Integrated removable faceplate for portable computing system

Abstract

An integrated removable functional faceplate for a portable computer system. The removable functional faceplate employs specially located electrical contacts or pads that mate with similarly located electrical contacts mounted on the portable computer system, e.g., a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other electronic device. The electrical contacts of the functional faceplate carry signals that are responsive to the pressing of physical buttons which may be placed in any location on the functional faceplate. This allows individual faceplates to be developed that are specialized for a particular purpose, e.g., extended keyboards, adapted for gaming, adapted for music playing, etc. The functional faceplates may have specialized button types that are adapted for a particular use and are also located in custom positions that reflect the particular use employed. When the functional faceplate is removed from the portable computer system, it may have no buttons or it may provide a standard PDA button group. An identification circuit may be employed on the functional faceplate to indicate its button group and signaling characteristics. Alternatively, the functional faceplate may also include a data generation device, e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) or electronic thermometer, a music player, a smart card, etc. Alternatively, the functional faceplate may also include an auxiliary power supply.

1 . A faceplate for an electronic device comprising:
 a housing adapted to be removably secured onto said electronic device, wherein said housing includes a cut-out region for position around a display of said electronic device; and   a plurality of buttons disposed on said housing and adapted to be communicatively coupled to said electronic device when said housing is secured onto said electronic device, wherein one or more of said plurality of buttons are configured to provide access to a functionality that is in addition to any functionality of said electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . A faceplate as described in  claim 1  further comprising a code generation device, communicatively coupled between said plurality of buttons and said electronic device when said housing is secured onto said electronic device, for generating signals which indicate which buttons were activated and when activated. 
     
     
         3 . A faceplate as described in  claim 1  further comprising an identification unit, communicatively coupled to said electronic device when said housing is secured onto said electronic device, for identifying said faceplate to said electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . A faceplate as described in  claim 1  further comprising an auxiliary power supply disposed on said housing and coupled to supply power to said electronic device when said housing is secured onto said electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . A faceplate as described in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on said housing and operable to mate with corresponding electrical contacts of said electronic device when said housing is secured onto said electronic device to communicatively coupled said plurality of buttons disposed on said housing to said electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . A faceplate as described in  claim 6  further comprising a code generation unit disposed on said housing and coupled between said plurality of buttons and one or more of said electrical contacts of said faceplate, said code generation device for generating signals over said electrical contacts which indicate which buttons were activated and when activated. 
     
     
         7 . A faceplate as described in  claim 1  wherein said one of said plurality of faceplate types is selected from a group consisting of a PDA faceplate, an email faceplate, a gaming faceplate, a paging faceplate, a data generation device faceplate, a global positioning system faceplate, an environmental measurement faceplate, an electronic thermometer faceplate, a music player faceplate, a smart card faceplate, a memory card faceplate, an auxiliary power supply faceplate, a battery faceplate and a solar power faceplate. 
     
     
         8 . A faceplate for a portable computer system comprising:
 a housing adapted to be removably secured onto said portable computer system, wherein said housing includes a cut-out region for position around a display of said portable computer system;   a plurality of buttons disposed on said housing and adapted to be communicatively coupled to said portable computing system when said housing is secured onto said portable computing system; and   a data signal generation device disposed on said housing and adapted to be communicatively coupled to said portable computing system when said housing is secured onto said portable computing system, wherein said data signal generation device provides a functionality that is in addition to functionality provided by said portable computing system.   
     
     
         9 . A faceplate as described in  claim 8  further comprising a code generation device, communicatively coupled between said plurality of buttons and said electronic device when said housing is secured onto said electronic device, for generating signals which indicate which buttons were activated and when activated. 
     
     
         10 . A faceplate as described in  claim 8  further comprising an identification unit, communicatively coupled to said electronic device when said housing is secured onto said electronic device, for identifying said faceplate to said portable computer system. 
     
     
         11 . A faceplate as described in  claim 8  further comprising an auxiliary power supply disposed on said housing and coupled to supply power to said electronic device when said housing is secured onto said electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . A device comprising:
 an electronic device comprising a device housing adapted to removably receive a plurality of faceplate types; and   a removable faceplate comprising:
 a faceplate housing adapted to be removably secured onto said electronic device, wherein said faceplate housing includes a cut-out region for position around a display of said electronic device; and 
 a plurality of buttons disposed on said faceplate housing and configured as one of said plurality of faceplate types, wherein said plurality of buttons are adapted to be communicatively coupled to said electronic device when said housing is secured onto said electronic device. 
   
     
     
         13 . A device as described in  claim 12  wherein said removable faceplate further comprises a code generation device, communicatively coupled between said plurality of buttons and said electronic device when said removable faceplate is attached to said electronic device, for generating said signals over said electrical contacts which indicate which buttons were activated and when activated. 
     
     
         14 . A device as described in  claim 12  wherein said removable faceplate further comprises an identification unit, communicatively coupled to said electronic device when said removable faceplate is attached to said electronic device, for identifying said faceplate to said electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . A device as described in  claim 12  wherein said removable faceplate further comprises an auxiliary power supply coupled to supply power to said electronic device when said removable faceplate is attached to said electronic device.