GB2279617A - Portable computer with folding keyboard. - Google Patents

Portable computer with folding keyboard. Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2279617A
GB2279617A GB9408723A GB9408723A GB2279617A GB 2279617 A GB2279617 A GB 2279617A GB 9408723 A GB9408723 A GB 9408723A GB 9408723 A GB9408723 A GB 9408723A GB 2279617 A GB2279617 A GB 2279617A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
keyboard
processor unit
occupies
folded
storage position
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB9408723A
Other versions
GB2279617B (en
GB9408723D0 (en
Inventor
Michael William Berry Curran
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.)
Fujitsu Services Ltd
Original Assignee
Fujitsu Services Ltd
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 Fujitsu Services Ltd filed Critical Fujitsu Services Ltd
Publication of GB9408723D0 publication Critical patent/GB9408723D0/en
Publication of GB2279617A publication Critical patent/GB2279617A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2279617B publication Critical patent/GB2279617B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1615—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function
    • G06F1/1616—Constructional 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J5/00—Devices or arrangements for controlling character selection
    • B41J5/08—Character or syllable selected by means of keys or keyboards of the typewriter type
    • B41J5/10—Arrangements of keyboards, e.g. key button disposition
    • B41J5/105—Constructional details of keyboard frames, e.g. adjusting or fixation means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
    • G06F1/1656—Details 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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
    • G06F1/1662—Details related to the integrated keyboard
    • G06F1/1666—Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2223/00—Casings
    • H01H2223/046—Casings convertible
    • H01H2223/05—Casings convertible composed of hingedly connected sections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2223/00—Casings
    • H01H2223/046—Casings convertible
    • H01H2223/052—Casings convertible reductible in size, e.g. for transportation

Landscapes

  • 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)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A portable computer comprises a processor unit and an attached, foldable, flexible film keyboard which occupies an area equal to or smaller than that of the processor unit when it is folded, and which occupies an area greater than that of the processor unit when unfolded. As described (Fig 2) the keyboard (11) is folded along parallel fold lines (21, 22) and then folded about the joinder with the processor unit (10) to underlie the unit (10), whereafter it is covered by a closure flap (23). The closure flap (23) may serve as a stand when the computer is in use. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE COMPUTER Background to the Invention This invention relates to portable computers and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with computers of the kind generally referred to as palm-top computers, ie those small enough to be held in the palm of the hand.
Current palm-top computers use a touch sensitive screen and stylus to enable a user to write directly on the screen.
With handwriting recognition software, this allows the input of small quantities of data, usually restricted to form filling.
A problem is that, for large-quantity data input, eg of documents, a keyboard is still the most efficient data entry device. However, the physical size of a palm-top precludes the use of a conventional keyboard.
The object of the present invention is to provide a novel keyboard suitable for use in a palm-top computer.
Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a portable computer comprising a processor unit and a keyboard, characterised in that the keyboard comprises a flexible film keyboard attached to the processor unit which can be folded into a storage position in which it occupies an area equal to or smaller than that of the processor unit, and can be unfolded into a use position in which it occupies an area greater than that of the processor unit.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a view of a palm-top computer and keyboard in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the way in which the keyboard can be folded away when not in use.
Description of an Embodiment of the Invention One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to Figure 1, a palm-top computer comprises a processor unit 10 and a keyboard 11. The processor unit is physically small enough to be held in the palm of the hand, and holds processing circuits, memory, battery power supply, function keys and a display screen. The processor unit 10 may be conventional in form and so will not be described in any further detail.
The keyboard 11 is a flexible film keyboard, attached to the processor unit, and carries a set of alphanumeric keys and function keys arranged in a similar manner to a conventional keyboard. When the keyboard is in use, as shown in Figure 1, it lies flat and occupies an area considerably larger than the processor unit.
Because the keyboard is flexible, it needs to be placed on a hard surface for use.
Referring now to Figure 2, when the keyboard is not required, it can be folded away. The keyboard is folded along two lines 21, 22 and then folded under the processor unit. A cover 23 can then be closed to protect the keyboard and to retain it in the folded position. When the keyboard is in use, the cover 23 doubles as a stand for the processor unit, to tilt it into a more useable orientation.

Claims (5)

1. A portable computer comprising a processor unit and a keyboard, characterised in that the keyboard comprises a flexible film keyboard attached to the processor unit which can be folded into a storage position in which it occupies an area equal to or smaller than that of the processor unit, and can be unfolded into a use position in which it occupies an area greater than that of the processor unit.
2. A computer according to Claim 1 further including a cover which can be closed over the keyboard when the keyboard is in its storage position.
3. A computer according to Claim 2 wherein the cover can also act as a stand for holding the processor unit in a desired orientation.
4. A computer according to any preceding claim wherein the keyboard is folded along two lines to fold it into its storage position from its use position.
5. A palm-top computer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. A palm-top computer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
CLAIMS 1. A portable computer comprising a processor unit and a keyboard, characterised in that the keyboard comprises a flexible film keyboard attached to the processor unit which can be folded into a storage position in which it occupies an area equal to or smaller than that of the processor unit, and can be unfolded into a use position in which it occupies an area greater than that of the processor unit, said flexible film keyboard being sufficiently flexible that it requires to be placed on a hard surface for use.
2. A computer according to Claim 1 further including a cover which can be closed over the keyboard when the keyboard is in its storage position.
3. A computer according to Claim 2 wherein the cover can also act as a stand for holding the processor unit in a desired orientation.
4. A computer according to any preceding claim wherein the keyboard is folded along two lines to fold it into its storage position from its use position.
GB9408723A 1993-05-15 1994-05-03 Portable computer Expired - Lifetime GB2279617B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB939310045A GB9310045D0 (en) 1993-05-15 1993-05-15 Portable computer

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9408723D0 GB9408723D0 (en) 1994-06-22
GB2279617A true GB2279617A (en) 1995-01-11
GB2279617B GB2279617B (en) 1996-04-03

Family

ID=10735552

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB939310045A Pending GB9310045D0 (en) 1993-05-15 1993-05-15 Portable computer
GB9408723A Expired - Lifetime GB2279617B (en) 1993-05-15 1994-05-03 Portable computer

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB939310045A Pending GB9310045D0 (en) 1993-05-15 1993-05-15 Portable computer

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9310045D0 (en)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996027203A1 (en) * 1995-03-02 1996-09-06 Ahmad Amiri Thin electronic data input device
GB2323331A (en) * 1997-03-21 1998-09-23 Simon Richard Daniel Keyboard collapsible about three parallel axes
WO1999018491A1 (en) * 1997-10-02 1999-04-15 Michael Katz Pocket computer with full size keyboard
WO2000054479A2 (en) * 1999-03-10 2000-09-14 Renfer Robert O Mobile telephone with a roll-out keyboard
GB2349606A (en) * 1999-07-12 2000-11-08 Gsl Res Technology Ltd Expandable three portion keyboard for notebook computer
WO2001040914A2 (en) * 1999-11-30 2001-06-07 Vercel Development Corporation Hand held internet browser with folding keyboard
WO2001075923A1 (en) * 2000-03-30 2001-10-11 Electrotextiles Company Limited Input device
GB2365132A (en) * 2000-03-30 2002-02-13 Electrotextiles Co Ltd Flexible keyboard for PDA type portable computers that wraps around the PDA to form a protective case
US6476733B1 (en) 1998-10-28 2002-11-05 Ahmad Amiri Thin electronic data input device
US6774819B1 (en) * 1999-07-23 2004-08-10 Intel Corporation Flexible keyboard
US6798649B1 (en) 2002-02-25 2004-09-28 Think Outside, Inc. Mobile computer with foldable keyboard
US7057887B2 (en) * 2001-02-07 2006-06-06 Palm, Inc. Folding keyboard for an electronic communications device
DE102005049815B3 (en) * 2005-10-18 2007-01-04 Benq Mobile Gmbh & Co. Ohg Communication device i.e. mobile phone unit, has first display on front-face and second display on back-face
US7778663B2 (en) 2006-04-24 2010-08-17 Virgin Mobile Usa, L.P. Hinge module for three-step open type portable terminal and portable terminal having the same

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6781077B2 (en) 2000-12-14 2004-08-24 Think Outside, Inc. Keyswitch and actuator structure

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4939514A (en) * 1987-12-22 1990-07-03 Seiko Instruments, Inc. Foldable data collecting and processing device

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4939514A (en) * 1987-12-22 1990-07-03 Seiko Instruments, Inc. Foldable data collecting and processing device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
I.B.M. Tech. Disc. Bull.;Vol. 27;No. 4a;Sept '84;Pp.2002-4. *

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996027203A1 (en) * 1995-03-02 1996-09-06 Ahmad Amiri Thin electronic data input device
GB2323331B (en) * 1997-03-21 2000-11-22 Simon Richard Daniel Collapsible keyboard
GB2323331A (en) * 1997-03-21 1998-09-23 Simon Richard Daniel Keyboard collapsible about three parallel axes
US6174097B1 (en) 1997-03-21 2001-01-16 Simon Richard Daniel Collapsible keyboard
US6088220A (en) * 1997-10-02 2000-07-11 Katz; Michael Pocket computer with full-size keyboard
WO1999018491A1 (en) * 1997-10-02 1999-04-15 Michael Katz Pocket computer with full size keyboard
US6476733B1 (en) 1998-10-28 2002-11-05 Ahmad Amiri Thin electronic data input device
WO2000054479A2 (en) * 1999-03-10 2000-09-14 Renfer Robert O Mobile telephone with a roll-out keyboard
WO2000054479A3 (en) * 1999-03-10 2000-12-21 Robert O Renfer Mobile telephone with a roll-out keyboard
GB2349606A (en) * 1999-07-12 2000-11-08 Gsl Res Technology Ltd Expandable three portion keyboard for notebook computer
GB2349606B (en) * 1999-07-12 2001-12-05 Gsl Res Technology Ltd Expandable keyboard
US6774819B1 (en) * 1999-07-23 2004-08-10 Intel Corporation Flexible keyboard
WO2001040914A2 (en) * 1999-11-30 2001-06-07 Vercel Development Corporation Hand held internet browser with folding keyboard
US6825832B2 (en) 1999-11-30 2004-11-30 Vercel Development, Inc. Hand held internet browser with folding keyboard
WO2001040914A3 (en) * 1999-11-30 2002-03-07 Vercel Dev Corp Hand held internet browser with folding keyboard
GB2365132A (en) * 2000-03-30 2002-02-13 Electrotextiles Co Ltd Flexible keyboard for PDA type portable computers that wraps around the PDA to form a protective case
US6639162B2 (en) 2000-03-30 2003-10-28 Electrotextiles Company Limited Input device
GB2365132B (en) * 2000-03-30 2003-01-08 Electrotextiles Co Ltd Manual input apparatus and processor
WO2001075923A1 (en) * 2000-03-30 2001-10-11 Electrotextiles Company Limited Input device
US7102614B2 (en) 2000-03-30 2006-09-05 Eleksen Limited Manual input apparatus for a handheld device
US7057887B2 (en) * 2001-02-07 2006-06-06 Palm, Inc. Folding keyboard for an electronic communications device
US7269000B2 (en) 2001-02-07 2007-09-11 Palm, Inc. Folding keyboard for an electronic communications device
US6798649B1 (en) 2002-02-25 2004-09-28 Think Outside, Inc. Mobile computer with foldable keyboard
DE102005049815B3 (en) * 2005-10-18 2007-01-04 Benq Mobile Gmbh & Co. Ohg Communication device i.e. mobile phone unit, has first display on front-face and second display on back-face
US7778663B2 (en) 2006-04-24 2010-08-17 Virgin Mobile Usa, L.P. Hinge module for three-step open type portable terminal and portable terminal having the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2279617B (en) 1996-04-03
GB9408723D0 (en) 1994-06-22
GB9310045D0 (en) 1993-06-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5440502A (en) Stylus operable computer with wireless keyboard in storage bay
US5241303A (en) Portable computer with physical reconfiguration of display connection for stylus and keyboard entry
GB2279617A (en) Portable computer with folding keyboard.
US5566098A (en) Rotatable pen-based computer with automatically reorienting display
US5848298A (en) System having two PC cards in a hinged carrying case with battery compartment within in the hinge section
US7684176B2 (en) Information processing apparatus having switch for inputting key data
US6301101B1 (en) Hand held tablet computer having external mechanisms for facilitating positioning and operation
US7433179B2 (en) Electronic apparatus having universal human interface
US5341154A (en) Portable personal computer
US5941648A (en) Personal digital assistant having a foldable keyboard component
US6585217B2 (en) Electronic instrument supporting apparatus for use with input device
US20070242421A1 (en) Folding computer
US20030100338A1 (en) Personal digital assistant cover with an integrated keypad
US20070090007A1 (en) Laptop Pockets
WO1999035556A1 (en) Modular keyboard
JP2000075959A (en) Portable computer device capable of flexibly interfacing, and system and method therefor
US20030026068A1 (en) Portable computing device with foldable display panels
JP2892148B2 (en) Information processing device
JPH0665913U (en) Portable computer
JPH07239752A (en) Portable information processor
JPH05313786A (en) Information processor
EP1061433B1 (en) Flexibly interfaceable portable computing device
JPH11143578A (en) Keyboard cover and information processor provided with the keyboard cover
US6922187B2 (en) Method and apparatus for implementing a compact portable computer system
TWM579821U (en) Portable electronic device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PE20 Patent expired after termination of 20 years

Expiry date: 20140502