Battery disable/enable control circuitry of a portable computing device

Abstract

A portable computing device includes at least three buttons and circuitry for sensing the pressing of at least three buttons, one being recessed, and in response to such sensing provides a battery disable signal to a non-removable battery. The portable computing device further includes circuitry for sensing the coupling of the device to a device cradle, and in response to such coupling, or in response to the press of the recess button, provides a battery enable signal to the non-removable battery.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A portable computing device, comprised of: 
 at least three buttons wherein at least one button is recessed; and    battery disable control circuitry to generate a battery disable signal in response to sensing communications from at least three of the buttons.    
     
     
         2 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein at least two buttons are application buttons.  
     
     
         3 . The portable computing device of  claim 2 , wherein the application buttons are non-adjacent.  
     
     
         4 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , the device further comprising: 
 a right side; and    a left side;    wherein one of the buttons is near the right side and another of the buttons is near the left side.    
     
     
         5 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one button is a reset button.  
     
     
         6 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the battery disable signal is generated after sensing communication from at least three of the buttons for a predetermined duration.  
     
     
         7 . A portable computing device, comprised of: 
 a button; and    battery enable control circuitry to generate a battery enable signal in response to the sensing of a communication from the button when the device is connected to a device cradle.    
     
     
         8 . The portable computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the button is a recessed button.  
     
     
         9 . The portable computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the button is a reset button.  
     
     
         10 . A method of disable generation for a battery of a portable computing device, the device comprising at least three buttons, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sensing button communications from at least three of the buttons wherein at least one button is recessed; and    generating a battery disable signal to disable the non-removable battery in response to the sensing step.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one button is the reset button.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least two buttons are application buttons.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the two application buttons are non-adjacent.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one of the buttons is near a right side of the device and another of the buttons is near a left side of the device.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the battery disable signal is generated after sensing the communications from at least three of the buttons for a predetermined duration.  
     
     
         16 . A method of enable generation for a battery of a portable computing device, the device comprising a recessed button, comprising the steps of: 
 sensing a communication from the recessed button; and    generating a battery enable signal in response to the sensing step.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the recessed button is a reset button.  
     
     
         18 . A method of enable generation for a battery of a portable computing device, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting connection of the device with a device cradle; and    generating a battery enable signal in response to the detecting step.