# US 12,225,684 B2 · Information handling system keyboard motherboard and thermal solution engagement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,684 B2 - Document ID: US12225684B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/081,108 - Filed: 2022-12-14 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-14 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products L.P. - Inventors: Chiu-Jung Tsen; Jace W. Files; John Trevor Morrison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225684B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/20172: {Fan mounting or fan specifications} - G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position} - G06F 1/1635: {Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter} - G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)} - G06F 1/1658: {related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module} - G06F 1/1662: {Details related to the integrated keyboard} - G06F 1/1686: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera} - G06F 1/1688: {the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers} - G06F 1/169: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033)} - G06F 1/184: Mounting of motherboards - G06F 1/203: {for portable computers, e.g. for laptops} - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device} - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 21/86: Secure or tamper-resistant housings - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A portable information handling system is assembled and disassembled by a keystone assembly that couples at an upper surface of the portable housing to overlap a keyboard assembly that covers processing components disposed in the portable housing. A motherboard couples to the portable housing under the keyboard assembly with openings aligned to insert over retaining nuts extending from the housing, the openings having a varied size so that the motherboard slides between released and engaged positions. A cooling fan couples to the motherboard adjacent to one side to retain the motherboard in the engaged position and is removed to allow the motherboard to slide to the released position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information handling system comprising: a housing; a motherboard slidingly coupled to the housing to slide between an engaged position and a released position; a processor coupled to the motherboard and operable to execute instructions that process information; a memory coupled to the motherboard and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the instructions and information; and a cooling fan adjacent to and coupled to the motherboard when the motherboard is in the engaged position to prevent sliding of the motherboard to the released position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: a cooling fan connector coupled to a bottom side of the motherboard and having cooling fan control and power interfaces; and a cooling fan connector interface extending from a side of the cooling fan adjacent the motherboard and configured to insert under the motherboard to engage with the cooling fan connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the cooling includes a bracket that engages at the motherboard bottom and top surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The information handling system of claim 2 wherein: the motherboard has a sliding direction that slides between a rearward released position at which the motherboard lifts vertically out of the housing in a forward engaged position; and the cooling fan couples orthogonal the sliding direction of the motherboard. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The information handling system of claim 4 further comprising: a keyboard assembly coupled to the housing to expose plural keys configured to accept end user key press inputs, the keyboard assembly coupling to the housing to contain the motherboard in an interior of the housing; and a cooling fan lock member extending from the keyboard assembly into the housing interior aligned to engage the cooling fan at a lock feature, engagement of the cooling fan lock member and cooling fan lock feature securing the cooling fan in a position that retains the motherboard in the engaged position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The information handling system of claim 5 wherein: the cooling fan lock feature comprises a notch at one side; and the cooling fan lock member comprises a member aligned to insert in the notch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The information handling system of claim 6 further comprising: plural retention nuts coupled to the housing and having a coupling portion dimension; wherein the motherboard has plural openings aligned with the plural retention nuts and having a first dimension aligned in the released position and a second dimension in the engaged position, the second dimension engaging with the coupling portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The information handling system of claim 7 further comprising: a secondary cooling fan having the cooling fan connector interface extending from one side and configured to couple with the cooling fan connector; wherein the cooling fan coupled to the motherboard includes a cooling fan connector on a bottom surface opposite the motherboard and configured to couple with the secondary cooling fan connector interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The information handling system of claim 8 further comprising an embedded controller coupled to the motherboard and interfaced with the motherboard cooling fan connector. ### Claim 10 A method for assembly of an information handling system, the method comprising: coupling a motherboard to a housing in a released position; sliding the motherboard to an engaged position; and coupling a cooling fan to the motherboard to retain the motherboard in the engaged position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein: decoupling the cooling fan from the motherboard; sliding the motherboard from the engaged position to a released position; and lifting the motherboard at the released position away from the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising: sliding a cooling fan connector interface of the cooling fan to engage a cooling fan connector of the motherboard; and communicating power and control information from the motherboard to the cooling fan through the cooling fan connector to the cooling fan connector interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein: the motherboard cooling fan connector is at a bottom side of the motherboard; and the cooling fan connector interface slides orthogonal to the motherboard sliding to engage the motherboard cooling fan connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising: coupling a housing cover to the housing over the motherboard; and extending a cooling fan lock member from the housing cover to engage the cooling fan in a position that retains the motherboard in the engaged position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising: coupling a keyboard membrane to the housing cover; coupling a keyboard over the keyboard membrane; and coupling a keystone assembly to the housing and housing cover to retain the housing cover in position on the housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising: coupling a secondary cooling fan to the cooling fan; and communicating with the secondary cooling fan through the cooling fan. ### Claim 17 A motherboard assembly comprising: a motherboard having plural openings to accept plural retainer nuts and slide between a released position and an engaged position; and a cooling fan coupled to the motherboard to retain the motherboard in the engaged position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The motherboard assembly of claim 17 further comprising: a cooling fan connector disposed at a bottom side of the motherboard; and a cooling fan connector interface extending from the cooling fan and aligned to engage the cooling fan connector with sliding orthogonal to the motherboard sliding. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The motherboard assembly of claim 18 further comprising: a housing cover configured to couple over the cooling fan; and a lock member extending down from the housing cover and aligned to engage the cooling fan when retaining the motherboard in the engaged position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The motherboard assembly of claim 19 further comprising: a cooling fan connector disposed on the cooling fan at a side opposite the motherboard and configured to interface in series with a secondary cooling fan.