Mobile computer

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MOBILE COMPUTER VV n\ynn 5 125,630/2

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The present application relates to a mobile computer and more specifically to auser-supported computer that can be operated in a hands-free manner.

Background of the Invention - It is known that various embodiments of computers may be wom and operated15 in a hands-free manner. A feature of these prior art computers is that they permit theuser to have freedom to use his or her hands for repairing or other functions whileusing a fully functional computer. One of the most commercially successful and wellknown of these computers is the Mobile Assistant® available from XybemautCorporation of Fairfax, VA. Mobile Assistant® is a registered trademark of 20 Xybemaut Corporation (formerly Computer Products &amp;amp; Services, Inc.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,244 (Newman, et al.) describes the details of the Mobile

Assistant® and fully discloses the components and function of such user-supported computers. Also, U.S. Patent 5,844,824 describes and claims further improvements and modifications to the Mobile Assistant®. Both U.S. 25 Patent Nos. 5,305,244 and 5,844,824 315 owned by the ^'8"== of &lt;*« Presep·'application. Also describing wearable computers are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,285,398(Janik I) and 5,491,651 (Janik H). Both of these patents disclose a belt computercontaining the elements or components of a computer. In Janik I the plurality ofcomputing elements are located on the belt and a flexible signal relaying means 30 connects all of the elements for computing. A protective covering is used for 5 enclosing said computer elements. In Janik II a similar belt computer is described and claimed in which the signal relaying means, the length of which between any two computing elements, is greater than the length of the wearable member between any two computing elements. In both Janik I and Janik II the flexible wearable computer &gt; tf is in the form of a belt comprising around its periphery sequentially positioned10 computer elements.

Also in the prior art, PCMCIA cards extend out from the main frame of thecomputer housing and are often damaged. This is quite frequently the case in mobilebody-wom computers where movement of the user is frequent and sometimes extreme. 15 Summary of the Invention

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a computer structure devoid of the above-noted disadvantages. A further object of this invention is to provide a novel heat sink structure andcompositions for use in a body-worn computer to disperse heat from the interior of the 20 computer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a computer structure having ahousing containing a PC card substantially weather-proof compartment that houses substantially the entire PC card when in use.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a computer structure having 25 recessed or offset connector means for connection of peripherals thereto.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a compartment for a removable hard drive in a reversible mobile computer. 5 Still a further object of this invention is to provide a mobile computer that optionally has means for communicating with other means using infrared technology.

Another object of this invention is to provide a computer structure that can beused as both a mobile computer and a stand-alone or desktop computer. A further object of this invention is to provide a computer structure that when10 worn can be used interchangeably on the right or left side of a user. A still further object of this invention is to provide a mobile computerstructure that can be worn on any portion of the body in a hands-free manner.

Another still further object of this invention is to provide a mobile computerhaving outlets or other means to connect onto or to be compatible with components of 15 a stand alone, laptop or desktop computer.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a computer structure thatcontains in a single housing substantially all of the components needed in a generalpurpose or conventional computer, including but not limited to, input/output means,processor means and storage means. 20 Other objects will become apparent upon a further reading of this disclosure.

The above objects and others are accomplished, generally speaking, byproviding a mobile, body-worn computer comprising a computer housing, activatingmeans, means for attaching said computer housing to a user, said computer housingcomprising substantially all of the components of a conventional computer, said 25 housing comprising at least one of the following: A. an offset peripheral connector means recessed from a rear terminal portion of said computer housing; 5 B. a PC card housing having means to contain substantially an entire PC card when contained therein; C. a compartment for housing a removable hard drive; and D. an opening for internal connection to an IrDA transceiver. A mobile body-wom computer of this invention comprises a computer10 housing, hands-free activation means and means for attaching the computer housing toa user. The computer housing comprises substantially all of the components of aconventional computer with a computer housing having front, back, top, bottom and side sections. The back section has means for attachment of cables and the front, back, top and side sections are constructed substantially of a heat conducting and15 dissipating material whereas the bottom section is constructed substantially of a heatinsulating material. When this computer is worn the bottom section is locatedadjacent a user’s body. The problems faced with mobile, body-wom computers are completely different than those of stationary or laptop computers. Most importantly,substantial heat is generated by the CPU and, while this is not a significant problem in 20 stationary or laptop computers, it becomes a major problem in body-wom computerssince the computer is worn next to the user’s body. Some attempts to remedy thisproblem in body-wom computers is to highly insulate the components and or thecomputer housing but these efforts result in a larger and heavier computer. Since sizeand weight are also significant factors in body-wom computers, these prior art efforts 25 have not solved the problem and, for that matter, created problems of size and weight.

This computer structure is usable as a safe, mobile body-wom computer and also as a component for a stand-alone, laptop or desktop computer or any other conventional computer. By “conventional computer” is meant any computer known 5 125,630/3 and used today such as those available from IBM, Dell, Apple, Compaq, Toshiba,Micron, Hewlett-Packard, etc. The computer structure of this invention in oneembodiment has a computer housing that can be worn around the waist of a user andis slightly curved on its bottom or inner side (the side that contacts the user’s waist)to be contoured in accordance with the curvature of the user’s body. It has structuraldimensions or area that occupies only a relatively small portion of said user’swaistline. Thus, unlike Janik I and II above discussed, does not encircle the entirewaist of the user. When used as a waist-worn computer, it is important it be heatinsulated and that cables and other electrical connections extend from the backportion of the computer so as to be out of the way and not interfere with the user’shands when he or she is attempting to repair an object or machine or otherwise usetheir hands. The computer structure is symmetrical; therefore, the computer can beturned upside down as a unit for left-hand operation. The cable outlets in thismanner always will face the back of the user. Conversely, the mouse controls (whenconverted to a conventional computer) and not used as a hands-free, voice-activatedcomputer, will always be positioned in front of the computer housing convenient forthe right or left-hand user. The housing of the computer of this invention has outletsfor connection to other components such as power supplies, monitors, keyboards, orany other required component. All embodiments of a mobile computer described inthe U.S. Patent 5,844,824 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305, 244 are included in thosestructures usable in the present invention with the modification described andclaimed herein. The disclosure of U.S. Patent 5,844,824 is incorporated byreference into the present disclosure. In this patent it stated a further feature of anembodiment of the present invention utilizes an adapter used in each mobilecomputer to permit the use therein of cellular or hardwire telephone communication.In place of the cellular telephone communication means, a radiofrequency, infrared,laser or fiberoptic transceiver or other communication means may be used. Thesewill generally be referred to in this disclosure as “communication means”. 5

The embodiment of this invention that includes voice activation when the computer is body-worn also includes a body-wom display screen such as a head-worn(or arm-worn display) or the display can be a flip up or other monitor located on thecomputer housing. The computer housing in the present invention includes all of thecomponents found in a conventional computer such as a storage means, processor 10 means, audio transducer and converter means and recognizing means, all of which are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,244. Also included in this embodiment are means for mounting the computer housing onto a user. Generally, attachment is madeon a belt worn by a user such as around the waist, over the shoulder or onto a vesttorso. Preferably in a front terminal portion of the computer housing extending 15 outwardly is a heat sink comprising ribbed or louvered sections to permit heat to bedissipated from the interior of the housing and to allow a proper internal temperaturebest suited for computer operation. Also, it is imperative that this body-womcomputer be maintained at temperatures safe and suitable to be worn for extendedperiods of time. The computer housing bottom section generally is made of a 20 lightweight yet rigid plastic or other suitable non-heat conducting material. In thepresent invention, a substantial or major portion of the top and side sections of thehousing are constructed of a heat dissipating material which transmits or conducts theheat from the internal portion of the housing away from the user and to theatmosphere. These top and side outer sections (away from the body of the user), 25 together with the above-noted heat sink located in a front raised portion, efficientlydissipates heat from the internal portion of the housing and safe for the user. Thehousing is contoured or somewhat curved to follow the curvature of the human bodysuch as the torso or waistline. The portion of the computer housing that contacts the 5 user’s body has rubber feet or other insulating material that doubles as a belt loop anchor (when used as a body-worn computer). The front underside of the housing will, as mentioned in the preferred embodiment, also have loops attached to the legs through which a belt will fit when attaching to a user. The conduits or connection ' t· means which are preferably located in the rear side of the housing are used for cable10 connection to power means, peripherals, and the body or head-mounted display orconventional monitor. The display used in the present invention can be any typemonitor such as head-mounted display, flat panel monitor, wrist or hand-mounted monitor or any other suitable display or monitor.

When the structure of this invention is used as a conventional computer, there15 are located on the top section of the housing three movable levers, joy sticks orbuttons or other means; one to operate a mouse and the other two for programexecution or cursor manipulation. When the mobile function is desired, the top,movable button or lever will always be used in the same manner whether worn on the right or left-hand side of the user. 20 The specific configuration of the presently defined wearable computer provides several improvements over the Newman et al U.S. 5,305,244 and otherknown mobile computers. As above noted, a unique problem encountered withwearable computers that is not a problem with stand-alone conventional deskcomputers, is that heat generated by the CPU could harm the computer or the wearer 25 because of the proximity of the wearer and computer. Many attempts have been made to alleviate this problem, but none have been totally satisfactory. In the present invention the upper or top portion of the computer (the part away from the users body) and sides are constructed of a heat conducting material such as magnesium, 7 5 aluminum, copper, steel or other suitable known heat conducting materials. Thismaterial conducts heat from the interior of the housing and away from the user to theatmosphere. In addition, a heat sink made up of several louvers or ribs is positionedon an extended projecting front section of the housing, thereby diverting the heataway from the user’s body. Since the heat generated by the CPU chip is substantial, 10 especially in a body-worn computer, it is extremely important for any successfulwearable product to effectively minimize this problem. In the present invention, allsides of the computer housing except the bottom utilize effective heat sinks; the front,top portion and side portions have heat sinks in the form of heat conducting materials,and the bottom portion (closest the wearer) is constructed of a substantially non-heat 15 conducting material such as some plastics such as ABS resin, FRP resin, rubber,wood, silk, Styrofoam, fiberglass or any other suitable heat insulating material. It iscritical to this invention that the portion of the housing closest the wearer be constructed of a material that will not transmit heat or will minimize the transmission of heat; some of these materials are, as noted, plastics or fiberglass. The extended 20 front section of the housing made up of a heat sink with a plurality of ribs or louverswill also direct heat away from the user’s body and assist in maintaining the heatgenerated to a very tolerable level for the user. This feature of efficient heatdissipation is not present or known in any of the prior art wearable computers. It isimportant to this invention that this heat sink be constructed so that it acts as an air 25 scoop as the wearer walks forward. The air flow into the heat sink is best accomplished if the heat sink is located in the front of the housing for maximum air intake. Obviously, it cannot be located at the bottom section of the housing since this is the part abutting the wearer’s body and little or no air intake is possible. 5 In addition to the heat dissipation features above discussed, projecting rubber legs (or other non-conducting materials) are positioned in the bottom portion of thehousing so that these heat insulating legs rather than the housing contact the user.These legs put an insulating air space between the user and the housing to further ’ tt reduce the heat problem. These legs also double in function as the loop holders that 10 allow the user to place his other belt through the loops provided. This feature and the above features will be further described in relation to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side plan view of the wearable computer of this invention with the PCMCIA housing door closed. 15 Figure 2 is a top plan view of the wearable computer of this invention with the PCMCIA housing door closed.

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the wearable hands-free computer of this invention with the PCMCIA housing door closed.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the wearable mobile computer of this invention 20 with the PCMCIA housing door opened.

Figure 5 is a side plan view of the user supported computer of this invention with the PCMCIA housing door opened.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the wearable mobile computer of this invention. 25 Figure 7 is a back plan view of the hands-free wearable mobile computer of this invention.

Figure 8 is a front plan view of the hands-free wearable mobile computer of this invention. 5 Figure 9 is a side perspective view of the user supported computer of this invention with the PCMCIA housing door opened.

Detailed Description of the Drawing and Preferred Embodiments

In figure I a computer 1 is shown from a side view. The computer 1 has ahousing 2 having a back section 5, a top front portion or section 10, a top section 16 10 and a bottom portion or section of housing 20. The bottom section 20 is closest to thewearer’s body when in use separated, however, by the legs 14 which are insulatingand provide a further insulating air space between the housing bottom 20 and the user.The legs 14 actually touch the user’s waist or torso and provide good insulation forthe user in both heat and electrical insulation. An extending front section 13 provides 15 a heat sink 13 for assisting the dissipation of heat from the interior or housing 2 to theatmosphere. Note that this heat sink 13 is also configured to direct heat away from auser’s body when worn. The top 16 and upper sides 15 and 17 (bottom sides near oradjacent bottom 20 are heat insulating) are constructed of a heat conducting materialor heat sink material to further direct heat away from the user. A rubber separator 32 20 is located between heat conducting sides 15 and 17 and bottom insulating sides 33 and 34. This further diverts heat from the user. The bottom section 20 is constructed of an efficient heat insulating material to avoid significant heat next to the user. Further,legs 14 are made of a reliable heat insulator such as rubber or plastic since they willcontact the user when wom. When not worn, legs 14 act as the stand or support for 25 housing 2 when the computer is in use but not wom or used as a conventional stand alone computer.

Toward the back section 5 on the top is located a PCMCIA compartment door 9 which is made of a non-heat conducting material and having a slot 23 through which 10 5 an enclosed PCMCIA card cable 31 extends. In figures 2 and 3 top front 10 of the computer is illustrated wherein control buttons 11 are easily accessible to both right and left-handed users. It is critical to this invention that the area around central buttons 11 and control lever 12 be constructed of a heat-insulating material. In &gt; t addition, it is critical to the present invention that door 9 also be constructed of a heat- 10 insulating material. Since the user will touch door 9 and the area surrounding buttons 11 and control lever 12, it is important that these sections of the top of housing 2 beconstructed of a heat-insulating material. When the computer housing 2 is turnedupside down in changing from right-hand to left-hand use, the controls of buttons 11 and mouse lever 12 always face the front of the user for easy access and use. 15 Conversely, when right side 15 is facing up or down when worn, the controls 11 and 12 always face the front and outlets 3 and their cables always face the back of the user out of his or her way. Controls or software can be provided to convert or reverse thefunctions of controls or buttons 11. Versa Point® mouse pointing technology may be used as one suitable means in controls 11 and 12. Versa Point® is a trademark of 20 Interlink Electronics of 547 Flynn Rd., Camarillo, Calif. 93012. Opening 25 isoptionally used as an IrDA port that can be used for wireless communications (see fig. 8). IrDA (Infrared Data Association) ports are known for example as disclosed inU.S. Patent. No. 5,491,651 patent and other publications. IrDA are used astransceivers (transmit and receive) to communicate with local area networks, with 25 printers, with another computer for transferring of information or data and other desired uses. In the present invention, opening of port 25 is used for optional access to an IrDA connection. In figures 1 and 7, a side and back view of the computer 1 is shown. The positioning of offset or recessed bottom extension 6 is shown slightly 11 5 indented and below back portion 5 of the computer housing 2. The bottom 20 ofhousing 2 which is adjacent to the user’s body is shown. While the figures all show(for clarity purposes only) a rectangular configuration for housing 2, other shapes orconfigurations may be used if desirable. For example, an oval or circularconfiguration may be used if the other specifics of this invention as claimed are 10 present. Openings 3 and 4 in figure 7 provide means for connecting to computer 1other peripheral equipment as floppy drives, bar code scanners, VGA port or externalmonitor connectors. Any suitable number of outlets may be used and are allpositioned in bottom extension 6. Figure 7 clearly shows the location of theseelectrical outlets or conduits 3, 4, 7 and 24. Opening or slot 23 is a cable opening for 15 cables used with PCMCIA card slots.

In figures 3 and 4 the computer 1 is shown, in figure 3 with the PCMCIAcompartment door 9 closed and in figure 4 with the door 9 open. When the PCMCIAcard is enclosed in compartment 26, the door can be closed as shown in figures 3 and 7. Cable 31 from the PCMCIA card extends through closed door 9 via door slot 23. 20 In figure 5 computer 1 is shown from a side view with PCMCIA compartment door 9 opened. An extending front section provides a heat sink 13 to assist in thedissipation of heat from the interior of housing 2. This heat sink 13, together with theportions of housing 2 that are made from magnesium, provide an efficient way forheat generated (by the CPU in housing 2) to be easily dissipated and directed away 25 from the wearer. As noted earlier, substantially all of housing 2 is made of magnesium (or other suitable heat disperser) except for bottom door 18, bottom

portion 20, door 9, area 19 surrounding controls 11 and 12 and PCMCIA compartment enclosure 21. Wheels 14 are also made from a poor heat conducting 12 5 material such as plastic, rubber or any other suitable material. Since only the legs 14will contact the user’s body, and there will be an insulating air space between bottom18 and 20 (which are also poor heat conductors), most of the heat generated will bedirected away from the user. This is a unique problem not faced with any othercomputers other than wearables. This invention provides at least three safeguards 10 against this defined heat problem: (1) heatsink 13; (2) housing constructed at the top and sides of a heat conductor material; (3) housing constructed at the bottom (close to user) of a poor heat conductor material. 15 Wheels 14 shown in figure 5 also hold the belt loops 21 in place. These loops 21provide the means through which the wearer’s belt will fit when wearing computer 1.These loops 21 are clearly illustrated in figure 6 as they are positioned on the bottomsection 20 and door 18 of housing 2. The bottom section 20 and door 18 areconstructed as mentioned earlier of an efficient heat insulator. Heat sink 13 made up 20 of ribs or foils or louvers extends out from the top front portion 10 of housing 2. Door 18 is removable by loosening screws 22 when a new disk is intended to be used in thecomputer 1. Also, door 18 could provide access to the interior of housing 2.

In figure 7, a back plan view of computer 1 is illustrated. PCMCIAcompartment door 9 is closed housing a PCMCIA card and having cable 31 extending 25 through slot 23. Lock switch or button 29 is shown in the closed mode, to open door 9 button 29 is slid or moved to the right. Port replicator 3 is provided for docking functions. It includes means for a serial port, a parallel port, VGA port and floppy port. The power connector 7 is shown above the port replicator 3 but each of the 13 5 connections shown can be located anywhere in the back section 5. A Universal SerialBUS (USB) 4 is provided for connections to peripheral devices preferably directly tothe internal BUS of computer 1. Slot opening 24 is provided for connection to ahead-mounted display, or flat panel display, or wrist or body-mounted display or anyother display or monitor to be used with the system. In figure 8 the front section of 10 computer 1 is shown with a location 25 where an optional IrDA connection 25 couldbe positioned if an IrDA is desired.

In figure 9 the mobile body-wom computer 1 of this invention is shown. Inthis figure, a lift door 9 is shown which opens into a PC card compartment 26. Whenthe PC card 28 is housed in compartment 26 and door 9 is closed, the cable 31 15 connecting from the housed PC card 28 is extended through slot 23. In one

embodiment of this invention, the door 9 when open exposes a connection for at leastone PCMCIA card(s) (PC cards) 28. This complete housing of the card is animprovement of importance since extending PCMCIA cards (PC cards) can easily bebroken or damaged thus rendering the computer capability provided by the PCMCIA 20 card non-functional. The PC cards are housed totally within the housing 26 and onlythe cable or connector or dongle 27 extends out from the housing 26 and door 9through slot 23. Also, the housing 26 permits sealing 30 around the door to make itweatherproof when worn outdoors. This internal housing 26 now provides means toprevent damaging the PC card 28 and means to weatherproof the card 28 and housing 25 26 from rain, water, snow or other inclement conditions. Ejecting means on button 29 are now easier to get to than the prior art buttons which are recessed and are hard to access. In addition, the pressure points on the PC card 28 are reduced in the present embodiment to further minimize damage to the card 28. Resilient waterproofing seal 14 5 30 is used to weatherproof the door and, as noted, protect the interior on housing 26 and card 28 from damage resulting from weather conditions. In figure 7 cable 31which is connected to card 28 within housing 26 is shown after door 9 is closed to hermetically seal in card 28. In figures 2, 3, 4 and 9, on the top front portion 10 of thecomputer housing 2 are central buttons 11 and joy stick or lever 12. The lever 12 is 10 used to move and control a mouse pointer when the computer 1 is used either as amobile or conventional computer. The control buttons 11 are used for program execution or menu selection. As earlier described, on the front section of the computer 1 is located a heat vent with vent louvers (or a heat sink) 13 which allow theheat from inside the computer housing 2 to be dissipated or vented out to the 15 atmosphere. These ribbed vents or louvers 13 help reduce the inside heat which heatcould cause malfunctioning or slowing down of the computer functions. Thecomputer housing 2 is symmetrical so that when it is worn on either the right-handside or left-hand side of the user’s waist, the back section 5, peripheral connectormeans 3 and 4 will always face the back of the user. When the computer 1 is used or 20 converted into a conventional computer and placed on a flat desk or other surface,stationary legs 14 are used to support the computer. These legs 14 are also used as asupport for belt loops as shown in figures 5, 6 and 7. When computer 1 is used orconverted to a conventional computer, cables 4 can connect to components of aconventional computer such as monitors, keyboards, power supplies or any other 25 desirable component. The legs 14 permit easy access to peripheral conduits and allowthe computer 1 to be used on a flat surface as is customary when using a conventionalor laptop computer. The louvered ribs or vents 13 allow heat dissipation also in this mode of use. 15 125,630/2 5 The monitor used with the computer 1 discussed herein can be any suitable display or monitor such as the preferred body or head-mounted display shown or discussed in U.S. Patents 5,305,244; D390,552; 5,719,743 or 5,757,339. Othersuitable displays may also be used if desired apart from or integral with housing 2.The preferred activation means are voice activation as disclosed in U.S. 5,305,244. 10 The highly preferred single computer housing of this invention includes all of thecomponents found in a conventional computer such as a storage means, processormeans, audio transducer and converter means and recognition means, all of which aredescribed in detail in U.S. 5,305,244. The housing 2 can be wom around the waist,over the shoulder or torso or wom in a vest if desired. Multiple housing can be used if 15 suitable provided all other aspects of the defined claims are present. All of the cables must extend from the back 5 of computer 1 so that they do not interfere with the hand movements or activities of the user when body wom. Activation means disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,844,824 may be used with the structure or system of thepresent invention. 20 The drawings clearly show the housing 2 having shaded areas or portions and non-shaded (or white) areas or portions. Except for rubber separator 32 (or other materials) which is heat insulating, the shaded areas are constructed of any suitableheat-conducting materials. The non-shaded areas and separator 32 of all figures areconstructed of heat-insulating material or materials. 25 The preferred and optimumly preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings to illustrate the underlying principles of the invention but it is to be understood that numerous 16 5 modifications and ramifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. 17