llllllllllllllIllIIIHlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllll
`USOOS333116A
`.
`1111 Patent Number:
`5,333,116
`[19]
`Umted States Patent
`
`
`[45] Date of Patent:Hawkins et al. Jul. 26, 1994M
`
`54
`
`IN I
`] ggfigm‘lE-IR 0N LAPTOP AND PAD
`
`I
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors:
`
`Jeff C. Hawkins, Redwood City;
`John J. Daly, San Carlos, both of
`Calif.
`
`[73] Assignee: AST Research, Inc., Irvine, Calif.
`
`[21] Appl. NO.: 25,900
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Mar. 3, 1993
`
`[63]
`
`Related US. Application Data
`Continuation of Ser. No. 932,515, Aug. 20, 1992, aban-
`don“, WhiCh is a continuation 0f SPY- .NO- 3393004"
`Fab' 14' 1992' Pat' N°' 57200313, Wh‘Ch ‘5 a c°mm“a‘
`tron 0f Ser. No' “9’03 1’ May 4’ 1990’ abandoned.
`[51]
`Int. Cl.5 ................................................ G06F 1/00
`
`
` [52] .
`""" 364/708'1; 345/169
`[58] Fleld of Search ........................ 364/708, 340/707;
`D14/106’ 1318/6’ 7
`
`[56]
`
`.
`References Cited
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,238,791 12/1980 Cohen et a1. ........................ 340/707
`4,517,660 5/1985 Fushimoto et al.
`..... 364/708
`
`4,718,74012/1988 Cox ....................
`,,,,, 312/208
`4,742,478 5/ 1988 Nigro, Jr. et al.
`.
`
`..... 364/708
`4,785,564 11/1988 Gortler ..............
`'''' 33/;37
`4,830,328
`5/1989 Takach, Jr.
`""" 364/70:
`
`4,839,837 6/1989 Chang ........
`‘ 364/708
`4851812 7/1989 Holmberg ..
`
`.364/708
`4,864,523
`9/1989 Sasaki .....
`..... 340/707
`_4,949,079 .8/ 1990 Loebner.
`...................... 364/708
`4,978,949 12/1990 Herron et a .
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0749762 7/1985 European Pat. Off.
`.
`63-3973! 3/ 1988 Japan .
`1131913
`5/1989 Japan .
`341326 4/1991 Japan .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`.
`.
`_
`Mable et al Mechanisms and Dynamzcs of Machine/y
`John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1963 pp. 15-16.
`
`Primary Examiner—David H. Malzahn
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Townsend and Townsend
`Khourie and Crew
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A portable lightweight combination laptop and pad
`computer has a display mounted on a main housing for
`movement between a closed position and an open posi-
`tion. In the closed position, a keyboard is covered by
`the undersurface of the display and the display viewing
`surface remains visible so that the computer may be
`used in the pad mode with a conductive stylus for data
`and command entry. In the Open position, the keyboard
`is exposed so that the computer may be used in a laptop
`or desk top mode, or in a combined mode including the
`pad mode. The display is mounted to the housing by a
`four bar hinge mechanism, and a pair of latches are
`P’0Vided aPPmXimately mid'way between the front and
`rear portions of the housing along the side margins to
`securely latch the display in the closed position for
`storage, transit or use in the pad mode.
`A removable power pack, which attaches to the rear of
`the housing, carries battery power and a charging cir-
`cuit for supplying power to the computer elements
`comamed Within the housmg-
`
`7 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 26, 1994
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`5,333,116
`
`
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 26, 1994
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`5,333,116
`
`
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 26, 1994
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`5,333,116
`
`.m.1.ka
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 26, 1994
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`5,333,116
`
`
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,333,116
`
`2
`wardly of the keyboard with the viewing surface ar-
`ranged at a convenient viewing angle. In the closed
`position, the invention can be used as a pad computer by
`entering information via a stylus applied directly to the
`display, while in the open position the portable com-
`puter can be used as either a standard laptop computer
`using the exposed keyboard for information entry or as
`a combination laptop and pad computer. In order to
`‘ facilitate use of the computer in the laptop mode when
`10
`the display means is positioned with the keyboard ex-
`posed, a stylus receptacle is provided in a mask region
`adjacent the viewing region of the display means, so
`that the stylus can be removably held in the receptacle.
`To facilitate storage and transit of the portable com-
`puter, a latching means is provided for removably se-
`curing the display means to the housing. The latching
`means is located approximately mid-way between a
`front portion and a rear portion of the computer hous-
`ing. Preferably, the latching means comprises a pair of
`retractable latch members and corresponding slotted
`walls, with each latch member/slotted wall pair being
`located adjacent a different one of the opposing side
`margins of the computer housing. In the preferred em-
`bodiment, each latch member is retractably carried by
`the display means, and each slotted wall comprises a
`portion of the computer housing.
`The display means is pivotally mounted to the com-
`puter housing by means of a four bar hinge mechanism
`which includes first and second forward hinge members
`and a rear hinge means. The forward hinge members
`pivotally couple the display means to the housing at
`hinge points positioned adjacent opposed housing side
`margins extending between the front and rear of the
`housing. Each of the first and second forward hinge
`members are preferably coupled to the associated side
`of the display means adjacent a forward corner thereof;
`and the first and second forward hinge members are
`also each coupled to the housing side margins at a pivot
`point conveniently located between the front portion of
`the housing and the rear edge of the keyboard. Each
`side margin of the housing is provided with a slotted
`wall for receiving the corresponding one of the hinge
`members. The opposing surface of the display means is
`hinged to the housing by means of the rear hinge means
`which is coupled at the top edge thereof to the opposing
`surface of the display means and which is also coupled
`at the bottom edge thereof to the housing at a position
`rearwardly of the keyboard.
`The housing is further provided with a rear wall
`portion with a recess formed therein for removably
`accommodating a power pack having a shape conform-
`able with the recess. The power pack includes a recep-
`tacle area for accommodating a battery power source,
`and also a battery charging circuit so that the batteries
`may be recharged with the power pack attached to the
`computer housing.
`An auxiliary stylus mounting mechanism is provided
`along the rear top margin of the housing for removably
`attaching the stylus to the computer when the display
`means is in the closed position or the stylus is not
`needed.
`
`COMBINATION LAPTOP AND PAD COMPUTER
`
`This is a continuation of US. patent application Ser.
`No. 07/932,515, now abandoned, filed Aug. 20, 1992,
`which is a continuation of US. patent application Ser.
`No. 07/839,004, filed Feb. 14, 1992, now US. Pat. No.
`5,200,913, issued Apr. 6, 1993, which is a continuation
`of patent application Ser. No. 07/519,031, filed May 4,
`1990, now abandoned.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to the field of personal comput-
`ers and, more particularly, to the field of portable com-
`puters, sometimes termed “laptop” computers.
`Truly portable computers are known which are rela-
`tively small, light in weight and convenient to carry and
`use in transit. Such computers are small enough to be
`comfortably placed on one’s lap, hence the term “lap-
`top” computer. Computers of this type are usually pro-
`vided with a down-sized version of a standard personal
`computer keyboard, a display, a portable power supply
`(e.g., rechargeable batteries) and various interface con-
`nections for enabling the computer to be electrically
`coupled to other devices, such as input/output devices
`(disk drives, printers, and the like) and communication
`links (e.g.,
`telephone lines). The display is typically
`pivotally mounted to the computer housing at a point
`intermediate the front and rear margins so as to be ma-
`neuverable between a closed position in which the
`viewing surface of the display covers the keyboard and
`acts as a shield, and an opened position in which the
`keyboard is exposed and the viewing surface of the
`display is arranged at a viewing angle. A representative
`portable computer having the above components and
`configuration is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 4,571,546
`issued Feb. 18, 1986 for “Portable Computer”, the dis-
`closure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
`A relatively new type of portable computer intro-
`duced by the Assignee of this application is smaller and
`lighter than a typical laptop computer and features a
`display operable by a conductive pointed stylus which
`is employed by a user in much the same manner as a pen
`or pencil on a pad: hence the term “pad computer".
`This pad computer is meant to be employed like a pen
`and tablet in the field, and is devoid of any keyboard.
`The pad computer is, however, provided with a con-
`nector for enabling an auxiliary keyboard to be con-
`nected to the pad computer in order to add keyboard
`capability to the pad computer. However, the major
`mode of use envisioned in the pad computer encom-
`passes the use of the stylus to permit hand entry of
`information into the computer via the display.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention comprises a portable computer which
`combines the standard keyboard capability of a laptop
`computer with the stylus data entry capability of a pad
`computer, but which is substantially the same size and
`weight as the pad computer.
`The invention comprises a portable computer having
`a housing, a keyboard carried by the housing, and dis-
`play means having a viewing surface and an opposing
`surface, the display means being coupled to the housing
`and moveable between a closed position in which the
`opposing surface of the display means covers the key-
`board and an opened position in which the keyboard is
`uncovered and the display means is positioned rear—
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`The invention provides a light weight portable com-
`puter which is capable of functioning in either a laptop
`mode, a pad mode or a combination of the two. In
`addition, the mounting mechanism for the display con-
`veniently enables the display to cover the keyboard
`when use of the keyboard is not required, and to quickly
`uncover the keyboard and arrange the display at a con-
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`5,333,116
`
`3
`venient viewing angle when the computer is to be used
`on a desk top or other support surface.
`For a fuller understanding of the nature and advan-
`tages of the invention, reference should be had to the
`ensuing detailed description taken in conjunction with
`the accompanying drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the invention
`with the display covering the keyboard;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodi-
`ment of the invention showing the display in the open
`position in which the keyboard is exposed;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating the display
`articulation between the closed and open positions;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged view partially broken away
`illustrating the right front hinge;
`FIG. 5 is a top plan view partially broken away illus-
`trating the layout of some of the components internal to
`the computer housing;
`FIG. 6 is a right side view partially in section show-
`ing some internal components of the embodiment of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7—7 of
`FIG. 2 illustrating one of the stylus receptacles in the
`mask adjacent the viewing surface of the display; and
`FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8—8 of
`FIG. 1 showing the right latch engaged.
`'
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`Turning now the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate
`the preferred embodiment of the invention in the closed
`and open positions, respectively. As seen in these Fig-
`ures, the invention includes a housing generally desig-
`nated with reference numeral 10 having a front portion
`11, a rear portion 12, and side margins 13, 14. A key-
`board 15 is arranged in the forward portion of housing
`10 and extends approximately mid-way toward the rear
`portion 12 of the housing 10.
`A display generally designated with reference nu-
`meral 20 is pivotally mounted to the housing 10 in such
`a manner that the viewing surface 21 of the display '20 is
`exposed in both the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1
`and the open position illustrated in FIG. 2. Display 20
`uses an LCD display with a transparent conductive
`screen overlay of the type disclosed in commonly as-
`signed co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`07/365,147, filed Jun. 12, 1989 for “HAND HELD
`COMPUTER" the disclosure of which is hereby incor-
`porated by reference. Generally,
`the display 21 is
`charged with a voltage gradient which alternates along
`the X and Y axes of the display as described in U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,371,746, the disclosure of which is hereby incor-
`porated by reference. The display may be used either
`for conventional display purposes (i.e., for displaying
`information entered via keyboard 15, computational
`results and user prompts or other information), or as an
`interactive data entry display tablet or pad. In this latter
`mode of operation (termed the “pad” mode), a conduc-
`tive stylus 30 is employed much like a pen or pencil by
`the user. When the tip of the stylus touches the conduc-
`tive screen overlay of the display 20, the stylus trans-
`mits the magnitude of the voltage of the overlay at that
`point to an overlay controller within the computer by
`means of a conductive lead 31 which plugs into a jack
`32 located in the rear of the housing. A representative
`stylus 30 is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`No. 4,927,986 issued May 22, 1990 for “Conductive
`Stylus Storage for a Portable Computer” the disclosure
`of which is hereby incorporated by reference. As
`shown in FIG. 1, a pair of stylus clips 34, 35 are posi-
`tioned to the rear of the top wall of housing 10 for
`removably affixing the stylus 30 to the housing for stor-
`age and carrying. In order to facilitate use of the stylus
`when the computer is in the open configuration illus-
`trated in FIG. 2, additional provision is made for re-
`movably affixing the stylus to the display 20. In the
`preferred embodiment, stylus receptacles are formed
`into the mask border portion 23 of the display 20 at any
`convenient location thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 2,
`two such receptacles are formed: a first receptacle 25
`located in the lower right hand corner and a second
`receptacle 26 located in the lower left hand comer. One
`suitable shape for the receptacle 26 is illustrated in FIG.
`7.
`
`The display 20 is pivotally mounted to the housing 10
`by means of a pair of forward hinges 40 and a rear hinge
`plate 41 forming a four bar hinge mechanism. As best
`shown in FIG. 4, each hinge 40 is pivotally attached at
`one end to the forward portion of the display side wall
`to form a first pivot 43. The other end of the hinge 40 is
`pivotally attached to the housing 10 adjacent the side
`margin in a region conveniently located between the
`front and rear edge of the keyboard 15. In the preferred
`embodiment, this pivot 44 is approximately mid-way
`between the front and rear edge of the keyboard 15.
`The rear hinge plate 41 is attached to the rear surface 27
`of the display 20 (see FIG. 3) and also to the housing 10
`near the rear portion 12. The rear hinge plate is prefera-
`bly fabricated from a relatively stiff material which can
`be readily fastened at pivot points to the rear surface of
`the display 20 and the housing 10 in a durable fashion.
`In addition, the rear hinge plate 41 must accommodate
`the flexible electrical conductors
`(not
`illustrated)
`needed to electrically couple the display 20 to the com-
`puter elements within the housing 10. This may accom-
`plished by a dual wall construction for rear hinge plate
`41, so that the conductors are contained within an essen-
`tially flat envelope; or the conductors may be adhered
`to one of the two surfaces of the rear hinge plate 41, as
`desired. Also, the rear hinge plate 41 may comprise a
`wire frame or other equivalent mechanism for provid-
`~ ing the hinge connection between the display 20 and the
`housing 10 as illustrated.
`With reference to FIG. 3, when the display 20 is in
`the closed position, the hinge 40 is arranged in the full
`line position illustrated, with the majority of the hinge
`40 being located in a recess 45 formed in the rear surface
`27 of the display 20 along the side margins thereof near
`the forward edge. As the display 20 is maneuvered
`toward the fully open position, the hinge 40 follows a
`motion path as illustrated in the sequential phantom and
`broken line views until the display achieves the tilted
`position illustrated in double phantom lines. In this
`position, the display viewing surface 21 is inclined at an
`angle convenient to the user, and the hinge 40 is posi-
`tioned within a recess 47 (see FIG. 2) and formed in the
`top wall of housing 10 adjacent the side margins. Dur-
`ing motion between the fully closed and fully open
`positions, the rear hinge plate 41 assists in providing
`lateral stability to the display 20 and also provides two
`axes of rotation parallel to the width of the display 20
`and the housing 10. Thus, the display 20 may be readily
`moved between the fully closed and fully open positions
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`5
`by simple manipulation of the display along the side
`margins thereof.
`To facilitate storage, transport and use of the com-
`puter in the pad mode, a pair of latch mechanisms gen-
`erally designated with reference numeral 50 are pro-
`vided at approximately the mid-point of the side mar-
`gins of display 20. As best seen in FIG. 8, which illus-
`trates the latch in the engaged position, a latching mem-
`ber 51 is rearwardly biased by means of spring 52
`towards an engaged position in which the hook end 53
`of the latch member 51 is engaged with the undersur-
`face 55 of the top wall of housing 10 inside the rear edge
`of the hinge recess 47. In this position, the display 20 is
`securely latched so that the keyboard 15 remains cov-
`ered by the opposing surface of display 20. To unlatch
`the display, the latch button 56 of each latch assembly
`50 is manipulated toward the front portion 11 of the
`housing 10 until the hook end 53 clears the wall surface
`55 so that the display may next be manipulated up-
`wardly and rearwardly as described above. To close,
`the display 20 is merely manipulated to the closed posi-
`tion, with or without manually retracting the latch
`buttons.
`
`With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, in addition to sup-
`porting the keyboard 15, housing 10 also contains vari-
`ous hardware components of the computer. Thus, for
`example, a main logic board 71 positioned rearwardly
`of the keyboard 15 is contained within housing 10 and
`provides both mechanical support and electrical con-
`nection for various integrated circuits and connectors
`mounted on the board 71. As illustrated, main logic
`board 71 supports a connector 73 for a memory card 74
`on the top surface thereof and an additional memory
`card on the bottom surface (not shown). In addition,
`main logic board 71 supports a main on/off switch 76
`accessible from the underside of the housing 10, and a
`stand-by switch 78.
`Also secured within the rear portion of housing 10 is
`a modem unit 81 having a pair of telephone type con-
`nector sockets 82, 83 which are accessible through suit.
`ably shaped apertures in the side wall of housing 10. In
`addition, a display backlight inverter circuit 84 is posi-
`tioned within housing 10 adjacent the main logic board
`71. A pair of stylus jacks 32 are mounted to the housing
`along the rear portion of the left and right margins 13,
`14 and are used to electrically couple the conductive
`stylus 30 to the circuitry on the main logic board 71. An
`auxiliary keyboard jack 85, and a serial port connector
`86 are mounted in the housing along the rear wall 12.
`Housing 10 is provided with a power pack recess 90
`along the rear wall as shown in FIG. 1 for accommodat-
`ing a power pack 95. Power pack 95 has a closed recep-
`tacle area for removably carrying a plurality of inter-
`nally located DC batteries (not shown) used to power
`the computer in the field. Power pack 95 is also pro-
`vided with a conventional battery charging circuit 96 at
`the left end and internally thereof with a detachable
`power connector cord 97, so that the batteries can be
`charged while still in the receptacle. A pair of power
`contacts 98, 99 are arranged as shown to provide elec-
`trical connection between the batteries in power pack
`95 and the power input terminals (not illustrated) in
`housing 10.
`In order to provide adequate space for the hardware
`components, the bottom wall 17 of housing 10 curves
`outwardly starting at approximately the mid-point
`thereof (just rearwardly of the keyboard 15). This
`curved portion 18 also provides an inclined angle to the
`
`5,333,116
`
`6
`
`5
`
`10
`
`IS
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`plane of the housing 10 when the computer is placed on
`a desk top or other flat working surface to more closely
`approximate the feel of a conventional laptop computer
`or desk top personal computer. This inclined angle also
`facilitates use of the computer in the pad mode.
`The entire computer has overall dimensions of a
`width of 11.5 in., a housing depth of 8.85 in., and a
`maximum thickness measured at the rear of 1.40 in. The
`display has a depth of 8.15 in., a thickness of 0.45 in at
`the rear half and 0.62 in. at the front half. The thickness
`of the housing 10 in the front region (the region where
`the keyboard 15 is located) is 0.39 in. Total weight of
`the computer is approximately four lbs.
`As will now be apparent, the invention can be used as
`either a pad computer in combination with the stylus 30,
`or as a laptop computer by using the keyboard 15, or as
`a combination of both. When used as a pad computer,
`the stylus 30 is plugged into either one of the two jacks
`32, the display 20 is normally in the closed position
`illustrated in FIG. 1, and the computer is held like a pad
`by the user. When the invention is used as a laptop
`computer with keyboard entry only, the stylus can be
`placed in the clips 34, 35 formed in the rear of the tOp
`wall portion of the housing 10. When the invention is
`used in the combined pad and laptop mode, the stylus 30
`can be temporarily placed in the receptacles 25 or 26 to
`free both hands of the user to manipulate the keyboard
`15.
`
`While the above provides a full and complete disclo-
`sure of the preferred embodiment of the invention, vari—
`ous modifications, alternate constructions and equiva-
`lents will occur to those skilled in the art. For example,
`other hinge combinations can be used than those illus-
`trated in the pre'ferred embodiment, and different .di-
`mensions may be employed for the various portions of
`the housing. In addition, other stylus compatible dis-
`plays may be employed; and other types of stylus de-
`vices, such as a cordless stylus, may be used as desired.
`Further, the locations of the additional stylus recepta-
`cles 25, 26, as well as the shape thereof, may be different
`from those illustrated. Moreover, different means for
`removably attaching the stylus to a convenient location
`for the user may be selected, as desired for any given
`application. Also,
`the particular latch configuration
`shown may be changed, as desired, to comply with the
`specific requirements of a particular application. There-
`fore, the above descriptions and illustrations should not
`be construed as limiting the invention which is defined
`by the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A portable computer comprising:
`a computer housing;
`a keyboard carried by said computer housing;
`a display device having an obverse viewing surface
`an a reverse surface; and
`mounting means for coupling said display device to
`said computer housing, said mounting means hav-
`ing a first portion pivotally connected to said com-
`puter housing and a second portion pivotally con-
`nected to said display device, said display device
`being adjustable between a closed position in
`which the display covers the keyboard with said
`reverse surface and an open position in which the
`keyboard is uncovered and the display device is
`positioned rearwardly of the keyboard at a viewing
`angle.
`2. A portable computer comprising:
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`5,333,116
`
`7
`a computer housing having a front portion, a rear
`portion and a pair of side margins extending be-
`tween said first portion and said rear portion;
`a keyboard carried by said computer housing;
`a display device having a viewing surface;
`mounting means for coupling said display device to
`said computer housing, said mounting means hav-
`ing a first portion pivotally connected to said com-
`puter housing and a second portion pivotally con-
`nected to said display device, said display device
`being adjustable between a closed position in
`which the display device covers the keyboard and
`an open position in which the keyboard is uncov-
`ered and the display device is positioned rear-
`wardly of the keyboard at a viewing angle; and
`means for latching said display means to said com-
`puter housing, said latching means being located
`adjacent one of said side margins and approxi-
`mately mid-way between said front portion and
`said rear portion, said latching means including a
`retractable latch member and a slotted wall for
`retractably receiving said latch member.
`3. A portable computer comprising:
`a computer housing having a rear wall portion with a
`recessed formed therein;
`a keyboard carried by said computer housing;
`a display device having an obverse viewing surface
`and a reverse surface;
`mounting means for coupling said display device to
`said computer housing, said mounting means hav-
`ing a first portion pivotally connected to said com-
`puter housing and a second portion pivotally con-
`nected to said display device, said display device
`being adjustable between a closed position in
`which the display device covers the keyboard with
`said reverse surface and an open position in which
`the keyboard is uncovered and the display device is
`positioned rearwardly of the keyboard at a viewing
`angle; and
`power pack means having a shape conformable with
`said recess in said computer housing rear wall por-
`tion for enabling removable attachment of a power
`source to said housing, said power pack means
`including a receptacle area for accommodating a
`battery power source.
`4. A portable computer housing assembly compris-
`mg:
`a computer housing having a top and a bottom;
`a keyboard mounted to the top of the computer hous-
`ing;
`
`a display housing including a display housing top and
`a display housing bottom;
`a pad computer display carried by the display hous-
`ing; and
`a connection assembly having a first portion pivotally
`connected to said computer housing and a second
`portion pivotally connected to said display housing
`for movably mounting the display housing to the
`computer housing for adjustable movement of the
`display between a closed position, with the display
`housing bottom covering the keyboard, and an
`open position, with the display housing at an in-
`clined orientation relative to the computer housing,
`the pad computer display facing generally directly
`away from the keyboard when the display housing
`is in the closed position and facing away from the
`keyboard at an angle when the display housing is in
`
`8
`the open position so that the pad computer display
`is accessible by a user at both of said positions.
`5. A portable computer housing assembly compris-
`ing:
`a computer housing having a top and a bottom;
`a keyboard mounted to the top of the computer hous-
`ing;
`a display housing including a display housing top and
`a display housing bottom;
`a pad computer display mounted to the display hous-
`ing; and
`hinge means having a first portion pivotally con-
`nected to said computer housing and a second por-
`tion pivotally connected to said display housing for
`mounting the display housing to the computer
`housing for adjustable movement between a closed
`position, with the display housing bottom covering
`the keyboard, and an open position, with the dis-
`play housing at an inclined orientation relative to
`the computer housing, the pad computer display
`facing generally directly away from the keyboard
`when the display housing is in the closed position
`and facing away from the keyboard at an angle
`when the display housing is in the open position so
`that the pad computer display is accessible by the
`user at both said positions.
`6. A portable computer comprising:
`‘ a computer keyboard housing assembly including a
`computer housing and an upperwardly facing key-
`board mounted to the computer housing;
`a display housing assembly including a display hous-
`ing having a top and a bottom, and a pad computer
`display mounted to the display housing; and
`hinge means having a first portion pivotally con-
`nected to said computer housing and a second por-
`tion pivotally connected to said display housing for
`mounting the display housing assembly to the com-
`puter keyboard housing assembly for adjustable
`movement between open and closed positions,
`said display housing assembly lying adjacent the com-
`puter keyboard housing assembly to cover the
`keyboard in the closed position,
`said display housing assembly positioned at an angle
`to the computer keyboard housing assembly to
`expose the keyboard in the open position,
`said pad computer display facing away from the key-
`board, so to be accessible by a user, when the dis-
`play housing is in both the closed position and in
`the open position,
`whereby said portable computer can be used as a pad
`computer when the display housing assembly is in
`either the open position or in the closed position
`and as a keyboard computer when the display
`housing assembly is in the open position.
`7. A convertible notepad/laptop computer compris-
`ing:
`a base having a top surface;
`an alpha numeric keyboard disposed on a section of
`the top surface;
`a stylus electrically coupled to said computer;
`a display housing having an upper surface and a
`' lower surface;
`a display/overlay combination carried by said hous-
`ing for displaying symbols generated by the com-
`puter and for detecting the position of said stylus
`over said display/overlay; and
`a hinge assembly for coupling said display housing to
`said base, said hinge assembly having a first portion
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`4s
`
`50
`
`55
`
`6O
`
`65
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`9
`
`5,333,116
`
`10
`
`is oriented at an angle relative to the upper surface
`of the base and the keyboard is exposed to config-
`ure the convertible computer as a laptop computer,
`said hinge assembly providing movement for said
`display housing between said closed position and
`said open position.1
`t
`t
`I
`*
`
`pivotally connected to said base and a second por-
`tion pivotally connected to said display housing,
`said hinge assembly having a closed position
`wherein the lower surface of the display housing
`substantially covers the upper surface ofthe base to
`configure the convertible computer as a notepad
`computer and the hinge assembly having an open
`position wherein the display/overlay combination
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`