Abstract: A lens cap position sensor detects covering of a projector display lamp lens by a lens cap and reduces or disables illumination from the display lamp to prevent melting of the lens cap. For instance, electrical contacts associated with the lens cap complete a circuit when in contact with a conductive portion of the housing of the projector due to insertion of the lens cap over the lens, the completed circuit signaling an illumination controller of the projector to turn off the lamp or illuminate dark colors. Alternatively, a light sensor, such as an infrared sensor located on the inner surface of the lens cap, detects illumination from the lamp to sense insertion of the lens cap over the lens and to signal the illumination controller to turn off the lamp. In one embodiment, lens cap position signals are sent from the lens cap to the illumination controller through wires that secure the lens cap to the projector.

Abstract: Connector tips for paired fiber optic strands are protected from damage by a tip protector held in position with one or more flexible members that are disposed to cover the connector tips with the tip protector in an unflexed position and to flex to expose the connector tips by moving the tip protector. The flexible members, such as a pair of extension springs, are coupled to the paired fiber optic strands with a clamp that holds the flexible members on opposing sides of and parallel with the fiber optic strands to provide structural support to the fiber optic strands. Bending of the flexible members from parallel alignment with the fiber optic strands removes the connector tips from a recess of the tip protector. The flexible members are biased to return to the parallel alignment so that the tip protector is biased to return to a position that covers the connector tips.

Abstract: Information handling system component cooling is enhanced with an airflow shroud that directs a primary airflow by a primary fan across the component, the airflow shroud having an opening proximate the component so that a secondary airflow is directed at the component by a secondary fan mounted on the airflow shroud at the opening. The secondary fan removably mounts to the airflow shroud to support hot swapping of a replacement fan and the airflow shroud pivots about a hinge to expose processing components, such as a central processing unit and memory. A finger guard mounted to the airflow shroud across the opening prevents accidental contact with an installed fan.

Abstract: A method and system determines the status of an external power supply connection to an information handling system. A subsystem manager of the information handling system compares an external power source identification signal and a power available signal to determine whether external power is available, unavailable or faulty. For instance, an information handling system configured as a portable computer receives external power from an AC/DC converter along with an identification signal for the converter. A state machine running on the portable computer system's Super I/O compares the identification signal and a power available signal from an internal charger to determine state of the external power source and indicate the state to a user.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus for detecting a disconnection in a connector for interfacing a component module in a computer system. A first portion of the connector is coupled to the computer system and a second portion of the connector is coupled to a component module in the computer system. The connector portions include electrically conductive portions that mate to enable communication and/or transmission of power signals between the component module and the computer system. One or more sense signals are applied to a predetermined number of electrically conductive portions on the first portion of the connector. A set of corresponding electrically conductive portions on the second portion of the connector are connected to ground. When the connector portions properly mated, the sense signals applied to the first portion of the connector are pulled to ground.

Abstract: A heat sink retention system and method secures a heat sink proximate to a packaged electronic component, such as central processing unit, by rotationally engaging the heat sink with a retaining structure secured to an information handling system planar, such as a motherboard. The retaining structure has an opening aligned with the packaged electronic component and securing lips that extend into the opening. The heat sink inserts into the opening and is rotated slightly to engage flanges extending from its base into the securing lips. The position of the securing lips relative to the planar and the thickness of the flanges results in the base of the secured heat sink having a predetermined clearance from the packaged electronic component. A locking detent biases the heat sink to contact the packaged electronic component and allows limited movement out to the predetermined clearance, thus allowing the absorption of shock without excessive heat sink movement.

Abstract: A computer system including at least one microprocessor mounted on a printed circuit board, and at least two electrical connectors proximate to the printed circuit board, with the at least two electrical connectors spaced to attenuate at least one prespecified frequency electromagnetic energy waveform.

Abstract: A method and system for mounting an information handling system disk drive with one or more storage disk drives coupled to an information handling system circuit board so that components of the information handling system are disposed in the space between the storage disk drive and the circuit board. In one embodiment, a server blade mounts plural hard disk drives to a motherboard with tool-less shoulder screws that elevate the hard disk drives relative to the motherboard to allow space for interfacing components, such as a bridge chip and video chip, with the motherboard below the hard disk drive. Cooling air flows through the space between the motherboard and the hard disk drives to cool plural processors interfaced with the motherboard.

Abstract: Search functions of a physical layout tool are performed by converting a given physical layout name and selected searching layout names from string representations into numerical representations and comparing the converted numerical representation of the given physical layout name with the converted numerical representations of searching physical layout names until a match occurs. In one embodiment, metal and via layer numbers included in string representations of physical layout names are converted to integer values by selecting number characters from predetermined positions in a string, such as number characters that identify the metal or via layer.

Abstract: Video calls between video devices are controlled by presenting video call options and receiving inputs of video call information through a telephone network. A video call application associated with a phone server receives video call information and provides the information to a video launch application that controls video devices accordingly. In one embodiment, IP telephones provide video call options such as initiating and terminating video calls through an IP telephone server to a video network platform using XML formatted data. The video network platform provides video call options based on user code information to simplify the IP telephone interface. The video network platform performs the functions represented by the video call information to establish and terminate video calls as appropriate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for detecting processor congestion during decompression of a stream of video and audio data. The system and method includes a processor receiving and decoding a first frame of audio data in accordance with an audio decode software algorithm. The processor generates a first audio time stamp ATS1 indicating the time at which the processor finishes decoding the first frame of audio data. Subsequently, the processor receives and decodes a second frame of audio data in accordance with the same audio decode software algorithm and generates a second audio time stamp ATS2 indicating the time at which the processor finishes decoding the second audio data frame. The first audio time stamp ATS1 is added to a predetermined amount of time T, the result of which is compared with ATS2. T, in one embodiment, is the time it takes a speaker to generate audio corresponding to a decoded frame of audio data.

Abstract: An automatic voice tracking camera system (12) is provided. System (12) includes a camera (18) operable to receive control signals for controlling a view of the camera (18). A microphone array (14) comprises a plurality of microphones. The microphone array (14) is operable to receive a voice of a speaker and to provide an audio signal representing the voice. A beamformer (30) coupled to the microphone array (14). The beamformer (30) is operable to receive the audio signal, to generate from the audio signal speaker position data representing a position of the speaker, and to provide the speaker position data. A camera controller (36) is coupled to the beamformer (30) and to the camera (18).

Abstract: An information handling system lock and carrying strap provides a carrying mode to transport the portable computer and a security mode to secure the portable computer to a fixed object. A cable has attachment devices coupled to each end and operable to couple to a portable computer so that the cable acts as a carrying strap. The cable further secures the information handling system to a fixed device to prevent theft by attaching one cable end to the information handling system and the other end to a fixed object. In one embodiment, the attachment device include a secured unlocked position to allow convenient use as a carrying strap and a secured locked position to allow locking of the device with a key.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for reducing audio artifacts and/or avoiding invalid reference memory in a compressed video decoder due to processor congestion. The system and method includes decoding compressed frames of video data, and decoding compressed frames of audio data. The system and method determines whether audio data can be generated without audio artifacts. If it is determined that audio can be generated without audio artifacts, then images corresponding to the decoded frames of video data, respectively, are subsequently displayed. If however it is determined that the audio can not be generated without artifacts due to processor congestion, images are displayed and redisplayed while processor power is shifted to decoding frames of audio data.

Abstract: An automatic voice tracking camera system (12) and method of operation are disclosed. The system (12) includes a first camera (18) and a camera controller (36). The first camera (18) is operable to receive control signals for controlling a view of the first camera (18). The camera controller (36) is operable to determine a responsive camera movement of the first camera (18) based upon coordinates for a point in space where the determination comprises comparing the coordinates with a first spacial region (90) defined around a current speaker position. The camera controller (36) is then operable to generate camera control signals based upon the appropriate responsive camera movement and to provide the camera control signals to the first camera (18). In one embodiment, the camera controller is further operable also to compare the coordinates with a second spacial region (92) defined around the current speaker position.

Abstract: A method and system couples first and second circuit boards, such as a daughterboard coupled to a motherboard, in a parallel configuration by aligning connectors disposed on each circuit board's surface, inserting a retention post from the first circuit board through an opening in the second circuit board, and compressing the circuit boards together with a retaining member that couples at adjustable points of the retention post and presses against the second circuit board at the connectors. For instance a bow spring accepts a threaded retention post and has arms extending from a raised portion so that the arms align with the connectors. A compressing force applied to the bow spring by a thumbscrew tightened on the threads is spread substantially evenly to each connector so that the connectors insert into each other along the retention post axis.

Abstract: An automated video call graph layout engine accepts video call configuration information and presents a video call graph of the video call to resemble a video network topology. For instance, video call configuration information is accepted in a tree structure that lists video devices of the video call. Video device graph nodes are constructed for each video device, each node having a radius and links to other video devices. Super graph nodes are created by identifying leaf and branch graph nodes and constructing a super graph node for each branch graph node by interconnecting the leaf graph nodes with the branch nodes. A video call graph layout is completed by identifying leaf and branch super nodes and associating leaf super nodes to branch super nodes until all video devices are interconnected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for an improved video display. Depending on the amount of motion contained in the video data, either the bob or the weave method of de-interlacing is used. If video data is in the progressive format, then no de-interlacing is used. After initially determining which method of de-interlacing to use, the invention continues to monitor the amount of motion in the data and changes the de-interlacing method if the amount of motion in the video data changes.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for controlling an acoustic canceler (“AEC”) are disclosed. Prior to passing audio signals to the AEC, a distortion detector is used to determine if the signals are distorted. If so, the AEC does not adapt is filter coefficients to the distorted signals. This technique improves the AEC's ability to adapt its filter coefficients to subsequent undistorted signals. For example, near-end or far-end audio signals above a predetermined threshold value are detected by a distortion detector which disables adaptive filter control logic so that distorted signals do not result in generation of erroneous filter coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and apparatus for reducing EMI emission in a multi source electronic system. The phase of the modulated waveform is varied to minimize the number of clocks within the EMI measurement bandwidth. The phase of the modulated waveform is varied in proportion to the number of EMI generating sources in the electronic system. The spread-spectrum clock is used as reference for phase delay of the modulated waveform. The phase delay can be predetermined or dynamically programmed according to the number of the EMI sources in the electronic system.