Locking device and method for peripheral devices

• US 6,175,491 B1
• Filed: 03/10/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Hong-Kil
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/037,526
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/683, 361/684, 361/726, 361/747, 361/759, 395/281-283, 701/57, 70/58, 70/59
• US Class Current: 361/679.57
• 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: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A computer system having a central processing unit, a memory, a system bus and an input/output controller, comprises: a power supply for supplying power to a computer system; a control block for generating a locking control signal according to a state of a power control signal inputted for controlling an operation state of the power supply; and a removable locking mechanism for performing a locking operation to make a peripheral device not be separated from the computer system, according to the locking control signal. A peripheral device can not be separated from the computer system, thereby preventing the computer system and the peripheral device from being damaged since a removable locking device of peripheral device is locked when power is applied to the computer system.

Claims

1. A device for locking a peripheral component to a computer, said device comprising:

said computer having an input means, a display device, and a main body containing a central processing unit, said peripheral component, and a plurality of memory, said peripheral component being removable from said main body of said computer;

a controller generating a locking-signal when a power-on signal is sent to a power supply and generating a locking-release-signal when a power-off-signal is sent to said power supply;

a first locking mechanism being located on said main body of said computer system, said first locking mechanism comprising;

a motor mounted on a main board of said computer driving a shaft in either one of a forward direction and a reverse direction;

a first locking plate mounted on said main body and having a bore; and

a locking hook having an L-shape and being attached to a rack having a plurality of gear teeth;

a gear driven by said motor via said shaft, said gear engaging said rack and moving said rack supporting said locking hook in a direction depending on a direction of rotation of said motor; and

said locking hook being engageable with said first locking plate when a distal end of said locking hook is inserted through said bore in said first locking plate;

a second locking mechanism comprising a second locking plate having a hollow and being located on said peripheral component, said second locking mechanism being engageable with said first locking mechanism by inserting said locking hook through said bore in said first locking plate and through said hollow in said second locking plate;

said first mechanism engaging said second mechanism when said first mechanism receives said locking-signal from said controller and preventing the removal of said peripheral component from said main body of said computer; and

said first mechanism disengaging from said second mechanism when said locking-release-signal is received from said controller and allowing said peripheral component to be removed from said main body of said computer.

2. The device of claim 1, with said controller generating said locking-signal when either one of said power-on signal and a resume-signal is detected.

3. The device of claim 1, with said controller generating said locking-release-signal when any one of a suspend-signal and said power-off-signal is detected.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprised of:

said motor and said locking hook being linked by said gear mounted on said shaft of said motor; and

said rack being attached on one side of said locking hook and said locking hook moving in response to the rotation of said motor.

5. A process for controlling the removal of a peripheral component from a computer, said process comprising the steps of:

determining when any one of a power-on-signal, a resume-signal, a suspend-signal, and a power-off-signal is being sent to a power supply for said computer, said computer comprising an input means, a display device, and a housing containing a central processing unit, a power supply, and a memory, said peripheral component removably engaging said computer;

when said power-on-signal is detected, performing the steps of;

generating a locking signal;

locking said peripheral component into an operational engagement with said computer; and

activating said power supply for said computer;

when said resume-signal is detected, performing the steps of;

generating said locking signal;

rotating a gear to move a rack supporting a locking hook in a first direction with said rack moving until said hook passes through a bore in a first plate and engages a hollow in a second plate attached to said peripheral component;

activating said power supply; and

restoring a plurality of back-up data;

when said suspend-signal is detected, performing the steps of;

storing data being currently used by said computer;

generating a lock release signal;

rotating said gear to move said rack supporting said locking hook in a second direction opposite from said first direction;

said rack moving until said hook is withdrawn from both said bore in said first plate and from said hollow in said second plate; and

deactivating said power supply for said computer; and

when a power-off-signal is detected, performing the steps of;

generating said lock release signal;

rotating said gear to move said rack supporting said locking hook in a second direction opposite from said first direction, with said rack moving until said hook is disengaged from both said bore in said first plate and from said hollow in said second plate; and

deactivating said power supply for said computer.

6. The process of claim 5, with said computer further comprising:

mounting a motor on a main board of said computer to drive said shaft in either one of a forward direction and a reverse direction;

mounting said first locking plate on the main board; and

mounting said gear to be driven by said shaft to move said rack in a direction determined by direction of rotation of said motor.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprised of:

said motor and said locking hook being linked by said gear mounted on said shaft of said motor;

said rack being attached on one side of said locking hook and said locking hook moving in response to the rotation of said motor.

8. A device for removably locking a peripheral component to a computer, said device comprising:

said computer having an input means, a display device, a main body containing a central processing unit, a power supply, and a memory, said peripheral component being removable from said main body of said computer;

a controller generating a locking signal when a power on signal is sent to said power supply and generating a locking release signal when a power off signal is sent to said power supply;

a first mechanism located on said main body of said computer system;

a second mechanism removably engageable with said first mechanism, said second mechanism being mounted on said peripheral component;

said first mechanism engaging said second mechanism in response to reception by said first mechanism of said locking signal from said controller and preventing removal of said peripheral component from said main body of said computer; and

said first mechanism disengaging from said second mechanism in response to reception by said first mechanism of said locking release signal from said controller and allowing said peripheral component to be removed from said main body of said computer.

9. The device of claim 8, with said first mechanism further comprising:

a motor mounted on a main board of said computer driving a shaft in either one of a forward direction and a reverse direction;

a first locking plate mounted on said main body perforated by a bore; and

a locking hook;

a rack having a plurality of gear teeth supporting said hook;

a gear driven by said shaft, moving said rack and said locking hook in a direction depending on a direction of rotation of said motor; and

said hook engaging said first locking plate when a distal end of said hook is inserted through said bore in said first locking plate.

10. The device of claim 9, with said second mechanism comprising a second locking plate bearing a hollow, said hook engaging said second locking plate by insertion of said distal end of said hook through said first locking plate and through said second locking plate.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprised of:

said motor and said hook being linked by said gear mounted on said shaft of said motor;

said rack being attached on one side of said hook and said hook moving in response to the rotation of said motor.

12. The device of claim 8, with controller generating a locking-signal when either one of a power-on signal and a resume-signal is detected.

13. The device of claim 8, with said controller generating a locking-release-signal when any one of a suspend-signal and a power-off-signal is detected.

14. The device of claim 8, further comprised of said first mechanism engaging said second mechanism while said peripheral component is in an operative engagement with said computer.

15. The device of claim 8, further comprised of said first mechanism disengaging said second mechanism while said peripheral component is in an operative engagement with said computer.

16. The device of claim 8, further comprised of:

said first mechanism engaging said second mechanism while said peripheral component is in an operative engagement with said computer; and

said first mechanism disengaging said second mechanism while said peripheral component is in said operative engagement with said computer.

17. The device of claim 8, with said first mechanism further comprising:

a motor mounted on a main board of said computer driving a shaft in opposite directions;

a first locking plate perforated by a bore, mounted on said main body; and

a hook driven by said motor to move in a direction determined by a direction of rotation of said motor, and to extend through said bore and complete and engagement between said first mechanism and said second mechanism in response to said reception by said first mechanism of said locking signal from said controller.

18. The device of claim 8, with said first mechanism further comprising:

a motor mounted on a main board of said computer driving a shaft in opposite directions;

a first locking plate perforated by a bore, mounted on said main body; and

a hook driven by said motor to move in a direction determined by a direction of rotation of said motor, and to extend through said bore and complete and engagement between said first mechanism and said second mechanism in response to said reception by said first mechanism of said locking signal from said controller, and to withdraw from said bore and disengage said first mechanism from said second mechanism in response to reception by said first mechanism of said locking release signal from said controller.