COMPUTER COMPONENT PROTECTION

Abstract

A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a shock mount assembly that is configured to provide impact absorption to sensitive components such as a display and an optical disk drive. The computing device also includes an enclosureless optical disk drive that is housed by an enclosure and other structures of the computing device. The computing device further includes a heat transfer system that removes heat from a heat producing element of the computing device. The heat transfer system is configured to thermally couple the heat producing element to a structural member of the computing device so as to sink heat through the structural member, which generally has a large surface area for dissipating the heat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a portable computer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a broken away perspective diagram of a lid of a portable computer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view, in cross section, of a lid of a portable computer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, in cross section, of a shock mount used to support a display screen in a lid of a portable computer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a broken away perspective diagram of a base of a portable computer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view, with a removed section, of a base of a portable computer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A-C are a side elevation views, in cross section (taken along 7-7′as indicated in FIG. 6), of a shock mount assembly used to support a CD/DVD drive in a base of a portable computer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view, in cross section (taken along 8-8′as indicated in FIG. 6), of a heat transfer system housed with a base of a portable computer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A-C are simplified side elevation views, in cross section, of a heat transfer system housed with a base of a portable computer, in accordance with alternate embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A portable computer, comprising: a structural member configured to support the portable computer;an optical disk drive including drive components and structural components configured to support the drive components;a shock mount assembly configured to reduce impacts to the optical disk drive, and to position the optical disk drive relative to the structural member, the shock mount assembly including a plurality of shock mounts, which are attached to the structural components of the optical disk drive, and which rest in a portion of the structural member.

2. The portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the structural member includes a plurality of mounting holes, and wherein each of the plurality of shock mounts includes a resilient member having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being larger than the second segment, the first segment being disposed between the structural component of the optical disk drive and the structural member and the second segment being disposed inside one of the mounting holes.

3. The portable computer as recited in claim 13 wherein the first segment fills a gap formed between the structural component of the optical disk drive and the structural member, and wherein the second segment fills the mounting hole of the structural member.

4. The portable computer as recited in claim 14 wherein a distal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the structural component of the optical disk drive, a proximal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the structural member, and an outer periphery of the second segment abuts to an inner periphery of the mounting hole of the structural member.

5. The portable computer as recited in claim 12 wherein a first set of shock mounts are attached to a first side of the structural component of the optical disk drive, and wherein a second set of shock mounts are attached to a second side of the structural component of the optical disk drive, the second side being opposite the first side.

6. The portable computer as recited in claim 12 wherein the shock mount assembly holds the optical disk drive in the X, Y and Z directions.

7. The portable computer as recited in claim 12 wherein the structural member is a portion of a computer enclosure that houses the internal components of the portable computer and a portion of a computer chassis used to support the computer enclosure, and wherein the structural component of the optical disk drive includes a plurality of tabs that are positioned substantially next to a side of the computer enclosure and/or the computer chassis so as to form a gap therebetween.

8. The portable computer as recited in claim 18 wherein the computer enclosure and/or computer chassis includes a plurality of mounting holes, and wherein each of the plurality of shock mounts includes a resilient member having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being larger than the second segment, the first segment being disposed between the tab of the structural component and the side of the computer enclosure or computer chassis and the second segment being disposed inside one of the mounting holes of the computer enclosure or computer chassis.

9. The portable computer as recited in claim 19 wherein a distal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the tab, a proximal end of the first segment abuts to a side of the computer enclosure or computer chassis, and an outer periphery of the second segment abuts to an inner periphery of the mounting hole of the computer enclosure or computer chassis.

10. The portable computer as recited in claim 20 wherein the shock mounts include a fastener for attaching the resilient member to the tab.

11. The portable computer as recited in claim 21 wherein the fastener is a screw.

12. The portable computer as recited in claim 12 wherein the optical disk drive is a CD/DVD drive.

13. The portable computer as recited in claim 23 wherein the CD/DVD drive is a slot loaded CD/DVD drive.