Hand-held computer

• US 4,545,023 A
• Filed: 09/13/1984
• Issued: 10/01/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RD1 Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Engineering Project Development Limited
• Inventors: Mizzi, Pierre M. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wiens, Tim A.
• Application Number:
  US06/649,963
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/705, 364/709
• US Class Current: 708/143
• 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 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/012 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/002 Calculator, computer
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand-held computer comprising a peripheral frame which contains all the connections and in which cards are removably plugged. A flat display, mounted on said frame, is topped by a transparent plate which forms a matrix of touch-sensitive areas or points. The matrix is also mounted on the frame. The screen and the plate occupy the maximum of the upper surface of the casing and are electrically connected to the other circuits of the computer by contact with the frame on which they are mounted. The computer may be provided with phoneme recognition means, with hand-writing recognition means or with TV or radio receiving means by insertion of appropriate cards.

Claims

1. A hand-held computer comprising:

a casing including a peripheral frame, an upper wall and a lower wall;

bus lines located inside said casing;

a plurality of electronic circuit cards mounted inside said casing, arranged adjacent each other and removably connected to said bus lines for performing logical operations on input data;

first and second sets of contacts formed in respective first and second electrical contact zones on an upper side of said peripheral frame and electrically connected to said bus lines;

a flat display screen mounted on said peripheral frame for data output, said display screen having edge portions engaged with said first set of contacts on said upper side of the frame for electrical connection with said bus lines;

a transparent plate including a matrix of touch-sensitive areas for data input and being mounted on said peripheral frame separate from said flat display screen, said transparent plate having edge portions engaged with said second set of contacts on said upper side of the frame for electrical connection with said bus lines, said transparent plate and said flat display screen being spaced apart from each other, being respectively arranged one above the other on said peripheral frame such that said transparent plate substantially forms said upper wall of said casing.

2. A hand-held computer according to claim 1, further comprising fastener means for urging edge portions of said flat display screen and said transparent plate onto said first and second contact zones, respectively, in order to electrically connect said flat display screen and said transparent plate to said bus lines.

3. A hand-held computer according to claim 1, further comprising connector means electrically connected to said bus lines and mounted outwardly on said peripheral frame for connecting external electrical devices to said bus lines.

4. A hand-held computer according to claim 1, wherein said bus lines are located internal to said peripheral frame and said electronic circuit cards are removably plugged into said peripheral frame for electrical contact with said bus lines.

5. A hand-held computer according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone connected to said electronic circuit cards for phoneme recognition.