 (10) for the assembly (12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26) for use therein.
本申请要求在2002年8月12日提交的美国临时申请No.60/402，736的优先权。 This application claims in the United States August 12, 2002 filed Provisional Application No. No.60 / 402,736 of.
本发明涉及计算机组件外壳系统及用于其的组件。 The present invention relates to computer systems and components for the housing assembly thereof. 更特定地，本发明涉及具有便利升级能力能力的模块化计算机系统和兼容组件。 More particularly, the present invention relates to computer systems and is compatible with a modular assembly having the ability to conveniently upgrade capability.
计算机系统在购买时常常不能在任何适当的时间长度内满足消费者的个人需要。 Computer systems often can not meet the consumer's individual needs within any suitable length of time at the time of purchase. 因此，需要频繁地升级现有组件和添加部件，诸如升级处理器、加入更多的存储器、升级图形能力、升级声音能力或者为现有的个人计算机添加更大的硬盘。 Thus, the frequent need to upgrade existing components and to add components such as a processor upgrade, adding more memory, upgrade graphics capabilities, the ability to upgrade or add sound more conventional personal computer hard disk.
样暴露出内部组件），移除覆盖在插槽上的插槽盖（硬件卡将安装在该插槽中），然后将硬件卡插入到暴露出的插槽中。 Sample to expose the internal components), in the slot removable cover slot cover (hardware card installed in the slot), then the hardware is inserted into the card slot exposed. 当操纵硬件卡时， 必须小心地不触及电路板的组件或者避免对存储器芯片的静电损伤。 When the operating hardware card, must be careful not to touch the circuit board assembly or to avoid damage to the static memory chips. 此外，对于硬盘或者可移除的媒体硬盘，还必须应对电源线、带状电缆和硬件开关配置。 Further, for the hard disk or removable hard disk media, must also cope with the power cord, ribbon cable, and switch hardware configuration. 然后，为了完成该任务，必须重新放置计算机机盖，重新放置螺钉并且重新连接先前断开连接的任何外部电缆。 Then, in order to accomplish this, the computer must reposition the cover, repositioned and reconnected screw any external cables previously disconnected.
完成任何必需的电缆连接和开关配置。 Complete any necessary cables and switch configuration. 而且，由于母板上可利用的插槽的数目是有限制的并且底座上支架的数目是有限制的，因此通常存在对可添加到个人计算机中的硬件卡和硬盘数量的限制。 Further, since the number of available slots on the motherboard is limited and the number of the base bracket is limited, so there is generally be added to the personal computer hardware and the card number of hard limit.
当前的计算机系统典型地包括母板。 Current computer systems typically include a motherboard. 该母板在购买计算机系统时可以是有足够能力的并且是主流技术的；然而，随着技术的进步，处理器和/或存储器可能变得过时。 When the master computer system may later have sufficient capacity and is mainstream technology; however, as technology advances, a processor and / or memory may become outdated. 在某种程度上，计算机系统可以通过为计算机附装升级卡而进行升级。 May be upgraded by upgrading a computer card attached to a certain extent, the computer system. 然而，这带来对于当前计算机系统可以进行多大升级的限制。 However, this brings the current computer system can limit how much the upgrade. 通常，当计算机系统不能满足新软件的需要或者不能执行可与较新的计算机系统相当的工作时，其变得过时。 Typically, when the computer system can not meet the need for new software or can not perform quite work with the newer computer systems, it becomes obsolete. 因此计算机系统被视为"用完即可丢弃的"，并且每隔几年就需要更换。 Thus the computer system is regarded as "disposable", and need to be replaced every few years.
考虑到这些问题，显而易见，存在对这样的改进的计算机系统的需要，即其便利升级能力并且额外的硬件易于添加到该系统中同时具有最小的限制。 Given these issues, it is clear there is a need for such an improved computer system, namely its ability to facilitate the upgrade and easy to add additional hardware to the system with minimal restrictions. 因此，本发明寻求提供一种计算机系统和相关的组件， 用于容易地和安全地添加功能、维修、定制、扩展、更新或者升级PC 的硬件，其减小了损坏硬件附加设备上的电路的机会，并且有能力增加可附装到计算机上的硬件附加的数目。 Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a computer system and related components, for easily and safely add functionality, maintenance, customize, extend, update or upgrade PC hardware, which reduces the damage to the hardware circuitry on additional equipment opportunities and ability to increase the number of additional hardware on the computer attached to.
如果提供了一种允许便利升级能力组件的模块化计算机组件外壳系统，则对于计算机业界将具有很大的优点。 If a modular housing system that allows computer components to facilitate the ability to upgrade components for the computer industry will have great advantages. 在结合附图阅读下面的描述之后，本发明的其他优点将是显而易见的，并且变得更加易于理解。 After reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, other advantages of the invention will be apparent and more readily appreciated.
放至少一个计算机组件的可互换硬件模块的互连连接器。 Interchangeable interconnection discharge at least one of the hardware modules of the computer components. 该硬件模块包括互补连接器，由此联接模块的数据或电气连接器可以接收多种硬件模块的互补数据或电气连接器，用以创建硬件模块的计算机组件和联接模块之间的数据和/或电气通信。 The hardware module comprises a complementary connector, thereby electrically coupling the module data or may receive complementary data connector or electrical connectors of the plurality of hardware module for creating data between the hardware modules and coupling modules of computer components, and / or in electrical communication.