RandomFailure

Title:   Access system for a portable device; Disk drive media access system

Patent application publication number:  20070019375; 20070019374

Publication date:  January 25, 2007 (for both)

Filing date:  July 20, 2005 (for both)

Link to PDF:  ’375 -  ; ’374 –

AIPW Summary:  An access panel and system for the bottom side of a laptop computer (375) and a more specific implementation of that concept in locating a CD or DVD drive (referred to generally as optical disk drives, or ODDs) on the bottom of the computer (374). As laptops are being made thinner, available space for ODDs is becoming scarce. So the ODD is placed on the bottom of the laptop to save space.

A mobile motion module (MMM; i.e., the Sudden Motion Sensor in MacBooks) is coupled to the ODD door, so that the ODD door can only be opened if a force of -1G is detected (’375 – paragraph 0051) . An open button can be used to open the ODD, and can be disabled by the MMM unless the laptop is inverted (’375 – paragraph 0053).

The ’375 application has claims directed to the general concept of locating something usable on the bottom surface. Some claims get more narrow and specifically address an ODD.

The ’374 application describes the construction of an ODD to be mounted in the bottom of a laptop and the latching mechanisms that could be used to keep the door shut. Also disclosed are various mechanisms for holding the disk in place in the ODD. The claims are directed the disk drive and means for retaining the disk in position when the ODD door is opened.