Computer having movable shutter selectively providing access to

Details Computer having movable shutter selectively providing access to Computer having movable shutter selectively providing access to

1994-01-07

1995-08-15

Phillips, Michael W.

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

361683, 361727, 3647081, 312295, 220345, G06F 116, H05K 502, B65D 4320

Patent

active

054425140

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to computers and in particular to computers which are configured to be compatible with more than one format of operating software.
In order to enable a computer to operate on different operating software it may be necessary to provide two different disc drives or other mechanisms for loading programs with associated processing circuitry inside the computer. This gives rise to the possibility of the operator attempting to insert discs which are compatible with a first software type into the disc drive intended for discs formatted according to a second software type. This is clearly undesirable.
The invention aims to overcome the problem and, in its broadest terms, provides for only one of the drives or other loading mechanisms to be accessible at any one time.
More specifically, the invention is defined by the claims to which reference should be made.
In preferred embodiment of the invention a shutter is slidable between a first position in which a first disc drive or other loading mechanism is accessible but a second drive or other mechanism is not, and a second position in which the second drive is accessible but the first is not.
One or more of the disc drives may be replaced by a tape or cassette player, compact disc player, cartridge reader or other suitable device.
Although it is less likely that a user would attempt to insert, for example, a disc into a games cartridge drive, the possibility exists, especially as games facilities tend to be used by children. Embodiment of the invention prevent this from happening.
Preferably, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, two separate processors are provided. Where one of the CPUs is dedicated to running games programs. Movement of the shutter from one position to the other activates or deactivates the computer CPU associated with the games cartridge reader whilst leaving the CPU associated with the other drive activated.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a dual compatible computer embodying the invention and configured with a disc drive accessible;
FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 with the a cartridge reader accessible;
FIG. 3 is a block schematic diagram of the major hardware components of the computer;
FIG. 4 is a partial front view with the shutter removed; and
FIG. 4a is a view of the switch assembly of FIG. 4.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a computer Which may be configured to operate in two different manners, according to two different operating standards. For example, it may operate as a personal computer (PC) compatible with IBM (RTM) software and also as a games computer for running dedicated software.
The computer processing circuitry is located in a housing 10 and has a games cartridge reader 14 and a disc drive 12 (FIGS. 1, 2). The processing circuitry disc drive and the games cartridge are separate. Thus, each of the disc drive and the games cartridge reader has a separate dedicated CPU 13,15 (FIG. 3).
The unit is effectively two separate computers which share video and audio output circuit 17, 25 and a common video display 19 and audio system 27. Inputs to each CPU are provided, for example a joystick control 21, sound and video generators 26, 28 to CPU 13, and a keyboard 23, sound and video generators 29, 30 to CPU 15. A sliding shutter 16 slides between a first position (FIG. 1) in which the PC disc drive is exposed and is accessible, and a second position in which the games cartridge reader is exposed and is accessible for insertion of discs. When one of the disc drive and cartridge reader is accessible the other is inaccessible.
Referring additionally to FIGS. 4 and 4a a switch 20 is provided on the fascia 18 which is activated by the sliding door 16 to switch between the CPU dedicated to the one of the disc drive and games cartridge exposed. Thus, in FIG. 4, the switch is located under the games cartridge reader 14, although it could be under the disc drive 15. When the shutter 16 is moved from the

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