Apparatus and method for controlling the power of a handheld computing device using a stylus
Assignee3Com Corporation
InventorsCurtis D. Thompson, Kenneth A. Croft, Jay B. McCleary
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling the power of a handheld computing device with a stylus is provided. A handheld computing device includes a power “on” state and a power “off” state. The handheld computing device further includes an elongated slot for receiving a stylus, and a switch positioned within the slot for transitioning the handheld computing device from the power “on” state to the power “off” state when the stylus is inserted into the elongated slot.
Claims16
An apparatus for controlling the power of a handheld computing device using a stylus comprising:
- a handheld computing device including a power “on” state and a power “off” state, the handheld computing device further including an elongated slot for receiving a stylus, and a first switch positioned within the elongated slot for transitioning the handheld computing device from the power “on” state to the power “off ” state when the stylus Is inserted into the elongated slot, a second switch, the second switch being manually operable to transition the handheld computing device to the power “on” and “off” states, a latching mechanism extending into the elongated slot, the latching mechanism in operable communication with the second switch such that when the second switch is depressed, the latching mechanism releases the stylus thereby allowing the stylus to be ejected from the elongated slot.
A method of controlling the power of a handheld computing device with a stylus comprising the steps of:
- providing a handheld computing device including a power on” state, a power “off” state, an elongated slot and a latching mechanism extending into the elongated slot, a first switch positioned within the elongated slot, the latching mechanism retaining a stylus positioned within the elongated slot, the latching mechanism in communication with a manually operable second power switch, a spring positioned within the elongated slot, the spring biasing the stylus against the latching mechanism;
- depressing the manually operable second power switch;
- releasing the latching mechanism;
- and
- ejecting the stylus from the elongated slot.
A method of controlling the power of a handheld computing device with a stylus comprising the steps of:
- providing a handheld computing device including a power “on” state, a power “off” state, a first switch positioned within an elongated slot of the device for transitioning the handheld computing device from the power “off” state to the power “on” state, a latching mechanism extending into the elongated slot, the latching mechanism retaining a stylus positioned within the elongated slot, the latching mechanism in communication with a manually operable second power switch, a spring positioned within the elongated slot, the spring biasing the stylus against the latching mechanism;
- manually ejecting the stylus from the elongated slot;
- releasing the latching mechanism,
- actuating the first switch;
- and
- transitioning the handheld computing device from the power “off” state to the power “on” state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.