Portable computerized data communication device

• US 7,388,742 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cargin, Keith K. Jr., Mahany, Ronald L., Durbin, Dennis A., Kelly, Stephen J., Schultz, Darald R., Boatwright, Darrell L., Gibbs, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US10/691,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-686, 455/90.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0216 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0283 for data storage and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10841 Particularities of the light-sensitive elements semiconductor devices H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 : Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 : by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 : associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 : using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 : Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 : using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 : Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

In one embodiment, a portable computerized data communication device in a data communication system may include, for example, a user interface; a computerized system controlling operation of the device; a device housing having a normal closed condition defining an interior space within the device housing, and having an interior electrical connector within the interior space; and the device having an open condition providing access to the interior space while the device housing is in the open condition to enable connection with the interior electrical connector of a peripheral device equipping the device to perform a new function.

Claims

1. In a data communication system, a portable computerized data communication device having a user interface to enable a user to interact with the device during data communication, said device having a computer processor connected therewith that controls operation of said device, said device having a battery to supply operating power to said computer processor, said device comprising a device housing portion with a peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing portion, a cover releasably engaged with said housing portion, and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector,

said peripheral device circuit having a peripheral device electrical connector fitting accessible from the exterior of said housing portion and coupled with said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit that provides data communication with a peripheral device,

said peripheral device electrical connector being coupled with said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, and

said housing portion providing operative access to said peripheral device electrical connector to enable a peripheral coupling to be received by said peripheral device electrical connector to provide peripheral access to said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said peripheral device electrical connector having a spatial region frontally thereof that accommodates a peripheral coupling.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said cover protectively encloses said spatial region.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is sized to be held in a hand of a user.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises an alphanumeric keypad.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device circuit is adapted to provide a wireless communication capability.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device provides voice communications.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device provides facsimile communications.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device provides data communications.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device performs spread spectrum wireless communications.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device performs wireless RF communications.

11. In a data communication system, a portable computerized data communication device, comprising:

(a) a user interface;

(b) a computerized system, connected with said user interface, controlling operation of the device;

(c) a device housing having an access opening; and

(d) a cap releasably engaged with said housing and enclosing a memory coupling with said computerized system.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said cap forms a cover enclosing said access opening of said housing and said memory.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a peripheral device electrical connector.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the peripheral device electrical connector provides coupling between said computerized system and a particular device external to said cap via a cable.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

a battery,

wherein the peripheral device electrical connector accommodates coupling of said battery with the particular device external to said cap.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is sized to be held in a hand of a user.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the user interface comprises an alphanumeric keypad.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the memory comprises a removable memory card.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the removable memory card provides voice communications.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the removable memory card provides facsimile communications.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the removable memory card provides data communications.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the removable memory card is a PCMCIA card.

23. The device of claim 11, wherein the device performs spread spectrum wireless communications.

24. The device of claim 11, wherein the device performs wireless RF commumcations.

25. In a data communication system, a portable computerized data communication device having a user interface to enable a user to interact with the device during data communication, said device having a computer processor connected therewith that controls operation of said device, said device having a battery to supply operating power to said computer processor, said device comprising a device housing portion with a peripheral device electrical connector accessible from the exterior of said housing portion and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector,

said peripheral device circuit having a peripheral device electrical connector fitting accessible from the exterior of said housing portion and coupled with said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit that provides data communication with a peripheral device,

said peripheral device electrical connector being coupled with said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, and

said housing portion providing operative access to said peripheral device electrical connector to enable a peripheral coupling to be received by said peripheral device electrical connector to provide peripheral access to said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said peripheral device electrical connector having a spatial region frontally thereof that accommodates a peripheral coupling.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the device is sized to be held in a hand of a user.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the user interface comprises an alphanumeric keypad.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the peripheral device circuit is adapted to provide a wireless communication capability.

29. The device of claim 25, wherein the device provides voice communications.

30. The device of claim 25, wherein the device provides facsimile communications.

31. The device of claim 25, wherein the device provides data communications.

32. The device of claim 25, wherein the device performs spread spectrum wireless communications.

33. The device of claim 25, wherein the device performs wireless RF communications.