Patent US5576931A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5576931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer with two fans and two air circulation areas
Assignee: Panda Project Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-03
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Granted: 1996-11-19
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Expires: 2014-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A computer system including a plurality of air circulation areas to facilitate cooling of components with in the air circulation areas. Specifically, the system includes an air circulation area for a plurality of printed circuit boards, for a power supply, and for a plurality of internal and external peripherals, such as disk drives. The system also includes an automatic door that covers the external peripherals. The external peripherals slide forward, out of a casing of the system to facilitate upgrade and/or repair of the peripherals. In addition, the system includes cabling slots and structure to effect electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanford W. Crane, Jr.
- 👤 Maria M. Portuondo
- 👤 Edward V. Cruz
- 👤 Vincent R. Razo
- 👤 Shaun Fynn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/20; G06F1/18; G06F1/181; G06F1/183; G06F2200/00; G06F2200/16; G06F2200/163; G06F2200/1639
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A computer system comprising: a casing having an air vent; a peripheral device mounted within said casing; a base for supporting said casing, said base including a top portion having a plurality of air vents; a power supply received in the top portion of said base; a card cage disposed in said casing, said card cage including a bottom floor and an opening in communication with the air vent of said casing, wherein a first air circulation area is defined by the top portion of said base, a lower surface of said peripheral device, and the bottom floor of said card cage, and a second air circulation area separate from the first air circulation area is defined within said card cage; a plurality of circuit boards arranged vertically within said card cage; a first fan for circulating air through the plurality of air vents in the top portion of said base, into the first air circulation area and past said power supply, and out of the first air circulation area external of said casing and said base, thereby cooling said power supply; and a second fan within said card cage for circulating air through the air vent in said casing, through the opening in said card cage, into said second air circulation area and past said vertically-arranged circuit boards, and out of the second air circulation area through a top of said card cage, thereby cooling said circuit boards.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A computer system comprising: a casing having an air vent; a peripheral device mounted within said casing; a base for supporting said casing, said base including a top portion having a plurality of air vents; a power supply received in the top portion of said base; a card cage disposed in said casing, said card cage including a bottom floor and an opening in communication with the air vent of said casing, wherein a first air circulation area is defined by the top portion of said base, a lower surface of said peripheral device, and the bottom floor of said card cage, and a second air circulation area separate from the first air circulation area is defined within said card cage; a plurality of circuit boards arranged vertically within said card cage; a first fan for circulating air through the plurality of air vents in the top portion of said base, into the first air circulation area and past said power supply, and out of the first air circulation area external of said casing and said base, thereby cooling said power supply; and a second fan within said card cage for circulating air through the air vent in said casing, through the opening in said card cage, into said second air circulation area and past said vertically-arranged circuit boards, and out of the second air circulation area through a top of said card cage, thereby cooling said circuit boards.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including an opening in the top of the casing through which I/O cables pass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including wheels on the bottom of the computer system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein said base is formed of cast aluminum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including an enclosure lock.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including: a front door; and a reset button that is located under the front door.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including a handle on top of the casing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including a peripheral device slide lock.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including a front cover quick connect.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including a cable channel in the casing, the cable channel having one of a straight path and a tortuous path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including a front door; and at least one indicator light visible under an edge of the door when the door is in a closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including I/O connectors above the second air circulating area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 1, further including means in the casing for providing strain relief for an I/O cable of the system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein said peripheral device is an internal peripheral device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system of claim 14, further including an externally-accessible peripheral device mounted within said casing above said internal peripheral device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein air passing through said plurality of air vents in said base cools said internal peripheral device and said externally-accessible peripheral device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein said card cage includes a back wall and the opening of said card cage is formed in said back wall proximal the bottom floor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 17, wherein said second fan is located above said circuit boards.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the opening of said card cage is formed in the bottom floor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said second fan is located above the bottom floor of said card cage and below said circuit boards.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein said second fan is located at a side of said casing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of air vents in said base are provided in a front portion of said base beneath said peripheral device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 22, wherein said first fan is provided at a back portion of said base beneath the bottom floor of said card cage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the top portion of said base includes an indentation for receiving said power supply.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein said casing includes a front panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels, the first side panel having the casing air vent formed therein and the second side panel having a further air vent formed therein.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
73 words
The computer system of claim 25, further including first and second air baffles on opposite sides of said card cage and in communication with the opening in said card cage, the first air baffle having an air inlet opening to the air vent in the first side panel of said casing and the second air baffle having an air inlet opening to the air vent in the second side panel of said casing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 25, wherein the first and second side panels curve inwardly between said base and the top panel of said casing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 25, wherein the front panel curves inwardly to the top panel of said casing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer system comprising: a casing for said computer system having a front panel and side panels, wherein at least one of said panels angles inwardly toward a top panel; a base for supporting said casing, said base having a plurality of air vents formed therein; a peripheral device mounted within said casing, wherein air enters the plurality of vents in said base and rises through said casing, thereby cooling said peripheral device; a card cage disposed in said casing; and a plurality of circuit boards arranged vertically within said card cage.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer system comprising: a casing for said computer system having a front panel and side panels, wherein at least one of said panels angles inwardly toward a top panel; a base for supporting said casing, said base having a plurality of air vents formed therein; a peripheral device mounted within said casing, wherein air enters the plurality of vents in said base and rises through said casing, thereby cooling said peripheral device; a card cage disposed in said casing; and a plurality of circuit boards arranged vertically within said card cage.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 29, wherein the angled at least one panel of said casing curves inwardly toward the top panel of said casing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer system of claim 30, further comprising: a power supply received within said base; and a cooling fan for circulating air into said base through the plurality of vents, past said power supply, and out of said base, thereby cooling said power supply.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
75 words
The computer system of claim 31, wherein at least one of the panels of said casing includes an air vent in communication with said card cage, and further comprising: a further cooling fan within said card cage for circulating air into said card cage through the air vent in the at least one panel of said casing, past said plurality of vertically-arranged circuit boards, and out of said card cage, thereby cooling said circuit boards.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-19 | 2000-05-20 | 2000-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-19 | 2004-05-20 | 2004-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-19 | 2008-05-20 | 2008-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |