Computer option bay having secondary access port with automatic sliding door mechanism

• US 6,307,745 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1998
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liebenow, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/108,494
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/724, 361/725, 361/727, 361/680, 361/681, 361/682, 395/325, 364/708, 364/708.1, 364/231.1, 364/231.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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 1/1656 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

Abstract

A computer system having a housing including an option bay into which a modular option device may be removably inserted is disclosed. The option bay includes a secondary access port providing access to the modular option device for uncluttered connection of lines and easy access to control functions. The secondary access port may be covered by a sliding door which opens automatically upon insertion of selected modular option devices into the option bay.

Claims

1. A computer system adapted to removably receive a modular option device, the computer system comprising:

an option bay for receiving the modular option device;

a secondary access port providing direct access to the option bay;

a door for covering the secondary access port, the door being capable of sliding between a closed position and an opened position; and

a catch for engaging the modular option device so that the door may be at least partially opened by the modular option device as the modular option device is received within the option bay.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a door for covering the option bay.

3. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a spring for closing the door when the modular option device is removed from the option bay.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the modular option device comprises a channel for slidably receiving the catch.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a housing having a front face and a side face wherein the option bay is disposed in the front face and the secondary access port is disposed in the side face.

6. A computer system adapted to removably receive a modular option device, the computer system comprising:

an option bay for receiving the modular option device;

a secondary access port for accessing the modular option device when the modular option device is inserted in the option bay;

a door for covering the secondary access port, the door being capable of sliding between a closed position and an opened position for allowing at least partial access to the modular option device via the secondary access port when the modular option device is received in the option bay; and

a catch for engaging the modular option device so that the door may be at least partially opened by the modular option device as the modular option device is received within the option bay.

7. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising a spring for closing the door when the modular option device is removed from the option bay.

8. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising a second door for covering the option bay.

9. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the modular option device comprises a channel for slidably receiving the catch.

10. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising a housing having a front face and a side face wherein the option bay is disposed in the front face and the secondary access part is disposed in the side face.

11. A computer system adapted to removably receive a modular option device, the computer system comprising:

a processor unit;

memory interconnected with the processor unit;

a display system;

an input/output system;

an option bay for receiving the modular option device;

a secondary access port for accessing the modular option device when the modular option device is inserted in the option bay; and

a door for covering the secondary access port, the door being capable of sliding between a closed position and an opened position for allowing at least partial access to the modular option device via the secondary access port when the modular option device is received in the option bay;

wherein the door comprises a catch for engaging the modular option device so that the door may be at least partially opened by the modular option device as the modular option device is received within the option bay.

12. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a spring for closing the door when the modular option device is removed from the option bay.

13. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a second door for covering the option bay.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein modular option device comprises a channel for slidably receiving the catch.

15. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a housing having a front face and a side face wherein the option bay is disposed in the front face and the secondary access port is disposed in the side face.

16. A portable computer system, comprising:

a modular option device having a coupling device;

an option bay for receiving the modular option device;

a secondary access port; and

a door for covering the secondary access port, the door including a catch for selectively engaging the modular option device wherein the door is at least partially opened by the modular option device as the modular option device is received in the option bay so that the coupling device may be accessed via the secondary access port.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the door is slidably mounted in a track in the secondary access port so that the door may slide within the track between a fully closed position and a fully opened position.

18. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising a spring coupled to the door for automatically closing the door when the modular option device is removed from the option bay.

19. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising a second door covering the option bay.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the modular option device comprises a channel for slidably receiving the catch.

21. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising a housing having a front face and a side face wherein the option bay is disposed in the front face and the secondary access port is disposed in the side face.

22. A computer system capable of removably receiving a modular option device, the computer system comprising:

means for receiving the modular option device;

means for accessing the modular option device when the modular option device is received by the receiving means;

means for covering the accessing means wherein the covering means allows at least partial access to the modular option device via the accessing means when the modular option device is received by the receiving means; and

means for engaging the modular option device as the modular option device is received by the receiving means so that the door is moved from a closed position to an opened position.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the covering means includes a spring for sliding the door between the fully opened position and the fully closed position when the modular option device is removed from the option bay.

24. A portable computer system capable utilizing a modular option device, comprising:

a housing having a body section including a keyboard and a lid section including a display, the lid section being capable of folding against the body section;

an option bay disposed in the housing for receiving the modular option device;

a secondary access port disposed in the housing;

a door for covering the secondary access port; and

a catch for selectively engaging the modular option device wherein the door is at least partially opened by the modular option device as the modular option device is received in the option bay so that the modular option device is accessible via the secondary access port;

wherein the secondary access port is suitable for providing access to the modular option device when the modular option device is received in the option bay.

25. The portable computer system of claim 24, wherein the modular option device comprises a channel for slidably receiving the catch, the channel having a length suitable for causing the door to be one of fully closed, partially opened and fully opened.

26. The portable computer system of claim 24, further comprising a spring for closing the door when the modular option device is removed from the option bay.

27. The portable computer system of claim 24, wherein the body portion comprises a front face and a side face, and wherein the option bay is disposed in the front face and the secondary access port is disposed in the side face.