Abstract: A portable computer has a display housing attached to a base housing. The display has at least one panel used for personalization of the portable computer. The at least one panel can be removed and inserted into the display housing thereby changing the appearance of the portable computer.

Abstract: Docking of a notebook computer having an underside docking connector is facilitated by a depressible ramp at a docking station. The computer is slid onto the ramp and guided into a prescribed position. The user then actuates a lever which lowers the ramp and computer. As the computer and ramp move downward, the computer's docking connector mates to a docking connector in the docking station. The computer includes guide tracks and an alignment member along the undersurface of the computer housing. The docking station includes rails and an alignment member corresponding to the guide tracks and alignment member of the computer. Alternative to moving a ramp, is a rotatable docking connector moved by a lever.

Abstract: Docking of a notebook computer having an underside docking connector is facilitated by a depressible ramp at a docking station. The computer is slid onto the ramp and guided into a prescribed position. The user then actuates a lever which lowers the ramp and computer. As the computer and ramp move downward, the computer's docking connector mates to a docking connector in the docking station. The computer includes guide tracks and an alignment member along the undersurface of the computer housing. The docking station includes rails and an alignment member corresponding to the guide tracks and alignment member of the computer. Alternative to moving a ramp, is a rotatable docking connector moved by a lever.

Abstract: A computer docking station for a portable computer has an enclosure to mate physically and electrically with the portable computer. The enclosure has a docking tray upon which the portable computer rests when docked. One or more slideable engagement members are mounted to slide on the docking tray to engage the portable computer when the computer is being docked. The engagement members slide as the computer is moved to the docked position to securely hold the portable computer in the docking station. A link mechanism internal of the enclosure is connected to move the engagement members between the undocked and docked positions. A lever is provided to allow a user to actuate the link mechanism. The lever is movable between an exposed position in which the lever is accessible to the user for actuating the mechanism and an unexposed position in which the lever is inaccessible to the user. In the unexposed position, the lever is retracted into the enclosure.

Abstract: A battery charger utilizes detachable mechanical adapters, so that the battery charger can operate as a single battery charger or a dual battery charger. The detachable mechanical adapters are battery holders to connect a battery to the battery charger for recharging. Preferably, the battery charger is designed to charge one or two depleted notebook batteries. In the preferred embodiment, the battery charger also operates as an AC/DC converter to provide operating DC from AC, which is derived from AC received from an external source, to a notebook computer that is coupled to the battery charger. The battery charger includes an AC/DC adapter and a charging unit. The charging unit of the battery charger includes a central module and two detachable mechanical adapters. The central module of the charging unit contains battery-charging circuitry that provides the charging current from the received DC to the detachable mechanical adapters.

Abstract: Docking of a notebook computer having an underside docking connector is facilitated by a depressible ramp at a docking station. The computer is slid onto the ramp and guided into a prescribed position. The user then actuates a lever which lowers the ramp and computer. As the computer and ramp move downward, the computer's docking connector mates to a docking connector in the docking station. The computer includes guide tracks and an alignment member along the undersurface of the computer housing. The docking station includes rails and an alignment member corresponding to the guide tracks and alignment member of the computer. Alternative to moving a ramp, is a rotatable docking connector moved by a lever.

Abstract: A portable electronic device has an outer shell, a first speaker assembly, and a second speaker assembly. The first speaker assembly has a first speaker, a first speaker chamber, and an outer edge. The second speaker assembly has a second speaker, a second speaker chamber, and an outer edge. The first and second speaker assemblies are capable of being in a normal position, where the first speaker assembly outer edge and the second speaker assembly outer edge are substantially flush with the outer shell of said portable electronic device. The first and second speaker assemblies are also capable of being in an extended position, where the first speaker assembly outer edge and the second speaker assembly outer edge extend beyond the outer shell of the portable electronic device. Preferably, the first and second speaker chambers each have a larger volume when the first and second speaker assemblies are in the extended position than when they are in the normal position.

Abstract: A pointing device includes ergonomic buttons which wrap around the device's cursor control mechanism. Each button extends along at least two sides of the cursor control mechanism. Corner junctions make the buttons easy to recognize by touch. One button is C-shaped, another backward-C-shaped. The cursor control mechanism includes a touchpad or a post and a "wobble" plate. The post serves as a pivot point for the plate and responds to directional pressure. A user adjusts the planar orientation of the plate to define a directional pressure applied to the post. A user is able to apply multi-fingered leveraged guidance. A second cursor control mechanism is defined by an erasure-head device. The erasure-head provides convenient, effective coarse control of the cursor's movement, while the wobble plate or touchpad cursor control mechanism provides convenient, effective fine control of the cursor's movement.

Abstract: A display adapter adapts a display, such as a laptop display, to a projector display panel for use with an overhead projector. The laptop display is detached from a laptop CPU and physically and electronically connected to the adapter. The display adapter has a parallel conductor and electronic interfacing circuitry to interface the display with the computer CPU via the parallel port of the laptop. The adapter has an enclosure with a central body and two extendible sleeves slidably mounted to the body to move between an expanded position and a collapsed position. In the expanded position, the sleeves project outward from the body in opposing directions. In the collapsed position, the sleeves are slid inward relative to the body toward each other to an abutting relationship. The enclosure also has two support arms movably mounted to the first and second sleeves, respectively, to move between an opened position and a closed position.

Abstract: A display cover is coupled to a portable computer by one of a variety of double-pivot hinges. Such arrangements permit the cover to be folded flush against the back of the computer, providing the screen protection benefits of a cover without the usually-attendant increase in computer "footprint. " The preferred cover includes a window that permits a portion of the display to be viewed even when the cover is closed. By such an arrangement, alert or status messages can be conveyed to the user without requiring that the cover be opened. In some embodiments, the user can respond to visual or other alert messages, again without opening the cover.

Abstract: A high-speed infrared ("IR") port and a low-speed IR port are co-located at a notebook computer display panel housing. Both IR ports are directional with a different sensing direction. The high-speed IR port is located along an upper side edge of the display panel housing. The low-speed IR port is located above the display panel along the viewing face of the display panel housing adjacent to the high-speed IR port. The low-speed IR port is disabled while the notebook computer display panel is in the closed position, and is enabled when out of the closed position. Conversely, the high-speed IR port is enabled while the notebook computer display panel is in the closed position and is disabled when out of the closed position. Collocating the ports allows convenient access to each port. The ports share a common electrical interface thereby reducing circuitry.

Abstract: A display cover is coupled to a portable computer by one of a variety of double-pivot hinges. Such arrangements permit the cover to be folded flush against the back of the computer, providing the screen protection benefits of a cover without the usually-attendant increase in computer "footprint." The preferred cover includes a window that permits a portion of the display to be viewed even when the cover is closed. By such an arrangement, alert or status messages can be conveyed to the user without requiring that the cover be opened. In some embodiments, the user can respond to visual or other alert messages, again without opening the cover.

Abstract: The position encoder system requires no keyboard surface area and includes a retractable and extendable handle that is stored inside the computer when not in use. The handle is extended for use near the computer keyboard. The movement of the handle is sensed by a high resolution sensing system that consumes relatively little power.

Abstract: The handle is arranged to be expanded from a compact, collapsed configuration, into an expanded configuration for comfortable manipulation by the user. Upon completion of the use of the handle, the handle is collapsed to the compact configuration for stowage in the computer.