U.S. patent application number 09/921215 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-22 for one inch notebook computer.
Invention is credited to Bovio, Michele, Foster, Mark J..
Application Number | 20010043457 09/921215 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23376399 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010043457 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Foster, Mark J. ; et
al. |
November 22, 2001 |
One inch notebook computer
Abstract
A portable notebook computer having a thickness of only one inch
is obtained by provision of a computer housing containing a
keyboard assembly and a motherboard positioned directly below the
keyboard assembly, the keyboard assembly and the motherboard
thereby defining a region in the enclosure. The other components
comprising the computer; i.e. a hard disk drive, a PCMCIA option
slot, a trackball assembly, and a DC to DC convertor, are
positioned in an adjacent and generally co-planar relationship with
this region. A battery housing is mounted externally on the
computer housing for supplying electrical power to the
computer.
Inventors: |
Foster, Mark J.; (Acton,
MA) ; Bovio, Michele; (Boston, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONLEY ROSE & TAYON, P.C.
P. O. BOX 3267
HOUSTON
TX
77253-3267
US
|
Family ID: |
23376399 |
Appl. No.: |
09/921215 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09921215 |
Aug 2, 2001 |
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09504526 |
Feb 15, 2000 |
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09504526 |
Feb 15, 2000 |
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08350366 |
Dec 6, 1994 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/166 20130101;
G06F 1/1635 20130101; G06F 1/1616 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/683 |
International
Class: |
H05K 007/00; G06F
001/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A computer comprising: a computer housing; a keyboard assembly
in the housing; a motherboard positioned directly below the
keyboard assembly, the keyboard assembly and the motherboard
defining a region in the enclosure; a hard disk drive in the
enclosure positioned in adjacent generally co-planar relationship
with the region; and a battery housing mounted externally on the
computer housing for supplying electrical power to the
computer.
2. The computer of claim 1 further comprising a PCMCIA option slot
in the enclosure positioned in adjacent generally co-planar
relationship with the region.
3. The computer of claim 2 further comprising a trackball assembly
in the enclosure positioned in adjacent generally co-planar
relationship with the region.
4. The computer of claim 3 further comprising a DC to DC convertor
in the enclosure positioned in adjacent generally co-planar
relationship with the region.
5. The computer of claim 4 wherein the hard disk drive, the PCMCIA
option slot, the trackball assembly, and the DC to DC convertor are
located in a position forward of the region.
6. The computer of claim 5 wherein the battery housing is movably
attached to a rear side of the computer housing.
7. A computer comprising: a computer housing; a keyboard assembly
in the housing; a motherboard positioned directly below the
keyboard assembly, the keyboard assembly and the motherboard
defining a region in the enclosure; a hard disk drive in the
enclosure positioned in adjacent generally co-planar relationship
with the region and forward of the region; a PCMCIA option slot in
the enclosure positioned in adjacent generally co-planar
relationship with the region and forward of the region; a trackball
assembly in the enclosure positioned in adjacent generally
co-planar relationship with the region and forward of the region; a
DC to DC convertor in the enclosure positioned in adjacent
generally co-planar relationship with the region and forward of the
region; and a battery housing mounted externally on the computer
housing for supplying electrical power to the computer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to computer systems and particularly
to portable "notebook" computer form factors,.
[0002] Users of personal computers have been liberated from the
restrictions of desktop-only use with the introduction of portable
"notebook" computers. The convenience and transportability of the
notebook computer has produced a large and lucrative market for
manufacturers of such machines. Portability is the key to the
successful transport and use of a notebook computer in many
different environments; therefore, notebook computer form factors
are an exceedingly important consideration for the computer
manufacturer seeking market share in this arena. The goal is to
provide as thin and light-weight a machine as possible, while
maintaining ease of usability of the machine.
[0003] In the past, notebook computer form factors have been
limited by the sizes and placement of the necessary components
within the computer. The computer designer must judiciously arrange
the CPU motherboard, keyboard and keyboard baseplate, hard disk
drive, options such as PCMCIA slots, and the battery to provide the
most compact form factor possible. To date, at least some of these
components are placed beneath the keyboard baseplate, thereby
sacrificing thinness in order to provide a convenient notebook
computer length and width. To date, the thinnest notebook computer
available is about one and one-half inches thick. It is desirable
to provide an evep thinner notebook computer form factor for the
consumer market.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to the principles of the invnetion, there is
provided a computer having a computer housing and a keyboard
assembly in the housing. A motherboard is positioned directly below
the keyboard assembly, the keyboard assembly and the motherboard
thereby defining a region in the enclosure. The other components
comprising the computer are positioned in an adjacent and generally
co-planar relationship with this region, and a battery housing is
mounted externally on the computer housing for supplying electrical
power to the computer. An exceptionally thin portable computer is
thereby provided.
[0005] More specifically, a hard disk drive, a PCMCIA option slot,
a trackball assembly, and a DC to DC convertor are all located in a
position forward of the region and in an adjacent and generally
co-planar relationship with the region. The battery housing is
movably attached to a rear side of the computer housing for
supplying electrical power to the computer. According to this
invention, a portable notebook computer is provided which is only
one inch thick, and therefore at least 50% thinner than presently
available portable notebook computers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a notebook computer,
with its screen top open, embodying the principles of the
invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view from the rear of the
notebook computer of FIG. 1 with its top closed. The exteriorly
mounted battery pack is shown in its closed position;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view from the rear of the
notebook computer of FIGS. 1-2 with its top closed. the battery
pack is illustrated in the open position;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the computer from below. The under
side of the notebook computer of FIG. 1 showing the rotatable and
electric mounting of the battery pack;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a elevation view of the battery pack housing,
removed from its-computer mounting, embodying the principles of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the computer of FIG. 1 with
its screen top and battery pack removed;
[0012] FIGS. 7(a) and (b) are views of the electrical contact that
couples one side of the battery housing to the computer
housing;
[0013] FIGS. 8(a) and (b) are views of the joint for rotatably
coupling the other side of the battery housing to the computer
enclosure;
[0014] FIGS. 9(a) and (b) are views of the mating socket on the
computer housing which accepts the joint of FIGS. 8;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of, partly in section, of the
keyboard assembly and motherboard within the computer enclosure of
FIG. 1 arranged according to the principles of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the layout of additional
electrical components arranged within the computer enclosure of
FIG. 1 in accordance with the principles of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the region in the computer
enclosure of FIG. 1 illustrating the region occupied by the
keyboard assembly and motherboard when arranged as shown in FIGS.
10 and 11.
[0018] FIG. 13 is a top view of the forward portion of the computer
of FIG. 1 with electrical components indicated by dotted lines.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] In FIG. 1 there is shown a portable notebook computer 10
embodying the principles of the invention. The notebook computer 10
includes a computer enclosure or computer housing 12, inside which
the electronic components 14 (not shown) of the computer 10 reside
(e.g. a CPU motherboard on which component chips reside, a hard
disk drive, PCMCIA slot, etc). On the top side of the computer
housing 12 is a keyboard 16 for entering data and a trackball 18
used to move a cursor device about a display screen 20. The display
screen 20 is rotatably mounted via a display screen hinge 22 at its
rear edge 24 to the top side 26 of the computer housing 12 at its
rear side 28.
[0020] On this rear side 28 is mounted a separate battery housing
30 which holds batteries 32 (FIG. 4) for supplying electrical power
to the electronic components 14 within the computer housing 12.
With the battery housing 30 mounted external to the computer
housing 12, it is possible to arrange the electronic components 14
within the computer housing 12 to provide a very thin notebook
computer 10.
[0021] According to the principles of the invention, the battery
housing 30 is movably mounted on the computer housing 12 and
dimensioned such that the battery housing 30 can move between a
closed position 34 wherein the battery housing 30 covers the rear
wall 36 at the rear side 28 of the computer housing 12 (FIG. 2) and
an open position 38 wherein the battery housing 30 serves to
elevate the rear wall 36 of the computer housing 12 to provide a
convenient typing angle when the computer 10 is resting on a
support surface 40 (FIG. 3). Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the
battery housing 30 is shown rotatably mounted on the computer
housing 12 such that the battery housing 30 rotates between the
closed position 34 and the open position 38.
[0022] In FIG. 3, it can be seen that on the rear wall 36 of the
computer housing 12 are connectors 42 for electrically connecting
the computer 10 to peripheral devices: serial communications lines,
parallel printers, and the like. In FIG. 2, when the battery
housing 30 is rotated into the closed position 34, it covers the
connectors 42, and the bottom sides 44 and 46 of the computer
housing 12 and battery housing 30 respectively then provide a
continuous flat surface 48. In FIG. 3, when the battery housing 30
is shown rotated into the open position 38, the connectors 42 are
exposed for use. Moreover, when rotated into the open position 38,
the battery housing 30 serves to elevate the rear side 28 of the
computer housing 12 to an angle 50 comfortable for typing on the
keyboard 16. A comfortable typing angle 50 is known to be generally
between 5 and 10 degrees.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the battery housing 30 is an elongated
housing having a narrow portion 52 and a wide portion 54. The
narrow portion 52 is placed such that it, is generally coextensive
with the connectors 42 on the rear wall 36 of the computer housing
12 when the battery housing 30 is mounted on the computer housing
12. The axis of rotation 56 of the battery housing (FIG. 2) is
shown to extend through the wide portion 54 of the battery housing
30 so that when the battery housing 30 is rotated into the closed
position 34 the narrow portion 52 covers the connectors 42, and
when the battery housing 30 is rotated into the open position 38
there is provided above the narrow portion 52 a space 58 through
which the connectors 42 are exposed. Preferrably, the connectors 42
are positioned cenrally on the rear wall 36 of the computer housing
12, and the narrow portion 52 of the battery housing 30 is
positioned in the center 60 of the battery housing 30 so that is is
coextensive with the connectors 42 when the battery housing 30 is
mounted on the computer housing 12.
[0024] In addition to being movable when mounted on the computer
housing 12, it is convenient, as shown, to have the battery housing
30 removably mounted. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, the battery
housing 30 is shown removed from the computer housing 12.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the battery housing 30 of
FIG. 5 has the narrow portion 52 and two wider end portions 62. In
the embodiment shown, a total of six batteries 32 can be held
within the battery housing 30. Two batteries 32 reside in adjacent
relationship within each wider end portion 62, and two batteries 32
reside in lengthwise relationship within the narrow portion 52.
[0026] The wider end portions 62 of the battery housing 30 form
opposing inwardly facing surfaces 64. An opening 66 is formed
between the opposing inwardly facing surfaces 64, which forms the
space 58 through which the connectors 42 are exposed when the
battery housing 30 is mounted on the computer housing 12 and
rotated into the open position 38 (FIG. 3).
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the rear wall 36 of the computer
housing 12 is shaped such that it has a central extended portion
68. The connectors 42 are located on this central extended portion
68. The central extended portion 68 has opposite outwardly facing
sides 70. When the battery housing 30 is mounted on the computer
housing 12, the central extended portion 68 of the computer housing
12 is located between the wider end portions 62 of the battery
housing 30 such that the outwardly facing sides 70 of the central
extended portion 68 oppose the respective inwardly facing surfaces
64 of the wider end portions 62 of the battery housing 30.
[0028] The battery housing 30 includes an electrical contact 72
located at one of the inwardly facing surfaces 64 effective to
provide electrical power to the computer 10 during rotational
movement of the battery housing 30. When the battery housing 30 is
mounted on the computer housing 12, the electrical contact 72 mates
with a mating electrical contact 76 located on the respective
outwardly facing side 70 of the central extended portion 68 of the
computer housing 12. Electrical power is transferred between the
batteries 32 and the components 14 within the computer housing 12
via the electrical contact 72 and mating electrical contact 76.
Preferrably, the electrical contact 72 is rotatable to provide
rotatable mounting of the battery housing 30 to the computer
housing 12 as well as the transfer of electrical power between the
batteries 32 and the mating electrical contact 76.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 7a and 7b, the electrical contact 72 and
mating electrical contact 76 are shown in further detail. The
electrical contact 72 is a cylindrically shaped member 80 on which
several recessed copper contact strips 82 are circumferentially
located. These contact strips 82 are electrically connected to the
batteries 32 within the battery housing 30. HOW? The mating
electrical contact 76 located on the computer housing 12 is a
U-shaped contact including several copper sliders 84. When the
battery housing 30 is mounted on the computer housing 12, the
electrical contact 72 rests in the U-shaped contact such that the
contact strips 82 electrically contact the sliders 84. Electrical
power is then transferred from the batteries 32 through the contact
strips 82 to the sliders 84 and on to power regulation and
distribution circuitry located within the computer housing 12 which
supplies the required voltages to the various components 14 within
the computer housing 12. According to the embodiment shown, the
batteries 32 are arranged two in series, three in parallel to
provide 7.2 Volts at up to 4 Amps.
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 4, 6, 8, and 9, on the opposite
inwardly facing surface 64 of the battery housing 30 is shown a
joint 88 which mates with a rotatable socket 90 located on the
respective outwardly facing side 70 of the central extended portion
68 of the computer housing 12. The socket 90 includes a key or tab
92 which fits into a slot 94 centrally located through the joint
88. Rotation of the battery housing 30 is thus provided via the
respective interactions between the rotatable electrical contact 72
and mating electrical contact 76, and between the joint 88 and the
rotatable socket 90.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, on the bottom side 96 of the computer
housing 12 two slidably mounted tab covers 98 slide to cover and
uncover the mating electrical contact and the rotatable socket 90.
In order to remove the battery housing 30 from the computer housing
12, the battery housing 30 is rotated into the open position 38 and
the slidable tab covers 98 are slid toward each other to expose the
rotatable connections. The open side of the U-shaped contact 100 is
exposed, as is an open end of the slot 94. The battery housing 30
can then be lifted from the computer housing 12 so that the
cylindrical electrical contact 72 is lifted through the open end of
the U-shaped mating electrical contact 76, and the tab 92 of the
joint 88 is lifted out of the slot 94. The battery housing 30 can
be re-installed via the opposite motion wherein the cylindrical
electrical contact 72 is dropped into the U-shpaed mating
electrical contact 76 and the tab 92 is placed into the slot 94.
Sliding the tab covers 98 away from each other then locks the
battery housing 30 to the computer housing 12 and allows rotatable
motion of the battery housing 30 relative to the computer housing
12.
[0032] Other rotatable electrical contacts can be employed in place
of the rotatable electrical contact 72 and mating electrical
contact 76 herein shown while still maintaining rotatable
electrical contact according to the principles of the invention.
For example, a standard rotatable jack such as a headphone jack
could be employed. Or, circular metallic contacts such as circular
strips of copper could be located on the face of the cylindrical
contact shown rather than circumferentially around it. The mating
electrical contact 76 could then be a channel into which the
cylindrical electrical contact 72 drops. The circular strips of
copper would then mate with an opposing electrical contact on an
inner face of the channel. Alternatively, the narrow portion 52 of
the battery housing 30 could include straight metal pins extending
lateral to its lengthwise direction which mate with cooperating
sockets on the computer housing. The sockets would be shaped such
that electrical contact is maintained throughout the range of
motion of the pins as the battery housing 30 is rotated.
[0033] Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, on the outwardly facing
surface 78 of each of the wider end portions 62 of the battery
housing 30 is formed a channel 102 extending in a direction along
the axis of rotation 104 of the display screen 20. The shape of the
channel 102 complements the shape of the rear edge 24 of the
display screen 20 so that the display screen 20 can rotate without
interference between the rear edge 24 and the outwardly facing
surface 78 of the battery housing 30 when the battery housing 30 is
rotated into the closed position 34. As shown in Fig. x, the
rounded rear edge 24 of the display screen 20 rests in the U-shaped
channel 102.
[0034] Furthermore, the portion 105 of the outwardly facing surface
78 of each wider end portion 62 which is located between the
channel 102 and the computer housing 12 when the battery housing 30
is rotated into the closed position 34 is radiused so that the
battery housing 30 can rotate between the closed position 34 and
the open position 38 without interference with the rear edge 24 of
the display screen 20.
[0035] The very thin notebook computer herein described is but one
of the many possible advantageous electronic device arrangements
which can conceivably be obtained through application of the broad
principle of the present invention which provides for the movable
attachment of a battery housing to an electronic apparatus.
[0036] Furthermore, the very thin notebook computer 10 having a
movable battery housing 30 mounted external to the computer housing
12 as presented herein is intended as only one example of this
application of the present invention. Many-arrangements falling
within this computer application of the broad principle are
conceivable. For instance, though the battery housing 30 is shown
as rotatably mounted on the computer housing 12, the battery
housing 30 could be movably mounted on the computer housing 12 by
other means; for instance, by a sliding mechanism which would cause
the battery housing 30 to slide in a closed position downwards
relative to the computer housing 12, to an open position when the
computer 10 is in use.
[0037] Moreover, though a computer housing 12 with a single central
extended portion 68 for mating with a battery housing 30 having a
central narrow portion 52 and two wider end portions 62 has been
described, the narrow portion 52 could be located at an end of the
battery housing 30, or a computer housing 12 with multiple
extensions could conceivably mate with a battery housing 30 having
multiple wider sections between which the multiple extensions of
the computer housing 12 can mate.
[0038] Then, too, non-rotatable electrical contacts might be used,
the battery housing being rendered movable by means other than
rotatable electrical contacts. For example, standard mechanical
hinges could be employed for rotation, while electrical contact is
maintained via flexible wiring.
[0039] According to a further aspect of the invention, the
placement of the battery housing 30 external to the computer
housing 12 is combined with a particular layout of the electronic
components 14 within the computer housing 12 to provide the very
thin notebook computer 10. Referring now to the assembly views of
FIGS. 10-13, located in the computer housing 12 is a generally
rectangular keyboard assembly 106, which includes the keyboard 16
and a keyboard baseplate 108. A generally rectangular CPU
motherboard 110 having component chips 112 mounted thereon is
positioned directly below the keyboard assembly 106. As shown, the
CPU motherboard 110 is of generally the same major dimensions as
the keyboard assembly 106, the keyboard assembly 106 and
motherboard 110 thereby defining a region `A` within the enclosure.
The remaining components 14 within the computer housing 12 reside
in adjacent and generally co-planar relationship with this
region.
[0040] In particular, adjacent to and generally coplanar with the
region `A` are placed a DC to DC converter 114, a hard disk drive
116, a trackball assembly 118 including the trackball 18, and a
PCMCIA option slot 120. According to this arrangement, the DC to DC
converter 114, the hard disk drive 116, the trackball assembly 118,
the PCMCIA option slot 120, and the battery housing 30 all reside
adjacent to and generally co-planar with each other and with the
region `A` and in which the keyboard assembly 106 and the
motherboard 110 reside, resulting in a substantially thinner
computer 10 than that provided by the prior art arrangement,
wherein at least one of the hard disk drive 102, PCMCIA 108, or
batteries 54 resides below the keyboard.
[0041] Referring in addition to FIG. 2, as shown, the height 122 of
the computer 10 when the display screen 20 is folded down onto the
computer housing 12 is approximately 1.0 inches (FIG. 2). The
display screen 20 is shown to be approximately 7.5 mm thick. The
computer housing 12 is approximately 18 mm high, with the top wall
128 and bottom wall 130 being approximately 1.2 mm thick. The
keyboard assembly 106 has a height 132 of approximately 8.6 mm, and
is placed towards the rear side 28 of the computer housing 12,
directly above the motherboard 110, which has a width 134 of
approximately 1 mm and is placed approximately 2 mm below the
keyboard baseplate 108 (136). A 12.5 mm hard disk drive 116, a Dual
Type II/Single Type III PCMCIA option slot 120 of less than 13 mm
in height, and a trackball assembly 118 of less than 13 mm in
height reside forward of, adjacent to, and coplanar with the the
region `A`. A computer 10 having a total thickness of one inch
results--thereby providing a 33%-70% thinness advantage over prior
art notebook computers.
[0042] Also, though the embodiment shown presents a layout wherein
the hard disk drive 116, trackball assembly 118, and PCMCIA option
slot 120 are located in front of the keyboard assembly 106, the
respective positions of these components can conceivably be
reversed to obtain the same thinness advantage.
[0043] It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention,
modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as
herein disclosed. The present disclosure is merely illustrative,
the invention comprehending all variations thereof.
* * * * *