Abstract: A disk array includes a mainframe chassis conforming to standard SCSI disk drive mechanical form factors, and a mother board and a RAID controller within the chassis. The chassis includes a pivotable access door shock absorber mounted on an inside surface of the door which permits electronic modules to be placed within the chassis, and which helps to control mechanical shock between the chassis and the enclosed electronic modules. The mother board interconnects electrical signals between the electronic modules, at least some of which comprise disk drives forming a redundant array of independent, or inexpensive, disks (RAID). One of the electronic modules is a secondary power supply module which is connectable to the mother board.

Abstract: A specially designed stand structure is used to vertically support a docking station housing, and an associated portable computer removably coupled thereto, to substantially reduce the vertical footprint of the overall docking station system. The stand structure includes a base portion having a recessed area for receiving and supporting a section of the docking station housing, and a pivotally mounted vertical holding wall structure with a transverse lower receiving platform. The vertical holding wall structure is spaced apart from and faces a vertical guide surface of the docking station housing, with the platform extending toward the guide surface.

Abstract: A personal computer includes a chassis in which expansion cards and a processor card can be mounted in an upright parallel manner. An end of each expansion card is received in a vertical slot carried by a speaker component of the computer. A baffle member is swingably mounted on the chassis for rotation about a horizontal axis between open and closed positions. In the open position of the baffle member, the expansion cards can be inserted or removed. In the closed position of the baffle member, ribs thereof engage and stabilize upper edges of the cards. Hard and floppy drives are insertable into respective bays disposed within the chassis in a rear-to-front direction (in contrast to a front-to-rear direction), so that EMI shields located in front of those bays do not have to be removed to permit insertion or removal of the disc drives.

Abstract: A portable computer with a base (22) containing media, batteries, and keyboard, with the a CPU and motherboard located in a planar CPU module (28) separate from and behind the flat-panel display module (26), mechanically connected to the display module (26) with a deployment mechanism, and functionally connected to the display module (26) and base (22) by a base flexible circuit (78). The translating mechanism operates such that when the display module (26) is closed, the CPU module (28) is adjacent to the display module (26), and when the display module (26) is open, the CPU module (28) is positioned with a gap between the it and the display module (26).

Abstract: A composite display is provided having display panels which move into and out of a viewing position. While in the viewing position the display panels form a concatenated display screen. The display panels are stored within a display housing with respective viewing areas being at least partially overlapped to reduce storage space. The display panels automatically move out of the storage position into the viewing position in a notebook computer configuration when opening the computer. Similarly, the display panels automatically move into the storage position when closing the computer. The display unit includes a post. A system unit includes a cam. The cam defines a track within which the post moves. While the display unit rotates from the closed position to the open position the post moves along the track causing a display to move into its viewing position.

Abstract: A notebook computer is provided with a collapsible keyboard in which a dome sheet with elastomeric key return dome members thereon is horizontally shiftable through elevation and retraction strokes to respectively shift the keys between elevated operating positions in which the domes underlie and support the keys, and retracted positions in which the domes are shifted away from their key-underlying positions. A linkage member interconnected between the computer lid and a drive bar on the dome sheet creates initial triggering movements of the dome sheet through its elevation and retraction strokes in response to opening and closing of the lid. In response to these lid-created triggering movements of the dome sheet, a bistable spring structure connected to the drive bar takes control of the dome sheet and drives it through the balance of the stroke and then releasably retains the fully shifted dome sheet in the resulting stroke end position thereof.

Abstract: A modular computer includes a portable computer providing a first set of performance characteristics, an expansion module couplable to the bottom surface of the portable computer to provide, in combination therewith, a second set of performance characteristics, and a docking module couplable to the portable computer through the expansion module to provide, in combination therewith, a third set of performance characteristics. A method of altering the features of a portable computer includes providing a portable computer having a first set of features, operatively coupling the portable computer to a transportable base wherein the coupling provides a second set of features, and operatively connecting the portable computer through the transportable base to a stationary base, wherein the connecting provides a third set of features.

Abstract: A reconfigurable modular computer assembly. The computer assembly comprises a housing having parallel longitudinal guide walls and a main chassis for carrying electronic components. The main chassis is slidably mounted to the housing using bayonet sliders. The main chassis includes a control panel and a cable opening for allowing cables from a transom to pass through to components located in the main chassis. A computer power supply is removably attached to the main chassis. In a preferred embodiment, a 3.5" drive cage sub-chassis and a 5.25" drive cage sub-chassis are removably attached to the main chassis. Alternatively, two 3.5" drive cage sub-chassis can be removably attached to the main chassis. When the main chassis is in a deployed position, the drive cage sub-chassis and power supply can be easily disconnected and removed from the computer assembly for cleaning, replacement or repair without powering down the computer assembly. A face plate is removably attached to the main chassis.

Abstract: A portable computer is adapted for use with an overhead projector and includes a main body having a keyboard on its upper face and a lid, which is hinged to the rear edge of the main body. The lid includes front and back portions. The front lid portion includes a liquid crystal display, a driver for the display, and a backlight. The back lid portion includes a light diffuser that diffuses light emitted by the backlight. The back lid portion is connected to the front lid portion by a latch, which is only accessible to the user when the lid is in the open position, thereby preventing the inadvertent removal of the back lid portion when the lid is closed against the main body. A switch is also provided that detects the removal of the back lid portion and cuts off the drive current to the backlight in the front lid portion.

Abstract: A docking base for a portable computer includes a hollow housing with a generally horizontal support portion for supporting the portable computer thereon and a generally upright portion disposed on a rear end of the support portion. The docking base further includes a connector unit provided on the upright portion of the housing. The connector unit is adapted to engage corresponding connector units on a rear side of the portable computer for connecting the portable computer to at least one computer peripheral device. The upright portion of the housing includes a front wall that is formed with a vent hole to be juxtaposed with a heat-dissipating fan unit on the rear side of the portable computer so that hot air from the fan unit can enter into the housing. The upright portion is further formed with an exhaust hole to prevent the hot air from being trapped in the housing.

Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus has a housing body with a peripheral wall. The housing body includes a first receptacle having an opening portion opening to the peripheral wall. A battery pack is detachably mounted in the first receptacle. A second receptacle for detachably containing a memory card is formed within the housing body. The second receptacle has a slot for insertion and removable of the memory card. The slot is open to the first receptacle of the housing body and is covered by the battery pack mounted in the first receptacle.

Abstract: A computer docking station has a disk drive module incorporated therein which is capable of operatively receiving a disk drive therein. The disk drive module is also capable of being operatively installed within a desktop computer or other enclosure having a half-height bay therein. Security features of the docking station include preventing access by unauthorized persons to the disk drive, and preventing ejection of the disk drive from the disk drive module. Additionally, multiple disk drive modules may be cooperatively linked in the docking station so that the security features relating to each of the disk drive modules may be simultaneously actuated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media console of a personal computer system that includes a drive housing that can be moved within a base member between an open position and a closed position. A direct access storage device (e.g., floppy disk drive) is disposed within the drive housing and has an opening for receiving a removable storage medium. The open position is characterized in that the opening in the direct access storage device is accessible to a user while the closed position is characterized in that the opening in the direct access storage device is not accessible to the user.The drive housing pivots on pins which are disposed at opposite ends of a back portion of the drive housing. The pins fit within grooves which are located at each end of the base member. A spring coupled to the base member and the drive housing biases the drive housing toward the open position. A latch for latching the drive housing in the closed position is coupled to the base member and the drive housing.

Abstract: A portable apparatus comprises a housing having an opening portion, a pack receptacle formed in the housing, and a battery pack detachably contained in the pack receptacle through the opening portion. The pack receptacle has a slider for maintaining the battery pack at the pack receptacle. The slider is movable between a lock position and a lock releasing position, and maintained at the lock position through a spring. The slider has an insertion port, an engaging portion, a first cam portion, and a second cam portion. The insertion port is formed such that a convex portion of the battery pack is detachably inserted therethrough to be continuous to the opening portion. The engaging portion is formed to be engaged with the convex portion when the slider is moved to the lock position.

Abstract: A rectangular shaped carrying case for a laptop computer and a portable top loading printer. The base of the case has a slot for exiting printed paper from the printer in front while the computer and printer are positioned side-by-side facing forward. A padded compartment section separates the computer from the printer and houses a stapler. The back of the case lid has various compartments for office accessories.

Abstract: A portable apparatus comprises a housing including a pack receptacle having an insertion port. The pack receptacle has a first connector facing to the insertion port. A circuit board is contained in the housing. The circuit board is positioned between the pack receptacle and a bottom wall of the housing. The pack receptacle contains a pack device to be detachable through the insertion port. The pack device has a second connector to be detachably connected to the first connector. The pack receptacle has an ejector for ejecting the pack device. The ejector has a pressing member for pressing the pack device in a direction away from the first connector and an operation member, positioned at the upper portion of the circuit board to be linked with the pressing member. The operation member has a lever section along the peripheral wall of the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a personal computer system that includes a media console coupled to a system unit with a multi-conductor cable. The media console contains a direct access storage device (e.g., floppy disk drive) having an opening for receiving a removable storage medium. The system unit is separate from the media console and includes a microprocessor coupled to a first bus, a non-volatile storage device coupled to the first bus and a power supply for supplying power to the the system. The multi-conductor cable has one end coupled to the media console and another end coupled to the system unit for electrically connecting devices in the media console to devices in the system unit.

Abstract: A disk drive system for both providing shock protection to the disk drive and reducing electromagnetic interference. A printed circuit board is provided having a shock sensitive device such as a disk drive and having electronic circuit components, e.g., data handling components capable of operating at a high data rate mounted thereon. The printed circuit board is provided with an electrical ground path and with at least one shock mount point. The shock mount point is provided with a conductive pad which is electrically connected to the electrical ground path of the printed circuit board. An electrically conductive carrier is provided for supporting the printed circuit board. At least one shock mount system is provided for attaching the printed circuit board to the carrier. The shock mount system comprises a shock mount grommet coated with an electrically conductive coating for electrically connecting the conductive pad to the carrier.

Abstract: A computer system with an externally accessible bus system having pairs of card slots and bus receptacles for repeatedly installing and removing modules includes one or more peripheral modules containing peripheral devices and having one or more pairs of sliding flanges and a connector for engaging one or more card slot pairs and corresponding bus receptacles. The peripheral modules have a peripheral interface port on an externally accessible front panel for externally connecting the peripheral devices within the module to other modules in the computer system.

Abstract: A new frame structure for a multiple drive library computer system having a plurality of storage drives and a number of electronic and mechanical subsystems, each drive having a media-inserting face abutting a robotic media inserter, and an electrical connection face opposite to said media-inserting face. The frame structure comprises a primary frame structure which contains a number of said subsystems, and one or more modular drive housings, attachable to said primary frame structure, in which are mounted one or more of said storage drives, wherein each of said modular drive housings, and the drive(s) mounted therein, is removable from said primary housing as a unit. The frame structure with modular housings allows good drives in a multiple drive library computer system to remain online, and accessible to a host, during the repair of one or more failed drives.