Computing system with detachable touch screen device

• US 8,149,224 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Incorporated (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Incorporated (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuo, Ordin, Hsiao, Ivan, Hull, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khoo, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US12/431,693
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 345157-159, 345/163, 345168-169, 345/173, 345/507, 708/139, 708/140, 463/37
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/1656 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 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A computing system includes a computer device and a detachable touch screen device. The computer device receives input from a touch screen of a detachable touch screen device when the detachable touch screen device is attached to a touch screen port of the computer device and displays an image on a display device of the computer device based on the input. Further, the detachable touch screen device receives input from the touch screen when the detachable touch screen device is detached from the computer device and displays an image on the touch screen based on the input. In various embodiments, the detachable touch screen device performs a computing function, a communication function, or a media function based on the input to the touch screen when the detachable touch screen device is detached from the computer device.

Claims

1. A computing system comprising:

a detachable touch screen device comprising;

a touch screen for receiving an input; and

a computing processor coupled to the touch screen and configured to execute computing instructions; and

a computer device comprising;

a housing;

a touch pad mounted to the housing and comprising a top surface;

a touch screen port comprising;

a touch screen port connector configured to attach the detachable touch screen device to the computer device and to establish a communication link between the computer device and the detachable touch screen device for receiving the input from the detachable touch screen device; and

a recess in the housing of the computer device for receiving the detachable touch screen device, the recess comprising the top surface of the touch pad for supporting the detachable touch screen device when the detachable touch screen device is in the touch screen port; and

a display device coupled to the communication link and configured to display an image based on the input.

2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computer device is a computer appliance and is configured to function as a personal computer in combination with the detachable touch screen device.

3. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the detachable touch screen device is further configured to function as a mobile phone and the computing processor of the detachable touch screen device is further configured to execute an operating system.

4. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computer device is configured to function as a personal computer independently of the detectable touch screen device, and the detachable touch screen device is configured to function as a personal media player independently of the computer device.

5. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computer device is a personal computer comprising a computing processor and a computer memory system.

6. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computing processor of the detachable touch screen device is further configured to execute an operating system.

7. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the detachable touch screen device is further configured to receive a data file from the computer device through the communication link and store the data file.

8. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the detachable touch screen device is further configured to maintain a file system, and the computer device is further configured to access data files in the file system of the detachable touch screen device.

9. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the detachable touch screen device includes a push button switch configured to control operation of the detachable touch screen device for playing a media file when the detachable touch screen device is detached from the touch screen port and configured to control operation of the computer device when the detachable touch screen device is attached to the touch screen port.

10. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the push button switch is further configured to perform a scrolling function on the display device when the detachable touch screen device is attached to the touch screen port.

11. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computer device is further configured to receive a digital media file from the detachable touch screen device and play the digital media file.

12. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the communication link is a wireless communication link.

13. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen port connector is further configured to attach the detachable touch screen device to the computer device through both a mechanical connection and an electrical connection.

14. A computing system comprising:

a detachable touch screen device comprising;

a touch screen for receiving an input;

a memory system; and

a computing processor coupled to the touch screen and the memory system, the computing processor configured to execute an operating system; and

a computer device comprising;

a housing comprising a top surface;

a display device mounted to the housing;

a keyboard device mounted to the housing;

a touch pad mounted to the housing and comprising a top surface; and

a touch screen port formed in the housing and comprising;

a recess for receiving the detachable touch screen device, the recess comprising the top surface of the touch pad for supporting the detachable touch screen device when the detachable touch screen device is attached to the touch screen port; and

a touch screen port connector for attaching the detachable touch screen device to the touch screen port and to establish a communication link between the computer device and the detachable touch screen device.

15. The computing system of claim 14, wherein the detachable touch screen device is further configured to maintain a file system, and the computer device is further configured to access data files in the file system of the detachable touch screen device.

16. The computing system of claim 14, wherein a top surface of the detachable touch screen device is flush with the top surface of the housing when the detachable touch screen device is attached to the touch screen port.

17. The computing system of claim 14, wherein a depth of the recess is less than a depth of the detachable touch screen device.

18. A method comprising:

attaching a detachable touch screen device to a touch screen port of a computer device comprising a touch pad, the touch screen port comprising a recess for receiving the detachable touch screen device, the recess comprising a top surface of the touch pad for supporting the detachable touch screen device when the detachable touch screen device is in the touch screen port,

receiving an input from a touch screen of the detachable touch screen device when the detachable touch screen device is attached to the touch screen port of the computer device; and

displaying an image on a display device of the computer device based on the input.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

maintaining a file system in the detachable touch screen device; and

accessing a data file in the file system of the detachable touch screen device by the computer device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a digital media file in the computer device from the detachable touch screen device; and

playing the received digital media file in the computer device.