US20150355688A9 - Chassis Design and Component Layout for a Mini-ITX Format Computer - Google Patents
Chassis Design and Component Layout for a Mini-ITX Format Computer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20150355688A9 US20150355688A9 US14/064,081 US201314064081A US2015355688A9 US 20150355688 A9 US20150355688 A9 US 20150355688A9 US 201314064081 A US201314064081 A US 201314064081A US 2015355688 A9 US2015355688 A9 US 2015355688A9
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- pci
- chassis
- expansion
- itx
- motherboard
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/20—Cooling means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/18—Packaging or power distribution
- G06F1/183—Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means
- G06F1/186—Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
Definitions
- ATX is a computer standard for the size and, to some extent, the layout of consumer motherboards. There are several size standards in ATX, such as large EATX (extended ATX), normal ATX, medium MATX, and small ITX/Mini ATX. Consumers choose a standard to base their system around, choosing more or fewer features at the cost/benefit of size.
- Mini ITX/ATX the standard for the motherboard in this invention
- choose this standard because they want the smallest possible form factor.
- users want or need small does not mean they want slow.
- Chassis manufacturers realize this and as a result have split Mini ITX cases into two categories—larger “shoebox” variants that support normal length double slot Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) cards, and truly slim cases that forgo any expansion card.
- GPU Graphics Processing Unit
- FIG. 1 shows the method of bridging an add-in card with a motherboard using a PCI/PCIE expansion-extension ribbon.
- FIG. 2 shows the bottom/rear chassis section without components installed.
- FIG. 3 shows the layout of the chassis mounting provisions.
- FIG. 4 shows a side, cut-away view of how the top chassis piece sandwiches an installed PCI card-card with the outer base chassis piece.
- FIG. 5 shows a top, cut-away view of how the top chassis piece sandwiches an installed PCI card-card with the outer base chassis piece.
- the design and layout described herein allow for normal size GPU cards in a slim case much smaller, sometimes by as much as two-thirds, of shoebox cases. It achieves this through component layout that was reached through extensive testing, computer modeling, and prototyping.
- the chassis requires a special extension cable for the expansion slot on mini ITX motherboards.
- chassis 10 with the mounting holes for hardware, airflow pressure, and airflow aperture, combined with the layout of the hardware components, allows for a system that is cooled only by component fans. No chassis fans are needed. This arrangement of hardware is unique and cannot be found in any consumer chassis let alone mini-ITX chassis.
- the two PCI expansion slots 20 A and 20 B are horizontal in orientation and on the same plane as the I/O interface aperture 21 . Uniquely, they are rotated so the
- PCI key is flipped 180 degrees from “normal” server designs—or PCI “A-side” orientation. This flipped orientation will be referred to as “B-side” orientation in this document.
- the design requires the use of a PCI A-side adapter 26 and PCl/PCIE expansion-extension ribbon 27 as shown in FIG. 1 .
- This design and layout is the first Mini-ITX specific chassis to use this method of bridging an add-in card with a motherboard 24 .
- the PCI expansion slots with B-side orientation 20 A and 20 B allow for an expansion card's heatsink and fan to be on the same plane as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), as shown in FIG. 1 .
- CPU Central Processing Unit
- Mesh material 28 is used to construct a portion of the chassis. This mesh 28 is 1-5 mm directly above the componentry so very little hot air is trapped.
- a direct, open mesh design has good cooling properties, but the described Mini-ITX design pushes boundaries and does not have mesh over every part of a component's surface. Instead, some sheet metal 29 is left in place which forces the fans on circuit componentry to draw in cool air from low-heat areas of the case over the heatsinks and radiate out.
- the PCI expansion slots are oriented A-side instead of B-side. While some server chassis do this for network cards, the design described herein is the first and only chassis (currently) to do so with the intent of housing a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) (not shown) and the first and only chassis to pair this with a Mini-ITX specific chassis/computer case.
- GPU Graphics Processing Unit
- the reason for this orientation and layout is to gain the benefits of the maximally efficient cooling with the vertical orientation of the chassis, while allowing the use of PCB PCIE “extender” boards (not shown), which provides a cost advantage over alternative extender board formats.
- the unique design and layout allows for the components to be mounted in a way that is unique to all consumer chassis, including Mini-ITX chassis.
- the horizontal B-Side layout of the two PCI ATX-Compliant keys 22 A and 22 B are located in the same plane as the I/O aperture 21 for the motherboard back panel as seen in FIG. 2 . They in close proximity to the power connectors for the internal Power Supply Unit (PSU).
- the 2.5′′ drive mounts 30 are located under the expansion slots as shown in FIG. 3 .
- An added benefit of this approach is a reduction in parts for manufacturing.
- the slim optical drive mounts trade with the 2.5′′ drives and allow for a combination of one optical and one or two 2.5′′ drives. If both PCI slots are not available then an optional 2.5′′ mounting system can be installed to allow for more drives.
- the unique design and layout allow for the chassis walls themselves to house and secure PCI keyed ATX-compliant expansion cards 48 .
- the base chassis piece 46 has the threaded tab 40 and two slots 42 A and 42 B for the two PCI keys 22 A and 22 B.
- the top chassis piece 44 and outer base chassis piece 46 sandwich either two installed single-slot PCI expansion cards (not shown), or one double-slot expansion card 48 , as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .
- two pass through holes 50 A and 50 B on the outer base chassis piece allow for screws 50 C and 50 D to mate with the top chassis piece and sandwich the PCI keyed ATX-compliant expansion card key(s) 22 A and 22 B to prevent lateral movement of the expansion card(s) 48 .
- This unique method saves on tooling costs and keeps tabs from slipping out and damaging PCI cards during shipping.
- the unique chassis design assembles with only three manufactured pieces, the top chassis piece 44 , the outer base chassis piece 46 , and the decorative front bezel piece 52 , as shown in FIG. 5 . Two of these pieces are bent sheet-metal and one of these is made from milled metal. The rigidity of the structure is attributed to the front bezel 52 which is milled from a block of metal and acts as the spine of the chassis 10 . This bezel 52 secures to the base chassis piece 46 with screws, and the top chassis piece 44 secures to the bottom chassis piece with screws 50 C and 50 D.
- the top chassis piece has pressed in, pin-nuts (not shown), and mate with corresponding holes on the front chassis bezel.
Abstract
Description
- The present application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/719,592 filed on Oct. 29, 2012 which is herein incorporated by reference.
- ATX is a computer standard for the size and, to some extent, the layout of consumer motherboards. There are several size standards in ATX, such as large EATX (extended ATX), normal ATX, medium MATX, and small ITX/Mini ATX. Consumers choose a standard to base their system around, choosing more or fewer features at the cost/benefit of size.
- Users who select Mini ITX/ATX, the standard for the motherboard in this invention, choose this standard because they want the smallest possible form factor. Maybe they want small boxes for kiosks, home media centers, or a small system they can drag to LAN events. Just because users want or need small, does not mean they want slow. Chassis manufacturers realize this and as a result have split Mini ITX cases into two categories—larger “shoebox” variants that support normal length double slot Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) cards, and truly slim cases that forgo any expansion card.
-
FIG. 1 shows the method of bridging an add-in card with a motherboard using a PCI/PCIE expansion-extension ribbon. -
FIG. 2 shows the bottom/rear chassis section without components installed. -
FIG. 3 shows the layout of the chassis mounting provisions. -
FIG. 4 shows a side, cut-away view of how the top chassis piece sandwiches an installed PCI card-card with the outer base chassis piece. -
FIG. 5 shows a top, cut-away view of how the top chassis piece sandwiches an installed PCI card-card with the outer base chassis piece. - The design and layout described herein allow for normal size GPU cards in a slim case much smaller, sometimes by as much as two-thirds, of shoebox cases. It achieves this through component layout that was reached through extensive testing, computer modeling, and prototyping. The chassis requires a special extension cable for the expansion slot on mini ITX motherboards.
- The design of the
chassis 10 with the mounting holes for hardware, airflow pressure, and airflow aperture, combined with the layout of the hardware components, allows for a system that is cooled only by component fans. No chassis fans are needed. This arrangement of hardware is unique and cannot be found in any consumer chassis let alone mini-ITX chassis. - The two
PCI expansion slots O interface aperture 21. Uniquely, they are rotated so the - PCI key is flipped 180 degrees from “normal” server designs—or PCI “A-side” orientation. This flipped orientation will be referred to as “B-side” orientation in this document. To bridge the
PCIE keys expansion slot 24A, the design requires the use of aPCI A-side adapter 26 and PCl/PCIE expansion-extension ribbon 27 as shown inFIG. 1 . This design and layout is the first Mini-ITX specific chassis to use this method of bridging an add-in card with amotherboard 24. - The PCI expansion slots with B-
side orientation FIG. 1 . This not only allows for less complicated manufacturing of a chassis but allows cool air to be drawn into the fan blades and hot air to be radiated out from heatsinks.Mesh material 28 is used to construct a portion of the chassis. Thismesh 28 is 1-5 mm directly above the componentry so very little hot air is trapped. A direct, open mesh design has good cooling properties, but the described Mini-ITX design pushes boundaries and does not have mesh over every part of a component's surface. Instead, somesheet metal 29 is left in place which forces the fans on circuit componentry to draw in cool air from low-heat areas of the case over the heatsinks and radiate out. - In another preferred embodiment, the PCI expansion slots are oriented A-side instead of B-side. While some server chassis do this for network cards, the design described herein is the first and only chassis (currently) to do so with the intent of housing a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) (not shown) and the first and only chassis to pair this with a Mini-ITX specific chassis/computer case. The reason for this orientation and layout is to gain the benefits of the maximally efficient cooling with the vertical orientation of the chassis, while allowing the use of PCB PCIE “extender” boards (not shown), which provides a cost advantage over alternative extender board formats.
- Method for Mounting Components within a Computer Chassis:
- The unique design and layout allows for the components to be mounted in a way that is unique to all consumer chassis, including Mini-ITX chassis. The horizontal B-Side layout of the two PCI ATX-
Compliant keys O aperture 21 for the motherboard back panel as seen inFIG. 2 . They in close proximity to the power connectors for the internal Power Supply Unit (PSU). There are fourstandoff mounts 23 for themotherboard 24 adjacent the I/O aperture 21. The 2.5″drive mounts 30 are located under the expansion slots as shown inFIG. 3 . An added benefit of this approach is a reduction in parts for manufacturing. The slim optical drive mounts trade with the 2.5″ drives and allow for a combination of one optical and one or two 2.5″ drives. If both PCI slots are not available then an optional 2.5″ mounting system can be installed to allow for more drives. - The unique design and layout allow for the chassis walls themselves to house and secure PCI keyed ATX-
compliant expansion cards 48. Thebase chassis piece 46 has the threadedtab 40 and twoslots PCI keys top chassis piece 44 and outerbase chassis piece 46 sandwich either two installed single-slot PCI expansion cards (not shown), or one double-slot expansion card 48, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 . Furthermore, two pass throughholes screws - The unique chassis design assembles with only three manufactured pieces, the
top chassis piece 44, the outerbase chassis piece 46, and the decorativefront bezel piece 52, as shown inFIG. 5 . Two of these pieces are bent sheet-metal and one of these is made from milled metal. The rigidity of the structure is attributed to thefront bezel 52 which is milled from a block of metal and acts as the spine of thechassis 10. Thisbezel 52 secures to thebase chassis piece 46 with screws, and thetop chassis piece 44 secures to the bottom chassis piece withscrews - While the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment.
Claims (4)
Priority Applications (1)
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US14/064,081 US9710027B2 (en) | 2012-10-29 | 2013-10-25 | Chassis design and component layout for a mini-ITX format computer |
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US201261719592P | 2012-10-29 | 2012-10-29 | |
US14/064,081 US9710027B2 (en) | 2012-10-29 | 2013-10-25 | Chassis design and component layout for a mini-ITX format computer |
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US20150113794A1 US20150113794A1 (en) | 2015-04-30 |
US20150355688A9 true US20150355688A9 (en) | 2015-12-10 |
US9710027B2 US9710027B2 (en) | 2017-07-18 |
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US20060039120A1 (en) * | 2004-08-17 | 2006-02-23 | Young Sin T | Expansion board for desktop personal computer |
US7746630B2 (en) * | 2007-09-06 | 2010-06-29 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | Computer enclosure for securing riser card |
US20120300386A1 (en) * | 2011-05-27 | 2012-11-29 | Asustek Computer Inc. | Expansion card |
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US20120017246A1 (en) | 2010-05-20 | 2012-01-19 | Sniffen Joshua M | Systems and methods for mobile video streaming |
US20120019729A1 (en) | 2010-07-22 | 2012-01-26 | Sniffen Joshua M | Systems and methods for mobile video streaming |
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2013
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Patent Citations (9)
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US4850899A (en) * | 1988-06-20 | 1989-07-25 | Maynard Scott D | Connector for interfacing a disk drive with a computer |
US5835346A (en) * | 1996-06-27 | 1998-11-10 | Digital Equipment Corporation | Low profile desk top computer |
US5935227A (en) * | 1997-09-24 | 1999-08-10 | Intel Corporation | Computer system including a riser card with multiple inter-component cabling elimination features |
US20030212842A1 (en) * | 2002-03-28 | 2003-11-13 | Ferguson Patrick Lee | KVM extension using USB to legacy adapters |
US20050227527A1 (en) * | 2004-04-09 | 2005-10-13 | Diamond Michael B | Edge connector for field changeable graphics system |
US20050276015A1 (en) * | 2004-05-28 | 2005-12-15 | High Performance Pc Limited | Computing device |
US20060039120A1 (en) * | 2004-08-17 | 2006-02-23 | Young Sin T | Expansion board for desktop personal computer |
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US9710027B2 (en) | 2017-07-18 |
US20150113794A1 (en) | 2015-04-30 |
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