Abstract: A ball grid array (BGA) includes straight pins at the corners and if desired along the edges of the array that are engaged with a PCB to reduce stress on the solder balls. The pins can be on the chip substrate of the BGA or on a separate frame that is glued to the chip substrate.

Abstract: In the context of a notebook computer, multiple battery safety measures in the computer, battery pack, and individual battery cells. These battery packs include industry standard safety mechanisms as well as additional safeguards designed to increase safety. The additional safeguards can be categorized in the following ways. The first safeguard deals with multiple, independent levels of battery monitoring. The second safeguard employs abnormal condition detection methods. The third safeguard deals with improvements to mechanical and thermal design.

Abstract: A unitary magnesium frame for a notebook computer includes a planar card support that isolates the planar card from external stresses applied to a base cover assembly that is engaged with the frame. A keyboard bezel assembly can cover the frame opposite to the base cover assembly. Various component-supporting structures of the frame are disclosed.

Abstract: A technique for prohibiting access to a computer having a security function when a security device is illegally removed from the computer. The security device is a hardware component that constitutes a part of a security function for a computer. When the security device is illegally removed from the computer, access to the computer is prohibited. Data indicating that the security device is attached to the computer are stored in a nonvolatile memory. Then, when a specific event, such as a power-ON event, is used as a trigger, the procedure for prohibiting the access to the computer is initiated. Following this, based on the data stored in the memory, it is detected that the security device was once attached to the computer and that it has now been removed. If currently the security device is not attached to the computer, although it was attached before, the access to the computer is prohibited.

Abstract: A connector is provided to reduce the transmission of shock from a housing to a HD via a connector in a notebook computer when the housing is dropped or hits something. The connector has a lower connector portion that is fixed to a print-circuit board and a guide axis, and an upper connector portion that is positioned above the lower connector portion with a vertical gap between itself and the lower connector portion to be slidable along the guide axis. To and from the front side of the upper connector portion, the terminal pins of the HD are inserted and pulled out. Upper ends of electric connection pins for the upper and lower rows can be inserted into pin insertion holes on the upper connector portion to be connected to the terminals of the HD, middle portion of the connection pins have U-shaped resilient portions, and lower ends protrude downward to the lower connector portion and are connected to the wires of the print-circuit board.

Abstract: A connector is provided to reduce the transmission of shock from a housing to a HD via a connector in a notebook computer when the housing is dropped or hits something. The connector has a lower connector portion that is fixed to a print-circuit board and a guide axis, and an upper connector portion that is positioned above the lower connector portion with a vertical gap between itself and the lower connector portion to be slidable along the guide axis. To and from the front side of the upper connector portion, the terminal pins of the HD are inserted and pulled out. Upper ends of electric connection pins for the upper and lower rows can be inserted into pin insertion holes on the upper connector portion to be connected to the terminals of the HD, middle portion of the connection pins have U-shaped resilient portions, and lower ends protrude downward to the lower connector portion and are connected to the wires of the print-circuit board.

Abstract: An electronic component unit such as a speaker unit which is to be installed in the main body of a notebook-sized PC, includes an integral connector with compression type terminals that are connected with lead wires to a speaker. When the speaker unit is disposed on a speaker-unit mounting portion, the compression type terminals are disposed at a position where they contact with the lands of a system board. The speaker unit is fixed by inserting screws into the support portions of a housing, and at the same time, the compression type terminals are elastically contacted with the lands and electrically connected thereto.

Abstract: To provide a protection structure for a disk drive and an electronic apparatus. The protection structure being designed not to damage a disk set in the disk drive even when a space provided to protect the disk drive is reduced.

Abstract: An electronic component unit such as a speaker unit which is to be installed in the main body of a notebook-sized PC, includes an integral connector with compression type terminals that are connected with lead wires to a speaker. When the speaker unit is disposed on a speaker-unit mounting portion, the compression type terminals are disposed at a position where they contact with the lands of a system board. The speaker unit is fixed by inserting screws into the support portions of a housing, and at the same time, the compression type terminals are elastically contacted with the lands and electrically connected thereto.

Abstract: To provide a protection structure for a disk drive and an electronic apparatus. The protection structure being designed not to damage a disk set in the disk drive even when a space provided to protect the disk drive is reduced.

Abstract: A flap actuation mechanism is provided with flaps for opening an aperture formed in the housing of a notebook sized personal computer. A first shaft portion and a second shaft portion rotatably support rotating plates bent and formed in the flaps and an insertion mouth is formed in the abutting surfaces of the flaps. An opening pin is inserted into the insertion mouth from the outside. The positions of the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion are set according to the height of the rotating plates so that the moment of rotation for opening the flap outside the housing is greater than the moment of rotation for rotating the flap inside the housing. With this, it becomes possible to reduce the height of the rotating plates and therefore the flap actuation mechanism can be made thin.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit has at least one of the screw securing elements on its right and left sides to attach to brackets for attachment to the cover for a laptop computer. When the liquid crystal display unit is fixed to the cover from the side in this manner, the cover can be near that of the size of the liquid crystal display panel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a palm rest with a simple structure that can be stored in a lid of an electric device. A palm rest 10 is supported rotatable at a case assembly 14 within which a keyboard 34 is mounted. By rotating the palm rest 10 outward, an operator can rest his palms on it, thus facilitating key manipulation. When the palm rest 10 is positioned upright, it is retained within a lid 18, which covers the keyboard 34. In this case, the palm rest 10 does not project outward from the PC 12 and the PC 12 can therefore be stored without difficulty. Since a gap is defined between the palm rest 10 and the front wall of the case assembly 14 when the palm rest 10 is rotated forward, a user can slip his fingers through the defined gap and grasp the palm rest 10, which then can serve as a handle for carrying the PC 12.

Abstract: A keyboard housing structure is disclosed that includes a keyboard housing section for housing a keyboard body and a cable housing section for housing a cable. The cable is connected at one end to the keyboard body which is movable in the cable housing section along a housing direction in a pull-out direction. The other end of the cable is moveable in the housing direction within the cable housing section when housing the keyboard body in the keyboard housing section. Further included is a cable side connector, which is provided on the other end of the cable. A storing section side connector is detachably connected to the cable side connector and is housed in the cable housing section in such a manner as to be movable along the housing direction and the pull-out direction. The cable side connector is latched by a latch when the store section side connector is at a predetermined position in the pull-out direction in the cable housing section.

Abstract: A keyboard storage and retrieval system for a computer is provided, the system comprising a flat panel display, an enclosure, a removable keyboard slidably attached to the enclosure, and a latching system for lockingly securing the removable keyboard to the enclosure. The latching system includes a manually operated damping device for ejecting the removable keyboard from the enclosure and a manually operated mechanical latching device for securing the removable keyboard to the enclosure. The flat panel display is movable to a closed position on the enclosure to actuate the latching device to prevent the damping device from ejecting the removable keyboard from the enclosure.