{191
`United States Patent
`5,133,076
`[11] Patent Number:
`Hawkins et al.
`[45] Date of Patent: Jul. 21, 1992
`
`
`
`HlllllllllllllllllHl111111111111!“llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`U5005133076A
`
`1541
`
`HAND HELD COMPUTER
`
`1751
`
`Inventors:
`
`Jeff C. Hawkins; Ken L. Dulaney,
`both ofRedwood City; John J. Daly,
`San Carlos; James H. McNamara,
`Santa Cruz; James F. Cole, Palo
`Alto, all of Calif.
`
`[731
`
`Assignee: Grid Systems Corporation, Fremont,
`Calif.
`
`1211
`
`Appl'. No.: 355,147
`
`1221
`
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 12, 1989
`
`151]
`1521
`
`[531
`
`[561
`
`Int. Cl.5
`US. Cl.
`
`................. 00617 15/76
`
`395/800; 364/709.09;
`364/231; 364/2311; 364/2312
`Field of Search ................... 364/707, 708, 709.11,
`364/200 MS File, 900 MS File, 709.09. 709.13;
`395/275. 800
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Popular Science, Nov. 1980, by Smay entitled “Hand
`Held Computers".
`Byte, Jan. 1981, by Williams et 211., entitled “The Pana-
`sonic and Quasar Hand Held Computers".
`Microcomputing, Apr. 1983, by Derflet, In, entitled
`“Life in the Fast Lane with Portables”.
`Byte, Jun. 1983. by Roberts. entitled “Sunrise Systems".
`Byte, Jun. 1983, by Wszola, entitled “NEC PC—8201
`Portable Computer".
`High Technology. Sep. 1983, by Lu, entitled “Dawn of
`the Portable Computer".
`
`Primary Examiner—Michael R. Fleming
`Assistant Examiner—Debra A. Chun
`Attorney. Agent, or Firm—Townsend & Townsend
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A hand held computer of a type used for such activities
`as taking inventory, recording signatures on delivery,
`keeping a route agenda. etc. has a large screen and
`preferably is without a built in keyboard. The tablet
`type computer is thin in profile, light in weight and is
`easily carried and used. Programming in the computer
`enables an operator to ,select from various forms avail-
`able for display on the screen, enables character recog-
`nition for items printed on the screen using a conductive
`stylus. enables the recording in memory of signatures,
`graphics or any other material entered on the screen,
`and enables other convenient functions. Certain pre-
`ferred features of the computer enable it easily to be
`converted into a full function desk top computer with a
`keyboard, expansion module and stand.
`
`304/200
`
`.
`
`3,916,386 10/1975 Teixeira et al.
`4.038.535
`7/1977 Aldridg‘ht al.
`.
`4,317,180
`2/1982 Lies ................
`4,360,892 11/1982 Endfield .............................. 364/900
`4,475,239 10/1984 van Raamsdonk .
`
`4.545.023 10/1985 Mizzi ......................
`4,591,974
`5/1986 Dombush el al.
`.
`4.654.818
`3/1987 Wetterau. Jr.
`4.777.590 10/1988 Durkos et al.
`4,785,564 11/1988 Gurtler .
`4,916.441
`4/1990 Gombrich ...................... 364/709.”
`
`19 Claims, 24 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
` EXHIBIT
`
`Petitioner - Kyocera
`PX 1032
`
`
`Kyocera PX 1032__1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_2
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 2 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_3
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 3 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`GHQ NOICNVAX?
`
`Edna
`
`.5528
`
`$5:8
`
`.250.28at;45“
`
`
`
`433?.good
`
`E8ddéén35zé
`
`.n29.8°
`
`235.5
`
`SE28
`
`“a52232_Eazén
`
`«gauze5&3
`
`338
`
`“5age:
`
`53:3
`
`.Ynlwuxk
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_4
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_4
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 4 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`_
`
`100
`
`WEEK}?
`
`lb
`
`1%
`
`PARALLEL
`PORT
`DUFFERS
`
`PERlPHERAL
`CON“
`
`HARD DISKW
`
`DRNE wfiH
`CONTROLLER
`
`H:
`PARALLEL I
`
`HARD max
`\NTERFAQE
`
`FLOPFY DISK
`INTERFACE
`
`108
`
`106
`
`SYSTEM 505
`
`“8 5TANDbY CONTROL
`
`EXPANblONDUS
`
`KEYBOARD VF
`
`22
`
`KEYBOARD
`CONN.
`
`EXTERNAL
`DC CONN.
`
`FIG—3B
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_5
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 5 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`AUX
`
`KEYBOARD
`LATCH
`
`72
`
`14
`
`10
`
`RAM maps
`AUX
`Mm?“ —" 005 Ron:
`
`5mm
`Bus
`DUE: ‘- HF
`
`76
`
`MléQ
`
`:5? —-’ CONTROL AND mus
`
`MleELLANEOUb
`
`78
`
`OVERLAY
`OVERLAY CONTROL.
`5mm ur
`COW“ — NNROCONPOTER
`
`80
`
`CONTROL LINE:
`FROZJRAMMABLE
`0-“? —# TO OTHER \/0
`fiELECTfi
`vevxces
`
`82
`
`LCD CONTROLLER
`LCD
`W383?“ —" AND LCD mam
`
`[76-4.
`
`56/
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_6
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 6 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
` CONTROL
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_7
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 7 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`'
`
`CALL KPEB
`
`ADJUST V05 T0
`'50 CHARACTER
`UN MODE
`
`PREfJENT Z5 CHARACTER
`
`LlNE. MODE TO
`
`5EbMENT OF bCREEN
`
`APPLICATKON PROGRAM
`AND lePLAY APPLICADON
`
`PROGRAM GRAPHICEJ ON
`FleT 25 LINE
`
`DISPLAY KEYBOARD éRAPH‘CS
`ON SECOND Z5 UNE
`$FJJMENT OF 5CREEN
`
`MONITOR TO VETEQT Kb
`
`D|€2PLAY iNTERAQTlON
`
`TRANfiLATE Kb DbPLAY INTERACTION
`co-oxvmms TO 5cm cove
`
`A
`
`IN bCAN
`5TDKF. 5cm com:
`Coo: REbbTER
`
`F/G._6.
`
`
`
`
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_8
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 8 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`FIG...8.
`
`
`
`PROGRAM VCU TO lePLAY
`
`'70 CHARACTER UNE MOD
`AND TO leJPLAY EACH
`PATTERN ROW ONLY ONCE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ALLOCATE TOP HALF OF
`
`VlfvPLAY ADDKE‘fl WAQE
`
`
`TO APPLICATION PRDARM
`
`
`[76-9.
`
`' Kyocera PX 1032_9
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 9 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`(NDOH
`
`FSMMMHZ5r
`
`N3.
`
`«3
`
`
`
`5.53%.:50
`
`=3«5%?
`
`5&5
`
`mm:
`
`cage/m:
`
`sz.Aswan
`
`348rug:9."—
`
`$22500
`
`5&2.
`
`tom“.
`
`.91..wa
`
`452mg.
`
`nommwmz
`ES5953
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_10
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_10
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 10 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`FlGI_/2.
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_11
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_11
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 1.1 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`-_L'£IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
`
`—:\\-A\\““\‘—
`
`"" I, n ”I'll l"
`
`
`§‘l='
`
`—L
`
`‘52
`
`56
`
`
`VIllfl'__.\ 24,54IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
`
`M0
`
`F[61- I4
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_12
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 12 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_13
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_13
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 13 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_14
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_14
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 14 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_15
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_15
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 15 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`AflN
`
`9N
`45%»
`
`...§..”444%“
`
`4%;///l
`
`
`gfln.‘//\\\.‘\\\\,-l,IM
`11.1,!
`
`
`MNIGDx
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_16
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_16
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 16 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`H05T
`FROCEfiSOR
`
`
`
`
`FIG -25.
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_17
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_17
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet i7 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`5ET OVERLAY
`ORIENTATION
`
`SET 5CREEN
`ORIENTATION
`
`YEb
`
`I80°
`OTATE?
`
`No
`
`NA? DI‘JPLA‘I
`wm DIMEN‘JIONfi
`
`GET wm
`FROM usT
`
`Y 5 OFFREEN
`E
`OR DISPLAY)
`WINDOW?
`
`NO
`
`SWAP OIfJE
`VIMENéION‘.) 0F
`CLIP 5ECT.
`
`
`
`
`w I
`
`‘IE‘J
`
`5?] CURRENT '0
`ORIENTATION
`
`F/&.22
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_18
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_18
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 18 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`I
`TOP OF 015er
`
`wmvow \
`
`NR
`
`HEIGHT
`
`WlNDOW Z
`
`WNDOW 5
`
`
`
`
`
`HGLZBA.
`Roam TOP OF 0mm
`LOGK‘AL WIDIH___..,
`
`= ACTUAL HE‘GHT ‘
`
`I"
`
`UNROTATED
`
`ACTUAL
`--TOF OF
`WJPLAY
`
`CLIPFED FORTION
`0F WlNPOWfD
`
`LOGICAL HT
`= ACTUAL
`WIDTH
`
`
`
`Romeo EAsT
`
`Fla- 288
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_19
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_19
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 19 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_20
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 20 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`TOP (’3? DI‘JFLAY
`
`UNROTATED
`
`F[a_3OA.
`’LOblCAL TOP
`OF DISPLAY
`r-————-5H1——4—-I
`
`
`ROTATED EAST
`
`[762.308.
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_21
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_21
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 21 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`UNROTATED’ 20 BYTE?
`
`NR= 20
`
`NC=1Z
`
`UNUSED 5115
`
`F/G_3/A.
`
`ROTATED EAST: 12 BYTEfJ
`
`ROTATED ORWN
`
`xxx x x x xx |
`
`xxxxxxxx xx. NC
`
`NR
`
`UNU6ED we:
`
`FIG—JIB.
`
`4O
`
`47.
`
`44
`
`46
`
`FONT
`HEADER
`
`CHAR! CHAN
`wow ,1 “JET
`
`CHARnCHAKn (m1.
`mom 0%ng
`15115
`
`QHARn
`5115
`
`”WW
`
`UNROTATED
`
`FIG—34A.
`
`FONT
`HEADER
`
`(mm W“
`worn
`
`(1%an anm
`wwm 05% ROTATED ble:
`
`CHARn
`ROTATED W5
`
`KOTATEU 90'
`
`[-762-343.
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_22
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_22
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 22 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`ALLOCATE
`TEMP DUFFER
`
`'
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REVERSE ORDER
`REVERbE
`REVERéE ORDER
`DATA 1N
`OF COLUMN
`ORDER ROW
`
`
`EACH COLUMN
`NUMBERS
`NUMOERO
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`WRITE ROW
`WRITE DATA IN
`WRITE DATA IN
`
`EACH COLUMN TO
`DATA TO
`EACH COLUMN
`
`
`
`CORRESPONDINA
`CORREfiPONDINé
`TOCOKRE‘IPONDING
`
`
`
`
`ROW IN TEMP
`ROW IN
`RON IN TEMP
`
`
`
`
`OUFFER
`TEMP BUFFER
`BUFFER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FREE OLD
`OUFFER
`
`[763-32.
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_23
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_23
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`221,221, 1922
`
`Sheet 2'2 02 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`UNKOTATEU KOTATE EA‘JT
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_24
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_24
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 21, 1992
`
`Sheet 24 of 24
`
`5,133,076
`
`
`
`
`
`ALLOCATE TEMP.
`BUFFER FOR
`ROTATED FONT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cow FONTTO
`TEME DUFFER
`
`
`
`ROTATE
`FONT 90’
`
`(we:
`
`
`
`DR\ENTATION
`
`
`WE
`
`(fig’TYoFONT
`PE5TINAT\ON
`
`\NlT RE’JT OF
`DEST TO (2)
`
`
`
`1:73-354
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`COPY CHAR
`MOTH T0 VEST.
`
`COPY CHAR.
`\MAGE OFFbET
`
`
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_25
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_25
`
`

`

`1
`
`HAJ'IiD HELD COMPUTER
`
`5,133,076
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to computers in general and to 5
`hand held computers in particular.
`Computers have long been used to collect, arrange,
`process and store data. While the potential applications
`are limitless, the actual use of computers for information
`management has been limited in certain user environ- 10
`ments due to some drawbacks of prior art computers.
`For example, hand held, portable data recording is
`desirable for taking store or warehouse inventories, for
`entering delivery route data, and for performing engi(cid:173)
`neering diagnostics. Users in these environments have 15
`largely foregone the benefits of a computer's informa(cid:173)
`tion management capabilities rather than give up the
`convenience of portable, hand held clipboards and note(cid:173)
`books to record the gathered information.
`Single-handed data entry is another attribute lacking 20
`in many prior art computers. Keyboards are not condu(cid:173)
`cive to entry with one hand; writing with pen and paper
`is certainly faster and more efficient than one-handed
`typing. Moreover, keyboards add to the size and weight
`of the computer and therefore work against the goals of 25
`hand held size and portability.
`The form of one-handed data entry is also a consider(cid:173)
`ation. Field data can, and often must, be recorded by
`filling in blanks or checking boxes on a preset form.
`Some data, however, can be adequately recorded only 30
`through a written description. To be a replacement for
`handwritten forms and reports, therefore, the hand
`held, portable computer must be able to record data on
`preset forms and through written descriptions. In addi(cid:173)
`tion, the user must be able to record the data with one 35
`hand.
`The use of a computer solely to perform tasks for
`which paper forms and notebooks were formerly em(cid:173)
`ployed can be even more economically advantageous if
`the computer were useful for other tasks as well with- 40
`out sacrificing the hand held size, portability or the
`single-handed data entry features. Thus, the computer
`must be versatile as well as being easy to use.
`Conventional desktop personal computers are not
`portable in that they cannot be used in successive loca- 45
`tions without considerable assembly and disassembly
`between locations. Conventional laptop computers, on
`the other hand, while portable, require an operating
`surface. To be truly hand held, the computer must be
`conveniently held in one hand and operated by the 50
`other. Neither desktop nor laptop computers can be
`used in environments requiring portable, hand held
`operation.
`In addition, there are many hand held calculators on
`the market. Many of them are programmable and can 55
`save limited amounts of data. None, however, is versa(cid:173)
`tile enough in its data processing, data storage or data
`input capabilities.
`
`60
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`This invention is a hand held, portable computer into
`which data can be entered with one hand. The com(cid:173)
`puter is encased in a housing of hand-sized dimensions.
`A liquid crystal display screen covers a majority of the
`top surface of the housing. Through the use of special- 65
`ized software and a voltage gradient on the screen, an
`electric stylus may be used with the screen to enter data
`into the computer through handwriting recognition,
`
`2
`through form selection, or via a keyboard emulated by
`a portion of the screen itself and operated by the stylus.
`This feature achieves the goal of one-handed data entry.
`The computer has an expansion slab which may be
`used to expand the memory of the device, albeit at the
`expense of size and weight. In addition, the device has
`ports through which peripheral devices such as a con(cid:173)
`ventional keyboard and a printer may be attached to
`convert the hand held computer into a desktop personal
`computer.
`The preferred embodiment of this invention will be
`described with reference to the drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`-FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the hand held com(cid:173)
`puter of this invention;
`FIG. 2A is an elevational view of the computer and
`expansion module of this invention in hand held opera(cid:173)
`tion:
`FIG. 2B is an elevational view of the computer and
`expansion module of this invention in desktop opera(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 3A is a block diagram of the computer accord(cid:173)
`ing to this invention;
`FIG. 3B is block diagram of the expansion module of
`this invention;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the customized gate
`array in the hand held computer;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment
`of the keyboard emulation system;
`FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the
`embodiment of FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the video control unit;
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting the character
`locations of a display and the address space of the dis(cid:173)
`play RAM;
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the
`video control system;
`FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the keyboard scan
`control register configuration;
`FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional elevation view show(cid:173)
`ing the computer and the expansion module in a posi(cid:173)
`tion wherein the expansion module is initially hooked
`into the bottom side of the computer, prior to the two
`being pivotally brought together;
`FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the back or under side
`of the computer;
`FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the recess door in its
`closed position;
`FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the recess door in its
`open position;
`FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the expansion
`module disconnected from the computer, and particu(cid:173)
`larly illustrating the top surface of the module;
`FIG. 16 is a sectional elevation view illustrating con(cid:173)
`nection members of the expansion module;
`FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a hand held
`computer as secured to a stand and handle device of the
`invention, which is shown in a position serving as a desk
`top stand;
`FIG. 18 is a side elevation view showing the com(cid:173)
`puter and stand/handle device in a position similar to
`that of FIG. 17;
`FIG. 19 is a side elevation view similar to that of
`FIG. 18 but showing both the computer and attached
`expansion module supported by the stand;
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_26
`
`

`

`5,133,076
`
`15
`
`w
`
`25
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`3
`FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the computer
`and attached stand/handle device in a different position,
`v.·ith the device functioning as a carrying handle;
`FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the stand and
`handle device alone, in the stand mode, and showing a 5
`latching mechanism;
`FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the stand and
`handle alone, in folded configuration;
`FIG. 23 is a view partially in section, showing one
`preferred form of hinge construction for the stand and 10
`handle device;
`FIG. 24 is a block diagram of a standard video dis(cid:173)
`play system;
`FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating the screen
`scan pattern;
`FIG. 26 are schematic views of different orientations
`of the screen of the hand-held computer depicted in
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 27 is a flow chart illustrating the window reori-
`.
`d
`entatton proce ure;
`FIGS. 28A and 28B are schematic diagram illustrat(cid:173)
`ing the reorientation of a window display;
`FIG. 29 is a flow chart illustrating the bit mapped
`image reorientation procedure;
`FIG. 30A and JOB are schematic diagrams illustrat(cid:173)
`ing the reorientation of a bit mapped image;
`FIGS. 31A and 31B depict the address space of the
`image data for the unrotated and reoriented images;
`FIG. 32 is a flow chart illustrating the data reordering 30
`procedure;
`FIGS. 33A-33D are schematic diagrams depicting
`reordered data;
`FIGS. 34A and 34B are schematic diagrams illustrat(cid:173)
`ing the unrotated and rotated font storage formats; and 35
`FIGS. 35A and 35B are flow charts illustrating the
`font reorientation procedure.
`
`4
`assigned to the same assignee as the present invention
`and incorporated into this application by reference.
`The combination of computer 10 and expansion mod(cid:173)
`ule 16 may be hand held as shown in FIG. 2A or placed
`on a desk as shown in FIG. 2B. When used as a desktop
`computer, peripherals such as a printer 18, a floppy disk
`drive (not shown), and a keyboard 22 may be attached
`to the combination of computer 10 and expansion mod(cid:173)
`ule 16 through ports 17 located on the sides of expan(cid:173)
`sion module 16. In addition, a stand 24 may be attached
`to the computer and expansion module to place the
`display 12 in a more convenient position. A copending
`application entitled "Stand And Handle For Hand Held
`Computer" filed concurrently with this application,
`assigned to the same assignee as the present invention
`and incorporated into this application by reference,
`discloses the preferred embodiment of the stand.
`Computer 10 is a stand alone data processor capable
`of running standard personal computer programs as
`well as specially designed software. Computer 10 may
`receive data and instructions from an electric stylus 29
`which interacts with a display screen overlay 30; an
`internal modem 32; a serial port which may be con(cid:173)
`nected to an optional external keyboard (not shown);
`and/or, when connected, from the expansion module
`16. Computer 10 transmits data and other information
`through the visual display 12; the modem 32; an op(cid:173)
`tional external printer (not shown); and/or, when con(cid:173)
`nected, to the expansion module 16.
`Visual display 12 is a reflective LCD display, prefera(cid:173)
`bly the Kyocra model KL-6440 AST-W. Display 12 is
`mounted beneath bezel 26 and over main logic board 28.
`In the preferred embodiment, display 12 covers most of
`the top surface of computer 10 in order to maximize the
`data input surface as discussed below. The portion of
`the top surface of computer 10 which is not devoted to
`display 12 is reserved only for (1) space for holding the
`computer without placing the user's fingers on the
`screen; (2) space for function buttons 28; and (3) space
`40 required by bezel 26 to hold display 12 in place.
`Preferably, the transparent conductive screen over-
`FIG. 1 shows a hand held computer 10 having a
`display 12 and a stylus 29. In the preferred embodiment,
`lay 30 is a 0.09 inch thick glass resistive overlay manu-
`factured by Microtouch. Overlay 30 covers the screen
`computer 10 has a length of approximately 12~ inches,
`of display 12 and is charged with a voltage gradient
`a width of approximately 9! inches and a depth of ap-
`proximately 1 ~ inches. Computer 10 has a weight of 45 which alternates along the "x" and "y" axes. The volt-
`age gradient is linearized as described in U.S. Pat. No.
`approximately 4 pounds. The sides 11 of computer 10
`are curved to make an attractive and easily held pack-
`4,371,746, the disclosure of which is incorporated
`age.
`herein by reference.
`Display 12 occupies most of the frontal or top surface
`Stylus 29 has an electrically conductive tip which is
`area of computer 10 and is surrounded by a relatively 50 connected via a cable 31 to a connector on main logic
`narrow frame or bezel 26. Frame 26 may have a series
`board 28. Stylus may be configured as described in
`of function buttons or keys 28 which may interact with
`copending applications "Pen Cord Tensioning Device"
`the computer software as the program may require.
`and "Conductive Stylus Storage For A Portable Com-
`Computer 10 may be used with an expansion module
`puter", filed concurrently with this application, as-
`16 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Expansion module 16 55 signed to the same assignee as the present invention and
`contains extra memory in the form of a hard disk drive
`incorporated into this application by reference. The
`and has ports for connection to peripheral devices as
`housing of computer 10 may be configured to store the
`discussed more particularly below. Expansion module
`stylus when not in use as described in the "Conductive
`16 has approximately the same dimensions as computer
`Stylus Storage For A Portable Computer" application
`10 and attaches to the underside of computer 10 to form 60 referenced above. When stylus 29 touches screen over-
`a unitary structure. The weight of expansion module 16
`lay 30, stylus 29 transmits the magnitude of the voltage
`of overlay 30 at that point to an overlay controller
`depends on its contents, which may differ depending on
`the application.
`within the computer. The overlay controller determines
`The housings of both the computer and expansion
`the screen coordinates of the point of contact. Thus,
`module may be made of injection molded plastic as is 65 stylus 29 functions as an interactive pointer interface to
`known in the art. The housing parts may be attached
`programs being executed by computer 10. Stylus 29
`and assembled as disclosed in the copending patent
`therefore enables one-handed data entry by the user into
`application entitled "HDusing Assembly Fastening",
`computer 10.
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_27
`
`

`

`25
`
`5
`FIG. 4A is a block diagram of the major components
`of computer 10. Internal modem 32 is a 2400 baud MNP
`model manufactured by U.S. Robotics. Modem 32 may
`be used in many ways. For example, modem 32 permits
`the user to send data recorded by computer 10 to a 5
`remote data storage device or to another computer.
`Modem 32 also permits the user to receive data via
`telephone lines from a remote source. Hence, computer
`10 need not have extensive internal data storage,
`thereby minimizing its size and weight. In addition, 10
`modem 32 allows computer 10 to communicate on-line
`with a remote computer or data base, thereby increas(cid:173)
`ing the computer's versatility and usefulness.
`The optional external keyboard is an IBM XT com(cid:173)
`patible keyboard. The keybmrd may be used as a data 15
`entry device in applications in which data entry via
`conductive overlay 30 is impractical. Computer 10,
`however, is designed to be fully functional without the
`use of a physical keyboard. Therefore, to minimize the
`size and weight of the computer, no physical keyboard 20
`is provided.
`Computer 10 may receive power from a battery pack
`34 or from a standard AC source converted to DC
`through an external AC/DC converter, such as a 17.25
`volt, 1.25 amp unit built by Tamura, attached through
`an external jack. The computer's battery compartment
`may be configured as disclosed in copending applica(cid:173)
`tion entitled "Battery Compartment," filed concur(cid:173)
`rently with this application, assigned to the same as- 30
`signee as the present invention and incorporated intu
`this application by reference. Computer 10 has been
`designed to minimize power requirements, thereby min(cid:173)
`imizing the size of the battery needed. One example of
`the power minimization is the use of "Standby Mode" 35
`as discussed below.
`Battery pack 34 may be rechargeable as disclosed in
`copending application entitled "Externally Recharge(cid:173)
`able Battery Pack For A Computer", filed concurrently
`with this application, assigned to the same assignee as 40
`the present invention and incorporated into this applica(cid:173)
`tion by reference. A bridge battery 33 may also be pro(cid:173)
`vided for allowing the main computer battery to be
`removed and replaced without turning off the com(cid:173)
`puter. This bridge battery may be configured as dis- 45
`closed in copending application entitled "Computer
`With Provision For Continued Operation During Bat(cid:173)
`tery Change", filed concurrently with this application,
`assigned to the same assignee as the present invention
`and incorporated into this application by reference. An 50
`8 watt, three output DC/DC converter 35 such as that
`manufactured by ITT is used to set the system voltage
`to the appropriate level.
`The computer's internal memory consists of remov(cid:173)
`able RAM cards 65; system ROM 66 (shown schemati- 55
`cally); and system RAM 67 (shown schematically). The
`memory cards 65 contain software specific to the com(cid:173)
`puter's application. Memory cards 65 are preferably
`Epson IC memory cards with an 8 bit data bus and
`40-pin card edge connectors. Each has a small battery 60
`associated with it to maintain data for six or more
`months without drawing on the main unit power. Mem(cid:173)
`ory cards 65 may be made in accordance with the dis(cid:173)
`closure of the copending application entitled "Memory
`Card With Removal Tab" filed concurrently with this 65
`application, assigned to the same assignee as the present
`invention and incorporated into this application by ref(cid:173)
`erence.
`
`5,133,076
`
`6
`The use of memory cards 65 in place of a conven(cid:173)
`tional hard disk drive is another size and weight mini(cid:173)
`mizing feature of this invention. Firmware is provided
`with computer 10 to cause the memory cards to emulate
`a disk drive, thereby making computer 10 compatible
`with conventional PC software without using a heavy
`and bulky disk drive to do so. The memory cards 65
`may be accessed via a memory card door 68 in the
`housing of computer 10 such as that described in co(cid:173)
`pending application entitled "Memory Card Door"
`filed concurrently with this application, assigned to the
`same assignee as the present invention and incorporated
`into this application by reference.
`System ROM 66 contains standard system program
`instructions such as MS-DOS. Preferably, system ROM
`66 consists of two 27COIO type, 128k by 8 bit
`EPROM's, but mask ROM types may be used instead.
`The two ROM chips are disposed in EPROM/ROM
`sockets on the main logic board 28. In the preferred
`embodiment, system RAM 67 consists of eight 256K X 4
`dynamic RAM's.
`A microprocessor or CPU chip 50 is connected to the
`other components via a standard system bus 52. In the
`preferred embodiment, microprocessor 50 is an OKI
`MSM80C86A-IORS 16-Bit CMOS microprocessor.
`Also connected along system bus 52 are a dual serial!(cid:173)
`parallel port chip 54; a real time clock chip 56; a cus(cid:173)
`tomized gate array 58; a system control chip 60; a cus(cid:173)
`tomized system BIOS 62; and a display controller 64.
`In the preferred embodiment, serial/parallel port
`chip 54 is a Chips and Technologies 82C605 CHIPSport
`multifunction controller. Real time clock chip 56 is a
`Dallas Semiconductor DSJ287A chip. Preferably, sys(cid:173)
`tem control chip 60 is a Chips and Technologies 82CIOO
`Super XT system controller, and display controller 64 is
`a Yamaha PCDC V6366 Panel and CRT display con(cid:173)
`troller. System control chip 60 provides all the core
`logic required to implement an XT compatible system
`board, including: a system clock; bus controller; DMA
`controller; interrupt controller; timer; parallel periph(cid:173)
`eral interface; keyboard interface; memory interface;
`input/output channel interface; extended memory sys(cid:173)
`tem; power management control; clock switching logic;
`input/output channel timing control; and clock conver(cid:173)
`sion logic.
`The purpose of gate array 58 is to reduce the chip
`count and to provide an efficient bus interface for the
`specialized input/output devices with which computer
`10 is used. Gate array 58 uses the control signals, ad(cid:173)
`dress and data bits provided by the system core logic to
`allow access to the internal control registers of gate
`array 58 as well as to the peripherals to which it is
`attached. Gate array 58 is addressed through input/out(cid:173)
`put ports on system bus 52, though the peripherals may
`be addressed as memory.
`A block diagram of the customized gate array chip 58
`is shown in FIG. 4. A standard bus interface and inter(cid:173)
`nal decode block 70 communicates with system bus 52.
`Connected to interface 70 are an auxiliary keyboard
`block 72; an auxiliary memory interface block 74; a
`miscellaneous input/output interface block 76; an over(cid:173)
`lay processor interface block 78; a programmable chip
`select block 80; and an LCD randomizer clock block 82.
`Auxiliary keyboard block 72 provides a standard 8-bit
`latch as is known in the art. It connects to the hardware
`pertaining to the keyboard emulation program as ex(cid:173)
`plained below.
`
`Kyocera PX 1032_28
`
`

`

`5,133,076
`
`25
`
`7
`Auxiliary memory interface block 74 provides buffers
`and control ports to allow access to removable storage
`cards 65 and non-removable system ROM 66. Interface
`74 is a paged interface with a 64k page size and a data
`bus 8 bits wide. Only one of the four devices (i.e., the 5
`two RAM cards and the two ROM's) may be accessed
`at a time. To select a device, the program sets the appro(cid:173)
`priate bit in the Auxiliary Memory Select Port. A Status
`Port is provided to allow determination of storage card
`type and presence. A Page Register Port is used to 10
`select the active 64k byte page in the selected device.
`The miscellaneous input/output block 76 provides
`eight general purpose input pins and eight general pur(cid:173)
`pose output pins. Block 78 provides an 8-bit buffer for
`bidirectional data transfer between two processors and 15
`interrupt/data available status bits in both directions.
`The processors utilize this resource through a simple
`protocol.
`The programmable chip select block 80 provides 10
`pins that can be used as input/output or memory de- 20
`codes. The LCD randomizer clock block 82 provides a
`pseudo-random AC signal to the LCD. The logic in this
`block divides the clock from the LCD controller 64 by
`68 and changes its phase every 289 clocks.
`System BIOS 62 consists of two EPROM's. It is a
`standard IBM-compatible Input/Output System that
`has been modified to include program steps for three
`key systems: (I) the computer's disk drive simulation;
`(2) the computer's "standby" power-saving mode, and 30
`(3) the computer's keyboard emulation system. These
`three systems are described below.
`The use of memory cards 65 in place of a disk drive
`saves space in, and reduces the weight of, computer 10.
`In addition, the RAM memory cards are faster than a 35
`disk drive and are more durable since they have no
`moving parts. The two MS-DOS ROM's 66 are concat(cid:173)
`enated by the BIOS 62 into one virtual disk device.
`Thus, the system emulates three floppy disk drives.
`The sequence of events for a RAM card/MS-DOS 40
`floppy disk service request is as follows:
`l. BIOS receives software interrupt 13h-floppy disk
`service request.
`2. BIOS determines whether the request is for a phys(cid:173)
`ical floppy disk or a RAM card/MS-DOS ROM. 45
`This step is necessary because an 3.5 inch or 5.25
`inch external floppy disk drive may be attached to
`computer 10 via the expansion module 16 as dis(cid:173)
`cussed below.
`3. If the request is for a RAM card/MS-DOS ROM, 50
`program control is given to the RAM card driver.
`This driver takes different actions depending on
`the type of service request:
`a. Disk reset request-turn the RAM card system
`off;
`b. Read, Write, or Verify request(cid:173)
`i. Power up the RAM card system;
`ii. Check to make sure the slot for the specified
`disk is not empty. Return an error if it is;
`iii. Seek to the specified head, track and sector. 60
`The head, track and sector is translated into a
`specific RAM card address by a conversion
`formula which depends on the capacity of the
`RAM card;
`iv. If the request is a write, check write protec- 65
`tion. A physical switch on the RAM card
`provides the user with a way to write-protect
`the RAM card;
`
`8
`v. Immediately before the data is read or written,
`enable the RAM card read/write buffers and
`disable interrupts. With interrupts disabled, no
`other software can execute. This keeps other
`software from corrupting the data on a RAM
`card by accidentally writing to its address
`range;
`vi. Transfer data with 8086 string instruction;
`vii. Disable the RAM card read/write buffers
`and re-enable interrupts. With the read/write
`buffers disabled, writes to the RAM card ad(cid:173)
`dress ran