HANDHELD COMPUTER

• US 20070279859A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyle, Dennis, Francavilla, Madeleine, Canova, Francis, Hawkins, Jeffrey, Tal, Elisha, Han, Amy, Neist, Traci, Twiss, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,804,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.300
• 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
• 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 1/1656 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 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

A handheld computer having a housing with a midframe construction is described. The housing includes a front shell and a back shell coupled to a midframe. The handheld computer also includes two accessory slots for a stylus or other devices on the left and right sides of the housing. The handheld computer also includes an infrared port which is an integral portion of the housing.

Claims

1. A handheld computer comprising:

a housing;

a processor contained within the housing;

a display retained by the housing, the display including a display surface;

a plurality of input mechanisms, the plurality of input mechanisms including a first input mechanism that communicates with the processor to enable a first directional input and a second directional input, and one or more buttons that each communicate with the processor to enable a launch of an application to be performed in response to a button-press.

2. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the one or more buttons to be programmable.

3. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first input mechanism and the one or more buttons are provided on a section of a housing surface between the display and a bottom of the housing.

4. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first input mechanism includes a first button or switch and a second button or switch.

5. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first input mechanism communicates with the processor to enable a scrolling function.

6. The handheld computer of claim 5, wherein the first input mechanism includes a rocking switch to enable the scrolling function in either a first direction or in a second direction.

7. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input mechanisms includes one or more additional buttons that communicate with the processor to enable one or more of a hardware control function.

8. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein plurality of input mechanisms include one or more additional buttons that communicate with the processor to enable at least one of a power function or a reset function.

9. The handheld computer of claim 1, further comprising one or more components to enable cellular telephony.

10. The handheld computer of claim 1, further comprising one or more components to enable network connectivity.

11. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input mechanisms are formed on a single strip.

12. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input mechanisms are physically interconnected.