Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-17
2001-07-17
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S697000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262889
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Parent application Ser. No. 09/092,261 discloses a user-supported hands free activated computer constructed of heat-insulating materials. Computers have been known and used involving wearable computers and displays. The feature of these prior art computers is that they permit the user to have freedom to use his or her hands for repairing or other functions while using a fully functional computer. One of the most commercially successful and well known of these computers in the Mobile Assistant® available from Xybernaut Corporation of Fairfax, Va. Mobile Assistant® is a registered trademark of Xybernaut Corporation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,244 (Newman I) describes the details of the Mobile Assistant® and fully discloses the components and function of such user-supported computers. Also, co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/092,261 describes and claims further heat-insulating improvements and modifications to the Mobile Assistant®. Both U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,244 (Newman I), U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,824 (Newman II) and Ser. No. 09/092,261 are owned by the assignee of the present application.
Prior art patents also disclosing wearable computers are U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,398 (Janik I) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,651 (Janik (II). Both of these patents disclose a belt or vest containing computer containing pockets for the elements or components of a computer. In Janik I the plurality of computing elements are located on the belt and a flexible signal relaying means connects all of the elements for computing. A protective covering is used for enclosing said computer elements. In Janik II a similar belt computer is described and claimed in which the signal relaying means, the length of which between any two computing elements is greater than the distance between any two computing elements. In both Janik I and Janik II the flexible wearable computer is in the form of a belt comprising around its periphery sequentially positioned pockets or housings containing computer elements.
In both Newman I and II and Janik I and II, a body-worn computer is disclosed wherein the computer is worn in contact with a user's body. A serious problem in wearable computers could be the heat generated while in use and worn by the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a computer structure devoid of the above noted disadvantages.
Another object of this invention is to provide a computer structure that can be safely used with a minimum of computer generated heat in contact with a user's body.
A further object of this invention is to provide a computer structure that when worn can be used interchangeably on the right or left side of a user.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a mobile computer structure that can be worn safely on any portion of the body in a hands-free manner.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a computer structure that contains substantially all of the components needed in a general purpose or conventional computer including but not limited to input/output means, processor means and storage means.
Yet still another object of this invention is to provide a mobile body-worn computer housing that contains all of the computer components plus a battery.
Other objects will become apparent upon a further reading of this disclosure.
The above objects and others are accomplished, generally speaking, by a computer structure that has all of the components of a conventional computer and a battery all in the same housing where the battery provides the bonus function of acting as an insulating layer. By “conventional computer” is meant any computer known and used today such as those available from IBM, Dell, Apple, Compaq, Toshiba, Micron, Hewlett-Packard etc. The computer structure of this invention in one embodiment has a computer housing that can be worn around the waist of the user and is curved on its inner side (the side that contacts the user's waist) to be contoured in accordance with the curvature of the user's waist. Obviously, it does not need to be curved if some other configuration is more desirable. It has structural dimensions or area that occupies only a portion of said user's waistline. Thus, unlike Janik I and II above discussed, the computer housing of the present invention does not encircle the entire waist of the user. When used as a waist-worn computer, it is important that cables and other electrical connections extend from the back portion of the computer so as to be out of the way and not interfere with the user's hands when he or she is attempting to repair an object or machine or otherwise use their hands. The computer structure is symmetrical; therefore the computer can be turned upside down as a unit for left-hand operation; the cable outlets in this manner always will face the back of the user. Conversely, the mouse controls (when converted to a conventional computer) will always be positioned in the front of the computer housing convenient for the right- or left-handed user. The housing of the computer of this invention has outlets for connection to other components such as monitors, keyboards or any other required component. All embodiments of a mobile computer described in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/092,261 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,244 are included in those structures usable in the present invention with the modification described and claimed herein.
The disclosure of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,305,244 and 5,844,824 and Ser. No. 09/092,261 are incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.
The embodiment of this invention that includes voice activation when the computer is body-worn also includes a body-worn display screen such as a head-worn (or arm-worn display) or the display can be a flip up or other monitor located on the computer housing. The computer housing in the present invention includes all of the components found in a conventional computer such as a storage means, processor means, audio transducer and converter means and recognizing means, all of which are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,244. Also included in this embodiment are means for mounting the computer housing onto a user. Generally, attachment is made on a belt worn by a user such as around the waist, over the shoulder or onto a vest torso. Preferably in a front terminal portion of the computer housing extending outwardly is a heat sink comprising ribbed or louvered sections to permit heat to be dissipated from the interior of the housing and to allow a proper internal temperature best suited for computer operation. Also, it is imperative that this body-worn computer be maintained at temperatures safe and suitable to be worn for extended periods of time. The computer housing bottom section generally is made of a lightweight yet rigid plastic or other suitable non-heat conducting material. In the present invention, a substantial or major portion of the top and side sections of the housing are constructed of a heat-dissipating material which transmits or conducts the heat from the internal portion of the housing away from the user and to the atmosphere. These top and side outer sections (away from the body of the user), together with the above-noted heat sink located in a front raised portion, efficiently dissipates heat from the internal portion of the housing and safe for the user. The housing is contoured or somewhat curved to follow the curvature of the human body such as the torso or waistline. The portion of the computer housing that contacts the user's body has rubber feet or other insulating material that doubles as a belt loop anchor (when used as a body-worn computer). The front underside of the housing will, as mentioned in the preferred embodiment, also have loops attached to the legs through which a belt will fit when attaching to a user. The conduits or connection means which are preferably located in the rear side of the housing are used for cable connection to power means, peripherals, and the body or head-mounted display or conventional monit
Jenkins Michael D.
Newman Edward G.
Chang Yean-Hsi
Picard Leo P.
Ralabate James J.
Xybernaut Corporation
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