Tablet computer system

• US 9,727,085 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comark, LLC
• Original Assignee: Inducomp Corporation
• Inventors: Weldon, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US15/015,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20160224065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 36167941
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

A system for use with a tablet computer includes a host electronic board configured to connect the tablet computer to a plurality of peripheral devices. An enclosure is configured to enclose the host electronic board and the tablet computer in an interior space of the enclosure. The enclosure includes a first part and a second part, which are moveable relative to one another between an open position for adding and removing the tablet computer from the enclosure and a closed position. The enclosure is configured so the interior space of the enclosure is substantially inaccessible from outside the enclosure in the closed position. The system includes a lock on the enclosure. The lock is configured to selectively convert from an unlocked configuration in which the first and second parts of the enclosure can be moved to the open position and a locked configuration in which the first and second parts of the enclosure cannot be non-destructively moved from the closed position to the open position.

Claims

1. A system for use with a tablet computer, the system comprising:

a plurality of peripheral devices;

a host electronic board configured to connect the tablet computer to the plurality of peripheral devices;

an enclosure configured to enclose the host electronic board and the tablet computer in an interior space of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being moveable relative to one another between an open position for adding and removing the tablet computer from the enclosure and a closed position, the enclosure being configured so the interior space of the enclosure is substantially inaccessible from outside the enclosure in the closed position; and

a lock on the enclosure, the lock being configured to selectively convert from an unlocked configuration in which the first and second parts of the enclosure can be moved to the open position and a locked configuration in which the first and second parts of the enclosure cannot be non-destructively moved from the closed position to the open position,

wherein the plurality of peripheral devices comprise one or more peripheral devices selected from the group consisting of a magnetic card reader, a barcode reader, barcode scanner, RF ID reader, fingerprint reader, EMV reader, EMV contactless reader, PCI contactless reader, EMV contact reader, PCI contact reader, passport reader, NFC reader, Pin reader, keypad, EMV keypad, PCI keypad, printer, and keyboard, and

wherein the enclosure has a plurality of openings formed by at least one of the first and second parts of the enclosure, the enclosure further comprising peripheral casings substantially enclosing the peripheral devices, the peripheral casings extending through the openings and blocking access to the interior space of the enclosure through the openings.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the host electronic board is further configured to manage power supply and battery charging for the peripheral devices.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the host electronic board is further configured to manage all communications between the peripheral devices and the tablet computer.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the host electronic board comprises a plurality of USB expansion ports.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the host electronic board is configured to connect to at least some of the peripheral devices wirelessly.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the host electronic board is configured to connect to at least some of the peripheral devices using a wired connection.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the host electronic board is configured to supply electrical power to the tablet computer.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the casings each comprise a physical interface that secures the casing to at least one of the first and second parts of the enclosure and positions the respective casing in the opening, the physical interfaces being substantially identical so the peripheral devices are interchangeable.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the tablet computer in the interior space of the enclosure.

10. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of peripheral devices comprise four peripheral devices selected from the group consisting of a magnetic strip reader, a barcode reader, a barcode scanner, RF ID reader, fingerprint reader, EMV reader, and an NFC reader.

11. A system as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a receiver electronic board connected to the host electronic board, the receiver electronic board comprising multiple communication ports.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the communication port comprises at least one or the group consisting of a USB port, a serial port, an Ethernet port, and a GPIO communication port.

13. A system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a mounting stand configured to support the enclosure, the receiver electronic board being in the mounting stand.

14. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lock has an external portion outside the enclosure and an internal portion inside the enclosure and the enclosure has a joint where the first and second parts are adjacent one another, the enclosure further comprising a barrier positioned between the joint and the interior portion of the lock to block attempts to pick the lock by accessing the interior portion of the lock via the joint.

15. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the enclosure has an opening configured to be in registration with a touchscreen of the tablet computer when the tablet computer is in the enclosure.

16. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the enclosure is configured to hold the host electronic board and tablet computer in different parts of the interior space of the enclosure.