Component for use as a portable computing device and pointing device in a modular computing system

• US 20030231168A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.), OQO Incorporated (Audiotone Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bell, Jory, Betts-LaCroix, Jonathan, Prichard, Michael, Merz, Nicholas G.L.
• Application Number:
  US10/391,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231168A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202

Abstract

A core component is disclosed which includes a processing module and a touch screen. The core component may operate by itself in a first mode to perform functions similar to that of a conventional personal digital assistant (PDA). In particular, the touch screen may both provide visual output and receive input from a user'"'"'s finger when the core component operates in the first mode. When the core component is connected to another component including a display screen, the core component may operate in a second mode in which input received through the touch screen is provided to the other component. For example, the movement of a user'"'"'s finger may control the position of a cursor displayed on a screen of the other component so that the core component exhibits the behavior of a trackpad when operating in the second mode.

Claims

1. A computing system comprising:

a plurality of components interconnected in a first configuration, the plurality of components comprising a first processing subsystem, a first input subsystem, a first output subsystem, a first storage subsystem, and a first power subsystem;

wherein a first one of the plurality of components comprises a second processing subsystem, a second input subsystem including a touch screen, a second output subsystem including the touch screen, a second storage subsystem, and a second power subsystem;

wherein a subset of the plurality of components comprises a third processing subsystem, a third input subsystem, a third output subsystem, a third storage subsystem, and a third power subsystem;

wherein the first component and the subset of components are detachable from each other to form a second computing system and a third computing system, respectively, in a second configuration; and

wherein the computing system further comprises;

means for receiving input through the touch screen;

means for providing output through the touch screen in the first configuration; and

means for transmitting the input from the first component to at least one component in the subset in the second configuration.

2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen comprises means for tracking movement of a finger on the surface of the touch screen.

3. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the first computing system further comprises means for disabling output through the touch screen in the second configuration.

4. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a portable computing component.

5. In a computing system comprising a first component comprising a first processing subsystem, a first input subsystem including a touch screen, a first output subsystem including the touch screen, a first storage subsystem, and a first power subsystem, a method comprising steps of:

(A) coupling the first component to at least one second component comprising a second processing subsystem, a second input subsystem, a second output subsystem, a second storage subsystem, and a second power subsystem;

(B) receiving input through the touch screen; and

(C) transmitting the input to the at least one second component.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one second component comprises a display monitor.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step (B) comprises a step of receiving input representing movement of a finger across a surface of the touch screen.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of:

(D) disabling output through the touch screen.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the first component comprises a portable computing component.