# US 6,442,637 B1 · Expandable mobile computer system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,442,637 B1 - Document ID: US6442637B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/374,058 - Filed: 1999-08-12 - Granted: 2002-08-27 - Earliest claimed: 1999-08-12 - Assignees: Handspring, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hawkins; Peter Skillman; Michael Wise; John Raff; Daniel Sung-Hwe Kim; Dennis Boyle; Charles R. Lewis, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6442637B1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations} - G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]} - G06F 2200/1632: Pen holder integrated in the computer - G06F 2200/1634: Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An expandable mobile computer system is described. The mobile computer system includes a peripheral expansion interface that allows a large number of different sized expansion peripherals to be created and used with the mobile computer system. A pair of rails forms a first opening of the peripheral expansion interface wherein an expansion peripheral device may be inserted. Large expansion peripherals may extend in a first dimension out of that first opening. The rails also form a second opening along a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension. Large expansion peripherals may also extend outward from the peripheral expansion interface in the second dimension. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile computer system, said mobile computer system comprising: a processor; an expansion bus, said expansion bus coupled to said processor; and an expansion interface, said expansion interface comprising, an electrical interface to said expansion bus, and a pair of substantially parallel retaining rails, said pair of retaining rails spaced far apart along a first dimension such that said retaining rails substantially occupying a width of said mobile computer system along said first dimension, said pair of parallel retaining rails forming a first opening for insertion of a peripheral device along a second dimension, and said pair of parallel retaining rails forming a second opening along a third dimension such that said peripheral device may extend in said third dimension. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peripheral device may extend to any width along said first dimension after extending out from said expansion interface through said first opening in said second dimension or said second opening in said third dimension. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second opening is open along a substantial majority of said peripheral device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peripheral device comprises a battery. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said battery is replaceable while said peripheral device is in said expansion interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical interface comprises a PC-Card physical connector pin interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said expansion interface is keyed not to accept standard PC-Card devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first opening is on a top of said mobile computer system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second opening is on a back of said mobile computer system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said expansion interface includes at least one recessed shelf, said recessed shelf allowing a head of a screw in said expansion interface to be flush with a back surface of said expansion interface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said recessed shelf is concealed by a tab on a peripheral device inserted into said expansion interface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said tab includes a curved detent to accommodate said head of said screw. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said expansion interface includes at least one detent, said detent for allowing an expansion peripheral to securely hold itself in said expansion interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said detent is formed along a side wall of said expansion interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: an external interface port; and a separate cradle, said cradle for holding said mobile computer system and interfacing with said external interface port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said cradle comprises a retention pin, said retention pin engaging a hole on a back of said mobile computer system when said mobile computer system is placed in said cradle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said cradle further comprises a flexible resistance mechanism. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said flexible resistance mechanism comprises electrical contacts on said cradle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said cradle comprises at least one alignment pin, said alignment pin engaging a hole proximate to said external interface port on said computer system when said computer system is placed in said cradle. ### Claim 20 A mobile computer system, said mobile computer system comprising: a mobile computer, said mobile computer comprising an external interface port having an electrical connector, said mobile computer having a first hole on a back surface of said mobile computer system; a cradle, said cradle for holding said mobile computer and interfacing with said external interface port, said cradle comprising a flexible resistance mechanism, said flexible resistance mechanism for pushing said mobile computer system away from said cradle, and a stationary retention pin, said stationary retention pin for engaging said first hole on said back surface of said mobile computer when said mobile computer is placed in said cradle and pushed down against said flexible resistance mechanism such that said mobile computer is firmly held within said cradle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said flexible resistance mechanism comprises electrical contacts on said cradle for interfacing with said external interface port on said computer system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said cradle comprises at least one alignment pin, said alignment pin engaging a second hole in said mobile computer proximate to said external interface port when said mobile computer is placed in said cradle. ### Claim 23 A mobile computer system, said mobile computer system comprising: a mobile computer, said mobile computer comprising an expansion interface, said expansion interface for accepting an expansion peripheral device, said expansion interface comprising a first electrical connector; an external interface port, said external interface port comprising a second electrical connector; a peripheral charge connector line that couples said first electrical connector on said expansion interface to said second electrical connector on said external interface port; and a cradle, said cradle for holding said mobile computer and interfacing with said external interface port with a cradle interface, said cradle interface supplying power to said peripheral charge connector line. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said cradle further comprises a retention pin and said mobile computer further comprises a detent that engages said retention pin. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said cradle further comprises a flexible resistance mechanism. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said flexible resistance mechanism comprises electrical contacts on said cradle interface. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said expansion peripheral device comprises a battery. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said battery is charged by said peripheral charge connector line. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said cradle comprises at least one alignment pin, said alignment pin engaging a hole in said mobile computer proximate to said external interface port when said mobile computer is placed in said cradle. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 29 further comprising: a protective cover, said protective cover engaging said alignment pin. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The mobile computer system as claimed in claim 30 wherein said protective cover may be placed on a back of said mobile computer system or on a front of said mobile computer system.