Cartridge-based design for portable and fixed computers
US5608608A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/183
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system includes a chassis and a cartridge having separate functional components that interface with one another over a common bus. The chassis includes a plurality of user interface modules, which are generally designed and packaged according to a particular application/work mode, each coupled to a first bus. The cartridge, on the other hand, includes components that can be shared among the various applications/work modes. Specifically, the cartridge has a core processor and memory coupled to a second bus, and at least one slot for housing a communication module that is coupled to the second bus. In addition, the cartridge may be designed to be configured by the user to have a first form and a second form. The cartridge of the first form may be utilized for portable computer processing systems such as laptop, notebook and sub-notebook systems. The cartridge of the second form may be designed to be narrow enough to be utilized in smaller portable computer processing systems, such as hand-held systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.