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:
Jun. 20, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1999
Michael D Derocher, Corvallis, OR (US);
Glen Oross, Corvallis, OR (US);
Robert P Bliven, Corvallis, OR (US);
Dennis R Esterberg, Philomath, OR (US);
Gerald W Steiger, Corvallis, OR (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A portable electronic device has an outer shell, a first speaker assembly, and a second speaker assembly. The first speaker assembly has a first speaker, a first speaker chamber, and an outer edge. The second speaker assembly has a second speaker, a second speaker chamber, and an outer edge. The first and second speaker assemblies are capable of being in a normal position, where the first speaker assembly outer edge and the second speaker assembly outer edge are substantially flush with the outer shell of said portable electronic device. The first and second speaker assemblies are also capable of being in an extended position, where the first speaker assembly outer edge and the second speaker assembly outer edge extend beyond the outer shell of the portable electronic device. Preferably, the first and second speaker chambers each have a larger volume when the first and second speaker assemblies are in the extended position than when they are in the normal position. This larger volume allows for higher quality sound--especially lower frequency sounds--to come from the portable electronic device when the first and second speaker assemblies are in the extended position. Preferably, the speaker assemblies are located in a hinged portion connecting a base portion of the portable electronic device with a display portion.