Computer with door-mounted electronics

• US 8,699,216 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Xplore Technologies Corporation (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Reber, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Forrest M
• Application Number:
  US12/969,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20120099265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.26
• US Class Current: 361/679.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness

Abstract

A computer includes various features that improve its functionality and/or ease of use. A modular electronics cartridge that includes a piston seal and opposed-direction latches removably engages a cartridge bay of the computer. A high intensity touch-screen display and a high power processor are disposed in a sealed compartment of the computer, and a remote heat exchanger is used to cool the sealed compartment. An interface converter/adapter converts a standard mini-PCI Express slot into a specialized mini-PCI Express slot with voice capabilities. SIM and microSD card slots mount to a pivoting door on the computer such that opening the door provides easier access to the card slots.

Claims

1. A computer comprising

a case;

a circuit board supported by the case;

a chipset electrically connected to the circuit board;

a door mounted for movement relative to the case between open and closed positions;

an electronics interface mounted to the door, the interface being configured to removably engage at least one electronics device; and

an electrical connector that electrically connects the electronics device to the chipset via the electronics interface when the door is in the closed position and the electronics device engages the electronics interface,

wherein when the door is in the open position and the electronics device engages the electronics interface, the electrical connector does not electrically connect the electronics device to the chipset via the electronics interface.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer comprises a portable computer that further includes:

a display supported by the case and electrically connected to the chipset; and

a battery supported by the case and constructed and arranged to provide power to the display and chipset.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the electronics interface comprises a SIM card slot or a memory card slot.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the electronics interface comprises a SIM card slot and a memory card slot.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the door is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the case between the open and closed positions.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the electronics interface comprises a printed circuit board.

7. The computer of claim 1, further comprising a tool-less locking mechanism that selectively locks the door in the closed position.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein:

the case comprises a hole through which an electrical path between the electronics interface and the chipset extends when the door is closed, and

the computer further comprises a seal that surrounds the hole and seals the hole from an ambient environment outside of the computer when the door is in the closed position.

9. The computer of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is configured such that moving the door from its closed position to its open position causes the electrical connector to electrically disconnect the electronics interface from the chipset.

10. The computer of claim 9, wherein the electrical connector is configured such that moving the door from its open position to its closed position causes the electrical connector to electrically connect the electronics interface to the chipset.

11. A computer comprising:

a case;

a circuit board supported by the case;

a chipset electrically connected to the circuit board;

a door mounted for movement relative to the case between open and closed positions;

an electronics interface mounted to the door, the interface being configured to removably engage at least one electronics device; and

an electrical connector that electrically connects the electronics device to the chipset via the electronics interface when the door is in the closed position and the electronics device engages the electronics interface;

a display supported by the case and electrically connected to the chipset; and

a battery supported by the case and constructed and arranged to provide power to the display and chipset,

wherein the computer comprises a portable computer,

wherein the battery is movable between;

an attached position in which the battery is constructed and arranged to provide power to the display and chipset, and

a detached position in which the battery is electrically disconnected from a remainder of the computer, and

wherein, when the battery is in its attached position, the battery covers the door and discourages the door from being moved from its closed position to its open position.

12. A computer comprising:

a case;

a circuit board supported by the case;

a chipset electrically connected to the circuit board;

a door mounted for movement relative to the case between open and closed positions;

an electronics interface mounted to the door, the interface being configured to removably engage at least one electronics device; and

an electrical connector that electrically connects the electronics device to the chipset via the electronics interface when the door is in the closed position and the electronics device engages the electronics interface, wherein;

the computer further comprises a first plurality of electric contacts that are supported by the circuit board and electrically connected to the chipset,

the electrical connector comprises a second plurality of electric contacts that electrically contact respective ones of the first plurality of electric contacts when the door is in the closed position, and

the second plurality of electrical contacts do not electrically contact the respective ones of the first plurality of electric contacts when the door is in the open position.

13. The computer of claim 12, wherein the case comprises a hole through which one of the pluralities of electric contacts move when the door moves from its open position to its closed position.

14. The computer of claim 12, wherein:

the electrical connector is configured such that moving the door from its closed position to its open position causes the second plurality of electrical contacts to electrically disconnect from the first plurality of electrical contacts, and

the second plurality of electrical contacts remain electrically connected to the electronics interface when the door is in the open and closed positions.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein the electrical connector is configured such that moving the door from its open position to its closed position causes the second plurality of electrical contacts to electrically connect to and contact respective ones of the first plurality of electrical contacts.