US5612852A — Compact housing for a computer workstation

Claim 1

Independent Claim 202 words

A compact housing for a computer workstation, comprising: a structural heat sink including: a horizontal base heat sink to house a first plurality of electronic elements, said horizontal base heat sink including an interchangeable power source housing supporting an electrical connector, said horizontal base heat sink operating to conduct heat away from said first plurality of electronic elements; and a vertical tower heat sink fixedly attached to said horizontal base heat sink in a substantially orthogonal manner such that at least one electronic element of said first plurality of electronic elements is positioned on both sides of said vertical tower heat sink, said vertical tower heat sink including a first side and a second side to support a second plurality of electronic elements, said vertical tower heat sink operating to conduct heat away from said second plurality of electronic elements; and a vented exterior skin enclosing said structural heat sink, said vented exterior skin including a plurality of vents extending across the majority of the surface area of said vented exterior skin, said vented exterior skin operating to facilitate convective heat transfer from said structural heat sink so as to provide passive cooling capability that eliminates the need for active cooling devices.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 202 words

A compact housing for a computer workstation, comprising: a structural heat sink including: a horizontal base heat sink to house a first plurality of electronic elements, said horizontal base heat sink including an interchangeable power source housing supporting an electrical connector, said horizontal base heat sink operating to conduct heat away from said first plurality of electronic elements; and a vertical tower heat sink fixedly attached to said horizontal base heat sink in a substantially orthogonal manner such that at least one electronic element of said first plurality of electronic elements is positioned on both sides of said vertical tower heat sink, said vertical tower heat sink including a first side and a second side to support a second plurality of electronic elements, said vertical tower heat sink operating to conduct heat away from said second plurality of electronic elements; and a vented exterior skin enclosing said structural heat sink, said vented exterior skin including a plurality of vents extending across the majority of the surface area of said vented exterior skin, said vented exterior skin operating to facilitate convective heat transfer from said structural heat sink so as to provide passive cooling capability that eliminates the need for active cooling devices.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The compact housing of claim 1 wherein said horizontal base heat sink includes a hard disk drive receptacle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The compact housing of claim 1 wherein said vertical tower heat sink supports a power converter that is directly coupled thereto.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

The compact housing of claim 1 wherein said vented exterior skin includes: a rear vertical vented exterior skin; a front vertical vented exterior skin; and slide-in end caps to securely couple said rear vertical vented exterior skin and said front vertical vented exterior skin and thereby enclose said vertical tower heat sink.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

The compact housing of claim 4 wherein said front vertical vented exterior skin includes a plurality of channels and said slide-in end caps include a corresponding plurality of ramped protrusions to mate with said plurality of channels.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

The compact housing of claim 5 wherein said slide-in end caps include a plurality of end cap apertures that are positioned over a corresponding plurality of projecting input/output connectors extending from said compact housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The compact housing of claim 1 wherein said vertical tower heat sink includes: a display socket ledge supporting a first connector and display connector guide pins positioned on each longitudinal end of said first connector; and a display mounting ledge including display mounting orifices.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 64 words

The compact housing of claim 7 further including a detachable pivot display system including a pivoting attachment structure positioned proximate to the center of said detachable pivot display system, said pivoting attachment structure including: mounting pins for mating with said display mounting orifices; a second connector for mating with said first connector; and display connector guide receptacles for receiving said display connector guide pins.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 205 words

A compact housing for a computer workstation, comprising: a structural heat sink including: a horizontal base heat sink to house a first plurality of electronic elements, said horizontal base heat sink including an interchangeable power source housing supporting an electrical connector; and a vertical tower heat sink fixedly secured to said horizontal base heat sink to support a second plurality of electronic elements, said vertical tower heat sink including: a first side supporting a first subset of said second plurality of electronic elements and a second side supporting a second subset of said second plurality of electronic elements, a display socket ledge supporting a first connector and display connector guide pins positioned on each longitudinal end of said first connector; and a display mounting ledge including display mounting orifices; and a detachable pivot display system including a pivoting attachment structure positioned proximate the center of said detachable pivot display system, said pivoting attachment structure including: mounting pins for mating with said display mounting orifices; a second connector for mating with said first connector; and display connector guide receptacles for receiving said display connector guide pins, such that said detachable pivot display system is positioned proximate to the center line of said horizontal base heat sink.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 205 words

A compact housing for a computer workstation, comprising: a structural heat sink including: a horizontal base heat sink to house a first plurality of electronic elements, said horizontal base heat sink including an interchangeable power source housing supporting an electrical connector; and a vertical tower heat sink fixedly secured to said horizontal base heat sink to support a second plurality of electronic elements, said vertical tower heat sink including: a first side supporting a first subset of said second plurality of electronic elements and a second side supporting a second subset of said second plurality of electronic elements, a display socket ledge supporting a first connector and display connector guide pins positioned on each longitudinal end of said first connector; and a display mounting ledge including display mounting orifices; and a detachable pivot display system including a pivoting attachment structure positioned proximate the center of said detachable pivot display system, said pivoting attachment structure including: mounting pins for mating with said display mounting orifices; a second connector for mating with said first connector; and display connector guide receptacles for receiving said display connector guide pins, such that said detachable pivot display system is positioned proximate to the center line of said horizontal base heat sink.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The compact housing of claim 9 wherein said horizontal base heat sink includes a hard disk drive receptacle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The compact housing of claim 9 wherein said vertical tower heat sink supports a power converter that is directly coupled thereto.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 69 words

The compact housing of claim 9 further comprising a vented exterior skin enclosing said structural heat sink, said vented exterior skin including a plurality of vents extending across the majority of the surface area of said vented exterior skin, said vented exterior skin operating to facilitate convective heat transfer from said structural heat sink so as to provide passive cooling capability that eliminates the need for active cooling devices.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 52 words

The compact housing of claim 12 wherein said vented exterior skin includes: a rear vertical vented exterior skin; a front vertical vented exterior skin; and slide-in end caps to securely couple said rear vertical vented exterior skin and said front vertical vented exterior skin and thereby enclose said vertical tower heat sink.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

The compact housing of claim 13 wherein said front vertical vented exterior skin includes a plurality of channels and said slide-in end caps include a corresponding plurality of protrusions to mate with said plurality of channels.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

The compact housing of claim 14 wherein said slide-in end caps include a plurality of end cap apertures that are positioned over a corresponding plurality of projecting input/output connectors of said compact housing.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 220 words

A compact housing for a computer workstation, comprising: a structural heat sink including: a horizontal base heat sink including: a first plurality of electronic elements, said horizontal base heat sink operating to conduct heat away from said first plurality of electronic elements; an input/output face plate for receiving a plurality of input/output connectors, one of said plurality of input/output connectors including a first electrical connector for receiving power from a removable power supply positioned outside said compact housing; an interchangeable power source housing supporting an electrical connector for alternately receiving a removable battery and said removable power supply; and a vertical tower heat sink, fixedly secured to said horizontal base heat sink, such that at least one electronic element of said first plurality of electronic elements is positioned on both sides of said vertical tower heat sink, said vertical tower heat sink including a first side and a second side to support a second plurality of electronic elements; and a vented exterior skin enclosing said structural heat sink, said vented exterior skin including a plurality of vents extending across the majority of the surface area of said vented exterior skin, said vented exterior skin operating to facilitate convective heat transfer from said structural heat sink so as to provide passive cooling capability that eliminates the need for active cooling devices.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 220 words

A compact housing for a computer workstation, comprising: a structural heat sink including: a horizontal base heat sink including: a first plurality of electronic elements, said horizontal base heat sink operating to conduct heat away from said first plurality of electronic elements; an input/output face plate for receiving a plurality of input/output connectors, one of said plurality of input/output connectors including a first electrical connector for receiving power from a removable power supply positioned outside said compact housing; an interchangeable power source housing supporting an electrical connector for alternately receiving a removable battery and said removable power supply; and a vertical tower heat sink, fixedly secured to said horizontal base heat sink, such that at least one electronic element of said first plurality of electronic elements is positioned on both sides of said vertical tower heat sink, said vertical tower heat sink including a first side and a second side to support a second plurality of electronic elements; and a vented exterior skin enclosing said structural heat sink, said vented exterior skin including a plurality of vents extending across the majority of the surface area of said vented exterior skin, said vented exterior skin operating to facilitate convective heat transfer from said structural heat sink so as to provide passive cooling capability that eliminates the need for active cooling devices.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 19 words

The compact housing of claim 16 wherein said horizontal base heat sink further includes a hard disk drive receptacle.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 52 words

The compact housing of claim 16 wherein said vented exterior skin includes: a rear vertical vented exterior skin; a front vertical vented exterior skin; and slide-in end caps to securely couple said rear vertical vented exterior skin and said front vertical vented exterior skin and thereby enclose said vertical tower heat sink.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 36 words

The compact housing of claim 18 wherein said front vertical vented exterior skin includes a plurality of channels and said slide-in end caps include a corresponding plurality of protrusions to mate with said plurality of channels.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The compact housing of claim 19 wherein said slide-in end caps include a plurality of end cap apertures that are positioned over a corresponding plurality of projecting input/output connectors extending from said compact housing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 45 words

The compact housing of claim 16 wherein said vertical tower heat sink further includes: a display socket ledge supporting a first connector and display connector guide pins positioned on each longitudinal end of said first connector; and a display mounting ledge including display mounting orifices.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 53 words

The compact housing of claim 21 further including a detachable pivot display system including a pivoting attachment structure, said pivoting attachment structure including: mounting pins for mating with said display mounting orifices; a second connector for mating with said first connector; and display connector guide receptacles for receiving said display connector guide pins.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 184 words

A method of constructing a compact housing for a computer workstation, comprising the steps of: erecting a structural heat sink, said erecting step including the steps of: providing a horizontal base heat sink to house a first plurality of electronic elements, said horizontal base heat sink including an interchangeable power source housing supporting an electrical connector; and fixedly attaching a vertical tower heat sink to said horizontal base heat sink in a substantially orthogonal manner such that at least one electronic element of said first plurality of electronic elements is positioned on both sides of said vertical tower heat sink, said vertical tower heat sink including a first side and a second side to support a second plurality of electronic elements; and enclosing said structural heat sink with a vented exterior skin, said vented exterior skin including a plurality of vents extending across the majority of the surface area of said vented exterior skin, said vented exterior skin operating to facilitate convective heat transfer from said structural heat sink so as to provide passive cooling capability that eliminates the need for active cooling devices.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 184 words

A method of constructing a compact housing for a computer workstation, comprising the steps of: erecting a structural heat sink, said erecting step including the steps of: providing a horizontal base heat sink to house a first plurality of electronic elements, said horizontal base heat sink including an interchangeable power source housing supporting an electrical connector; and fixedly attaching a vertical tower heat sink to said horizontal base heat sink in a substantially orthogonal manner such that at least one electronic element of said first plurality of electronic elements is positioned on both sides of said vertical tower heat sink, said vertical tower heat sink including a first side and a second side to support a second plurality of electronic elements; and enclosing said structural heat sink with a vented exterior skin, said vented exterior skin including a plurality of vents extending across the majority of the surface area of said vented exterior skin, said vented exterior skin operating to facilitate convective heat transfer from said structural heat sink so as to provide passive cooling capability that eliminates the need for active cooling devices.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said enclosing step includes the steps of: positioning a rear vertical vented exterior skin over said structural heat sink; placing a front vertical vented exterior skin over said structural heat sink; and guiding slide-in end caps into a position to securely couple said rear vertical vented exterior skin and said front vertical vented exterior skin.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 24 wherein said guiding step includes the step of using slide-in end caps with ramped protrusions that mate with corresponding channels formed in said front vertical vented exterior skin.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 24 wherein said guiding step includes the step of positioning said slide-in end caps over projecting input/output connectors extending from said compact housing.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of attaching a detachable pivot display system to said computer workstation.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-03-17	2000-09-16	2001-03-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-03-17	2004-09-16	2005-03-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-03-17	2008-09-16	2009-03-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Compact housing for a computer workstation

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