(12) United States Patent
`Cha
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,222,726 B1
`Apr. 24, 2001
`
`US006222726B1
`
`(54) PORTABLE PERSONAL COMPUTER WITH
`ARRANGEMENT FOR CONNECTING AN
`EXPANSION CARD TO A SOCKET THEREIN
`
`_
`.
`(75) Inventor‘ Jung W00 Cha’ SuWOn (KR)
`
`.
`.
`(73) Asslgnee: Samsung Electron“ Co" Ltd" SuWOn
`(KR)
`
`* N'
`ot1ce:
`
`Sbj
`yd'l'
`h
`fh'
`u ect to an 1sc aimer, t e term 0 t is
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. N0.: 09/287,339
`(22) Filed:
`Apr. 7, 1999
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 10, 1998
`
`(KR) ............................................... .. 98/12827
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ............................... .. G06F 1/16; H05K 5/20
`(52) US. Cl. ......................... .. 361/683; 361/686; 439/377
`(58) Field of Search ................................... .. 361/683, 684,
`361/685, 679, 686, 724—727; 248/917;
`312/350; 439/928.1, 945, 374, 377; 108/108;
`D18/6, 7, 8
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`D. 415,476 * 10/1999 Nara et a1. ............................ .. D18/7
`D. 420,987 * 2/2000 Miyahara et a1.
`D18/7
`4,143,417 * 3/1979 Wald et a1. ......... ..
`364/900
`5,468,947 * 11/1995 Danielson et a1. ................. .. 235/472
`
`5,470,241 * 11/1995 Kaufman etal. .................. .. 439/159
`5,537,292 * 7/1996 Bowen .......... ..
`.. 361/737
`5,574,625 * 11/1996 Ohgami et a1.
`361/684
`5,661,634 * 8/1997 Obata et a1.
`361/684
`5,805,416 * 9/1998 Friend et a1.
`361/686
`5,805,474 * 9/1998 Danielson et a1. ..
`364/7081
`
`5,889,649 * 3/1999 Nbt '
`t
`1.
`361/684
`6,016,248 * 1/2000 Afizziaéltlaela ....................... .. 361/683
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Leo P. Picard
`Assistant Examiner—Lisa Lea-Edmonds
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Robert E. Bushnell, Esq.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`The housing of a palm-sized computer consists of a top
`housing part having an upper surface, side surfaces and an
`opened bottom and a bottom housing part for covering the
`opened bottom to enclose an electronic circuit board. The
`housing is provided With an expansion card arrangement for
`electrically connecting an expansion card With the electronic
`circuit board, Which comprises an card insertion opening
`formed on one side of the housing for inserting the expan
`sion card into the housing, a socket formed on the electronic
`circuit board to electrically connect the expansion card With
`the electronic circuit board, the opening of the socket
`directly facing the card insertion opening, and a guide
`support integrally formed With the housing betWeen the card
`insertion opening and the socket so as to guide and support
`the expansion card inserted through the card insertion open
`ing into the socket.
`
`14 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
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`AP-1011.001
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 24, 2001
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`Sheet 1 6f 6
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`US 6,222,726 B1
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`AP-1011.002
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 24, 2001
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`Sheet 2 6f 6
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`US 6,222,726 B1
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`Fig. 2
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`AP-1011.003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 24, 2001
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`Sheet 3 6f 6
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`US 6,222,726 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 24, 2001
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 24, 2001
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`AP-1011.007
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`US 6,222,726 B1
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`1
`PORTABLE PERSONAL COMPUTER WITH
`ARRANGEMENT FOR CONNECTING AN
`EXPANSION CARD TO A SOCKET THEREIN
`
`CLAIM OF PRIORITY
`
`This application makes reference to, incorporates the
`same herein, and claims all bene?ts accruing under 35
`USC §119 from an application for PORTABLE PER
`SONAL COMPUTER WITH ARRANGEMENT FOR
`CONNECTING AN EXPANSION CARD TO A SOCKET
`THEREIN earlier ?led in the Korean Industrial Property
`Of?ce on the 10th of April 1998 and there duly assigned Ser.
`No. 12827/1998.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`2
`US. Pat. No. 5,608,607, to Dittmer, entitled PCMCIA
`Card And Associated Support And Circuitry Augmenting
`Apparatus And Methods, describes a PCMCIA card appa
`ratus in Which a PCMCIA card and an attachment section are
`inserted into a dual PCMCIA card slot. This apparatus,
`hoWever, does not provide an expansion card arrangement
`suitable for a palm-siZed computer.
`US. Pat. No. 5,642,259, to Ma, entitled Arrangement for
`connecting An Expansion Card To A Connector Socket In A
`Personal Computer, describes an expansion card arrange
`ment With a frame disposed on a substrate board of a
`notebook computer, contact pins Within the frame and
`connected to the motherboard, and also having a connecting
`socket on the substrate board. This arrangement of a con
`ventional PCMCIA card requires separate access for the
`connecting socket, and offers no advantage in siZe reduction.
`US. Pat. No. 5,708,840, to Kikinis et al., entitled Micro
`Personal Digital Assistant, describes a digital assistant
`device having an inserted function module Which is a Type
`2 PCMCIA having dimensions corresponding to PCMCIA
`standards. This apparatus is of notebook computer siZe and
`holds several standard PCMCIA cards.
`US. Pat. No. 5,801,922, to Shen et al., entitled Portable
`Computer Having Insertable Module Containing Expansion
`Units And Connected To A Socket Secured On The Main
`circuit Board, describes a multi-unit module of a personal
`computer, having a personal computer housing and a module
`casing. Expansion units such as disk drives can be inserted
`and stacked in the module casing. This apparatus is also of
`notebook computer siZe, and does not address the problem
`of siZe reduction for a palm-siZed computer.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Therefore it is an object of the present invention to
`provide an improved palm-siZed computer.
`It is a further object of the invention to reduce the siZe of
`a palm-siZed computer having an expansion card.
`It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide
`a palm-siZed computer having an arrangement for connect
`ing a neW type of expansion card Which is totally enclosed
`by the housing of the computer.
`It is a still further object of the present invention to
`provide a palm-siZed computer With an arrangement for
`connecting an expansion card in Which the expansion card is
`resiliently supported in the socket.
`It is a yet still further object of the present invention to
`provide a palm-siZed computer in Which an expansion card
`is guided into the socket.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`housing of a palm-siZed computer consists of a top housing
`part having an upper surface, side surfaces and an opened
`bottom and a bottom housing part for covering the opened
`bottom to enclose an electronic circuit board. The housing is
`provided With an expansion card arrangement for electri
`cally connecting an expansion card With the electronic
`circuit board, Which comprises an card insertion opening
`formed on one side of the housing for inserting the expan
`sion card into the housing, a socket formed on the electronic
`circuit board to electrically connect the expansion card With
`the electronic circuit board, the opening of the socket
`directly facing the card insertion opening, and a guide
`support integrally formed With the housing betWeen the card
`insertion opening and the socket so as to guide and support
`the expansion card inserted through the card insertion open
`ing into the socket.
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention concerns a portable personal
`computer, particularly a pocket or palm-siZed computer, and
`more particularly an arrangement for connecting an expan
`sion or add-on card to a socket therein.
`2. Related Art
`Personal computers (PCs) are classi?ed on the basis of
`siZe and portability. Personal computers that can be placed
`on top of a desk but are not very portable are called desktop
`computers. Portable computers are those personal computers
`that are light enough to be easily transported. Portable
`personal computers that are small enough to be set on the lap
`of a user are called laptop computers; notebook computers
`are approximately the siZe of a book. Portable personal
`computers that can be put in a pocket are called pocket or
`palm-siZed computers. The palm-siZed computer includes a
`Wallet PC, PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) and HPC
`(Hand-held Personal Computer).
`The expansion or add-on card is a card on Which elec
`tronic devices are mounted, and is inserted in a socket
`formed in such a portable personal computer in order to
`improve its performance or functionality. Recently, the
`expansion card Widely has been standardiZed including
`PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International
`Association) card and CF card (Compact Flash) such as
`memory card, fax/modem card, LAN card, etc. HoWever, the
`expansion card used in the notebook computer is usually
`incompatible With the palm-siZed computer because of the
`considerable siZe difference betWeen these computers.
`Examples of the contemporary art dealing With arrange
`ments of expansion cards in computers is seen, for example,
`in the following US. Patents. US. Pat. No. 5,519,571, to
`Shieh, entitled Portable Hard Disk Drive Connector With A
`50
`Parallel (Printer) Port Control Board And A U-Shaped
`Frame, describes a device having a casing, Within Which is
`a control card With a hard disk connector provided at both
`ends With a rack thereby forming a U-shaped frame, into
`Which a hard disk drive With a PCMCIA is connected. The
`device itself is not a portable computer, and the arrangement
`of this device has the hard disk drive extending out from the
`housing to alloW manipulation. Such an arrangement is not
`suitable for a palm-siZed computer.
`US. Pat. No. 5,608,606, to Blaney, entitled Computer
`Plug-In Module And Interconnection System For Wireless
`Applications, describes a system for coupling Wireless tech
`nologies to a computer. A card connector provides a radiof
`requency connector positioned above a 68-pin connector. As
`in other PCMCIA devices, the plug-in module is of a siZe
`and arrangement Which is not ideal for a palm-siZed com
`puter.
`
`35
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`65
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`AP-1011.008
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`

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`US 6,222,726 B1
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`3
`Preferably, a cover may be detachably attached to the card
`insertion opening to protect the expansion card. The card
`insertion opening is formed by a ?rst cut formed in the
`bottom housing part and a second cut formed in one side
`surface of the top housing part, and the cover consists of tWo
`parts respectively connected to the top and bottom housing
`parts. The guide support is inclined from the card insertion
`opening toWards the socket, resiliently supporting and guid
`ing the expansion card into the socket. The guide support
`further comprises a pair of ?rst support faces respectively
`extended from both ends of the card insertion opening
`toWards the socket to support both sides of the expansion
`card, and a pair of second support faces respectively
`extended from the ?rst support faces to respectively support
`the parts of the loWer surface of the expansion card adjacent
`to both sides thereof. The second support faces are inclined
`from the card insertion opening toWards the opening of the
`socket, resiliently supporting the expansion card.
`The present invention Will noW described more speci?
`cally With reference to the draWings attached only by Way of
`examples.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED
`DRAWINGS
`
`Amore complete appreciation of the invention, and many
`of the attendant advantages thereof, Will be readily apparent
`as the same becomes better understood by reference to the
`folloWing detailed description When considered in conjunc
`tion With the accompanying draWings in Which like refer
`ence symbols indicate the same or similar components,
`Wherein:
`FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective vieW for illustrating the
`structure of a palm-siZed PC according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective vieW for illustrating an expansion
`card being inserted into a palm-siZed PC as shoWn in FIG.
`1;
`FIG. 3 is a perspective vieW for illustrating a cover
`attached to the card insertion opening of a palm-siZed PC as
`shoWn in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4A is a cross sectional vieW taken along line IV—IV
`of FIG. 3 before mounting an expansion card and the cover
`in a palm-siZed PC;
`FIG. 4B is a cross sectional vieW taken along line IV—IV
`of FIG. 3 after mounting an expansion card and the cover in
`a palm-siZed PC; and
`FIG. 5 is a cross sectional vieW taken along line V—V of
`FIG. 3.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention Will noW be described With refer
`ence to the draWings. The same reference numerals are used
`to represent corresponding parts throughout the attached
`draWings. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing of a
`palm-siZed computer 10 consists of a top housing part 30
`and a bottom housing part 40 to enclose an electronic circuit
`board 60 Which may be the main board of the computer or
`another connected thereto. The circuit board 60 is provided
`With a socket 62 to electrically connect an expansion card 20
`With its electronic circuit. The socket 62 includes a plurality
`of pins 64 connected With corresponding electrical contacts
`(not shoWn) of the expansion card 20. The pins 64 are
`connected With the electronic circuit of the circuit board 60.
`In addition, the socket 62 is internally provided With clamp
`
`4
`ing protrusions 66 respectively held by recesses 22 formed
`in both sides of the expansion card 20 so as to correctly
`connect the pins 64 and the corresponding electrical contacts
`of the expansion card 20 inserted into the socket 62.
`A card insertion opening for inserting the expansion card
`20 into the housing consists of a ?rst cut 32 formed in the
`top housing part 30 and a second cut 42 formed in the bottom
`housing part 40. The ?rst and second cuts 32 and 42 are
`combined to make the card insertion opening When the top
`and bottom housing parts are assembled together. The struc
`ture for detachably attaching the expansion card 20 to the
`socket 62 may be achieved in various forms. In addition, a
`cover 70 to close the card insertion opening may be pro
`vided. The cover 70 preferably consists of tWo parts respec
`tively connected With the top and bottom housings 30 and 40
`to cover the ?rst and second cuts 32 and 42.
`Integrally formed With the housing is a guide support
`betWeen the card insertion opening and the socket 62 so as
`to guide and support the expansion card 20 inserted through
`the card insertion opening into the socket. The guide support
`is inclined from the card insertion opening toWards the
`socket 62 resiliently supporting and guiding the expansion
`card 20 into the socket 62.
`The guide support comprises a pair of ?rst support faces
`44 respectively extended from both ends of the card inser
`tion opening toWards the socket 62 to support both sides of
`the expansion card 20, and a pair of second support faces 46
`respectively extended from the ?rst support faces 44 to
`respectively support the parts of the loWer surface of the
`expansion card 20 adjacent to both sides thereof. The ?rst
`support faces 44 are to align both sides of the expansion card
`20 inserted into the socket 62 While the second support faces
`46 to align the bottom of the expansion card 20. The second
`support faces 46 are inclined from the card insertion opening
`toWards the opening of the socket 62, resiliently supporting
`the expansion card 20. The resilient support of the second
`support faces 46 serves to prevent the expansion card 20
`from being unintentionally detached from the socket 62.
`Referring to FIGS. 4A to 5, the expansion card 20 is
`guided and supported by the guide support to be detachably
`attached to the socket 62 of the computer. Thus, the guide
`support makes the effective use of the internal space of the
`palm-siZed computer 10 because it does not require a
`separate mounting space in addition to the space occupied
`by the expansion card 20, Which is inserted through the card
`insertion opening into the socket 62. As described above, the
`card insertion opening consists of the ?rst and second cuts
`32 and 42 respectively formed in the top and bottom housing
`parts 30 and 40, protected by the cover 70. Inserting the
`expansion card 20 into the card insertion opening, it is
`supported and guided by the ?rst and second support faces
`44 and 46 of the guide support toWards the socket 62.
`Because the second support faces 46 are inclined upWards,
`the expansion card 20 is inserted into the socket 62 resil
`iently supported upWards. The resilient support causes the
`expansion card 20 to closely contact the socket 62 until the
`electrical contacts of the expansion card completely engage
`the electrical connection pins formed in the bottom of the
`socket 62.
`
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`While the present invention has been described in con
`nection With speci?c embodiments accompanied by the
`attached draWings, it Will be readily appreciated by those
`skilled in the art that various changes and modi?cations may
`be made thereto Without departing the gist of the present
`invention.
`
`65
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`AP-1011.009
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`US 6,222,726 B1
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`5
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`What is claimed is:
`1. A palm-siZed computer, comprising:
`a housing enclosing the components of the computer, said
`housing comprising:
`a top housing part having an upper surface and sides;
`a bottom housing part joining With said top housing
`part;
`a card insertion opening formed on one side of said
`housing for inserting an expansion card into said hous
`ing;
`an electronic circuit board enclosed in said housing
`a socket formed on said electronic circuit board for
`electrically connecting said expansion card With said
`circuit board, the opening of the socket facing said card
`insertion opening; and
`a guide support integrally formed With said housing
`betWeen said card insertion opening and said socket for
`guiding said expansion card through said card insertion
`opening into said socket;
`said guide support being inclined from said card insertion
`opening toWard said socket so as to provide a narroW
`ing space toWard said socket, for resiliently supporting
`and guiding an expansion card.
`2. The palm-siZed computer of claim 1, further compris
`ing:
`an expansion card inserted in said socket and enclosed by
`said housing.
`3. The palm-siZed computer of claim 1, further compris
`ing:
`said card insertion opening being de?ned by a ?rst cut
`formed in said bottom housing part and a second cut
`formed in one side surface of said top housing part
`aligned With said ?rst cut.
`4. The palm-siZed computer of claim 1, further compris
`ing: a cover detachably attached to the housing, for closing
`the card insertion opening.
`5. The palm-siZed computer of claim 3, further compris
`ing:
`a cover detachably attached to the housing, for closing the
`card insertion opening, said cover comprising:
`a ?rst portion complementary to said ?rst cut in said
`bottom housing; and
`a second portion attached to the ?rst portion and
`complementary to the second cut in the top housing.
`6. The palm-siZed computer of claim 2, further compris
`mg:
`
`20
`
`6
`a cover detachably attached to the housing, closing the
`card insertion opening and covering the expansion
`card.
`7. The palm-siZed computer of claim 1, said guide support
`further comprising:
`a pair of ?rst support faces on the inside of the housing
`and perpendicular to the main surface of the housing,
`said ?rst support faces parallel to each other and
`extending inWard from both ends of the card insertion
`opening, said ?rst support faces for supporting both
`sides of an expansion card; and
`a pair of second support faces extending from said ?rst
`support faces for supporting the loWer surface of an
`expansion card.
`8. The palm-siZed computer of claim 7, further compris
`15 ing a cover detachably attached to the housing, for closing
`the card insertion opening.
`9. The palm-siZed computer of claim 3, said guide support
`further comprising:
`a pair of ?rst support faces on the inside of and perpen
`dicular to the main surface of the bottom housing part,
`parallel to each other, and extending inWard from both
`ends of the card insertion opening, said ?rst support
`faces for supporting both sides of an expansion card;
`and
`a pair of second support faces extending from said ?rst
`support faces for supporting the loWer surface of an
`expansion card.
`10. The palm-siZed computer of claim 9, further compris
`ing a cover detachably attached to the housing, for closing
`the card insertion opening.
`11. The palm-siZed computer of claim 1, further compris
`ing a cover detachably attached to the housing, for closing
`the card insertion opening.
`12. The palm siZed computer of claim 9, said second
`support faces being inclined from said card insertion open
`ing toWard said socket so as to provide a narroWing space
`toWard the socket, for resiliently supporting and guiding an
`expansion card.
`13. The palm-siZed computer of claim 12, further com
`prising a cover detachably attached to the housing, for
`closing the card insertion opening.
`14. The palm-siZed computer of claim 1, further compris
`mg:
`clamping protrusions on tWo sides of the socket for
`holding recesses formed in both sides of an expansion
`card.
`
`AP-1011.010