Digital assistant system including a host computer with a docking bay for the digital assistant wherein a heat sink is moved into contact with a docked digital assistant for cooling the digital assistant

• US 5,689,654 A
• Filed: 11/07/1994
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inpro II Licensing SARL
• Original Assignee: Elonex IP Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan, Dornier, Pascal, Seiler, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ray, Gopal C.
• Application Number:
  US08/335,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 395/325, 395/800, 395/275, 395/425, 395/725, 395/155, 395/281, 395/308, 395/893, 395/200.01, 345/160, 345/169, 345/173, 379/93, 379/96, 364/709.09, 364/708.1, 320/21, 361/686, 455/89
• US Class Current: 710/303
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03541 Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 : using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 : using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 : Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 : the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 : Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 : with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 : the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 : By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 : Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 : Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0273 : having extensions for peripherals, e.g. LAN, antennas details of antennas H01Q1/2275

Abstract

A personal digital assistant module with a local CPU, memory, and I/O interface has a host interface comprising a bus connected to the local CPU and a connector at a surface of the personal digital assistant for interfacing to a bus connector of a host general-purpose computer, providing direct bus communication between the personal digital assistant and the host general-purpose computer. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistant also stores a security code. The personal digital assistant according to the invention forms a host/satellite combination with a host computer having a docking bay, wherein upon docking a docking protocol controls access by the host to memory of the personal digital assistant based on one or more passwords provided by a user to the host. In another embodiment the personal digital assistant also has an expansion port connected to the local CPU, and expansion peripheral devices may be connected and operated through the expansion port. Docking structures and cooling apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A digital assistant system, comprising:

a digital assistant having a CPU, a memory connected to the CPU by a bus, a power supply, a display, input apparatus, and a host interface comprising a host interface bus coupled to the CPU and to an interface connector;

a host computer having a host CPU, a docking bay adapted for receiving and docking the digital assistant, a host bus coupled to the CPU and to a host interface connector in the docking bay compatible with the interface connector of the digital assistant, and control routines for managing communication with the docked digital assistant; and

at least one heat sink structure in the docking bay with translation apparatus for moving the heat sink structure into contact with the docked digital assistant during a portion of time the digital assistant is docked.

2. A digital assistant system as in claim 1 wherein the docking bay is adapted as a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot.

3. A digital assistant system as in claim 1 wherein the host computer is one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a hand-held computer.

4. A digital assistant system as in claim 1 wherein the digital assistant additionally comprises an expansion bus interface having an expansion bus connected to the CPU and to a first portion of an expansion bus connector, the first portion of the expansion bus connector being accessible to a user for connecting expansion devices with the digital assistant docked.

5. A digital assistant system as in claim 1 additionally comprising a nonvolatile storage device connected to the CPU and containing a code unique to the digital assistant, for uniquely identifying the digital assistant to connecting digital devices.

6. A digital assistant system as in claim 1 wherein the host interface bus comprises a full-service parallel bus connected to the CPU, and wherein, upon docking, the CPU of the digital assistant exchanges information with the host CPU.

7. A digital assistant system as in claim 1 wherein the translation apparatus comprises a user-operable lever for advancing and retracting the heat sink structure to contact and retract from the docked digital assistant.

8. A digital assistant system as in claim 1 wherein the translation apparatus comprises an electro-mechanical device responsive to a command from the host CPU for advancing a retracting the heat sink structure to contact and retract from the digital assistant.

9. A digital assistant system as in claim 8 wherein the heat sink structure comprises an extension for engaging the docked personal digital assistant, preventing removal of the docked personal digital assistant until the heat sink structure is retracted.

10. A digital assistant system as in claim 9 wherein the host computer is adapted to require entry of a password to enable retraction of the heat sink structure from a docked digital assistant.

11. A digital assistant system, comprising:

a digital assistant having a CPU, a memory connected to the CPU by a bus, a power supply, a display, input apparatus, and a host interface comprising a host interface bus coupled to the CPU and to an interface connector;

a host computer having a host CPU, a docking bay adapted for receiving and docking the digital assistant, a host bus coupled to the CPU and to a host interface connector in the docking bay compatible with the interface connector of the digital assistant, and control routines for managing communication with the docked digital assistant;

a movable structure in the docking bay adapted for engaging the docked digital assistant preventing removal of the docked digital assistant from the docking bay; and

electro-mechanical translation apparatus responsive to commands from the host CPU connected to the moveable structure and adapted for advancing and retracting the moveable structure to engage the docked digital assistant during a portion of time the digital assistant is docked, and for releasing the docked digital assistant.

12. A digital assistant system as in claim 11 wherein the host computer is adapted to require entry of a password to enable retraction of the moveable structure from a docked digital assistant, releasing the docked digital assistant.