Handheld terminal with individually replaceable components

• US 8,199,489 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Psion PLC (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Psion Teklogix (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mangaroo, Alan, Xu, Bo, Boyd, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/511,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.55, 361/731
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675

Abstract

A handheld terminal is provided. The handheld terminal includes a housing, a component for operating the handheld terminal, and a pocket for forming, in the housing, a space for holding the component individually and separating the space from a main logic circuit. The pocket has a window for a connection between the component and the main logic circuit. The handheld terminal includes a bezel placed on the component, and a combiner for removable engaging the bezel with the housing.

Claims

1. A handheld terminal comprising:

a housing;

a component assembly comprising;

a display assembly including a display component operatably coupling to a main logic circuit and a display boot for encasing the display component;

a bezel placed on at least a part of the component assembly; and

a combiner for removable engaging the bezel with the housing,

the housing including a pocket for forming a space for holding the display assembly and separating the space from the main logic circuit, the pocket having a window for a connection between the display component placed in the space of the pocket and the main logic circuit under the space of the pocket,

the window being covered by the display assembly when the display assembly is placed in the space,

the combination of the housing, the display boot and the bezel provides a seal for the handheld terminal to prevent an ingress of dust or water.

2. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises one or more threads, the bezel comprising one or more openings corresponding to the one or more threads, the combiner comprising one or more screws inserted from the openings and removably engaged with the threads.

3. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a keyboard pocket having a space for removably holding a keyboard assembly, the keyboard pocket including a window for a connection between a keyboard flex cable coupled to the main logic circuit and the keyboard assembly, the window of the keyboard assembly being covered by the keyboard assembly when the keyboard assembly is placed in the space of the keyboard pocket.

4. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the keyboard assembly comprises:

a keyboard PCB, a keyboard elastomer placed on the keyboard PCB, and a keyboard bezel placed on the keyboard elastomer.

5. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the keyboard PCB comprises one of an alignment hole and an alignment pin, and wherein the keyboard pocket comprises the alignment pin or the alignment hole so that the alignment pin formed on one of the keyboard PCB and the keyboard pocket receives the alignment hole formed on the other one of the keyboard PCB and the keyboard pocket.

6. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the front housing comprises one or more threads, a keyboard bezel comprising one or more openings corresponding to the one or more threads, the combiner comprising one or more screws inserted from the openings and removably engaged with the threads.

7. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the main logic circuit is placed under the keyboard pocket.

8. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the keyboard bezel and the front housing include complementary snap fit members for snap-fitting, and wherein the keyboard bezel is releasably engaged with the housing through the snap-fitting.

9. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 3, comprising a board to board connector placed in the keyboard space for connecting the keyboard assembly to a docking board.

10. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is provided for a connection between a display flex connector on the main logic circuit and a display flex cable coupled to the display assembly.

11. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 10, wherein the housing comprises one or more threads, threaded openings, the bezel comprising one or more openings corresponding to the one or more threads, the combiner comprising one or more screws inserting from the one or more openings and removably engaged with the threaded openings.

12. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 10, wherein the display flex cable is releasably latched on the display flex connector.

13. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 10, wherein the main logic circuit with the display flex connector is disposed under the display pocket.

14. A handheld terminal as claimed in claim 10, wherein the display flex cable is a customized flex cable.