Abstract:
A mobile computer has a base with a keyboard and one or more storage devices. A touch screen display is removably coupled to the base to form a clamshell like structure. The touch screen display has a processor and memory for receiving and processing input from the touch screen display. The base and touch screen display communicate without wires in either the coupled or uncoupled states. The touch screen display also operates as a tablet PC in one embodiment. Each of the base and touch screen contain transceivers for communicating in a wireless manner. The touch screen display comprises an LCD display and optional keys for use by a user to select or enter data.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to computers, and in particular to notebook computer having a display that is detachable and operates as a wireless tablet personal computer.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Notebook computers commonly are formed in a clamshell like configuration. The clamshell configuration consists of a base unit and a display. The base unit is usually equipped with a keyboard, processor, memory and diverse storage devices such as disk drives and CD type devices. The display is usually a liquid crystal display (LCD) which is hinged to a back end of the base unit and folds down over the base unit in a clam shell manner when not in use.  
           [0003]    Users of portable computers such as notebook computers are demanding smaller and smaller packaging of the computers for more portable use. Some notebook or laptop computers have docking stations having the storage devices in a base station, with a slimmer, lower weight laptop computer operable separate from the base station. This detachable laptop is lighter than the combined laptop and base station. However, loss of the use of the storage devices curtails the overall functionality of the system when detached.  
           [0004]    Some computers include detachable mobile computers having separate a separate duplicative display device, usually much smaller than the LCD used with the computer. The detachable mobile computer may communicate with the computer via a wireless connection when detached, but utilizes a hardwired connection when attached. Still other computers have detachable monitors with a pen for input.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A mobile computer has a base with a keyboard and one or more storage devices. A touch screen display is removably coupled to the base to form a clamshell like structure. The touch screen display has a processor and memory for receiving and processing input from the touch screen display. The base and touch screen display communicate without wires in either the coupled or uncoupled states. The touch screen display also operates as a tablet PC in one embodiment.  
           [0006]    In one embodiment, each of the base and touch screen contain transceivers for communicating in a wireless manner. The touch screen display comprises an LCD display and optional keys for use by a user to select or enter data.  
           [0007]    The base contains removable disk drives and a touch pad input device in one embodiment. The base and touch screen also have mating hinges with power connections therein.  
           [0008]    In one embodiment, a user uses the mobile computer via a keyboard on the base to enter user input. Storage devices in the base provide data to the display via the wireless connection. When the display is detached from the base, it operates as a fully functional tablet PC with touch screen, and wireless connection to the base for transfer of data back and forth.  
           [0009]    In still another embodiment, the mobile computer comprises a first processor in a removable display device suitable for independent touch screen input computing. A second processor is provided in a host device with a housing suitable for removably receiving the removable display device. The host device is capable of wireless communication with the removable display device. In one embodiment, the first processor is disabled upon connection of the removable display device to the host device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a block perspective exploded view of a computer system having a detachable tablet personal computer.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of functional components of the detachable tablet personal computer of FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a detailed block architectural diagram of the components of the computer of FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a laptop computer indicated generally at  110 . The computer comprises a base  120  having many devices integrated therein. A diskette drive is indicated at  122 , a CD ROM or DVD drive is built into the base at  123 . A keyboard  124  is provided on a top surface of base  120 , as is a touch pad device. The keyboard is a standard QUERTY keyboard in one embodiment, and comprises a compacted version in some smaller laptop computer implementations.  
         [0015]    Laptop computer  110  further comprises a detachable display device  130  having a touch pad screen  132  for data entry and display of images corresponding to computer programs being executed on the laptop computer  110 . In one embodiment further keys are provided on the display device  130 . In further embodiments, the display device  130  comprises a tablet PC, having a processor for running computer programs such as operating systems and application programs. User interaction with the tablet PC is facilitated by the touch screen  132  and optional keys/buttons  133 .  
         [0016]    Base  120  comprises hinges  134  and  135  for mating with corresponding hinge portions  137  and  138  on tablet PC  130 . In one embodiment, the hinges  134  and  135  provide a structure to mate with hinge portions  137  and  138  which comprise pins parallel to a base of tablet PC  130 . The hinge and hinge portions provide a mechanism to allow the combined tablet PC  130  and base  120  to open and shut like a clamshell style laptop or notebook personal computer. They also provide the ability to easily separate the two components of the computer  110 .  
         [0017]    Each of the base  120  and tablet PC  130  contain transceivers for communication in a wireless manner. In one embodiment, wireless technologies, such as 802.11b, Bluetooth, or other type of wireless communication protocol is used to maintain communication between the base and the tablet PC.  
         [0018]    A wireless connection between the base and tablet PC is provided in one embodiment. In a further embodiment, tablet PC  130  and base  120  are capable of being hot plugged or hot swapped. The wireless connection is used in one embodiment as the sole communication mechanism between the components. Thus, there is no need for undocking and docking protocols. The communication between the two components is identical in either embodiment. In some embodiments is the additional devices in the base, such as the storage devices are useable by the tablet PC through the wireless connection. This allows a user to view a video from the DVD  123  through the unattached tablet PC.  
         [0019]    Functions may be easily migrated between the two components as desired. In one embodiment, communications to external networks are provided by the tablet PC, and in another embodiment, the external network connection is provided through the base. Printer connections, such as by USB ports are alternatively provided in either or both components.  
         [0020]    Power for the components is provided by battery  165  in base  120  and battery  167  in tablet PC  130 . In one embodiment, the batteries are sized relatively with respect to power requirements of their respective components and desired weight of each component. Power connections are provided through the hinges in a known manner to provide operating and recharging power through an AC connection. Both components have connectors for receiving power. In one embodiment, the AC power is transformed to a DC power of suitable level prior to provision to the component. This further minimizes required weights of the components.  
         [0021]    In still further embodiments, cellular connections may be used to further increase the range of distances of the components. In yet another embodiment, the base contains a processor that operates to control the devices in the base. The processor can operate independently to download content from a network connection whether or not the tablet PC is within range. It can also operate as a coprocessor when the tablet PC is within range. In one embodiment, the base is disconnected from the tablet PC, and provides data from a video recording such as a DVD storage medium via the wireless connection for display on the tablet PC.  
         [0022]    A block diagram of components of a tablet PC  200  constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. A processor  210  is coupled to a memory  220 . Memory  220  contains programming required for the processor to run applications, which are also stored in memory  220  or provided from the base. Memory  220  comprises a non-volatile random access memory, NVRAM, in one embodiment to ensure programming is not lost, and to reduce power requirement. In one embodiment, dynamic random access memory, DRAM, is provided for at least part of memory  220 , which may also contain one or more levels of CACHE.  
         [0023]    Processor  210  and memory  220  are coupled to a graphics module  240 , which provides functions for storing and providing video information in a format to display on a display  250 . Display  250  is an LCD display that display digital information corresponding to multiple pixel elements. It also provide touch pad capabilities, either in the display area or in a separate area from the portion of the LCD used for display. Other display technologies providing for input of information as well as display of information may be used as desired.  
         [0024]    Information inputted into the display  250  is provided to an I/O controller, as is information from one or more buttons provided on display  250 . I/O controller provides the input information to processor  210 , or directly to the base  120  via a transceiver  260  for effecting wireless communications with the base. Transceiver  260  also receives information from the base and routes it to processor  210 , memory  220  or graphics module  240 . In one embodiment, all information is first routed through the processor. In one embodiment, the information is first stored in memory  220 . When a video is being provided through transceiver  260 , in one embodiment, it is provided directly to the graphics module  240  for display on display  250 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer system  300  that shows components found in the combination of the base and tablet PC. It should be noted that many of the ports, devices and other components shown in FIG. 3 can be distributed between, or duplicated in, the tablet PC and base.  
         [0026]    Computer system  300  comprises a processor  302 , a system controller  312 , a cache  314 , and a data-path chip  318 , each coupled to a host bus  310 . Processor  302  is a microprocessor such as a 486-type chip, a Pentium®, Pentium® II, Pentium® III, Pentium® 4, or other suitable microprocessor. Cache  314  provides high-speed local-memory data (in one embodiment, for example, 512 kB of data) for processor  302 , and is controlled by system controller  312 , which loads cache  314  with data that is expected to be used soon after the data is placed in cache  314  (i.e., in the near future). Main memory  316  is coupled between system controller  312  and data-path chip  318 , and in one embodiment, provides random-access memory of between 16 MB and 256 MB or more of data. In one embodiment, main memory  316  is provided on SIMMs (Single In-line Memory Modules), while in another embodiment, main memory  316  is provided on DIMMs (Dual In-line Memory Modules), each of which plugs into suitable sockets provided on a motherboard holding many of the other components shown in FIG. 3. Main memory  316  includes standard DRAM (Dynamic Random-Access Memory), EDO (Extended Data Out) DRAM, SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), or other suitable memory technology. System controller  312  controls PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus  320 , a local bus for system  300  that provides a high-speed data path between processor  302  and various peripheral devices, such as graphics devices, storage drives, network cabling, etc. Data-path chip  318  is also controlled by system controller  312  to assist in routing data between main memory  316 , host bus  310 , and PCI bus  320 .  
         [0027]    In one embodiment, PCI bus  320  provides a 32-bit-wide data path that runs at 33 MHz. In another embodiment, PCI bus  320  provides a 64-bit-wide data path that runs at 33 MHz. In yet other embodiments, PCI bus  320  provides 32-bit-wide or 64-bit-wide data paths that run at higher speeds. In one embodiment, PCI bus  320  provides connectivity to I/O bridge  322 , graphics controller  327 , and one or more PCI connectors  321  (i.e., sockets into which a card edge may be inserted), each of which accepts a standard PCI card. In one embodiment, I/O bridge  322  and graphics controller  327  are each integrated on the motherboard along with system controller  312 , in order to avoid a board-connector-board signal-crossing interface and thus provide better speed and reliability. In the embodiment shown, graphics controller  327  is coupled to a video memory  328  (that includes memory such as DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, or VRAM (Video Random-Access Memory)), and drives VGA (Video Graphics Adaptor) port  329 . VGA port  329  can connect to industry-standard monitors such as VGA-type, SVGA (Super VGA)-type, XGA-type (eXtended Graphics Adaptor) or SXGA-type (Super XGA) display devices.  
         [0028]    Other input/output (I/O) cards having a PCI interface can be plugged into PCI connectors  321 . Network connections providing video input are also represented by PCI connectors  321 , and include Ethernet devices and cable modems for coupling to a high speed Ethernet network or cable network which is further coupled to the Internet.  
         [0029]    In one embodiment, I/O bridge  322  is a chip that provides connection and control to one or more independent IDE or SCSI connectors  324 - 325 , to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port  326 , and to ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus  330 . In this embodiment, IDE connector  324  provides connectivity for up to two standard IDE-type devices such as hard disk drives, CDROM (Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory) drives, DVD (Digital Video Disk) drives, videocassette recorders, or TBU (Tape-Backup Unit) devices. In one similar embodiment, two IDE connectors  324  are provided, and each provide the EIDE (Enhanced IDE) architecture. In the embodiment shown, SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) connector  325  provides connectivity for up to seven or fifteen SCSI-type devices (depending on the version of SCSI supported by the embodiment). In one embodiment, I/O bridge  322  provides ISA bus  330  having one or more ISA connectors  331  (in one embodiment, three connectors are provided). In one embodiment, ISA bus  330  is coupled to I/O controller  352 , which in turn provides connections to two serial ports  354  and  355 , parallel port  356 , and FDD (Floppy-Disk Drive) connector  357 . At least one serial port is coupled to a modem for connection to a telephone system providing Internet access through an Internet service provider. In one embodiment, ISA bus  330  is connected to buffer  332 , which is connected to X bus  340 , which provides connections to real-time clock  342 , keyboard/mouse controller  344  and keyboard BIOS ROM (Basic Input/Output System Read-Only Memory)  345 , and to system BIOS ROM  346 .  
         [0030]    The integrated system performs several functions identified in the block diagram and flowchart of FIGS. 1 and 2. Such functions are implemented in software in one embodiment, where the software comprises computer executable instructions stored on computer readable media such as disk drives coupled to connectors  324  or  325 , and executed from main memory  316  and cache  314 . The term “computer readable medium” is also used to represent carrier waves on which the software is transmitted. The tablet PC also contains PC slots for memory cards, network cards and other cards implementing various well known and future functions.