Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-10-23
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S679090, C361S689000, C361S689000, C400S472000, C400S480000, C400S481000, C400S496000, C400S714000, C200S302100, C200S302200, C200S304000, C200S305000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307739
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The invention relates generally to the assembly of computer systems and, more particularly but not by way of limitation, to a structure for the manufacture and assembly of portable computer systems.
As the size of semiconductor devices and various other computer components has decreased, computer manufacturers have provided smaller computer systems having the same or improved computational abilities as their larger predecessors. Notebook computers, for example, may typically be 21.6 cm (8½ in.) in width, 27.9 cm (11 in.) in length, and 3.8 cm to 6.4 cm (1½ to 2½ in.) in height, thus occupying approximately 603 sq. cm. of desktop area. An equally functional desktop computer may have a length of 39.4 cm (15½ in.), a width of 47 cm (18½ in.), and a height of 12.7 cm to 17.8 cm (5 to 7 in.) requiring 1,851 sq. cm ( 287 sq. inches) of desktop area.
While relatively small, portable computer systems typically provide many of the same features provided in their desktop-sized counterparts. For example, many modern notebook computer systems are equipped with relatively large amounts of on-board memory, floppy, hard, and optical disk storage units, display screens, at least one expansion slot, and standard input/output ports. Additional features, such as built-in modems, computer network cards, sound cards, and the like may also be included. In light of (or perhaps in spite of) recent advances in the fields of electronics and manufacturing, users demand increased computational capability in ever smaller and lighter computer systems.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a cross-sectional view of a typical plastic or die cast housing or form factor
100
used to manufacture a portable (e.g., a notebook) computer system is shown. Electrical components (e.g., power regulators) and structural support elements (e.g., motherboard and storage unit mounting assemblies) are generally attached to form factor
100
via boss
102
. To provide the necessary strength and facilitate manufacturability, wall thickness
102
is generally between approximately 1 and 3 millimeters (mm). While state or the art injection molding techniques may reduce wall thickness
102
to approximately 1 mm, it has not been possible to manufacture thinner form factors that provide the necessary structural strength. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a form factor that allows the manufacture of smaller (in terms of height, and/or width, and/or depth) and/or lighter portable computer systems.
SUMMARY
The invention provides a form factor for the manufacture of portable computers. The form factor includes a U-shaped member having at least two distinct elements attached together. In one embodiment, the U-shaped member comprises two distinct elements: a unitary wall element having a first wall, a second wall, and at least one spacing element to physically separate the first and second walls; and a base element attached to one end surface of the wall element. In another embodiment, the U-shaped member comprises three distinct elements: a first wall element; a second wall element; and a base element attached to the first and second wall elements. Form factors in accordance with the invention may also include bosses to facilitate the attachment of computer system components such as printed circuit boards, storage units, and battery units.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5697718 (1997-12-01), Erler et al.
Chang Yean-Hsi
Micro)n Technology, Inc.
Picard Leo P.
Trop Pruner & Hu P.C.
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