US5489924A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer and display apparatus with input function
Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd
•
Filing: 1994-12-08
•
Granted: 1996-02-06
•
Expires: 2014-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A computer or a display apparatus with an input function which is of simple construction and has high operability for touch input or pen input. A system body, a cover unit having a display panel with an input function on one side, and connection means such as a rotatable arm, which is rotatably connected to the cover unit and to the system body at a different portion from a portion at which said cover unit is conventionally connected, so as to allow the cover unit to be placed on the system body in a position in which the display panel mounted on the cover unit is placed face up or face down. The cover unit can be placed upside down on the system body without sliding of the cover unit with respect to the system body.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisashi Shima
- 👤 Atsuo Yagihashi
- 👤 Kazuhiko Yamazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/162; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1675; G06F1/1679; G06F1/1681; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A computer comprising: a system body; a cover unit for multi-position operation with said system body without requiring movement of said system body; a display panel in said cover unit, said display panel being for viewing from a first side of said cover unit, said display panel having an input function sensitive to touch; connection means for connecting said cover unit to said system body, said connection means having a first end and a second end, said first end being rotatably connected to said system body and said second end being rotatably connected to said cover unit approximately midway along said cover unit so that said cover unit can be placed over said system body with said cover unit in one of a first position wherein said display panel faces said system body and said connection means overlies and covers approximately half of said cover unit, and a second position wherein said display panel faces away from said system body; said connection means and said cover unit being sized, shaped and connected to said system body so that when said cover unit is in said second position, said cover unit overlies and rests upon said connection means at one end of said cover unit thereby to tilt said cover unit with respect to said system body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A computer comprising: a system body; a cover unit for multi-position operation with said system body without requiring movement of said system body; a display panel in said cover unit, said display panel being for viewing from a first side of said cover unit, said display panel having an input function sensitive to touch; connection means for connecting said cover unit to said system body, said connection means having a first end and a second end, said first end being rotatably connected to said system body and said second end being rotatably connected to said cover unit approximately midway along said cover unit so that said cover unit can be placed over said system body with said cover unit in one of a first position wherein said display panel faces said system body and said connection means overlies and covers approximately half of said cover unit, and a second position wherein said display panel faces away from said system body; said connection means and said cover unit being sized, shaped and connected to said system body so that when said cover unit is in said second position, said cover unit overlies and rests upon said connection means at one end of said cover unit thereby to tilt said cover unit with respect to said system body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer of claim 1 further comprising electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said display panel to said system unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer of claim 2 further comprising hollow hinge means for rotatably connecting said cover unit to said connection means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer of claim 3 wherein said electrical coupling means is an electrical cable extending through said hollow hinge means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer of claim 1 wherein said connection means comprises an arm connected proximate an upper rear edge of said system body at said first end, and connected to a second side of said cover unit at said second end, said second side being a side from which said display panel is not viewed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer of claim 5 further comprising hinge means for connecting said connection means to said cover unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The computer of claim 6 wherein said hinge means comprise two hinges, a first of said hinges connecting said connection means to said cover unit proximate a first end of said cover unit and a second of said hinges connecting said connection means proximate a second end of said cover unit, said first end of said cover unit being opposite said second end of said cover unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer of claim 7 wherein said first hinge and said second hinge define between them a longitudinal direction and said cover unit extends from said connection means in a transverse direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer of claim 8 wherein said cover unit has a height in said transverse direction, and said hinges are attached to said cover unit approximately half way along said height.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer of claim 1 further comprising latch means for releasably connecting said cover unit to said connection means so that said cover unit cannot be rotated with respect to said connection means but can still be rotated with respect to said system body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The computer of claim 10 wherein said latch means comprises a portion of said cover unit having a concavity, and a latch member having a convexity, said latch member being movable between a first position where said convexity extends into said concavity and a second position where said convexity does not extend into said concavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer of claim 1 wherein said system body includes a keyboard having keys, said keyboard facing said cover unit when said cover unit is placed on said system body, and said system body and said cover unit being sized, shaped and dimensioned so that said cover unit does not contact said keys.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer of claim 1 wherein said keyboard is removable from said system body for placement adjacent said system body so that when said cover unit is in said second position on said system body, both said keyboard and said input function of said display panel may be used.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer of claim 1 wherein said system body and said cover unit are sized, shaped and positioned so that a footprint of said cover unit is within a footprint of said system body when said cover unit is in either one of said first position and said second position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The computer of claim 1 further comprising hinge means for coupling said connecting means to said cover unit, said hinge means comprising a hollow parallelepiped, a first shaft rotatably coupled to said parallelepiped, extending from a first wall unit of said parallelepiped, and coupled to said connecting means, and a second shaft extending from said first wall of said parallelepiped, rotatably coupled to said parallelepiped, and coupled to said cover unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer of claim 15 wherein said first shaft has a first rotation resistance with respect to said first wall and said second shaft has a second rotation resistance with respect to said first wall, said second rotation resistance being greater than said first rotation resistance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
The computer of claim 16 wherein said parallelepiped has a second wall opposite said first wall and a third shaft extending from said second wall, said third shaft having a flattened portion and said third shaft extending into a bearing member of said connection means, said bearing member having a stop, said stop being for engaging, at a predetermined angle of said parallelepiped with respect to said connecting means, said flattened portion to prevent further rotation of said parallelepiped with respect to said connecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
210 words
A display comprising: a base body; a cover unit for multi-position operation with said base body without requiring movement of said base body; a display panel in said cover unit, said display panel being for viewing from a first side of said cover unit, said display panel having an input function sensitive to touch; connection means for connecting said cover unit to said base body, said connection means having a first end and a second end, said first end being rotatably connected to said system body and said second end being rotatably connected to said cover unit so that said cover unit can be placed over said base body with said cover unit in one of a first position wherein said display panel faces said base body and said connection means overlies and covers a portion of said cover unit, and a second position wherein said display panel faces away from said base body; said connection means and said cover unit being sized, shaped and connected to said base body so that when said cover unit is in said second position, said cover unit overlies and rests upon said connection means at one end of said cover unit thereby to tilt said cover unit with respect to said base body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
210 words
A display comprising: a base body; a cover unit for multi-position operation with said base body without requiring movement of said base body; a display panel in said cover unit, said display panel being for viewing from a first side of said cover unit, said display panel having an input function sensitive to touch; connection means for connecting said cover unit to said base body, said connection means having a first end and a second end, said first end being rotatably connected to said system body and said second end being rotatably connected to said cover unit so that said cover unit can be placed over said base body with said cover unit in one of a first position wherein said display panel faces said base body and said connection means overlies and covers a portion of said cover unit, and a second position wherein said display panel faces away from said base body; said connection means and said cover unit being sized, shaped and connected to said base body so that when said cover unit is in said second position, said cover unit overlies and rests upon said connection means at one end of said cover unit thereby to tilt said cover unit with respect to said base body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display of claim 18 further comprising electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said display panel to said base body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display of claim 19 further comprising hollow hinge means for rotatably connecting said cover unit to said connection mean.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display of claim 20 wherein said electrical coupling means is an electrical cable extending through said hollow hinge means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The display of claim 18 wherein said connection means comprises an arm connected proximate an upper rear edge of said base body at said first end, and connected to a second side of said cover unit at said second end, said second side being a side from which said display panel is not viewed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display of claim 22 further comprising hinge means for connecting said connection means to said cover unit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
The display of claim 23 wherein said hinge means comprise two hinges, a first of said hinges connecting said connection means to said cover unit proximate a first end of said cover unit and a second of said hinges connecting said connection means proximate a second end of said cover unit, said first end of said cover unit being opposite said second end of said cover unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The display of claim 23 wherein said first hinge and said second hinge define between them a longitudinal direction and said cover unit extends from said connection means in a transverse direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display of claim 25 wherein said cover unit has a height in said transverse direction, and said hinges are attached to said cover unit approximately half way along said height.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The display of claim 18 further comprising latch means for releasably connecting said cover unit to said connection means so that said cover unit cannot be rotated with respect to said connection means but can still be rotated with respect to said base body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
55 words
The display of claim 27 wherein said latch means comprises a portion of said cover unit having a concavity, and a latch member having a convexity, said latch member being movable between a first position where said convexity extends into said concavity and a second position where said convexity does not extend into said concavity.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
The display of claim 19 wherein said base body and said cover unit are sized, shaped and positioned so that a footprint of said cover unit is within a footprint of said base body when said cover unit is in either one of said first position and said second position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
70 words
The display of claim 19 further comprising hinge means for coupling said connecting means to said cover unit, said hinge means comprising a hollow parallelepiped, a first shaft rotatably coupled to said parallelepiped, extending from a wall unit of said parallelepiped, and coupled to said connecting means, and a second shaft extending from said first wall of said parallelepiped, rotatably coupled to said parallelepiped, and coupled to said cover unit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
The display of claim 30 wherein said first shaft has a first rotation resistance with respect to said first wall and said second shaft has a second rotation resistance with respect to said first wall, said second rotation resistance being greater than said first rotation resistance.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
85 words
The display of claim 31 wherein said parallelepiped has a second wall opposite said first wall and a third shaft extending from said second wall, said third shaft having a flattened portion and said third shaft extending into a bearing member of said connection means, said bearing member having a stop, said stop being for engaging, at a predetermined angle of said parallelepiped with respect to said connecting means, said flattened portion to prevent further rotation of said parallelepiped with respect to said connecting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS6339731A
Cited
US4859092A
Cited
US4995579A
Cited
JPH0254514A
Cited
JPH0290310A
Cited
JPH03278212A
Cited
US5268817A
Cited
US5200913A
Cited
US5179447A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-05 | 1999-08-07 | 2000-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-05 | 2003-08-07 | 2004-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-05 | 2007-08-07 | 2008-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |