Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-24
2001-04-03
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C345S168000, C235S14500A, C248S917000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212066
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer systems and, more particularly, to improved features for computer system housings.
2. Description of the Related Art
All computing devices, including portable computers, have housings that enclose the components and circuitry of the computing devices (e.g., a microprocessor, Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random-Access Memory (RAM), a disk drive, a battery, and various input/output (I/O) support circuitry). With portable computers, access to components with the housings has always been problematic. While the housing could be completely disassembled to gain access, such disassembly is unworkable for users of the portable computers who often lack tools and skill to perform the disassembly. Another existing approach to provide some limited access to one or a few components is to provide a trap door in the housing. Unfortunately, the design and implementation of the trap doors lead to problems.
One problem associated with conventional trap doors is that they complicate the housing design of the portable computer. The presence of trap doors also reduces the strength of the housing because of the opening created for the trap door. As is well known in the art, a more rigid housing provides greater protection of the internal components of the computer and increased durability of the computer as a whole. However, as housings become thinner and lighter, particularly in portable computers, the housings unfortunately become more flexible and thus less rigid. Correspondingly, when trap door openings are formed in the housing, the housing becomes even more flexible and less rigid. As a result, the protection of the internal components and the durability of the computer is reduced.
Another problem associated with conventional trap doors is that they are not easily utilized by users. Often trap doors are assembled and held in place with fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts). Using fasteners has many disadvantages. For example, if a user wants to gain access to an internal component of the portable computer, such as a memory board, the user has to spend a certain amount of time removing the fasteners to open the trap door. Furthermore, the removal of fasteners requires the user to have special tools and often some general technical skill in order to remove the trap door. Conventional trap doors also often need to be pried out from the housing in order to be removed. Typically, the trap doors do not provide surfaces for grasping with a finger or hand. In some applications this makes the trap door difficult to remove. In effect, a prying tool may be needed to remove the trap door from the housing. Fasteners can also cause design and aesthetic difficulties, particularly as designs become more complex and thinner. Furthermore, trap doors have mating surfaces that produce can undesirable cracks along surfaces of the housing.
Thus, there is a need for improved approaches for accessing internal components of computing devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly speaking, the invention pertains to an improved housing for computing devices. More particularly, a first aspect of the invention pertains to a movable keyboard (e.g., removable keyboard) that can be opened or removed to gain easy access to internal components of a computing device. The movable keyboard can be secured to the computing device using a keyboard securing system. An actuator can also be used to dislodge the movable keyboard from the computing device when the movable keyboard is to be opened or removed. A second aspect of the invention pertains to a lock arrangement suitable for locking the movable keyboard to the computing device.
The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as an apparatus, a device, and a computer system. Several embodiments of the invention are discussed below.
The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a computer system having a keyboard. The computer system includes a computer housing containing internal components, and having an opening. The computer system further includes a movable keyboard having a plurality of keys, and being configured for placement in the opening. Correspondingly, after the movable keyboard is placed in the opening for operation of the computer system, the movable keyboard can be at least substantially moved out of the opening to provide access to the internal components within the computer housing.
The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a portable computer device having a keyboard. The portable computer device includes a computer housing containing internal components, and having an opening that provides access to the internal components. The portable computer device further includes a removable keyboard having a plurality of keys, and being configured for placement in the opening. The portable computer device additionally includes an actuator that exerts a force on the removable keyboard in a direction away from the opening such that the actuator moves at least a portion of the removable keyboard out of the opening.
The invention relates, in yet another embodiment, to a portable computer device having a keyboard. The portable computer device includes a computer housing containing internal components, and having an opening. The portable computer device further includes a movable keyboard having a plurality of keys, and being configured for placement in the opening. The portable computer device additionally includes a lock being coupled to the computer housing and configured to lock the movable keyboard to the computer housing such that the movable keyboard is prevented from moving away from the computer housing.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
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Apple Computer Inc.
Beyer Weaver & Thomas LLP
Duong Hung Van
Picard Leo P.
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