Tablet computer palette with extended bezel

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for holding and operating a portable computing system. In particular, the present invention relates to a palette for a pen tablet computer which permits ease of use and retention of the computer during use.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The following descriptions and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion within this section.

[0005] Portable computing systems are becoming increasingly popular, and many different types of portable computing systems are currently available such as pen tablet personal computers (pen tablet PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), and cellular telephones that have capabilities other than telephony. As used herein, a “pen tablet” computer is any computing device where the user uses a stylus or handheld pointer as an input device, including such handheld PDA's and the larger variety of arm held computing devices. Many types of handheld or portable systems are currently designed such that they can be used in multiple orientations, typically “landscape” or “portrait.” For example, depending on the data being displayed on the system, a position of a screen and a display orientation of the portable system may be altered to accommodate the data. In other examples, the position of the screen and the display orientation of a pen tablet computer may be altered depending on the preference of a user, the task being performed by the user, or an application being used on the system.

[0006] The term “landscape orientation” generally refers to an orientation of a display screen in which the largest lateral dimension is in the substantially horizontal direction with respect to the user. In contrast, the term “portrait orientation” generally refers to an orientation of a display screen in which the largest lateral dimension is in the substantially vertical direction with respect to the user. The terms “horizontal” and “vertical” as used herein are intended to specify a direction with respect to a user and are not intended to convey any other geometrical direction.

[0007] Typically, pen tablet computers are grasped by the user with a support hand curled around an edge, which frees up the writing hand to operate the stylus. Such ergonomics have led to discomfort in holding, heat discomfort, poor writing angles, and dropped computers. To address these problems, various grips and other ergonomic improvements have been proposed. U.S. Pat. Application 2003/0213822 proposes a pistol grip on the bottom of the computer, while U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,765 proposes removable grips to provide a gripping function and some degree of shock protection. U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,152 suggests particular molded regions on the computer housing to enhance the gripping function, while U.S. Pat. Application 2003/0231462 proposes hand pads for wrist support. All patents cited herein are incorporated by reference to the maximum extent allowable by law.

[0008] While such portable computer housing improvements have addressed the problem of providing better gripping surfaces, they have largely failed to optimize a user's use and comfort while operating a pen tablet computer. Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a method and a system for grasping a pen tablet computer which minimizes the chance to drop the computer, minimizes user discomfort, and optimizes the user's operation thereof while keeping the configuration of the system relatively simple and inexpensive.

[0009] The problems outlined above are addressed by the pen tablet palette and method of use of the present invention. In a broad aspect, the palette housing includes a support arm engagement region adapted such that the user's support forearm extends diagonally underneath the housing. A hand engagement region is configured opposite the support arm engagement region and includes both a thumb indentation and a finger area. In preferred form, the engagement region includes a palm swell and a plurality of function keys in the finger area. Preferably, the housing additionally includes a bezel extension approximately level with the writing surface of the pen tablet computer to actively support the user's writing hand.

[0018] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and may herein be described in detail. The drawings may not be to scale. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0019] Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a computing system 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The computing system 10 includes a palette 12 having a slot 14 adapted to receive a pen tablet computer 16 therein. Preferably, pen tablet computer 16 snaps into slot 14, but other types of latching mechanisms are acceptable. Pen tablet computer 16 is illustrated in a portrait orientation, but the orientation can be modified to the user's specifications.

[0020] As perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the computing system 10 includes a support arm engagement region on the under side of pen tablet computer 16 extending from a region on the user's forearm, near the user's elbow to a hand engagement region 22. To gain some perspective of the orientation and configuration of the palette 12, the sides of pen tablet computer 16 have been numbered in FIG. 1 as parallel long-sides 24, 25 and parallel short-sides 26, 27. As can be seen, a padded rounded elbow/arm pad 30 is molded into palette 12 in the vicinity of the intersection of sides 24 and 26. On the other hand, hand engagement region 22 is in the vicinity of the midpoint of side 25. This allows the support arm of the user to extend diagonally across the underside of pen tablet computer 16 (see FIG. 2). In more detail, hand engagement region 22 includes a thumb indentation 32 which permits the thumb of the user's support arm to extend from the underside up through palette 12.

[0021] As perhaps best illustrates in FIGS. 1 and 8, the underside of palette 12 in hand engagement region 22 includes a palm swell 34 for receiving the palm of the support arm of the user. With the palm engaged in palm swell 34, the fingers of the user's support arm extend around the edge of palette 12 (as illustrated in FIG. 8) to the topside of hand engagement region 22. In a preferred form, a number of function buttons 36 are disposed for operation by the user's support hand.

[0022] The bezel extension 40 extends on the topside of palette 12 in the vicinity of sides 25, 26. As perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 1, bezel extension 40 in the region of the intersection of sides 25, 26 is configured to be approximately level or flush with the writing surface of pen tablet computer 16, so that the user's writing hand may comfortably rest on bezel extension 40.

[0023] Palette 12 includes in the vicinity of side 24 an accessory area 42 which is available for typical portable computing accessories, such as additional batteries, plug-ins, PCMCIA port, GPS port, solar panel, etc. Additionally, a wireless antenna 44 can be incorporated into palette 12. It will be appreciated that accessory area 42 or antenna 44 could be repositioned for design convenience at other locations in palette 12.

[0024] Many other alternative embodiments may be adapted to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-9, as one skilled in the art will appreciate. For example, instead of making palette 12 and pen tablet computer 16 separate with a slot 14 for receiving pen tablet computer 16, the housing of pen tablet computer 16 could be modified to include the features of palette 12 so that an integral computing system 10 is the result. As another example, thumb indentation 32 is illustrated as a hole extending through palette 12, but other configurations such as curvilinear indentation into the edge of palette 12 might be equally acceptable. The dimensions of bezel extension 40 (and other features such as armrest 30) might be varied to suit the user preference or particular application. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such modifications and changes and, accordingly, the drawings and the specification are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.