Case for a modular tablet computer system

Abstract

A computer housing or case contains computer system components including a display unit, a processor, and a computer power supply unit. One or more handles are positioned at a side of the case to allow a user to hold the encased computer system while viewing the display. A case has a support interface structure to hold the case steady in an upright position. The support interface structure of the case mates with a complimentary support interface in the weight-supporting base unit and mates with guides to align a power supply port in the case to contact a power supply port in the base unit. A base unit has a keyboard guide to receive a keyboard by lifting the keyboard above a support surface. A modular computer system comprises a tablet computer, a base unit, and a remote keyboard. A first infrared communication device couples the tablet computer to the remote keyboard and other input peripherals. A second infrared communication device couples the tablet computer to a remote printer. A radio frequency network adapter couples the tablet computer to the base unit, which provides additional communications to an external communications network.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A housing for containing a computer system having a display unit, a processor unit, and a power supply unit therein, said display unit being viewable by a user, said housing comprising: 
 a case including a front face, an opposing back face, and a first side having a first side surface and being positioned between said opposing faces, said front face having a first side surface positioned near said first side;    said front face having a see-through portion that allows said display unit to be viewable from outside said case; and    a first handle including said first side surface, said first front surface, and a first grip positioned on said back face of said case near said first side;    wherein said first handle is graspable by a first hand of a user such that at least one finger of said first hand is capable of engaging said first grip, the palm of said first hand is capable of contacting said first side surface, and said first hand is capable of contacting said first front surface while said user can view said display unit through said see-through portion of said case.    
     
     
         2 . The housing of    claim 1    further comprising: 
 said case further including a second side opposing said first side, said second side having a second side surface and being positioned between said front face and said back face, said front face having a second front surface positioned near said second side; and  
 a second handle including said second side surface, said second front surface, and a second grip positioned on said back face of said case near said second side;  
 wherein said second handle is graspable by a second hand of said user such that at least one finger of said second hand is capable of engaging said second grip, the palm of said second hand is capable of contacting said second side surface, and said second hand is capable of contacting said second front surface while said user can view said display unit through said see-through portion of said case.  
 
     
     
         3 . The housing of    claim 1    wherein said first grip is nonplanar with said back face.  
     
     
         4 . The housing of    claim 1    wherein said first grip comprises a recess formed in said back face substantially parallel to said first side of said case.  
     
     
         5 . The housing of    claim 1    wherein said first grip comprises a grip structure protruding from said back face near said first side of said case.  
     
     
         6 . The housing of    claim 1    wherein said case has a top side and a bottom side, and said first grip comprises a recess formed into said back face from said top side to said bottom side substantially parallel along the entire length of said first side.  
     
     
         7 . The housing of    claim 1    wherein said first grip comprises a hole through said case capable of receiving said at least one finger to allow said first hand to wrap completely around said handle.  
     
     
         8 . The housing of    claim 1    further comprising a support structure operably attached to said case that holds said case upright on a support surface.  
     
     
         9 . The housing of    claim 8    wherein said support structure is a stand disposed in a stand recess in said back panel that extends from said back panel to support said case.  
     
     
         10 . The housing of    claim 8    wherein said support structure folds into a recess in said back panel to form a portion of said first grip in said back panel.  
     
     
         11 . A housing for containing a computer system having a display unit, a processor unit, and a computer power supply unit therein and for engaging a weight-supporting base unit having a base unit guide and a base power supply port, said display unit being viewable by a user, said housing comprising: 
 a case having opposing front and back panels;    said front panel having a see-through portion that allows said display unit to be viewable from outside said case;    a case power supply port formed in said case positioned to engage an electrical lead coupled to said computer power supply unit;    an interface structure formed in said case, wherein said interface structure is capable of detachably engaging said case to said weight-supporting base unit and holding said case steady in an upright position; and    a case guide positioned on said interface structure, wherein said case guide is capable of complementarily engaging said base unit guide to align said case power supply port with said base power supply port.    
     
     
         12 . The housing of    claim 11    wherein said interface structure comprises a tab formed in said case, wherein said tab is capable of mating into a slot formed in said weight-supporting base unit.  
     
     
         13 . The housing of    claim 11    wherein said case guide is a recessed area having a lip on one of said panels that is capable of complementarily sliding against a support tab in said weight-supporting base unit to horizontally align said case power supply port to correspond with said base power supply port.  
     
     
         14 . The housing of    claim 11    wherein said case guide is a recessed structure formed in said back panel being capable of complementarily engaging said base unit guide that protrudes from said weight-supporting base unit.  
     
     
         15 . The housing of    claim 11    wherein said case guide is a protruding structure formed in said back panel being capable of complementarily engaging said base unit guide that is recessed into said weight-supporting base unit.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for housing and supporting a computer system having a display unit, a processor unit, and a computer power supply unit therein, said display unit being viewable by a user, said housing comprising: 
 a case having opposing front and back panels;    said front panel having a see-through portion that allows said display unit to be viewable from outside said case;    a case power supply port formed in said case and positioned to engage a computer power lead coupled to said computer power supply unit;    a case interface structure disposed on said case;    a weight-supporting base unit;    a base power supply port formed in said weight-supporting base unit; and    a base interface structure disposed on said weight-supporting base unit and being structurally complementary with said case interface structure to detachably engage said case interface structure;    wherein said case is held steady in an upright position and at least one of said interface structures includes an alignment guide to align said case power supply port to correspond with said base power supply port.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of    claim 16    wherein said case interface structure forms a tab that mates into a slot formed by said base interface structure.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of    claim 16    wherein said computer power supply port is positioned to engage a computer power lead coupled to said computer power supply unit, said base power supply port is positioned to engage a base power lead coupled to said base power supply unit, and said alignment guide to align said computer power lead in contact with said base power lead.  
     
     
         19 . A base unit for holding a computer system steady in an upright position, said computer system having a computer interface structure and a computer power supply port formed therein, said base unit comprising: 
 a bottom portion steadily positioned on a support surface;    a top surface operably attached to said bottom portion;    a weight-supporting interface structure operably attached to said edge and forming a slot being capable of detachably engaging said computer system;    an alignment guide disposed on said weight supporting interface structure and being complementary to said computer interface structure; and    a base power supply port formed in said weight-supporting interface structure, said alignment guide being capable of aligning said base power supply port to correspond with said computer power supply port.    
     
     
         20 . The base unit of    claim 19    further comprising a receptacle that receives a keyboard, said weight supporting interface structure being capable of holding said computer system case above said receptacle.  
     
     
         21 . The base unit of    claim 19    further comprising a receptacle that receives a keyboard, said weight supporting interface structure being capable of holding said computer system case below said receptacle.  
     
     
         22 . A base unit for holding a keyboard above a support surface, said keyboard having a side rail including a detent positioned on said side rail separate, said base unit comprising: 
 a top surface;    a side portion extending downward from said top surface to said support surface;    a keyboard guide disposed on said side portion including a beveled end, a nipple, and a slide portion therebetween; said beveled end capable of receiving and lifting said side rail of said keyboard onto said slide portion of said keyboard guide when the front of said keyboard is pushed into said base unit along said support; said nipple being capable of receiving said detent of said side rail to detachingly engage said keyboard beneath said top surface and above said support surface.