Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Mac Mini

In Apple's main Mac Mini Patent they describe a small form factor desktop computer that is formed from a single piece seamless housing that in the described embodiment is machined from a single billet of aluminum. The single piece seamless housing includes an aesthetically pleasing foot support having at least a portion formed of RF transparent material that provides easy user access to selected internal components as well as offers electromagnetic (EM) shielding. This simplicity of design could accrue many advantages to the small form factor desktop computer besides those related to aesthetic look and feel. Fewer components and less time and effort could be required for assembly of the small form factor desktop computer and the absence of seams in the single piece housing can provide good protection against environmental contamination of internal components as well as EM shielding.

About Apple's Patent Figures: Apple's patent FIG. 1 shown above illustrates a front perspective of the Mac Mini or "small form factor desktop computer." The design includes a single piece seamless housing 102 formed of metal such as aluminum. The aluminum could take the form of a single billet that could be milled and further processed into a desired shape. In some embodiments, the aluminum housing could be anodized to provide a protective surface layer that resists scratches and corrosion maintaining an attractive metallic appearance; In patent FIG. 2, we see the rear view of the Mac Mini shown in FIG. 1; Apple's patent FIG. 3 below illustrates the bottom view of the Mac Mini; patent FIGS. 4A and 4D shows a bottom view of FIG. 3 where a foot has been removed to expose internal components; and patent FIG. 25 shows a technique for inserting and installing a main logic board (MLB).

Apple's patent application 20110304972 was originally filed in Q3 2010 by inventors Chiew-Siang Goh, Joseph Moak, Matthew Theobald, Houtan Farahani, Ricardo Mariano and Eric Knopf.

The Mac Mini's Easy-to-Remove Hard Drive

Apple's patent FIG. 16 illustrates bezel 1504 which could include several attachment and alignment features used for installing at least the optical disc drive (ODD) and the removable hard disc drive (HDD). For example, grommets 1510 could be elastomeric in nature and could be sized and located to accommodate correspondingly sized and spaced posts on the HDD.

Since the HDD is not permanently attached to the bezel using fasteners such as screws or rivets, the HDD could be easily installed and just as easily removed if necessary by merely reaching into lumen 1502, grasping and extracting the HDD. Accordingly, the HDD could be considered to be a removable HDD.

Apple's patent FIG. 15 shows representative interior view of a cavity (also referred to as lumen) of a housing used to enclose various internal components of a computer. This particular patent figure is from Apple's patent application 20110304974 entitled "Removable Hard Drive in a Small Form Factor Desktop Computer."

The Mac Mini's Cooling System

Noted below is patent FIG. 7 illustrates in side elevation view an exemplary airflow diagram for an exemplary small form factor desktop computing device. This particular patent figure is from Apple's patent application 20110304976 entitled "Cooling Arrangement for Small Form Factor Desktop Computer."

According to the patent, the continuing airflow path 154 exits the fan 114 and blower 115 arrangement into the air processing manifold 138, where it encounters a plurality of angled fins arranged in a pattern. A heat pipe or exchanger 146 could have one or more surfaces exposed to open sides and top portions of the corridors defined by the angled fins, such that the airflow cools such surfaces of the heat exchanger. The heated air then exits the device at exhaust output region 156.

The other Mac Mini associated patent applications published today by the USPTO include 20110303358 entitled "Manufacturing Fixtures for Small Form Factor Desktop Computer," application 20110304968 entitled "Internal Electronics of a Small Form Factor Desktop Computer," and finally patent application 20110304973 that covers a "silicone Barrier for Drive Window" which is associated with the Mac Mini's optical drive dust guard.  

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Other Noteworthy Patent Applications Published Today

Oddly Apple has filed a new patent application for the assembly of the now defunct fifth generation iPod nano as shown below.  The question is, why? The patent application was only filed in August 2011 or four months ago. The patent application is neither associated with another patent nor considered a continuation patent. Is the current iPod nano not selling well? Did Apple receive overwhelming feedback to bring back the older design? We have questions without any answers. If you have an idea on this, then send in your comments.

Notice: Patently Apple presents a detailed summary of patent applications with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application should be read in its entirety for full and accurate details. Revelations found in patent applications shouldn't be interpreted as rumor or fast-tracked according to rumor timetables. Apple's patent applications have provided the Mac community with a clear heads-up on some of Apple's greatest product trends including the iPod, iPhone, iPad, iOS cameras, LED displays, iCloud services for iTunes and more. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.