JP3191944B2 - Personal computer station - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a station for enhancing the performance of a personal computer (hereinafter, abbreviated as "PC") mounted thereon or improving the performance thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a station has been prepared as an option in a notebook-sized personal computer or the like in order to extend the capability or improve the performance thereof during desk work. Then, a personal computer is docked to this station, and as a docking system, functions and performances of a desktop personal computer based on a so-called laptop personal computer are exhibited.

[0003]

In this case, in order to exert a sufficient function as a desktop personal computer, it is necessary to mount an extension board incorporating various electronic circuits on the station body. However, if a commercially available full-size expansion board is simply accommodated in the station body, the station body becomes unnecessarily large. Of course, it is possible to mount the full-size expansion board so as to protrude from the station body, but it is affected by the external environment such as dust.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a personal computer station in which a large-sized expansion board can be mounted and the station body is made compact. Aim.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an expansion board incorporating various electronic circuits is attached to and detached from a station main body in order to extend the capability of a personal computer mounted thereon or to improve the performance. In a personal computer station that is configured to be capable of being equipped with a board cover that is attached to the station main body and accommodates a portion of the extension board that is attached to the station main body and that protrudes from the station main body, the board cover is freely retractable with respect to the station main body. And is housed in the station body.

[0006]

A portion of the extension board mounted on the station main body protruding from the station main body is provided with a board cover for accommodating the extension board. Therefore, the extension board is completely protected even if it protrudes from the station body, and is not directly affected by the external environment.

In this case, if the board cover is constructed so as to be able to protrude and retract from the station body and is housed in the station body, the board cover is housed in the station body when the extension board is not used. It can be pulled out only when used and can function as a protective cover for the expansion board.

[0008]

1 and 2, a description will be given of a notebook computer station according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a station, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state where a personal computer is mounted on the station.

As shown in both figures, a station body 2 of the station 1 is formed in an L-shaped cross section, and a personal computer 3 is mounted on the back side of the "L" shape, and a docking system in a box shape as a whole. Is configured. The station main body 2 includes a mounting portion 4 for mounting a personal computer having the same width as the personal computer 3 on its upper surface, and a hard disk drive 6, an expansion board 7,
A power supply device (not shown) or the like is built in or can be mounted. Thus, the station 1 has a multi-functionality comparable to a normal desktop personal computer by extending the performance of the personal computer 3 mounted thereon or improving the function.

On the other hand, the personal computer 3 is portable and has a built-in case 8 with a minimum of functions such as a power supply and a floppy disk drive (both not shown). It is designed to function as. The personal computer 3 is guided by the guide projections 9, 9 provided on the mounting portion 4 of the station body 2, and is connected to the station 1 by the connector 10, and is used in a docking state as shown in FIG.

In this use, the station body 2
Can be equipped with an external storage device such as a hard disk drive 6 or an expansion board 7 incorporating various electronic circuits so that various functions can be exhibited.

The expansion board 7 is removably accommodated in an expansion slot 11 provided in the case 5 of the station main body 2 so as to cross the same. The expansion slot 11 just accommodates a 2/3 size expansion board (so-called AT type expansion card), and accommodates a full size expansion board 7 protruding from the station main body 2 on the left side in the figure. A box-shaped board cover 21 is attached to the station body 2 to protect the protruding portion.

As shown in FIG. 3, the board cover 21 has an open side surface on the side of the station body 2, from which a protruding portion of the expansion board 7 is inserted. The board cover 21 is configured to be able to protrude and retract from the station main body 2, and is accommodated in the station main body 2 when the full-size expansion board 7 is not used. For this reason, a pair of guide grooves 22a, 23a are formed on the surface of the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 23 in the board cover 21, and the guide grooves 22a, 23a are formed on both upper and lower surfaces of the case 5 of the station body 2. A pair of guide rails 5a, 5a are formed to slide on the board cover 21 so that the board cover 21 can be subtracted from the station body 2 by these guide members. Also, board cover 2
Stopper claws 22b and 23b are formed on the open end sides of the upper plate 22 and the lower plate
The reference numerals 2b and 23b engage with stopper grooves 5b and 5b formed on the inner surface of the case 5 of the station main body 2, and regulate the position where the board cover 21 is pulled out. That is, the stopper grooves 5b, 5b are inserted into the stopper claws 22b, 23b such that the side surface of the station body 2 and the side surface of the board cover 21 are flush with each other (FIG. 3A).
And a completely pulled out position (FIG. 3B). On the other hand, on the inner side of the side plate 24 of the board cover 21, a holding projection 24a for holding the extension board 7 is formed at a middle position so that the end of the extension board 7 is clamped and fixed to the holding projection 24a. It has become. The expansion board is inserted into the expansion slot 11 from the side opposite to the mounting side of the board cover 21 and set.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the board cover 21 housed in the station main body 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the front plate 25 of the board cover 21 has a hinge 26 at its lower end and opens inward. Can be opened and closed. A wrapping spring 27 is wound around the hinge 26 to urge the front plate 25 in the closing direction. For this reason, the front plate 25 is normally in a closed state, but is configured to open to the inside of the board cover 21 when a force is applied from the outside. Therefore, with the board cover 21 in the storage position,
When the hard disk drive 6 is to be mounted on the station 1 (see FIG. 1B), when the hard disk drive 6 is inserted into the station body 2, the front end 25 of the board cover 2 is opened so that the front end of the hard disk drive 6 opens.
1 and the connector connection between the board 12 of the station body 2 and the hard disk drive 6 is made.

With the above configuration, even if a full-size expansion board 7 that protrudes from the station main body 2 is used, the expansion board 7 can be reliably protected by the board cover 21. Also, expansion board 7
Is not used, the board cover 21 can be accommodated in the station body 2, so that the board cover 21 is not lost, while the station body 2 can be made compact. In addition, even if the board cover 21 is housed in the station body 2, the hard disk drive 6 can be mounted, and the function of the station 1 is not impaired.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the station according to the present invention.
This is an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the board cover 21 is externally attached, that is, detachable from the station main body 2 from the outside. When the full-size expansion board 7 is mounted, the board cover 21 is attached so as to cover it.

As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting portions are provided with outward locking claws 22c, 23c formed on the open ends of the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 23 of the board cover 21, respectively. 5 Locking grooves 5 formed on upper and lower inner surfaces
c, 5c from the inside, and the board cover 21 is attached to the extension slot 11 of the station body 2.
And push it against the end of it.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the station according to the present invention.
This is an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the board cover 21 is detachably attached to the station main body 2 from the outside, and has a structure in which the full-length expansion board 7 is mounted so as to cover the expansion board 7 when it is mounted. ing.

As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of inward locking claws 22d, 22d formed on the open ends of the upper and lower plates of the board cover 21, respectively, are mounted on the case body of the station body 2, as shown in FIG. Locking holes 5 formed at the upper and lower ends
d and 5d are locked from the outside.

As described above, in the structures of the second and third embodiments, the attachment / detachment of the board cover 21 is extremely easy.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, a board cover for accommodating a portion of the extension board mounted on the station main body protruding from the station main body is attached. Also in use, the extension board can be reliably protected while the station body is downsized.

If the board cover is constructed so as to be able to come and go with respect to the station main body and is housed in the station main body, the board cover can be housed in the station main body. Damage and loss can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a station according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of a docking system in which a personal computer is mounted on a station.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view around a board cover.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view around a board cover.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the station according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view around the board cover of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the station according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view around the board cover of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Station 2 ... Station main body 3 ... Personal computer 5 ... Case 7 ... Expansion board 11 ... Expansion slot 21 ... Board cover

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Seiji Morita 4-55 Otacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Yokohama Bashamichi Building Inside Sotec Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-1-296324 (JP, A) Kaihei 3-294917 (JP, A) Real Kaihei 2-77728 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 1/16-1/18

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A personal computer station in which an extension board incorporating various electronic circuits is detachably attached to a station body in order to extend or improve the performance of the personal computer mounted thereon. A board cover attached to the main body and accommodating a portion of the extension board mounted on the station main body that protrudes from the station main body; the board cover is configured to be able to protrude and retract from the station main body; A personal computer station housed in a personal computer.