Storage device and method of efficiently arranging components in an information processing apparatus

An information processing apparatus designed for miniaturization, having a chassis, and including a motherboard; an expansion slot exchange device electronically connected to the motherboard and configured to hold an expansion card; and a memory device electronically connected to the motherboard and located within the chassis primarily in a first plane orthogonal to a primary plane of the motherboard. An expansion card can be added, occupying a plane parallel to the primary plane of the motherboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

A storage device and method of efficiently arranging components in an information processing apparatus.

2. Discussion of the Background

Miniaturization of an information processing apparatus used as a personal computer or a server is desired for space savings. Miniaturization is also a highly desired feature for information processing devices which are installed within other, larger devices or within equipment racks because it is desirable for the larger devices or equipment racks themselves to be miniaturized.

JP2001-159931 discloses the use of a casing as radiator plate and loading a CPU, HDD apparatus, and other devices on or near to the casing for heat dissipation, thus removing the need for a cooling fan and therefore downsizing the computer. However this invention has a drawback that it is difficult to introduce an expansion card, which performs functions not included as standard equipment, to the computer due to the locations of CPU (6and36) and HDD apparatus (8and38).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a storage device and method of efficiently arranging components in an information processing apparatus that enables the importation of expansion cards and for miniaturization. In particular, an information processing apparatus designed for miniaturization, having a chassis, and including a motherboard; an expansion slot exchange device electronically connected to the motherboard and configured to hold an expansion card; and a memory device electronically connected to the motherboard and located within the chassis primarily in a first plane orthogonal to a primary plane of the motherboard. An expansion card can be added, occupying a plane parallel to the primary plane of the motherboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is an external view of one embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2shows a top plane view1A, a back view1B, a left side view1C, a right side view1D, and a front view1E of one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to these figures, a chassis of an information processing apparatus1includes an upper cover2and a lower cover24made of sheet metal. In this embodiment, the information processing apparatus1is 194 mm wide, 214.5 mm long and 74 mm high. Airshafts3and23let out heat generated inside the chassis on the upper cover2. Airshafts3and23are located near the CPU, which has the highest calorific value in the apparatus.

At the front of the information processing apparatus1is a lid4of a slot for CF (Compact Flash) card that is a removable recording medium. When the apparatus1is loaded with a CF card, the CF card stands out from the apparatus1by about 7 mm for easy removal. The lid4protects the card and prohibits accidental removal. Lid4also prevents foreign matters from entering the slot when CF card is not installed.

In addition, the following devices are located on the front surface of the apparatus1: a connector5, LINE OUT terminal6, LINE IN terminal7, USB(Universal Serial Bus) terminals8and9, connectors for LAN (Local Area Network)10and11, serial connectors13,14, and15, an analog RGB terminal for display16, a terminal for keyboard17, a terminal for mouse18, a power supply switch19, a hole for resetting of the apparatus120, a LED for power supply21, a LED for HDD22. A PCI slot12is located on the front surface of the apparatus1also. Placing the connectors and other devices on or near the front surface enables improved operational performance and greater flexibility of the information apparatus1, particularly for embodiments that are later installed or to-be-installed within larger devices or within equipment racks.

FIG. 3is an external view of the information processing apparatus1the upper cover2removed, which is numbered100.FIG. 4shows a top plane view100A, a back view100B, a left side view100C, a right side view100D, and a front view100E of the information processing apparatus1in the same state.

The lower cover24covers the front plane, the bottom plane, and the back plane. Both of the side planes and the top plane are covered with the upper cover2. A power supply switch and switchboard37is located on the side of the upper cover which comprises the front plane of the information processing apparatus100. Support member25for supporting the apparatus is located on the left side of the upper cover2and inside of information processing apparatus1.

The motherboard35and the DC/DC converter29are located on the lower cover24. Support member28is made of a metal plate and is loaded on the lower cover24so as to create two spaces. Motherboard35is located in one of the divided spaces. HDD31as a memory device and board32(for a CF card) are located in the other of the divided spaces. A method of locating the supporting member28and HDD31is described below.

The connector39for the CF card is on board32. The attachment of the CF card, via a card terminal, to connector39enables read/write information for CF card.

The heat sink30for CPU is located on motherboard35. The heat sink30helps to dissipate heat generated from a CPU (not shown). Connector36supplies power to the motherboard. The other connector38, memory33(for primary storage_, and a clamp43are located on the motherboard35also. The memory33is held by the clamp43. In addition, a riser card42is located on the motherboard35. The riser card42serves as an expansion slot exchange device for adjusting the direction of installed PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) card26by 90 degrees. PCI card26serves as an expansion card.

The riser card42is fixed to the support member28with a riser bracket27located to the support member28. This fixing prevents the installed PCI card26from being unsteady. The PCI card26is installed to according to the following steps: detach the upper cover2; insert the PCI card26to a lodging slot on the riser card42by sliding from one side to the other side; closing the upper cover2.

PCI card26is oriented parallel with the motherboard35. This orientation enables a reduction of the thickness of information processing apparatus1and a miniaturization of the apparatus as compared to conventional configurations where the PCI card is installed directly onto the motherboard in direction orthogonal to the plane of the motherboard. That is, PCI card26is located within a chassis primarily on a plane parallel to a primary plane of the motherboard, where the primary plane of the motherboard is the largest plane subtended by the motherboard and is the plane onto which most components are mounted.

The DC/DC converter29has a connector41for inputting power supply from a power supply connector5through a conductor. This conductor (cable) is oriented so as to pass between the riser card42and the support member28. This orientation enables the cable to be seated in a position that secure from entanglement or damage.

In addition, DC/DC converter29has a connector44to supply converted voltage to motherboard35. The connector36on the motherboard is supplied power from the connector44through a cable (not shown). This cable is oriented so as to pass through a space of the support member25. This space is rectangular with one side open. This orientation allows for supplying power without contacting other members, for example the heat sink30for the CPU and the memory33. Consequently, air heated by the CPU can be exhausted toward airshafts3and23without inhibition by the cable. The identical effect is achieved in the case where the information processing apparatus is positioned so that the right side view ID (100D) is a bottom face of the information processing apparatus1.

FIG. 5is a schematic diagram of support member28. The left figure is an overhead view, and right figure is a right side view of the support member28. The support member28includes a hole28A for passing through cables which connect a) the HDD31and motherboard35and b) board32for the CF card and motherboard35, respectively. Referring toFIG. 5, support member28has two-tired structure so as to narrow the space needed for the CF card. The reasons for the choice of structure are the following: to be tailored to the thickness of the CF card that is thinner than the HDD31, to guide the CF card to the connector39smoothly along the support member28D, and to make it harder for foreign matters to get into the CF card or slot.

The HDD31is a 2.5-inch disk, and is supported by the support member28through adjustment member45(made from steel or other metal plate).FIG. 6shows the adjustment member45. The adjustment member45has a main body part made from steel plate, a screw clamp45A having a claw for hooking the support member28, a screw clamp45B, a turndown part45C for adjusting the gap between the lower cover24, and screw clamps45D for screwing with the adjustment member45to the HDD31. A part of the screw clamp45B is open so as to be screwed shut with a lot of flexibility.

FIG. 7shows a first method of locating the HDD31to the apparatus1with the adjustment member45.

The HDD31exchanges data using a 2.5-inch IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) cable. First, HDD31is fixed to the adjustment member45(e.g., with a screw clamp). In this configuration, connector34is oriented to face the front of the apparatus.

IDE cable46A from the motherboard35passes thorough the hole28formed on the support member28, and is connected to the connector32A located on the board32for CF card. This connection enables read and write operations for the CF card. IDE cable46B, from the connector32A, and the connector34of the HDD31are connected in series. In addition, the adjustment member45and the support member28are screwed shut with the adjustment member45hooked on the support member28so that the IDE cable46A is nestled between the two members.

The above method of locating has the following advantages. Holding the cable46between the support member28and the adjustment member45enables to reduce EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference), i.e. noise. Also, IDE cable46A operates as a cushion to reduce vibration to the fragile HDD31(removing the need for a single purpose device vibration reduction device). In addition, when the IDE cable is connected to another cable, it is preferable that the length of IDE cable32be short for reduced reflections between terminal ends thus providing for more stable communication of data.

In the above embodiment, the HDD31is located so that the connector34for the HDD31is on the side of the board32for the CF card. This orientation enables a shortening of the length of the IDE cable32after the connector32A, and allows for stable communication from the HDD31due to reduced signal reflections. Furthermore, locating the HDD31near to the side face of the apparatus1allows heat generated from the HDD31to radiate through the lower cover24or the upper cover2(removing the need for a cooling device). Also, the face defined by the shortest side of the apparatus1is parallel with the installation surface of the motherboard35. In other words, HDD31is located in a plane orthogonal to the motherboard35. This orientation makes possible a narrower width of the apparatus1. Also, the disk face of HDD31is parallel with the side face of apparatus1.

With the preceding configuration, the connector34for the HDD31is located on the surface perpendicular to the installation surface of the motherboard35. The overall configuration makes possible a shorter width of the apparatus1in the direction corresponding to the width of the HDD31. Moreover, the HDD31is located on the opposite side of the motherboard35from the support member28. In other word, support member28is located within the chassis between HDD31and riser card42. This orientation allows for easy installation and removal of the HDD31, and reduces the depth of the apparatus1by overlapping the HDD31and the riser card42.

In summary, the device includes a chassis, a motherboard31; an expansion slot exchange device (e.g., riser card42) electronically connected to the motherboard and configured to hold an expansion card (e.g., PCI card); and a memory device (e.g., HDD31) electronically connected to the motherboard, wherein the memory device is located within the chassis primarily in a first plane orthogonal to a primary plane of the motherboard. The expansion slot exchange device (e.g., riser card42) is located within the chassis primarily in a second plane orthogonal to the primary plane of the motherboard. The expansion slot exchange device (e.g., riser card42) is configured to hold the expansion card so that a primary plane of the expansion card is located in a plane parallel to the primary plane of the motherboard. A profile of said primary plane of said expansion card does not extend beyond a profile of said primary plane of said motherboard. A support member28is located within the chassis primarily in a third plane orthogonal to the primary plane of the motherboard and is configured to support the memory device and to hold the expansion slot exchange device. The third orthogonal plane is between said first and second orthogonal planes. The memory device and the expansion slot exchange device at least partially overlap in a direction parallel to the primary plane of said motherboard.

FIG. 8describes another method of locating a HDD31, which exchanges data through serial ATA (AT Attachment), to the apparatus1.

First, the HDD31is fixed with screwed clamp with adjustment member45so that that a connector34faces the back surface of the apparatus in contradiction to the case described with referring toFIG. 7. Cable47for serial ATA is connected to the HDD31. The cable47for the serial ATA connects to the HDD31via an L-shaped connector48. This connection enables communication between the motherboard28and the HDD31.

Adjustment member45and the support member28are screwed shut with the adjustment member45hooked on the support member28in order that the IDE cable46A is nestled between the two members. As previously mentioned, the above method of locating has the following advantages, that is reducing of electron-magnetic interference (EMI), reducing vibrations, radiating heat through upper and lower cover, reducing width, depth and height, and facilitating installation/removal of the HDD31. In addition, this configuration allows for connecting the HDD31and the serial ATA cable47in the region near to the hole28A which perforates the support member28, and enables to shorten the cable.

According to the above explained embodiments, the PCI card used as an expansion card is located on the motherboard35such that the PCI card is parallel with the motherboard35, and the HDD31is oriented such that the disk face of the HDD31is parallel with the side face of the apparatus1. Consequently it is possible to eliminate wasted space of the apparatus1and to downsize the apparatus1.

In the above-explained embodiments, an example that the CF card is used as a portable recoding medium is described. However, it is not limited to this. Other semiconductor memory, an optical disk, and a magnetic optical disk can be oriented within a processing apparatus in the same manner. In addition, a portable hard disk drive can be arranged within a processing device in a similar manner.

In another embodiment, board32for the CF card, connector39and lid4of a slot for CF card may be reoriented located in the case where a portable recording medium is not in use. In this instance, the HDD31can be located on the side of the back face of the apparatus1and DC/DC converter29is located on the side face of the apparatus1.

Furthermore, in the above-explained embodiments, support member28divides the space for locating the motherboard35and the space for locating the HDD almost completely. However, the support member28just has to have enough length to hold the HDD31or other secondary memory device, so it does not need to divide into two the space for locating the motherboard35and the space for locating the HDD completely. In this case, when a portable recording medium is used, it is only necessary to install a special guide (not shown) for inserting the medium.

In the above explained embodiments, an example that the 2.5-inch HDD is used as a HDD31is described. However, HDD31can be another size disk. When a disk is smaller than a 2.5-inch disk is used, it is possible to reduce the height of the apparatus1to less than 74 mm as described in the above embodiments. And the HDD31can be located on the other side of the support member28, where the motherboard35rests. In this embodiment, lower cover24fulfills the role of the support member28(not shown). On the contrary, where a disk larger than 2.5-inch disk is used, it is possible to load a plural expansion cards though the height of the apparatus1increases (not shown).

In the above embodiments, HDD31is used as a secondary memory device. However, a semiconductor memory or an optical memory may also be used as a secondary memory device.

In the above embodiments, PCI card26is used as an expansion card. However, plural cards like the PCI card26may be used, though the height of apparatus1may be adjusted.

In the above embodiments, PCI card26is loaded on the motherboard35. However, PCI card26may also be located underneath the motherboard35. In this configuration, as long as the PCI card26is parallel with the motherboard35, it is possible to reduce the height of the apparatus1in a manner similar to the previous embodiments.

The above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention, not to limit the scope of the present invention. Other than the disclosed embodiments, various embodiments and various usages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon studying the above-described embodiments. The scope of the present invention is shown by the attached claims rather than the embodiments. Various modifications made within the meaning of an equivalent of the claims of the invention and within the claims are to be regarded to be in the scope of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with a preferred embodiment, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various modifications of the embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-120,375 filed on Apr. 18, 2005 and including specification, claims, drawings and summary. The disclosure of the above Japanese Patent Application is incorporate herein by reference in its entirety.