Tablet computer

• US 8,208,245 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Over The Sun, LLC
• Original Assignee: Over The Sun, LLC
• Inventors: Staats, Kai, Roach, Leonard, Miller, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmonds, Lisa Lea
• Application Number:
  US12/415,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20090244009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.02, 361/679.55
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• 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: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A tablet computer is composed of a tablet component and a keyboard component. The tablet component houses all of the essential hardware of tablet computer including the central processing unit (CPU), the memory, the power supply, and a touch screen display. The keyboard component is a simple peripheral device that offers no computing functionality unless connected with the tablet component. The tablet component and keyboard component can mate to form a notebook-type computer. The tablet component and keyboard component can mate in an orientation allowing use of only a tablet computing user interface. The tablet component is removable from the keyboard component and functions independently as a tablet computing device. The keyboard component has a counterbalance armature to oppose the moment of inertia due to the changing center of mass of the tablet computer as the tablet component is moved from a closed to an open position.

Claims

1. A tablet comprising

a tablet component containing functional computer hardware;

a keyboard component removably connected with the tablet component, wherein the keyboard further comprising a rotating tension hinge; and

a counterbalance armature attached to the keyboard component that extends from the keyboard component to oppose a moment of inertia of the tablet computer when the tablet component is connected with and in an open position with respect to the keyboard component,

wherein the rotating tension hinge further comprises a first engagement surface,

the counterbalance armature is retractable with respect to the keyboard component and defines a second engagement surface, and

when the counterbalance armature is at least partially housed within the keyboard component in a retracted position, the first engagement surface interfaces with the second engagement surface and prevents the tablet component from being manipulated from a closed position to the open position.

2. The tablet computer of claim 1, wherein the counterbalance armature is retractable with respect to the keyboard component and is at least partially housed within the keyboard component when in a retracted position.

3. The tablet computer of claim 2, wherein

the keyboard component further comprises a housing that defines two or more slots;

the counter balance armature further comprises two or more rails that are respectively received and housed within the two or more slots.

4. The tablet computer of claim 3, wherein the keyboard component further comprises an engagement structure in each of the two or more slots that engage the rails to prevent the counter balance armature from separating from the keyboard component when fully extended.

5. The tablet computer of claim 3, wherein a cross section of each of the rails is T-shaped.

6. The tablet computer of claim 1, wherein

the tablet component further comprises a display and interface screen on a front face;

and

the front face is positioned adjacent to and opposite a top face of the keyboard component when the tablet is in a closed position.

7. The tablet computer of claim 1, wherein

the tablet component further comprises a back face and a display and interface screen on a front face;

and

the back face is positioned adjacent to and opposite a top face of the keyboard component while the front face remains exposed when the tablet computer is in a closed position.

8. The tablet computer of claim 1, wherein the counterbalance armature functions as a handle for the tablet computer.

9. The tablet computer of claim 1, wherein the keyboard component further comprises one or more fixed tension hinges wherein the rotating tension hinge rotationally engages with the one or more fixed tension hinges.

10. The tablet computer of claim 9, wherein

the rotating tension hinge further comprises an interface tab;

and

the tablet component further comprises a slot configured to releasably engage the interface tab.

11. The tablet computer of claim 10, wherein

the interface tab further comprises one or more connection traces;

and

the slot in the tablet component further comprises one or more receptacles configured to communicatively engage the connection traces.

12. The tablet computer of claim 1, wherein the counterbalance armature is forced to mechanically extend from the keyboard component as the tablet component moves into an open position with respect to the keyboard component.

13. The tablet computer of claim 1, wherein keyboard component lies in a plane and the counterbalance armature extends along the plane of the keyboard component.

14. The tablet component of claim 1, wherein the tablet component includes a touch screen display.

15. A computer comprising

a computer component containing functional computer hardware;

a keyboard component lying in a plane and removably connected with the computer component, the keyboard component weighing less than the computer component wherein the keyboard further comprises a rotating tension hinge; and

a counterbalance armature attached to the keyboard component that extends from the keyboard component along the plane when the computer component is connected with and in an open position with respect to the keyboard component,

wherein the rotating tension hinge further comprises a first engagement surface,

the counterbalance armature is retractable with respect to the keyboard component and defines a second engagement surface, and

when the counterbalance armature is at least partially housed within the keyboard component in a retracted position, the first engagement surface interfaces with the second engagement surface and prevents the computer component from being manipulated from a closed position to the open position.

16. The computer of claim 15, wherein the counterbalance armature is retractable with respect to the keyboard component and is at least partially housed within the keyboard component when in a retracted position.

17. The computer of claim 16, wherein

the keyboard component further comprises a housing that defines two or more slots;

the counter balance armature further comprises two or more rails that are respectively received and housed within the two or more slots.

18. The computer of claim 15, wherein the keyboard component further comprises one or more fixed tension hinges;

wherein the rotating tension hinge rotationally engages with the one or more fixed tension hinges.

19. The computer of claim 15, wherein the computer component includes a touch screen display.

20. A method comprising:

opening a computer component containing functional computer hardware with respect to a removably connected keyboard component lying in a plane, the keyboard component weighing less than the computer component wherein the keyboard further comprises a rotating tension hinge; and

extending a counterbalance armature attached to the keyboard component, the counterbalance armature extending from the keyboard component along the plane when the computer component is connected with and in an open position with respect to the keyboard component,

wherein the rotating tension hinge further comprises a first engagement surface,

the counterbalance armature is retractable with respect to the keyboard component and defines a second engagement surface, and

when the counterbalance armature is at least partially housed within the keyboard component in a retracted position, the first engagement surface interfaces with the second engagement surface and prevents the computer component from being manipulated from a closed position to the open position.