IP Library Granted Patent US 8,727,805
Granted Patent B2
US 8,727,805 · App. 13/170,963 · Granted May 20, 2014

Small form factor computing device with connector assembly to interconnect sliding housing segments

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,727,805
App. No.
13/170,963
Granted
May 20, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mobile computing device is presented. The mobile computing device has two housing segments that each contains a set of electrical components. The housing segments are slideably coupled to each other to move between a first position and a second position. The mobile computing device also has a cable connector that connects the sets of electrical components together. The cable connector is configured to include three connector structures that are each configured to mate with a connector. A first connector structure is configured to mate with a first connector of the first housing segment in connecting to the first set of electrical components. Similarly, a second connector structure is configured to mate with a first connector of the second housing segment in connecting to a first portion of the second set of electrical components. The third connector structure is configured to mate with a second connector of the second housing segment in connecting to a second portion of the second set of electrical components.

Claims (22)

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a first segment containing a first set of electrical components;

a second segment containing a second set of electrical components and slideably coupled to the first segment to move between a first position and a second position; and

a cable connector that connects the first set of electrical components to the second set of electrical components, wherein the cable connector includes:

a first connector structure configured to mate with a first connector of the first segment in connecting to the first set of electrical components;

a second connector structure configured to mate with a first connector of the second segment in connecting to a first portion of the second set of electrical components; and

a third connector structure configured to mate with a second connector of the second segment in connecting to a second portion of the second set of electrical components.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the cable connector includes a cable that interconnects the first connector structure, the second connector structure and the third connector structure, and wherein the cable is split at one portion of its length.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the cable is a coaxial cable.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the first connector structure is splayed to provide a number (N) of connection points in a linear fashion.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 4 , wherein the second connector structure provides N-X connection points in a linear fashion, and the third connector structure provides X connection points in a linear fashion.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 5 , wherein the cable includes N plurality of strands that connect to the connection points provided on the first connector structure.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 6 , wherein the N plurality of strands includes N-X strands that connect to the connection points provided on the second connector structure and X strands that connect to the connection points provided on the third connector structure.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 7 , wherein the N-X strands are stacked on top of the X strands along at least a portion of the length of the cable.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 7 , wherein the X strands are stacked on top of the N-X strands along at least a portion of the length of the cable.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the first connector of the second segment and the second connector of the second segment are positioned so that they are perpendicular to each other.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the cable includes at least a flexible portion and at least a fixed portion along its length.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the first segment includes a processing resource and a keyboard assembly and the second segment includes a display component.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the first segment includes a display component and the second segment includes a processing resource and a keyboard assembly.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , further comprising a spring to assist or enable the second segment to slideably move between the first position and the second position.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 14 , wherein the cable flexes, bends, or curves more when the second segment is in the first position than when the second segment is in the second position.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 15 , wherein the cable is positioned within a reserved space of the spring when the second segment is in the first position.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2014
From: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY; HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.; PALM, INC.
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 032177/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2013
From: PALM, INC.
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 031837/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2013
From: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
To: PALM, INC.
Reel/Frame 031837/0544 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2013
From: PALM, INC.
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 031837/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2013
From: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
To: PALM, INC.
Reel/Frame 030341/0459 →