Compact electronic apparatus and method of assembling the same

• US 5,455,746 A
• Filed: 08/16/1993
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Yuji, Taki, Kinji, Sato, Youji, Konno, Toshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHANG, YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/107,948
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 361/752, 361/796, 361/759, 361/800, 361/801, 361/803, 361/816, 174/35 R, 174/17 R
• US Class Current: 361/816
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• 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 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438

Abstract

A personal computer comprises a housing having a bottom wall. A plurality of functional components are arranged side by side on the bottom wall of the housing. A fixture plate is arranged on top of the functional components and secured to the functional components and the bottom wall by means of screws. The functional components are held between the fixture plate and the bottom wall.

Claims

1. A compact electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing having a bottom wall;

a plurality of functional components arranged side by side on the bottom wall of the housing; and

a fixture plate arranged on top of the functional components, substantially parallel to the bottom wall, and secured to the functional components and the bottom wall by means of screws, for holding the functional components between the fixture plate and the bottom wall.

2. A compact electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bottom wall of the housing is provided with a plurality of bosses for receiving the screws.

3. A compact electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of two adjacent functional components arranged side by side on the bottom wall is provided with a holding portion extending to top of the other functional component and secured to one of the bosses by means of a screw.

4. A compact electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said functional components is provided with a lug secured to the housing together with the fixture plate by means of a screw.

5. A compact electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said functional components includes circuit components that generate noises in operation, and said fixture plate is formed of metal to operate as a shield plate.

6. A compact electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing formed of synthetic resin and having a bottom wall;

a plurality of functional components arranged side by side on the bottom wall and having metal parts; and

a metal fixture plate arranged on top of the functional components and secured to the functional components and the bottom wall by means of screws, for holding the functional components between the fixture plate and the bottom wall when.

7. A method of assembling a compact electronic apparatus comprising:

a first step of arranging a plurality of functional components supplied in the form of modules on a bottom wall of a housing;

a second step of laying a fixture plate on top of the functional components, substantially parallel to the bottom wall; and

a third step of securing the fixture plate to the housing and the functional components by means of screws to rigidly hold the functional components between the bottom wall of the housing and the fixture plate.

8. A compact electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing formed of synthetic resin; and

a board unit arranged in the housing;

said board unit including;

a pair of metal shield members opposing to each other;

a plurality of rigid circuit boards arranged between the shield members one above another to form a multilayer structure and surrounded by the shield members, as least one of the circuit boards carrying thereon electronic circuits apt to generate noises in operation; and

a flexible connecting board electrically connecting the circuit boards.

9. A compact electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of said shield members has a plurality of receiving portions arranged on a side facing the other shielding member, and each of the receiving portions securely holds thereon at least one of the circuit boards.

10. A compact electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein one of said shield members has a first receiving portion securely holding one of the circuit boards and a second receiving portion extending beyond the first receiving portion toward the other shield member and securely holding another circuit board.

11. A compact electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing formed of synthetic resin; and

a board unit arranged in the housing, the board unit including a plurality of circuit boards superposed with each other with a space therebetween, and a metal shield frame surrounding the circuit boards;

a plurality of functional components arranged next to the board unit in the housing and generating noises in operation; and

a metal shield plate removably fitted to the housing to cover at least upper surfaces of the functional components;

said shield frame having a cut out area;

at least one of the circuit boards of the board unit being arranged opposite to the cut out area and having a spare zone for selectively receiving additional circuit components;

the shield plate having as integral part thereof an extension extending to cover the cut out area of the shield frame.

12. A compact electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said shield frame has a pair of shield members opposed to each other with a space, and said plurality of circuit boards are arranged between the shield members one above another to form a multilayer structure.

13. A compact electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing having a bottom wall;

a plurality of functional components arranged side by side on the bottom wall of the housing; and

a fixture plate arranged on top of the functional components and secured to the functional components and the bottom wall by means of screws, for holding the functional components between the fixture plate and the bottom wall;

each of the functional components having a lug which is secured to the bottom wall together with the fixture plate by means of a screw.

14. A compact electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the fixture plate is arranged substantially parallel to the bottom wall.