Component for use as a portable computing device and pointing device

• US 7,054,965 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OQO Incorporated (Audiotone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Betts-LaCroix, Jonathan, Merz, Nicholas G. L., Prichard, Michael, Bell, Jory
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US10/391,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20040186935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 710 2- 4, 710 17- 19, 710/100, 710/106, 710 72- 74, 710 62- 63, 710300-304, 345 11- 13, 345 21- 23, 345/156, 345/169
• US Class Current: 710/72
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A core component is disclosed which includes a processing module and a touch screen. The core component may operate by itself in a first mode to perform functions similar to that of a conventional personal digital assistant (PDA). In particular, the touch screen may both provide visual output and receive input from a user'"'"'s finger when the core component operates in the first mode. When the core component is connected to another component including a display screen, the core component may operate in a second mode in which input received through the touch screen is provided to the other component. For example, the movement of a user'"'"'s finger may control the position of a cursor displayed on a screen of the other component so that the core component exhibits the behavior of a trackpad when operating in the second mode.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a core device comprising a core computer processor, a core memory, a core storage device, a touch screen, and means for receiving input from and providing output through the touch screen in a first mode of operation of the core device;

a secondary display device;

means for coupling the core device to the secondary display device by inserting at least part of the core device into a cavity in the secondary display device; and

means for providing input received from the touch screen to the secondary display device in a second mode of operation of the core device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the core device operates in the first mode of operation when the core device is not coupled to the secondary display device, and wherein the core device operates in the second mode of operation when the core device is coupled to the secondary display device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary input device;

means for coupling the core device and the secondary input device to the secondary display device; and

means for providing input received from the touch screen to the secondary display device in a third mode of operation of the core device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the core device operates in the third mode of operation when the core device and the secondary input device are coupled to the secondary display device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for disabling output through the touch screen when the core device operates in the second mode of operation.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the core device comprises a portable computing device.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing input comprises tracking means for tracking movement of an object on the surface of the touch screen.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the tracking means comprises means for moving a cursor displayed on the secondary display device to track the movement of the object on the surface of the touch screen.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the object comprises a finger.

7. In a system comprising a core device comprising a core computer processor, a core memory, a core storage device, and a touch screen, a method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving input from and providing output through the touch screen in a first mode of operation;

(B) coupling the core device to a secondary display device by inserting at least part of the core device into a cavity in the secondary display device; and

(C) providing input received from the touch screen to the secondary display device in a second mode of operation of the core device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising steps of:

(D) detecting that the core device has been coupled to the secondary display device; and

(E) causing the core device to enter the second mode of operation in response to the detection performed in step (D).

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising steps of:

(D) coupling the core device and a secondary input device to the secondary display device; and

(E) providing input received from the touch screen to the secondary display device in a third mode of operation of the core device.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising steps of:

(F) detecting that the core device and the secondary input device have been coupled to the secondary display device; and

(G) causing the core device to enter the third mode of operation in response to the detection performed in step (F).

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising a step of:

(D) disabling the touch screen output means when the core device operates in the second mode of operation.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the core device comprises a portable computing device.

25. The method of claim 7, wherein step (C) comprises steps of:

(C) (1) receiving the input from the touch screen in the second mode of operation, the input representing a movement of an object on the touch screen;

(C) (2) providing the input to the secondary display device; and

(C) (3) moving a displayed cursor on the secondary display device to indicate the movement of the object.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the object comprises a finger.

13. A core device comprising:

a core computer processor;

a core memory;

a core storage device;

a touch screen comprising touch screen input means and touch screen output means;

means for receiving input from and providing output through the touch screen in a first mode of operation of the core device;

means for entering a second mode of operation when at least part of the core device is inserted into a cavity in the secondary display device; and

means for providing input received from the touch screen to a secondary display device in the second mode of operation of the core device.

14. The core device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for entering the first mode of operation when the at least part of the core device is not inserted into the cavity in the secondary display device.

15. The core device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for coupling the core device and a secondary input device to the secondary display device; and

means for providing input received from the touch screen to the secondary display device in a third mode of operation of the core device.

16. The core device of claim 15, wherein the means for providing input comprises means for providing input received from the touch screen to the secondary display device only when the core device and the secondary input device are coupled to the secondary display device.

17. The core device of claim 13, wherein the core device comprises a portable computing device.

27. The core device of claim 13, wherein the means for providing input comprises:

means for receiving the input from the touch screen in the second mode of operation, the input representing a movement of an object on the touch screen;

means for providing the input to the secondary display device; and

means for moving a displayed cursor on the secondary display device to indicate the movement of the object.

28. The core device of claim 27, wherein the object comprises a finger.

18. In a core device comprising a core computer processor, a core memory, a core storage device, and a touch screen comprising touch screen input means and touch screen output means, a method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving input from and providing output through the touch screen in a first mode of operation;

(B) entering a second mode of operation when at least part of the core device is inserted into a cavity in the secondary display device; and

(C) providing input received from the touch screen to a secondary display device in the second mode of operation of the core device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step (C) comprises steps of:

(C) (1) determining whether the core device is coupled to the secondary display device; and

(C) (2) providing input received from the touch screen to the secondary display device only when the core device is determined to be coupled to the secondary display device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step (A) comprises steps of:

(A) (1) determining whether the core device is coupled to the secondary display device; and

(A) (2) providing output through the touch screen only when the core device is determined not to be coupled to the secondary display device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the core device comprises a portable computing device.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein step (C) comprises steps of:

(C) (1) receiving the input from the touch screen in the second mode of operation, the input representing a movement of an object on the touch screen;

(C) (2) providing the input to the secondary display device; and

(C) (3) moving a displayed cursor on the secondary display device to indicate the movement of the object.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the object comprises a finger.