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US 6,661,648 B2Granted
Modular processor based apparatus
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorJ Don Dayley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular processor based system has a plurality of interchangeable modular components with power and communications connection means on top and bottom walls whereby the components may be operably connected to one another through vertical stacking. Modular components preferably include a processor, printer, memory, network communications, and hard drive components. Preferred connectors are mating male and female connectors on module top and bottom walls. The modular system of the invention provides important space saving and ease of connection advantages through its modular, stacked configuration.
Claims19
A modular processor based apparatus comprising:
- a processor module having a top wall and a bottom wall, a communications port on at least one of said top or bottom walls, said processor module comprising at least a central processor unit;
- a plurality of modular components, said components being interchangeably and vertically stacked on one another and with said processor module, said components each having a top wall and a bottom wall, said modular components each having mating communications connectors on said top and bottom walls adapted for connecting to other of said components whereby said components being operably connected to one another though vertical stacking, at least one of said mating connectors adapted for connection to said processor module communications port whereby each of said stacked components being operably linked to said processor module when said components are stacked with said processor module;
- wherein one of said plurality of components comprises a video card unit for connection to a monitor, wherein said video card unit has a monitor support arm for supporting a monitor, said monitor support arm comprising power and communications connectors for said monitor.
A modular computer system comprising:
- a processor module comprising a central processor unit, a power supply and a mother board, said processor module having a bottom wall adapted for support on an underlying flat base, said processor module having a top wall with a communications port, a power connector and a plurality of structural connectors;
- a modular hard drive component having a memory component for storing data, said hard drive component having a top and a bottom wall, each of said top and bottom walls having a communications connector, power connector and a plurality of structural connectors;
- a modular memory component comprising a random access memory component, said modular memory component having a top and a bottom wall, each of said top and bottom walls having communication connector, power connector and a plurality of structural connectors;
- a modular network communications component comprising a network communications circuit for communicating with an external network, said network communications module having a top and a bottom wall, each of said top and bottom walls having communication connectors, power connectors and a plurality of structural connectors;
- a monitor unit having a bottom wall with communications connectors, power connectors and a plurality of structural connectors;
- wherein said modular memory component, said modular network communications component and said modular hard drive component are all interchangeably stacked vertically with one another, said stacked modular components being operably linked to one another by mating of respective of said power connectors, said communications connectors and said stacked modular components being structurally linked by mating of said structural connectors;
- a modular printer component, said printer component having a top and a bottom wall, each of said top and bottom walls having a communication connector, a power connector and a plurality of structural connectors;
- a modular sound card component, said sound card component having a top and a bottom wall, each of said top and bottom walls having a communication connector, a power connector and a plurality of structural connectors;
- a modular scanner component, said scanner component having a top and a bottom wall, each of said top and bottom walls having a communication connector, a power connector and a plurality of structural connectors;
- and,
- wherein said modular scanner component, said modular printer component, and said modular sound card component are vertically interchangeably stacked with said plurality of stacked components, said modular scanner component, modular printer component and said sound card component thereby being operably linked to one another, to said processor module and to said monitor unit by mating of respective of said power connectors, said communications connectors, and said structural connectors;
- said stacked components stacked on top of said processor module top wall, said monitor unit stacked on top of said stacked modular components, whereby said bottom wall of a lowermost of said stacked components lying on top of said processor module top wall with said plurality of processor module structural connectors, communications connector, and power connector being operably mated with respective of said bottom wall power connectors, communication connectors and power connectors, said plurality of stacked components thereby operably linked to said processor module;
- and,
- said monitor unit stacked on top of said plurality of stacked components whereby said monitor unit bottom wall lying on top of said top wall of an uppermost of said plurality of stacked components, with said monitor unit bottom wall power connectors, communication connectors, and structural connectors being in mating connection with respective of said uppermost stacked component top wall power connector, communications connector, and structural connectors whereby said monitor unit thereby being operably linked to said plurality of stacked components and to said processor module.
11 more elements
A modular computer system comprising:
- a processor module having a bottom wall adapted for support on an underlying flat base, and a top wall with a communications port, a power connector and a plurality of structural connectors;
- a monitor unit having a bottom wall with communications connectors, power connectors and a plurality of structural connectors;
- a modular printer component having a top and a bottom wall, each of said top and bottom walls having a communication connector, a power connector and a plurality of structural connectors;
- and
- a modular scanner component having a top and a bottom wall, each of said top and bottom walls having a communication connector, a power connector and a plurality of structural connectors;
- wherein said modular scanner component and said modular printer component are vertically stacked and operably linked to one another, to said processor module and to said monitor unit by mating of respective ones of said power connectors, said communications connectors, and said structural connectors.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.