Accessible desktop computer

• US 6,359,775 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mei California, Inc. (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Revis, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/371,924
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 361/384, 361/680-686, 361/724-726, 361/753, 361/759, 361/780, 361/750, 361/796, 361/797, 361/801, 361/802, 248/917, 312/302, 312/236, 312/257.A, 312/257.SM, 312/319, 312/320, 211/41.17, 364/708.1, 359/83
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/916 Mechanical expedients, e.g. in supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A computer is disclosed having a flat panel display device and a disk drive unit, each pivotable between a closed position wherein they serve as covers for the housing of the computer, and an open position, wherein access is provided to the internal components of the computer, including a motherboard and drive assemblies housed in the disk drive unit.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a housing encasing operating components of said computer and having a motherboard located on a rear interior wall of said housing; and

a flat panel display device pivotably connected to said housing and rotatable between a closed position defining at least a portion of a cover for said housing, and an open position providing access to said components of said computer located in said housing.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a liquid crystal display.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises an active matrix display.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a plasma display.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein said display device rotates about a horizontal axis.

6. The computer of claim 5, wherein said display device is mounted to said housing with a hinge.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein said display device extends past at least one wall of said housing.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein said display ends at each wall of said housing it reaches.

9. The computer claim 1, further comprising an adjustable pedestal mount for supporting said housing, said pedestal mount permitting rotation of said housing about a vertical axis and tilting movement of said housing.

10. The computer of claim 1, wherein said display device in said open position provides access to said motherboard.

11. A computer, comprising:

a housing including operating components of said computer and having a motherboard located on a rear interior wall of said housing; and

a drive unit pivotably connected to said housing and rotatable between a closed position defining at least a portion of a cover for said housing and an open position providing access to said components of said computer located in said housing.

12. The computer of claim 11, wherein said drive unit rotates about a vertical axis.

13. The computer of claim 12, wherein said drive unit is mounted to said housing with a hinge.

14. The computer of claim 11, wherein said drive unit in said open position provides access to said motherboard.

15. The computer of claim 11, wherein said drive unit comprises a front panel pivotally connected to said housing and a carriage containing at least one drive bay, said carriage being detachably attached to said front panel.

16. The computer of claim 15, wherein said carriage further comprises dividers and walls defining a plurality of drive bays which open towards said front panel.

17. The computer of claim 15, wherein said carriage further comprises members engageable with said front panel.

18. The computer of claim 17, wherein said members further comprise a first tab engageable with a slot in said front panel and a second tab engageable to said front panel.

19. The computer of claim 15, wherein said drive unit accommodates a plurality of drives, said drives being located in said at least one drive bay and fixed between said carriage and said front panel.

20. The computer of claim 19, wherein said drives are accessible through said front panel for loading and unloading storage media.

21. The computer of claim 19, wherein said carriage further comprises openings accommodating cables attachable to said drives.

22. The computer of claim 21, wherein said openings are contiguous with a back side of a drive and are opposite said front panel.

23. The computer of claim 19, further comprising resilient spacers provided between a back wall of a drive bay and a back side of a drive.

24. The computer of claim 23, wherein such resilient spacers are of plastic foam.

25. The computer of claim 23, wherein said resilient spacers have openings accommodating cables attached to said drives.

26. The computer of claim 19, further comprising tabs integral with said side walls for bearing against a back side of a drive.

27. A computer comprising:

a housing including operating components of said computer and having a motherboard located on a rear interior wall of said housing;

a flat panel display device; and

a drive unit including a front panel and a carriage containing at least one drive bay;

said display device and said drive unit being separately pivotably connected to said housing such that each is pivotable between a closed position where it defines at least a portion of a cover for said housing and an open position where it provides access to said components of said computer located in said housing.

28. The computer of claim 27, wherein said display device comprises a liquid crystal display.

29. The computer of claim 27, wherein said display device comprises an active matrix display.

30. The computer of claim 27, wherein said display device comprises a plasma display.

31. The computer of claim 27, wherein said display device rotates about a horizontal axis.

32. The computer of claim 31, wherein said display device is mounted to said housing with a hinge.

33. The computer of claim 27, wherein said display device extends past at least one wall of said housing.

34. The computer of claim 27, wherein said display ends at each wall of said housing it reaches.

35. The computer of claim 27, further comprising an adjustable pedestal mount for supporting said housing, said pedestal mount permitting rotation of said housing about a vertical axis and tilting movement of said housing.

36. The computer of claim 27, wherein said display device in said open position provides access to said motherboard.

37. The computer of claim 27, wherein said drive unit in said open position provides access to said motherboard.

38. The computer of claim 27, wherein said drive unit rotates about a vertical axis.

39. The computer of claim 38, wherein said drive unit is mounted to said housing with a hinge.

40. The computer of claim 27, wherein said drive unit comprises a front panel pivotally connected to said housing and a carriage containing at least one drive bay, said carriage being detachably attached to said front panel.

41. The computer of claim 40, wherein said carriage further comprises dividers and walls defining a plurality of drive bays which open towards said front panel.

42. The computer of claim 41, wherein said drive unit accommodates a plurality of drives, said drives being located in said at least one drive bay and fixed between said carriage and said front panel.

43. The computer of claim 42, wherein said drives are accessible through said front panel for loading and unloading storage media.

44. The computer of claim 42, wherein said carriage further comprises openings accommodating cables attachable to said drives.

45. The computer of claim 44, wherein said openings are contiguous with a back side of a drive and are opposite said front panel.

46. The computer of claim 42, further comprising resilient spacers provided between a back wall of a drive bay and a back side of a drive.

47. The computer of claim 46, wherein said resilient spacers are formed of a plastic foam.

48. The computer of claim 46, wherein said resilient spacers have openings accommodating cables attached to said drives.

49. The computer of claim 40, wherein said carriage further comprises members engageable with said front panel for holding said carriage to said front panel.

50. The computer of claim 49, wherein said members further comprise a first tab engageable with a slot in said front panel and a second tab engageable to said front panel.

51. The computer of claim 50, further comprising tabs integral with said side walls for bearing against a back side of a drive.

52. A computer comprising:

a housing including operating components of said computer;

a drive unit pivotably connected to said housing and rotatable between a closed position defining at least a portion of a cover for said housing and an open position providing access to said components of said computer located in said housing, wherein said drive unit comprises a front panel pivotally connected to said housing and a carriage containing at least one drive bay, said carriage being detachably attached to said front panel, and wherein said drive unit accommodates a plurality of drives, said drives being located in said at least one drive bay and fixed between said carriage and said front panel; and

resilient spacers provided between a back wall of a drive bay and a back side of a drive.

53. The computer of claim 52, wherein such resilient spacers are of plastic foam.

54. The computer of claim 52, wherein said resilient spacers have openings accommodating cables attached to said drives.

55. A computer comprising:

a housing including operating components of said computer;

a drive unit pivotably connected to said housing and rotatable between a closed position defining at least a portion of a cover for said housing and an open position providing access to said components of said computer located in said housing, wherein said drive unit comprises a front panel pivotally connected to said housing and a carriage containing at least one drive bay, said carriage being detachably attached to said front panel, and wherein said drive unit accommodates a plurality of drives, said drives being located in said at least one drive bay and fixed between said carriage and said front panel; and

tabs integral with said side walls for bearing against a back side of a drive.

56. A computer, comprising:

a housing including operating components of said computer;

a flat panel display device;

a drive unit including a front panel pivotally connected to said housing and a carriage, said carriage being detachably attached to said front panel and further comprising dividers and walls defining a plurality of drive bays which open towards said front panel, and wherein said drive unit accommodates a plurality of drives, said drives being located in said drive bays and fixed between said carriage and said front panel; and

resilient spacers provided between a back wall of a drive bay and a back side of a drive;

said display device and said drive unit being separately pivotably connected to said housing such that each is pivotable between a closed position where it defines at least a portion of a cover for said housing and an open position where it provides access to said components of said computer located in said housing.

57. The computer of claim 56, wherein said resilient spacers are formed of a plastic foam.

58. The computer of claim 56, wherein said resilient spacers have openings accommodating cables attached to said drives.

59. A computer, comprising:

a housing including operating components of said computer;

a flat panel display device;

a drive unit including a front panel pivotally connected to said housing and a carriage, said carriage containing at least one drive bay and being detachably attached to said front panel, said carriage further comprising members engageable with said front panel for holding said carriage to said front panel, said members further comprising a first tab engageable with a slot in said front panel and a second tab engageable to said front panel; and

third tabs integral with side walls of the carriage for bearing against a back side of a drive;

said display device and said drive unit being separately pivotably connected to said housing such that each is pivotable between a closed position where it defines at least a portion of a cover for said housing and an open position where it provides access to said components of said computer located in said housing.