Abstract:
A computer includes a front panel defining an opening, and a door mounted to the front panel in alignment with the opening in the front panel. The door includes a frame, a plurality of slats rotatably mounted to the frame, a motor mechanically connectable to the slats, and a controlling module controlling the motor to drive the slats to rotate for exposing or covering the opening in the front panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to computers. In particular, the present invention relates to a computer, which includes a computer case having a dustproof structure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of related art 
         [0004]    A conventional computer case usually has a plurality of through holes defined in a front panel thereof. The through holes are used for dissipating heat produced by a plurality of computer components in the computer case. However, the through holes become an access for dust entering into the computer case, especially after the computer is powered off. The accumulated dust may harmnormal operation of the computer. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a computer case which includes a dustproof structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An exemplary computer includes a front panel defining an opening, and a door mounted to the front panel in alignment with the opening. The door includes a frame fixed to the front panel, a plurality of slats rotatably mounted to the frame, a motor mechanically connectable to the slats, and a controlling module controlling the motor to drive the slats to rotate for exposing or covering the opening in the front panel. 
         [0007]    Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a motor-driven door for being mounted in a computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the motor-driven door having five slats; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the computer, with the motor-driven door mounted in the computer and the slats in an open position; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the slats in a closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3  , a computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a computer case having a front panel  10 , and a motor-driven door  20  mounted on a lower portion of the front panel  10 . 
         [0013]    The motor-driven door  20  includes a frame  22 , five slats  24  rotatably mounted on the frame  22 , a motor  26 , a controlling board  40  having a controlling module  28  installed thereon, a rack  30 , and a housing  50  receiving the motor  26  and the controlling module  28 . 
         [0014]    The frame  22  includes an upper wall  222 , a lower wall  224  parallel to the upper wall  222 , and two sidewalls  226  connecting the upper wall  222  with the lower wall  224 . Five mounting holes  228  are defined in the upper wall  222  and the lower wall  224  respectively. A locking hole  229  and a stop hole  230  are defined in each sidewall  226 . A locating hole  52  is defined in a wall of the housing  50 , corresponding to the stop holes  230  of one of the sidewalls  226 . 
         [0015]    Each slat  24  includes two shafts  242  extending from opposite sides thereof, a first gear  244  is set on one of the shafts  242 , the first gear  244  can be a plurality of teeth provided on one of the two shafts  242 . 
         [0016]    The motor  26  includes a rotating shaft  262  with a second gear  264  set thereon, the second gear  264  can be a plurality of teeth provided on the rotating shaft  262 . The motor  26  is electrically connected to the controlling module  28  and the shaft  262  can rotate in opposite directions via control of the controlling module  28 . 
         [0017]    The controlling module  28  is mounted on the controlling board  40 . The controlling board  40  is connected to a motherboard of the computer via a cable (not shown) for receiving control information from the motherboard. In this embodiment, the controlling module  28  is electrically connected to a system management bus (SMBUS) port of the motherboard for receiving control information about the computer being on or off. 
         [0018]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , in assembly, the motor  26  and the controlling board  40  are mounted in the housing  50 . Each slat  24  is rotatably attached in the frame  22 , with the shafts  242  extending through corresponding mounting holes  228  of the upper wall  222  and the lower wall  224 . The first gear  244  of each slat  242  is positioned adjacent the lower wall  224 . 
         [0019]    The rack  30  which forms thereon a plurality of teeth or notches meshable with the first gear  244  and the second gear  264  extends through the stop holes  230  of the sidewalls  226 , and the locating hole  52  of the housing  50 . The first gears  244  of the slats  24  and the second gear  264  of the motor  26  are meshed with the rack  30 . The stop holes  230  of the sidewalls  226  and the locating hole  52  of the housing  50  are defined for guiding the rack  30  to move therethrough and preventing the rack  30  from disengaging from the first gears  244  and the second gear  264 . 
         [0020]    Referring also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an opening  60  is defined in the lower portion of the front panel  10 . A mounting hole (not shown) is defined in each opposite sidewall adjoining the opening  60 , corresponding to the locking holes  229  of the sidewalls  226  of the frame  22 . The motor-driven door  20  is mounted to the front panel  10  by fasteners, such as two screws  100 , extending through the corresponding locking holes  229  of the frame  22  of the motor-driven door  20 , to engage in the corresponding mounting holes of the opposite sidewalls adjoining the opening  60 . 
         [0021]    When the computer is powered up, the controlling module  28  receives the information transmitted from the SMBUS port of the motherboard. The controlling module  28  controls the motor  26  to rotate through a certain angle for driving the rack  30  to move, at the same time the rack  30  drives the shafts  242  of the slats  24  to rotate through a certain angle. Then the slats  24  are in an open position to expose the opening  60  in the front panel  10  for air flowing through, to dissipate heat produced by a plurality of computer components in the computer case. When the computer is off, the controlling module  28  controls the motor  26  to rotate through a certain angle in a reverse direction. The rack  30  moves back, and drives the slats  24  to a closed position to cover the opening  60  in the front panel  10  for preventing the dust from passing into the computer case. 
         [0022]    The slats  24  of the motor-driven door  20  are controlled to expose or cover the opening  60  of the front panel  10  according to the computer being on or off. In other embodiments, the slats  24  of the motor-driven door  20  can be freely controlled to open or close according to a user&#39;s need by sending control information via the computer. 
         [0023]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the preferred embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, equivalent material and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.