Handheld computers with removable input mechanisms

• US 20020145590A1
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Cheri, Yann, Escande, Thierry, Baraban, Matthieu, Paolucci, Frederic
• Granted Patent: US 6,788,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 1/1669 Detachable keyboards

Abstract

An embodiment of invention includes a handheld computer having a display. The display provides an output to a user-input. A housing includes a front panel that provides access to the display. A plurality of user-interactive mechanisms are provided on the housing. The user-input mechanisms include a first mechanism that is removably coupled to the housing.

Claims

1. A handheld computer comprising:

a display providing an output to a user-input;

a housing including a front panel, the front panel providing access to the display; and

a plurality of user-interactive mechanisms accessible from the front panel, including at least a first mechanism that is removably coupled to the housing, each mechanism being actuatable by the user to signal the user-input.

2. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the mechanisms are insertable from an original position to an actuated position, and biased to return to the original position.

3. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is actuatable to signal the user-input as a digital signal.

4. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is actuatable to signal the user-input as an analog signal.

5. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is a button.

6. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the mechanisms is a pivotal switch between a first actuating position, a second actuating position, and a neutral position.

7. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is a multi-directional control.

8. A handheld computer comprising:

a display providing an output to a user-input;

a housing including a front panel, the front panel providing access to the display;

an attachable segment coupleable to the housing, the attachable segment including a front surface forming a portion of the front panel when the attachable segment is coupled to the housing; and

a plurality of user-interactive mechanisms provided on the attachable segment, each mechanism being actuatable by the user to signal the user-input.

9. The handheld computer of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a plurality of contacts, each of the contacts being positioned on a platform to couple a corresponding one of the mechanisms to a process of the handheld computer.

10. The handheld computer of claim 8, wherein the plurality of user-interactive mechanisms includes at least one multi-directional control mechanisms.

11. The handheld computer of claim 10, wherein the multi-directional control mechanisms includes a member positionable in one of eight directions.

12. The handheld computer of claim 10, wherein the multi-directional control mechanisms includes four buttons operable individually or in pairs to have eight states.

13. The handheld computer of claim 9, wherein the attachable segment is slideably coupled to the handheld computer.

14. The handheld computer of claim 13, wherein the handheld computer includes a pair of opposing coupling structures extending from the platform, and wherein the attachable segment includes a pair of slots to slideable engage the coupling structures over the platform of the handheld computer.

15. The handheld computer of claim 14, wherein the coupling structures of the handheld computer include rail slots, and wherein the slots of the attachable segment include rails that slide within the rail slots when the slots of the attachable segment receive the corresponding coupling structures.

17. The handheld computer of claim 16, wherein the plurality of contacts include four contacts positioned on the platform, the four contacts being distributed in a first direction extending across the platform.

18. The handheld computer of claim 17, wherein the plurality of contacts include a first contact and a second contact positioned on the platform, the first contact and the second contact distributed in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first plurality of mechanisms are distributed on the front panel with each of the first plurality of mechanisms having a lateral position on the front panel, and wherein the second plurality of mechanisms are distributed on the structure so that at least one of the second plurality of mechanisms has an offset lateral position relative to the lateral position of each of the first plurality of mechanisms.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein a quantity of the second plurality of mechanisms is less than a quantity of the first plurality of mechanisms.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the second plurality of mechanisms includes a member moveable in multiple directions.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the member is moveable to a plurality of positions, each position corresponding to insertion of one of the first plurality of mechanisms.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein each of the second plurality of mechanisms are provided a label on at least one of a surface for that mechanism or on the structure.

25. The device of claim 19, wherein a spacing between adjacent mechanisms in the second plurality of mechanisms differs from a spacing between adjacent mechanisms in the first plurality of mechanisms.

16. A handheld computer comprising:

a display providing an output to a user-input;

a housing providing access to the display;

a platform positioned adjacent to the display, the platform being dimensioned to receive an attachable device;

a first coupling structure and a second coupling structure extending from the platform, each of the coupling structures being configured to couple to a corresponding structure on the attachable device, and

a plurality of contacts on the platform, each of the plurality of contacts being positioned to electrically couple to a corresponding input mechanism of the attachable device when the attachable device is received on the platform.

19. A device coupleable to a handheld computer, the handheld computer including a display and a first plurality of mechanisms, the first plurality of mechanisms being insertable to receive a user-input, a housing including a front panel providing access to the display and to the first plurality of mechanisms, the device comprising:

a second plurality of mechanisms, each of the second plurality of mechanisms being moveable between at least a first actuated position and an original position;

a structure providing a platform for the second plurality of mechanisms, the structure being coupleable to the housing of the handheld computer so that at least one of the second plurality of mechanisms overlays the first plurality of mechanisms and so that at least one of the second plurality of mechanisms is moveable to cause at least one of the first plurality of mechanisms to insert and enter the user-input.