Computer system and chassis

• US 7,035,095 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Frame, Kenneth B., Franke, Gregory C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/470,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20050002157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 361683-686, 361/752, 361/753, 361/801, 361/816, 361/818, 312/222, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/348, 174/35.R, 174/35.GC, 320/107, 320/110, 320/113, 320/114, 248/65, 248/73, 248/534, 248/535, 439/53, 439/154, 439/157
• US Class Current: 361/679.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613

Abstract

A computer system having electronic components housed in a central unit having a protective enclosure and a cover. The cover is moveable to provide access to electronic components housed in the central unit. The cover allows access to certain electronic components and prevents access to other electronic components.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a hard drive selectively coupleable to the processor;

a memory module selectively coupleable to the processor; and

a chassis comprising;

a protective enclosure adapted to house the processor, wherein the protective enclosure forms a barrier to access to the processor; and

a movable cover, wherein in a first position the movable cover prevents access to the hard drive and the memory module and in a second position the movable cover permits access to the hard drive and the memory module.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hard drive is disposed on the exterior of the protective enclosure.

5. The system as recited in claim 2, the system further comprising a plurality of electrical cables having electrical connectors configured for mating engagement with a plurality of electrical connectors on the hard drive, each electrical cable being directed to its respective removable component electrical connector through a separate opening in the enclosure.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a portable device; and

a portable device bay fixedly secured to the protective enclosure, the portable device bay being configured to electrically couple the portable device to the central electronics unit.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the portable device is interchangeable between a notebook computer and a desktop computer.

8. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the portable device is a DVD player.

9. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the portable device is a CD-ROM player.

10. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the portable device is a memory storage device.

11. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the portable device bay is disposed on the exterior of the protective enclosure.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the movable cover is secured to the system by a mechanism that requires no tools to free the movable cover.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a shroud extending into the protective enclosure.

3. A computer system, comprising:

a central electronics unit;

a removable memory module selectively coupleable to the central electronics unit;

a removable electronic device selectively coupleable to the central electronics unit; and

a chassis comprising;

a protective enclosure, wherein the protective enclosure forms a barrier to access to the central electronics unit; and

a plurality of movable covers including first and second covers each having first and second positions, wherein the first cover blocks access to the removable memory module in the first position and the first cover enables access to the removable memory module in the second position, and the second cover blocks access to the removable electronic device in the first position and the second cover enables access to the removable electronic device in the second position.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the removable memory module comprises RAM.

14. A computer system, comprising:

a personal computer comprising;

a protective chassis;

a plurality of removable electronic components disposed within the protective chassis; and

a processor disposed within the protective chassis, wherein the protective chassis is configured to provide access to the plurality of removable electronic components and to form a barrier to access to the processor.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, the chassis comprising:

a protective frame; and

a moveable cover covering a portion of the protective frame.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of removable electronic components comprises a memory module, accessible by moving the movable cover.

17. The system as recited in claim 14, further comprising a device bay, wherein the plurality of removable electronic components comprises a portable device disposable in the device bay.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the portable device is a disc drive.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the portable device is a DVD player.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the portable device is a CD-ROM.

21. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the cover is movable without the use of a tool.

22. The system as recited in claim 15, the chassis further comprising:

a shroud forming a barrier between the plurality of removable electronic components and a plurality of standard electronic components.

36. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the plurality of removable electronic components comprises one or more computer drives.

37. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the protective chassis comprises a moveable cover disposed over an exterior, and the plurality of removable electronic components comprises one or more personal computer components disposed between the exterior and the movable cover.

23. A system, comprising:

a personal computer comprising;

an enclosure;

a cover removably coupled to the enclosure;

a first electronic component disposed inside the enclosure; and

a second and a third electronic component disposed in a region between the exterior of the enclosure and the cover.

24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the first electronic component is a consumer serviceable component that is accessible by moving the cover.

25. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the second and third electronic components are consumer serviceable components that are accessible by moving the cover.

26. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the first electronic component is a non-customer-serviceable component that is inaccessible by moving the cover.

27. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the cover is tool-lessly coupled to the enclosure.

38. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the second and third electronic components are different types of memory devices.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the second and third electronic components are removable and disposed exterior to the enclosure below the cover.

28. A system, comprising:

a processor;

an optical drive coupled to the processor; and

a chassis comprising;

a protective enclosure housing the processor;

a first moveable cover selectively coupleable to the protective enclosure, wherein in a first position the first moveable cover prevents access to the optical drive and in a second position the first moveable cover enables access to the optical drive; and

wherein the optical drive is disposed on the exterior of the protective enclosure.

29. The system as recited in claim 28, comprising a second moveable cover selectively coupleable to the protective enclosure.

30. The system as recited in claim 29, comprising a removable electronic component disposed between the protective enclosure and the second moveable cover.

31. The system as recited in claim 28, comprising a removable memory module disposed between the protective enclosure and the first moveable cover.

32. A computer system, comprising:

a chassis;

a central electronics unit disposed within the chassis;

a moveable cover selectively coupled to the chassis; and

a plurality of different types of storage media selectively coupled to the central electronics unit and disposed in a space between an exterior of the chassis and an interior of the moveable cover.

33. The computer system of claim 32, wherein the plurality of different types of storage media are coupled to the exterior of the chassis.

34. The computer system of claim 32, wherein the moveable cover is coupled to the chassis by a mechanism that is releasable without tools.

35. The computer system of claim 32, wherein the moveable cover is removable from the chassis.

40. A computer system, comprising:

a personal computer comprising;

a protective chassis, comprising;

a protective frame; and

a moveable cover covering a portion of the protective frame;

a plurality of removable electronic components disposed within the protective chassis;

a hard drive securable to the exterior of the protective frame and coverable by the moveable cover; and

a processor disposed within the protective chassis, wherein the protective chassis is configured to provide access to the plurality of removable electronic components and to form a barrier to access to the processor.

41. A computer system, comprising:

a chassis;

a central electronics unit disposed within the chassis;

a moveable cover selectively coupled to the chassis;

another moveable cover disposed on a side of the chassis opposite from the moveable cover; and

a plurality of different types of storage media selectively coupled to the central electronics unit and disposed in a space between an exterior of the chassis and an interior of the moveable cover.

42. A computer system, comprising:

a chassis;

a central electronics unit disposed within the chassis;

a moveable cover selectively coupled to the chassis; and

a plurality of different types of storage media selectively coupled to the central electronics unit and disposed in a space between an exterior of the chassis and an interior of the moveable cover, wherein the space includes a recess in the exterior of the chassis, the recess having at least one of the plurality of different types of storage media.