Portable computers

Abstract

A portable computer hand held cellular telephone arranged to rest comfortably in the hand has a small display screen. Accelerometers capable of detecting movement of the pen cellular telephone with respect to gravity provide input to a microcontroller which selects a response from a number of viewing modes. The pen cellular telephone may be held in either hand and the output message to the screen will be oriented according to the location of the pen cellular telephone. Full personal digital assistance functionality may be incorporated in a relatively small plastics casing and functions, such as calendar, contracts contacts and the like may be incorporated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement,   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;   wherein detected movement data is used to effect scrolling of displayed information such that portions of data defining alphanumeric or graphic information outside a currently displayed screen is selectable by the user, the scrolling of displayed information effectively displaying a part of an adjacent screen.   
     
     
       2. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;   in which a relative lateral tilting movement causes the display of information stored as to one or other side of currently displayed information.   
     
     
       3. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;   in which relative rolling movement causes the display of information stored as above or below currently displayed information.   
     
     
       4. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   the processing means using said data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes; and   wherein the processing means is responsive to detected movement data to determine a most likely orientation of a computer display means, the processing means causing the displayed information to be oriented accordingly.   
     
     
       5. A portable computer as in  claim 4 , in which a plurality of switch means responsive to user action is included adjacent to the display means, the respective function of each of the switch means being oriented to match the orientation of displayed information. 
     
     
       6. A portable computer as in  claim 4  further comprising a touch sensitive static potentiometer strip responsive to movement of a user's finger to simulate movement of a potentiometer, the orientation of said potentiometer reflecting the orientation of the displayed information. 
     
     
       7. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention, the processing means using said data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes; and   proximity detection means which provides signals indicative of the proximity of a computer display screen to a user's view, the processing means being further responsive to changes in relative proximity to increase or decrease the density of displayed information.   
     
     
       8. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention; the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;   radio transceiver means, the processing means being responsive to detected movement data which identifies another device to cause the transmission of coded signals including a message for display.   
     
     
       9. A portable computer as in  claim 8  in which the processing means is responsive to received encoded radio signals to activate a paging alert. 
     
     
       10. A portable computer as in  claim 9 , in which the page alert comprises a tone. 
     
     
       11. A portable computer as in  claim 9 , in which the paging alert comprises an operation of a vibrating means. 
     
     
       12. A portable computer as in  claim 8 , in which the processing means causes the display of a message derived from the information received. 
     
     
       13. A portable computer comprising:
 a casing for housing other components of the portable computer, the casing being shaped to facilitate a user holding the portable computer as a writing stylus; and   a display screen;   wherein said casing includes a radiused triangular cross-section along a substantial portion of its length and a flattened section incorporating the display screen, and an angular shaping between a forward holding area adapted to rest in the user's fingers and rearward flattened area holding the display screen the shaping being such as to provide a natural viewing angle of the incorporated display screen while the casing is held as a writing stylus.   
     
     
       14. A portable computer as in  claim 13 , in which the shaping causes the rearward screen area to be supported by the dorsal areas of a user's hand. 
     
     
       15. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages being the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;   wherein the processing means is responsive to detected movement data to determine a most likely orientation of the display, the processing means causing the displayed information to be oriented accordingly.   
     
     
       16. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;   in which a plurality of switch means responsive to user action is included adjacent to the display, the respective function of each of the switch means being oriented to match the orientation of displayed information.   
     
     
       17. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed;   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention, the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed; and   a touch sensitive static potentiometer strip responsive to movement of a users finger to simulate movement of a potentiometer, the orientation of said potentiometer reflecting the orientation of the displayed information.   
     
     
       18. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   wherein detected movement data is used to effect scrolling of displayed information such that portions of data defining alphanumeric or graphic information outside a currently displayed screen is selectable by the user, the scrolling of displayed information effectively displaying a part of an adjacent screen.   
     
     
       19. A portable computer as in  claim 18 , including a sound output device, the processing means being arranged to provide output of speech or other sound signals derived from stored data. 
     
     
       20. A portable computer as in  claim 18 , including radio transmission or infrared transmission means, the processing means being responsive to detected movement data to output to the transmission means signals representative of the detected movement. 
     
     
       21. A portable computer as in  claim 18 , including radio transmission or infrared transmission means, the processing means being responsive to detected movement data to output to the transmission means signals representative of alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
       22. A portable computer as in  claim 18 , in which the processing means stores data defining an authorised user's password, the processing means being locked in a secure mode until detected movement data corresponding to the security data is received. 
     
     
       23. A portable computer as in  claim 18 , further comprising a sound input device, the processing means being responsive to voice input signals from a user to derive alphanumeric data. 
     
     
       24. A portable computer as in  claim 23 , further including a sound output device in combination with a radio transceiver whereby cellular or radio telephony networks may be used. 
     
     
       25. A portable computer as in  claim 18  housed in a casing shaped to facilitate a user holding the computer as a writing stylus. 
     
     
       26. A portable computer as in  claim 25 , in which the casing comprises a radiused triangular cross-section along a substantial portion of its length. 
     
     
       27. A portable computer as in  claim 26 , in which the casing includes a flattened section incorporating a display screen. 
     
     
       28. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   in which a relative lateral tilting movement causes the display of information stored as to one or other side of currently displayed information.   
     
     
       29. A portable computer as in  claim 28  housed in a casing shaped to facilitate a user holding the computer as a writing stylus. 
     
     
       30. A portable computer as in  claim 29 , in which the casing comprises a radiused triangular cross-section along a substantial portion of its length. 
     
     
       31. A portable computer as in  claim 30 , in which the casing includes a flattened section incorporating a display screen. 
     
     
       32. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   in which relative rolling movement causes the display of information stored as above or below currently displayed information.   
     
     
       33. A portable computer as in  claim 32  housed in a casing shaped to facilitate a user holding the computer as a writing stylus. 
     
     
       34. A portable computer as in  claim 33 , in which the casing comprises a radiused triangular cross-section along a substantial portion of its length. 
     
     
       35. A portable computer as in  claim 34 , in which the casing includes a flattened section incorporating a display screen. 
     
     
       36. A portable computer comprising:
 movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;   a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;   a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and   processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;   wherein the processing means is responsive to detected movement data to determine a most likely orientation of the display, the processing means causing the displayed information to be oriented accordingly.   
     
     
       37. A hand held cellular telephone comprising:
 a case;   the case being unitary and without comprising a hinge;   the case being sized and shaped to be held within one hand of a user;   the case also containing a cellular transceiver;   the case also containing a processor;   a rechargeable battery also being housed within the case;   a display that displays information, the display disposed on the case;   the screen area of the display being of a size such that it extends between the root of a thumb and an index finger of a user and extending to the user's wrist;   a detector that generates data indicative of whether a user is looking at the display;   the display being powered by a rechargeable battery; and   the processor being configured to reduce power supplied by the rechargeable battery to the display based on the data generated by the detector.    
     
     
       38. The hand held cellular telephone of claim 37, wherein the display comprises a touch screen.  
     
     
       39. The hand held cellular telephone of claim 37, wherein the housing comprises a molded plastic case which is sealed to make the case waterproof.  
     
     
       40. The hand held cellular telephone of claim 37, further comprising a light emitting diode.  
     
     
       41. The hand held cellular telephone of claim 40, wherein the light emitting diode may emit light of more than one color.  
     
     
       42. The hand held cellular telephone of claim 40, wherein the light emitting diode emits a red color.  
     
     
       43. The hand held cellular telephone of claim 37, further comprising configuring the hand held cellular telephone to perform multiple functions selected from the group consisting of at least one of: reception and transmission of email; storage and display of large text documents; diary alarm and scheduling functions; storage and display of maps; and storing and sorting speech notes.  
     
     
       44. The hand held cellular telephone of claim 43, wherein the at least one function of storage and display of large text messages comprises the storage and display of photographs.  
     
     
       45. The hand held cellular telephone of claim 43, wherein the at least one function is storage and display of maps.  
     
     
       46. The cellular telephone of claim 37, wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display further comprising a backlight.  
     
     
       47. The cellular telephone of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured to reduce power to the liquid crystal display by closing down the backlight of the display.