DE29522287U1 - Expandable mobile computer - Google Patents

Description

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SCHROETER FLEUCHAUS LEHMANN & GALLO

PATENT ATTORNEYS · EUROPEAN PATENT & TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS
WOLFRATSHAUSER STR. 145 · D-81479 MUNICH

German utility model application 295 22 287.5

Horst Tauber 05 April 2001

Our reference: hht-10-G-de Fi/ni

Expandable mobile computer

The invention relates to an expandable mobile computer with a processor
essentially cuboid-shaped flat processor housing.

1. Classification of the invention, orientation:

The invention falls into the consumer market of the computer industry. It concerns a product for the end user.

The product according to the invention is characterized in that a type of personal computer can be reduced to "wallet size" by means of an "expansion mechanism", but in the operational state it offers a user interface that corresponds to the dimensions of today's usual laptops or personal computers.

2. Description of the problem solved by the invention:

The miniaturization of electronic components is constantly increasing. In the area of personal computers, this process has led to the development of various types of so-called "small computers" such as lap-tops, notebooks or palm-tops. This was an attempt to take into account the technical feasibility of this miniaturization process.

However, this progressive miniaturization increasingly collides with the natural development of the human senses. In this case, this particularly affects the eyes and hands.

hht-10-G-de - 2 - April 5, 2001

ad eye;

Although screen resolution (dots per inch) is constantly increasing, the miniaturization of displays is making them increasingly difficult to work with. The font size cannot be reduced arbitrarily due to the naturally limited resolution of the human eye. This means that the user can only see small sections of a page being edited on the display. This significantly limits orientation on the screen when working with word processing programs or appointment calendars, etc. Working for long periods with such reduced screens also puts an above-average strain on our human eyes and can have a negative impact on our health in the long term.

ad hands:

The keyboards of today's "smaller" computers, laptops, notebooks, palmtops, etc. increasingly have the decisive disadvantage that, with the increasing miniaturization, acceptable operation adapted to human hands is becoming more and more difficult. The keyboard of a computer must not be smaller than the size that corresponds to the natural shape of our hands, otherwise it is no longer possible to work properly. If we were to fully exploit the current possibilities of miniaturization in computer construction, we would have powerful "personal computers" with such small physical dimensions that it would no longer be possible to operate them with our hands.

3. Problem solving/Technical description:

The basic idea with which the problem is solved lies primarily, but not exclusively, in the folding principle. Other possible expansion principles for personal computers, in addition to the folding principle, are referred to below.

Surprisingly, it was found that the problem described above can be solved by appropriate application or targeted transfer of folding mechanisms simultaneously to the display and to the keyboard of a personal computer.

As the accompanying drawings show, the invention makes it possible to produce an expandable personal computer that can be reduced to "wallet size" for transport.

hht-10-G-de - 3 - April 5, 2001

By simply "unfolding" the "FoldTop" is brought into working condition with regard to the display and the keyboard.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with the aid of a drawing.

Fig. 1 shows schematically an expandable mobile computer in a closed

Condition from above.

Fig. la shows schematically an expandable mobile computer in a closed

Condition from behind (view A).

Fig. Ib shows schematically an expandable mobile computer in a closed

Condition from the front (view C).

Fig. Ic shows schematically an expandable mobile computer from both sides

(Views B and D)

Fig. 2 shows schematically the expandable mobile computer after the first unfolding step.

Fig. 3 shows schematically the expandable mobile computer according to the second

unfolding step.

Fig. 4 shows schematically the expandable mobile computer according to the third

unfolding step.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic side view of the expandable mobile computer in

unfolded, working condition.

Figures 1 to 5 show the expandable mobile computer according to the invention in the closed state and in the individual figures in various stages of unfolding. The components of the mobile computer shown schematically there are described below in the course of a discussion with the components known from the prior art.

hht-10-G-de - 4 - April 5, 2001

ad screen:

As can be seen from Figures 1-5, the screen is folded at least once. Folding edges 16 can be either horizontal or vertical. Preferably, the number of these folding edges should be minimized.

The technical design of the folding edges corresponds to the state of the art: Firstly, the possibility of passing electrical signals over a folding edge and secondly, controlling two display units from a single processor (CPU). Both have already been implemented and are in practical use:

The folding edge 16 with power supply can be found, for example, in almost all commercially available palmtops between the keyboard 6 and the display. The difference from the prior art in the product according to the invention is the application of a folding principle to several display units D1, D2.

The control of two display units from a single computer unit is already used today when setting up large multimedia walls, for example at trade fairs. Several screen units make up a single large display wall.

The type of display technology used (LCD, monochrome, multichrome) is for the
Invention uncritical.

ad Keyboard:

The keyboard 6 is folded once or several times, as shown in the drawing. In terms of key layout, it corresponds to commercial standards for
Personal computers or laptops. The type of technical design of the keypad elements corresponds to the state of the art for small computers and is not critical for the invention.

The folding mechanism between the individual keyboard segments is carried out via corresponding "hinges" 18, which satisfy the following two conditions:

1. The angle of rotation is 180 degrees.

2. The hinges enable the transmission of electrical signals.

hht-10-G-de - 5 - April 5, 2001

What is new is that the keyboard 6 is broken down into at least two "segments" which are movably connected to one another by means of simple mechanics ("hinges"). The connecting elements between the keyboard 6 and the processor housing 2 consist of (two) high-quality current-carrying plastic strips 4 (see drawings).

This technology simultaneously offers both a kind of hinge function and the possibility of transmitting electrical impulses. The required angle of rotation of 180 degrees is easily achieved.

ad Power supply:

The energy supply for the FoldTop is analogous to the existing technology of the
PalmTops, via two 1.5 volt AA batteries or analog rechargeable batteries with a
Operating time of approx. 40 hours.

ad Dimensions:

The dimensions given in the drawings are approximate. These details are not critical in that the dimensions of the individual elements and the total volume of the housing on commercially available palmtops are smaller than those of a foldtop. The so-called "wallet size" is not exceeded.

ad Housing material:

The casing is made of high-quality plastic and corresponds to the latest technology. The stability and durability of plastics, as required today in the manufacture of laptops or palmtops, is also sufficient for the FoldTop. The color scheme is optional, but preferably the respective trendy colors subject to fashion are used.

4. Summary:

The solution to the problem consists in incorporating the constantly evolving computer technology of high-performance palmtops (e.g. the EP 200 LX series from Hewlett Packard) that is already available on the market today into a housing that is manufactured according to the folding principle described above.

hht-10-G-de - April 6 - 5, 2001

The folding principle virtually eliminates the conflict between the ever-increasing miniaturization in the personal computer environment on the one hand and the natural limitations of humans in dealing with very small units on the other.

A FoldTop does not differ in the electronics, but in the housing, in which the folding principle described above is preferably used for both the display and the keyboard. The housing has slots 20 on the sides of the processor unit (Fig. Ic).

The already mentioned progressive increase in performance combined with simultaneous miniaturization already makes it possible to accommodate a 386 or 486 processor in the housing of a FoldTop.

What is new is the principle of the expandable personal computer, in the sense of a "foldable"
housing.

The invented principle can be retained if the computer-relevant electronic components become even smaller and more powerful in the future.

An expandable personal computer offers for the first time the possibility of combining ever-increasing computer performance with ever-increasing miniaturization without affecting the so-called human-machine interfaces (display and keyboard).

As already mentioned, the described principle of an expandable personal computer is not limited to a pure folding mechanism.

The folding edges or hinges described can also be, for example, plug connections or clamp connections in their technical form.

Likewise, an expandable personal computer can also be realized by applying/transferring the iris diaphragm principle or something similar.

SCHROETER FLEUCHAUS LEHMANN & GALLO

PATENT ATTORNEYS · EUROPEAN PATENT & TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS WOLFRATSHAUSER STR. 145 · D-81479 MUNICH

German utility model application 295 22 287.5

Horst Tauber 5 April 2001

Our reference: hht-10-G-de Fi/re

REFERENCE SIGNS

2 Processor housing 4 Ribbon cable 6 Keyboard 8th Display 10 hinge 12 Folding wing 14 Locking device 16 Fold edge 18 Hinges 20 Slots Dl, D2 Display units

(mstOOOSd) re000227

Claims (3)

1. Expandable mobile computer, with a substantially cuboid-shaped flat processor housing ( 2 ) accommodating a processor, characterized by a) at least two keyboard segments ( 6 ) which are articulated to the processor housing via ribbon cables ( 4 ) and which are articulated to one another and are connected by b) a screen unit ( 8 ) which is arranged in an articulated manner via a hinge on the long side of the processor housing ( 2 ) opposite the keyboard segments ( 6 ), the screen unit consisting of at least two display units (D1, D2) which are articulated to one another via a hinge ( 10 ) and can be folded together by approximately 180° so that they lie against one another. 2. Expandable mobile computer according to claim 1, characterized in that the display unit (D1) adjoining the processor housing ( 2 ) has on its side opposite the display side at least one folding wing ( 12 ) acting as a support. 3. Expandable mobile computer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two display units (D1, D2) are provided with a locking device ( 14 ) for mutual locking.