Integrated computer assembly

• US 5,294,994 A
• Filed: 04/06/1992
• Issued: 03/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Copeland, Jeffrey P., Velasco, Daniel J. J., Venditti, Steve D., Fernandez, Ricardo L., Robinson, Dennis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Jr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, KIMBERLY A
• Application Number:
  US07/863,612
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 358/229, 358/242, 358/245, 358/246, 358/247, 358/254, 358/255, 361/331, 361/380, 361/390, 361/400, 361/424, 174/35 MS, 364/708, 315/85, 313/313
• US Class Current: 348/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613

Abstract

An computer assembly having an integral video display and processor subsystem in a single enclosure is described. The assembly contains an electrically conductive safety wall inside the enclosure which separates the interior of the enclosure into a high-voltage region where the video display components are mounted, and a low-voltage region where the processor subsystem is mounted. The enclosure has a removable rear cover which allows access to the processor subsystem for upgrading memory. An electrically conductive liner is attached to the rear cover for EMI shielding of the low-voltage region.

Claims

1. An integrated computer assembly, comprising:

an enclosure;

a safety wall within said enclosure separating the interior of said enclosure into a high-voltage region and a low-voltage region;

a video display within said high-voltage region;

means fixed within said low-voltage region for producing low-voltage video signals;

means for transferring said low-voltage video signals from said low-voltage region into said high-voltage region; and

means within said high-voltage region for producing high-voltage video signals from said low-voltage video signals and for supplying said high-voltage video signals to said video display.

2. An integrated computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing low-voltage video signals is secured to said safety wall.

3. An integrated computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing low-voltage video signals comprises a circuit board mounted vertically within said low-voltage region.

4. An integrated computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said video display is a cathode-ray tube.

5. An integrated computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing low-voltage video signals includes memory, and further comprising:

means for connecting additional memory to said means for producing low-voltage video signals; and

a removable cover to allow access to said low-voltage region for connecting said additional memory.

6. An integrated computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing said high-voltage video signals comprises a shielded video amplifier assembly mounted on said safety wall.

7. An integrated computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said transferring means comprises:

a first connector extending through a hole in said safety wall to couple said low-voltage video signals to said high-voltage region; and

a flexible cable in said high-voltage region, said flexible cable terminating at a second connector connected to said first connector to couple said low-voltage video signals to said means for producing said high-voltage video signals.

8. A housing for an integrated computer assembly, comprising:

an enclosure having a bottom wall and two vertical enclosure side walls each having an electrically conductive inner surface, said enclosure having a rear opening;

an open-box-shaped electrically conductive safety wall extending between said enclosure side walls dividing the interior of said enclosure into two regions, said safety wall having a bottom, a top wall, and two side walls, said top and side walls extending normally from said bottom, said side walls corresponding to and substantially parallel to said two enclosure side walls, wherein each of said two side walls has a shoulder portion extending laterally outward having an outer edge generally conforming to and closely spaced from the corresponding one of said two enclosure side walls, said safety wall having a bulkhead adjacent to said bottom wall of said safety wall and substantially parallel to said bottom of said safety wall;

a removable open-box-shaped rear cover to cover said rear opening of said enclosure;

an open-box-shaped liner mounted in said rear cover and made of a springy electrically conductive material, said liner having a bottom, a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls extending normally from said bottom, wherein said bottom, said top wall and said side walls are dimensioned so that said top wall and said side walls of said liner adjoin said top wall and said side walls of said cover, and wherein said top wall has a bent portion having a hemmed longitudinal strip joined to said top wall by a plurality of spaced-apart segments such that when said cover is in place said segments contact the inner surface of said top wall of said safety wall, and wherein said bottom wall has a plurality of spaced-apart tabs having bent tips such that when said cover is in place said tips contact the outer surface of said bulkhead, and wherein each of said side walls has a ledge portion extending laterally outward and a plurality of bent-back tabs such that when said cover is in place said ledge portion contacts said shoulder portion of the corresponding one of said two side walls of said safety wall and said bent-back tabs contact said electrically conductive inner surface of the corresponding one of said two enclosure side walls.

9. A housing for an integrated computer assembly according to claim 8, wherein said springy electrically conductive material is stainless steel.

10. A housing for an integrated computer assembly according to claim 8, wherein said conductive surface of each of said two enclosure side walls comprises electrically conductive paint.

11. An integrated computer assembly, comprising:

an enclosure;

an electrically conductive safety wall within said enclosure separating the interior thereof into a high-voltage region and a low-voltage region;

a cathode-ray tube (CRT) within said high-voltage region;

a circuit board mounted on said safety wall in said low-voltage region having circuitry thereon for generating low-voltage video signals;

a first connector connected to said circuit board and extending through a hole in said safety wall to couple said low-voltage video signals to said high-voltage region; and

a shielded video amplifier assembly mounted on said safety wall in said high-voltage video region opposite said circuit board, said video amplifier assembly having a video amplifier with a flexible cable connected thereto terminating at a second connector connected to said first connector to receive said low-voltage video signals and to generate high-voltage video signals therefrom, said video amplifier being connected to said CRT to supply said high-voltage video signals thereto.

12. An integrated computer assembly according to claim 11, wherein said hole in safety wall is located directly behind said video amplifier assembly, and where said video amplifier assembly has a rear recess to accommodate said flexible cable, said second connector, and the portion of said first connector extending through said hole into said high-voltage region.