Electronic device with functional module

• US 20080265024A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Jonathan R., Doczy, Paul J., Moore, Earl W., Tracy, Mark S., Griebenow, L. Joy
• Application Number:
  US11/799,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20080265024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675

Abstract

A electronic device comprises a housing having a module bay configured to receive insertion of a modular biometric reader therein, the modular biometric reader located and usable within a periphery of the housing when disposed in the module bay.

Claims

1. A electronic device, comprising:

a housing having a module bay configured to receive insertion of a modular biometric reader therein, the modular biometric reader located and usable within a periphery of the housing when disposed in the module bay.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the modular biometric reader comprises a fingerprint reader.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the module bay comprises at least one connector for communicatively engaging the modular biometric reader.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the modular biometric reader is configured to operate based on power provided by the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the module bay is configured to receive a bezel module in an absence of the modular biometric reader.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing is rotatably coupled to a display member housing.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the module bay is located in a palm rest area of the electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to indicate removal of the modular biometric reader from the module bay.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the module bay extends to at least two walls of the housing.

10. A electronic device, comprising:

a housing having a module bay disposed on a working surface of the electronic device and configured to receive insertion of a modular biometric reader therein.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the modular biometric reader comprises a fingerprint reader.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the module bay comprises at least one connector for communicatively engaging the modular biometric reader.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the biometric reader is configured to operate based on power provided by the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the module bay is configured to receive a bezel module in an absence of the modular biometric reader.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the housing is rotatably coupled to a display member housing.

16. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the module bay is located in a palm rest area of the electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 10, further comprising a sensor configured to indicate removal of the modular biometric reader from the module bay.

18. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the module bay comprises a cavity extending to at least two walls of the housing.

19. A electronic device, comprising:

a housing having a cavity for receiving a modular biometric reader insertable therein, the cavity disposed on a palm rest area of the electronic device adjacent a keyboard of the electronic device.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the cavity is configured to receive a bezel module therein in an absence of the modular biometric reader.

21. A electronic device, comprising:

a housing having a module bay open to a working surface of the electronic device and configured to receive insertion of a modular unit therein, the modular unit comprising at least one of a speaker, a voice transceiver, a wireless earphone, a biometric reader and a pointing device.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the modular unit is located and usable within a periphery of the housing when disposed in the module bay.

23. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the modular unit is usable while disposed outside the module bay.

24. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the module bay opens to at least two walls of the housing.

25. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the modular unit is insertable into the module bay from at least two different directions.