Abstract: A battery compartment for portable electrical equipment such as computers, tape recorders, VCR recorders, camera flash equipment and other such devices has an internal configuration and appropriate electrical connections to receive at least two different types of battery cells which may be of different dimensions. These can include standard dry cell batteries and rechargeable NiCad batteries, for example. The power pickup from the two types of cells is different, so that non-rechargeable dry cells can be isolated from charge when external power is attached to the portable device, while rechargeable cells are not isolated from the charge. The different dimensions are accommodated by orientation of the one type of cell-receiving spaces at right angles to the other type of cell-receiving spaces so that incorrect placement of the cell types is prevented.

Abstract: A soft case which encloses a portable device such as a hand held computer has a top cover portion which overlies a large screen at the front or top of the computer. This cover portion has a flat, soft foam pad which engages against the glass screen to cushion the screen and spread the force of any impact against the closed case at the screen. Further, there may be included in the screen cover a rigid member captured within the injection molded foam and spanning across the screen, providing further protection against impact to the screen.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack for a portable computer or other battery-powered device permits recharging of the battery while it is in the computer, or removal of the entire battery pack and recharging of the battery external to the computer by connecting an AC-DC converter directly to the battery pack. This permits removal of a battery pack and replacement with a charged battery pack, so that the portable computer is not occupied with battery charging and can be taken into the field while another battery pack is being charged. In the battery pack of the invention a DC power jack is located on the battery pack, identical to the DC jack on the exterior of the computer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a component door assembly for an electronic device which hides and protects removable electronic components. The door has separate locking and moving mechanisms so that two operations must be performed before the door can be opened. Specifically, in the preferred embodiment a resilient sliding door is mounted on tracks or grooves in the housing of an electronic device. The door has a button on one end and a handle on the other end. To open the door, the button is pressed inward while the handle is pulled in the direction of the button.

Abstract: A card housing attachment for adding industry standard add-on cards to a portable computer includes a card housing which is positioned on the top of the computer behind a tiltable display. A battery compartment slide-in structure slides into and out of a battery tray compartment opening in the back side of the computer and contains interconnect-card structure for developing the power and any clock required for the add-in card and for transmitting all necessary control signals and data lines between the add-on card and the computer bus.

Abstract: This invention relates to a housing assembly design which reduces the number of screws required to attach the housing parts together. According to the preferred embodiment of this invention, the housing of a hand-held computer is assembled and held together by a combination of hooks, screws, and tabs. Preferably, the tabs mate with slots or grooves formed on the perimeter of apertures such as input/output ports in the housing. Once the housing is assembled, each tab forms part of the perimeter of the aperture into which it is inserted. The hooks and screws mate with corresponding hooks and screw holes, respectively, formed in the housing.

Abstract: A keyboardless entry computer system includes a transparent input screen that generates positional information when contacted by a stylus, and a display screen mounted physically below the input screen such that a character that is displayed can be seen below the input screen. The system includes a computer that has been programmed to compile the positional information into Strokes, to calculate Stroke characteristics, and then compare the Stroke characteristics with those stored in a database in order to recognize the symbol drawn by the stylus. Key features of the system are: (1) transparent position sensing subsystem; (2) underlying display on which to mimic drawing of sensed positions and to show characters or symbols; (3) means to convert sensed positions first into plotted Points and then into recognized characters or symbols; and (4) means to "learn" to associate sensed input positions with a character or symbol.

Abstract: A hand held portable computer is secured to a peripheral computer component or expansion module in a snap-on arrangement which automatically effects engagement of bus connectors between the two components. The hand held computer has four openings in its back or under side. Two of the slot-like openings have fittings within them or are so shaped as to receive L-shaped or hook-shaped brackets of the peripheral component. The brackets may be inserted in the slot openings when the computer and the expansion module are held obliquely angled with respect to each other. The computer is then swung down until its back or under side engages against the top of the peripheral component, whereupon a pair of protruding hook members extending at the top surface of the peripheral component engage the computer and snap into locking engagement in the adjacent slot openings. The bus connection is made when the two components are brought together.

Abstract: This invention relates to an expansion device to permit the conductor to be extended beyond its normal operational length without breaking the electrical connection between the objects. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a spring maintains the conductor at a predetermined length. The spring permits the conductor to be moved away from one of the objects for a predetermined distance without breaking the electrical connection between the objects. Preferably, the spring itself is conductive and connects two portions of the conductor which are relatively non-expandable. Alternatively, the spring in its relaxed state may merely maintain some slack in the conductor, the slack being taken up when the spring is compressed. In either embodiment, the spring tensioning mechanism may be contained entirely within one of the objects.

Abstract: A hand held computer having a display screen which accepts writing from an electronic pen-type stylus has a cord which tethers the stylus to the computer. At the periphery of the computer is a flange or ledge forming a peripheral groove within which the cord resides when the stylus is stored in another wider part of the peripheral groove. The groove has a widened notch for receiving a larger-diameter portion of the stylus, such that the stylus snaps into a prescribed position lengthwise in the groove. In a preferred embodiment the cord is connected into the stylus via an internal spring in the stylus. The stylus thus gives some resiliency when pulled against the cord, and this feature is used to tightly seat the stylus in the groove or channel recess so that it is stored with the cord under some tension.

Abstract: A connector component for computer units and peripheral units is secured to the back of each unit and enables the units to be stacked together in direct electrical connection, without the need for cables between them. Each connector component includes a pair of swivel mounts which rotate through 90 degrees and support a multi-contact pin connector, so that each connector can be oriented either vertically or horizontally, toward the rear of the unit. The pin connectors are internally connected to the operable portions of each unit by an internal cable bus. For direct interconnection between units, the adjacent swivel mounts are rotated to the vertical position and mated. At the top and bottom of a vertical stack of units, the extreme upper and lower swivel mounts may be rotated to the horizontal, rearward-facing position for connection to a cable leading to other computer or peripheral units remote from the stack.

Abstract: A portable computer is contained within an outer metal case which physically encapsulates and protects the working components of the computer in the closed, portable configuration. The metal case includes a base which serves as a heat sink for transferring waste heat from heat producing electrical components to the surroundings in the open, operating configuration of the computer. The heat producing components are mounted and located in the base to maximize the transfer of heat to the base. A display housing is pivotally mounted on the base by hinge assemblies for swinging movement between a closed and latched position on the base and an upward and rearwardly inclined angle for viewing by an operator positioned in front of the computer. Stop pins coact with the hinge assemblies for holding the display housing at the desired angle of view, and torsion springs are associated with the hinge assemblies for preventing inadvertent slamming of the display housing against the base during closing.