Abstract: A portable data collection terminal has an elongate housing with a hand grip conforming rear surface. A front surface features a numerical keyboard adjacent a lower end of the housing and an LCD screen adjacent the keyboard toward an upper end of the housing. The display screen is of elongate rectangular shape, its length extending longitudinally of the housing of the data terminal. The active area of the display screen is covered by a touch sensitive overlay screen which is configured in one mode of operation of the data terminal into an alphabetical keyboard. The orientation of the display is switchable between orientations in which the line direction of the displayed data extends across or longitudinally of the data terminal. The keys of the numerical keyboard are identified by indicia disposed on a template. The orientation of the template may be sensed to switch the orientation of the displayed data and touch sensitive key identifiers to correspond to the orientation of the indicia on the template.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed having two structures, a mobile core unit and an enclosure capable of enclosing and cooperating with the core unit. The core unit has all of the components of a general purpose computer except for a display and source of power. This core unit by itself is non-functional as a computer unless it is in electrical contact with the enclosure. The enclosure has several connector ports for attachment of peripherals to the system.

Abstract: A foldable display screen notebook computer with touch screen operational capabilities which folds outward to form a viewing angle for the display screen which can be varied as a function of the axis of pivot of the display screen and where the display section and its component back section are detachable from the base section providing a modular concept which facilitates multiple computer function capability while minimizing cost expenditure and size for features which are not needed or which are not desirable during the operation under consideration. The modularity options provide for a notebook computer of minimal physical size and affordability. The display screen can be oriented to provide a space saving foot print and includes optional electronics and programming to provide, amongst other features, a portrait view of the screen.

Abstract: In a portable information instrument including a housing having an window, and a display screen accommodated within the housing but exposed in the window to display data processed in the portable information instrument, a cover sheet for protecting the display screen is formed of a soft back sheet and a plurality of rectangular hard pieces fixed on the back sheet. An accommodating mechanism is provided within an inside of the housing, and is spring-biased to retract the cover sheet into the inside of the housing. A stopper mechanism is also provided within the inside of the housing, for inhibiting accommodation of the cover sheet into the inside of the housing by the accommodating mechanism.

Abstract: This invention provides a core computer unit that contains all of the components of a conventional computer however will not function unless it is positioned in an enclosure. The enclosure dictates the computer function, the core unit supplies the computer components. The core unit remains dormant and non-functional until it is positioned in a compatible enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for converting an open architecture computer into both an open and a closed architecture computer. The open architecture computer includes a housing defining a housing space and a computer processor disposed in the housing space of the housing. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a modular computer peripheral physically connectable to only one open architecture computer, and a communication means electrically connectable to the open architecture computer and the modular computer peripheral for permitting communication between the computer processor of the open architecture computer and the controller of the modular computer peripheral. The modular computer peripheral comprises a housing defining a plurality of module bays. At least one module is disposed in one of the module bays and at least one of the modules comprising a closed architecture computer which is capable of operating independently of the open architecture computer.