Compact electronic apparatus and method of assembling the same

• US 5,617,301 A
• Filed: 08/29/1995
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• 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: Sato, Youji, Konno, Toshikazu, Nakajima, Yuji, Taki, Kinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHANG, YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/520,754
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 361/796, 361/752, 361/798, 361/801, 361/802, 439/154-159, 439/61, 439/325, 211/41, 206/334
• US Class Current: 361/796
• 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 substantially rectangular housing having a peripheral wall;

a card storage section having an insertion opening arranged on the peripheral wall and formed in a size capable to store an function expansion card having the largest permissible dimensions conforming to a given standard, for selectively storing one of function expansion cards having different dimensions conforming to said standard; and

a connector conforming to said standard and arranged within the card storage section, for connection with the expansion card stored in the card storage section.

2. A compact electronic apparatus comprising:

a substantially rectangular housing having a peripheral wall;

a first card storage section having an insertion opening arranged on the peripheral wall and sized so as to be capable of storing a function expansion card having the largest permissible dimensions conforming to a given standard, for selectively storing one of function expansion cards having different dimensions conforming to said standard;

a first connector conforming to the standard and arranged within the first card storage section, for connection with the expansion card stored in the first card storage section; and

a second card storage section having an insertion opening arranged on the peripheral wall and sized so as to be capable of storing predetermined one of function expansion cards having dimensions conforming to the standard; and

a second connector conforming to the standard and arranged within the second card storage section, for connection with the expansion card stored in the second card storage section.

3. A compact electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing having a peripheral wall;

first and second circuit boards arranged in the housing and facing each other by a distance;

a card storage section having an insertion opening formed in the peripheral wall, for storing a function expansion card inserted through the insertion opening, a part of the card storage section lying between the first and second circuit boards;

a connector arranged on one of the first and second circuit boards, for connection with the expansion card stored in the card storage section.

4. A compact electronic apparatus according to claim 3, which further comprising a metal frame arranged in the housing and defining the card storage section.