Portable computer having removable access panel

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a portable computer 100 having a removable access panel 108 for accessing data processing components stored within the portable computer. In one embodiment, the portable computer includes an upper housing 102 pivotably connected to a base housing 104. The base housing accommodates the data processing component and includes a top side that faces the upper housing and a bottom side opposite the top side. Furthermore, the access panel is formed to have substantially similar dimensions as the bottom side of the base housing, while also being configured to tool-lessly and releasably attach to said bottom side so as to expose or cover the removable component and an entire area of the bottom side of the base housing.

BACKGROUND

Portable computers have become commonplace in today's mobile society and have seemingly supplanted traditional desktop computers as the preferred work and home computer. Laptop or notebook computers, netbooks, and tablet personal computers are a few examples of portable computers that permeate the current marketplace. These mobile workstations typically employ a clam-shell type design and come in a variety of sizes and features. However, one main drawback of these portable computers is that, due to the size and configuration of components, relatively little can be done to upgrade the overall computer from its original design. For example, servicing or upgrading the internal data processing components of the computer is often time-consuming for skilled computer technicians, and a daunting and cumbersome task for ordinary users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The clam-shell design of most portable computers typically comprise a computer chassis having a top display housing connected to a base housing along a horizontal axis via a hinge. The base housing generally includes a keyboard formed on the top surface, while internal data processing components, or components configured to process or store data, such as a central processing unit, a memory device, a hard disk drive, an expansion card, and a wireless module, are accommodated within the base housing and underneath the keyboard. Due to their location within the base housing, post-production access to the data processing components for replacing or upgrading requires opening or removing some portion of the base housing.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an access panel for a portable computer that is capable of instant and straightforward attachment and removal. In particular, a latch release and fixture system is provided that allows the access panel to be releasably attached to/from the bottom of the base housing tool-lessly, or without the use of tools (e.g. screws or screw driver) or other external machining part requiring manual operation. Accordingly, skilled and unskilled users alike will be capable of accessing internal data processing components of the portable computer with little to no lead time and with minimal effort.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings in which like numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the views,FIG. 1Ais a three-dimensional perspective view of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention, whileFIG. 1Bis a three-dimensional perspective view of the bottom side of the base housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. Portable computer100includes an upper housing102and a base housing104connected to each other via a hinge106or other pivot mechanism. The upper housing102includes electrical wiring adapted to provide display to a user. As shown inFIG. 1A, the base housing104includes a top side and upper surface105having input interfaces, such as a keyboard and track pad, formed thereon, and an underneath or bottom side107opposite the top side105.

FIG. 1Bis a perspective view of an underneath or bottom side of the base housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown here, a bottom side107of the base housing104includes a battery112, and an access panel108. Battery112may represent a lithium ion battery cell, or any other removable power source for a portable computer, and includes a battery release structure having two release mechanisms110for selectively releasing the battery112from the base housing104of the portable computer. In one embodiment, the battery112is released from the base housing104by sliding, or by applying inward-outward pressure onto, the two release mechanisms110, thereby disengaging the battery latching mechanism from the base housing104. However, the battery release mechanism is not limited to the embodiment described above, and any known battery fixture and release mechanism may be employed.

FIG. 2Ais a perceptive view of the bottom side of the base housing204and an underneath area of the access panel208according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the base housing204includes multiple processing components212, a battery recess area222, and two latch members214, with each latch member having an inner spring216and two vertically-aligned clamp portions218. Furthermore, a portion220(hereinafter “latch release portion”) of the latch member214proximate to the battery recess area222may be used as a means for activating the release mechanism of the latch members214. The latch release portions220should be exposed from base housing so as to allow quick activation by a user, and may slightly protrude from the base housing204as shown inFIG. 2B. Alternatively, the latch release portions220may lie somewhat concealed within the base housing204. A more detailed explanation of the latching mechanism will be described in further detail below.

In addition, and according to one embodiment of the present invention, access panel208includes a hook structure comprising of four small flexible tabs210that correspond to positions of the four latch clamp portions218. Tabs210are adapted to affix the access panel208with the base housing204as will be described with reference toFIGS. 2B-2D. In one embodiment, tabs210of the access panel208are formed around the hard drive of the portable computer in order provide better protection and tolerance control. As shown in the present embodiment, the access panel208is formed to have dimensions L and W substantially similar to the dimensions L and W of the base housing204so as to sufficiently span and cover the entire bottom side of the base housing204. In particular, the access panel208is formed to have a length and width that essentially corresponds to the length and width of the base housing204. Though the referenced dimensions are not required to be an exact and congruent match, the dimensions of the access panel should be of sufficient size, and of substantial similarity, so as to cover all internal data processing components of the base housing. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention help to provide a single panel that consolidates all internal component servicing or upgrading needs by allowing instant and unencumbered access to an entire underneath area of the base housing.

FIGS. 2B-2Dillustrate side views of the automatic latching mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, inward pressure indicated by the directional arrow is applied to a top surface of the access panel208as shown inFIG. 2B. When the tab portions210, which are positioned on the underside of the access panel208, engage with the latch clamp portions218of the base housing204, the latch spring216automatically compresses and pushes the latch member214into an open position for receiving the access panel208as shown inFIG. 2C. Once the tab portions210have completely engaged the clamp portions218, the inner spring216automatically returns to its original extended position so as to lock the clamp218and tab portions210in a fixed position, or closed state as shown inFIG. 2D. As such, the access panel208is capable of being securely fixed to the base housing204automatically and tool-lessly, i.e. without the use of laborious screwing and unscrewing.

FIGS. 3A-3Eillustrate a process for removing the access panel from the housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3A, the battery302is removed from the base housing300via the battery latch mechanism304. The arrow ofFIG. 3Arepresents the movement of battery302away from the base housing300so as to expose the latch release portions306of the latch members. By concealing latch release portions306of the latch member within the battery recess area, the latch mechanism is protected from normal everyday use and accidental engagement.

FIG. 3Bdepicts an external force being applied to the latch release portion306of the latch member according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown here, two direction arrows represent forces applied by a user attempting to remove the access panel308from the base housing. In one embodiment, the latch mechanism308comprises of two latch members that extend perpendicularly from the battery recess to a center of area of the base housing. As discussed above, each latch member includes at least one clamp configured to engage with an underside of the access panel, and an inner spring for applying pressure to the clamp. In particular, when the latch release portion306is pressed by a user, the spring compresses so as to disengage the clamp with the hook portion of the access panel, thus placing the latch mechanism in an open state for removing the access panel.

FIGS. 3C and 3Dillustrate the access panel308being lifted upwards and away from the base housing in order to expose the removable data processing components311,313, and315. As shown inFIG. 3D, examples of the removable components may include, but are not limited to central processing unit311, hard disk drive313, and random access memory module315. Thereafter, a plurality of front tabs314of the access panel308are disengaged from the tab holes312of the base housing302, thereby allowing the access panel308to be completely separated and removed from the base housing302as shown inFIG. 3E.

Referring now toFIGS. 4A-4E, these figures illustrate the process for attaching the access panel to the base housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the example shown inFIG. 4A, the front tabs414of the access panel408are aligned with the tab holes412of the base housing400.FIG. 4Bdepicts the front tabs414being inserted into tab holes412. The coupling of the front tabs414of the access panel with the tab holes412of the base housing serves to provide a secure engaging structure for the front area of the base housing and access panel, as well as positioning alignment for the clamp portions of the latch members with the hook portions of the access panel. Next, the rear side of the access panel is lowered onto the rear side of the base housing as shown inFIG. 4C. In this illustrative example, rear tabs420of the access panel are aligned with secondary tab holes424of the base housing. Once the access panel408has been lowered and properly aligned as shown inFIG. 4D, the service door latching mechanism406, and particularly the clamps thereof, are configured to automatically engage with the hook portions located at corresponding positions at an underside area of the access panel408as shown inFIGS. 2A-2D.

FIG. 4Edepicts the installation of the battery402within the battery recess area401of the base housing400so as to cover and protect the latch release portions of the latch member406. When the battery has been positioned correctly within the battery recess area401, the battery latch404is configured to automatically engage with the base housing as shown inFIG. 4F.

FIG. 5Ais a flowchart illustrating the processing steps for removing the access panel from the base housing, whileFIG. 5Bis a flowchart illustrating the processing steps for attaching the access panel to the base housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step502, a user removes the battery from the base housing so as to expose latch release portions of the latch members of the base housing. Next, in step504, the user applies inward pressure onto the latch release portions of the latch members so that the inner spring compresses and disengages the latch clamp portion from the hook portion of the access panel. Such manipulation places the latch member in an open state, thereby allowing the access panel to be easily lifted and removed from the base housing. The latch mechanism remains in an open state until the pressure is released, at which point the spring reverts back to its original, extended position. In step506, the rear side of the access panel is lifted from the latch member and the rear side of the base housing. The front tabs of the access panel are dislodged from the base housing in step508, and in step510, the access panel is completely removed from the base housing, thus exposing the removable data processing components of the portable computer.

Attachment of the access panel with the base housing of the portable computer is accomplished in a similar fashion as detailed inFIG. 5D. In step512, the front tabs of the access panel are aligned with the front tabs of the base housing. In step514, the rear side of the panel is lowered onto the base housing. In an exemplary embodiment, when the access panel is properly aligned and positioned over the base housing, the clamp portions of the base housing are configured to automatically engage the hook portions of the base housing so as to place the access panel in a closed state with base housing. Specifically, when inward pressure is applied from the access panel onto the base housing, the tab portions of the underside of the access panel engage with the latch clamp portions of the base housing such that the latch spring compresses and pushes the latch member into an open position for receiving the access panel. Once the flexible tabs have completely engaged the clamps, the inner spring returns to its original extended position and locks the clamp and tab portions in a fixed position, or closed state. As such, the access panel is capable of being securely fixed to the base panel tool-lessly, i.e. without the use of laborious screwing and unscrewing. If the latch has not automatically engaged in step516, the front tabs of the access panel should be realigned with the front holes of the base housing to ensure that the hook portion is properly aligned with the clamp portions. If the access panel was successfully latched in step516, then the battery is attached to the battery recess area of the base housing in order to conceal and protect the latch release portions of the latch members.

Several advantages are afforded by the tool-less access panel of the embodiments of the present invention. A tool-less fixture provides easier access to processing components within the base housing. For example, protection of input interfaces, such as the keyboard and touch pad, is enhanced by accessing components from the bottom side as opposed to the top side or upper surface. Furthermore, underside positioning of the access panel according to present embodiments is also more efficient as it avoids complicated electrical wiring and routing from the keyboard, touch pad, or control panel hardware, normally located on the top surface of a portable computer's base housing.

In addition, some embodiments of the prevention provide a single panel that covers an entire bottom side of the base housing, allowing for a cleaner design as well as feasibility for texture or color assignment and replacement. Furthermore, the latching mechanism according to one embodiment is protected from normal usage due to its location within the recess of the base housing and behind the removable battery.

As depicted and described in the embodiments of the present invention, the access panel is easily removed and attached to the base housing tool-lessly, or without the use of tools or other external equipment. Such a configuration allows any user, regardless of technical skill and product knowledge, to quickly access the data intensive and removable data processing components of a portable computer for servicing or upgrade.

Though the present embodiment describes a particular spring latch fastening system, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, any fastening system may be used that embodies that spirit of the invention, namely tool-less access to internal and removable components of a portable computer.

While the invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications are possible. For example, a single latch member or clamp portion may be utilized rather than multiple latches and clamps as described in the embodiments above. In addition, the latch member may be positioned anywhere around the base housing including outside the base housing. Thus, although the invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.