Successively layered modular construction for a portable computer system

• US 7,505,280 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Loucks, Jeffry Harlow
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Hung S
• Application Number:
  US11/435,479
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 361/752, 361/790, 361/797, 361/800, 361/679, 361/683, 361/686, 361/681, 439/625, 439/626, 439/660, 439/676, 710/300, 710/301, 713/320, 713/324, 455/550.1, 455/556
• US Class Current: 361/752
• 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 1/1656 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 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer

Abstract

A modular portable computer system is described. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a top modular layer with a coupled display interface and adapted to be interconnected with other modular layers. In the present embodiment, a second modular layer is interconnected with the top modular layer and other modular layers, for providing a power source to supply operating power to said top modular layer and to those other modular layers present and is disposed beneath the top modular layer. In the present embodiment, a third modular layer is interconnected with the top modular layer and the second modular layer for providing baseline logic electronics and communication components to the modular portable computer system and is disposed beneath the top modular layer. In the present embodiment, a universal interconnect for providing electronic and communicative interconnection of each modular layer is disposed at least once on each modular layer.

Claims

1. In a portable computer system comprising a plurality of modular layers, a method of utilizing said portable computer system comprising:

providing a first modular layer comprising a power supply operable to provide power to said portable computer system;

coupling a second modular layer with said first modular layer, said second modular layer comprising a display;

coupling a third modular layer with said first modular layer, said third modular layer comprising circuitry for providing operational and communicative functionality;

mechanically coupling at least two of said plurality of modular layers using a universal interconnect; and

communicating between said plurality of modular layers utilizing said universal interconnect, said universal interconnect disposed at least once upon each modular layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second modular layer is disposed with respect to other modular layers such that said display is visible to a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a positioning of modular layers other than said second modular layer is defined by user preferences.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said circuitry comprises a processor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said circuitry comprises a memory.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said circuitry comprises a plurality of input/output interfaces enabling communication with other computer systems.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said universal interconnect is operable to transmit power signals, address signals and data signals among said plurality of modular layers.

8. In a portable computer system comprising a plurality of modular layers coupled electrically and mechanically, a method of utilizing said portable computer system comprising:

providing a first modular layer comprising a power supply operable to provide power to said portable computer system;

coupling a second modular layer with said first modular layer, said second modular layer comprising a display;

coupling a third modular layer with said first modular layer, said third modular layer comprising circuitry for providing a plurality of input/output interfaces enabling communication with other computer systems;

mechanically coupling at least two of said plurality of modular layers using a universal interconnect; and

communicating between said plurality of modular layers utilizing said universal interconnect, said universal interconnect disposed at least once upon each modular layer.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising coupling a fourth modular layer with said first modular layer, said fourth modular layer providing peripheral functionality.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said second modular layer further comprises controls for configuring said display.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said second modular layer comprises dedicated circuitry for enhanced graphics processing.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said second modular layer is disposed with respect to other modular layers such that said display is visible to a user.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein a positioning of modular layers other than said second modular layer is defined by user preferences.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said universal interconnect is operable to transmit power signals, address signals and data signals among said plurality of modular layers.

15. In a modular portable computer system having multiple modular layers electrically coupled together, a method of utilizing said modular portable computer system comprising:

providing a power source for supplying operating power to said modular layers, said power source disposed within a first modular layer detachably coupled with other modular layers;

coupling a display with said power source, said display disposed within a second modular layer disposed above said first modular layer and detachably coupled with said other modular layers;

coupling baseline logic and communication electronics with said power supply for providing operational and communicative functionality, said baseline logic and communication electronics disposed within a third module layer disposed beneath said second module layer and detachably coupled with said other module layers;

mechanically coupling at least two of said multiple modular layers using a universal interconnect; and

communicating between said multiple modular layers utilizing said universal interconnect, said universal interconnect disposed at least once upon each modular layer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first modular layer is of a thickness related to an amount of operating power contained therein.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said baseline logic comprises a processor.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said baseline logic comprises a memory.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said third modular layer provides peripheral functionality.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a positioning of modular layers other than said second modular layer is defined by user preferences.