All-in-one with sliding mechanism to reveal removable modules

• US 9,727,096 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ent, Ali Kathryn, Patterson, Samuel Jackson, Godfrey, Cyan, Truong, Cuong Huy, Hill, David Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmonds, Lisa Lea
• Application Number:
  US15/019,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20170227996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel

Abstract

One embodiment provides an apparatus, including: a housing including: a compartment; the compartment having a panel and two side walls accommodating removable computer modules; the apparatus including a movable component that slides away from the compartment to reveal an inside of the compartment; the compartment including power and data connectors for coupling to the removable computer modules; where power is removed from the removable computer modules responsive to sliding away the movable component. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing including;

a compartment;

a back portion; and

a front portion comprising a display;

said compartment having a panel and two side walls accommodating a plurality of removable computer modules;

said apparatus including a movable component that slides away from the compartment to reveal an inside of the compartment, the inside of the compartment being accessible from the front portion;

said compartment including a plurality of power and data connectors for coupling to the plurality of removable computer modules;

wherein power is removed from the plurality of removable computer modules responsive to sliding away the movable component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of removable computer modules comprise a processing module and a battery module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the housing comprises a fixed portion; and

the movable component slides away from the fixed portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the movable component comprises a circuit board and wherein the circuit board is disposed proximate to the panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fixed portion includes a centrally disposed circuitry unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the centrally disposed circuitry unit comprises at least one contact.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the movable component comprises at least one contact complimentary to the at least one contact of the centrally disposed circuitry unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one contact of the centrally disposed circuitry unit communicates power and data to at least one module.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, in an open position, the movable component is slid downward and away from the fixed portion and exposes the plurality of removable computer modules.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the two side walls comprise a ridge disposed at a lower edge thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable component is a display panel.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable component forms part of the compartment.

13. A system, comprising:

a plurality of removable computer modules; and

a housing including;

a compartment;

a back portion; and

a front portion comprising a display;

said compartment having a panel and two side walls accommodating the plurality of removable computer modules;

said system including a movable component that slides away from the compartment to reveal an inside of the compartment, the inside of the compartment being accessible from the front portion;

said compartment including a plurality of power and data connectors for coupling to the plurality of removable computer modules;

wherein power is removed from the plurality of removable computer modules responsive to sliding away the movable component.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of removable computer modules comprise a processing module and a battery module.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the housing comprises a fixed portion; and

the movable component slides away from the fixed portion.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the movable component comprises a circuit board and wherein the circuit board is disposed proximate to the panel.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the fixed portion includes a centrally disposed circuitry unit.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the centrally disposed circuitry unit comprises at least one contact.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the movable component comprises at least one contact complimentary to the at least one contact of the centrally disposed circuitry unit.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one contact of the centrally disposed circuitry unit communicates power and data to at least one module.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein, in an open position, the movable component is slid downward and away from the fixed portion and exposes the plurality of removable computer modules.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the two side walls comprise a ridge disposed at a lower edge thereof.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the movable component is a display panel.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the movable component forms part of the compartment.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing including;

a fixed portion;

a back portion;

a front portion comprising a display; and

a movable compartment;

said movable compartment having a panel and two side walls;

said side walls contacting the fixed portion and permitting the movable compartment to slide away from the fixed portion to reveal an inside of the movable compartment, the inside of the movable compartment being accessible from the front portion; and

a bottom panel including a plurality of power and data connectors for coupling to a plurality of removable computer modules.