Electronic computer with a file bay cover including an electronic lock and method of controlling the same

• US 6,529,382 B2
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Terao, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/471,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 361/678, 361/679, 361/683-687, 361/724-727, 312/223--22, 312/324, 312/219, 340/895.31, 340/825.34, 340/310.08, 340/825.26, 340/825.3, 340/521, 162/30, 162/32, 162/31, 162/29, 491/93, 493/82, 292/5, 292/34, 292/8, 364/708.1, 360/903, 702/63, 702/77, 702/78, 702/66
• US Class Current: 361/726
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613

Abstract

An electronic computer with a file bay cover includes an electronic lock unit for selectively opening and closing the file bay cover and a sensor responsive to the locked state of the lock. The electronic lock unit is controlled by electronic control. The computer enhances the efficiency of a centralized control system and security.

Claims

1. An electronic computer including a file bay cover for covering a file bay accommodating a drive unit associated with a removable medium, said electronic computer comprising:

a lock for selectively locking and unlocking said file bay cover; and

a sensor responsive to manual closing of said file bay cover for locking said lock;

said lock being opened by electronic control.

2. A computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said file bay cover is opened and closed by electronic control.

3. A computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lock is controlled by an input to said electronic computer.

4. A computer as claimed in claim 3, wherein said file bay cover comprises a plurality of file bay covers each assigned to a particular drive unit.

5. A computer as claimed in claim 3, wherein said file bay includes a screw for affixing a casing of said computer.

6. A computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said file bay cover comprises a plurality of file bay covers each being assigned to a particular drive unit.

7. A computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said file bay includes a screw for affixing a casing of said computer.

8. A computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock is controlled by an input to said electronic computer.

9. A computer as claimed in claim 8, wherein said file bay cover comprises a plurality of file bay covers each being assigned to a particular drive unit.

10. A computer as claimed in claim 8, wherein said file bay includes a screw for affixing a casing of said computer.

11. A computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said file bay cover comprises a plurality of file bay covers each being assigned to a particular drive unit.

12. A computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said file bay includes a screw for affixing a casing of said computer.

13. A computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said file bay includes a screw for affixing a casing of said computer.

14. In an electronic computer with a file bay cover having an electronic locking function, a lock configured to latch upon manual closing of said file bay cover to prevent access to a drive unit associated with a removable medium, said lock controlled for unlocking by an input to said electronic computer.

15. A computer as claimed in claim 14, wherein said lock is controlled by authenticating means included in an authentication server in a network environment.

16. A computer as claimed in claim 15, wherein an operation history of said lock is recorded.

17. A computer as claimed in claim 15, wherein said authenticating means controls said lock on the basis of one of a password, a smart card and a fingerprint.

18. A computer as claimed in claim 17, wherein an operation history of said lock is recorded.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a computer having a file bay and at least one file bay cover;

a lock configured to lock and unlock said file bay cover, said lock configured to unlock under electronic control of said computer; and

a sensor responsive to manual closing of said file bay cover, said sensor configured to cause said lock to lock upon manual closing of said cover.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said file bay cover comprises a latch, and wherein said lock comprises:

a plunger configured to engage said latch; and

a solenoid coupled to said plunger.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said computer comprises a casing and said file bay comprises a screw for affixing said casing, whereby locking of said file bay cover prevents access to said screw for removal of said casing.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a second file bay cover; and

a second lock associated with said second file bay cover.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an access server coupled to said computer, said access server configured to:

receive a file bay access request from said computer;

authenticate said file bay access request; and

transmit an access authentication response to said computer for enabling said computer to electronically control the unlocking of said lock.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said file bay access request comprises information from at least one of a smart card, a password and a fingerprint.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said access server is further configured to maintain a history of operation of said lock.