Combination laptop and pad computer

Abstract

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 position. 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 provided approximately 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 circuit for supplying power to the computer elements contained within the housing.

1. A portable computer comprising:
 a computer housing;  
 a keyboard carried by said computer housing;  
 a display device having an obverse viewing surface and a reverse surface; and  
 a mounting assembly that couples said display device to said computer housing, said mounting assembly including an integral, single-piece, member extending between said display device and said computer housing, said integral, single-piece, member having a first end portion connected to said computer housing in a substantially non-slidable manner and a second end portion connected 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 with the obverse viewing surface exposed and an open position in which the keyboard is uncovered and the display device is positioned rearwardly of the keyboard at a viewing angle with the obverse viewing surface positioned toward the keyboard.  
 
     
     
       2. The portable computer as defined in  claim 1 , further including a latch assembly for latching said display device to said computer housing. 
     
     
       3. The portable computer as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said computer housing has a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein said latch assembly is located approximately midway between said front portion and said rear portion. 
     
     
       4. The portable computer as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said computer housing has first and second side margins extending between said front portion and said rear portion, and wherein said latch assembly is located adjacent at least one of said first and second side margins. 
     
     
       5. The portable computer as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said latch assembly includes a retractable latch member and a slotted wall for retractably receiving said latch member. 
     
     
       6. The portable computer as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said latch member is carried by said display device and wherein said slotted wall is a portion of said computer housing. 
     
     
       7. The portable computer as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said latch assembly includes first and second retractable latch members and corresponding first and second slotted walls, said first latch member and said first side wall being located adjacent said first side margin, and said second latch member and said second side wall being located adjacent said second side margin. 
     
     
       8. The portable computer as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said computer housing has a front portion, a rear portion and first and second side margins extending therebetween, and wherein said portable computer further includes a mounting means for pivotally mounting said display device to said computer housing. 
     
     
       9. The portable computer as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said computer housing has a rear wall portion with a recess formed therein, and wherein said computer includes a power pack having a shape conformable with said recess for enabling removable attachment of said power pack to said computer housing. 
     
     
       10. The portable computer as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said power pack includes a receptacle area for accommodating a battery power source. 
     
     
       11. The portable computer as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said power pack includes a battery charging circuit. 
     
     
       12. The portable computer as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said display device includes a display operable in conjunction with a stylus. 
     
     
       13. The portable computer as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said stylus is electrically conductive. 
     
     
       14. The portable computer as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said display device further includes a mask region adjacent said viewing surface and a receptacle formed in said mask region to receive and hold said stylus. 
     
     
       15. The portable computer as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said computer housing includes means for mounting a stylus thereto. 
     
     
       16. The portable computer as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said computer housing includes support means for inclining said computer housing at an angle when said portable computer is placed on a support surface. 
     
     
       17. The portable computer as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said support means is integrally formed in the bottom wall of said computer housing. 
     
     
       18. The portable computer as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said display device is sized to cover substantially all of said computer housing when said display device is in the closed position. 
     
     
       19. The portable computer as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising clip means for removably securing a conductive stylus to at least one of the computer housing and the display device. 
     
     
       20. A portable computer comprising:
   a main housing comprising a top surface supporting an input until through which data is input into the portable computer and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;        a display housing having a front surface supporting thereon a display surface and a back surface opposite the front surface; and        at least one linking member configured to allow a movement of the main housing and the display housing relative to each other at least between a first position and a second position, said linking member having a first end pivotally coupled to a first fixed location of the main housing and a second end pivotally coupled to a second fixed location of the display housing,        wherein:      in the first position, the back surface is substantially parallel to and faces the top surface such that the input unit is covered by the back surface,        in the second position, the front surface is disposed at a viewing angle with respect to the top surface such that the input unit is uncovered, and        the display surface comprises an input surface through which data is input into the portable computer.       
     
     
       21. The portable computer according to  claim 20 , wherein:
   the main housing further comprises a front end and a back end separated by the top surface, and a distance between the front end and the first fixed location is constant as the display housing moves between the first position and the second position.     
     
     
       22. The portable computer according to  claim 21 , wherein:
   the data is input through contact between the input surface and a stylus pen.     
     
     
       23. The portable computer according to  claim 22 , further comprising a holder shaped to receive and hold the stylus pen, the holder being on at least one of the front surface and the top surface. 
     
     
       24. The portable computer according to  claim 20 , wherein:
   when pivoting between the first and second positions, the second end of the at least one linking member pivots about the first end of the at least one linking member, and        when in the first and second positions, the first end is pivotally attached to the first fixed location.     
     
     
       25. The portable computer according to  claim 20 , wherein:
   the second end of the at least one linking member is configured to pivot while the display housing is disposed rearward of the input unit.     
     
     
       26. The portable computer according to  claim 20 , wherein:
   when in the first position, the second end of the at least one linking member is disposed forward of the first end of the at least one linking member.     
     
     
       27. The portable computer according to  claim 20 , wherein:
   one of the first end and the second end is disposed substantially at a middle of a corresponding one of the computer housing and the display housing, and        the other one of the first end and the second end is disposed substantially at an end of the other corresponding one of the computer housing and the display housing.     
     
     
       28. The portable computer of  claim 20 , wherein the main housing further comprises:
   a receptacle shaped to receive and detachably hold a power pack.     
     
     
       29. The portable computer of  claim 28 , wherein:
   the receptacle comprises a recess extending along a rear wall of said main housing.     
     
     
       30. A portable computer comprising:
   a main housing including a top surface having an input unit through which data is input into the portable computer, a front edge, and a rear edge separated from the front edge by the top surface;        a display housing including an upper edge, a lower edge, a front surface having disposed thereon a display screen, the front surface being disposed between the upper edge and the lower edge; and        a linking member configured to move the display housing relative to the main housing between at least a first position and a second position, the linking member having a first end pivotally coupled to the main housing at a first fixed distance away from the front edge and a second end pivotally coupled to the display housing at a second fixed distance away from the upper edge when in the first and second positions,        wherein:      when in the first position, the frond edge of the main housing is a first distance apart from the upper edge of the display housing and a second distance apart from the lower edge of the display housing, and        when in the second position, the front edge of the main housing being a third distance apart from the upper edge of the display housing and a fourth distance apart from the lower edge of the display housing,        the first distance being other than the third distance,        the second distance being other than fourth distance, and        the display screen further comprises an input surface through which data is input into the portable computer.       
     
     
       31. The portable computer according to  claim 30 , wherein:
   when in the first position, the front edge of the main housing substantially coincides with at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge of the display housing.     
     
     
       32. The portable computer of  claim 31 , wherein the main housing further comprises:
   a receptacle shaped to receive and detachably hold a power pack.     
     
     
       33. The portable computer of  claim 32 , wherein:
   the receptacle comprises a recess extending along a rear wall of said main housing.     
     
     
       34. The portable computer according to  claim 30 , wherein:
   when in the second position, the lower edge of the display housing is positioned between the front edge and the rear edge of the main housing.     
     
     
       35. The portable computer according to  claim 30 , wherein:
   the first fixed distance is other than the second fixed distance.     
     
     
       36. The portable computer according to  claim 35 , wherein:
   the second fixed distance is greater than the first fixed distance.     
     
     
       37. The portable computer according to  claim 30 , wherein:
   the first end of the linking member is positioned rearward of a front edge of the input unit.     
     
     
       38. The portable computer according to  claim 30 , wherein:
   the data is input through contact between the input surface and a stylus pen.     
     
     
       39. The portable computer according to  claim 38 , further comprising:
   a holder shaped to receive and hold the stylus pen, the holder being on at least one of the front surface and the top surface.     
     
     
       40. A portable computer comprising:
   a computer housing having an attachment point at a first location and a first surface;        a display device having an obverse viewing surface and a reverse surface;        a mounting member that extends between the display device and the computer housing, the mounting member having a first end portion connected to the attachment point at the first location and a second end portion connected to the display device so as to allow the display device to be adjusted between at least a first position and a second position relative to the computer housing; and        an input unit disposed on the first surface and through which data is input into the portable computer, wherein the display device covers the input unit when in the second position and exposes the input unit when the display device is in the first position,        wherein:      the first end portion remains substantially at the first location when the display device moves between the first position and the second position,        the obverse viewing surface of the display device is exposed when the display device is at the first position and the second position,        the first position comprises the first surface of the computer housing being exposed with the obverse viewing surface positioned at a viewing angle with respect to the first surface,        the second position comprises the reverse surface of the display device covering the first surface of the computer housing, and        the display device further comprises an input surface through which data is input into the portable computer.       
     
     
       41. The portable computer of  claim 40 , wherein the computer housing further comprises:
   a receptacle shaped to receive and detachably hold a power pack.     
     
     
       42. The portable computer of  claim 41 , wherein:
   the receptacle comprises a recess extending along a rear wall of said computer housing.     
     
     
       43. A method of adjusting a display device relative to a computer housing of a portable computer, the display device having a display surface, and the computer housing having a top surface, the method comprising:
   rotating a first fixed point of the display device about a second fixed point of the computer housing to adjust a location of the display device relative to said computer housing; and        pivoting the display device about the first fixed point to adjust a relative angle between the display surface of the display device and the top surface of the computer housing, such that the display device is moved between at least a first position, in which the display surface is at a viewing angle with respect to the top surface, and a second position, in which the display device covers the top surface while the display surface is exposed.     
     
     
       44. A portable computer comprising:
   a main housing comprising a top surface supporting an input unit through which data is input into the portable computer and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;        a display housing having a display surface and a back surface opposite the front surface; and        at least one linking member having a first end pivotally coupled to a first fixed location of the display housing and a second end pivotally coupled to a second fixed location of the main housing such that the display housing pivots relative to the at least one linking member about a first axis at the first fixed location while the first fixed location of the display housing rotates about a second axis at the second fixed location so that the display housing moves relative to the main housing at least between a first position, in which the display surface is at a viewing angle with respect to the top surface, and a second position, in which the back surface of the display housing opposes and covers the top surface while the display surface is exposed.