US5816673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer chassis assembly
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
•
Filing: 1996-10-11
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Granted: 1998-10-06
•
Expires: 2016-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A modular computer chassis constructed with a center pluggable interface adapted for the modular mounting of components on opposite sides thereof. The chassis includes frontal and rear regions which are open and adapted for receipt of modular computer components therein for direct coupling to the center pluggable interface. An isolation frame is also provided within the chassis for physically and electrically isolating select components therein one from the other. A slidable mounting array is also provided for facilitating flexibility in the mounting of half height and one-third height disk drives adjacent to the center pluggable interface for flexibility in the design and utilization of the chassis of the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 James P. Sauer
- 👤 George J. Scholhamer
- 👤 William C. Galloway
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F1/184; G06F1/187; G06F1/188
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A computer chassis, comprising: a housing having a front region and a rear region, said front region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a first electrical component, said rear region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a second electrical component; an interface secured to said housing and positioned intermediate to said front region and said rear region of said housing; said interface including a first printed circuit board electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board, said first printed circuit board positioned adjacent said front region of said housing, said second printed circuit board positioned adjacent said rear region of said housing and generally parallel said first printed circuit board; said interface further including at least two connectors, with a first of said at least two connectors being mounted to said first printed circuit board and a second of said at least two connectors being mounted to said second printed circuit board; said first connector for connection to the first electrical component when the first electrical component is received in said front region of said housing; said second connector for connection to the second electrical component when the second electrical component is received in said rear region of said housing; and said interface for electrically coupling said at least two connectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A computer chassis, comprising: a housing having a front region and a rear region, said front region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a first electrical component, said rear region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a second electrical component; an interface secured to said housing and positioned intermediate to said front region and said rear region of said housing; said interface including a first printed circuit board electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board, said first printed circuit board positioned adjacent said front region of said housing, said second printed circuit board positioned adjacent said rear region of said housing and generally parallel said first printed circuit board; said interface further including at least two connectors, with a first of said at least two connectors being mounted to said first printed circuit board and a second of said at least two connectors being mounted to said second printed circuit board; said first connector for connection to the first electrical component when the first electrical component is received in said front region of said housing; said second connector for connection to the second electrical component when the second electrical component is received in said rear region of said housing; and said interface for electrically coupling said at least two connectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The computer chassis as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an isolation structure having at least one wall positioned substantially within said rear region of said housing and adjacent to at least a portion of said interface; said at least one wall defining at least a first chamber and a second chamber in said rear portion of said chassis; and said isolation structure for isolating said first chamber from said second chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer chassis as recited in claim 1, further comprising an array of guide channels disposed within said front region of said housing, said guide channels for facilitating the receipt of the first electrical component within said front region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer chassis as recited 3, wherein said array of guide channels are configured to receive a select number of a plurality of electronic components of a first size and a select number of a plurality of electronic components of a second size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer chassis as recited 3, wherein said array of guide channels are configured to receive a select number of a plurality of electronic components of a first size and a select number of a plurality of electronic components of a second size.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The computer chassis as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an isolation structure having a plurality of walls, each of said plurality of walls being positioned substantially within said rear region of said housing and adjacent to at least a portion of said interface; said plurality of walls defining a plurality of chambers in said rear portion of said chassis; and said isolation structure for isolating each of said plurality of chambers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
240 words
A computer system comprising: a housing for supporting a plurality of computer components, said housing having a front region and a rear region, said front region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a first computer component of said plurality of computer components, said rear region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a second computer component of said plurality of computer components; an interface secured to said housing and positioned intermediate to said front region and said rear region of said housing; said interface including a first printed circuit board electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board, said first printed circuit board positioned adjacent said front region of said housing, said second printed circuit board positioned adjacent said rear region of said housing and generally parallel said first printed circuit board; said interface further including at least two connectors, with a first of said at least two connectors being mounted to said first printed circuit board and a second of said at least two connectors being mounted to said second printed circuit board; said first connector for connection to said first computer component when said first computer component is received in said front region of said housing; said second connector for connection to said second computer component when said second computer component is received in said rear region of said housing; and said interface for electrically coupling said at least two connectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
240 words
A computer system comprising: a housing for supporting a plurality of computer components, said housing having a front region and a rear region, said front region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a first computer component of said plurality of computer components, said rear region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a second computer component of said plurality of computer components; an interface secured to said housing and positioned intermediate to said front region and said rear region of said housing; said interface including a first printed circuit board electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board, said first printed circuit board positioned adjacent said front region of said housing, said second printed circuit board positioned adjacent said rear region of said housing and generally parallel said first printed circuit board; said interface further including at least two connectors, with a first of said at least two connectors being mounted to said first printed circuit board and a second of said at least two connectors being mounted to said second printed circuit board; said first connector for connection to said first computer component when said first computer component is received in said front region of said housing; said second connector for connection to said second computer component when said second computer component is received in said rear region of said housing; and said interface for electrically coupling said at least two connectors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The computer system as recited in claims 6, further comprising: an isolation structure having at least one wall positioned substantially within said rear region of said housing and adjacent to at least a portion of said interface; said at least one wall defining at least a first chamber and a second chamber in said rear portion of said chassis; and said isolation structure for isolating said first chamber from said second chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer system as recited in claim 6, further comprising an array of guide channels disposed within said front region of said housing, said guide channels for facilitating the receipt of said first computer component within said front region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system as recited 8, wherein said array of guide channels are configured to receive a select number of a plurality of computer components of a first size and a select number of a plurality of computer components of a second size.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system as recited 8, wherein said array of guide channels are configured to receive a select number of a plurality of computer components of a first size and a select number of a plurality of computer components of a second size.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
The computer system as recited in claim 6, further comprising: an isolation structure having a plurality of walls, each of said plurality of walls being positioned substantially within said rear region of said housing and adjacent to at least a portion of said interface; said plurality of walls defining a plurality of chambers in said rear portion of said chassis; and said isolation structure for isolating each of said plurality of chambers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
257 words
A computer system comprising: a housing for supporting a plurality of computer components, said housing having a front region and a rear region, said front region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a first computer component of said plurality of computer components, said rear region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a second computer component of said plurality of computer components; an interface secured to said housing and positioned intermediate to said front region and said rear region of said housing; said interface including a first printed circuit board electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board, said first printed circuit board positioned adjacent said front region of said housing, said second printed circuit board positioned adjacent said rear region of said housing and generally parallel said first printed circuit board; said interface further including at least two connectors, with a first of said at least two connectors being mounted to said first printed circuit board and a second of said at least two connectors being mounted to said second printed circuit board; said first connector for connection to said first computer component when said first computer component is received in said front region of said housing; said second connector for connection to said second computer component when said second computer component is received in said rear region of said housing; said interface for electrically coupling said first computer component with said second component; and wherein said at least one of said at least two connectors is hot pluggable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
257 words
A computer system comprising: a housing for supporting a plurality of computer components, said housing having a front region and a rear region, said front region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a first computer component of said plurality of computer components, said rear region of said housing being open and adapted for receiving therein a second computer component of said plurality of computer components; an interface secured to said housing and positioned intermediate to said front region and said rear region of said housing; said interface including a first printed circuit board electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board, said first printed circuit board positioned adjacent said front region of said housing, said second printed circuit board positioned adjacent said rear region of said housing and generally parallel said first printed circuit board; said interface further including at least two connectors, with a first of said at least two connectors being mounted to said first printed circuit board and a second of said at least two connectors being mounted to said second printed circuit board; said first connector for connection to said first computer component when said first computer component is received in said front region of said housing; said second connector for connection to said second computer component when said second computer component is received in said rear region of said housing; said interface for electrically coupling said first computer component with said second component; and wherein said at least one of said at least two connectors is hot pluggable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
The computer system as recited in claim 11, further comprising: an isolation structure having a plurality of walls, each of said plurality of walls being positioned substantially within said rear region of said housing and adjacent to at least a portion of said interface; said plurality of walls defining a plurality of chambers in said rear portion of said chassis, each of said plurality of chambers for receiving one of said plurality of computer components; and said isolation structure for isolating each of said plurality of components in each of said plurality of chambers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer system as recited in claim 12, further comprising an array of guide channels disposed within said front region of said housing, said guide channels for facilitating the receipt of said first computer component within said front region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system as recited 13, wherein said array of guide channels are configured to receive a select number of a plurality of computer components of a first size and a select number of a plurality of computer components of a second size.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system as recited 13, wherein said array of guide channels are configured to receive a select number of a plurality of computer components of a first size and a select number of a plurality of computer components of a second size.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer system as recited in claim 14, further comprising an array of guide channels disposed within at least one of said chambers in said rear region of said housing, said guide channels for facilitating the receipt of said second computer component within said rear region.
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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) | 2001-10-05 | 2002-04-06 | 2002-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-05 | 2006-04-06 | 2006-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-05 | 2010-04-06 | 2010-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |