Portable electronic apparatus including space-saving component mounting features

• US 5,689,400 A
• Filed: 05/04/1995
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Gushiken, Hajime, Ohgami, Keizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US08/434,668
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-686, 361/816, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• 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 1/1683 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 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• 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

Abstract

A portable computer of compact construction includes a base unit including a lower housing unit containing a PC board and an upper housing provided with an upwardly projecting hollow ridge extending across the rear upper edge of the upper housing. A panel, including an array of expansion connectors exposed through a rear opening in the lower housing unit and wired to the PC board, provides support for a holder of components, such as a speaker, LED indicators, etc., accommodated in the hollow ridge. Gaps in the hollow ridge are adapted for hinge-mounting an LCD, with LCD cabling passing through a channel in the hollow ridge en route to the PCB board.

Claims

1. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a base unit including a lower housing and an upper housing detachably fixed to the lower housing, the upper housing having an upwardly projecting hollow ridge;

a printed circuit board disposed in the lower housing;

a holder disposed between the hollow ridge and the lower housing, and having an upper surface and a plurality of engaging pieces projecting from the upper surface; and

a plurality of functional components detachably supported by the engaging pieces, and electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

2. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connector panel supporting a plurality of expansion connectors electrically connected to the printed circuit board, the connector panel having a support portion, the holder being supported on the support portion of the connector panel.

3. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a display unit having leg portion and a hinge device, wherein the hollow ridge includes a leg mounting portion, the upper housing includes a keyboard, the display unit is rotatably mounted on the leg portion via the hinge device between a closed position to cover the keyboard and an opened position to expose the keyboard.

4. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the leg mounting portion has a bottom opening and a side opening, and the holder integrally has a cover covering the bottom opening.

5. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a storing portion is formed between the upper surface of the holder and the hollow ridge;

wherein the display unit includes a liquid crystal display;

further comprising a cable passing from inside of the display unit and inside of the base unit through the side opening of the leg mounting portion and the storing portion of the hollow ridge, and electrically connected to the liquid crystal display and the printed circuit board.

6. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a core for shielding the cable, the core being held by the engaging pieces of the holder.

7. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the functional components include a speaker, a sub-battery and a LED circuit board with a LED mounted thereon.

8. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a base unit including a lower housing having a bottom wall and a rear opening, and an upper housing having a hollow ridge;

a printed circuit board mounted on the bottom wall of the lower housing;

a connector panel attached to the printed circuit board, and including a support portion and an expansion connector electrically connected to the printed circuit board, the expansion connector exposed through the rear opening;

a holder disposed on the support portion of the connector panel, and beneath the hollow ridge to form a storing portion between the holder and the hollow ridge, the holder having a plurality of engaging pieces; and

a plurality of functional components detachably held by the engaging pieces within the storing portion, and electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

9. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a display unit having a leg portion and a hinge device, wherein the hollow ridge includes a leg mounting portion, the upper housing includes a keyboard, the display unit is rotatably mounted on the leg portion via the hinge device between a closed position to cover the keyboard and an opened position to expose the keyboard.

10. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the leg mounting portion has a bottom opening and a side opening, and the holder integrally has a cover covering the bottom opening.

11. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a storing portion is formed between the upper surface of the holder and the hollow ridge;

wherein the display unit includes a liquid crystal display;

further comprising a cable passing from inside of the display unit and inside of the base unit through the side opening of the leg mounting portion and the storing portion of the hollow ridge, and electrically connected to the liquid crystal display and the printed circuit board.

12. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a core for shielding the cable, the core being held by the engaging pieces of the holder.

13. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the functional components include a speaker, a sub-battery and a LED circuit board has a LED mounted thereon.

14. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the functional components are disposed side by side on the holder.