Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-07
2001-11-06
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S758000, C361S804000, C361S807000, C312S332000, C312S333000, C174S13800J
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313984
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to hard disk drive assembly mounting on printed circuit boards, and in particular to hard disk drive assembly mounting on a portable computer motherboard.
2. Related Art
Consumers prefer portable computers that are both thin and occupy a small area (small footprint). Accordingly, portable computer manufacturers design machines so that internal components are closely positioned to one another. Portable computer major components typically include a large printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) including a printed circuit board (PCB) and attached integrated circuits (e.g., central processing unit and associated memory) that enable the computer to function (“motherboard”). This application refers to specific embodiments using motherboards, but persons skilled in computer design will understand that embodiments of this invention include PCBAs other than portable computer motherboards. Major components also typically include a hard disk drive assembly (HDDA) for information storage that is coupled to the motherboard. HDDAs typically include a hard drive assembly (HDA) (one or more rotating hard disks with associated read/write heads in a protected and filtered environment) and another printed circuit board assembly attached to the HDA that contains circuits controlling HDA operation and data input/output functions.
FIG. 1
is a plan view of a typical portable computer motherboard and HDDA layout. As shown, motherboard
10
includes several integrated circuit packages
12
. Packages
12
contain the integrated circuit (IC) chips that perform basic functions that enable the computer to operate (e.g., central processor unit, random access memory, video controller, etc.). Motherboard
10
also includes a connector
14
used to connect a HDDA to selected ICs. As shown, motherboard
10
includes a cutout portion
16
in which HDDA
18
is positioned. HDDA
18
is secured to chassis
20
or other supporting apparatus using mounting brackets
22
. HDDA
18
is electrically coupled to connector
14
via conventional interconnection
24
(e.g., flexible printed circuit or multi-wire ribbon cable; see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,314 commonly assigned with the present application and incorporated herein by reference).
The area required by the motherboard and hard disk drive assembly combination limits size reduction of the portable computer. One possible way of reducing the area is to position the HDDA over or under the motherboard. However, HDDAs used in portable computers, such as HDDA
18
, are typically approximately 9.5 millimeters (mm) thick. Thus positioning the HDDA vertically in relation to the motherboard results in a combination that is too thick. Furthermore, the flexible circuit connecting the HDDA to the motherboard contributes additional bulk to the HDDA and motherboard combination. What is desired is a way to reduce the area required by the HDDA and motherboard combination, while ensuring the minimum possible thickness.
SUMMARY
In accordance with the invention, a thin hard disk drive assembly includes an electrical connector that is directly connected to a mating electrical connector on the motherboard. When the connectors are mated the HDDA is positioned over the motherboard. The HDDA is configured so that when the connectors are mated, at least a portion of one or more integrated circuit packages on the motherboard are between the HDDA and the motherboard's printed circuit board.
In some embodiments the hard disk drive assembly is secured to standoffs that provide the space for the integrated circuit packages between the HDDA and the motherboard. In some embodiments the offsets are attached to the computer chassis; in others, to the motherboard; in still others, to the HDDA. Embodiments of this invention are used in, for example, portable computers. These embodiments allow portable computers to be made smaller and lighter than current portable computers because motherboard space or chassis space is not sacrificed to accommodate a hard disk drive assembly.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5136468 (1992-08-01), Wong et al.
patent: 5214567 (1993-05-01), Feightner et al.
patent: 5469314 (1995-11-01), Morehouse et al.
patent: 5566383 (1996-10-01), Gildea et al.
patent: 5587879 (1996-12-01), Spano et al.
patent: 5694267 (1997-12-01), Morehouse et al.
patent: 5740020 (1998-04-01), Palatov
patent: 5793616 (1998-08-01), Aubuchon et al.
patent: 5995365 (1999-11-01), Broder et al.
patent: 6205020 (2001-03-01), Felcman et al.
patent: 6229699 (2001-05-01), Kerrigan et al.
Allenby Christopher B.
Foster David
Mobile Storage Technology Inc.
Picard Leo P.
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
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