Abstract: A peripheral device mounting apparatus including a peripheral device bay with carrier guides located to accommodate at least two different types of peripheral devices, and a keying mechanism allowing carrier insertion only into certain carrier guides, advantageously provides optimal use of the device bay space for a particular type of peripheral device. Additionally, the keying mechanism prevents installation of a peripheral device into the bay in a location that wastes bay space.

Abstract: An electrically conductive vibration dampener is formed from an electrically conductive base, such as a piece of stamped metal, with at least one tab projecting from the base, and a dampening material member coupled to the base so that the tab can be oriented to provide electrical continuity between other conductors when the electrically conductive vibration dampener is installed into a device. The dampening material member is molded to the base, attached to the base with adhesive, or mechanically attached by for example, registering an edge of the base to a groove formed in the dampening material member. Additionally, the electrically conductive vibration dampener can include an aperture through which a fastener can pass, so that the electrically conductive vibration dampener can be used much like a grommet or washer when fastening components together.

Abstract: A device that includes multiple light channels for separating the light from adjacent indicating lights and preventing bleed-over can be constructed to include an electrically conductive material so that the device can also serve as an EMI shield to reduce the amount of EMI escaping from a computer system chassis. By reducing light bleed-over from one indicating light to the next, such a device reduces the likelihood that a user will be confused about whether an indicating light is on or off. Additionally, closely spaced indicating lights can be accommodated by slots in the chassis while EMI is reduced by the shielding effects of the light channel device.

Abstract: A circuit including bridge rectifier, switches across one or more of the diodes of the bridge rectifier, and a comparator providing control signals to the switch or switches can be constructed to apply a constant polarity voltage to an electrical load, regardless of the polarity of the input power applied to the circuit. The comparator produces a control signal depending upon a comparison of the input power voltages, and the control signal activates one or more of the switches to allow current flow through an appropriate path in the circuit to yield the constant polarity across the electrical load. Thus, the circuit can protect the electrical load from an inappropriately applied voltage by switching the applied voltage's polarity. Because an activated switch can short a diode in the bridge rectifier, power loss associated with current flow through the diode is reduced. Additionally, the circuit can provide constant polarity across the electrical load with either AC or DC input power.