Patent US5628031A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5628031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Personal digital assistant module implemented as a low-profile printed circuit assembly having a rigid substrate wherein IC devices are mounted within openings wholly between opposite plane surfaces of the rigid substrate
Assignee: INPRO II LICENSING SARL
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Filing: 1994-11-07
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Granted: 1997-05-06
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Expires: 2014-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A personal digital assistant module with a local CPU, memory, and I/O interface has a host interface comprising a bus connected to the local CPU and a connector at a surface of the personal digital assistant for interfacing to a bus connector of a host general-purpose computer, providing direct bus communication between the personal digital assistant and the host general-purpose computer. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistant also stores a security code. The personal digital assistant according to the invention forms a host/satellite combination with a host computer having a docking bay, wherein upon docking a docking protocol controls access by the host to memory of the personal digital assistant based on one or more passwords provided by a user to the host. In another embodiment the personal digital assistant also has an expansion port connected to the local CPU, and expansion peripheral devices may be connected and operated through the expansion port. In yet another embodiment a low-profile construction technique is used wherein discrete elements are assembled wholly enclosed within openings in a rigid substrate having interconnects on a surface of the substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan Kikinis
- 👤 Pascal Dornier
- 👤 William J. Seiler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/275; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1626; G06F1/1632; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1656; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F1/20; G06F1/203; G06F1/206; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/409; G06F21/00; G06F21/60; G06F21/62; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0482; H04M1/72; H04M1/725; H04M11/00; H04M11/06; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42314; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; H05K5/026; H05K5/0265; H05K5/0273; H04M1/247; H04M1/2473; H04M3/42323
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A digital assistant module, comprising: an enclosure for enclosing and supporting internal elements; a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) chips within the enclosure. including a CPU chip, interconnected by electrically conductive traces, the IC chips for performing management, calculation, display, and storage functions for the digital assistant module; a substantially rigid substrate within the enclosure forming a support structure for the IC chips mounted wholly within cavities opening to one or both opposite parallel surfaces of the substantially rigid substrate, providing thereby a low-profile assembly; and a touchscreen combination display and input device implemented on a surface of the enclosure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A digital assistant module, comprising: an enclosure for enclosing and supporting internal elements; a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) chips within the enclosure. including a CPU chip, interconnected by electrically conductive traces, the IC chips for performing management, calculation, display, and storage functions for the digital assistant module; a substantially rigid substrate within the enclosure forming a support structure for the IC chips mounted wholly within cavities opening to one or both opposite parallel surfaces of the substantially rigid substrate, providing thereby a low-profile assembly; and a touchscreen combination display and input device implemented on a surface of the enclosure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive traces between the IC chips are implemented on surfaces of the substantially rigid substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 1 further comprising at least one flexible-film substrate overlying the substantially rigid substrate, wherein further electrically conductive traces are provided on the at least one flexible-film substrate for interconnecting the IC chips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 1 further comprising a host interface having a host interface bus coupled to the CPU and to a first portion of a host interface connector at a surface of the enclosure, the host interface bus providing address lines, data lines, and control signal lines for use by the CPU in communicating with a host computer, control signals on the control signal lines including read/write and at least one memory control signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 1 additionally comprising a storage power supply within the enclosure for supplying electrical power to power-using elements of the digital assistant module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 5 further comprising a solar energy conversion panel having electrical connections for attaching to and recharging the storage power supply.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 1 additionally comprising an expansion bus interface comprising an expansion bus coupled to the CPU and to a first portion of an expansion bus connector implemented on a surface of the enclosure, the expansion bus interface for connecting the digital assistant module to input/output (I/O) devices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 1 additionally comprising a nonvolatile storage device connected to the CPU and containing a code unique to the digital assistant module, for uniquely identifying the digital assistant module to a connected host.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 1 wherein the touchscreen combination display and input device comprises an LCD display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 1 further comprising a pointer device for providing positional and directional input for control operations performed in conjunction with the combination display and input device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 10 wherein the pointer device comprises a thumbwheel implemented at one corner of the enclosure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A digital assistant module, comprising: an enclosure for enclosing and supporting internal elements; a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) chips within the enclosure, including a CPU chip, for performing management, calculation, display, and storage functions for the digital assistant module, the IC chips encapsulated within a polymeric material forming a substantially rigid substrate with bonding pads of the IC chips exposed on a surface of the substrate; and one or more flexible-film substrates having conductive traces provided thereon, overlying the substantially rigid substrate, the conductive traces bonded to the bonding pads of the encapsulated IC chips, thereby providing electrical interconnection between the encapsulated IC chips; and a touchscreen combination display and input device implemented on a surface of the enclosure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
A digital assistant module, comprising: an enclosure for enclosing and supporting internal elements; a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) chips within the enclosure, including a CPU chip, for performing management, calculation, display, and storage functions for the digital assistant module, the IC chips encapsulated within a polymeric material forming a substantially rigid substrate with bonding pads of the IC chips exposed on a surface of the substrate; and one or more flexible-film substrates having conductive traces provided thereon, overlying the substantially rigid substrate, the conductive traces bonded to the bonding pads of the encapsulated IC chips, thereby providing electrical interconnection between the encapsulated IC chips; and a touchscreen combination display and input device implemented on a surface of the enclosure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 12 further comprising a host interface having a host interface bus coupled to the CPU and to a first portion of a host interface connector at a surface of the enclosure, the host interface bus providing address lines, data lines, and control signal lines, control signals on the control signal lines including read/write and at least one memory control signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 12 additionally comprising a storage power supply within the enclosure for supplying electrical power to power-using elements of the digital assistant module.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 14 further comprising a solar energy conversion panel having electrical connections for attaching to and recharging the storage power supply.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 12 additionally comprising an expansion bus interface comprising an expansion bus coupled to the CPU and to a first portion of an expansion bus connector implemented on a surface of the enclosure, the expansion bus interface for connecting the digital assistant to input/output (I/O) devices.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 12 additionally comprising a nonvolatile storage device connected to the CPU and containing a code unique to the digital assistant module, for uniquely identifying the digital assistant module to a connected host.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 12 wherein the combination touchscreen display and input device comprises an LCD display.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 12 further comprising a pointer device for providing positional and directional input for control operations performed in conjunction with the display of the combination touchscreen display and input device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A digital assistant module as in claim 19 wherein the pointer device comprises a thumbwheel implemented at one corner of the enclosure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-05 | 2000-11-04 | 2001-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-05 | 2004-11-04 | 2005-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-05 | 2008-11-04 | 2009-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |