Multifunctional cover integrated into sub-panel of portable electronic device

• US 7,551,429 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wong, Yoon Kean, Hanson, William Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards; Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US11/644,223
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/679.56
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• 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 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

A cover for an opening in the housing of a portable electronic device that provides a function in addition to that of protecting the opening from dirt. The cover can be coupled to the housing so that it can move between a closed position within the housing'"'"'s surface recess and an open position that allows access to the opening in the housing. In the closed position, the cover becomes part of the housing and the of the device is generally unchanged. The cover can function as an antenna for wireless communication between the device and a network or access point, and it can contain circuitry for devices such as transmitter/receivers. The cover can also function as a display device, a speaker, or an alarm. Thus an existing cover that occupies space within the volume of a handheld device can be utilized for expanding the functionality of the device while generally retaining the current form factor of the device.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a bus disposed within said housing;

a connector for the bus positioned within the housing;

a processor disposed within said housing and coupled to said bus;

a cover removeably coupled to the housing, the cover being removable to expose the connector,

wherein an internal surface of the cover includes circuitry for receiving signals having a designated electrical characteristic, said signals being received using a wireless medium, the cover being configured to receive and extend the signals to the connector and the bus, and wherein an external surface of the cover includes a contact element for coupling to an external accessory or device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cover is removeable to enable coupling of a card device to the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said circuitry includes a transceiver for at least receiving said signals.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein said transceiver is configured to receive signals communicated using a Bluetooth protocol.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein said transceiver is for receiving a global positioning system (GPS) data.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said circuitry includes a wireless network communication component.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry of the cover is configured to enable signals to be transmitted out from the device through the connector and the circuitry of the cover.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the circuitry of the cover provides a wireless interface for the exchange of signals between the electronic device and another device.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication medium corresponds to a radio-frequency communication medium.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry of the device is configured to receive signals with a designated impedance.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the contact element comprises an expansion port.

12. A device comprising:

circuitry, included on an internal surface of the device, for coupling said device to an electronic device;

circuitry for (i) performing a function synergistically with a function performed by said electronic device, and (ii) enabling said electronic device to receive an input from an external accessory or device in contact with an external surface of said device;

wherein said device is sized and shaped to serve as a cover for a housing of said electronic device, wherein said device is configured to enclose over a connector provided within the housing and enable a signal processing function by which a signal from another device or location is received through one or more elements of the device and extended to the connector.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein, said device is removeably coupled to said housing.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein, said device is pivotably coupled to said housing.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein, said device is slideably coupled to said housing.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein said device enables the signal processing function to be wireless, and wherein the one or more elements include a wireless receiving element.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said one or more elements include an antenna.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the contact element comprises an expansion port.