The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 07, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1997
N Deepak Swamy, Austin, TX (US);
Robert L McMahan, Cedar Park, TX (US);
Dell USA, L.P., Round Rock, TX (US);
Abstract
A trackpad or other input/output device is detachable from a computer and adapted with a remote communication functionality using radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) technologies, thereby facilitating the performance of slide presentations and other graphic displays. A remote presentation capability allows a computer user to conveniently address a group from a position at a suitable location, such as a podium, that is removed from the computer system. A remote interface includes a trackpad or other input/output device and activation buttons. The input/output device is housed in a small removable enclosure which is adapted for docking into an aperture in the computer. The input/output device is rechargeable with a charger installed into the computer so that the input/output device is recharged during docking with the computer. A portable computer includes a removable input/output (I/O) device that functions as a conventional computer interface when docked to the portable computer and functions as a remote control for controlling operations of the portable computer when the I/O device is removed from the portable computer. The removable I/O device includes one or more activation buttons for usage in controlling operations such as the display operations of an audio-visual presentation. When the I/O device is removed from the portable computer, the I/O device communicates with the portable computer using a remote communication technique such as radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) remote communication techniques. The removable I/O device include rechargeable batteries that power the I/O device while the device is used remotely. The rechargeable batteries are charged by the portable computer when the I/O device is returned to the portable computer and docked to the portable computer.