Method and apparatus for implementing a configurable personal computing device

• US 6,700,773 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2000
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Revolutionary Learning Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Revolutionary Learning Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Keiser, Richard G., Adriaansen, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/705,511
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-686, 361/724-727, 345/179, 345/156, 345/168, 345/173
• US Class Current: 361/679.08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• 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 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

A computer and method of operating same. One aspect is a computer configurable between three configurations. In a first, a display and keyboard are accessible to a user. In a second configuration, the display and a keyless interface are accessible. The third configuration is a tablet configuration. In another aspect the keyboard and keyless interface are disposed on opposite sides of a module, and a cable-less connection is provided between the module and a body of the computer housing the processor. A further aspect is a computer comprising a body and a module slidably mountable thereto and including the keyboard and keyless interface on opposite sides. The body includes a slot to slidably receive the module, with the slot having an open end. A further aspect is an adapter, and method of use therefor, for use with a notebook computer. The adapter comprises a body including a mechanical interface for mechanically mounting to the notebook computer; and a keyless interface movably mounted to the body so that the keyless interface can be arranged in at least two configurations relative to the notebook computer.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a body including a processor;

a display mechanically coupled to the body;

a module that is mountable to the body and includes an alphanumeric keyboard and a keyless user interface disposed on opposite sides thereof; and

at least one electrical connector to electrically couple the keyboard and the keyless user interface to the processor, wherein the at least one electrical connector includes a cable-less interface between the module and the body;

wherein the body is adapted to receive the module in a first configuration wherein the keyboard is accessible to the user and the keyless user interface is inaccessible and in a second configuration wherein the keyless user interface is accessible to the user and the keyboard is inaccessible; and

wherein the at least one electrical connector includes;

a first connector that is disposed on the body and is electrically coupled to the processor; and

a second connector that disposed on the module and is electrically coupled to the keyboard;

wherein the first and second connectors are configured to physically mate to form an electrical connection between the processor and the keyboard when the computer is in the first configuration and to be physically separated so as to not form an electrical connection between the processor and the keyboard when the computer is in the second configuration.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical connector further includes a third connector that is disposed on the module and is electrically coupled to the keyless user interface, wherein the first and third connectors are configured to physically mate to form an electrical connection between the processor and the keyless user interface when the computer is in the second configuration and to be physically separated so as to not form an electrical connection between the processor and the keyless user interface when the computer is in the first configuration.

3. A computer, comprising:

a body including a processor;

a display mechanically coupled to the body;

a module that is mountable to the body and includes an alphanumeric keyboard and a keyless user interface disposed on opposite sides thereof; and

at least one electrical connector to electrically couple the keyboard and the keyless user interface to the processor, wherein the at least one electrical connector includes a cable-less interface between the module and the body;

wherein the body includes a slot to slidably receive the module, the slot having first and second ends, the second end being open so that the module can be slid partially out of the slot so that a portion of the module can extend beyond the second end; and

wherein the computer further includes a door that is movably mounted to the body between open and closed positions, wherein in the open position the door closes the second end of the slot to prevent the module from being slid partially out of the slot, and wherein in the open position the door opens the second end of the slot so that the module can be slid partially out of the slot.

4. A computer, comprising:

a body including a processor;

a display mechanically coupled to the body; and

a module that is slidably mountable to the body and includes an alphanumeric keyboard and a keyless user interface disposed on opposite sides thereof;

wherein the body includes a slot to slidably receive the module in a first configuration wherein the keyboard is accessible to the user and the keyless user interface is inaccessible and in a second configuration wherein the keyless user interface is accessible to the user and the keyboard is inaccessible, the slot having first and second ends, the second end being open so that the module can be slid partially out of the slot so that a portion of the module can extend beyond the second end when moving between the first and second configurations; and

wherein the computer further includes a door that is movably mounted to the body between open and closed positions, wherein in the open position the door closes the second end of the slot to prevent the module from being slid partially out of the slot, and wherein in the open position the door opens the second end of the slot so that the module can be slid partially out of the slot.