Integrated drive panel for a computer case

• US 20040120107A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, David R., Erickson, Vernon D., Gibson, Richard A., Smedley, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 6,940,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]

Abstract

An integrated drive panel for a peripheral/drive bay within the case of a computer or like electronic device comprises a cover assembly having an integral EMI shield. The integrated drive panel does not require removal of the front bezel of the computer case or access to the peripheral/drive bay from inside the computer case during installation and removal.

Claims

1. An integrated drive panel for a peripheral/drive bay in a computer case, comprising:

a cover assembly for at least partially covering the peripheral/drive bay when the peripheral/drive bay is empty; and

an EMI shield assembly coupled to the cover assembly for reducing EMI emissions through the peripheral/drive bay,

wherein the cover assembly engages the computer case for holding the EMI shield within the peripheral/drive bay.

2. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover assembly comprises:

a frame member; and

a panel cover subassembly coupled to the frame member, the panel cover subassembly being slidable on the frame member between a latched position wherein the panel cover subassembly engages the computer case and an unlatched position wherein the integrated drive panel may be removed from the drive bay.

3. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the EMI shield is metal and the panel cover subassembly comprises a non-metallic material.

4. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover assembly further comprises a spring member for biasing the panel cover subassembly to the latched position.

5. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the EMI shield is metal, the panel cover subassembly comprises a non-metallic material, and the spring member is formed from said non-metallic material.

6. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel cover subassembly includes a handle for grasping the panel cover subassembly to slide the panel cover subassembly between the latched and unlatched positions.

7. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the handle comprises a dimple formed in the panel cover subassembly.

8. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel cover subassembly includes a handle for grasping the panel cover subassembly to slide the panel cover subassembly between the latched and unlatched position for tool-less removal of the integrated drive panel.

9. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel cover subassembly is a first panel cover subassembly, the integrated drive panel further comprising a second panel cover subassembly disposed in a same plane as the first panel cover subassembly.

10. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first panel cover subassembly is configured to slide toward the second panel cover subassembly into the unlatched position, and the first panel cover subassembly is configured to slide away from the second panel cover subassembly into the latched position.

11. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the computer case comprises a front bezel having an opening formed therein for providing access to the peripheral/drive bay, and wherein the panel cover subassembly comprises a tab for engaging the bezel along an edge of the opening.

12. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the EMI shield is inserted through the opening when the integrated drive panel is installed in the peripheral/drive bay.

13. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cover assembly is substantially flush with the front bezel when the integrated drive panel is installed in the peripheral/drive bay.

14. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the computer case comprises a back panel including an access port for an expansion card slot, and a front bezel oriented generally parallel to and apart from the back panel, the peripheral/drive bay being accessed via the front bezel.

15. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the EMI shield comprises:

a plate portion coupled to the cover assembly; and

a plurality of fingers extending from the plate portion for engaging the computer case.

16. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the EMI shield is formed of spring steel.

18. The computer case as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cover assembly comprises:

a frame member; and

first and second panel cover subassemblies coupled to the frame member, the first and second panel cover subassemblies being slidable on the frame member between a latched position wherein the first and second panel cover subassemblies are moved away from each other for engaging the bezel and an unlatched position wherein the first and second panel cover subassemblies are moved toward each other so that the integrated drive panel may be removed from the drive bay.

19. The computer case as claimed in claim 18, wherein the EMI shield is metal and the first and second panel cover subassemblies comprise a non-metallic material.

20. The computer case as claimed in claim 18, wherein the cover assembly further comprises a spring member for biasing the first and second panel cover subassemblies to the latched position.

21. The computer case as claimed in claim 20, wherein the EMI shield is metal, the first and second panel cover subassemblies comprise a non-metallic material, and the spring member is formed from said non-metallic material.

22. The computer case as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first and second panel cover subassemblies each include a handle for grasping the panel cover subassemblies to slide the panel cover subassemblies to the unlatched position.

23. The computer case as claimed in claim 22, wherein the handles comprise dimples formed in the first and second panel cover subassemblies.

24. The computer case as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first and second panel cover subassemblies each include a handle for grasping the panel cover subassemblies to slide the panel cover subassemblies between the latched and unlatched position for tool-less removal of the integrated drive panel.

25. The computer case as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second panel cover subassemblies are disposed in a same plane as the first panel cover subassembly.

26. The computer case as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first panel cover subassembly is configured to slide toward the second panel cover subassembly into the unlatched position, and the first panel cover subassembly is configured to slide away from the second panel cover subassembly into the latched position.

27. The computer case as claimed in claim 18, wherein each of the first and second panel cover subassemblies comprises a tab for engaging the bezel along an edge of the opening.

28. The computer case claimed in claim 27, wherein the EMI shield is inserted through the opening when the integrated drive panel is installed in the peripheral/drive bay.

29. The computer case as claimed in claim 18, wherein the cover assembly is substantially flush with the front bezel when the integrated drive panel is installed in the peripheral/drive bay.

17. A computer case, comprising:

a peripheral/drive bay for receiving a peripheral device in the computer case;

a front bezel having an opening formed therein for providing access to the peripheral/drive bay an integrated drive panel for enclosing the peripheral/drive bay when the peripheral/drive bay is empty, the integrated drive panel including;

a cover assembly for at least partially covering the opening when the peripheral/drive bay is empty; and

an EMI shield assembly coupled to the cover assembly for reducing EMI emissions through the opening,

wherein the cover assembly engages the bezel for holding the EMI shield within the peripheral/drive bay.

30. The computer case as claimed in claim 17, wherein the EMI shield comprises:

a plate portion coupled to the cover assembly; and

a plurality of fingers extending from the plate portion for engaging the computer case.

31. The computer case as claimed in claim 17, wherein the EMI shield is formed of spring steel.

32. The computer case as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a back panel including an access port for an expansion card slot, the front bezel being oriented generally parallel to and apart from the back panel, the peripheral/drive bay being accessed via the front bezel.

33. An integrated drive panel for a peripheral/drive bay in a computer case, comprising:

means for covering the peripheral/drive bay when the peripheral/drive bay is empty; and

means coupled to the covering means for reducing EMI emissions through the peripheral/drive bay,

wherein the covering means engages the computer case for holding the EMI emissions reducing means within the peripheral/drive bay.

34. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 33, wherein the computer case comprises a front bezel having an opening formed therein for providing access to the peripheral/drive bay, and wherein the EMI emissions reducing means is inserted through the opening when the integrated drive panel is installed in the peripheral/drive bay.

35. The integrated drive panel as claimed in claim 34, wherein the covering means is substantially flush with the front bezel when the integrated drive panel is installed in the peripheral/drive bay.