Patents Examined by Hung Van Duong
  • Patent number: 7388743
    Abstract: A keyboard is disposed in a base having a first connecting member and includes a first keyboard body, a second keyboard body, a second connecting member and a connecting assembly. The second keyboard body is adjacent to the first keyboard body. The second connecting member disposed on the first keyboard body or the second keyboard body is to be connected to the first connecting member. The connecting assembly connecting the first keyboard body and the second keyboard body can adjust a distance between the first keyboard body and the second keyboard body. When the first keyboard body is distant from the second keyboard body, the second connecting member is connected to the first connecting member. An electronic device with the keyboard is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Jui-Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 7382604
    Abstract: A portable computer as an example of an electronic apparatus has a main unit, and a cover member placed on the upper surface of the main unit. The main unit has a housing. A component mounting part is formed on the upper surface of the housing. The component mounting part is covered with the cover member. The cover member has a sliding-type first cover, and a fitting-type second cover. The first cover is placed on a first area of the component mounting part. The first cover has a lock portion, which is slid in the width direction of the housing, and engages with the housing. The second cover is placed on a second area of the component mounting part not covered with the first cover. The second cover is fit to the housing from the upper side of the component mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Minaguchi, Yasuyuki Horii, Masanori Sato, Tomohiro Hamada, Hidemi Itakura
  • Patent number: 7382611
    Abstract: A connector protection system comprises a connector accessible through a surface, a door that moves substantially parallel to the surface, and a wedge feature that actuates movement of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark S. Tracy, Paul J. Doczy
  • Patent number: 7379294
    Abstract: A quick plug/eject concept 3.5? SATA HDD rack comprises a casing, a HDD holding set, a HDD ejecting set, a HDD vibration reduction and static electronics proof set, a Serial ATA connector (the receptacle part), and a plug-in sensor. The design of a HDD holding set and a HDD ejecting set allows user to install and uninstall a 3.5? SATA HDD by hand plug/eject movements without tool (i.e. toolless). HDD vibration reduction and static electronics proof set enhances the stability and security of the HDD by avoiding accidents caused by 3.5? HDD vibration and electrical short circuit. The Serial ATA connector provides a SATA signal connecting structure without an extra connector that might reduce the high frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventor: Gracie L. Chen
  • Patent number: 7369399
    Abstract: A housing module 10 for a circuit board comprises a first chamber 20 for accommodating a main part of the circuit board and a second chamber 22 bordering the first chamber 20 and having a greater depth that the first chamber 20 to enable it to accommodate a connector 16 located along an edge of the circuit board and protruding above the surface of the circuit by an amount exceeding the depth of the first chamber 20. The exterior of the module 10 is shaped to enable two similar modules 10 to be stacked with the first chambers 20 overlying one another and with the second chambers 22 circumferentially staggered around the stack, thereby and acting to maintain the modules of the stack in alignment with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Mike Richardson
  • Patent number: 7369405
    Abstract: A computer enclosure includes a base (10), a securing member (30) and a bracket (50). A through hole (164, 184) is defined in the base. The securing member secured to base. A guiding groove (32) is defined in the securing member. The bracket is attached to the base, and has a latching tab (534, 544) and a post (536, 566). During engaging of the latching tab in the through hole of the base, the latching tab presses against an edge of the though hole. The bracket is thereby driven to slide forward on the base, with the post engaging in the guiding groove of the securing member. The bracket is thus secured to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Lung Chen, Yu-Ming Xiao, Xian-Huang Gao
  • Patent number: 7369404
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for holding a storage device (10) defining apertures (122) in sidewalls (12) thereof includes a bracket (20), and a cover (30) rotatably attached to the bracket, and a pair of thumbscrews (40) securing the cover to the bracket. The bracket includes a first side plate (23) with a plurality of tips (231) engaging in the apertures, and a second side plate (24). The second side plate defines a cutout (25) and a pair threaded holes (247) therein. The cover is pivotally attached to the second plate and covers the cutout. The cover includes a plurality of tips (33) to engage in corresponding apertures of the storage device, and a pair of through holes (37). The thumbscrews extend through the through holes and engage in the threaded holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shao-Bo Han, Hsuan-Tsung Chen, Wei-Bin Hua
  • Patent number: 7365968
    Abstract: An electronic device. An image configuration is disposed on a housing of the electronic device. The image configuration comprises a base and a patterned portion. The patterned portion has a center of gravity differing from a rotation center that pivoted on the base. When the electronic device is in a forth orientation, a line between the center of gravity and the rotation center of the patterned portion is substantially parallel to a direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventors: Liang-Yi Chen, Wen-Ching Hsieh, Chun-Chao Chiu
  • Patent number: 7362566
    Abstract: A system and apparatus are described for removably mounting one or more hard disk drives within a computer system. According to one embodiment, the system includes an enclosure configured to receive a disk drive carrier cage, a disk drive backplane, a disk drive controller, and a power supply. The system also includes a disk drive backplane for receiving hard disk drives, disk drive carriers for holding the hard disk drives, and disk drive carrier rails mountable within the disk drive carrier cage for slidably receiving the disk drive carriers. The disk drive carriers and disk drive carrier rails are translucent thereby permitting light emanating from the backplane to be viewed at the front of the cage. The disk drive controller provides a disk drive interface between the disk drive backplane and a host computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: American Megatrends, Inc.
    Inventor: Clas Gerhard Sivertsen
  • Patent number: 7362570
    Abstract: The invention provides a water-proof housing for an electronic equipment. The water-proof housing, according to the invention, has built-in drainage to cope with penetration of liquid into the electronic equipment. The water-proof housing essentially includes a main body with a plurality of ventilation holes formed thereon. The housing also includes a plurality of drainpipes which each corresponds to one of the ventilation holes and a collecting hopper is formed at one end thereof. The drainpipes are mounted on an inner wall of the main body such that each of the collecting hoppers is disposed underneath the corresponding ventilation hole. Once liquid flows into the interior of the electronic equipment through the ventilation holes, the liquid is collected by the collecting hoppers and drained out of the electronic equipment from an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventor: I-Wen Su
  • Patent number: 7362569
    Abstract: A fan bearer used to bear a fan and able to be detachably mounted on a base is proposed. The fan bearer includes a bearer body for bearing the fan, and at least two loading/unloading components accommodated in at least two accommodation spaces of the bearing body respectively. Each of the loading/unloading components includes a first spring portion, a first hitching portion, a latch portion extended from the first hitching portion, and a second spring portion installed against an inner wall of the accommodation space. The base includes a withstanding portion and a second hitching portion corresponding to the first spring portion and the first hitching portion respectively. By a series of appropriate operations, the fan bearer can be fixed to or detached from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventor: Kuei-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 7359187
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a casing, an electrical connector, and a latch unit. The electrical connector is provided in the casing, and is coupled electrically to a terminal of a disk drive when the latter is received in the casing. The latch unit includes a latch member that is provided on the disk drive, a first interlocking member that is formed on the latch member, an operating member that is pivoted to the casing, and a second interlocking member that is formed on the operating member, and that engages the first interlocking member when the electrical connector is connected to the terminal of the disk drive. The operating member is operable so as to disengage the second interlocking member from the first interlocking member, thereby permitting removal of the disk drive form the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Ming Hu, Kuo-Kuang Liu
  • Patent number: 7359188
    Abstract: A system and method for an improved multiple hard-disk-drive data-storage enclosure. Some embodiments position drives in counter-rotating pairs, each simultaneously accessing half the data, such that seek-caused actuator rotational-acceleration vibration cause simultaneous canceling rotational torque. Some embodiments position the edge of a first drive (or drive pair) at an angle to the actuator midpoint of a nearby second drive (or drive pair), such that rotational-acceleration vibration from a seek-caused actuator rotation in the first drive does not cause a rotational movement into the second drive that affects the tracking or seek operation. Some further embodiments position drives in a herringbone pattern to redirect air flow in addition to reducing rotational-acceleration vibration interaction. Other embodiments include a printed wire circuit board mounted to reduce the rotational-acceleration vibration interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sherwood Information Partners, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Hall, Daniel M. McCormick, Eric J. Wendel, Charles A. Lemaire
  • Patent number: 7355846
    Abstract: A mounting device (20) for a disk drive (80) has at least one retaining hole (81) defined in each one of two opposite sides thereof. The mounting device includes a receiving member (40), a retaining member (50), and a securing member (60). The receiving member includes a side wall (43) and a bottom wall (41). At least one fixing pin (433) is formed on the side wall. An elastic clip (413) is formed on the bottom wall with a protrusion (413) thereon. The retaining member is slidably attached to the receiving member. The retaining member includes a locking wall (51) and a retaining wall (53). At least one fixing pin (533) is formed on the retaining wall. The protrusion is engaged in an opening (511) defined in the locking wall. The securing member is attached to the retaining member. The securing member includes a pressing tab (613).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Lung Chen, Qing-Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 7352568
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a main body; a display portion, a responsive member and a frictional sliding member. The display portion is supported by the main body rotatably about an axis of a rotary shaft so as to extend and retract with respect to the main body. The responsive member reciprocates in a guide groove formed in the main body as a result of the extension and retraction of the display portion. The responsive member includes a first end rotatably attached to a rear side of the display portion at a position offset from the axis of the rotary shaft, and a second end including with an engagement piece engaged with the guide groove. The frictional sliding member is disposed along the guide groove and, when compressed by the engagement piece of the responsive member, the frictional sliding member applies a frictional force to the reciprocating responsive member. An image forming apparatus may include such an electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhito Ishida, Takamitsu Kawai, Teruo Deshimaru
  • Patent number: 7349205
    Abstract: A system and method for an improved multiple hard-disk-drive data-storage enclosure. Some embodiments position drives in counter-rotating pairs, each simultaneously accessing half the data, such that seek-caused actuator rotational-acceleration vibration cause simultaneous canceling rotational torque. Some embodiments position the edge of a first drive (or drive pair) at an angle to the actuator midpoint of a nearby second drive (or drive pair), such that rotational-acceleration vibration from a seek-caused actuator rotation in the first drive does not cause a rotational movement into the second drive that affects the tracking or seek operation. Some further embodiments position drives in a herringbone pattern to redirect air flow in addition to reducing rotational-acceleration vibration interaction. Other embodiments include a printed wire circuit board mounted to reduce the rotational-acceleration vibration interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sherwood Information Partners, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Hall, Daniel M. McCormick, Eric J. Wendel, Charles A. Lemaire
  • Patent number: 7349202
    Abstract: A data processing device is described, having on its front a large display device, in which the tilt angle of the display device is adjustable whether the main unit of the data processing device is positioned either vertically or horizontally. A display device mounting unit 70 rendered at the front top part of the main unit 20 has a curved recessed portion 71 which when seen in section curves at an angle from the front to the inside of the main unit 20. A mounting member 50 having a curved surface 51 that is convex in section is attached so that the mounting member 50 can slide along the arc of the curved recessed portion 71. The mounting member 50 is also fastened to the top or bottom end of the back of the display device 30. Sliding the mounting member 50 along the arc of the display device mounting unit 70 when the display device 30 is installed to the main unit 20 enables adjusting the tilt angle of the display device 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohisa Kano, Toshiya Matsuse
  • Patent number: 7342782
    Abstract: A locking device for locking a removable module on an electronic device is provided. The locking device has a switch, a base and an elastic component. When the base is located in a locked position, the base can prevent the removable module from separating from the electronic device. When the base is located in an unlocked position, the removable module and the electronic device can be separated. The elastic component provides a recovery force when the base is moved from the lock position. The base can be held in the unlocked position when the removable module is installed on the electronic device and the base is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Siu-Ming Lam, Jui-Ting Tsai
  • Patent number: 7339785
    Abstract: A computer system for receiving standard and expanded computer devices includes a chassis, a midplane, and an interposer. The chassis includes bays, each adapted to receive the standard computer device. The midplane includes connectors respectively aligned with the plurality of bays that connect the midplane to a standard computer device disposed within a bay. The standard and expanded computer devices are passed through the interposer, which includes a body defining slots respectively aligned with the bays. Each slot is sized to enable the standard computer device to pass through the slot. The slots includes first and second sets of adjacent slots. The interposer is configured to allow the expanded computer device to simultaneously pass through all slots of the first set of adjacent slots and prevent the expanded computer device, while positioned within the second set of adjacent slots, from fixedly engaging the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Clifton P. Colborn, Candice L. Coletrane, William G. Pagan, Robyn A. McGlotten
  • Patent number: RE40204
    Abstract: A portable electronic terminal apparatus includes a main body, an information input mechanism, a plurality of displays, a communications mechanism, and a flip panel. The main body has a hollow section. The information input mechanism inputs various kinds of information including data and instructions. Each of the displays shows the various kinds of information input through the input mechanism. The communications mechanism transmits and receives the various kinds of information input through the input mechanism. The flip panel is movably mounted on the main body and is configured to rotate to open and close about a side edge portion of the flip panel. This flip panel is retracted in the hollow section of the main body when the flip panel is closed. In addition, one of the displays is mounted on the flip panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhisa Yamamoto