Abstract:
A computer cradle is described that includes a stylus holder that is at least partially light transmissive. The light transmissive material of the stylus holder transmits to a user light generated within the computer cradle. The stylus is seated in a funnel-shaped cavity formed in a stylus holder oriented nonperpendicularly to a cradle housing, so that a stylus supported by the stylus holder is more easily accessible.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of computer docks. In particular, the invention relates to a cradle for a portable computer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A computer cradle serves as a communication interface between a portable computer and a second computer, and also can serve as a charging station for the portable computer. The computer cradle also provides a convenient location to place a portable computer so that the screen of the portable computer is easily viewed. 
     A user often enters information into a portable computer with a stylus. When not in use, the stylus is stored in a cavity along the side of the portable computer. However, a stylus stored in the cavity can be relatively inaccessible and difficult to remove. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to have a computer cradle with a stylus holder capable of supporting a stylus at an accessible position and angle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of various embodiments is to provide a cradle for a computer with a stylus holder at least partially formed from light transmissive material, thereby combining the functionality of a stylus holder and a status indicator light. Consequently, the complexity of manufacturing the cradle is reduced; for example, this reduces the part count, which is advantageous to the manufacturing process. 
     One embodiment of the invention includes a computer cradle including a housing, a stylus holder, and a light source. The housing forms a hole having a stylus holder positioned at least partially therein. The stylus holder is formed at least partially from material that transmits light. The light source is positioned in the housing to transmit light through the material that transmits light. The stylus holder thereby has the capabilities of both supporting a stylus and indicating, with light transmitted though the material of the stylus holder that transmits light, a status of the computer cradle or a computer coupled to the cradle. The functionality of the stylus holder is further increased; for example, combining the light transmissive material with the stylus holder makes the stylus holder easier to locate. 
     Another aspect of various embodiments is to provide a stylus holder for a computer cradle in a manner that allows a user to more easily use a stylus with the stylus holder. In some embodiments, the housing defines a cavity where the stylus holder is located. At least part of the cavity has a cross section that is substantially hourglass-shaped. 
     In other embodiments, at least part of the stylus holder includes a cavity with a cross section that is substantially funnel-shaped. The funnel-shape of the cavity and the nonperpendicular orientation of the body of the stylus holder on the housing facilitate placing the stylus in the stylus holder and removing the stylus from the stylus holder. For example, a front surface of the housing and a base of the housing form an angle approximately 45 degrees from the base. The stylus holder can support a stylus so that the stylus and the base form an angle approximately 120 degrees from the base. This example angle makes the stylus more accessible from a user&#39;s point of view. 
     Light transmitted through the stylus holder communicates significant information to a user of the computer cradle. In other embodiments of the invention, the light can indicate when the computer cradle properly couples with a portable computer, and the light can indicate one or more of several charge statuses of a portable computer. In further embodiments of the invention, the light can indicate information in various ways, such as emitting various colors, emitting various colors of light, emitting a light blinking at various rates, and emitting light at various brightness levels. 
     In some embodiments, the computer cradle can accept a portable computer. Other types of computers the computer cradle can accept include a palm size computer and a handheld computer. Another embodiment of the invention includes a computer cradle coupled to both a portable computer and a computer. 
     Further, some embodiments of the invention include a method of manufacturing a computer cradle comprises the acts of positioning a stylus holder at least partially in a hole defined by a housing, where the stylus holder is at least partially formed from light transmissive material; and positioning a light source in the housing such that the light source is adapted to provide light to the stylus holder. 
     Further, some embodiments of the invention include a method of using a computer cradle, comprises generating a signal in response to coupling a portable computer to a housing, where the housing includes a stylus holder at least partially formed from light transmissive material; transmitting light from at least part of the stylus holder in response to the signal; and supporting a stylus with the stylus holder. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system including the computer cradle coupled with both a portable computer and a second computer. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a front right perspective view of the computer cradle. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a front left perspective view of a partially assembled computer cradle with a stylus inserted. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a front right perspective view of a circuit board. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of a portion of a housing supporting a stylus holder. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of a stylus holder supporting a stylus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A computer cradle  100  is shown in FIG.  1 . The computer cradle  100  is an embodiment of the system when the computer cradle  100  is coupled to a computer  105  and a portable computer  110 . 
     The computer cradle  100  is substantially enclosed in a housing  115 . Both a docking port  120  and a computer port  125  are coupled to a cradle circuit  130 . The portable computer  110  is coupled to the docking port  120 . The computer  105  is coupled to the computer port  125 . The portable computer  110  and the computer  105 , exchange through the cradle circuit  130 , information related to functions such as an address book, a daily organizer, and a to do list. 
     Other embodiments include computer cradles of different sizes to accept desktop computers and laptop computers. Further embodiments include computer cradles that couple via the computer port to laptop computers, portable computers, and desktop computers. 
     The cradle circuit  130  includes a light source circuit  135 , which comprises a light source  140 . In one embodiment, the light source circuit  135  activates the light source  140  when the portable computer  110  is coupled to the docking port  120 . When the light source  140  is active, light  145  is transmitted to a stylus holder  150 . The stylus holder  150  is made at least partially of light transmissive material, thereby transmitting at least some of the light  145  through the stylus holder  150  and illuminating the stylus holder  150  from a point of view external to the computer cradle  100 . Combining the stylus holder  150  with a light indicator can simplify some aspects of the manufacturing process of the computer cradle  100 , allows the stylus holder  150  to communicate information, and makes the stylus holder  150  easy to find and use. 
     One embodiment of the stylus holder  150  is a light pipe having a cavity to support a stylus. Various embodiments of the stylus holder  150  use light transmissive materials such as glass, plastic, Lexanrm, translucent material, transparent material, and other materials that transmit light. Other embodiments use multiple materials of varying opacity and color. Further embodiments use materials with various patterns such as spots, stripes, and cross-hatching. Such patterns obscure any stray marks inadvertently made on the stylus holder  150  by, for example, a pen placed in the stylus holder  150 . Yet further embodiments use a stylus holder  150  integral to the housing  115 . The stylus holder  150  in these embodiments is light transmissive by virtue of a housing  115  that is thinner in the region of the stylus holder  150 . In another embodiment, the stylus holder  150  is coupled to the docking port  120 . 
     The light source circuit  135  is included in an electrical connection between the light source  140  and the docking port  120 . Coupling the portable computer  110  to the docking port  120  completes an electrical circuit, activating the light source  140  through the electrical connection. In other embodiments, the light source  140  indicates one of several charge statuses to indicate remaining power of the portable computer  110 . In various embodiments, the light source circuit  135  includes circuits that cause the light source  140  to blink at varying rates and cause the brightness of the light source  140  to vary among several brightness levels. In other embodiments, part of the light source  140  blinks at one rate and another part of the light source blinks at another rate. In further embodiments, part of the light source emits light at one brightness level and another part of the light source emits light at another brightness level. These various embodiments of the light source  140  and the light source circuit  135  communicate information to the user, such as ongoing data transfer, a stage of data transfer, data transfer rate, charge state of the portable computer  110 , connection state with the portable computer  110 , connection state with the computer  105 , and/or reminders of an appointment stored in the portable computer  110  or the computer  105 . 
     The light source  140  in one embodiment includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned such that light emitted from the LEDs enters the stylus holder  150 . In other embodiments, the light source  140  emits multiple colors. In other embodiments, one or more incandescent bulbs emit the light. The particular physics underlying the generation of light, for example incandescence and spontaneous photon emission, is not important. What is important is that the light source  140  generates light. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the computer cradle  100  from a front right perspective view. The housing  115  has a front face  200 , a right side  205 , a left side  210 , a base  215 , and a rear face  220 . The housing  115  comprises an upper housing  225  and a lower housing  230 . Viewing the computer cradle  100  from the right side  205 , the line  235  illustrates a line along which the housing  115  is divided into the upper housing  225  and the lower housing  230 . The housing  115  includes the stylus holder  150  and the docking port  120 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates from a front left perspective view a computer cradle  100  that is partially assembled. The lower housing  230  of the housing  115  is shown, but not the upper housing  225 . A circuit board  300  rests in the lower housing  230 . The docking port  120  and the cradle circuit  130  (not shown) are positioned on the circuit board  300 . A stylus  305  is supported by the stylus holder  150 . A ballast (not shown) rests in the lower housing  230  beneath the circuit board  300 . The ballast adds stability to the computer cradle  100 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the circuit board  300 , which supports the stylus holder  150 . The circuit board  300  has a notch  400  that prevents the circuit board  300  from blocking a stylus inserted into stylus holder  150 , allowing the stylus to rest more deeply in the stylus holder  150 . The notch  400  also removes from view the circuit board  300  which would otherwise be visible through the stylus holder  150  when the stylus holder  150  is not supporting the stylus. The stylus holder  150  is enclosed in a holder housing  405 . The holder housing  405  is coupled to the housing  115  via heat stakes. The heat stakes on the housing  115  are perpendicular to the front face  200  of the housing  115  to facilitate automated assembly of the holder housing  405  with the housing  115 . The heat stake receivers, or holes, on the holder housing  405  are not perpendicular to the front face  200  of the housing  115 . The heat stake receivers are sized large enough such that the heat stake receivers, which have a longitudinal axis not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the heat stakes, can accept the heat stakes. Other embodiments may use ultrasonic welding, cold stakes, clips, and/or fasteners to couple the holder housing  405  to the housing  115 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of the stylus holder  150  supported in a cavity in the holder housing  405 . The cross section of the cavity has an hourglass shape, with an upper portion  500  and a lower portion  505 , separated by a line  510 . The upper portion  500  is shown as an upper portion first side  500   a  and an upper portion second side  500   b . The lower portion  505  is shown as a lower portion first side  505   a  and a lower portion second side  505   b . An upper portion cross sectional width  515  reaches from the upper portion first side  500   a  to the upper portion second side  500   b . The upper portion cross sectional width  515  narrows with increased proximity to the lower portion  505 . A lower portion cross sectional width  520  reaches from the lower portion first side  505   a  to the lower portion second side  505   b . The lower portion cross sectional width  520  narrows with increased proximity to the upper portion  500 . 
     The cavity of the holder housing  405  has a longitudinal axis  525 . The stylus holder  150  has a stylus cavity  530  adapted to support a substantially cylindrical stylus. The stylus holder  150  has a longitudinal axis  535 . Line  540  represents a plane of the base  215 . Line  545  is parallel to longitudinal axis  525 . The approximately 45 degree angle between the line  545  and the line  540  represents the angle at which a stylus would be supported with respect to the plane of the base  215 , in an embodiment lacking the hourglass-shaped cross section of the housing cavity. The approximately 60 degree angle between the line  535  and the line  540  represents the angle at which a stylus would be supported with respect to the plane of the base  215 , in an embodiment having the hourglass-shaped cross section of the housing cavity. The hourglass-shaped housing cavity allows the stylus holder  150  to support a stylus at an angle ergonomically advantageous for a user, allowing the user to more easily reach the stylus in the stylus holder  150  and replace the stylus in the stylus holder  150 . The approximately 60 degree angle corresponds to an approximately 120 degree angle from the base  215 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of the stylus holder  150  included in the holder housing  405 . The cross section of the stylus holder  150  has an upper part  150   a  and a lower part  150   b . Neither the heat stake receivers of the holder housing  405  nor the main body of the holder housing  405 , which includes the stylus holder  150 , is perpendicular to the front face  200  of the housing  115 . Thus, one portion of the stylus holder  150  forms an acute angle  605  with respect to the front face  200  of the housing  115 , and another portion of the stylus holder  150  forms an obtuse angle  610  with respect to the front face  200  of the housing  115 . The stylus holder  150  has a first end  152  and a second end  154 . The first end  152  of the stylus holder  150  is shown in two parts  152   a  and  152   b , and the second end  154  of the stylus holder  150  is shown in two parts  154   a  and  154   b . A cross sectional width  615  reaches from the upper part  150   a  to the lower part  150   b . The cross sectional width  615  is longer at the first end  152  than at the second end  154 . The stylus holder  150  thereby defines a funnel-shaped cavity which is adapted to support a stylus  305  and particularly a stylus  305  with a tapered tip  620 . The funnel-shaped cavity has a first opening  625  at the first end  152  of the stylus holder  150  and a second opening  630  at the second end  154  of the stylus holder  150 . The funnel-shaped cavity is not centered with respect to a longitudinal axis  635  of the stylus holder  150 . The first opening  625  is centered, but the second opening  630  is not centered, with respect to the longitudinal axis  635 . 
     Line  640  represents a plane of the base  215 . Line  650  is perpendicular to the front face  200  of the housing  115 . The approximately 45 degree angle between the line  650  and the line  640  represents the angle at which a stylus  305  would be supported with respect to the plane of the base  215 , in an embodiment lacking both the funnel-shaped cavity of the stylus holder  150  and the non-perpendicular orientation of the stylus holder  150  with respect to the front face  200  of the housing  115 . The stylus  305  has a longitudinal axis  655 . The approximately 60 degree angle between the line  655  and the line  640  represents the angle at which a stylus  305  would be supported with respect to the plane of the base  215 . The stylus holder  150  thereby supports the stylus  305  at an angle ergonomically advantageous for a user, allowing the user to more easily reach the stylus  305  in the stylus holder  150  and replace the stylus  305  in the stylus holder  150 . The approximately 60 degree angle also corresponds to an approximately 120 degree angle from the base  215 . 
     In other embodiments, the stylus  305  would be supported at approximately angles of 30 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees, and 150 degrees with respect to the plane of the base  215 , or any angle between 20-160 degrees with respect to the plane of the base  215 . In yet other embodiments, the longitudinal axis of the holder housing  405  forms angles approximately of 30 degrees and 60 degrees, or any angle between 20-80 degrees with respect to the plane of the base  215 . All the above angles are for illustration only and other embodiments include different angle combinations not limited to the angles above. Other embodiments include different cross sections of the housing cavity, stylus holders seated at different positions in the housing cavity, adjustable stylus holders adapted to support a stylus at a range of angles with respect to the base  215 , and stylus holders with stylus cavities of various cross sections to accommodate styluses of various shapes and hues. 
     The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent.