Portable computer with removable and replaceable add-on modules

A portable computer and removable add-on module combination constructed to permit add-on boards to be readily connected to and disconnected from the bottom of the computer, said portable computer comprising,

• an outer case having a top and a bottom,
• a main logic board mounted within the outer case,
• first connector means connected to the main logic board and having a first, bottom connector extending through the bottom of the outer case for engagement with a related connector of the add-on module,
• said add-on module comprising,
• frame support means for supporting the components of the add-on module,
• a power supply board mounted within the frame support means,
• edge card connector means supplying the interface required for add-on cards and mounted within the frame support means and operatively associated with the power supply board,
• add-on card mounting means associated with the frame support means for permitting add-on cards to be inserted into and removed from the edge card connector means,
• said edge card connector means including a second connector which is the inverse of the first bottom connector and which is positioned to be directly connectable and disconnectable from the first bottom connector of the portable computer without cabling between the first and second connectors,
• cover means for covering the internal components of the add-on module, and
• connecting means for connecting the add-on module to the outer case of the portable computer,
• whereby the computer is operable both as a stand-alone computer without the add-on module and as an altered but still portable computer with the add-on module and whereby the component configuration and operating capabilities of the computer are readily altered as desired or as needed at a given location or for a particular job function by connecting a particular add-on module and selected add-on cards within the add-on module and whereby the portable characteristics of the portable computer and removable add-on combination are retained without requiring redesign or alteration of the internal components of the portable computer.

A portable computer and removable, battery tray compartment, plug-in module constructed to permit general purpose access to the computer bus,

• said portable computer comprising,
• an outer case,
• a main logic board mounted within the outer case,
• battery tray compartment means within the outer case for permitting a battery to be inserted into and removed from the computer,
• said battery tray compartment means including a battery tray compartment plug-in board at the inner end of the battery tray compartment means,
• first connector means mounted on the plug-in board and operatively connected to the main logic board for providing general purpose access to the computer bus through the first connector means,
• said removable, battery tray compartment, plug-in module comprising,
• an outer housing having an outer configuration shaped to slide smoothly into and out of the battery tray compartment, said outer housing having internal supports for supporting at least one component board within the outer housing,
• at least one component board supported within said outer housing and having a back connector and a front connector at opposite ends of the board,
• a back plate attached to the housing and having an opening for the back connector of the board and being aligned with the first connector means of the plug-in board so that the back connector is directly connectable to and detachable from the first connector means on the plug-in board when the outer housing is inserted into and removed from the battery tray compartment, and
• a front plate connectable to the outer housing and having an opening located to permit the front connector of the board to extend through said opening so that the front connector provides an outside interface for the board of the plug-in module,
• whereby the battery for powering the computer is removable and the plug-in module is insertable in the battery tray compartment to connect to the computer any part connectable to the computer bus, such as, an interface to an expansion chassis, an interface to communications such as LANs, WANs, and high speed modems, computer peripheral attachments such as a hard disk or other storage devices, an interface to display devices, an interface to instrumentation interfaces such as IEEE 488, an interface to provide a small server capability, and static RAM, and whereby all such connections are connectable without requiring redesign or change to the existing, internal component structure of the computer itself.

A portable computer and removable, mass storage area, plug-in drawer constructed to permit general purpose access to the computer bus,

• said portable computer comprising,
• an outer case,
• a main logic board mounted within the outer case,
• mass storage area means within the outer case for permitting general purpose access and particularly selected mass storage apparatus access to the computer bus,
• said mass storage area means including a drawer board located at the inner end of the mass storage area means,
• said mass storage means also including a drawer carrier attached within the outer case of the computer and having carrier guides adapted to receive coacting tray guides of a tray of a drawer,
• first connector means mounted on the drawer board and operatively connected to the main logic board for providing general purpose access to the computer bus through the first connector means,
• said removable, mass storage area, plug-in drawer comprising,
• a tray having tray guides slidable within the related carrier guides of the drawer carrier,
• a component board mounted within the tray and having a back connector and a front connector at opposite ends of the board with the back connector located to be directly connectable to said first connector means on the drawer board,
• a front plate connected to the tray and having fasteners for locking the tray into the outer case of the portable computer after the tray has been inserted and the back connector of the component board has been connected to the first connector means on the drawer board,
• said front plate also having an opening located to permit the front connector of the component board to extend through said opening so that the front connector provides an outside interface for the board,
• whereby selected mass storage devices, such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, static RAM with its own power supply, and bubble memory are selectively insertable in the mass storage area and connectable to a related component board and whereby any other part connectable to the computer bus, such as, an interface to an expansion chassis, an interface to communications such as LANs, WANs, and high speed modems, computer peripheral attachments, an interface to display devices, an interface to instrumentation interfaces such as IEEE 488, and an interface to provide a small server capability are also selectively incorporated in the computer through a related component board, without requiring redesign or change to the existing, internal component structure of the computer itself.