Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Actuators
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-27
2004-06-08
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Actuators
C200S511000, C200S302100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06747224
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to the field of electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of personal digital assistants (PDAS) or other types of portable electronic devices.
BACKGROUND ART
Computers and other electronic devices have become integral tools used in a wide variety of different applications, such as in finance and commercial transactions, computer-aided design and manufacturing, health care, telecommunication, education, etc. Computers along with other electronic devices are finding new applications as a result of advances in hardware technology and rapid development in software technology. Furthermore, the functionality of a computer system or other type of electronic device is dramatically enhanced by coupling these type of stand-alone devices together in order to form a networking environment. Within a networking environment, users may readily exchange files, share information stored on a common database, pool resources, and communicate via electronic mail (e-mail) and via video teleconferencing. Furthermore, computers along with other types of electronic devices which are coupled to the Internet provide their users access to data and information from all over the world. Computer systems have become useful in many aspects of everyday life both for personal and business uses.
Included within this broad category of computers and electronic devices is the personal digital assistant (commonly referred to as a PDA). Specifically, as the components required to build a computer system have been greatly reduced in size, new categories of computer systems have emerged. One of these new categories of computer systems is the personal digital assistant. A personal digital assistant is a portable computer system which is small enough to be held in the hand of its user and can be “palm-sized.”
Since personal digital assistants are very small, full-sized keyboards are generally not efficient input devices. For instance, personal digital assistants using keyboards usually have keyboard devices that are so small that a user typically cannot touch-type on them. Many personal digital assistants employ a stylus and a digitizer pad as an input system. The stylus and digitizer pad work well for personal digital assistants because the arrangement allows a user to hold the personal digital assistant in one hand while writing with the stylus onto the digitizer pad with the other hand. A small on-screen keyboard image can also be used for data entry. Because of the elimination of the keyboard, personal digital assistants are very portable and tend to be carried by the user wherever they go, including on travel.
Furthermore, the personal digital assistant is usually a battery powered device that is typically used as an electronic organizer having the capability to store and display a wide range of information which can include numerous addresses and telephone numbers of business and personal acquaintances, financial information, daily appointments, “to do” list, along with various other personal information. In this manner, the personal digital assistant is able to consolidate a variety of information which is easily accessible by its user. Therefore, personal digital assistants are very useful and powerful devices.
It should be appreciated that there are disadvantages associated with personal digital assistants. For example, between the top cover and parameter of each button of a typical personal digital assistant there is a gap which is an entrance area for dirt and/or grim that is capable of stopping one or more of the buttons from functioning properly. Specifically, the activation travel distance of each button of the typical personal digital assistant may be as small as 0.3 millimeters (mm). As such, particles of dirt and/or grim (e.g., from a user's hand) may get underneath one (or more) of the buttons via the parameter gaps surrounding the buttons and thereby obstruct its very small functional movement.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a need exists for a method and apparatus that provides a seal for the buttons of a personal digital assistant that restricts dirt, grim, and other foreign particles from getting underneath them. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus which accomplish the above mentioned need.
One embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes a “plug-in” button module for a personal digital assistant (PDA). Specifically, the “plug-in” button module includes a button frame module having a flexible membrane layer (e.g., thermo-plastic urethane or thermo-plastic elastomer) molded over it. The plug-in module can be snapped into the personal digital assistant over its button array. In this manner, the plug-in button module provides a seal for the buttons of the personal digital assistant that restricts dirt, grim, and other foreign particles from getting underneath them. Furthermore, since the plug-in button module is modular, it can be manufactured separately from the rest of the personal digital assistant in a wide variety of ways. For example, the membrane layer of the plug-in button module can be fabricated with different shapes, colors, hardnesses, decorations, textures, and opacities. In this manner, a user is able to personalize their personal digital assistant by snapping in a particular plug-in button module.
In another embodiment, the present invention includes a removable button module for covering a button of a portable computing device. The removable button module includes a button frame module forming a cavity that aligns with the button of the portable computing device. Furthermore, the removable button module includes a membrane layer disposed on an outer side of the button frame module and covering an opening of the cavity. It is understood that the removable button module is for attaching to the portable computing device to cover the button of the portable computing device. The membrane layer is disposed over the button frame module when the removable button module is attached to the portable computing device to cover the button.
The present invention provides these advantages and others which will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of embodiments in accordance with the present invention.
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patent: 5734137 (1998-03-01), Wakefield
patent: 6172620 (2001-01-01), Brick et al.
Hulick Troy
Jenks Kenneth
Nguyen Huy
Shiozaki Steven
Donovan Lincoln
Lee K.
palmOne, Inc.
Wagner , Murabito & Hao LLP
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