Abstract: A personal computer which a microcontroller, separate from the main processor, is used for power-management functions. Under certain conditions, this power-management microcontroller can take control of the system bus. This provide BIOS-independent power management, and permits sophisticated power management to be performed without placing any burden or constraints on the user's choice of operating system or application software.

Abstract: A computer system including an input/output (I/O) connector for connecting to an external data peripheral, where the computer includes circuitry for detecting the presence or absence of a load on a first pin and for providing power to the external data peripheral through a second pin of the I/O connector. In this manner, the external data peripheral need not include a separate power supply, but instead is sensed and powered by the computer itself through the I/O connector. In the preferred embodiment, the I/O connector is coupled to parallel port circuitry for interfacing to an external printer, and also to a floppy controller for interfacing with an external floppy drive, where the computer system further includes circuitry to switch from the printer controller to the floppy controller when an external floppy drive is connected to the I/O connector. In this manner, the same I/O port automatically serves either an external printer or an external floppy drive.

Abstract: To improve the serviceability, manufacturability and uptime for a computer file server a specially designed planar/riser card assembly is mounted on the computer chassis and includes a card cage structure in which a riser card is secured. Carried on the riser card are I/O card edge connector sockets into which all of the system I/O cards may be plugged. The riser card is hard connected into the system and itself has an edge connector portion. The system planar board is carried on a mounting plate which is screwed to an outer side of the cage structure. A socket connector carried on the planar board receives the edge connector portion of the riser card, thereby electrically coupling the planar board to the riser card. The riser serves as a wiring plane containing only the signals which the planar board would normally provide to the I/O cards through "on planar" connectors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for effecting BIOS independent power management of a personal computer system having a processor complex connected via a system bus to at least one I/O device capable of operating in a reduced power consumption state. A power control system comprising a dedicated power management microcontroller monitors the activity of various I/O devices. When a particular device or combination of devices has remained inactive for the preselected time interval, the power control system issues a bus request to a processor complex. When the processor complex acknowledges the bus request, the power control system asserts control as master of the system bus and performs the operations necessary to cause at least one device to enter a reduced power consumption state. The power control system then surrenders control of the bus to the processor complex. In one aspect, a CPU clock controller is utilized to reduce the processing speed of the processor complex CPU.

Abstract: An apparatus for docking a data processing unit in which a guide plate extends over a portion of the floor of a housing for receiving the bottom of the unit. Two guide members are disposed at the respective ends of the guide plate for receiving corresponding surfaces formed on said unit. Each of the guide members defines a guide surface that increases in size in a direction toward the rear wall for engagement by the corresponding surfaces of the unit to gradually center and lock the unit in the housing as the unit is inserted into the housing.

Abstract: To facilitate the registered connection between a ball grid array package and an associated multi-tiered circuit board, a spaced series of vias are formed transversely through the board substrate between its opposite first and second sides. A spaced series of relatively shallow, circularly cross-sectioned socket areas, offset from the vias, are also formed on the first side of the circuit board. The sockets have diameters slightly larger that those of the generally ball-shaped leads of the BGA package, and are positioned on the same centerline pattern as the leads. After the vias and sockets are formed, a multi-layer metallic coating is deposited on their interiors and around their open ends on the first board side, with the coating being extended across the first board side between associated socket and via pairs.

Abstract: A printed circuit board is mounted on the inner side of a conductively coated plastic computer housing wall using a screwless retention and grounding system molded integrally with the housing wall and including a spaced series of upstanding hook plate portions extendable through a series of elongated slots in the circuit board body and positioned in spaced, facing relationships with corresponding contact tab portions. The board is releasably mounted by pressing it inwardly against the tabs in a manner causing the hook plates to extend through the board slots, and causing the board to depress a resilient latch member formed on the housing wall. The board is then slid along the tabs until the latch pops up and releasably locks the board to the contact tabs with the outer ends of the hook plates overlying the board.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for providing user-invocable, non disk-based diagnostics routines for a personal computer. The method comprises the steps of (1) storing a diagnostics routine capable of performing diagnostic tests on portions of the personal computer in ROM, (2) monitoring a status of a reset button coupled to the personal computer and (3) executing the diagnostics routine if the reset button is pressed twice within a preselected period of time. The disclosed system and method allow a user to control the invocation of a diagnostics routine that needs a minimum of functioning computer hardware to execute.

Abstract: A computer system is provided that may be easily and relatively quickly converted between a stand-alone desktop configuration and a docking station configuration. The system includes a desktop computer housing having an external opening formed therein, and a plurality of associated computer peripheral devices such as a monitor and keyboard. A first electrical connector is supported within the computer and is electrically coupled to the peripheral devices. The system also includes a first motherboard having a second electrical connector supported thereon and electrically coupled thereto, and a notebook computer having a second motherboard therein and a third electrical connector supported thereon and electrically coupled thereto. Support rail structures are removably secured within the computer housing and extend inwardly from its external opening.

Abstract: This invention relates to the general area of data integrety in digital computers. In particular it relates to digital computer systems having parity checked systems busses and ECC checked memory. This invention increases the performance of such systems by reducing the memory latency incurred in the ECC to parity conversion process.

Abstract: A specially designed electronic component is surface mounted on a printed circuit board substrate member having a spaced series of electrically conductive circuitry connection portions disposed on a side surface thereof. The electronic component has a body portion with a spaced series of elongated metal lead members fixedly secured thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom. Longitudinal portions of the lead members are soldered to the circuitry connection portions. Side surface areas of these longitudinal portions are clad with a second metal material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially different than that of the underlying longitudinal lead member portions. During fabrication of the circuit board a solder paste material is deposited on the circuitry connection portions and the lead member longitudinal portions are placed in a closely adjacent, aligned relationship with the circuitry connection portions.

Abstract: The lid portion of a notebook computer is pivotally secured to the base portion of the computer using a metal hinge structure directly interconnected between the lid portion and the metal I/O plate disposed at the back side of the computer base portion and grounded to the system planar board therein. A direct grounding connection is thus formed from the lid portion to the system planar board through this combination I/O plate/lid hinge structure.

Abstract: A content addressable memory (CAM) which is capable of performing string search functions in hardware. The implementation of string search in hardware eliminates the requirement of software to perform this function and thus significantly increases data compression performance. Each byte or memory storage unit of the CAM includes a comparator and a single bit flip-flop. The comparator asserts a match signal to the flip-flop if the contents of a memory storage unit match external data and a prior memory storage unit match signal is asserted. Two types of comparison operations are provided by each memory storage unit. The first ignores the contents of a previous flip-flop, and this comparison operation is used for the first character of a string search. The second type of comparison operation takes into account the value latched in the preceding byte of the CAM. For example, the comparison for byte N only matches if the previous comparison for byte N-1 matched.