Abstract:
The disclosure relates to computer systems. One example is a portable computer having a housing, a processor and memory mounted within the housing. The portable computer also has a docking cradle integrated into the housing to dock a handheld computing device and to interface the handheld computing device with the processor, the docking cradle having a fixedly movable receiving surface.

Description:
RELATED CASES 
     This patent application is a continuation claiming priority from a patent application having Ser. No. 09/906,180 titled “Portable Computer with Integrated PDA I/O Docking Cradle” filed Jul. 16, 2001, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,647. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     With the increased mobility of people in today&#39;s workforce, the demand for mobile computing and communication capabilities outside of the office has increased dramatically. Those inside the office, as well as those who typically work outside the office, often require the ability to communicate with others and other devices to access or transfer various data files. In response to this demand, handheld computing devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) have been developed. 
     A PDA is a compact device that can serve various functions including a cellular phone, facsimile transmitter, personal organizer, and the like. PDAs typically include a stylus and/or a touch screen for user input, and may include a keyboard or a limited number of input keys. PDAs can be used for such things as sending and retrieving e-mail, Web browsing, and data-sharing applications over the Internet, intranet or corporate networks. 
     Because of the compact nature of PDAs, the ability to enter data is somewhat limited. Touch screens and miniature keypads typically provide a single character hunt-and-click entry technique that is slow and not conducive to entering large amounts of data. PDAs have not replaced more traditional portable computers when it comes to such tasks as data entry, word processing, spreadsheet analysis, and so on. As a result, today&#39;s computer users often opt to carry both devices, a PDA to hold such things as appointments, tasks, and contact information, as well as a portable computer to accommodate more data intensive operations, such as word processing, spreadsheet functionality, and so on. 
     Dual device users typically enter events into either the PDA or the portable computer and then synchronize the two devices so that both contain the same information. Today, a PDA is most commonly interfaced with a portable computer by connecting an external cradle or cable to the computer and then plugging the PDA into the cradle or cable. Another technique is to utilize a wireless connection (e.g., IR, RF, etc.) to interface the two computing devices. 
     This invention offers another technique for interfacing a PDA with a portable computer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a personal digital assistant (PDA) separate from, but dockable within, a portable computer. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the PDA docked within a cradle that is integrated into a palm rest of the portable computer. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the PDA being alternately docked or undocked from the portable computer. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of selected functional components of the PDA and portable computer. 
         FIG. 5  is a process for operating the PDA while docked in the portable computer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A computing system includes a handheld computing device (e.g., a personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular phone, etc.) and a portable computer with an integrated docking cradle to dock the handheld computing device. The docking cradle physically stores the handheld computing device, facilitates data communication between the device and the portable computer, and supplies power to the handheld computing device. When docked, the handheld computing device can be safely stored and ported with the portable computer and can synchronize event data (e.g., calendar, appointments, etc.), email, and other information with the portable computer. 
     The computing system is described in the context of a laptop computer with an integrated docking cradle adapted to dock a PDA. In particular, one type of PDA is illustrated for discussion purposes, although other types of PDAs may be used. PDAs are constructed in many different shapes and sizes, as well as with different functionality (e.g., personal organizer, browser, cellular phone, facsimile transmitter, etc.). Additionally, the computer may be configured to dock other types of portable handheld computing devices, such as pagers and cellular phones. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary computing system  100  composed of a personal digital assistant (PDA)  102  and a portable computer  104  (e.g., laptop, notebook, etc.). The portable computer  104  includes a display  110  mounted in a lid that is connected via a hinge to a body  112  to move between an open position (as shown) and a closed position where the display lid is folded onto the body  112 . The body  112  houses a keyboard  114  and a mouse/touch pad entry mechanism  116 . The body  112  also defines a palm rest  118  juxtaposed with the keyboard  114  and straddling the mouse/touch pad entry mechanism  116 . 
     A PDA docking cradle  120  is integrated into the palm rest  118  to dock the PDA  102 . The PDA docking cradle  120  may be located on either side of the mouse/touch pad entry mechanism  116 , although it is shown on the left-side palm rest for purposes of illustration. The PDA  102  can be selectively docked within, or undocked from, the PDA docking cradle  120  as represented by the dashed arrow  122 . 
     A status display  124  is provided externally on the front side of the body  112 . The status display  124  provides events and other notifications that are generated by the PDA when it is docked in the cradle  120 . In this manner, the status display  124  can provide the user with relevant and timely information, even if the portable computer is in a suspend mode and the display lid  110  is closed, thereby enclosing the PDA. One or more buttons  126  are positioned near the status display  124 . These buttons  126  are used to acknowledge or modify events and information generated by the PDA  102  and/or the portable computer  104  and presented on the status display  124 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an enlarged view of the PDA  102  when it is docked within the PDA docking cradle  120 . The PDA  102  includes a housing  200  that defines a display area  202  with a touch screen  204 . Various user-engagable buttons  206  enable a user to interact with the PDA. The user can use either buttons  206  to make various menu selections that are displayed on the touch screen  204 , or physically contact the touch screen directly with a finger or stylus (not shown). 
     A release latch  210  latches the PDA  102  into the docking cradle  120 . The portable computer  104  physically stores and protects the PDA  102  when docked so that the user can easily carry both the portable computer  104  and PDA  102 . The docking cradle is also in a memorable location that allows the user to readily locate the PDA when the user wishes to undock the PDA and carry it separately from the computer. When the PDA  102  is docked in the cradle  120 , the PDA  102  is approximately flush with the palm rest  118 , thereby providing a continuous surface on which the user of the portable computer  104  can rest his/her palm when operating the keyboard  114  and/or mouse pad  116 . 
     In addition to physically mounting the PDA  102 , the PDA docking cradle  120  provides an interface that supports both data communication and power resources. In this manner, the integrated PDA docking cradle  120  offers the cradle functionality to interface the PDA  102  with the portable computer  104 , thereby eliminating the need for external docking cradles. When docked, the PDA  102  is able to communicate with the portable computer  104 , via either direct electrical coupling or other means (e.g., proximity coupling, IR coupling, RF coupling, etc.). The PDA  102  and portable computer  104  can exchange data to synchronize various information, such as appointments, email, contacts, and so on. Additionally, power may be supplied to charge a battery resident at the PDA  102 . 
     Both the PDA  102  and the computer  104  can be operational at the same time. Alternatively, one of the devices may be operational without the other. The PDA&#39;s input mechanism (e.g., buttons  206 , touch screen  204 , etc.) are exposed when docked to allow the user to enter data while the PDA  102  is mounted in the docking cradle  120 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates one exemplary implementation of docking the PDA  102  into the docking cradle  120 . Before the PDA  102  is docked in the portable computer  104 , a movable platform  300  is positioned within an opening of the docking cradle  120  to form part of the palm rest. The platform  300  is pressed into this opening via springs  302  (or other biasing mechanisms) and securely held in place by the release latch  210 . The release latch  210  is movable between an open position “Open” and a latched position “Latch”, with a spring bias toward the latched position. 
     When the user wishes to dock the PDA  102 , the user slides the latch  210  toward open position “Open”, which releases the platform  300 . The user slides a first end  304  of the PDA  102  under the housing lip  306  into the PDA docking cradle  120 , displacing the platform  300  away from the opening. The PDA  102  is then rotated down into the docking cradle, with the release latch  210  being returned to the latched position “Latch” to hold a second end  308  of the PDA  102  in place. The PDA  102  is physically held in the docking cradle by the housing lip  306  and latch  210 . In this state, the PDA  102  is safely stored and can be easily ported together with the portable computer  102 . 
     When mounted within the docking cradle, the PDA&#39;s first end  304  physically engages, and/or electrically couples to, one or more electrical contacts  310 . Electrical contacts exposed on the first end of the PDA (not shown) transfer data to the contacts  310  of the docking cradle. In other implementations, other non-contact couplings may be employed. For example, an IR transceiver may be installed at the PDA&#39;s first end  304  to communicate with an IR transceiver provided inside the computer housing. RF transceivers may also be used to interface the PDA and the computer. 
       FIG. 4  shows functional components of the PDA  102  and portable computer  104 . The PDA  102  includes a processor  400 , memory  402  (e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc.), an interface  404 , the touch screen display  204 ,and the input buttons  206 . The portable computer  104  includes a processor  410 , one or more storages  412  (e.g., RAM, ROM, hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), an interface  414 , the display  110 , the keyboard  114 , the mouse pad  116 , and the status LCD  124 . 
     When the PDA  102  is docked in the palm-rest docking cradle  120 , the PDA communicates with the portable computer via a communication path  420  between the two interfaces  404  and  414 . The interfaces  404  and  414  support both data communication and power transfer. In one implementation, the interfaces facilitate serial communication, although the interfaces may be configured to support parallel communication. 
     When both devices are powered on, the user can enter data into either device, and the devices automatically synchronize any relevant data between both devices. For instance, if the user enters new contact information into the PDA while it is docked, the PDA will share the new contact information with the contact management software executing on the portable computer. In this way, both devices are kept current, alleviating the user from entering the information twice. 
     Events, notifications, or other information generated by the PDA  102  may be passed to the portable computer  104  via the communication path  420 . The portable computer transfers the PDA-generated information to an embedded controller that displays the information on the status LCD  124 . Since very little energy is used, the information may be transferred and displayed while the main processor  410  is in suspend mode. In this way, a user may be reminded or informed of upcoming events even if the portable computer is suspended and the display lid is closed whereby the user cannot see the PDA. 
     As an example, suppose the PDA generates an event pertaining to an upcoming meeting. The PDA transfers this event to the portable computer via the communication interfaces  404  and  414 . The event is then displayed on the status LCD  124  (e.g. “Mgmt Meeting 1:00 PM”) to inform the user. Since the status LCD  124  is exposed externally of the portable computer, it may be used to communicate events to the user when the portable computer is folded shut and being carried. If the user wants more information, he/she can then open the portable computer and request more information from the docked PDA. Additionally, the user can utilize buttons  126  to acknowledge or modify the information. These buttons  126  are particularly convenient when the portable computer is closed because the user can handle the event information without opening the portable computer. 
       FIG. 5  shows a process  500  for operating the PDA when docked in the portable computer. Some or all of the operations illustrated as blocks can be implemented in software stored in memory and executed on one or more processors. At block  502 , once the PDA is physically mounted in the docking cradle, software executing on the portable computer detects the presence of the PDA. Data is then exchanged between the two devices to synchronize the information residing on each device (block  504 ). For instance, any new appointments, contacts, emails, etc., that have been received by either device since they were last synchronized are exchanged between the two devices. 
     At this point, the PDA may remain docked for some time and carried with the computer. The user may enter data into either the PDA or the computer. During this time, the PDA may generate an event, notification, or other information (block  506 ). When this occurs (i.e., the “yes” branch from block  506 ), the PDA passes the event to the portable computer (block  508 ). The portable computer displays the event on the status LCD  124  of the portable computer to inform the user (block  510 ). The status LCD  124  is viewable even if the portable computer is closed and the user cannot otherwise see the docked PDA. The user may utilize status buttons  126  to acknowledge or modify the event depicted on the status LCD  124 . The portable computer monitors for depression or activation of the buttons  126 , and handles the response accordingly (block  512 ). 
     At block  514 , the process detects whether the PDA has been removed from the cradle. If not (i.e., the “No” branch from block  514 ), the process continues to synchronize any data, entered into one of the devices, with the other device. For instance, the user might enter an event into the PDA while it is docked, and this event is shared with the organization software executing on the portable computer. Once the PDA is detected as being undocked (i.e., the “Yes” branch from block  514 ), the process ends. 
     CONCLUSION 
     Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention.