mobileformfactors.org Definitions

• AC/DC Power Adapter – The AC/DC power adapters supporting interchangeability are readily available in the market today. They support worldwide conversion of AC input between 100-240V, 50-60Hz to 19V DC output. The AC/DC power adapter consists of two parts: AC/DC power adapter and AC cable. Normally, they are sold separately.



• Battery Pack – Battery packs are available in six cell configurations.



• CBB – Common Building Blocks or CBBs are notebook components that comply with mechanical and electrical specifications to assure interchangeability within each type. This allows CBBs from different suppliers to be used interchangeably, across different notebook platforms. The entire notebook-industry ecosystem benefits.



• Compliance – Adherence/conformance to a technical specification. If measured, it is typically done at the lowest possible level. Various constituent pieces are tested in isolation for proper implementation. Ideally, compliance ensures interoperability but, practically, interoperability is also tested. In more-mature technologies, both interoperability and compliance are tested at events called Plugfests or Interoperability Workshops.
  
  
• Developers – Companies or organizations developing notebook platforms or notebook solutions using Common Building Blocks. Developers include:
  
  
  • OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers)
  • ODMs (Original Design Manufacturers)
  • Integrators (Companies which use primarily off-the-shelf components to create platforms, systems, or turnkey solutions for end users)



• Distributors – Companies that neither develop nor manufacture products, but enable manufacturers to supply components at various levels of integration to retail, developers, or other manufacturers.



• HDD–The hard disk drives supporting interchangeability are the 2.5 inch drives with 9.5mm drive height, the most commonly available type in notebooks. They are available in two connector types, Parallel ATA (PATA) and Serial ATA (SATA), and come in capacities of 40GB, 60GB, 80GB, and beyond.



• Integrators – Companies that primarily use off-the-shelf components to create platforms, systems, or turnkey solutions for end users.



• Keyboard – The keyboards supporting interchangeability are the most popular keyboards available today. They are available in US, European, and Japanese layouts. They fit 14.1"S/14.1"W/15.0"S/15.4"W notebooks. With appropriate firmware support, they support up to 32 languages.



• LCD – Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are available in most common sizes in both standard and wide form factors. Standard size LCDs with an aspect ratio of 4:3 are available in 14.1 inches and 15.0 inches. Wide screen LCDs, with an aspect ratio of 16:10, are 14.1 inches and 15.4 inches. Extended Display Identification Data (EDID), a standard data format that contains basic information about a monitor and its capabilities, is available on these LCDs, thus ensuring easy identification of basic panel characteristics.



• ODD – The optical disk drives supporting interchangeability are 12.7mm in height, the most commonly available type in Build-to-Order (BTO) notebooks. The different types of optical disk drives available today are:
  • Combo (read and write CD and read DVD)
  • DVD+/-RW (read and write CD and DVD)
  • SuperMulti (read and write CD and DVD, plus RAM)
  • DVD-ROM (read only DVD)
  • CD-RW (read and write CD)
  • CD-ROM (read only CD)
  The key aspect that ensures interchangeability is the Generic Bezel Attachment Specification (GBAS).



• Platforms – Typically an intermediate level of integration of system components including Common Building requiring further integration to enable use by the end user. A minimum of one Common Building Block component or ingredient is required to be listed.



• Suppliers – Any company which provides Common Building Block components or ingredients at any level of integration to a customer. This list includes manufacturers of Common Building Blocks.