Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Hewlett-packard Company

John Norman

Guillermo Andres

Felix Guerra

Edgardo Oriel Enriquez

Derek Thomas Newsom

Yves Albert Behar

David N Skinner

Kai Ng

Shawn Sinyork

Guillermo Andreas

Lisa Abruzzini

An apparatus and method for flexibly mounting variously sized devices in a computer chassis. A front panel includes a first portion that is reserved for a plurality of contiguous openings supporting a plurality of vertically stacked 3-&#xbd; inch bays. At least one opening is protected by a corresponding knock-out plate. The front panel also includes a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion. The second portion is reserved for a plurality of module acceptors. At least one module acceptor is located adjacent to a corresponding opening and adapted to receive a corresponding module. Additionally, at least one module acceptor includes a first attaching mechanism capable of mating with a second attaching mechanism located on the corresponding module for attaching the corresponding module to the computer chassis. Further, at least one pair of adjacent opening and module acceptor in combination is adapted to receive a front connector panel bracket.

Apparatus and method for flexibly mounting variously sized devices in a computer chassis

A computer user interface device is provided, made up of modules having separate sets of user interface features. For instance, a keyboard device has a first module bearing standard alphanumeric and control keys, and a second module, selected from a set of optional modules bearing specialized features such as multimedia controls, communication interfaces, or magnetic media readers. The modules are mechanically coupled together. An electrical interface allows user input signals, such as keystroke signals, to be consolidated on one module, preferably the specialized module, into a single signal stream, for coupling to the computer.

Modular keyboard

Keyboard

Keyboard with pointing device

The present invention provides a modular data storage system that allows a user to arrange various data storage module configurations within a single system enclosure. More specifically, the inventive system provides a program key and a connection extender having a configuration knob. Once the appropriate connection extender is coupled to a data storage module, the program key of the system enclosure will only accept a certain connection extender configuration into a bay slot. If data storage module connection is successful, the extender will create a thermal breezeway between the data storage drive and a receptive circuit board connector to reduce the operating temperature of the connected data storage module.

Configuration connector for modular data storage system

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

John Norman