Portable computer system

• US 4,926,365 A
• Filed: 08/26/1988
• Issued: 05/15/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sotec Co., Ltd. (Onkyo Home Entertainment Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Great Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Hsieh, Lai-Fa
• Primary Examiner(s): Harkcom, Gary V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaw, Dale M.
• Application Number:
  US07/236,836
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708, 361/394, 361/391, 361/413, 361/380
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops

Abstract

A portable computer system (1) including a central processing unit contained within a main housing and includes a keyboard (15), display screen (12), floppy disk driver (9) and a hard disk driver (10). A forked crevice fixed pin base (3) couples cover (11) to the main housing of portable computer system (1) by releasable securement of a screen connector plate (16) and a computer connector insert member (2). A locking mechanism (13) is provided on the cover for interface with the main housing of the portable computer system (1) to provide a compact overall closed system having a handle (5) which allows portability by a user. A battery box (4) is insertable and removable from the main housing of the portable computer system (1). A replaceable hard disk drive (10) is insertable with a recess formed within the main housing of portable computer system (1) to allow insert and removability therefrom. A number of expansion systems such as a RAM board (8), a modem (7), and circuit boards (6) are provided for insert and removability from portable computer system (1).

Claims

1. A portable computer system having a central processing unit enclosed within a main housing, a keyboard, a display screen, a hard disk, a floppy disk drive and a battery box wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) a cover having said display screen forming an inner side of said cover, said cover being displaced with respect to said main housing to a closed position and an open position;

(b) a computer connector insert member secured to said main housing;

(c) a screen connector plate member for insert into and out of said computer connector insert member; and

,

(d) a forked crevice fixed pin base member inserted within aligned openings formed in said screen connector plate member and said computer connector insert member, said battery box being attached to said main housing by means of a pair of sliding block members and a pair of substantially L-shaped key block members slidingly inserted and retracted into and out of said main housing, said portable computer system having a handle member formed on an outer surface of said cover for portability, said battery box includes a battery housing containing a plurality of batteries therein, said battery housing including a pair of spaced apart L-shaped key block members formed on a front surface of said battery housing for mating engagement with a pair of respective main housing key block members formed on said main housing at a rear section thereof, said battery housing having a plurality of contact terminals for contiguously interfacing with electrical contacts of said computer system, said contact terminals including at least two protruding contact terminals extending from said battery housing for initially contacting said computer system contact terminals when said battery housing is inserted into electrical contact with said computer system main housing for preventing an initial induction of an instantaneous voltage and current surge, said battery housing further including a pair of sliding block members being displaced by a control switch which responsively displaces a respective sliding block member into and out of said main housing.

2. The portable computer system as recited in claim 1 where said display screen is a LCD member, said LCD member having said screen connector plate member secured to a lower portion thereof, said screen connector plate member having a pair of screen connector pin holes formed therethrough, said computer connector insert member being secured to said main housing at an upper rear section thereof, said computer connector insert member having a pair of housing pin holes aligned with said screen connector pin holes, said computer connector insert member including a pair of opposing window openings and a pair of locating openings formed central of said computer connector insert member, said forked crevice fixed pin base having a pair of lock plate members inserted and retained within said window openings, said forked crevice fixed pin base further including a pair of pin members inserted through said aligned housing pin holes and said screen connector pin holes, said forked crevice fixed pin base having a pair of key block members for insert into said locating openings.

3. The portable computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said keyboard incorporates a mini-screen system for indicating the operating mode of said computer system, said computer system including a plurality of expansion contact ends for electrically interfacing with said floppy disk drives, a printer, a modem, a video screen and expansion circuit boards for increasing the versatility of said portable computer system.

4. The portable computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer system includes a built-in chamber for insertion thereof of RAM for expanding memory capacity of said computer system.