Computer with high intensity screen

• US 8,941,981 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Xplore Technologies Corporation (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Reber, David, Garel, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRERA, RAMON M
• Application Number:
  US12/969,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20120099266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.26, 36167946-67954, 345/77, 345/102, 345/690
• US Class Current: 361/679.26
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness

Abstract

A computer includes various features that improve its functionality and/or ease of use. A modular electronics cartridge that includes a piston seal and opposed-direction latches removably engages a cartridge bay of the computer. A high intensity touch-screen display and a high power processor are disposed in a sealed compartment of the computer, and a remote heat exchanger is used to cool the sealed compartment. An interface converter/adapter converts a standard mini-PCI Express slot into a specialized mini-PCI Express slot with voice capabilities. SIM and microSD card slots mount to a pivoting door on the computer such that opening the door provides easier access to the card slots.

Claims

1. A tablet computer comprising:

a case defining a sealed compartment;

a chipset disposed in the sealed compartment;

a touch-screen display supported by the case and electrically connected to the chipset, the display facing outward away from the case, a rear side of the display being disposed in the sealed compartment, wherein the display has a brightness of at least 500 NIT; and

an active coolant heat exchanger supported by the case, the exchanger comprising a coolant passage containing a coolant whose flow is configured to carry heat out of the sealed compartment and into an ambient air outside of the sealed compartment.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein:

the coolant passage has a first portion that is thermally exposed to the sealed compartment, and a second portion disposed outside of the sealed compartment,

the exchanger further comprises;

a heat sink thermally coupled to the second portion, and

a fan supported by the case and disposed outside of the sealed compartment, the fan being positioned to direct a flow of ambient air over the heat sink so as to facilitate heat transfer from the heat sink to the ambient air.

3. The computer of claim 2, wherein:

the heat sink comprises a first heat sink, and

the computer further comprises a second heat sink thermally coupling the display to the first portion.

4. The computer of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupling the display to the coolant passage.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the chipset comprises a processor, and the computer further comprises a heat sink thermally coupling the processor to the coolant passage.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a screen with a viewable size that is at least 8 inches in the diagonal direction.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a screen with a viewable area of at least 20 square inches.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display has a brightness of at least 600 NIT.

9. The computer of claim 8, wherein the display has a brightness of at least 700 NIT.

10. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display comprises first, second, and third user-selectable operating modes, the first operating mode comprising a touch only mode, the second operating mode comprising a stylus only mode, and the third operating mode comprising a dual mode with the stylus operation taking priority over touch operation.

11. The computer of claim 1, wherein the sealed compartment is fan-less.

12. The computer of claim 2, wherein the case comprises a ventilated plastic cover that covers the fan.

13. The computer of claim 12, wherein a portion of the case comprises magnesium.

14. The computer of claim 2, wherein:

a portion of the case separates the sealed compartment from the outside of the sealed compartment;

the coolant passage extends through an opening in the portion of the case; and

the computer further comprises a sealing structure that forms a seal between the coolant passage and the opening.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein the sealing structure comprises a gasket.

16. The computer of claim 14, wherein the sealing structure comprises a silicone.

17. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display has a brightness of between 500 and 1000 NIT.

18. The computer of claim 1, wherein a portion of the case comprises aluminum, titanium, or magnesium.

19. The computer of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a magnesium main upper structural portion.

20. The computer of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a magnesium main lower structural portion.

21. The computer of claim 1, wherein an exterior portion of the case comprises aluminum, titanium, or magnesium.

22. The computer of claim 1, wherein an exterior portion of the case comprises magnesium.

23. The computer of claim 1, wherein a magnesium portion of the case separates the sealed compartment from the ambient air outside of the sealed compartment.

24. The computer of claim 1, wherein a portion of the case separates the sealed compartment from the ambient air outside of the sealed compartment, and wherein the portion of the case comprises aluminum, titanium, or magnesium.

25. A tablet computer comprising:

a case defining a sealed compartment;

a chipset disposed in the sealed compartment; and

a touch-screen display supported by the case and electrically connected to the chipset, the display facing outward away from the case, a rear side of the display being disposed in the sealed compartment, wherein the display has a brightness of at least 500 NIT.

26. The computer of claim 25, wherein the display has a brightness of at least 600 NIT.

27. The computer of claim 26, wherein the display has a brightness of at least 700 NIT.

28. The computer of claim 25, wherein the display comprises a screen with a viewable size that is at least 8 inches in the diagonal direction.

29. The computer of claim 25, wherein the display comprises a screen with a viewable area of at least 20 square inches.

30. The computer of claim 25, wherein the sealed compartment is fan-less.

31. The computer of claim 25, wherein the display has a brightness of between 500 and 1000 NIT.