HK1173249B - Solid state memory device, portable computing device, and assembling method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Solid state memory module, portable computing device and method of assembling the same

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to portable computing devices. In particular, the present embodiments relate to a housing for a portable computing system and a method of assembling a portable computing device.

Background

The appearance of a portable computing system, including its design and its weight, is important to the user of the portable computing system because the appearance affects the user's overall impression of the portable computing system. At the same time, the assembly of the portable computing system is also important to the user, as a durable assembly will help extend the overall life of the portable computing system and will increase its value to the user.

One design challenge associated with manufacturing portable computing systems is designing an external case for housing various internal computing components. This design challenge generally results from a number of conflicting design goals, including the desire to make the outer shell or housing lighter and thinner, the desire to make the shell stronger and the desire to make the shell aesthetically pleasing, among other possible desires. Lighter casings or shells tend to be softer and thus more prone to bending and buckling, while stronger and more rigid shells tend to be thicker and have more weight. Unfortunately, the increase in weight can lead to user dissatisfaction with bulkiness or reduced portability, while buckling can damage internal parts or cause other failures. Still further, few consumers want to own or use devices that are perceived as being very ugly or unsightly. For these considerations, the materials of the housing of the portable computing system are typically selected to provide sufficient structural rigidity while meeting weight constraints, and to introduce any aesthetic appeal in materials that meet these initial standards.

In this regard, the external case or housing of a portable computing system is typically made of aluminum, steel, and other inexpensive yet strong metals having suitable thicknesses to achieve the goals of light weight and high structural rigidity. The use of a metal case is also convenient from the standpoint of providing a ready electrical ground and/or ready radio frequency ("RF") or electromagnetic interference ("EMI") shielding for the processor and other electronic components of the computing device, since a metal case or outer housing is readily available for these functions.

Thus, it would be beneficial to provide an aesthetically pleasing, lightweight, and durable portable computing system. In addition, it would be beneficial to provide a method for assembling such a portable computing system.

Disclosure of Invention

Various embodiments are described herein relating to systems and methods for providing a lightweight and durable portable computing device having a wedge-shaped profile, and an associated high-speed memory card and card connector. This may be achieved at least in part by using a wedge-shaped outer housing and a specially designed inner assembly arranged to fit and work within the housing. Such components include high speed memory cards and associated card connectors that use contacts with short signal paths and ground planes that are divided into sections. In one aspect of the provided embodiments, the computing device takes the form of a laptop computer.

In various embodiments, a portable computing device may include a base portion made of a lightweight material and including a wedge-shaped top shell coupled with a bottom shell to form a complete enclosure for at least a portion of the portable computing device, the complete enclosure enclosing at least a plurality of working components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device may also include a lid portion (lid) pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly, the lid portion having a display in communication with one or more components in the base portion.

The hinge assembly may have one or more electrical conductors coupling the cover portion to the base portion, and may further include a hollow coupling having an annular outer region and a central bore region surrounded by the annular outer region. The central bore region allows passage of one or more electrical conductors and provides support for the one or more electrical conductors. The hinge assembly may further include a first fastening assembly that facilitates coupling the hollow coupling to the base portion, and a second fastening assembly that facilitates coupling the hollow coupling to the cap portion, wherein at least one of the first and second fastening assemblies is integrally formed with the hollow coupling.

In various embodiments, the portable computing device, which may be a laptop computer, may further include one or more user input components located on the base portion, wherein the base portion defines a wedge shape, whereby the one or more user input components may be at an angle to a user of the portable computing device. The user input may include a keyboard, a touchpad, or both.

In various embodiments, the portable computing device may include a small Z-Stack solid state storage device or module in a landscape configuration as one of the working components. In some embodiments, the memory module may be a stand-alone device. The memory device or module may include a substrate (substrate), a plurality of memory devices linearly arranged on the substrate, and a controller linearly arranged in accordance with the plurality of memory devices and arranged to provide control signals to the memory devices. Such a solid state storage device may include a set of eighteen contacts disposed along one edge of a substrate, the contacts adapted to interface with respective connectors coupled to a motherboard of a portable computing device.

In still further embodiments, a method for assembling a portable computing device may comprise: providing a bottom case and a top case, wherein at least one of the bottom case or the top case defines a wedge shape, coupling the bottom case to the top case to form a complete enclosure for a base portion of a portable computing device, pivotally connecting the base portion to a top cover portion by a hinge assembly, wherein the top cover portion has a plurality of components, at least one of which is a display, and electrically connecting at least some of the components in the top cover portion to a working component in the base portion by way of one or more electrical conductors extending through the hinge assembly.

Other apparatus, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

Drawings

The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible structures and arrangements for the disclosed inventive apparatus and methods for providing a portable computing device. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIGS. 1-6 show exemplary views of a portable computing system according to the described embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows an exterior view of a bottom case according to the depicted embodiment;

FIG. 8 shows an interior view of the bottom shell shown in FIG. 7;

fig. 9a and 9b show exterior views of a top case according to the described embodiments and showing various openings for receiving a keyboard and a touchpad.

Fig. 10a-10c show a top case and feature board (featureplate) assembly according to the described embodiments.

Fig. 11a and 11b show an embodiment of a tamper resistant fastener according to the described embodiments, where the fastener may be used to secure top and bottom cases of a portable computing device.

FIG. 12 shows a portable computing system with a bottom case and batteries removed to reveal various internal components and structures, according to the described embodiments.

Fig. 13a-13d show a typical compact heat dissipation module (thermomodule) according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 14 a-14 b show a board-to-board connector with an anti-angulation (anti-angulation) device according to the described embodiments.

Fig. 15 illustrates an opening for helping to facilitate good cable placement (cabledress) according to the described embodiments.

FIG. 16 shows an enlarged view of an area of a keyboard/track pad circuit that may include various keyboard and touch pad processing components, according to the described embodiments.

Fig. 17a and 17b show a cable tie (cablestrap) for securing a cable according to the described embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows a typical cable secured by the cable tie of FIG. 17 a.

Fig. 19 shows an exploded view of a battery assembly according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 20 shows a specific mirror configuration of a frame-type cell arrangement according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 21a-21d show SSD memory modules in perspective, side, bottom, and top views, respectively, according to described embodiments.

Fig. 22a shows a side view of a replaceable SSD module with memory chips at both ends thereof, according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 22b shows a close up view of the contacts of the SSD memory module according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 23 shows a top perspective view of a connector according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 24 shows a bottom perspective view of a connector according to the described embodiment.

Figure 25 shows a daughter or option card inserted into a connector according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 26 shows a top view of a connector according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 27 shows a cross-sectional view of a connector receptacle according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 28 shows a detail of a portion of the top of the connector according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 29 shows a front view of a connector according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 30 shows a side view of a connector according to the described embodiment.

FIG. 31 shows a detail of a side view according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 32 shows a bottom view of a connector according to the described embodiment.

FIG. 33 shows a flowchart detailing a process according to the described embodiment.

Detailed Description

Exemplary applications of the apparatus and method according to the present invention are described in this section. These examples are provided merely to add context and aid in the understanding of the invention. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. Other applications are also possible, and thus the following examples should not be considered limiting.

The following relates to a portable computing system, such as a laptop computer, a netbook computer, a tablet computer, and the like. The portable computing system may include a multi-part housing having a top shell and a bottom shell joined together at a rim (reveal) to form a base portion. The portable computing system may have an upper portion (or top cover) that may house a display screen and other related components, while a base portion may house various processors, drivers, ports, batteries, keyboards, touch pads, and the like. The base portion may be formed from a multi-part housing which may include top and bottom outer housing components, each of which may be formed in a particular manner in the interface region, thereby not only reducing the spacing and offset between these outer housing components, but also making it easier to keep the devices consistent throughout the mass production of the devices. These general topics are set forth in more detail below.

In a particular embodiment, the top cover and the base part may be pivotally connected to each other by means of a so-called hollow coupling fitting. The hollow coupling fitting may be arranged to pivotally couple the base portion to the top cover. The hollow coupling fitting may comprise at least a hollow cylindrical portion which in turn comprises an annular outer region, and a central bore region surrounded by the annular outer region, the central bore region being suitably arranged to provide support for electrical conductors between the base portion and the electronic components in the top cover. The hollow coupler assembly may further include a plurality of fastening regions that couple the hollow coupler to the base portion and the top cover of the portable computing system, wherein at least one fastening region is integrally formed with the hollow cylindrical portion, thereby minimizing space, size, and part count.

The multi-part housing may be made of a strong, durable, yet lightweight material. Such materials may include composite materials and/or metals, such as aluminum. Aluminum has a number of characteristics that make it a good choice for multi-part housings. For example, aluminum is a good electrical conductor that provides a good electrical ground, is easily machined, and has numerous well-known metallurgical properties. Furthermore, aluminum does not have high reactivity and is non-magnetic, which would be a basic requirement in the case of portable computing systems with RF capabilities such as WiFi, AM/FM, etc. To protect both the multipart case and to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish (both visually and tactilely), a protective layer may be placed or formed on the exterior surface of the multipart case. The protective layer may be applied in a manner that enhances both the aesthetic appearance of the housing and the appearance of the protected portable computing system. In one embodiment, when the multi-part enclosure is made of aluminum, at least the outer surface of the aluminum may be anodized to form a protective layer.

The top housing may include a hole or cavity and may have a plurality of working components inserted therein during the assembly operation. In the described embodiment, working components may be inserted into the internal cavity and attached to the top housing during a "top-bottom" assembly operation, where the top-most component is inserted first, followed by the components in a top-down arrangement. For example, a top case may be provided and shaped to accommodate a keyboard module. The keyboard module may include a keyboard assembly formed of a plurality of keycap assemblies and associated circuitry, such as a flexible membrane, to which a switching matrix may be incorporated. In one embodiment, the key cap assembly may take the form of a low profile key cap such as that described in U.S. patent application No.12/712,102 entitled "stamp assembly and method for assembly and use," filed by Niu et al, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In one embodiment, the keycap assembly can be used in place of a power switch. For example, in a conventional keyboard, each of the leading keycaps can be assigned at least one function. However, by relocating one of the key caps as a power button, the switching mechanism associated with conventional power buttons can be eliminated and replaced with an already available key cap assembly and associated circuitry, thereby reducing the number of working components.

In addition to a keyboard, the portable computing system may include a touch sensitive device consistent with a touchpad, touchscreen, and the like. In those embodiments where the portable computing device includes a touch panel, the touch panel may be made of a glass material. The glass material provides a decorative surface and is a primary source of structural rigidity for the touch pad. By using glass material in this manner, the overall thickness of the touch pad may be significantly reduced compared to previous designs. The touch panel may include circuitry for processing signals from sensors associated with the touch panel and keypad membranes associated with the keypad. Thereby eliminating a separate circuit previously used to process signals from the keypad film.

The touch panel includes a dome switch (domeswitch) covered by the sealing mechanism and used for detecting activation of the touch panel. The dome switch may comprise an electronic switch. The sealing mechanism may protect the electronic switch from dust and moisture, and thereby improve the robustness of the electronic switch. The sealing mechanism may include an expansion gap, and the dome switch may expand into the expansion gap when pressurized. By using an extended gap during actuation, the force feedback response associated with the dome switch may be improved, and the overall aesthetics of the touch pad improved.

In embodiments where at least one of the top and bottom shells is formed from a conductive material, such as aluminum, a good electrical ground plane or electrical ground may be provided. The ability to provide a good ground plane may be particularly advantageous because the working components in a portable computing system are in close proximity to each other. Because of this close proximity, it is desirable to isolate the significant EF radiation source (such as the main logic board or MLB) from those circuits that are sensitive to RF interference, such as wireless circuits. In this manner, at least the conductive top and/or bottom shells may be used to provide good chassis grounding, which in turn may be used to electromagnetically isolate circuitry generating RF energy and those components that are sensitive to RF energy. Further, by making the top and bottom cases of an electrically conductive material, the top and bottom cases can be connected together so as to form a base portion that can act as a Faraday cage that effectively protects the external environment from EMI generated by the portable computing system.

To provide a pleasing aesthetic to the user, the shape of the portable computing system may have a contour that looks or feels pleasant. In the described embodiment, the multipart case may have a wedge shape. When the bottom surface of the portable computing device is placed on a flat support surface, such as a table or desk, the wedge shape may cause the wedge housing to assume an angle that makes the keyboard layout and touchpad easy to use. The wedge shape of the portable computing system may improve user interaction with the touchpad and keyboard by presenting the touchpad surface and keycaps in a more natural alignment with the user's fingers, as compared to conventional portable computing systems, such as laptop computers, having housings that are identically shaped and have little or no angle. In this way, improved ergonomics helps to reduce the amount of pressure and strain applied to the user's wrist.

At least because of the strong and resilient nature of the material used to form the multi-part housing; the multipart enclosure may include a plurality of openings and the openings have a wide span without the need for additional support structure. Such an opening may take the form of a port that can be used to provide access to internal circuitry. These ports may include, for example: for example, a data port suitable for accommodating a cable (USB, ethernet, FireWire, etc.) for connecting an external circuit. The opening may also provide access to audio circuitry, video display circuitry, power input, and the like.

These and other embodiments are described below with reference to fig. 1-33. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments.

Portable computing device

Fig. 1-6 show various views of a portable computing system 100 according to the described embodiments. Fig. 1 shows portable computing system 100 in an open (top) state and fig. 2 shows a front perspective view of portable computing system 100 in a closed (top) state. Portable computing system 100 may include a base portion 102 formed with a bottom case 104 secured to a top case 106. Base portion 102 may be in the form of a pivot and connected to a top cap portion 108 by means of a hollow coupling fitting 110 concealed by a decorative wall 111. The base portion 102 may have a wedge-like overall shape with a first end sized to fit the hollow coupling fitting 110. The base portion 102 may taper towards a more narrowly configured end that is arranged to conform to an insert 112 that is adapted to assist a user in lifting the cap portion 108 with, for example, a finger. In the depicted embodiment, the overall appearance of the wedge shape of base portion 102 may be created by the overall shape of the wedge shape of top shell 106. Alternatively, a wedge-shaped bottom shell may also provide similar results. The top case 106 may be configured to receive various user input devices, such as a keyboard 114 and a touch pad 116. The keyboard 114 may include a plurality of low profile key cap assemblies, each having an associated key seat 118.

Each of the plurality of keypads 118 may have a symbol imprinted thereon for identifying a key input associated with a particular keypad. The keyboard 114 may be arranged to receive discontinuous input on each of the keypads using finger movements known as keystrokes. In the described embodiment, the symbols on each key pad may be laser etched, thereby creating an extremely clean and durable impression that does not fade with the continued application of keystrokes over the life of the portable computing system 100. The touchpad 116 may be configured to receive finger gestures of a user. The finger gesture may include touch events from more than one finger applied in unison. The gesture may also include a single finger touch event, such as a sweep or tap. To reduce the number of components, the keycap assembly can be reconfigured as a power button. For example, the key pad 118-1 may be used as the power button 118-1. In this way, the overall number of components in the portable computing system 100 may be considerably reduced.

The top cover portion 108 may include a display 120 and a rear cover 122 (shown more clearly in fig. 2) that may add a decorative finish to the top cover portion 108 and also provide at least structural support for the display 120. In the depicted embodiment, the top cover portion 108 may include a bezel 124 that surrounds the display 120. The cap portion 108 can be moved from the closed position to remain in the open position by means of the hollow coupling fitting 110, and returned again. The display 120 may display visual content such as a graphical user interface, still images such as photographs, and video media items such as movies. The display 120 may use any suitable technology to display images, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), OLED, and the like. The portable computing system 100 may also include an image capture device 126 located on the bezel 124. The image capture device 126 may be configured to capture still images and video images. The display trim (or bezel) 124 may be supported by structural components (not shown) inside the top cover portion 108 and attached to the rear cover 122. The display trim 124 may enhance the overall appearance of the display 120 by hiding working and structural components, as well as focusing attention to the active area of the display 120. The data ports 128 and 130 may be used to transfer data and/or power between one or more external circuits and the portable computing system 100. The formed cap portion 108 may have a unitary structure that may provide additional strength and resiliency to the cap portion 108, which may be particularly important because repeated opening and closing may result in pressure. In addition to strength and resiliency enhancements, the unitary construction of the cap portion 108 may also reduce the overall part count by eliminating separate support features.

Turning now to fig. 3-6, a side view of the portable computing system 100 is shown. More specifically, FIG. 3 shows a rear view of portable computing system 100 showing ornamental features 111 for concealing hollow coupling accessory 110 and at least two support feet 132, where support feet 132 may be used to provide support for portable computing system 100. The support feet 132 may be made of a wear resistant resilient material, such as plastic. FIG. 4 shows a typical front view of portable computing system 100 showing the relative position of insert 112 between top case 106 and top cover portion 108. As shown in FIG. 5, which illustrates a typical left side view of the portable computing system 100, a left side wall 134 of the top case 106 is shown, the left side wall 134 having openings that may be used to receive various data and power ports. For example, opening 136 formed in left sidewall 134 may be used to receive an Ethernet cable, while opening 138 may be used to receive Magsafe^TMA receptacle 140. It should be noted that the opening 138 must have a high aspect ratio in order to receive the receptacle 140, in part because the platform 142 or mesa is relatively large, which allows a properly configured power plug to more easily align with the receptacle 140. In the particular embodiment described herein, the audio jack 144 and the side-firing microphone 146 may be located on the side wall 134. As shown in fig. 6As shown, right side wall 148 of top case 106 may include openings 150 and 152 for receiving data port 128 (such as a USB data port) and data port 130, which may take the form of a video port, such as a DisplayPort, respectively^TMType of video port.

Fig. 7 shows an exterior view of bottom shell 104 showing support feet 132, insert 112, the exterior of hollow coupling fitting 110, and the relative positioning of fasteners 154 used to secure bottom shell 104 to top shell 106. In the particular embodiment depicted, the fasteners 154 may take the form of tamper resistant fasteners as described in more detail below. Fig. 8 shows an interior view of the bottom shell 104 showing the openings 156 for receiving the fasteners 154. In addition, fasteners 158 may be used to secure the device feet 132 to the bottom case 104. Standoffs (standoff)160 may be used to provide support for bottom case 104 when attached to top case 106.

Fig. 9a and 9b show an exemplary embodiment of top shell 106. By way of example, FIG. 9a shows an exterior view of the top case 106 showing various openings for receiving the keyboard 114 and touchpad 116. More specifically, each opening 160 may have a size and shape according to the particular keycap assembly. For example, opening 160-1 may be sized to accommodate power button 118-1, while opening 160-2 may be sized to accommodate a space bar. In addition to the opening 160, the opening 162 may provide support for the touch pad 116. For example, the opening 162 may include an attachment feature 164 for securing the touch pad 116 to the top case 106. Further, as can be seen in fig. 9b, which shows the interior of the top shell 106, several additional attachment features may be used to secure the touch pad 116 and keyboard 114. In certain embodiments, the keyboard 114 and the touchpad 116 may share circuitry, which may at least reduce the overall number of components. Additionally, the notches 166 may be used in conjunction with the hollow coupling fitting 110 to provide a more uniform overall appearance to the portable computing system 100. Attachment features 168 may be used with openings 156 to secure bottom shell 104 and top shell 106 using any suitable fastener.

Fig. 10a-10c show the top shell and feature plate assembly 180. Fig. 10a is a perspective view showing the entire fitting 180 from the perspective of an observer, while fig. 10b is a perspective view of a corner of the fitting. As shown in fig. 10b, the feature plate 184 is secured to the top shell 106 by a plurality of rivets 184. It is readily appreciated that numerous components may be deployed between the feature plate 184 and the top case 106. Fig. 10c depicts a partial cross-section of one rivet location of the feature plate fitting 180, wherein the riveting is accomplished in a composite beam type manner. The feature plate 184 may be a thin steel plate, for example, which may be riveted to an aluminum webbing (webbing)186 between various key caps (not shown) at locations 188. The webbing 186 may, in turn, be coupled to the top shell 106, or in some embodiments, the webbing 186 and top shell may be integrally formed. Preferably, the locations 188 will be sized and shaped to receive rivets that pass through adjacent locations in the feature plate 182.

By riveting the feature plate 182 to the top shell 106 by means of a plurality of rivets 184, thereby encapsulating various internal components inside it, a number of advantages can be realized. For example, the combination of top case 106 and featured steel plate 182 may result in an effective EMI shield, and in some embodiments may even result in a Faraday cage type shield. This EMI shielding effect is enhanced by using multiple fastening points held together with rivets, which tends to seal the internal components of the keyboard better than using a small number of fastening points, such as in a screw or bolt type arrangement. Thus, from an EMI perspective, such EMI shielding effectively isolates the keyboard from various other components in the computing device, such as the processor directly beneath the keyboard or any antenna that may be present in the device.

As another benefit, by using rivets rather than other types of fastening components, such as screws, bolts, etc., it may not be necessary to have the fastening components extend through the top case 106 or even the aluminum webbing 186 in order to affect the fastening strength of the components. This is particularly advantageous where a smooth and unbroken surface is required on the exterior of the top shell or aluminium braid. In addition, its advantage still lies in: the process of making a rivet fixation is significantly faster than a similar screw or bolt fixation process, since in the case described above the front side of the riveted assembly does not need to be accessed. Another benefit that can be achieved using rivets rather than screws is that: the entire fitting can be thinned, particularly since it is no longer necessary to accommodate threaded structures or components that may take up space.

While the use of rivets rather than screws or bolts tends to result in the need for a greater number of fastening components (i.e., rivets), since each rivet location tends to be weaker than a screw location in a similar fitting, this can be accommodated by using a composite beam type riveting arrangement for increased strength and a quick riveting process for achieving the benefit of having a smooth, unbroken face on one side of the fitting being riveted. By using rivets rather than screws, a simpler manufacturing process can result that tends to be cost effective, faster, and potentially results in the use of more fastening points, which in turn can result in higher integrity in components that are more reliably fastened together. The overall feel of the riveted together top case, keyboard and feature board assembly can also be improved by using rivets rather than screws because the combination of components tends to be less flexible, more stable, and more snug together as an integral assembly.

Fig. 11a shows one embodiment of a fastener 154 in the form of a tamper resistant fastener 170 that may be used to secure the bottom and top shells 104, 106. In the depicted embodiment, the formed tamper resistant fastener 170 may have a head end 172 that includes a shaped recess 174. The number and shape of the recesses 174 may vary. In this manner, the only permitted mechanism by which to insert or remove with the engagement of tamper resistant fastener 170 is driver 176 shown in FIG. 11 b. The driver 176 includes a driver portion 178 that is shaped to correspond to the shaped recess 174. In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 11a and 11b, tamper resistant fastener 170 may include five shaped flutes 174 (also referred to as lobes) whereby tamper resistant fastener 170 may be referred to as a five lobe fastener 170. Thus, in order to properly engage the five-lobed fastener 170, the driver portion 178 of the driver 176 must have a shape that conforms to the shape of the five-lobed fastener 174. In other words, the shape and size of the driver portion 178 must conform to the shape and size of the five-lobed fastener 174. Accordingly, only those individuals who have access to the authorized five-lobed driver 176 can properly engage the five-lobed fastener 170. In this manner, the use of an improperly shaped driver may be readily detected by causing possible damage to the five-lobed fastener 170.

FIG. 12 shows portable computing system 100 with bottom case 104 and batteries removed to reveal various internal components and structures. For example, fan assembly 602 may be used to remove waste heat provided by heat transfer module 604. The heat transfer or dissipation module 604 may include stages 603 and 605. Stages 603 and 605 may thermally and mechanically couple heat pipe 606 with heat generating components, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a graphics controller (GPU), respectively. In the embodiment shown, waste heat may be transferred to a cooling material (such as water) in the heat pipe 606 and to the fin stack 606. The fan assembly 602 may then force relatively cooler air through the fin stack 608, thereby causing heat to be transferred from the cooling material in the heat pipe 606 to the cooler air, which is then exhausted by way of the rear vent 607.

Fig. 13a-13d show an implementation of a heat dissipation module 604 according to the described embodiments in more detailed views. The heat sink module 604 may include a spring stage 603 and a spring stage 605 that contact the top of the integrated circuit CPU and GPU, respectively. Spring stages 603 and 605 may have a substantially uniform thickness and may function as stages as well as beams and springs. Stages 603 and 605 may provide an efficient heat conduction path between the CPU and GPU and the heat pipe 606. The thermal module 604 may have a low Z-stack and thus be well suited for small computer systems. To provide an efficient heat dissipation path, stages 603 and 604 may be made of materials with excellent thermal and mechanical properties. The excellent thermal properties help to transfer heat from the CPU and GPU to the heat pipe 606. The excellent mechanical properties may ensure good mechanical coupling between stages 603 and 605 and the CPU and GPU, respectively. In particular, by applying sufficient pressure to form a good mechanical/thermal interface, the overall thermal conduction characteristics of the heat dissipation module 604 can be greatly improved.

Referring back to fig. 12, audio circuits 616 and 618 may be attached to the inner surface of top case 106, which in one embodiment may port audio from portable computing device 100 through keyboard 114. Touchpad/keyboard circuitry 620 may be connected to MLB612 via wires 622. Antenna cable 624 may be secured to top case 106 with cable strap 626, while openings 628 and 630 (also referred to as hammer head openings and described below) may facilitate routing (route) cables 632 and 634, respectively. The board-to-board connector 638 may include stabilizers that may prevent pins on the board-to-board connector 638 from shorting to the pins when the pins are inserted into the corresponding openings.

For example, as shown in fig. 14a and 14b, board-to-board connector 638 may have a plurality of pins 650 that may be inserted into corresponding openings 652 on a mating connector 654. To prevent angular displacement when pins 650 are inserted into openings 652, a plastic frame 656 may be provided. The plastic frame 656 may prevent misalignment of the angle. In particular, raised features 658 on either end of plastic frame 656 can be placed into corresponding slots on connector 654, thereby essentially creating a half-piston on connector 638, forcing pins 650 into proper alignment with openings 652 prior to insertion. In this manner, by combining the plastic frame 656 with pre-existing components, potential damage events may be prevented.

Fig. 15 shows a particular embodiment of openings 628 and 630 for routing cables 632 and 634. Openings 628 and 630 may provide a deterministic way to assemble the cable without adding parts and ensure proper space placement and retention. In the depicted embodiment, openings 638 and 630 may be shaped similar to a hammer head to accommodate cables 632 and 634. However, it should be noted that any suitable shape is suitable. In this way, the cabling (i.e., effective layout and aesthetic appearance) of the cable can be enhanced without resorting to adding components. For example, the openings 628 and 630 in the MLB612 may provide well-defined paths for cable placement, which helps reduce unnecessary cabling, thereby reducing assembly time and cost, and thus cable routing.

Fig. 16 shows an exploded view of a region 700 of IPD circuitry 640 which may include various keyboard and touchpad processing components. These processing components may be configured to receive signals generated by activating sensors, such as membranes associated with a keyboard, and activating one or more sensors, such as dome switches, associated with the touch pad 116, where the dome switches may be configured to detect the position and/or change in position of one or more objects, such as the tips of one or more user's fingers, on the top surface of the touch pad. In one embodiment, the sensor may be constructed from a PET material. The processing component may also include a keyboard interface that may be configured to receive a keyboard connector that may be configured to pass signals generated in accordance with user inputs received on the keyboard, such as signals generated by activating a thin film sensor associated with the keyboard. After processing, signals from the touchpad and/or keyboard may be transmitted to main logic board MLB612 via wires 622.

Fig. 17a and 17b show a typical cable tie 626 for securing a cable, such as antenna cable 624 as shown in fig. 18. In particular, because certain cables are difficult to route because of their size and resistance to bending, providing a good cable arrangement for such cables can be difficult and time consuming, especially in the small workspace available in the portable computing system 100. Thus, cable strap 626 may provide a simple and effective mechanism for quickly routing and securing cables such as antenna cable 624. The cable tie may take a variety of forms suitable for the particular cable and location. For example, FIG. 17a shows one particular embodiment of a cable tie in the form of cable tie 626 (shown in FIG. 12), where cable tie 626 has a base portion 626A and a "tongue" portion 627 which may be used to route and secure antenna cable 624. As shown in fig. 18, to secure antenna cable 624, base 626 of cable strap 626 is first attached to top case 106 and antenna cable 624. By securely attaching to top case 106 and securing base portion 626 of antenna cable 624, body portion 627 of cable strap 626 will wrap around antenna cable 624, thereby securing tongue portion 627c to top case 106, such as by using an adhesive. In this way, it is easy to route and secure the antenna cable 624 with a simple and efficient operation, which in turn results in a clean overall appearance of a good cable arrangement.

Fig. 19 shows an exploded view of a battery assembly 800 according to the described embodiment. The battery assembly 800 may include a plurality of asymmetrically arranged individual cells 802, and the cells are encased in a frame, which is shown in more detail in fig. 20 and described in more detail in U.S. patent application No.12/714,737, entitled "battery assembly," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The battery cells 802 may be configured in a mirror arrangement. For example, battery cells 802a, 802b, and 802c at side 804 may have corresponding battery cells 802a, 802b, and 802c placed in a mirror image arrangement on side 806 of battery assembly 800. In the depicted embodiment, battery cell 802a may have different properties than 802b or 802c, and vice versa. Battery 800 may have distributed Battery Management Units (BMUs), or have discrete BMUs as shown in fig. 19. In any case, by changing the size and properties of the battery cells 802, the battery 800 may be arranged to have a low Z stack that conforms to the overall size and shape of the portable computing system 100.

High speed memory card and connector

Referring back to FIG. 12, the storage device 610 may be used as a system main memory for storing data. The storage device 610 may be a high-speed memory card and may take the form of a solid-state storage device, such as FLASH memory, connected to other internal circuitry, such as, for example, a main logic board or MLB612, via a high-speed connector 614. In the depicted embodiment, the memory device 610 may take the form of a single layer FLASH memory chip, where the number of memory chips may be four in the depicted embodiment. It should be noted, however, that any suitable number of memory chips may be used. One or more controller chips may be included in addition to the memory chip. The memory device 610 may be mounted to the connector 614 by sliding the contacts or pins 615 into position in the connector 614 and then securing the memory device 610 with fasteners through the openings 617. In this manner, the reduced Z-stack of the storage device 610 may improve overall system integrity by being able to use space that would otherwise be unavailable with conventionally configured solid state storage devices. For example, a lateral stack arrangement of storage 610 may accommodate space above system memory (not shown). It should be noted that in some embodiments, the memory device 610 may have a two-sided configuration, where memory chips may be mounted to both sides of the memory device 610. This arrangement may be accommodated well by a computing system having slightly more space than the particular embodiment shown in fig. 12.

Fig. 21a-21d show SSD memory module 610 according to the described embodiment in perspective, side, bottom and top views, respectively. As described above, SSD memory module 610 may include memory chips 611 on one side, while in other embodiments, these memory chips may be located on both sides of SSD memory module 610. Likewise, one or more controller chips 613 may also be used, and the card 610 may also include one or more insulator regions 619. In the embodiment shown, SSD memory module 610 may be arranged in a "chewing gum tablet" arrangement, with the active components of SSD memory module 610 arranged in a lateral manner. In this way, SSD memory module 610 may have a low Z stack and thus may be placed within an area of solid state memory inside portable computing device 100 that is not available in conventional configurations. In particular, by minimizing the number of components and placing the components in a space efficient manner, SSD memory module 610 can be housed in an area directly above the CPU memory, thereby creating an area of high component packing density.

While a variety of shapes, sizes, and dimensions may be used for such a high speed SSD memory module 610, a variety of particular dimensions may provide context in relation to the particular examples set forth in fig. 12 and 21a-21 d. For example, the memory module or card 610 may have a total length (including contacts/pins) of about 108 and 110mm, a width of about 23-25mm, and a board thickness of about 0.6-0.8 mm. More specifically, the memory module or card 610 may have a total length of about 108.9mm, a width of about 24mm, and a board thickness of about 0.7 mm. The maximum thickness of the memory chip or other components located on the board may be about 1.4mm at most locations on the board, but a reduced maximum thickness may be applicable near the edge of the board. The maximum combined thickness of the modules at all positions is greater than about 2.2 mm. The opening 617 may be in the shape of a half circle having a diameter of about 6 mm.

Moving next to fig. 22a, a replaceable SSD memory module is shown in side view with memory chips on both sides. SSD memory module or card 610a is substantially similar to card 610 above, except that memory chips 611 may be included on both sides of the card. Such memory chips on both sides of the module may all feed into a set of contacts or pins 615 located on one edge of the SSD memory module.

Fig. 22b shows in a perspective view the contacts of an SSD memory module according to the described embodiments. Likewise, SSD memory module or card 610 may include one or more insulator regions 619, as well as a set of contacts 615 located at one edge of the side of the card. In some embodiments, exactly 18 contacts 615 may be used, but it is readily appreciated that more or fewer contacts may be used for a given application. In the particular embodiment shown, the 18 contacts are divided into a first section having 6 contacts and a second section having 12 contacts. These first and second portions or sets of contacts may be separated by a physical gap 615-0 that may be used to help facilitate proper insertion of the module into the corresponding connector. For example, the gap 615-0 may be arranged to fit around a post or other physical stop inside the connector arrangement, whereby an attempt to reverse plug in the memory module 610 will not be successful.

In the particular embodiment shown, each contact or pin 615 may have a particular purpose or function. For example, starting from the first contact at the bottom of the second portion with 12 contacts, each contact may have the following specific function:

the above specific configuration is considered to be well suited for the particular portable computing device disclosed herein, although other contact arrangements and functions are certainly possible.

Turning now to fig. 23, various details regarding a high speed connector for use with the aforementioned SSD memory module are provided in a top perspective view for illustration. This figure, as well as the other included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not limit possible embodiments of the invention or the claims.

Connector 11100, which may be the same or substantially similar to connector 614 generally indicated above, may include an insulative housing 1110, a plurality of contacts 1120, and a shield 1130, which may be mounted on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may be a motherboard, multi-layer board, or other type of board. Connector 1100 may be adapted to receive a card or board, such as a daughter card or board, or an alternative card or board.

The dielectric housing 1110 may include front openings 1112 for receiving daughter or option cards. The insulating housing 1110 may also include one or more openings 1114, and these openings are shown in the front face of the insulating housing 1110 in this example. These one or more openings 1114 may be used to visually or otherwise determine that a card is properly inserted in the connector 1110.

In this example, each of the plurality of contacts 1120 may include a first portion 1122 and a second portion 1124. First portion 1122 may extend from the front of housing 1110. The first portion 1122 may be used to make contact with contacts or pads (pads) placed on a printed circuit board. The second portion 1124 may be approximately in line with the first portion 1122. The second portion 1124 may contact contacts on the card when the card is inserted into the connector 1100. Each contact 1120 may also include a third portion (not shown) for mechanical stability, as will be discussed below.

Shield 1130 may cover at least the top and back of connector 1100. Shield 1130 may serve as a ground plane, in which case it would be connected to one or more ground contacts on the card and one or more ground contacts on the printed circuit board. Shield 1130 may be divided into two or more portions. In this particular example, shield layer 1130 may be divided into three portions. By dividing shield layer 1130 into portions when a card is inserted into connector 1100, shield layer 1130 can be ensured to make contact with ground contacts on the card at three or more points, thereby improving the ground provided by shield layer 1130. In this particular example, one or more portions 1132 of shield layer 1130 may be folded back under the top of shield layer 1130. With this arrangement, shield portion 1132 may be pressed against the top surface of the card when the card is inserted into opening 1112 of connector 1100, thereby engaging one or more ground contacts. This action may also push the contacts on the card into the second portions 1124 of the contacts 1120, thereby forming an electrical path. A protrusion (tab)1134 may be located on shield layer 1130 and may be used to connect shield layer 1130 to a ground on a printed circuit board.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector having a high speed path in front of a daughter card or option card and a printed circuit board. In particular, the first and second portions 1122, 1124 of the contacts 1120 may form a short direct path that propagates one or more signals as well as the power supply. In addition, these paths may be shielded by shield layer 1130, which may improve signal instructions and allow for faster data rates. By splitting shield 1130 into multiple portions, the ground connection between the ground on the card and the shield may be improved.

Furthermore, this short through path provided by contact 1120 may allow connector 1100 to have a low profile (lowprofile). A third portion of the contact 1120 may be used to provide mechanical stability. This third portion may be approximately in line with first portion 1122 and parallel to the bottom of connector 1100.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector that improves the reliability of the manufacturing process. In particular, first portion 1122 may be a surface mounted contact. These first portions 1122 may be soldered to pads or contacts on the printed circuit board, which allows for easy inspection of the solder connections of the contacts 1122 to the printed circuit board. In addition, opening 1114 may allow for inspection to ensure proper insertion of the card into connector 1100.

Fig. 24 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a connector 1100 according to the described embodiment. This figure includes an insulative housing 1110, a plurality of contacts 1120, and a shield 1130. The insulating housing 1110 may include a protrusion 1140. These protrusions 1140 may be used to provide mechanical support for a connector on a printed circuit board. The protrusion 134 may be used to make an electrical connection between the shield 1130 and a ground line or plane on the printed circuit board. In various embodiments, the housing 1110 may be plastic or other insulating material. The contact 1120 may be stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, or other conductive material. Also, shield 1130 may be stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, or other conductive material.

Although 18 contacts are shown in this particular example, other numbers of contacts may be used. Further, although first portions 1122 are shown as extending from the front of connector 1100, they may extend from other directions in other embodiments of the present invention. For example, they may protrude downward, or they may also protrude toward the back of the connector 1100. In other embodiments of the present invention, the first and second portions 1122, 1124 of contacts 1120 may be the same portion. Further, although shield layer 1130 is shown having a particular configuration, other configurations are possible. For example, shield layer 1130 may not be split into multiple portions, while in other embodiments of the present invention shield layer 1130 may be split into two or more portions. Further, while one or more openings 1114 are shown at the top of the insulative housing 1110, in other embodiments, these openings may be omitted, there may be more or fewer than two openings 1140, and openings may be provided elsewhere. Likewise, the connector 1100 may accept or accept a daughter or option card, and one example is shown in the following figures.

Fig. 25 shows a daughter or option card inserted into a connector according to the described embodiments. This example includes a connector 1300 that receives a daughter or option card 1360. Card 1360 may be the same as or substantially similar to SSD memory module 610 or 610a set forth in more detail above. When card 1360 is inserted into connector 1300, contacts on the top of card 1360 may make electrical connections with portion 1332 of shield 1330. Contacts on the bottom of the card 1360 may make electrical connection with the second portions 1324 of the contacts 1320. Also, various embodiments may provide a very short signal path from the card 1310 to the printed circuit board on which the connector 1300 resides. In particular, the signal path may include a first portion 1322 and a second portion 1324 of the contact 1320. Contact 1320 may also provide mechanical stability by including third portion 1326. Specifically, the third portion 1326 may extend into the insulating housing 1310. In this example, the second portion 1324 and the third portion 1326 may extend into the insulating housing 1310, while the first portion 1322 may extend out of the front of the connector 1300. Second portion 1324 and third portion 1326 of contact 1320 may be approximately in line with first portion 1322. The third portion 1326 may extend substantially parallel to the bottom of the connector 1300.

Fig. 26 shows a top view of the connector and fig. 27 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector receptacle of fig. 26 along the line F-F. A cross-sectional view of a contact 1322 and a shield layer 1332 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Fig. 28 shows a detail area G of a portion of the top of the connector of fig. 26 according to the described embodiment. As shown, physical stops 1350 may be used to divide the contacts into groups. As described above, physical stop 1350 may also be arranged to mate with gap 615-0 in the associated memory card so that the memory card cannot be inserted backwards into the connector.

Fig. 29 shows a connector according to the described embodiment in a front view. Fig. 30 shows a connector according to the described embodiment in a side view. FIG. 31 shows detail area E from the side view of FIG. 30 in accordance with the described embodiments. Fig. 32 shows a bottom view of a connector according to the described embodiment.

Also, illustrative examples of embodiments of the invention are shown in these examples. It should be noted that variations on the various portions of the connectors, such as the insulative housing 110, contacts 120, and shield 130 and portions thereof, may be made in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, and that it is not necessary that any of these have a particular shape, size, arrangement, or other characteristic shown in the figures in order for a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention to function properly.

FIG. 33 shows a flowchart detailing a process according to the described embodiment. Process 3300 may begin at 3302 with providing a top shell and a bottom shell, and at least one of the top shell and the bottom shell has a wedge shape. At 3304, a bottom case is coupled with a top case to form a complete enclosure of a base portion of the portable computing system to enclose at least a plurality of working components and a plurality of structural components. The base portion defines a wedge shape whereby one or more user input components are presented at an angle to a user of the portable computing device, and such wedge shape is a result of the top case or the top case adopting the wedge shape. At 3306, the base portion is pivotally connected to the top cover portion by a hinge fitting. In the described embodiment, the top cover portion has a plurality of components, and at least one of them is a display. At 3308, at least some of the components in the top cover portion may be electrically connected to the working components in the base portion via one or more electrical conductors extending through the hinge fitting.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated that the above-described invention may be embodied in numerous other specific variations and embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain changes and modifications may be practiced, and it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing details, but rather is to be defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A solid-state memory module adapted for use with an associated portable computing device, the memory module comprising:

a base having a top side and a bottom side;

a plurality of storage devices arranged linearly on the substrate such that a total combined thickness of the memory module at all locations remains less than 2.2mm, wherein the plurality of storage devices are arranged along the top side and the bottom side of the substrate;

a controller arranged linearly with the plurality of memory devices, the controller being arranged to provide control signals to the memory devices; and

a set of 18 contacts positioned along one edge of the substrate, the contacts adapted to interface with respective connectors coupled to a motherboard of the associated portable computing device, wherein the set of 18 contacts are divided into a plurality of separate groups by physical gaps disposed between different groups, wherein a first group of the plurality of separate groups comprises exactly 6 contacts, and wherein the set of 18 contacts convey signals in a particular order as follows:

2. the solid state memory module of claim 1, wherein a second group of the plurality of separate groups comprises exactly 12 contacts.

3. The solid state memory module of claim 1, wherein the memory module has an overall length in the range of 108 and 110mm, an overall width in the range of 23-25mm, and a substrate thickness in the range of 0.6-0.8 mm.

4. The solid state memory module of claim 3, wherein the memory module has an overall length of about 108.9mm and an overall width of about 24 mm.

5. The solid-state memory module of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is a laptop computer, the memory module being installed in the laptop computer and located directly above a system memory of the associated laptop computer.