GB2316466A

GB2316466A - Portable electronic apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2316466A
Application number: GB9617438A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Quentin Phillipps
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-08-20
Filing date: 1996-08-20
Publication date: 1998-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-20
Also published as: GB9617438D0; GB2316466B

Abstract

A portable electronic apparatus, e.g.a notebook computer, has a liquid crystal display 1, handles 3 on opposite sides of the display, push-button switches 5 on the handles, and trackerballs 6. The handles are attached to the display by hinges 4. The display 1 may comprise two panels on either side of a central hinge to facilitate folding, and the body 2 may include a CD-ROM drive, a floppy disk drive, and a connection for a printer. In a second embodiment (Fig.5), the display 1 is detachable from handle unit 8/9 which includes a cpu and memory, and transmission from keys on the handles to the body may be via plug 10 or by remote control. Other embodiments include a display with motorbike style handlebars (30, Figs.13-15), and a steering wheel simulator (Figs. 16-17).

Description

Portable Electronic Apparatus Description This invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus with a display and handle means which include user input means.

Known portable or "notebook" computers generally comprise a display screen with a keyboard for user input. Games terminals which include a joystick or input pad through which the user controls the game are well known. Such games generally comprise a central console connected to a separate screen with a joystick or other user interface also connected to the console by means of wires. Also well known are hand-held games which consist of a display in a unit which is capable of being held in one or both hands and on which are mounted the various keys which control the game.

One aim of the present invention is to provide a portable device which is capable of being used for a variety of functions, including data input, driving and flight simulation and games playing.

The present invention provides portable electronic apparatus comprising display means and handle means for gripping by a user, with user input means thereon, the handle means being located on opposite sides of the display means. The handle means perform a number of functions; (1) acting as a three-dimensional ergonomic keyboard; (2) acting as a palm rest and to make it easier to hold the screen when in use; (3) allowing the screen to be more easily carried when not in use; and (4) acting as a base for various possible additions such as batteries, memories and microphones.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a rectangular display panel with handles which are attached to and project from the left and right hand sides of the panel, as viewed in Figure 1. In an alternative embodiment, the handles are attached to and project from the respective bottom corners of the display panel, as viewed in Figure 4. Each handle may have keys on the obverse side designed to be operated by a user's thumb, and keys on the reverse side to be operated by the user's fingers. The keys may be standard keyboard keys or keys on a virtual "touchscreen" keyboard. They may be push button switches, either momentary action or latching. Alternatively they may be keys which respond to directional pressure, so that a user may, for example, use a single key to obtain a number of alphanumeric characters. One or more of the keys may also be of the 'trackerball' type used on notepad computers instead of a separate mouse. Conveniently, input keys may additionally be located on the edge of the display panel as well as on the handles.

Preferably, the handles are hinged to allow movement to suit the requirements of each user and to permit the handles to be folded out of the way or to enable the screen to be more easily carried. Further, the handles may be detachable for ease of storage and to allow data entry remote from the display.

Where the handles are used as a base for additional elements such as memory, the ability to remove the handles makes such additions easily upgradeable.

To obtain further advantages in ease of use and comfort, the handles may be made from a variety of different materials, including pliable plastics materials which will mould easily to the profile of the user's hand. As an example of such a construction, a soft plastic material may be used for the shell of the handle, with the inside of the shell being filled with a viscous gel.

Another embodiment of the invention enables use of the apparatus for driving or flight simulation by the inclusion of a suitable user input means such as a steering wheel or yoke, with a position or movement sensing means for supplying control information to the control unit.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the invention, with the hinges in a flat position to show the layout of the handles; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1, showing the arrangement of the handles when the apparatus is in use; Figure 3 is a view of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing how it may be folded for ease of carrying; Figure 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention, showing the arrangement of handles; Figure 5 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 4, showing the screen detached from the handles; Figure 6 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a front view of a third embodiment of the invention, with the hinges in a flat position to show the arrangement of the right handle; Figure 8 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 7, showing details of the switches on the handle; Figure 9 is a rear view of the apparatus of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a view of a fourth embodiment of the invention, showing a further type of detachable handle; Figure 11 is a front view of a fifth embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 is a front view of a sixth embodiment of the invention; Figure 13 is a front view of a seventh embodiment of the invention; Figure 14 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a plan view of an alternate arrangement of the apparatus of Figure 13; Figure 16 is a front view of an eighth embodiment of the invention; and Figure 17 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 16.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a standard rectangular display panel 1, such as a flat panel liquid crystal display commonly used for notebook or lap-top computers, in a moulded plastic body 2 and connected to handles 3 by means of hinges 4, such as are commonly used in foldable notebook computers and personal digital organisers to connect the screen to the keyboard, and which enable the handles to be adjusted by the user and locked in position for maximum efficiency and comfort in use. The handles are of a moulded plastic construction and provided with keys 5, positioned to be conveniently operated by the user's fingers. Keys 6, positioned to be conveniently operated by the user's thumbs, are located in the bottom corners of the body 2.

The keys 5 are standard push-button type keys recessed into cavities and each is capped with a plastic cover to give a trigger-type action, similar to that commonly found in computer joysticks. Keys 6 are of the standard trackerball type commonly used on notebook computers. All of the keys and switches are available from an electronics components stockist such as Farnell Electronic Components, Leeds, UK.

The display 1 may be foldable, for example by providing a central hinge with two separate display panels which face each other when the apparatus is in the closed position, in which case the entire apparatus may be made foldable, with the handles 3 providing a convenient means of carrying, as shown in Figure 3.

The apparatus may be kept closed by the provision of hinged cosperating catch elements on each handle which form a catch 7 and which also serve to protect the keys 5 from damage during transport.

The handles 3 may also be arranged to support the apparatus on a surface, whilst user input is provided by alternative means such as a standard keyboard.

The body 2 contains standard microcomputer circuitry, memory and a battery pack to power the apparatus, as would be found in a standard notebook computer. A CD-ROM drive is also built in to the body. A number of features may be built into different versions of the apparatus depending on the primary intended use. A floppy disk drive may therefore be provided in the body 2. In a more compact version, a PCMCIA slot is provided in the body 2 to enable PCMCIA cards to be used, for example to allow connection to external disk drives, additional memory, or to add communications capability via a modem. Standard interfaces may also be provided with D connectors in the body to enable connection to a printer and other external peripherals.

Application, simulation or games programs are loaded from the CD-ROM or disk drive and executed by the microcomputer circuitry in the normal manner, receiving inputs from keys 5 and 6.

This embodiment is particularly suited to use as an electronic book, with the handles providing support while the user reads text on the screen, preferably divided into two pages as with a paper book, and the keys on the body and the handle providing convenient means for turning pages, moving quickly forwards and backwards through the "book", as well as other functions as required. For example, word look-up in a dictionary can be achieved by using the trackerball 6 to point to the word and pressing on key 5a, which activates a dictionary stored on hard disk and displays the meaning of the word on the screen.

Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the present invention includes handles 8 connected by a support 9, the entire handle unit being formed from moulded plastic, connected to the display panel by a push-to-fit 5-pin plug 10, known as a "DIN" plug, such as is commonly used to connect keyboards to computers. The plug 10 fits into a corresponding DIN socket in the body 2. The handles are detachable and permit data entry remote from the computer screen, while the screen may be supported on a wall by a handle 11. The inclusion of a standard remote control transmission device in the handles 8, and a reception device in the body 2, enables remote data transfer from the handles to the display.

Simplified microcomputer circuitry is provided within the handles comprising a central processing unit and memory, together with a battery pack, to allow such data entry and transmission. The keys 12 are of the trackerball type designed to be operated by the user's thumbs and keys 13 are of the pushbutton "trigger" type. The keys 13 may be programmed for alphanumeric data entry, so that, for example, keys 13a to c scroll through a number of letters and digits and key 13d is used as a select key when the required letter or number is found.

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

Handles 14 are hinged to the body 2 by a hinge 4 similar to that used in the first embodiment. Keys 15 are directional keys designed to be operated by the user's thumb and keys 16 are directional keys designed to be finger operated.

Each key allows four primary choices so that the total number of choices over both handles is 40, allowing use as an alternative to a conventional keyboard.

The number of choices may be increased by the provision of additional thumb-operated keys close to key 15 which will require slight movement of the thumb from key 15. Figure 9 shows the handles 14 in their stored position in the back of the body 2.

Figure 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention comprising another type of detachable handle 17. This plugs into sockets in a hinge (not shown) on the body 2 via two standard edge conneaors 18. Key 19 is a trackerball key designed to be operated with the thumb. Keys 20 are standard pushbutton keys.

Figure 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention where the handles 21 are attached to a hinge 22, of the same type as shown in embodiment 1, with a trackerball type key 23 on the obverse side. Finger keys (not shown) may be mounted on the reverse of the handles or on the reverse of the body 2. As with the first embodiment, this embodiment is particularly suitable for use as an electronic book, with the trackerball keys 23 providing a means of navigating around the screen 1 without reducing the screen area.

Referring to Figure 12, a sixth embodiment of the invention comprises a display panel 1 with handles 24 on hinges 4. Each handle has a keypad 25 which comprises a virtual keypad layout on a separate touch sensitive screen 26. The handles also comprise a trackerball type key 27, a microphone 28 and loudspeakers 29.

As an alternative to the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the keypad 25 consists of standard keyboard type keys.

Figures 13 and 14 show a seventh embodiment of the invention where the handles comprise motorcycle style handlebars 30, each handlebar being connected to the body 2 by a standard DIN connector. The handlebar grip is connected to a potentiometer to provide a variable resistance depending on the amount the grip is turned. The brakes 31 provide a similar variable resistance through a connection to a spring-loaded sliding potentiometer. A standard voltage divider circuit powered from the main battery pack provides a voltage signal to the microcomputer circuitry. Standard push-button switches 32 and 33 are also provided to simulate other functions.

As an alternative to the mounting means of the seventh embodiment, Figure 15 shows an alternative arrangement in which a complete handlebar unit 34 may be connected to the screen 1 via the body 2 by a single standard DIN connector 35, such as commonly used to connect a keyboard to a monitor.

The unit 34 is also attached to the body via screws 36 to improve stability.

The advantage of this arrangement is that a number of devices can be connected using a similar connection, without the need to adapt the connections for specialised apparatus such as a simulation of a car steering wheel or an aircraft yoke.

Referring to Figures 16 and 17, an eighth embodiment of the device comprises a steering wheel simulator with the body 2 attached to a steering wheel style handle 37. The connection may be made centrally in the same manner as for the second arrangement of the seventh embodiment, shown in Figure 15 above. Alternatively, the wheel handle 37 may be connected at two opposite points of the body 2 by standard "DIN" type connectors 38, with screw connections 39 at the other two points for added stability, as shown in Figure 17.

A further feature of the seventh and eighth embodiments is the inclusion of a means of determining the position and/or movement of the apparatus. This information is used as an input to the controlling software to enable a more realistic screen display to be produced in response to movements by the user.

This feature is particularly useful in the case of driving or flight simulation programs. For example, movements of the apparatus by the user, using a flight simulation program, enable the software to calculate the yaw and pitch of the aircraft being simulated and to alter the screen display accordingly.

The feature may be implemented by including in the body 2 of the apparatus equipment based on an attitude sensor, such as that disclosed in GB Patent Application No. 2 256 272A, or a gyrometer as discussed in European Patent Application No. EP 709 653 Al.

It will be appreciated that the shape of the display panel and the apparatus as a whole may be altered to suit the particular application. For example, with an elongate screen with touch sensitive facilities, the full width of the screen may be used for watching transmissions in the digital wide-screen format, whereas when standard format pictures are transmitted, the blank space either side of the picture may be used as a virtual keyboard.

It will be further appreciated that the embodiments described above are in no way limiting and the apparatus may find application in a wide range of situations by modifications in the type of handles and method of connection.

Claims

1. Portable electronic apparatus comprising display means and handle means for gripping by a user, with user input means thereon,-the handle means being located on opposite sides of the display means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle means are connected to the display means by hinge means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the handle means are detachable from the display means.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the user input means include keys.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the keys include push-button keys.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the keys include keys which operate under directional pressure.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein the keys include trackerball keys.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display means comprise a liquid crystal display panel.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including position sensing means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, including movement sensing means.

11. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with- reference to Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

13. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

14. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.

15. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.

16. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.

17. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.

18. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figure 15 of the accompanying drawings.

19. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.

20. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figure 17 of the accompanying drawings.