Mobile communicator bracing system

• US 5,613,223 A
• Filed: 05/22/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Amsc Subsidiary Corp. (PetIQ, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ross, David J., Williams, Kevin J., Isaacs, Blake L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Application Number:
  US08/445,777
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/54.1, 455/89, 455/90, 455/128, 455/345, 455/347, 455/348, 340/990, 340/991, 361/680, 361/681, 361/752, 361/757, 361/814, 364/424.01, 364/449
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• 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: H01Q 1/18 Means for stabilising antennas on an unstable platform
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device

Abstract

A bracing system protects and secures the internal components of a mobile communication system. The bracing system includes an upper housing comprised of a shock resistant material. The upper housing includes a monitor cavity, elevated portions surrounding the monitor cavity and formed in the upper housing, and elastomer sections disposed on the elevated portions. In addition, the upper housing includes a breakage resistant transparent material placed on the elastomer sections and in conformity with the monitor cavity, a display monitor being protected by the breakage resistant material, and a shock absorbing material disposed around the peripheries of the breakage resistant transparent material and the display monitor. The shock absorbing material is mounted to at least one of the breakage resistant transparent material and the display monitor. The upper housing also includes a mounting bracket biasing the display monitor to the upper housing and the breakage resistant material, and mounted to the upper housing, an integral keyboard formed of a water resistant material including elevated keys and mounting holes arranged around the periphery and between selected keys, and a first printed circuit board including switches selectively activated in response to depression of the elevated keys and mounted to the upper housing through the mounting holes in the integral keyboard. The bracing system also includes a lower housing comprised of another shock resistant material. The lower housing includes a second printed circuit board including a central processing unit, and mounted to the lower housing, and a support mounted to the lower housing and extending in a direction toward the upper housing and through the second printed circuit board.

Claims

1. In a mobile satellite system including a satellite communication switching office having a satellite antenna for receiving/transmitting a satellite message via a satellite from/to a vehicle using a mobile communication system having internal components, a satellite interface system, a fleet management system including a central controller receiving/transmitting the satellite message from/to the satellite communication switching office, the central controller at least one of mapping occurrences of predetermined conditions along a transport route responsive to the satellite message received from the vehicle via the satellite and the satellite interface system using a mobile sensing station mounted on the vehicle traversing said transport route, and receiving data in the satellite message received from the vehicle, the mobile communication system including a bracing system for protecting and securing the internal components, the bracing system comprising:

an upper housing comprised of a shock resistant material and including

a monitor cavity;

elevated portions surrounding said monitor cavity and formed in said upper housing;

elastomer sections disposed on said elevated portions, forming a first seal between said monitor cavity and said upper housing;

a breakage resistant transparent material placed on said elastomer sections and in conformity with said monitor cavity;

a display monitor being protected by said breakage resistant material;

a shock absorbing material disposed around the peripheries of said breakage resistant transparent material and said display monitor, said shock absorbing material mounted to at least one of said breakage resistant transparent material and said display monitor;

a mounting bracket biasing said display monitor to said upper housing and said breakage resistant material, and mounted to said upper housing;

an integral keyboard formed of a water resistant material including elevated keys and mounting holes arranged around the periphery and between selected keys; and

a first printed circuit board including switches selectively activated in response to depression of said elevated keys and mounted to said upper housing through said mounting holes in said integral keyboard forming a second seal between said keyboard and said upper housing; and

a lower housing comprised of another shock resistant material and including

a second printed circuit board including a central processing unit, and mounted to said lower housing, and receiving data from or transmitting data to an external device or destination; and

a support mounted to said lower housing and extending in a direction toward said upper housing and through said second printed circuit board, preventing said upper and lower housings from collapsing inwardly.

2. A bracing system according to claim 1, further comprising protruding semi-arc portions disposed on the bottom surface of the mobile communication system, the arc portions arranged in a semi-circular shape corresponding to the shape of a steering wheel in the vehicle, the arc portions configured to temporarily position the mobile communication system on the steering wheel for convenience of use.

3. A bracing system according to claim 1, further comprising cable organizer means, disposed on the bottom surface of the mobile communication system, for organizing cables to be connected to the mobile communication system and to inhibit interference among the cables.

4. A bracing system according to claim 3, wherein said cable organizer means includes a recessed portion in a rectangular shape disposed on the bottom surface of the mobile communication system having a depth substantially corresponding to a thickness of the cables, permitting the mobile communication system to rest levelly on a flat surface.

5. A bracing system according to claim 3, wherein said cable organizer means includes a recessed portion in a step-shape disposed on the bottom surface of the mobile communication system, and having a depth substantially corresponding to a thickness of the cables, permitting the mobile communication system to rest levelly on a flat surface.

6. A bracing system according to claim 1, wherein the shock resistant material comprises a polycarbonate type material.

7. A bracing system according to claim 1, wherein said shock absorbing material comprises silicon foam and is attached to one of said breakage resistant material and said display monitor using an adhesive.

8. A bracing system according to claim 1, further comprising end bumpers comprised of an elastomeric material for absorbing shock experienced by said upper and lower housings, said end bumpers disposed on opposite ends of said upper and lower housings inhibiting shock experience by the mobile communicator system.

9. A bracing system according to claim 1, wherein said breakage resistant transparent material comprises tempered glass.

10. A bracing system according to claim 9, wherein the tempered glass comprises heat treated tempered glass.

11. A bracing system according to claim 1, wherein the support further includes a shock absorbing member disposed on an upper surface of the support for facing said upper housing.

12. A bracing system according to claim 1, wherein said upper housing further comprises another shock absorbing material disposed around the peripheries of said breakage resistant transparent material and said upper housing, said another shock absorbing material mounted to at least one of said breakage resistant transparent material and said upper housing.

13. In a mobile satellite system including a satellite communication switching office having a satellite antenna for receiving/transmitting a satellite message via a satellite from/to a vehicle using a mobile communication system having internal components, a satellite interface system, a central controller at least one of mapping occurrences of predetermined conditions along a transport route responsive to the satellite message received from the vehicle via the satellite and the satellite interface system using a mobile sensing station mounted on the vehicle traversing said transport route, and receiving data in the satellite message received from the vehicle, the mobile communication system including a bracing system for protecting and securing the internal components, the bracing system comprising:

an upper housing comprised of a shock resistant material and including

a monitor cavity;

a first shock absorbing material anchored on said monitor cavity forming a first seal between said monitor cavity and said upper housing;

a breakage resistant transparent material placed on said elastomer material and in conformity with said monitor cavity;

a display monitor being protected by said breakage resistant material and secured to said upper housing;

a second shock absorbing material disposed around the peripheries of said breakage resistant transparent material and said display monitor;

an integral keyboard formed of a water resistant material including elevated keys and mounting holes arranged around the periphery and between selected keys; and

a first printed circuit board including switches selectively activated in response to depression of said elevated keys and mounted to said upper housing through said mounting holes in said integral keyboard forming a second seal between said keyboard and said upper housing; and

a lower housing comprised of another shock resistant material and including a second printed circuit board including a central processing unit, and mounted to said lower housing, and receiving data from or transmitting data to an external device or destination.

14. A bracing system according to claim 13, wherein said breakage resistant transparent material comprises tempered glass.

15. A bracing system according to claim 14, further comprising end bumpers comprised of an elastomeric material for absorbing shock experienced by said upper and lower housings, said end bumpers disposed on opposite ends of said upper and lower housings inhibiting shock experience by the mobile communicator system.

16. In a mobile satellite system including a satellite communication switching office having a satellite antenna for receiving/transmitting a satellite message via a satellite from/to a vehicle using a mobile communication system having internal components, a satellite interface system, a fleet management system including a central controller receiving/transmitting the satellite message from/to the satellite communication switching office, the mobile communication system including a bracing system for protecting and securing the internal components, the bracing system comprising:

an upper housing comprised of a shock resistant material and including

a monitor cavity;

first shock absorbing means for forming a first seal between said monitor cavity and said upper housing and for absorbing shock;

a display monitor secured to said upper housing;

breakage resistant means for protecting said display monitor;

second shock absorbing means, disposed around the peripheries of said breakage resistant transparent material and said display monitor, for absorbing shock; and

keyboard means including keys and mounted to said upper housing for inputting data responsive to activation of the keys and for forming a second seal with said upper housing; and

a lower housing comprised of another shock resistant material and including a printed circuit board including a central processing unit, and mounted to said lower housing.

17. A bracing system according to claim 16, further comprising end bumpers comprised of an elastomeric material for absorbing shock experienced by said upper and lower housings, said end bumpers disposed on opposite ends of said upper and lower housings inhibiting shock experience by the mobile communicator system.

18. In a mobile satellite system including a satellite communication switching office having a satellite antenna for receiving/transmitting a satellite message via a satellite from/to a vehicle using a mobile communication system having internal components, a satellite interface system, a fleet management system including a central controller receiving/transmitting the satellite message from/to the satellite communication switching office, the central controller at least one of mapping occurrences of predetermined conditions along a transport route responsive to the satellite message received from the vehicle via the satellite and the satellite interface system using a mobile sensing station mounted on the vehicle traversing said transport route, and receiving data in the satellite message received from the vehicle, the mobile communication system including a bracing system for protecting and securing the internal components, a method of assembling the internal components of the mobile communicator system having upper and lower housings, comprising the steps of:

(a) assembling an upper housing comprised of a shock resistant material and having a monitor cavity and keyboard receiving area, including the steps of

(a1) positioning elastomer sections around the monitor cavity on the inside of the upper housing;

(a2) positioning a breakage resistant transparent material on the elastomer sections and in conformity with the monitor cavity, the elastomer sections positioned between the monitor cavity and the breakage resistant transparent material, and the elastomer sections forming a first seal between the monitor cavity and the breakage resistant transparent material;

(a3) positioning a shock absorbing material disposed around the peripheries of the breakage resistant transparent material;

(a4) positioning a display monitor on the shock absorbing material, the shock absorbing material positioned between the display monitor and the breakage resistant transparent material;

(a5) securing said display monitor to the upper housing, and securing the shock absorbing material, the breakage resistant material, and the elastomer sections to the monitor cavity of the upper housing;

(a6) positioning an integral water resistant keyboard in the keyboard receiving area;

(a7) positioning a printed circuit board switch array on the keyboard, the keyboard disposed between the keyboard receiving area and the printed circuit board switch array;

(a8) securing the peripheries of the printed circuit board and the keyboard to the upper housing through first mounting holes on the periphery of the keyboard, and securing the internal areas of the printed circuit and the keyboard to the upper housing through second mounting holes between selected keys of the keyboard, forming a water resistant seal therebetween;

(b) assembling a lower housing comprised of another shock resistant material and including a support extending in a direction toward the upper housing, including the step of securing a second printed circuit board including a central processing unit and a receiving hole to the lower housing, the support extending through the receiving hole toward the upper housing preventing said upper and lower housings from collapsing inwardly;

(c) assembling the upper and lower housings together; and

(d) securing bumper handles on opposite ends of the assembled upper and lower housings.

19. A bracing system according to claim 18, wherein the breakage resistant transparent material comprises tempered glass.