GB2330925A - Portable computer - Google Patents

Portable computer Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2330925A
GB2330925A GB9722895A GB9722895A GB2330925A GB 2330925 A GB2330925 A GB 2330925A GB 9722895 A GB9722895 A GB 9722895A GB 9722895 A GB9722895 A GB 9722895A GB 2330925 A GB2330925 A GB 2330925A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
tracking device
portable computer
receiving chamber
computer according
base unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9722895A
Other versions
GB9722895D0 (en
Inventor
Ho-Hsin Liao
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9722895A priority Critical patent/GB2330925A/en
Publication of GB9722895D0 publication Critical patent/GB9722895D0/en
Publication of GB2330925A publication Critical patent/GB2330925A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1615Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function
    • G06F1/1616Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1633Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
    • G06F1/1656Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1633Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
    • G06F1/1684Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
    • G06F1/169Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Position Input By Displaying (AREA)

Abstract

A portable computer (10) with a tracking device (30), e.g. a mouse, has a receiving chamber (40) in a base unit (20) thereof. The tracking device (30) can be moved between a first position where it is stowed inside the receiving chamber (40) whilst not in use and a second position outside the base unit (20) for use.

Description

PORTABLE COMPUTER The present invention relates to portable computers, and more particularly a portable computer which is equipped with a tracking device.
Advanced portable computers are commonly equipped with a tracking device. A tracking device can be a trackball, a trackpoint, or touchpad. However, as such a tracking device is directly disposed on the keyboard of a portable computer, the operator may feel inconvenienced when operating certain keys of the keyboard, or may touch certain keys by mistake when using a trackball. To reduce the inconvenience, US Pat. No. 5, 438, 530 provides a portable computer with a trackball, in which the trackball can be pulled out of the computer from one side, and then set at one side of the keyboard. However, regular trackballs, trackpoints and touchpads commonly provide at least two function keys.
When operating a tracking device, the user must use one finger or palm to operate the device for moving the cursor on the screen, and use another finger(s) to operate the function keys. Because of this inconvenient operation, most people like to hook-up a mouse and use it instead of using the equipped trackball, trackpoint or touchpad. Therefore, there is a demand for a portable computer which is equipped with a tracking device that is easy to operate and that can be moved out of the base unit of the portable computer within a certain distance.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable computer which avoids the afore-mentioned inconvenience when operating certain keys of the keyboard.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple structure to couple a tracking device with a portable computer.
The present invention consists in a portable computer comprising: a base unit; an electronic unit in said base unit; a screen controlled by said electronic unit; a keyboard on said base unit; a receiving chamber provided at said base unit; a tracking device; and signal transmitting means adapted to transmit signal from said tracking device to said electronic unit, causing said electronic unit to move a cursor on said screen; wherein said tracking device can be moved between a first position where said tracking device is housed in said receiving chamber, and a second position where said tracking device is disposed outside said base unit Holding means may be provided to hold the tracking device in the first position.
In preferred embodiments a mouse is provided, which is the most popular tracking device, which can be housed inside the portable computer so that users do not have to connect another mouse, unlike a conventional portable computer.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable computer with a tracking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of the portable computer where the tracking device is received inside a base unit, in a first position, and a cover at the base unit is closed; Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing the tracking device moved to a second position outside the base unit; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portable computer with a tracking device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portable computer with a tracking device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portable computer with a tracking device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portable computer with a tracking device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portable computer with a tracking device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a portable computer 10 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of a base unit 20, a screen 22, a keyboard 23, and a disk driver 24. An electronic unit 21 disposed in the base unit 20 comprises the operation centre of the portable computer. The electronic unit 21 is comprised of a CPU (central processing unit), memory means, input/output control means, etc.. The structure of the electronic unit 21 is disclosed in European Pat. App. Serial No. 0570147. Furthermore, the base unit 20 has a battery box mounted inside (not shown).
The base unit 20 comprises a receiving chamber 40 adapted to receive a tracking device 30, in the form of a mouse, and a holding means 50 adapted to hold the tracking device 30 inside the receiving chamber 40. The holding means 50 can be, for example, a cover 51.
When the tracking device 30 is not in use and retained inside the receiving chamber 40 by the cover 51, it is retained in a first position 71, Figure 2.
When the cover 51 is opened, the tracking device 30 is moved out of the base unit 20 from the first position 71 to the second position 72, Figures 1 and 3. When the tracking device 30 is in use, tracking signal is transmitted from the tracking device 30 to the electronic unit 21 through a signal transmitting means 60, for example, a cable 61, causing the electronic unit 31 to move a cursor 32 on the screen 22. The cable 61 can be connected with a cable rewinder 64 such as is widely used for automatically rewinding the cable of electronic products, such as a vacuum cleaner, earphone etc.. The cable rewinder 64 may be eliminated. When the tracking device 30 is not in use, the user has only to collect the cable 61 and the tracking device 30 together and put them into the receiving chamber 40.
Figure 4 shows a portable computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which the signal transmitting means 60 is a winding cable (similar to or the same as the handset cord of a telephone set) that can be conveniently pulled out of the base unit 20 and then put back inside the receiving chamber 40.
Figure 5 shows a portable computer according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in which the holding means 50 holds the tracking device 30 in the receiving chamber 40 by means of a friction force, i.e. a friction force produced between the periphery of the receiving chamber 40 and the tracking device 30 when the tracking device 30 is put inside the receiving chamber 40, thereby causing the tracking device 30 to be retained in the receiving chamber 40. According to this embodiment, the base unit 20 has a top opening 54 above the receiving chamber 40, and a notch 55 at one side of the top opening 54.
Through the top opening 54, the tracking device 30 can be conveniently put into the receiving chamber 40. Through the notch 55, the fingers can be inserted into the receiving chamber 40 to pull up the tracking device 30 out of the receiving chamber 40 and the top opening 54.
Figure 6 shows a portable computer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the holding means 50 holds the tracking device 30 in the receiving chamber 40 by means of a friction force. Through the notch 56, the tracking device 30 can be pushed out of the base unit 20 with the fingers.
Figure 7 shows a portable computer according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The holding means 50 shows another way to hold the tracking device 30 in the receiving chamber 40.
The tracking device 30 comprises two longitudinal sliding grooves 52 on two opposite lateral sides thereof; the receiving chamber 40 has two longitudinal rails 53 bilaterally disposed on the inside. When the tracking device 30 is inserted into the receiving chamber 40, the longitudinal sliding grooves 52 are respectively forced into engagement with the longitudinal rails 53 inside the receiving chamber 40.
Figure 8 shows a portable computer according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which the signal transmitting means 60 is an infrared transmitter/receiver device 62 comprised of an infrared transmitter 621 mounted on the tracking device 30, and an infrared receiver 622 mounted in the base unit 20 of the computer 10.
Because the technology of transmitting the signals by infrared-rays is well-known, the structure of the infrared device is not disclosed herein.
According to the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention, the tracking device 30 is retained in the receiving chamber 40 by means of a friction force. In order to produce a sufficient friction force for holding the tracking device 30 in the receiving chamber 40, the dimensions of the receiving chamber 40 and the size of the tracking device 30 must fit each other. In addition, using the convex-concave contact portion between the receiving chamber 40 and the tracking device 30 is a simple way to hold the tracking device 30 in the receiving chamber. However, the subject matter of the present invention is not to improve the holding or locking means. Actually, there are many different mechanisms of the holding means 50 to achieve the same function mentioned above. Hook means or snap means may be used to hold the tracking device 30 in the receiving chamber 40. Even a more sophisticated mechanism could be implemented, like, for example, the ejection mechanism of a CD-ROM Driver by which a CD can be ejected by pressing an ejection button. Similar or modified structure can also be implemented in the present invention.
It is to be understood that various modifications and changes could be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims (12)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A portable computer comprising: a base unit; an electronic unit in said base unit; a screen controlled by said electronic unit; a keyboard on said base unit; a receiving chamber provided at said base unit; a tracking device; and signal transmitting means adapted to transmit signal from said tracking device to said electronic unit, causing said electronic unit to move a cursor on said screen; wherein said tracking device can be moved between a first position where said tracking device is housed in said receiving chamber, and a second position where said tracking device is disposed outside said base unit.
  2. 2. A portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the tracking device is a mouse.
  3. 3. A portable computer according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said signal transmitting means is an infrared transmitter/receiver device.
  4. 4. A portable computer according to claim 1 or claims 2 wherein said signal transmitting means comprises a cable.
  5. 5. A portable computer according to claim 4, wherein said cable is a winding cable.
  6. 6. A portable computer according to claim 4, wherein said signal transmitting means further comprises a cable rewinder installed inside said base unit.
  7. 7. A portable computer according to any preceding claim further comprising holding means adapted to hold said tracking device in said first position.
  8. 8. A portable computer according to claim 7, wherein said holding means is a cover adapted to close said receiving chamber.
  9. 9. A portable computer according to claim 7, wherein said holding means comprises female coupling means and male coupling means respectively provided at said tracking device and said receiving chamber.
  10. 10. A portable computer according to claim 7, wherein said holding means holds said tracking device in said receiving chamber by means of friction force.
  11. 11. A portable computer according to claim 7, wherein said holding means comprises two longitudinal rails bilaterally disposed inside said receiving chamber, and two longitudinal sliding grooves provided at two opposite lateral sides of said tracking device for engagement with said longitudinal rails.
  12. 12. A portable computer substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or to Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7 or Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
GB9722895A 1997-10-30 1997-10-30 Portable computer Withdrawn GB2330925A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9722895A GB2330925A (en) 1997-10-30 1997-10-30 Portable computer

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9722895A GB2330925A (en) 1997-10-30 1997-10-30 Portable computer

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9722895D0 GB9722895D0 (en) 1998-01-07
GB2330925A true GB2330925A (en) 1999-05-05

Family

ID=10821295

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9722895A Withdrawn GB2330925A (en) 1997-10-30 1997-10-30 Portable computer

Country Status (1)

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2367266A (en) * 2000-09-19 2002-04-03 Tai Her Yang Wired/wireless mouse/trackball coupled to a wired/wireless interface incorporated within a keyboard having a wired/wireless output
US9921614B2 (en) 2013-10-04 2018-03-20 Aquaterra Limited Power adapter unit with integrated input/output interface, and portable electronic device with storage recess for multifunction power adapter

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5126955A (en) * 1989-02-10 1992-06-30 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Manually sweepable apparatus housed in a computer main body
US5287246A (en) * 1992-05-27 1994-02-15 Orete Systems, Inc. Drawer type track ball for portable computers
EP0606760A2 (en) * 1992-12-28 1994-07-20 Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A. Portable electronic computer with tracking device
US5490039A (en) * 1993-11-24 1996-02-06 Dell Usa, L.P. Integrated mouse tray and mouse for portable computer having cavity therefore

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5126955A (en) * 1989-02-10 1992-06-30 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Manually sweepable apparatus housed in a computer main body
US5287246A (en) * 1992-05-27 1994-02-15 Orete Systems, Inc. Drawer type track ball for portable computers
EP0606760A2 (en) * 1992-12-28 1994-07-20 Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A. Portable electronic computer with tracking device
US5490039A (en) * 1993-11-24 1996-02-06 Dell Usa, L.P. Integrated mouse tray and mouse for portable computer having cavity therefore

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2367266A (en) * 2000-09-19 2002-04-03 Tai Her Yang Wired/wireless mouse/trackball coupled to a wired/wireless interface incorporated within a keyboard having a wired/wireless output
US9921614B2 (en) 2013-10-04 2018-03-20 Aquaterra Limited Power adapter unit with integrated input/output interface, and portable electronic device with storage recess for multifunction power adapter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9722895D0 (en) 1998-01-07

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)