Packard Bell Nec

Nec Corporation

Elisa E Zappacosta

Peter A Ojeda

Eric D Fuhs

William C Hallowell

Timothy A Bonardi

John P Wagner

Wayne L Griffin

Bruce Wang

Ramesh Marwah

A locking system for a computer or computer accessory housing not only secures the housing but also secures any PCMCIA cards installed in PCMCIA slots in the housing. In particular, the computer or accessory housing is configured with two side-by-side PCMCIA slots. One or more keyhole slots are disposed between the two PCMCIA for receiving a cylindrical lock assembly, such as a Kensington lock assembly. The spacing between the side-by-side PCMCIA slots is selected such that the cylindrical lock assembly is secured to the keyholes, the lock assembly partially blocks the PCMCIA slot openings and thus prevents removal of any PCMCIA cards from the computer or accessory housing. In order to provide additional security, one keyhole may be formed to depend from an interior metal chassis while a corresponding keyhole is formed from the cover which prevents removal of the cards as well as removal of the housing cover. The configuration of the lock assembly enables not only the computer or computer housing to be secured but any PCMCIA cards installed within the slots to be secured as well rather quickly and easily without the need to remove the PCMCIA cards.

Peripheral card locking device

A modular portable personal computer includes one or more flexible bays accessible from the front surface of the computer. One or more of the flexible bays may be configured as a dual functional bay to enable the bay to interchangeably receive different modular devices, such as a modular floppy disk drive or a modular battery pack. With such a configuration, the modular floppy disk drive can be removed for portable operation and an additional battery pack installed to provide increased electrical power to the portable personal computer during portable operation. The portable personal computer is also provided with a plurality of cavities formed in a bottom surface. These cavities allow for various upgrades to be made without opening the computer housing. For example, a modular hard disk drive cavity is provided on the bottom side of the personal computer. The modular hard disk drive cavity is adapted to receive a modular hard disk drive which can be relatively easily removed and installed without opening the computer housing. In addition, a cavity may be provided which is closed by an access cover which includes one or more standard in-line memory module (SIMM) sockets to enable additional SIMMS to be added without opening the computer housing. The CPU in the modular portable personal computer can also be rather easily and quickly replaced. In particular, a cavity is formed in the bottom of the portable personal computer and carries an electrical connector that is electrically connected to the mother board. A CPU mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) is adapted to be received in the cavity. A mating connector is provided on the PCB to enable the CPU to be connected to the motherboard. An access panel provides access to the cavity to enable the CPU to be replaced without the need to open the computer housing.

Modular portable personal computer having bays to receive

A modular portable personal computer includes one or more flexible bays accessible from the front surface of the computer. One or more of the flexible bays may be configured as a dual functional bay to enable the bay to interchangeably receive different modular devices, such as a modular floppy disk drive or a modular battery pack. With such a configuration, the modular floppy disk drive can be removed for portable operation and an additional battery pack installed to provide increased electrical power to the portable personal computer during portable operation. The portable personal computer is also provided with a plurality of cavities formed in a bottom surface. These cavities allow for various upgrades to be made without opening the computer housing. For example, a modular hard disk drive cavity is provided on the bottom side of the personal computer. The modular hard disk drive cavity is adapted to receive a modular hard disk drive which can be relatively easily removed and installed without opening the computer housing. In addition, a cavity may be provided which is closed by an access cover which includes one or more standard in-line memory module (SIMM) sockets to enable additional SIMMs to be added without opening the computer housing. The CPU in the modular portable personal computer can also be rather easily and quickly replaced. In particular, a cavity is formed in the bottom of the portable personal computer and carries an electrical connector that is electrically connected to the mother board. A CPU mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) is adapted to be received in the cavity. A mating connector is provided on the PCB to enable the CPU to be connected to the motherboard. An access panel provides access to the cavity to enable the CPU to be replaced without the need to open the computer housing.

Modular portable personal computer

A passive heat sink for use in a portable personal computer includes a thermal mass, such as an aluminum plate, that is adapted to make thermal contact with the CPU or IC, whose temperature is to be regulated. The thermal mass is formed to enable excess heat from the CPU or integrated circuit to be channeled away by thermal conduction from the CPU or IC and dissipated or released in the computer housing, such as the keyboard, which can tolerate limited amounts of heat. In order to accommodate CPU's and IC's of different thicknesses, a thermally conductive spacer, for example, formed from copper, may be secured to the CPU or integrated circuit by way of a thermally conductive adhesive, and, in turn, placed in contact with the thermal mass. With such a configuration, the space requirements for the heat sink within the portable personal computer for cooling are minimized, while the expense of more expensive cooling systems such as heat tubes and Oasis-type cooling systems is obviated.

Growing community of inventors

Issaquah, WA, United States of America

Elisa E Zappacosta