Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-26
2001-03-20
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S689000, CD14S140400, CD14S140400, C345S167000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205021
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed toward a method for coupling an input device to a laptop computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Laptop computers are portable computers that generally operate from either external or portable power sources. Conventional laptop computers typically have a base pivotably connected to a display housing. The base typically includes a primary input device, such as a keyboard, and the display housing typically includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other type of display. To access the keyboard and the display, a user positions the base on a surface (e.g., the user's lap or a fixed surface) and pivots the display housing away from the base. To stow and easily transport the computer after use, the user pivots the display housing toward the base and secures the display housing to the base in a stowed configuration.
Conventional laptop computers typically include at least one additional input device to supplement the keyboard. The additional input device may include a roller ball, touch pad, joystick or similar device used to manipulate or move images on the display. In one conventional approach, the additional input device is an integral, permanent component mounted to a central portion of the computer base adjacent to the keyboard. One drawback with this additional input device is that the user may wish to position the device to one side of the base. For example, the user may wish to manipulate the additional input device with the right hand, and may accordingly wish to position the device toward the right side of the base. A further drawback is that the user may wish to detach the additional input device from the base to manipulate the device in a position remote from the computer. For example, where space permits and where the additional input device includes a rotatable ball, the user may wish to place the additional input device on a mouse pad and operate it in a manner similar to the way in which the user might operate the mouse of a conventional desktop computer.
One known approach to address these drawbacks is to removably clip a detachable input device to an edge of the base. One conventional detachable input device has an exposed roller ball positioned in an upper surface, and a spring-loaded clip that fits between the edge of the base and the keyboard to bias the detachable input device against the base. However, this detachable input device suffers from several additional drawbacks. For example, the user typically removes such a detachable input device from the base and stows it separately from the computer because the input device is not protected within the base or display housing when the computer is in the stowed configuration. Such a detachable input device is thus more likely to be misplaced or lost. Furthermore, the user typically needs to couple such a detachable input device to the computer before operation by unpacking the detachable device, attaching it to the base, and connecting a cable between the detachable device and the computer. As such, attaching the detachable input device may be time consuming and difficult to perform in constrained environments where laptop computers are typically used.
Another drawback with conventional detachable input devices is that the detachable devices may not be configured to engage surfaces other than the edge of the base to which they are removably attached. Accordingly, the conventional detachable input devices may be difficult to use unless they are properly secured to the edge of the base. Yet a further drawback with conventional detachable input devices is that it may be difficult to adequately secure them to the base. Accordingly, the detachable devices may be accidentally separated from the base if they are jostled or bumped, requiring the user to take time to reattach the input devices. This drawback is particularly problematic when such detachable input devices are used in airplanes, buses or other cramped and crowded environments where the devices may be easily jostled and where it may be inconvenient to reattach the devices to the computer base.
One conventional approach to address some of the foregoing problems with conventional detachable input devices is to provide the laptop computer with a first additional input device fixed to the computer base and a second additional input device detachable from the base. The second additional input device may be a mouse with a cable that may be removably attached to a communication port on the computer. As discussed above, one drawback with this approach is that the user must attach the second additional input device to the computer before using the second device and must detach the second device before stowing the computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method for operating a laptop computer. The laptop computer has a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The first portion may be a base housing and the second portion may be a display housing pivotally attached to the base housing to move between a stowed position and an operating position. In one embodiment, the method comprises releasably attaching a detachable input device to one of the first and second portions of the computer, and then moving the second portion to the stowed position. For example, the input device may be translated vertically or horizontally into an aperture in the first portion of the computer. The input device may be secured within the aperture by biasing one of the input device and an engaging member coupled to the computer with the other of the input device and the engaging member. The computer may be stowed by positioning the second portion adjacent the first portion while the input device remains attached to the one of the first and second portions. The first portion, second portion, and input device are configured to be transported when the second portion is in the stowed position.
In another embodiment, the method comprises moving at least part of the second portion away from the first portion to position the second portion in the unstowed position. The method further comprises accessing the input device after moving the second portion and before moving the input device relative to the portion of the computer to which the input device is attached. In yet another embodiment, the method comprises detaching the input device from the computer and accessing the input device after detaching it from the computer. The input device may be accessed, for example, by touching a touch sensitive surface of the input device or by rotating a sphere of the input device to generate command signals that are transmitted to one of the first and second portions. In one aspect of this embodiment, the user may rotate the sphere with his or her fingers when the input device is attached to the computer and may rotate the sphere by inverting the input device and moving it on a work surface when the input device is detached. The command signal may be transmitted via cable, radio frequency emissions, or infrared emissions.
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Fleming, III Hoyt A.
Klein Dean A.
Lea-Edmonds Lisa
Micron Electronics Inc.
Perkins Coie LLP
Picard Leo P.
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