I IIIII
`
`United States Patent [19]
`Grewe et al.
`
`Ill Ulllllll~llllllllll~lllllllll
`
`US005625673A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`s,62S,673
`Apr. 29, 1997
`
`[54] MODULAR COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
`
`5,127,050
`
`6/1992 Takahashi et al ....................... 379/428
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Anthony J. Grewe, Holmdel; Michael
`Kerwin, West Orange; Carl S.
`Ledbetter, Jr., Summit; B. Waring
`Partridge, ID, Far Hills, all of N.J.
`[73] Assignee: Lucent Technologies me., Murray Hill,
`N.J.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 310,297
`
`Sep. 22, 1994
`
`[22] Filed:
`fut. Cl.6
`•••••••••••••••••••.•.••••.•••. H04Q 7/32; H04M 1/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl •.............................. 379/61; 379/428; 379/58;
`455/90
`[58] Field of Search .................................. 379/58. 59, 57,
`379/428, 420; 340/825.44; 455/89. 90
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,748,574
`4,991,197
`5,020,090
`5,127,041
`
`5/1988 Tuchto .................................... 379/428
`2/1991 Morris ....................................... 379/58
`5/1991 Morris ....................................... 379/58
`6/1992 O'Sullivan ................................ 379/59
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`"Gizmo-A Chronicle of Consumer Electronics", Popular
`Electronics; pp. 51-62, 92-93. Mar. 1994.
`
`Primary Examiner-Dwayne D. Bost
`Assistant Examin~r-Michael B. Chernoff
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A versatile device is obtained with a PDA that includes
`means for cordless connecting to specialized accessories.
`The PDA can operate in its conventional mode, or it can be
`enhanced by interconnecting it with some or all of its
`accessories. In one embodiment, the PDA is combined with
`a cellular telephone that is adapted to physically mate with
`the PDA and form thereby a single integrated apparatus. In
`another embodiment, the PDA is combined with a landline
`telephone that is adapted to mate with the PDA and form
`thereby another single integrated apparatus. In a still another
`embodiment, the PDA (whether or not mated with a tele(cid:173)
`communication device) is combined with a keyboard to
`form a laptop computer.
`
`23 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`Samsung Exhibit 1022 Page 00001
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 1997
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`5,625,673
`
`FIG. 1
`
`20
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Page 00002
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 1997
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`5,625,673
`
`FIG. 3
`
`31
`
`FIG. 4
`30
`
`Page 00003
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`5,625,673
`
`FIG.
`
`17
`
`SEE FIG. SA
`
`55
`
`FIG. SA
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 00004
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 1997
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`5,625,673
`
`FIG. 7
`
`90
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 1997
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`5,625,673
`
`FIG. 9
`
`93
`POWER
`SUPPLY
`
`94
`
`90
`
`TELEPHONE
`
`,...,.... __ ___. 97
`
`98
`
`66
`
`61
`
`91
`
`CONNECTOR
`81
`
`62
`
`SVD
`MODEM
`
`TO
`}
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE
`
`:
`
`I ACCESSORIES I 92
`ssl
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`
`1
`MODULAR COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
`
`5,625,673
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention generally relates to communication appa(cid:173)
`ratus and. more particularly. to apparatus that at times 5
`performs telecommunication functions and at times per(cid:173)
`forms processing functions.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`The market offers a number of portable processing
`devices that assist people with their. processing and infor- 10
`mation needs. In size order. for example. that includes
`calculators. organizers. personal digital assistants (PDAs).
`and notebook/laptop computers.
`Calculators are. of course. limited to mathematical opera(cid:173)
`tions. Some of the more expensive ones can store calculation
`programs. but most do not.
`Organizers are able to receive information, store it,
`process it, and display it. Typically, they are used for keeping
`track of appointments and the like. Organizers differ from
`calculators in that they handle text. Physically, they are small 20
`enough to fit in a man's suit pocket or a woman's purse.
`While in some sense these organizers can be thought of as
`computers. they nevertheless hold a separate niche in the
`market because of their small size and the collection of
`specialized software packages that they come with, includ- 25
`ing a specialized operating system. An operating system is
`a set of fixed programs that control the general operation of
`the organizer, including the manner of interaction with the
`user.
`PDAs. which are much more versatile computers. are 30
`characterized by a relatively large touch sensitive screen
`which serves as both the input and output interface with the
`user. These PDAs boast a unique operating system that
`accomplishes most tasks by guiding the user through a
`sequence of selections. Typically. the operating system also 35
`includes an application for character recognition of script
`writing, and that allows the user to enter information that is
`not included in an anticipated set of possible inputs.
`Lastly, there is the notebook/laptop computer that typi(cid:173)
`cally includes a keyboard, a screen, a memory, and a 40
`generalized operating system that allows the user to apply
`information directly, as well as execute application pro(cid:173)
`grams that guide the user through a sequence of selections.
`In the realm of telecommunication, there is another
`portable device that is sweeping the market and that is the 45
`cellular telephone. Not unexpectedly, the art has attempted
`to combine computing and telecommunication, and there are
`devices now on the market that are basically a combination
`of the laptop computer and the cellular telephone.
`What is needed. however, is more flexible devices that 50
`can operate as PDAs when that is desired, as laptop com(cid:173)
`puters when that is desired. and as computers that interact
`with cellular or landline telecommunication apparatus when
`that is desired.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`A versatile device is obtained, in accordance with the
`principles of this invention, with a PDA that includes means
`for connecting to specialized accessories. The PDA can
`operate in its conventional mode, or it can be enhanced by 60
`interconnecting it with some or all of its accessories. In one
`embodiment. the PDA is combined with a cellular telephone
`that is adapted to physically mate with the PDA and form
`thereby a single integrated apparatus. In another
`embodiment, the PDA is combined with a landline telephone 65
`that is adapted to mate with the PDA and form thereby
`another single integrated apparatus. In a still another
`
`2
`embodiment, the PDA (whether or not mated with a tele(cid:173)
`communication device) is combined with a keyboard to
`form a laptop computer.
`
`BRIEF DESCR1PITON OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIG. 1 depicts a PDA and a wireless telephone that are
`adapted for physical and electrical connection to each other;
`FIG. 2 presents the PDA and the wireless telephone of
`FIG. 1 mated to form an integral apparatus;
`FIG. 3 shows, in exploded view, the means for physical
`and electrical coupling of the PDA to the wireless telephone;
`FIG. 4 shows the elements of FIG. 3 in assembled form;
`FIG. 5 presents a keyboard adapted for connection to a
`15 PDA to form a laptop computer;
`FIG. SA presents the details of the physical interconnec(cid:173)
`tion between the PDA and the keyboard;
`FIG. 6 illustrates the electrical port of a PDA that allows
`it to interconnect with a landline telephone;
`FIG. 7 illustrates a landline telephone adapted for inter(cid:173)
`connection with the PDA of FIG. 6
`FIG. 8 presents an arrangement where a PDAis connected
`to a landline telephone and concurrently to a wireless
`telephone and a keyboard; and
`FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a simultaneous voice and
`data modem and its associated circuitry.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPI10N
`FIG. 1 depicts a PDA 10 in a top-left handed view and a
`cellular telephone 20 in a top-right handed view. Portions of
`a connector arrangement are shown on the left side of the
`PDA. They include coupling elements 11 and 12, activator
`element 13 and connector 14. The right side of the cellular
`telephone includes corresponding elements of an arrange(cid:173)
`ment that includes coupling elements 21 and 22, and con(cid:173)
`nector 24. More specifically, elements 11 and 12 are posts
`with grooves 15 and 16 respectively, and the posts protrude
`out of the left side surface of the PDA. Connector 14 is a
`multi-pin male connector that also protrudes from the left
`side surface of the PDA. Coupling elements 21 and 22 are
`cavities that are positioned in cellular telephone 20 to
`concurrently mate with posts 11 and 12, respectively, and
`sized for a reasonably tight fit of posts 11 and 12 within
`cavities 21 and 22. Cavities 21 and 22 include spring
`elements 25 and 26 that are arranged to engage with grooves
`15 and 16 when posts 11 and 12 are fully inserted into
`cavities 21 and 22. Connector 24 is a female connector that
`is adapted to mate with connector 14 when posts 11 and 12
`are inserted into cavities 21 and 22.
`To couple cellular telephone 20 to PDA 10, posts 11 and
`12 and connector 14 are aligned with cavities 21 and 22 and
`connector 24. respectively, and snapped, or forced. together.
`55 The result is a physically connected assembly that appears as
`a unitary PDA with an integral cellular telephone (or vice(cid:173)
`versa). This is depicted in FIG. 2. The connection strength
`imparted by the posts and the connector allows the assembly
`of FIG. 2 to be handled as a single device.
`Electrically in the cellular telephone. connector 24 is the
`very same connector that is currently available in many
`cellular telephones. The only difference, if any, is in the
`physical placement of the connector in the side of the
`telephone.
`When cellular telephone 20 is an analog telephone, then
`connector 14 is coupled to a modem within PDA 10. When
`cellular telephone 20 is a digital telephone, then a modem is
`
`Page 00007
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`

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`5,625,673
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`25
`
`30
`
`10
`
`3
`not required. The exact electrical interface between PDA 10
`and telephone 20 is not a part of this invention, so it is not
`described here in detail. Suffice it to say that the interface
`must satisfy the requirements of both the telephone and the
`PDA. U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,041 issued Jun. 30, 1992 illus(cid:173)
`trates one approach.
`FIG. 3 presents an exploded view of connector 30, and
`FIG. 4 shows connector 30 in its assembled mode. The
`connector of FIG. 3 is merely illustrative, of course. Other
`connector arrangements are also possible and are within the
`scope and contemplation of this invention.
`The connector of FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises the two
`primary components 31 and 36, springs 41 and 42, and
`housing 40. Member 31 is characterized by posts 11 and 12
`extending from one surface thereof and connector 14 15
`attached to the same surface. That same surface also
`includes two blind bores 32 and 33 with a diameter that is
`large enough (in diameter) to allow springs 41 and 42 to be
`inserted into the bores, and shallow enough to merely
`maintain the springs in position. Opposite the surface on 20
`which posts 11 and 12 are found there are ramp surfaces 34
`and 35.
`Member 36 is characterized by corresponding ramp sur(cid:173)
`faces 37 and 38, and an activator element 13. which
`advantageously, is a capped post that is screwed into the
`body of member 36.
`Housing 40 is a molded part of the housing ofPDA 10 and
`it includes appropriate openings in its outside wall to allow
`posts 11 and 12, connector 14 and the post portion of
`activator element 13 to extend through the openings.
`The general principle of the FIGS. 3 and 4 connector is
`that member 31 is situated in housing 40 either in a retracted
`position or in an extended position (in FIG. 4 it is depicted
`in the extended position). In the retracted position, posts 11 35
`and 12 and connector 14 do not extend outside housing 40
`(i.e., are flush with the outside wall of housing 40), and
`member 31 is kept in this position by the force of springs 41
`and 42 acting to separate member 31 from the outside wall
`of housing 40. In the extended position, ramp surfaces 37 40
`and 38 are engaged with ramp surfaces 34 and 35,
`respectively, to push member 31 toward the outer wall of
`housing 40, against the force of springs 41 and 42. In this
`extended position, posts 11 and 12 and connector 14 extend
`through the outer wall of housing 14. Such extending allows 45
`the connection of cellular telephone 20 to the housing of
`PDA 10, as described above. Member 36 is caused to engage
`its ramps 36 and 37 with ramps 34 and 35 by applying a
`force to the cap of activator element 13 to slide member 36
`in the direction of the arrow marked "extend" in FIG. 4. 50
`Correspondingly. ramps 36 and 37 are disengaged from
`ramps 34 and 35 by sliding element 36 in the direction
`marked "retract".
`In addition to converting the PDA of FIG. 1 to a com(cid:173)
`municating processor unit by coupling to it the cellular
`telephone, it is desirable to enhance the PDA by allowing it
`to support a keyboard. That is, while it is expected that many
`applications will be well served through the touch screen
`interface of the PDA, it is also anticipated that some
`applications would be better served when a "full fledged"
`keyboard is included. To that end, FIG. 5 shows a PDA that
`includes two somewhat cylindrical recesses 17 at two cor(cid:173)
`ners of the PDA and a connector 16. The cylindrical recesses
`end with holes 18.
`FIG. 5 also illustrates a keyboard that is adapted for 65
`connection to holes 18 and to connector 16. More
`specifically, FIG. 5 presents a keyboard 50 that includes, at
`
`4
`each of two end corners, a connection assembly for con(cid:173)
`necting to cylindrical recesses 17 and holes 18. Each assem(cid:173)
`bly includes a slightly flexible protrusion 52 with a cylin(cid:173)
`drical end portion 51 that is at 90 degrees with respect to
`5 protrusion 52. End portion 51 fits into hole 18 and pivots
`within it to allow keyboard 50 to swing into an open position
`or a closed position. In the closed position the keyboard
`covers the display of the PDA. In the open position, a
`connector 53 swings into and mates with connector 16,
`thereby making an electrical connection between keyboard
`50 and PDA 10.
`Keyboard 50 includes conventional keys such as key 55,
`function keys such as key 54, a track ball 56, and a floppy
`disk drive (not shown) coupled to port 57. It could also
`include a hard disk (also not shown). Port 57 could alter(cid:173)
`natively comprise a PCMCIA connector to which various
`other devices can be connected, etc.
`While it is novel to have these computer accessories in the
`keyboard housing, particularly in the arrangement disclosed
`herein where those accessories are not likely to be used
`unless a "laptop" computer configuration is desired, the
`electrical connection between those accessories and the
`processor within PAD 10 is completely conventional. The
`same connections that are normally made to these accesso-
`ries are made via connectors 16 and 53 in the FIG. 5
`arrangement.
`While it will be very useful to allow users to travel with
`PDA 10 and to even allow such users to communicate data
`to and from PDA 10 via cellular telephone 20, it is also
`realized that PDA 10 can be used in the office, where cellular
`telephony need not be used. Moreover, in an office environ-
`ment it would be useful to operate the PDA from an external
`power source to save on battery power. To that end, PDA 10
`is provided with a connector strip 80 on a face of PDA 10
`that, illustratively, is opposite the face where the keyboard is
`coupled. Strip 80, shown in FIG. 6, includes enough contacts
`to provide both power and data connectivity to a landline
`telephone. Looking at FIG. 6, note might be taken of handle
`83 which is included for carrying convenience.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a novel design for a landline telephone
`90 with a housing that is adapted to receive, and operate
`with, a PDA such as the one illustrated in FIG. 6. In
`particular, the FIG. 7 telephone includes a tray, or receptacle,
`82 that is fashioned to hold PDA 10, whether connected to
`keyboard 50 or not. Tray 82 includes a connector strip 81
`that is positioned in the tray to mate with contacts in strip 80
`when PDA 10 is in the tray.
`Lastly, FIG. 8 illustrates a landline telephone with a
`housing which includes a tray that is large enough to hold
`PDA 10 when it is coupled to cellular telephone 20.
`It would be obviously advantageous for PDA 10 to
`automatically recognize when it is connected to the various
`accessories disclosed above and modify its operating style
`accordingly. This capability is easily achieved by detecting
`55 signal conditions at connectors 14, 16 and 80. A number of
`such capabilities are presented below for illustrative
`purposes, and others are easily visualized.
`FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of circuitry between
`connector 81 and the terminals adapted for connection to the
`60 central office. In FIG. 9, the landline telephone is connected
`to the central office POTS line through a simultaneous voice
`and data (SVD) modem 95, such as the one disclosed in
`copending application Ser. No. 08/076,505, filed Jun. 14,
`1993, and titled "Simultaneous Analog and Digital Commu(cid:173)
`nication". A digital signal port represented by lines 91 and
`92 is also connected to the central office through SVD
`modem95.
`
`Page 00008
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`5,625,673
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`5
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`10
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`15
`
`30
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`35
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`40
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`50
`
`5
`To describe this modem in a nutshell, it modulates applied
`digital signals and analog signals onto a carrier. More
`specifically, it forms symbols from groups of bits, maps the
`symbols onto two signals, samples the analog signal and also
`maps the analog samples onto the two signals. It then
`modulates the mapped signals with two orthogonal carriers,
`sums the result and outputs the sum. All this is done under
`command of a modem controller within modem 95 that is
`also sensitive to signal conditions on the telephone line side,
`on the digital port, and on the analog port.
`In particular, the controller detects dial tone and ringing
`(as all modem controllers do), it detects the presence of
`digital signals on the digital port (also as all modems do),
`and it detects an "off hook" condition on the analog port. The
`latter is accomplished by including a voltage source and
`current detection means in the controller, to emulate a
`central office. In the FIG. 9 embodiment, sensing of an "off
`hook" condition in telephone 90 can be done outside the
`controller because a power supply 93 is provided for the
`digital port. Thus, de power is supplied to telephone 90
`through lead 94 and resistor 96, and that de power is isolated
`from the modem by capacitors 97 and 98. The "off hook"
`condition is detected by amplifier 99 having two inputs that
`straddle resistor 96. The output of amplifier 99 is applied to
`the controller within modem 95.
`Power supply 93 also supplies power to the modem and
`to connector strip 81. The path to strip 81 also includes a
`current sensor, comprising series resistor 61 that straddles
`the two inputs of differential amplifier 62 that applies a
`control signal to modem 95. A current through resistor 61
`that exceeds a predesigned threshold switches amplifier 62
`from "off" to "on", indicating that PDA 10 is resting in its
`tray. It does not mean, of course, that data is flowing through
`leads 91 and 92, but it does suggest to modem 95 that it
`should become sensitive to the presence of data.
`FIG. 9 also includes accessories 65 which are powered by
`supply 93 and which interact with PDA 10 via connector
`strip 81. Accessories 65 can be one or more of the devices
`that are commonly connected to a computer bus, such as a
`mouse, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a PCMCIA connector port,
`semiconductor memory, CD ROMS, etc. The connection of
`these elements to the processor within PDA 10 is completely
`conventional.
`The above description illustrates actions taken by the
`apparatus associated with telephone 90, i.e, by the apparatus
`between strip 81 and the port connecting to the central office.
`On the PDA side, the interactions are with strip 80, with
`connector 16 and with connector 14. The most basic inter(cid:173)
`actions that PDA 10 may wish to include is the ability to
`automatically realize that cellular telephone 20 is connected,
`that keyboard 50 is connected, and that landline telephone
`90 is coupled. Additionally, it may be useful to know
`whether any of the connected telephones go "off hook".
`With each of these pieces of knowledge, the operating
`system of PDA 10 adjusts itself to a different mode of
`operation, and may even trigger application software.
`For example, when the PDA rests in the tray of telephone
`90 and a power supply voltage is supplied to PDA 10 from
`power supply 93 through strip connectors 81 and 80, it is 60
`advantageous for this power source to power the PDAitself,
`to .power the accessories in keyboard 50, and to power,
`and/or charge the internal battery of cellular telephone 20.
`This is easily achieved by connecting the power leads in
`strip 80 to power leads in connectors 14 and 16.
`To automatically determine that cellular telephone 20,
`keyboard 50 and/or telephone 90 are connected to PDA 10,
`
`6
`all that is necessary is to detect the presence of a known
`signal, or voltage level at the respective terminals. Clearly,
`looking at the power leads coming from connector strip 80
`is a simple solution, and a similar solution can be had in with
`the other connectors. If there is no inherent de voltage that
`can be derived from connectors 24 and 53 (when they are
`coupled to connectors 14 and 16, respectively), one can be
`created by applying the battery voltage of PDA 10 to one pin
`of connector 24, for example, shorting that pin to another
`pin, and observing the voltage at a corresponding pin in
`connector 14.
`Lastly, to recognize an "off hook" state of telephone 90,
`lead 66 (in FIG. 9) couples the output of amplifier 99 to strip
`80 and to PDA 10, and the voltage on that lead provides the
`necessary information.
`The entire operating system of PDA 10 can be altered
`when any of the above-considered elements are connected to
`PDA 10. It is expected, however, that the biggest change in
`the operating system will take place when a keyboard is
`connected to the PDA, converting the PDA to laptop com-
`20 puter.
`We claim:
`1. Apparatus including a personal digital assistant (PDA)
`that contains a housing, a processor in said housing and an
`input/output device arrangement in said housing coupled to
`25 said processor for inputting data to, and outputting from,
`said processor, the improvement comprising:
`a first connector on a first side of the perimeter of said
`housing, coupled to said processor, for cordless physi(cid:173)
`cal coupling to a mating connector of an external
`telephone to enable a communication connection to be
`established between the PDA and said telephone; and
`first means, located on said first side of the perimeter of
`said housing and integral to said housing, for physically
`mounting said housing to said telephone so as to
`support said telephone by said housing and to effec(cid:173)
`tively form a single, substantially rectangular, substan-
`tially flat, physical unit that comprises said housing and
`said telephone to maintain said first connector connec(cid:173)
`tion to said telephone connector.
`2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said telephone is a
`wireless telephone.
`3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a wireless
`telephone that includes a housing with a second connector
`constructed to mate with said first connector and a second
`45 means for physically connecting the housing of the wireless
`telephone to the housing of the PDA, said wireless telephone
`having its second connector engaged with said first connec(cid:173)
`tor and its second means for physically connecting engaged
`with said first means of the housing of the PDA.
`4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for
`physically connecting comprises at least one spring-action
`fastener in said housing.
`5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said telephone is a
`landline telephone.
`6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a landline
`telephone with a housing that includes tray means for
`accepting the PDA of claim 1.
`7. The apparatus of claim 6 where said tray means
`includes a connector that is constructed to mate said landline
`telephone to the PDA when said PDA is placed in said tray
`means.
`8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said connector
`included in the tray is coupled to said first connector through
`direct pressure contact.
`9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said connector in the
`tray means includes contacts for providing de power to the
`PDA.
`
`55
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`5,625,673
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`7
`10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said telephone
`includes a modem.
`11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the modem is a
`simultaneous voice and data modem.
`12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the landline tele(cid:173)
`phone includes memory that is coupled to the connector
`which is constructed to mate said landline telephone to a
`PDA.
`13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second
`connector in said housing. where the first connector is
`constructed for physical connection to a wireless telephone
`and the second connector is constructed for a cordless
`physical connection to a connector in a housing of an
`extemallandline telephone.
`14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a 15
`landline telephone with a housing that includes tray for
`accepting the apparatus of claim 13 and a third connector.
`where said second connector is coupled to said third con(cid:173)
`nector.
`15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second 20
`connector and said third connector are arranged to mate and
`make electrical contact by the mere placement of said
`apparatus of claim 14 in said tray.
`16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a
`wireless telephone that includes a housing with a connector 25
`constructed to mate with said first connector and a means for
`physically connecting the housing of the wireless telephone
`to the housing of the PDA. said wireless telephone having its
`connector engaged with said first connector and its means
`for physically connecting engaged with said first means for
`physically connecting present in the PDA. thereby forming
`a unitary. integral. apparatus.
`
`5
`
`8
`17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a
`landline telephone with a housing that includes a tray for
`accepting the apparatus of claim 16 and a third connector.
`where said second connector is coupled to said third con-
`nectar.
`18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second
`connector in said housing for coupling said processor to a
`mating connector in an external keyboard interface. and
`10 second means. integral to said housing. for physically con(cid:173)
`necting said housing to said keyboard interface to effectively
`form a new single physical unit that comprises said housing.
`said telephone, and said keyboard interface.
`19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein
`said PDA includes a touch sensitive screen, and
`said second means includes a swivel mechanism to allow
`said keyboard interface means to cover said touch
`sensitive screen.
`20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a
`keyboard interface unit coupled to said second connector.
`21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said keyboard
`interface unit includes a PCMCIA connector electronically
`coupled to said second connector.
`22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said keyboard
`interface unit includes memory coupled to said second
`connector.
`23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said memory is a
`30 hard disk memory.
`
`* * * * *
`
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