Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-27
2001-04-17
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S725000, C312S223200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219227
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a portable or laptop computer and, more particularly, it relates to a portable or laptop computer assembly having an integrated printer device, a portable telephone, and a variety of peripheral devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Portable or laptop computers comprise the largest and fastest growing markets in the computer industry today. Portable computers typically include a keyboard, a liquid crystal display screen, an integral pointer device, e.g., a mouse, a touch pad, a joy stick, II etc., and a variety of peripheral devices including a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, and/or a CD ROM drive. In some instances, the floppy disk drive and the CD ROM drive are interchangeable within the portable computer such that the user of the portable computer must determine whether to use either the floppy disk drive or the CD ROM drive, but not both simultaneously.
In the past, there have been attempts to improve portable computers by incorporating faster processors and adding advanced peripherals, such as high capacity floppy disk drives, thereby increasing the performance and data capacity of the portable computers and decreasing the processing times of the data within the portable computer. Unfortunately, such improvements in portable computers have not overcome the inherent limitations regarding portable computer usage in which the user does not have the ability to access to all features similar to a standard desktop computer.
For instance, with conventional portable computers, a user is not able to fully complete work, documents, i.e., access other data, or send/receive data for processing, e.g., to access server or other programs and files, and print documents, while away from the user's home or office for minimal or extended periods of time. In many instances, in order to complete the work or other documents, the user requires more than simply typing the data or information into the portable computer and storing the data or information in the memory of the portable computer. Many users require the additional features of printing the typed data or information, faxing the data or information to a distant location, and/or printing data from real-time communications, i.e., from the internet or remote link to server or personal computer. Printers are typically too bulky, heavy, and power consuming for a portable computer user to carry a printer with him or her when traveling or away from the home or office. Furthermore, especially with the unreliability and incompatibility of cellular and/or satellite telephone connections and foreign telephone systems overseas, the user is not able to confidently electronically transfer valuable and essential information between countries.
In addition to the above, in many cases, the user is not able to access any telephone lines when in remote or foreign locations. In the case of poor telephone line connections, the small antenna on a typical cellular and/or satellite telephone does not generally allow the user to confidently connect with the proper services for sending or receiving data.
Furthermore, in many foreign locations, there are other incompatibilities between a U.S. laptop or portable computer and the variety of services available in the foreign locations. For instance, network systems may not be compatible thereby not allowing the laptop computer to be easily networked with other computers in the foreign locations, created documents are not easily reformatted for different paper sizes often available in the foreign locations, printer drivers for using external printers in the foreign locations may not compatible thereby prohibiting printing of documents stored on the laptop computer, etc.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a portable computer assembly which allows a user to complete work or other documents without the need for additional hardware. Additionally, a need exists for a portable computer assembly which directly incorporates a easily carryable printer device and a paper supply for the printer device for use with the portable computer system specifically designed for low power consumption. Furthermore, there exists a need for a portable computer assembly which directly incorporates a portable telephone, e.g., cellular, satellite, etc., for use with the portable computer system or separately as a normal portable telephone.
SUMMARY
The present invention is a portable computer assembly. The portable computer assembly of the present invention comprises a main outer casing and an operable computer system mounted within the outer casing with the computer system being powered by a power source. A cover lid is hingedly connected to the main outer casing with the cover lid being rotatable in a direction generally toward the main outer casing and in a direction generally away from the main outer casing. A display device is mounted within the cover lid for displaying data generated by the computer system. A paper supply device retains a predetermined number of individual sheets of paper and a printer device is securable to the computer system for receiving individual sheets of paper from the paper supply means and printing data received from the computer system upon the individual sheets of paper.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the power source is a battery pack mounted within the outer casing or an external power source.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the display means is a liquid crystal display device.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer assembly comprises a portable telephone releasably secured to the main outer casing and electrically connected to the computer system with the portable telephone having a portable telephone antenna and a portable telephone battery pack. Preferably, the portable computer further comprises a portable telephone receiving, opening formed in the main outer casing for releasably receiving the portable telephone. Furthermore, preferably, the portable computer assembly further comprises an antenna mounted within the cover lid adjacent the display means with the antenna electrically connected to the portable telephone antenna when the portable telephone is releasably received within the portable telephone receiving opening. Additionally, preferably, the portable computer assembly further comprises a shield positioned within the cover lid adjacently between the antenna and the display means.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer assembly further comprises electrical contacts within the portable telephone receiving opening for electrically connecting the portable telephone battery pack of the portable telephone to the power source of the computer system and electrically connecting the portable telephone to the computer system.
In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, the main outer casing has an access cover for mounting a keyboard and a pointing device. Preferably, the computer system further includes PCBA components mounted within the main casing adjacently beneath the keyboard with the PCBA components controlling the function of the computer system, the paper supply means, the printer means, and receptacles for memory PCBAs. Furthermore, preferably, the computer system includes various hardware components selected from the group consisting a CD ROM drive, a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a PCMCIA card drive, and any new peripherals. Additionally, preferably, the portable computer assembly further comprises a shield mounted between the PCBA components and the various hardware components.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the paper supply means is a paper tray, the paper tray slidable into and out of the main outer casing.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer assembly further comprises paper feeding means contacting an individual sheet of paper for feeding the individual sheets of paper into the printer means.
In yet another embo
Duong Hung Van
Picard Leo P.
Tracy Emery L.
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