Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2001-07-10
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S727000, C361S689000, 36, C312S216000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259598
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field:
The present invention relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to computer chassis. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to methods of providing secure external access to flash memory cards within a computer.
2. Description of Related Art:
In a flash memory it is desired to write data in the fastest manner possible. As such, multiple bytes of data are often written to the memory in one write operation. Because flash write operations are not always successful on a first memory cell program operation, data check and rewrite operations are often employed. Thus, a write operation is conducted on a group of memory cells and the state of the memory cells following the write operation is determined. If any of the memory cells have not been written to a correct logic state, a second write operation is performed on the same memory cells. Often flash memory is implemented as flash memory cards inserted into an expansion slot within a computer system.
Typically, flash memory cards are mounted internally within the system chassis. However, certain market segments have expressed desires to have user access to the flash card from the outside of the system for serviceability and usability reasons. Continuing to mount the flash memory cards internally within the system chassis encumbers these customers access to the flash memory cards because the chassis must be disassembled to gain access to the cards. However, other market segments do not want users to have access to the flash memory cards due to reasons of theft or compromised system security.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a system that allows easy access to the flash memory card under certain circumstances that is easily convertible to a secure system disabling user's access to the flash memory card when desired by a customer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a computer chassis for covering and protecting the components of a data processing system. In a preferred embodiment, the computer chassis includes a chassis bezel. The chassis bezel has a slotted opening there through for allowing a user to access a user changeable component in the data processing system. The chassis bezel is configured to accept a cover plate that will cover the slotted opening thus preventing access to the user changeable component. Once the cover plate has been mounted to the chassis bezel, access to the user changeable component may not be reestablished without opening the entire chassis. This type of access may also be denied by requiring the use of specialized non-standard tools to open the computer chassis. Thus unauthorized removal of the user changeable component may be prevented.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5513068 (1996-04-01), Girard
patent: 5896273 (1999-04-01), Varghese et al.
patent: 6067226 (2000-05-01), Barker et al.
patent: 6097594 (2000-08-01), Bassett et al.
patent: 6122173 (2000-09-01), Felcman et al.
Beaman Daniel Paul
Buller Marvin L.
Criscolo Michael Edward
Gupta Sanjay
Kerrigan Brian Michael
Carwell Robert M.
Duong Hung Van
International Business Machines - Corporation
Picard Leo P.
Yee Duke W.
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