length comprising at least three keytop widths.

23. The device of claim 12, said link connected such that when said keyboard is in said open configuration, the front portion of the inward facing surfaces of the keyboard sections are spaced from each other at least three keytop widths.