US6134104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-drive portable computer
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1997-12-29
•
Granted: 2000-10-17
•
Expires: 2017-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A notebook computer base housing has operatively disposed therein a CD ROM drive, a hard disk drive and a floppy disk drive, an AC/DC electrical power converter, a modem, a PCMCIA card bay structure and a battery. This internal provision of three drive units in addition to the other equipment within the base housing is facilitated from a space standpoint by the vertical stacking of the hard disk drive atop the CD ROM drive within the base housing. To dissipate the operating heat from these components within the base housing, a heat spreader plate is interposed between the CD ROM drive and the overlying hard disk drive, and the high heat-generating components--namely, the modem, the AC/DC converter, the PCMCIA card bay structure, and the computer processor--are closely grouped together, with the AC/DC converter in thermal communication with a second heat spreader plate. The processor is disposed above the other high heat-generating components on a horizontally oriented main system circuit board, with the circuit board having top and bottom side heat sink members thermally communicated with the processor. An axial fan disposed in the base housing creates an upper flow of cooling air that passes over the upper heat sink member, and a lower flow of cooling air that passes over the lower heat sink member and the heat-generating components grouped below the processor.
Inventors
- 👤 Pasha S. Mohi
- 👤 Chris F. Felcman
- 👤 Neil L. Condra
- 👤 Gregory J. Mora
- 👤 Stacy L. Wolff
- 👤 Chi-Tsong Chu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1656; G06F1/1658; G06F1/20; G06F1/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A portable computer comprising: a base housing having first and second adjacent exterior wall portions with first and second air flow openings respectively extending therethrough; a display screen housing secured to said base housing for movement relative thereto between open and closed positions; a first drive unit; a second drive unit; a third drive unit; an AC/DC electrical power converter structure; a circuit board; a processor mounted on said circuit board; mounting structure operatively mounting said first second and third drive units, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure and said circuit board within said base housing, with said processor and said AC/DC electrical power converter structure being adjacent one another and said first and second adjacent exterior wall portions within the interior of said base housing, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said circuit board, said processor, and said first and second adjacent exterior wall portions partially bounding a substantially walled-off plenum area extending inwardly from said first and second air flow openings through only a relatively small interior portion of said base housing; and a cooling system operative to create a localized flow of cooling air which sequentially (1) flows into said plenum area through said first air flow opening, (2) flows through said plenum area in a manner contacting and cooling each of said AC/DC electrical power converter structure and said processor, and (3) flows outwardly from said plenum area through said second air flow opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A portable computer comprising: a base housing having first and second adjacent exterior wall portions with first and second air flow openings respectively extending therethrough; a display screen housing secured to said base housing for movement relative thereto between open and closed positions; a first drive unit; a second drive unit; a third drive unit; an AC/DC electrical power converter structure; a circuit board; a processor mounted on said circuit board; mounting structure operatively mounting said first second and third drive units, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure and said circuit board within said base housing, with said processor and said AC/DC electrical power converter structure being adjacent one another and said first and second adjacent exterior wall portions within the interior of said base housing, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said circuit board, said processor, and said first and second adjacent exterior wall portions partially bounding a substantially walled-off plenum area extending inwardly from said first and second air flow openings through only a relatively small interior portion of said base housing; and a cooling system operative to create a localized flow of cooling air which sequentially (1) flows into said plenum area through said first air flow opening, (2) flows through said plenum area in a manner contacting and cooling each of said AC/DC electrical power converter structure and said processor, and (3) flows outwardly from said plenum area through said second air flow opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The portable computer of claim 1 wherein said portable computer is a notebook computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The portable computer of claim 1 wherein said mounting structure operatively mounts said first and second drive units in a vertically stacked relationship within said base housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The portable computer of claim 1 wherein: said first drive unit is a CD ROM drive, said second drive unit is a hard disk drive, and said third drive unit is a floppy disk drive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The portable computer of claim 1 further comprising a modem disposed in the interior of said base housing, partially bounding said plenum area, and positioned to be contacted and cooled by said flow of cooling air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The portable computer of claim 1 further comprising a bay structure adapted to removably receive a heat generating circuit board device, said bay structure being disposed in said plenum area and positioned to be contacted and cooled by said flow of cooling air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The portable computer of claim 6 wherein said bay structure is a PCMCIA card bay structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The portable computer of claim 1 wherein said plenum area has a side portion at least partially defined by a heat spreader plate structure in thermal communication with said AC/DC electrical power converter structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The portable computer of claim 1 further comprising a battery operatively disposed within said base housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
248 words
A portable computer comprising: a base housing having first and second adjacent exterior wall portions with first and second air flow openings respectively extending therethrough; a display screen housing secured to said base housing for movement relative thereto between open and closed positions; a first drive unit; a second drive unit; a third drive unit; an AC/DC electrical power converter structure; a modem; a bay structure adapted to removably receive a heat generating circuit board structure; a circuit board; a processor mounted on said circuit board; mounting structure operatively mounting said first, second and third drive units, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said modem, said bay structure and said processor in a closely grouped relationship within said base housing, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said modem, said circuit board, said processor, and said first and second adjacent exterior wall portions partially bounding a substantially walled-off plenum area extending inwardly from said first and second air flow openings through only a relatively small interior portion of said base housing, said bay structure being disposed within said plenum area; and a cooling system operative to create a localized flow of cooling air which sequentially (1) flows into said plenum area through said first air flow opening, (2) flows through said plenum area in a manner contacting and cooling each of said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said modem, said bay structure and said processor, and (3) flows outwardly from said plenum area through said second air flow opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
248 words
A portable computer comprising: a base housing having first and second adjacent exterior wall portions with first and second air flow openings respectively extending therethrough; a display screen housing secured to said base housing for movement relative thereto between open and closed positions; a first drive unit; a second drive unit; a third drive unit; an AC/DC electrical power converter structure; a modem; a bay structure adapted to removably receive a heat generating circuit board structure; a circuit board; a processor mounted on said circuit board; mounting structure operatively mounting said first, second and third drive units, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said modem, said bay structure and said processor in a closely grouped relationship within said base housing, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said modem, said circuit board, said processor, and said first and second adjacent exterior wall portions partially bounding a substantially walled-off plenum area extending inwardly from said first and second air flow openings through only a relatively small interior portion of said base housing, said bay structure being disposed within said plenum area; and a cooling system operative to create a localized flow of cooling air which sequentially (1) flows into said plenum area through said first air flow opening, (2) flows through said plenum area in a manner contacting and cooling each of said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said modem, said bay structure and said processor, and (3) flows outwardly from said plenum area through said second air flow opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The portable computer of claim 10 wherein said portable computer is a notebook computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The portable computer of claim 10 wherein said mounting structure operatively mounts said first and second drive units in a vertically stacked relationship within said base housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The portable computer of claim 12 wherein said first drive unit is a CD ROM drive and said second drive unit is a hard disk drive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The portable computer of claim 10 wherein: said first drive unit is a CD ROM drive, said second drive unit is a hard disk drive, and said third drive unit is a floppy disk drive.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
203 words
A portable computer comprising: a base housing having first and second adjacent exterior wall portions with first and second air flow openings respectively extending therethrough; a display screen housing secured to said base housing for movement relative thereto between open and closed positions; a first drive unit disposed in said base housing; a second drive unit disposed in said base housing; an AC/DC electrical power converter structure disposed in said base housing; a processor disposed in said base housing; a space disposed in said base housing and adapted to receive a third drive unit, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said processor, and said first and second adjacent exterior wall portions partially bounding a substantially walled-off plenum area extending inwardly from said first and second air flow openings through only a relatively small interior portion of said base housing; and a cooling system operative to create a localized flow of cooling air which sequentially (1) flows into said plenum area through said first air flow opening, (2) flows through said plenum area in a manner contacting and cooling each of said AC/DC electrical power converter structure and said processor, and (3) flow outwardly from said plenum area through said second air flow opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
203 words
A portable computer comprising: a base housing having first and second adjacent exterior wall portions with first and second air flow openings respectively extending therethrough; a display screen housing secured to said base housing for movement relative thereto between open and closed positions; a first drive unit disposed in said base housing; a second drive unit disposed in said base housing; an AC/DC electrical power converter structure disposed in said base housing; a processor disposed in said base housing; a space disposed in said base housing and adapted to receive a third drive unit, said AC/DC electrical power converter structure, said processor, and said first and second adjacent exterior wall portions partially bounding a substantially walled-off plenum area extending inwardly from said first and second air flow openings through only a relatively small interior portion of said base housing; and a cooling system operative to create a localized flow of cooling air which sequentially (1) flows into said plenum area through said first air flow opening, (2) flows through said plenum area in a manner contacting and cooling each of said AC/DC electrical power converter structure and said processor, and (3) flow outwardly from said plenum area through said second air flow opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The portable computer of claim 15 wherein said portable computer is a notebook computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The portable computer of claim 15 wherein said first and second drive units are in a vertically stacked relationship within said base housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The portable computer of claim 15 wherein: said first drive unit is a CD ROM drive, said second drive unit is a hard disk drive, and said space disposed within said base housing is adapted to receive a floppy disk drive.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The portable computer of claim 15 further comprising a modem partially bounding said plenum area and positioned to be contacted and cooled by said flow of cooling air as it passes through said plenum area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The portable computer of claim 15 further comprising a bay structure adapted to removably receive a heat generating circuit board device, said bay structure being disposed in said plenum area and positioned to be contacted and cooled by said flow of cooling air as it passes through said plenum area.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The portable computer of claim 20 wherein said bay structure is a PCMCIA card bay structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The portable computer of claim 15 wherein said plenum area has a side portion at least partially defined by a heat spreader plate structure in thermal communication with said AC/DC power converter structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The portable computer of claim 15 further comprising a battery operatively disposed within said base housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5646820A
Cited
US5715139A
Cited
US5689400A
Cited
US5581443A
Cited
US5649750A
Cited
US5475563A
Cited
US5598320A
Cited
US5729431A
Cited
US5568360A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-17 | 2004-04-17 | 2004-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-17 | 2008-04-17 | 2008-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-04-17 | 2012-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |