Handheld computer

• US 8,804,332 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Canova, Francis James Jr., Hawkins, Jeffrey C., Neist, Traci Angela, Boyle, Dennis Joseph, Twiss, Robert Gregory, Han, Amy Aimei, Tal, Elisha Avraham, Francavilla, Madeleine
• Primary Examiner(s): Datskovskiy, Michail V
• Application Number:
  US11/772,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20070279859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,601 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.08, 361/679.09, 361/679.56, 361/679.02, 361/679.3, 361/679.21, 361/679.26, 361/679.55, 395144-149, 395/24, 395/143, 395/155, 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 200/6.A, 200/17.R, 200/18, 200/353, 200/357, 200/517, 200/292, 200/229, 200/341, 200/345, 200/168, 200/344, 455/566, 455/566.1, 455/566.2, 455/569, 455/575, 455/568, 455/90, 379/88.13, 379/93.17, 379/110.01, 379/433, 379/434
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• 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 1/1626 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: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

A handheld computer having a housing with a midframe construction is described. The housing includes a front shell and a back shell coupled to a midframe. The handheld computer also includes two accessory slots for a stylus or other devices on the left and right sides of the housing. The handheld computer also includes an infrared port which is an integral portion of the housing.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a front shell to house the touch-sensitive display;

a mid-frame coupled to the front shell, the mid-frame including a plurality of engaging structures to fasten internal components of the mobile computing device to the mid-frame, the mid-frame further including one or more openings for one or more ports on at least a top edge of the mid-frame to connect external components with the internal components; and

a rear shell coupled to the mid-frame.

2. The mobile-computing device of claim 1, further comprising a lens coupled to a front surface of the mid-frame, wherein the front shell includes an opening corresponding to a perimeter of the lens.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a lens coupled to a rear surface of the mid-frame, wherein the rear shell includes an opening corresponding to a perimeter of the lens.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the rear shell includes one or more clips to releasably couple to the mid-frame.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising one or more gaskets disposed between the touch-sensitive display and the front shell.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a main board coupled to the mid-frame, the main board including a processor, a memory and one or more connectors for the touch-sensitive display.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising an electrostatic discharge device coupled to the main board.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 6, wherein the main board is to interference fit with the mid-frame.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 6, wherein the main board is to snap fit with the mid-frame.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 6, wherein the main board is a printed circuit board.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 6, wherein one or more of the engaging structures includes one or more clips to hold the main board in place.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible circuit coupled to the mid-frame, the flexible circuit to carry one or more of the internal components of the mobile computing device.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the flexible circuit is sealed to the one or more openings to prevent entry of dust and/or short circuiting of any of the internal components.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the flexible circuit is made from a Mylar®

material.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the front shell and the rear shell each couple to the mid-frame to expose a lateral portion of the mid-frame, and wherein the lateral portion of the mid-frame is formed to include a partially exposed accessory slot having an opening on the top edge of the mid-frame.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising one or more adhesive sheets to couple the mid-frame to one or more of the front shell or the rear shell.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the one or more adhesive sheets are formed to outline the mid-frame.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the one or more adhesive sheets are hot melt adhesives to seal the mid-frame with one or more of the front shell or the rear shell.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 18, wherein the hot melt adhesives solidify to provide structural rigidity to the mobile computing device.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the mid-frame is constructed to include the plurality of engaging structures to attach all of the internal components of the mobile computing device to the mid-frame.