Texas Instruments Corporation

Ronald L Smith

LaVaughn F Watts, Jr

Thomas R Grimm

Yogendra C Pandya

Paul B Wood

LaVaughn F Watts

The present invention provides a solution to the dual problems of mobility and portability associated with using a portable telephone in combination with a portable computer. A portable computer () has an interface () that facilitates a direct connection to a portable telephone (). The interface () electrically connects the portable telephone () to the portable computer () thus eliminating the need for a cable or tethered connection between the portable computer () and a portable telephone (). In one embodiment of the invention, the portable telephone () is constructed to fit within a cavity () in the portable computer (). When fully inserted into the computer (), the portable telephone () is physically connected to the portable computer () by a latching mechanism and communicates with the portable computer by means of a computer/portable telephone interface (that electrically connects the portable telephone to the portable computer). In another embodiment of the invention, the portable telephone serves as the portable computer's modem and function while installed in the computer. Thus, the portable phone facilitates the transmission and reception of data between the portable computer and another computer connected to the telephone system. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the portable computer (and not the portable telephone), contains the modem that is utilized for telephonic data communications. In still another embodiment of the invention, a modem may be omitted altogether for data communications in a completely digital telephone network. An operator of the portable computer/portable telephone also has the option of using the portable telephone for voice transmission independently of the computer, or may enjoy hands free voice operation by using the portable computer's internal speaker and microphone.

Portable computer having an interface for direct connection to a mobile telephone

The present invention provides a solution to the dual problems of mobility and portability associated with using a portable telephone in combination with a portable computer. An interface module () has a first interface () for coupling to an interface () on a portable telephone () and a second interface () for coupling to an interface () on a portable computer (). The interface module () facilitates a direct connection between a coupled interface module and portable telephone () to a portable computer (). The interface module () electrically couples the portable telephone () to the portable computer () thus eliminating the need for a cable or tethered connection between the portable computer () and portable telephone ().

Interface module for a portable telephone that facilitates direct portable telephone/portable computer coupling

The present invention provides a solution to the dual problems of mobility and portability associated with using a portable telephone in combination with a portable computer in a telecommunications environment. The invention comprises a coupled portable telephone( )/interface module ( ) that may be directly coupled to a portable computer ( ). The interface module ( ) portion of the invention includes a first interface ( ) for coupling to an interface ( ) on a portable telephone ( ) and a second interface ( ) for coupling to an interface ( ) on a portable computer ( ). The interface module ( ) facilitates a direct connection between a coupled portable telephone ( )/interface module ( ) and a portable computer ( ). When the second interface ( ) is directly connected to the interface ( ) on a portable computer, the interface module ( ) electrically couples the portable telephone ( ) to the portable computer ( ) thus eliminating the need for a cable or tethered connection between the portable computer ( ) and portable telephone ( ). In one embodiment of the invention, the interface module ( ) is constructed to fit within a cavity ( ) in the portable computer ( ). In another embodiment of the invention, the interface module portion of the coupled interface module/portable computer ( ) facilitates a physical connection to the portable computer ( ) by a latching mechanism when full inserted into the computer ( ).

Coupled portable telephone/interface module

Video data is communicated in a computer system using LVDS signaling. To maintain minimum setup time requirements, video data is translated to LVDS data streams using a TTL-to-LVDS converter (84) which clocks data at the rising edge of a pixel clock signal and is re-converted using an LVDS-to-TTL converter (86) which uses the falling edge of the pixel clock to clock data for output.

Method for communicating digital information using LVDS and synchronous

The present invention provides a solution to the dual problems of mobility and portability associated with using a portable telephone in combination with a portable computer. A portable telephone (166) is constructed to fit within a cavity (210) in a portable computer (164). When fully inserted into the computer (166), the portable telephone (166) is physically connected to the portable computer (164) by a latching mechanism and communicates with the portable computer by means of a computer/portable telephone interface (172, 192, 204 that electrically connects the portable telephone to the portable computer. Physically and electrically connecting the portable telephone to the portable computer eliminates the need for a cable or tethered connection between a portable computer and a portable telephone. In one embodiment of the invention, the portable telephone serves as the portable computer's modem and function while installed in the computer. Thus, the portable phone facilitates the transmission and reception of data between the portable computer and another computer connected to the telephone system. In another embodiment of the invention, the portable computer (and not the portable telephone), contains the modem that is utilized for telephonic data communications. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a modem is omitted altogether for digital data communications. An operator of the portable computer/portable telephone also has the option of using the portable telephone for voice transmission independently of the computer, or may enjoy hands free voice operation by using the portable computer's internal speaker and microphone. The portable telephone operates on the computers internal battery/power system while installed in the portable computer and on it's own battery (charged while in the portable computer) when used independently of the portable computer.

Portable computer stored removable mobile telephone

A data display and management system includes a microprocessor whose functions are implemented by instructions in data from a directly connected main memory. A mass data storage memory is connected to the main memory and has permanently stored instructions therein for the microprocessor. A display control system which operates asynchronously with the microprocessor includes a display controller, display memory, character memory means, and a visual character attribute generator. By linking one or more row attribute bytes, or pointers, to each row of characters stored in the display memory the display controller performs character and row manipulation on a display device without transferring whole blocks of data in the display memory. Multi-region display segmentation into horizontal and vertical split regions, smooth or discrete scrolling of individual regions, and various editing functions are achieved by modifying the associated display memory pointers.

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Temple, TX, United States of America

Ronald L Smith