Patent ID: 6068417
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: G06F,H01H

Abstract:
A laterally flexible input/output device by which electronic data is conducted between said device and a parent computer or other electronic system, comprising, in combination:(a) a plurality of input/output activators arranged in a substantially planar pattern of rows aligned laterally and columns aligned generally normal to said lateral rows, wherein a substantial number of said plurality of input/output activators are aligned in a row and a column of said activators;(b) a plurality of essentially planar and parallel upper bars that align generally with said columns of activators, a plurality of essentially planar and parallel lower bars located beneath said upper bars, and means for interconnecting said upper and lower bars to form a laterally flexible assembly which can be pulled apart to an open position and pushed together to a closed position in a direction that aligns generally with said rows of said activators;(c) means for mounting an activator aligned in a row and a column of said activators on an upper bar of said laterally flexible assembly, wherein more than one activator mounted on said upper bar comprises a column of said activators mounted on said bar, wherein a plurality of said columns of said activators mounted on the same plurality of adjacent upper bars comprises a laterally flexible assembly of activators that can be pulled apart to an open position and pushed together to a closed position in a direction that aligns generally with said rows of said activators, wherein when said laterally flexible assembly is in open position said activators mounted thereon and said input/output device as a whole are in open position, and when said laterally flexible assembly is in closed position said activators mounted thereon and said input/output device as a whole are in closed position;(d) means for mounting said laterally flexible assembly on an underlying base, wherein said base is selected from the group consisting of a surface of said parent computer or electronic system, a surface that is a nonintegral part of said parent system, and a surface that is not a part of said parent system; and(e) means for conducting electronic data between said activators mounted on said laterally flexible assembly and said parent system whether said activators are in open or closed position;whereby said input/output device is used to conduct electronic data between said activators mounted thereon and said parent system whether said activators are in open or closed position;whereby when said activators are in open position one can easily conduct electronic data between said activators and said parent system, and when said activators are in closed position one can conduct electronic data between said activators and said parent system as well as store said input/output device within a significantly shorter lateral dimension than can be done when said activators are open.