Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral adapting
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-11
2001-04-24
Lee, Thomas (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral adapting
C710S072000, C710S108000, C713S310000, C713S320000, C713S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223233
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wallet for a personal information device, e.g., an electronic organizer, and, more particularly, to a wallet having a touchpad and, optionally, a PCMCIA connector therein for use in combination with a personal information device.
Recently, there has been a trend to develop and utilize compact and pocket-size electronic devices, such as compact computers (notebook computers), compact electronic personal organizers, compact electronic dictionaries, compact electronic encyclopedias, and so on. As such devices become smaller in size, various problems result, including a reduction in the ease of their operation due to, for example, reduced-sized keys, reduced-sized displays and/or reduced number of keys thereon.
Recent developments have attempted to overcome this problem as well as other problems that are inherent in compact and pocket-sized electronic devices. For example, many compact electronic personal organizers are now equipped to communicate with a personal computer, wherein a user enters various data, e.g., telephone numbers, appointments, etc., into the computer which then transmits or downloads that entered data to the compact electronic personal organizer for storage therein. This technique provides two advantages over previous devices. Data is more easily entered with a full sized keyboard than with a reduced-size keypad. Data is entered only once to utilize organizer programs running on both the personal computer and the compact electronic personal organizer.
While the above-mentioned and other developments have produced more user friendly, easier to use and more sophisticated compact organizers, there still is a need for a personal information device, e.g., an electronic personal organizer, that is yet smaller in size than existing devices and easier to use, and which is designed to allow for easier development of software-driven features therein.
There also is a need to provide accessories for use with these personal information devices that make such devices even easier to use.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wallet for use with a micro-sized personal information device which makes the micro-sized personal information device easier to use than without the wallet.
Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a wallet is provided for use with a personal information device comprising a first portion (i.e., a first half) that includes an input device (e.g., a touch-panel, a touch pad in the form of a keyboard) for receiving a user-supplied entry, and a second portion (i.e., a second half) that is rotatably coupled to the first portion. The second portion is adapted to receive and detachably retain a personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card, and the second portion is operable to supply via an electrical connection to the personal information device the user-supplied entry that is received by the input device.
As an aspect of the present invention, the wallet is operable to receive from the personal information device control data, and the input device is a touch-sensitive display device that is operable to display information to the user in accordance with the control data.
As another aspect of the present invention, the wallet includes a memory having pre-stored therein a plurality of sets of display data, and each set of display data represents a respective display that is displayable on the touch-sensitive display device.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the wallet includes a PCMCIA port adapted to receive the PCMCIA I/O port of the personal information device.
As an additional aspect of the present invention, the wallet includes an I/O connector that can be coupled via a cable to an external device such as a computer or another wallet having mounted therein another personal information device.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the combination of a wallet and a personal information device includes a wallet first half that includes an input device for receiving a user-supplied entry, a wallet second half that is rotatably coupled to the first half, and a personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card mounted in the wallet, wherein the personal information device includes a display for displaying information to the user, an input device for receiving a user-supplied input, and input means for receiving data from the wallet when the personal information device is mounted therein. The wallet second half also includes an output for providing the user-supplied entry to the personal information device.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the combination of a personal information device and a wallet includes a personal information device having a display, an input device and an induction coil, and a wallet having an input device and an induction coil. The wallet is adapted to receive and detachably retain the personal information device. The induction coil of the personal information device and the induction coil of the wallet are adapted to communicate with each other without electrical contact therebetween when the personal information device is retained by the wallet.
As an aspect of this embodiment, the personal information device controls its induction coil to supply a wake signal to the wallet, and the input device of the wallet is adapted to be automatically turned on when the wallet's induction coil receives the wake signal.
As another aspect of this embodiment, the input device of the wallet is adapted to turn off if the wallet induction coil does not receive a wake or stay-awake signal within a predetermined period of time after receiving a previously supplied wake or stay-awake signal.
In accordance with an additional embodiment of the present invention, a method of communication between a personal information device and a wallet is carried out by mechanically coupling the personal information device to the wallet, supplying from the personal information device to the wallet a wake signal after the personal information device and the wallet are coupled, receiving by the wallet the wake signal supplied by the personal information device, and turning on the input device of the wallet automatically in response to the wallet receiving the wake signal.
As an aspect of this embodiment, the wake signal is supplied by the induction coil of the personal information device and the induction coil of the wallet receives the wake signal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5039846 (1991-08-01), Komaki
patent: 5070329 (1991-12-01), Jasinaki
patent: 5245346 (1993-09-01), Nishimura et al.
patent: 5521369 (1996-05-01), Kumar
patent: 5530235 (1996-06-01), Stefik et al.
patent: 5594680 (1997-01-01), Ohtake et al.
patent: 5619396 (1997-04-01), Gee et al.
patent: 5822600 (1998-10-01), Hallowell et al.
patent: 5848298 (1998-12-01), Steere, Jr. et al.
patent: 5873108 (1999-02-01), Goyal et al.
patent: 5991839 (1999-11-01), Ninomiya
patent: 5995373 (1999-11-01), Nagai
patent: 6069648 (2000-05-01), Suso et al.
Grieb Robert L.
Kavanaugh Paul K.
Todorovich Mark M.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Lee Thomas
Park Iiwoo
Xircom
LandOfFree
Wallet for personal information device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wallet for personal information device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wallet for personal information device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2482262