Systems and methods for providing a robust computer processing unit

• US 7,733,635 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATD Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jason A. Sullivan
• Inventors: Sullivan, Jason A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/827,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20070258205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/679.01, 361/679.02
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/04 Metal casings

Abstract

The present invention features a robust customizable computing system comprising: a processing control unit; an external object; and means for operably connecting the processing control unit to the external object, the processing control unit introducing intelligence into the external object, thus causing the external object to perform smart functions. The processing control unit preferably comprises: (a) an encasement module comprising a main support chassis having a plurality of wall supports and a plurality of junction centers containing means for supporting a computer component therein, a dynamic back plane that provides support for connecting peripheral and other computing components directly to a system bus without requiring an interface, means for enclosing the main support chassis and providing access to an interior portion of the encasement module; (b) one or more computer processing components disposed within the junction centers of the encasement module; and (c) means for cooling the interior portion of the encasement module.

Claims

1. A robust customizable computing system, comprising:

a first encasement;

a dynamic back plane operably coupled to the first encasement, the dynamic back plane providing support for a computing component, the dynamic back plane having a port for connecting the computing component; and

a processing control unit housed within the first encasement, wherein the processing control unit is an electrical printed circuit board configuration that comprises a plurality of operably interconnected circuit boards, wherein a first circuit board is physically attached to and extends at an angle from a second circuit board.

2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein said encasement is a non-peripheral based encasement.

3. The computing system of claim 1, wherein said dynamic back plane interconnects said computing component to said process control unit.

4. The computing system of claims 1, wherein said encasement is structured to bear an external load.

5. The computing system of claim 1, wherein said dynamic back plane further comprises means for connecting to said computing component via a wireless connection.

6. The computing system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of interconnected circuit boards comprises a tri-board configuration comprising a third circuit board, which is physically attached to and extends at an angle from the second circuit board.

7. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computing component is a processing component removably coupled to said encasement.

8. The computing system of claim 1, further comprising a removable plate forming a wall surface of said encasement, wherein a user may remove the plate to access an interior of said encasement.

9. A robust customizable processing control unit comprising:

an encasement having a dynamic back plane that provides support for one or more computer system components, wherein said dynamic back plane comprise one or more interfaces for connecting said components; and

an electrical printed circuit board configuration that comprises a plurality of interconnected circuit boards, wherein a first circuit board is physically attached to and extends at an angle from a second circuit board.

10. The processing control unit of claim 9, further comprising a set of end plates removably coupled to said encasement and having a plurality of ventilation holes.

11. The processing control unit of claim 9, wherein said interface is a software interface.

12. A robust customizable processing control unit comprising:

an encasement having a dynamic back plane providing logic for a computer system component, wherein said dynamic back plane comprise an interface for communicatively coupling said computer system component; and

an electrical printed circuit board configuration that comprises a plurality of interconnected circuit boards, wherein a first circuit board is physically attached to and extends at an angle from a first surface of a second circuit board.

13. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said encasement is a non-peripheral based encasement.

14. The processing control unit of claim 12, further comprising a system bus, wherein said dynamic back plane further provides support for directly connecting said computer system component to the system bus.

15. The processing control unit of claim 12, wherein said dynamic back plane and said electrical printed circuit board are removably coupled to said encasement.

16. The processing control unit of claim 12, wherein said encasement further comprising means for physically coupling to an external object.

17. The processing control unit of claim 12, wherein the interface is wireless.

18. A solid-state, robust, customizable processing control unit, comprising:

an electrical printed circuit board configuration that comprises a plurality of interconnected circuit boards, wherein a first circuit board is physically attached to and extends at an angle from a second circuit board;

a processor operably connected to the electrical printed circuit board configuration;

a system bus comprising a portion of the electrical printed circuit board configuration; and

an interchangeable, dynamic backplane operably connected to the system bus and having means for establishing communication between the system bus and an external device.

19. The processing control unit of claim 18, wherein the means for establishing communication is a wireless interface.

20. The processing control unit of claim 18, further comprising a non-peripheral based encasement.

21. The processing control unit of claim 18, wherein the means for establishing communication includes at least one port.

22. The processing control unit of claim 18, further comprising means for cooling.

23. The processing control unit of claim 22, wherein the means for cooling is a natural convection cooling system.

24. A wireless, robust customizable computing network, comprising:

an external device; and

a computer processing unit, the computer processing unit comprising;

a non-peripheral based encasement having an electrical printed circuit board configuration that comprises a plurality of interconnected circuit boards, wherein a first circuit board is physically attached to and extends at an angle from a second circuit board;

a system bus, the system bus operably connected to the electrical printed circuit board configuration; and

a dynamic backplane operably connected to the system bus and having means for establishing wireless communication between the bus system and the external device.

25. The wireless computing network of claim 24, wherein the external device includes at least one of:

(i) a mass storage device;

(ii) a peripheral input device;

(iii) a peripheral output device;

(iv) a network interface;

(v) a second computing processing unit; and

(vi) a proprietary device.

26. The wireless computing network of claim 24, wherein the electrical printed circuit board configuration comprises a plurality of interconnected circuit boards.

27. The wireless computing network of claim 24, wherein the wireless communication is at least one of an 802.11a wireless communication, an 802.11b wireless communication, and a blue tooth wireless communication.

28. The wireless computing network of claim 24, wherein the non-peripheral based encasement is structured to bear an external load.

29. The wireless, robust customizable computing network of claim 24, wherein the dynamic back plane is interchangeably coupled to the non-peripheral based encasement.