Computer internal architecture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9665134-B2
Application number	US-201615173377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2016
Priority date	Jun 7, 2013
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

An internal component and external interface arrangement for a cylindrical compact computing system is described that includes at least a structural heat sink having triangular shape disposed within a cylindrical volume defined by a cylindrical housing. A computing engine having a generally triangular shape is described having internal components that include a graphics processing unit (GPU) board, a central processing unit (CPU) board, an input/output (I/O) interface board, an interconnect board, and a power supply unit (PSU).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A desktop computing system comprising:
a cylindrically shaped housing characterized as having a longitudinal axis and an interior surface that defines an internal volume that is symmetric about the longitudinal axis;
a computing engine comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) supported by and in thermal contact with a heat sink and located within the internal volume, and a rotating and locking memory module mechanism secured to the PCB and arranged to rotatably support a memory module between a locked position that locks the memory module in place at an angle different than a perpendicular angle that is inclined with respect to the PCB and is rotated to an unlocked position that positions the memory module perpendicular to the PCB.

2. The desktop computing system as recited in claim 1 , the rotating and locking memory module mechanism comprising:
a pair of end guides, connected by a supporting member, each end guide including a slot to hold an end of the memory module and direct the memory module to a socket mounted on the PCB;
a lock mechanism configured to provide for rotation of the memory module between the unlocked position and locked position; and
an actuator attached to a first end guide in the pair of end guides, wherein a user actuates a rotating and locking function of the memory module mechanism by applying a pressing force to the actuator or to the supporting member that rotates the memory module between the unlocked position and the locked position, and the supporting member configured to provide structural support to transfer a portion of the pressing force applied to the actuator to an end guide opposite the actuator and to resist torsion of the memory module mechanism, wherein the memory module mechanism allows insertion and removal of the memory module while in the unlocked position and restricts insertion and removal of the memory module while in the locked position.

3. The desktop computing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the memory module mechanism provides for an over travel rotation of the memory module in a first rotational direction in response to the pressing force applied to the actuator or to a supporting member while the memory module mechanism is in the locked position, and the memory module mechanism further comprises:
a spring loaded mechanism to rotate the memory module, in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to the over travel rotation.

4. The desktop computing system as recited in recited in claim 1 , wherein the memory module mechanism accommodates a dual-inline memory module having an approximate length of 133 mm.

5. The desktop computing system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the memory module mechanism engages the memory module to the socket in the locked position and disengages the memory module from the socket in the unlocked position.

6. The desktop computing system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the lock mechanism comprises a plurality of interconnected bars that form a movable linkage assembly.

7. The desktop computing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heat sink is asymmetrically positioned within the internal volume with respect to the longitudinal axis.

8. A memory module mechanism for use in a desktop computing system comprising:
a pair of end guides comprising a first and second end guides, connected by a supporting member, each end guide including a slot to hold an end of a memory module and direct the memory module to a socket mounted on a circuit board;
a lock mechanism configured to provide rotation of the memory module with respect to the circuit board between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein in the locked position, the memory module is tilted at an angle different than a perpendicular angle towards the circuit board and wherein in the unlocked position the memory module is perpendicular to the circuit board; and
an actuator attached to a first end guide in the pair of end guides, wherein a user actuates a rotating and locking function of the memory module mechanism by applying a force to the actuator or to the supporting member, thereby rotating the memory module between the unlocked position and the locked position.

9. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 8 , wherein the memory module mechanism allows insertion and removal of the memory module while in the unlocked position and restricts insertion and removal of the memory module while in the locked position.

10. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 8 , wherein the memory module mechanism provides for an over travel rotation of the memory module mechanism in a first rotational direction in response to the force applied to the actuator or to the supporting member while the memory module mechanism is in the locked position.

11. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 10 wherein the memory module mechanism further comprises:
a spring-loaded mechanism to rotate the memory module, in a second rotational direction opposite a first rotational direction, from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to the over travel rotation.

12. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 8 , wherein the lock mechanism comprises a plurality of interconnected bars that form a movable linkage assembly.

13. The memory module mechanism as recited in recited in claim 8 , wherein the supporting member is configured to provide structural support and to facilitate transfer of a portion of a force applied to the second end guide opposite the first end guide and to resist torsion of the memory module.

14. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 8 , wherein memory module mechanism accommodates a dual-inline memory module.

15. The memory module mechanism as recited in one of claim 11 , wherein memory module mechanism accommodates the dual-inline memory module having an approximate length of 133 mm.

16. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 11 , wherein the memory module mechanism allows insertion and removal of the memory module in the unlocked position and restricts insertion and removal of the memory module in the locked position.

17. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 8 , the desktop computing system comprising:
a cylindrically shaped housing characterized as having a longitudinal axis and an interior surface that defines an internal volume that is symmetric about the longitudinal axis; and
a computing engine comprising the printed circuit board (PCB) supported by and in thermal contact with a heat sink and located within the internal volume.

18. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 17 , wherein the heat sink has a generally triangular cross section.

19. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 18 , wherein the triangular cross section is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

20. The memory module mechanism as recited in claim 17 , wherein the desktop computing system further comprises a thermal management system responsive to a change in activity of the computing engine.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Degner Brett W
• Kalinowski Caitlin Elizabeth
• Kosoglow Richard D
• Banko Joshua D
• Narajowski David H
• Berk Jonathan L
• Leclerc Michael E
• Mcbroom Michael D
• Iqbal Asif
• Michelsen Paul S
• Sin Mark K
• Baker Paul A
• Sontag Harold L
• Yuen Wai Ching
• Casebolt Matthew P
• Fetterman Kevin S
• Calkins Alexander C
• Mcbroom Daniel L

Classifications

• H10W40/641

  Snap-on arrangements, e.g. clips · CPC title

• G06F1/20

  Cooling means · CPC title

• H05K7/20172

  Fan mounting or fan specifications · CPC title

• G06F3/00

  Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements · CPC title

• G06F1/188

  Mounting of power supply units · CPC title