Cradle with combined status indicator light and stylus holder

Details Cradle with combined status indicator light and stylus holder Cradle with combined status indicator light and stylus holder

1999-04-01

2001-06-12

Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S689000, 36, 36, C345S179000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06246577

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of computer docks. In particular, the invention relates to a cradle for a portable computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A computer cradle serves as a communication interface between a portable computer and a second computer, and also can serve as a charging station for the portable computer. The computer cradle also provides a convenient location to place a portable computer so that the screen of the portable computer is easily viewed.
A user often enters information into a portable computer with a stylus. When not in use, the stylus is stored in a cavity along the side of the portable computer. However, a stylus stored in the cavity can be relatively inaccessible and difficult to remove.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a computer cradle with a stylus holder capable of supporting a stylus at an accessible position and angle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of various embodiments is to provide a cradle for a computer with a stylus holder at least partially formed from light transmissive material, thereby combining the functionality of a stylus holder and a status indicator light. Consequently, the complexity of manufacturing the cradle is reduced; for example, this reduces the part count, which is advantageous to the manufacturing process.
One embodiment of the invention includes a computer cradle including a housing, a stylus holder, and a light source. The housing forms a hole having a stylus holder positioned at least partially therein. The stylus holder is formed at least partially from material that transmits light. The light source is positioned in the housing to transmit light through the material that transmits light. The stylus holder thereby has the capabilities of both supporting a stylus and indicating, with light transmitted though the material of the stylus holder that transmits light, a status of the computer cradle or a computer coupled to the cradle. The functionality of the stylus holder is further increased; for example, combining the light transmissive material with the stylus holder makes the stylus holder easier to locate.
Another aspect of various embodiments is to provide a stylus holder for a computer cradle in a manner that allows a user to more easily use a stylus with the stylus holder. In some embodiments, the housing defines a cavity where the stylus holder is located. At least part of the cavity has a cross section that is substantially hourglass-shaped.
In other embodiments, at least part of the stylus holder includes a cavity with a cross section that is substantially funnel-shaped. The funnel-shape of the cavity and the nonperpendicular orientation of the body of the stylus holder on the housing facilitate placing the stylus in the stylus holder and removing the stylus from the stylus holder. For example, a front surface of the housing and a base of the housing form an angle approximately 45 degrees from the base. The stylus holder can support a stylus so that the stylus and the base form an angle approximately 120 degrees from the base. This example angle makes the stylus more accessible from a user's point of view.
Light transmitted through the stylus holder communicates significant information to a user of the computer cradle. In other embodiments of the invention, the light can indicate when the computer cradle properly couples with a portable computer, and the light can indicate one or more of several charge statuses of a portable computer. In further embodiments of the invention, the light can indicate information in various ways, such as emitting various colors, emitting various colors of light, emitting a light blinking at various rates, and emitting light at various brightness levels.
In some embodiments, the computer cradle can accept a portable computer. Other types of computers the computer cradle can accept include a palm size computer and a handheld computer. Another embodiment of the invention includes a computer cradle coupled to both a portable computer and a computer.
Further, some embodiments of the invention include a method of manufacturing a computer cradle comprises the acts of positioning a stylus holder at least partially in a hole defined by a housing, where the stylus holder is at least partially formed from light transmissive material; and positioning a light source in the housing such that the light source is adapted to provide light to the stylus holder.
Further, some embodiments of the invention include a method of using a computer cradle, comprises generating a signal in response to coupling a portable computer to a housing, where the housing includes a stylus holder at least partially formed from light transmissive material; transmitting light from at least part of the stylus holder in response to the signal; and supporting a stylus with the stylus holder.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5375076 (1994-12-01), Goodrich et al.
patent: 5657459 (1997-08-01), Yanagisawa et al.
patent: 5889512 (1999-03-01), Moller et al.

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