BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.
FIG. 1 depicts a side cutaway block diagram of a desktop information handling system having modular wireless functionality;
FIG. 2 depicts an upper perspective view of one example embodiment of a wireless module sized to fit in a desktop information handling system storage drive bay;
FIG. 3 depicts a lower perspective view of one example embodiment of a wireless module sized to fit in a desktop information handling system storage drive bay and having USB support; and
FIG. 4 depicts an upper perspective view of one example embodiment of a wireless module sized to fit in a desktop information handling system storage drive bay and having USB and card reader support.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A wireless module sized to fit in a desktop information handling system storage drive bay provides wireless functionality with a modular component having a form factor that fits into the desktop information handling system as a storage drive would fit. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a side cutaway block diagram depicts a desktop information handling system 10 having modular wireless functionality. Desktop information handling system 10 processes information with a plurality of processing components, such as motherboard 12 supporting a CPU 14, RAM 16, a hard disk drive 18 and a chipset 20. The processing components are disposed in a chassis 22 and supported by a power supply 24 that operates with power provided from an external power source 26, such as an external AC socket. Information handling system chassis 22 has one or more storage device bays 28 that accept storage devices, such as optical drives, hard disk drives and, for flexbays, 3.5 inch magnetic drives. Chassis 22 includes a storage device bay connector 30 that interfaces with the processing components through a cable 32, such as an SCSI, USB, or PCI Express cable. Storage devices are built with a form factor that allows a user to insert a storage device into bay 28 aligned for electrical communication with connector 30 and couple the storage device to chassis 22. A wireless module 34 having components to support wireless functionality has the form factor of a storage device so that wireless module 34 fits into storage device bay 28 as a storage device would. Once coupled to chassis 22 and in electrical communication with a connector 30, wireless module 34 interfaces with the processing components to provide desktop information handling system 10 wireless functionality, such as a wireless personal area network (WPAN) for peripherals, like a keyboard 36, mouse 38 or camera phone 40. Alternatively, wireless module 34 provides wireless local area networking through a wireless access point 42.
Referring now to FIG. 2, an upper perspective view depicts one example embodiment of a wireless module 34 sized to fit in a desktop information handling system storage drive bay. Wireless module 34 is built in a chassis 44 having a form factor that provides compatibility with a storage drive that fits into a storage drive bay. Wireless module chassis 36 contains one or more wireless processing components 36 that support wireless functionality, such as a WPAN card or a wireless network interface card for interfacing with a WLAN. Wireless processing component interfaces with the processing components of desktop information handling system 10 through, for instance, a connector 30 aligned to couple with a connector of information handling system 10. In addition, other types of devices may be included in chassis 44, such as a 12-in-1 card reader 48 that interfaces with variety of storage card devices or a WPAN card. Information handling system connector 30 manages communication for multiple devices through a single or multiple connections, essentially altering the 12-in-1 card reader to perform as a 14-in-1 reader having WPAN and WLAN capabilities.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a lower perspective view depicts one example embodiment of a wireless module 34 sized to fit in a desktop information handling system storage drive bay 28 and having USB support. Wireless module chassis 44 supports wireless processing component 46 and a USB hub 50. USB hub 50 provides plural USB interface ports at the front portion of chassis 44 so that, when chassis 44 is coupled into a storage drive bay, USB interface ports 52 are exposed at the front surface of information handling system 10. An antenna 54 supports the operation of one or more transceivers of wireless processing components and is embedded behind a nonconductive portion of cover 56 so that reception and transmission of radio signals is not impeded. Location of antenna 54 at cover 56 provides improved reception and transmission of radio signals where wireless module 34 inserts into the front portion of information handling system 10.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an upper perspective view depicts one example embodiment of a wireless module sized to fit in a desktop information handling system storage drive bay and having USB and card reader support. Wireless chassis 44 is sized to fit in a flexbay, such as by adopting the form factor of a 3.5 inch floppy disk drive. A first wireless processing component 46 provides support for WPAN, such as Bluetooth or UWB, and a second wireless processing component 46 provides support for WLAN, such as 802.11 (b), (g) or (n). A common antenna 54 extends out from chassis 44 to allow user adjustments to its position. In alternative embodiments, separate antennas or multiple common antennas may be used at various locations on the information handling system. Connector 30 interfaces with wireless processing components 46 to support communication with information handling system processing components. Alternative bus links are available by connecting through USB hub 50 or with a PCI Express controller 56. Communications for wireless processing components 46 and 12-in-1 card reader 48 may be multiplexed through a common link, such as a USB or PCI Express link, or sent through separate connections at various locations.
Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080090611
