Apparatus for expanding the input/output capabilities of a personal computer

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said male connector is a card-edge connector, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a spacer attached to the connector and having a plurality of electrical connections therethrough, said card-edge connector being spaced apart from said printed circuit board by said spacer so that when said printed circuit board is aligned with the opening in the frame of the computer, said card-edge connector is aligned with said female expansion slot connector.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said enclosure comprises first and second enclosure halves, said first and second enclosure halves each including means for mechanically interconnecting the two said halves.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said enclosure further includes means for holding said extended portion of said printed circuit board in a fixed position relative to said enclosure halves.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said enclosure defines a plurality of connector openings, to permit access to said plurality of input/output connectors.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein at least one of said first and second enclosure halves includes an enclosure opening having an area larger than the total area of said plurality of connector openings, and further includes an electromagnetic shielding plate having said plurality of connector openings formed therein, said electromagnetic shielding plate having an area larger than said area of said enclosure opening so that, when said first and second enclosure halves are mechanically interconnected, said plate and said connectors block said enclosure opening to thereby substantially prevent the emission of electromagnetic radiation through said enclosure opening.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first and second enclosure halves are substantially identical, except that one of said enclosure halves has a solid electromagnetic shielding plate spanning its enclosure opening.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment portion defines at least one slot, and wherein said means for mechanically interconnecting said enclosure with the frame of the computer includes a support member having a mating portion to engage the slot in said attachment portion, said support member having means for connection to the frame of the computer proximate to the opening, said support member being of a shape substantially spanning the opening between the frame and the attachment portion, and said support member further comprising an electromagnetic shielding material to block emission of electromagnetic radiation through said support member.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said first and second enclosure halves are mirror images of each other.

Claim 13

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 further including means within the opening in the computer for holding said first and second enclosure halves in a fixed position.

Claim 14

The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein each enclosure half defines a slot, and wherein said means for holding said first and second enclosure halves in a fixed position within the computer opening includes a support member having a first and a second mating portion each of which engages a portion of the slot proximate to said first and said second enclosure halves, respectively, said support member having means for connection to the frame of the computer proximate to the opening therein.

Claim 15

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 further including a male card-edge connector connected to the printed circuit board, and further including means for electrically connecting said card-edge connector to the printed circuit board, the card-edge connector having means for engaging with a female bus connector in the computer.

Claim 16

In a personal computer having an inside and an outside, as defined by an outer frame, with an expansion connector provided on the inside, and with said outer frame and a cover providing an electromagnetic shield around the inside of said computer, an apparatus for providing a plurality of input/output connectors external to the personal computer, comprising: a printed circuit board including means for mechanical attachment to the computer, said printed circuit board having an inside portion including those portions of the printed circuit board located inside said personal computer when said circuit board is mechanically attached to the frame and an outside portion including those portions of the printed circuit board located outside said personal computer when similarly attached, said inside portion including means for electrically connecting the printed circuit board to the expansion connector inside said personal computer, said printed circuit board also having means for electrically connecting the printed circuit board to a plurality of input/output connectors; and an enclosure having electromagnetic shielding thereon, said enclosure surrounding said outside portion of said printed circuit board to provide electromagnetic shielding of said outside portion of said printed circuit board, said enclosure having means for mechanically connecting the enclosure with the frame of said personal computer.

Claim 17

In a personal computer having an inside and an outside, as defined by an outer frame, with an expansion connector provided on the inside, and with said outer frame and a cover providing an electromagnetic shield around the inside of said computer, an apparatus for providing a plurality of input/output connectors external to the personal computer, comprising: a printed circuit board including means for mechanical attachment to the computer, said printed circuit board having an inside portion including those portions of the printed circuit board located inside said personal computer when said circuit board is mechanically attached to the frame and an outside portion including those portions of the printed circuit board located outside said personal computer when similarly attached, said inside portion including means for electrically connecting the printed circuit board to the expansion connector inside said personal computer, said printed circuit board also having means for electrically connecting the printed circuit board to a plurality of input/output connectors; and an enclosure having electromagnetic shielding thereon, said enclosure surrounding said outside portion of said printed circuit board to provide electromagnetic shielding of said outside portion of said printed circuit board, said enclosure having means for mechanically connecting the enclosure with the frame of said personal computer.

Claim 18

In a personal computer having an inside and an outside defined by a surrounding outer frame said frame providing an electromagnetic shield around the inside of said computer, a method of adding a plurality of input/output connectors external to the personal computer, comprising: inserting a printed circuit board through an opening in the computer so that, when inserted, a first portion of said printed circuit board is inside the computer and a second portion of said printed circuit board is outside the computer, said second portion having a plurality of input/output connectors mounted therein; engaging a connector inside the computer to provide electrical interconnection between said printed circuit board and the personal computer; and surrounding said second portion of said printed circuit board outside the personal computer with an electromagnetic shield to substantially block transmission of electromagnetic radiation to and from said printed circuit board.

Claim 19

In a personal computer having an inside and an outside defined by a surrounding outer frame said frame providing an electromagnetic shield around the inside of said computer, a method of adding a plurality of input/output connectors external to the personal computer, comprising: inserting a printed circuit board through an opening in the computer so that, when inserted, a first portion of said printed circuit board is inside the computer and a second portion of said printed circuit board is outside the computer, said second portion having a plurality of input/output connectors mounted therein; engaging a connector inside the computer to provide electrical interconnection between said printed circuit board and the personal computer; and surrounding said second portion of said printed circuit board outside the personal computer with an electromagnetic shield to substantially block transmission of electromagnetic radiation to and from said printed circuit board.

Claim 20

The method of claim 15 wherein said surrounding step occurs before said inserting and engaging steps.

Claim 25

An apparatus for electrical interconnection as described in claim 18, wherein said first connector comprises a male connector and said expansion connector comprises a female connector.

Claim 26

An apparatus for electrical interconnection as described in claim 19, wherein said male connector comprises a card-edge connector, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a spacer having a plurality of electrical connections therethrough, said card-edge connector being spaced apart from said printed circuit board by said spacer so that when said printed circuit board is aligned with the opening in the frame of the computer, said cardedge connector is aligned with said female expansion slot connector.

Claim 27

An apparatus for electrical interconnection as described in claim 18, wherein said enclosure comprises first and said second enclosure halves, said first and second enclosure halves each including means for mechanical interconnection between the two said halves.

Claim 28

An apparatus for electrical interconnection as described in claim 21, wherein said enclosure further includes means for holding said printed circuit board in a fixed position relative to said enclosure halves.

Claim 29

An apparatus for electrical interconnection as described in claim 22, wherein said enclosure defines a plurality of connector openings, to permit access to said plurality of input/output connectors.

Claim 30

An apparatus for electrical interconnection as described in claim 23, wherein at least one of said first and second enclosure halves includes an enclosure opening having an area larger than the total area of said plurality of connector openings, and further includes an electromagnetic shielding plate having said plurality of connector openings formed therein, said electromagnetic shielding plate having an area larger than said area of said enclosure opening so that, when said first and second enclosure halves are mechanically interconnected, said plate and said connectors block said enclosure opening to thereby substantially prevent the transmission of electromagnetic radiation through said enclosure opening.

Claim 31

An apparatus for electrical interconnection as described in claim 24, wherein said first and said second enclosure halves are substantially identical, except that one of said enclosure halves has a solid electromagnetic shielding plate spanning its enclosure opening.

Claim 32

An apparatus for electrical interconnection as described in claim 18, wherein said enclosure comprises an attachment portion which defines at least one slot, and wherein said means for mechanically interconnecting said enclosure with the computer housing includes a support member having a mating portion to engage the slot in said attachment portion, said support member having means for connection to the computer housing proximate to the opening, said support member being of a shape substantially spanning the opening between the housing and the attachment portion, and said support member further comprising an electromagnetic shielding material to block transmission of electromagnetic radiation through said support member.

Claim 33

The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including a spacer having a plurality of electrical connections therethrough, said spacer being mechanically connected to the male card-edge connector and also mechanically connected to the printed circuit board in a manner such that the male card-edge connector is electrically connected to the printed circuit board, whereby the printed circuit board may be electrically connected to a female bus connector in the computer that is offset from the center of the opening.