Patent Abstract:
A notebook computer with an extended keyboard base and widened display. The extended keyboard base region adjacent to the keyboard has a recessed area which contains a universal I/O connector. The recessed area is designed to fit a set of I/O devices which are designed to electrically connect to the universal I/O connector. When a I/O device is plugged into the universal I/O connector, it may be automatically sensed by circuitry internal to the notebook computer and software drivers are loaded that enables the particular I/O device to be used. The widened display gives added display capability wherein multiple pages of a document may be placed side by side for editing or viewing. I/O devices include, but are not limited to, a numeric keypad, a trackpad/digitizer, a track pad with integrated display, a WorkPad, a digital camera pad, a MP3Pad, a Fingerprint sensor, Control Pad, a PhonePad, a Cellular Pad, and a SmartCard reader/recorder.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates in general to notebook size computers and in particular to the physical and signal interface of removable input/output (I/O) devices to a notebook computer.  
         BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
         [0002]    Notebook computers have wide usage and are usually selected for their small size. Sometimes an application for a notebook computer does not require the smallest size but rather requires portability and the ability to add options when needed. Notebook computers typically require cabling to add some optional devices (e.g., printers and larger displays) which plug into ports that have the appropriate connector for the particular option. Other optional devices may be self contained (e.g. auxiliary storage units) and plug into a compatible connector and reside inside the notebook computer. One of the limitations of notebook computers is their small display screen size and small keyboard size. To remedy this problem some notebook computers have been made with means to expand the keyboard from a smaller stored form factor and many notebook computers have external display ports for optionally using an external display either concurrent with or instead of the attached display.  
           [0003]    Traditionally, the keyboard area of a notebook has been reserved for devices that have an input only function, such as a keypad, track ball or other type of pointing device. There have also been notebook computers with printer ports and ports for connecting to a larger display, however, these devices are usually not portable and the I/O connections are generally in the back of the keyboard base. Recently digital devices have been introduced that have functionality when not connected to computer (e.g., digital cameras). However, these devices may have information that may be loaded into a computer for further processing or storage and may also receive output data from a computer. While these devices may have a standardized electrical interfaces (e.g., USB serial bus) their physical and electrical interface are not necessarily designed to make these I/O devices conveniently operate as part of the notebook computer.  
           [0004]    Therefore, there is a need for a notebook computer with I/O device connectivity in combination with a widened display screen where the traditional features of the notebook are enhanced with the ability to connect new and existing I/O devices with a new display form factor.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A notebook computer is disclosed with a keyboard base containing a keyboard and an attached display. The keyboard base is widened to create a widened I/O area. The display is also widened corresponding to the widened keyboard base. In one embodiment, a recessed area is provided within the widened I/O area which has an I/O connector adapted for a number of removable I/O devices. Each of the I/O devices is operable to electrically connect to the I/O connector. While the I/O devices may vary in functionality, they are all adapted to physically and electrically connect to the I/O connector. I/O devices may also have software drivers, necessary to interface to the notebook computer, either resident in the I/O device or in the notebook computer. Connection of an I/O device may automatically cause the I/O device drivers to be loaded into the notebook computer from the I/O device or the device drivers may be stored and activated from within the notebook computer itself. The widened display may use the extended display space to either display multiple windows for normal notebook operation or to display a window associated only with the operation of a particular I/O device installed in the recessed area in the widened keyboard base and connected to the I/O connector. Selected I/O devices may have functionality wholly separate from any communication or connection with the notebook computer.  
           [0006]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates a notebook computer with a widened display screen and how an I/O device may connect to an I/O connector in a widened keyboard base;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 illustrates a notebook computer with a widened display screen and an I/O device installed in the widened I/O area where the widened screen is used to display multiple windows side by side for a notebook computer application program;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 illustrates a notebook computer with a widened display screen and an I/O device installed in the widened I/O area where an I/O device window is show displayed in a widened portion of the notebook computer display;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 illustrates logic units and embodiments of the present invention useable in a notebook computer; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of method steps used in embodiments of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like may have been omitted in as much as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.  
         [0014]    Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views. In the following description, the term I/O device will be synonymous with a “removable I/O device” as the invention is drawn to I/O devices that are removable from a notebook computer.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of logic units within a motherboard  400  of a notebook computer (not shown in FIG. 4) useable with embodiments of the present invention. The central processing unit (CPU), read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM) make up the majority of the processing function of the notebook computer. Bus  412  is one communication path used to communicate between the logic units and external devices. A user interface adapter  422  (including a keyboard controller) is used to couple signals from devices such as a keyboard  101 , a mouse  426 , a track ball  432  and an audio speaker  428 . Keyboard  101  may have a widened keyboard base  107  with an widened I/O device area  108  according to embodiments of the present invention. A display adapter  436  is used to couple signals to a display  102 . Display  102  may also have an widened display area  103  corresponding to a widened keyboard base  107  according to embodiments of the present invention. Bus  412  may also be used to couple signals from I/O adapter  418  and communication adapter  443 . Adapters  418  is used, according to embodiments of the present invention, to couple signals from an I/O device  449  to motherboard  400  via I/O connection means  434 . In one embodiment of the present invention, I/O device  449  has a connector  450  that is operable to mate with a corresponding connector  448  on I/O connection means  434 . In another embodiment of the present invention, where connectors  448  and  450  are not matched, an interposer  444  is inserted between these two connectors to enable signal connection. Interposer  444  would have a connector features compatible with connector  450  on the I/O device  449  side and a connector feature compatible with connector  448  on the I/O connection means  434  side. The signals wires (not shown) within the interposer  444  would make the required corresponding signal connections to ensure operation of I/O device  449 . An interposer  444  may also be used, in embodiments of the present invention, when the physical form of the connector on an I/O device  449  or a physical feature of the I/O device  449  itself does not allow connection of the I/O device  449  directly to the motherboard  400  via connector  448 . Other communication signals from other devices (not shown) may be coupled to bus  412  via communication adapter  443 .  
         [0016]    Once CPU  410  recognizes a device by its identifying signals it may also have programs with instructions to retrieve, from RAM  414 , ROM  416 , or from the I/O device  449  itself, data specific to the operation of the identified I/O device  449 . This data may include device driver instructions or other pertinent operational information. CPU  410  may also activate software routines that have instructions used to communicate with display adapter  436  to present, on an I/O device display window  111 , data specific to the operation of a specific connected I/O device  449 . This I/O device display window  111  may be wholly separate and not overlay any other operation windows (e.g.,  109 ) on a display  102 . An I/O device  449  with specific I/O device display window  111  may be used to indicate, to a user, operation status of I/O device  449 . For example, I/O device display window  111  may indicate; whether a communication link has been established, any additional instructions to the user concerning actions to be taken, or it may be used to display I/O data in various forms. The I/O device display may also contain data which has been received from or is to be transmitted to I/O device  449 .  
         [0017]    I/O device display window  111  may be used without interrupting other notebook computer display window information. Other embodiments of the present invention allow an widened display  102  (with a widened area  103 ) to be used by the CPU  410  to display windows (e.g.,  109  and  110  in FIG. 2) of a notebook computer application program if no I/O device  449  is present an using the widened display area  103 . An I/O device  449  may be self contained and be wholly operable as a stand alone device when not communicating with notebook computer devices via a motherboard  400 . The I/O connection means  434  allows newly developed devices to be easily adapted to an existing notebook computer containing embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0018]    An I/O device  449  may be supplied with an interposer  444  to allow required signals to be coupled via an I/O adapter  418  and bus  412  to a CPU  410 . Even though the new I/O device  449  was previously unknown, it may still be adaptable to load, into CPU  410 , software that would fully enable synergistic operation of the I/O device  449  and a notebook computer with CPU  410 . The downloaded software may have instructions operable for later identification of the I/O device  449  with display functions for the widened display area  103  (see FIG. 3).  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a notebook computer comprising embodiments of the present invention. Notebook computer  100  has a keyboard  101  and display screen  102 . Embodiments of the present invention widen the base  107  creating an widened area  108 . Widened area  108  has a recessed I/O area  105  which contains I/O connection means  104 . Recessed I/O area  105  is operable to accept one of a group of universal I/O devices  106 . I/O devices  106  may be sized to fit into the I/O area  105  (or adapted possibly using an interposer) to mate with I/O connection means  104 . Notebook computer  100  also has, as the result of extension of the base  107 , an widened I/O display area  103 . I/O display area  103  makes the display  102  more useable either by enabling a single very wide window, two or more smaller windows side-by side, or optionally an inserted window supporting an added I/O device installed or connected in recessed I/O area  105 . I/O connection means  104  may contain sensing means to indicate to the central processing unit (CPU) of the notebook computer  100  the identity of an added I/O device  106 , if necessary. The CPU (not shown, e.g.,  410 ) may reside on a mother board (e.g.,  400 ) which also contains necessary electronic circuits for the notebook computer  100 . The CPU is operable to automatically load drivers and software necessary to support an added I/O device  106 . The sensing means in the I/O connection means  104 , in one embodiment of the present invention, may be a selected number of connector pins that receive encoded logic signals from the added I/O device and couple these signals to the CPU. In another embodiment of the present invention, an added I/O device  106  sends a serial set of bits defining its identity on a specific connector pin of the I/O connection means  104 . Other sensing means, for determining an I/O device identity, may include applying a logic signal to a selected single pin which is coupled to the CPU which the CPU has been programmed to associate with a particular I/O device  106 .  
         [0020]    Many different I/O devices are possible using embodiments of the present invention. A list of possible I/O devices includes, but is not limited to, a numeric keypad, a trackpad/digitizer, a track pad with integrated display, a Work Pad or other personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera pad, a MP3 Pad, a Fingerprint sensor, Control Pad, a Phone Pad, a Cellular Pad, and a SmartCard reader/recorder. A “pad” in this context is a term used to define an I/O unit which has the features necessary to provide the particular I/O function (e.g., buttons, keys, audio input/output, display, etc.). A keypad may be a simple input device for inputting key data where the keypad has a particular keypad layout or specific user characters. A trackpad/digitizer may be a device that is used over a drawing where a reference may be established and data inputted by moving over figures and inputting coordinates of points. Some devices like a PDA or a digital camera pad may have a complete functionality wholly separate from communication to the notebook computer. A Phone Pad or Cellular Pad contain the functionality to make phone calls using either the standard telephone protocol or wireless via a cellular connection. The notebook may use the functionality of the Phone Pad or Cellular Pad to make either voice or data connections. For example a user may want to use the Cellular Pad in conjunction with the notebook computer to make a voice connection and talk while accessing and displaying data or operating an application program. Other devices like the Fingerprint sensor may be used for a variety of security protocol applications (e.g., granting access to certain local or remote files). A Smartcard reader/recorder is a device used to read and write specially formatted cards that may contain data storage either magnetically, optically or by accessing embedded memory chips within the Smartcard.  
         [0021]    In one embodiment of the present invention, plugging in an I/O device  106  into I/O connection means  104  would trigger the enhanced notebook computer  100  to present a display window (e.g.,  111 ) indicating which supported I/O device drivers are installed. The user would then select, from the options, the particular I/O device  106 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the notebook computer automatically loads the appropriate I/O device driver by sensing the particular I/O device  106  connected. Yet in another embodiment of the present invention, the I/O device  106  stores its required I/O driver in internal ROM. The I/O driver may be automatically loaded into the notebook computer when the I/O device  106  is coupled to I/O connection means  104 . Other embodiments of the present invention also bring up a supporting display window (e.g.,  111 ) in the extended display area  103  for use with the I/O device  106 . The extended display area  103  would also be available for notebook computer application program use whether or not an I/O device  106  is connected. This would be very useful for displaying two pages side by side during an editing or review process.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention of a notebook  100  with an installed I/O device  106 . Widened keyboard base  107  contains a keyboard  101 . Display  102  has an extended display area  103 . In this illustration, two display windows  109  and  110  are shown displayed side by side where display window  110  extends into extended display area  103 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention where a notebook computer  100  has a I/O device  106  installed. Widened keyboard base  107  contains a keyboard  101 . Display  102  has a widened display area  103 . In this illustration, display windows  109  and  112  are in display  101 . An I/O display window  111 , associated with I/O device  106 , is displayed in the widened display area  103 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of method steps in embodiments of the present invention. In step  501 , a test is executed to determine if a I/O device  106  is coupled to the universal connection means is sending communication requests. If the result of the test in  501  is NO, then a test is done in step  502  to determine if a notebook application program has a requirement that may use the widened display area  103 . If the result of the test in step  502  is YES, then the widened display area  103  may be used for the notebook application program. If the result of the test in step  502  is NO, then a branch is executed to step  501  awaiting an I/O device  106  connection or a requirement by an notebook application program that may use of the widened display  103 . If the result of the test in step  501  is YES, then communication requests of an activated and installed I/O device  106  are acknowledged in step  504 . In step  505 , communication software within the notebook computer  100  requests I/O device  106  identification. In step  506 , the particular I/O device driver program is either downloaded to or activated within the notebook computer  100 . In step  507 , the I/O display window program is activated in the notebook or downloaded from the I/O device  106 . In step  508 , the notebook computer  100  and the I/O device  106  are operated together under user commands entered via the keyboard  101  of notebook computer  100  or via the I/O device  106 . In step  509 , a test is executed to determine if operation the I/O device  106  active or terminated. If the result of the test in step  509  is YES, a branch is executed back to step  508  continuing operation. If the result of the test in step  509  is NO, then a branch to step  501  is executed in step  510  awaiting communication requests from an I/O device.  
         [0025]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6