Abstract: An acceleration sensor is disclosed which includes a capacitance-type acceleration detection element mounted on a ceramic base plate. The element comprises a movable electrode mounted between a pair of fixed electrodes. Acceleration of the sensor in a measurement direction causes the movable electrode to move relative to the fixed electrodes and the element has opposite ends in a direction perpendicular to the measurement direction. The acceleration detection element is mounted on the base at a first one of the opposite ends. Accordingly, the mounting surface of the acceleration sensor is parallel to the direction of acceleration to be detected. Thus the acceleration sensor can be surface-mounted on a printed board, and more be easily mounted in an automobile air bag control system or the like.

Abstract: A portable computer structure having a module room suitable for accommodating multiple replaceable modules is disclosed. The module room is arranged at a corner of the computer casing, and includes two openings on two surfaces of the corner, respectively. Further, owing to two openings in the module room for receiving a replaceable module therefrom, two walls opposite to the two openings can be mounted thereon respective two receptacle units for coupling to two types of plug units and thus two kinds of replaceable modules, respectively, to make electric connection between the module and the computer main frame. In other words, up to four kinds of modules can be used with the portable computer having one such module room. If two such module rooms are included in the portable computer structure, up to eight kinds of modules can be used therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to provide heat pipe cooling for semiconductor chips mounted on a module. Each chip is provided its own heat pipe for cooling. A piston on the end of each heat pipe is loaded against each chip with a predetermined force without the need for counting turns of a screw or use of torque measurement tools. Each heat pipe draws heat away from the chip it is loaded against, carrying the heat to a heat sink for dissipation into the ambient. A large multichip module can be loaded against a land grid array interposer with uniform loading of the interposer. This interposer loading is accomplished independently of the loading of the heat pipes against the chips.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which employs a card-shaped storage medium includes guide portions having a plurality of temporarily fastening portions for temporarily fastening the card-shaped storage medium at their respective locations, one of which is a first location at which the card-shaped storage medium is electrically connected to the apparatus and another of which is a second location at which the card-shaped storage medium is not electrically connected to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A portable computer system has an enclosure including a base with a first surface and a microprocessor mounted in the enclosure. A keyboard is mounted in the base of the enclosure and is coupled to provide input to the microprocessor. A mass storage is coupled to the microprocessor and a display is coupled to the microprocessor by a video controller. A system memory is coupled to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor. A support member is attached to the enclosure and at least a portion of the support member extends from the first surface of the enclosure adjacent the keyboard.

Abstract: A computer case assembly that requires few or no screws for assembly includes a chassis that comprises a frame with side panels forming device bays for computer accessory devices. At least one of the side panels includes substantially parallel horizontal protrusions along the interior surface of the panel. A mounting rail has a screwless attachment for applying the mounting rail to a computer accessory device. The mounting rail is configured to slide between the protrusions of the side panel, and includes a latch to engage the chassis frame members. The chassis also includes a rear panel and a motherboard panel attached to the rear panel. The motherboard panel and the attached rear panel may be moved into a position in which the rear panel is substantially flush with the rear of the chassis. When the rear panel is substantially flush with the rear frame members, a latch affixed to the motherboard panel engages one of the rear frame members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device with a battery pack and, more particularly to lap-top type or note book type computers with a batter pack. An electronic device comprising a main body including an upper housing and a lower housing, a display panel attached pivotally on the upper housing of the main body, a pair of hinge portions disposed at the rear portion of the main body and spaced at each other, wherein each of opposite sides of hinge portions has at least one protrusion member, and a battery pack incorporated to be detachable between hinge portions, wherein at least one protrusion member is formed to be coupled securely to the hinge portions at each side end of the battery pack, and the protrusion members are engaged with the protrusion member when the battery pack is coupled to the portable computer. The battery pack is designed for easy manufacturability and simplicity of components for attachment and detachment of the battery pack from the main body of the portable computer.

Abstract: A stage installation for vertical movement of multiple stage elements has a computer controlled winch assembly comprising a support member having a channel, a platform adjacent the support member, electrical control and electrical power raceways in the channel, and a multiplicity of winches supported on the platform. The winches include a housing, a bidirectional servomotor, a rotating drum driven by the motor in either direction to haul or pay out cables operatively connected to the stage elements. Connectors are coupled to the electrical power and electrical control raceways, and a remote computer terminal transmits signals to the winches to initiate and terminate operation of the servomotor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bistable switch using a shape memory alloy, and a method for manufacturing the same. More specifically, the bistable switch includes a substrate having at least one power source; a flexible sheet having a first distal end attached to the substrate; a bridge contact formed at a second and opposite distal end of the flexible sheet; and at least one heat activated element connected to a first surface of the flexible sheet and between the second distal end and the power source. During operation, current from the power source passing through the heat activated element to indirectly bend the flexible sheet and short the signal contacts on the substrate with a sustainable force.

Abstract: An electrical fuse element (1), which comprises a substrate (4) with two contacts (2) arranged on opposite end sides (3), terminal areas (7) connected to the contacts and a fusible conductor (10) electrically connected in a conducting manner to the contacts via the terminal areas, is developed for use in higher voltage ranges, with improved breaking capacity and with low production costs, by the terminal areas (7) and the fusible conductor (10) being arranged separated from one another by an insulator (4) and electrically connected to one another via lead-throughs.

Abstract: A portable computer assembly includes a battery module mounted detachably on a keyboard module which includes a keyboard housing formed with a slot that is accessible from bottom and rear sides of the keyboard housing and that has a first electrical connector unit disposed therein. The battery module includes an elongated battery housing with a second electrical connector unit for engaging the first electrical connector unit. First and second mounting units are provided on opposite ends of the battery housing and have cylindrical studs for coupling pivotally with left and right side walls of the keyboard housing. The stud of the second mounting unit is capable of disengaging the keyboard housing when a press button of the second mounting unit is operated.

Abstract: An error signal is obtained from a reference value and a value indicating a detected state in machining, a first controlled variable is obtained by adding a value obtained by multiplying the error signal by a proportion gain to a value obtained by multiplying the error signal by a first integration gain, a second controlled variable is obtained by multiplying an instruction value by a second integration gain for integration, and a value obtained by adding the first controlled variable to the second controlled variable and multiplying the sum by a machining trajectory vector is used as a controlled variable for a driving unit for adjusting a distance between an electrode and a workpiece in discharge machining. Therefore, it is possible to realize a discharge machining control method and apparatus in which the machining speed can be improved by always maintaining the discharge machining process in an optimal state.

Abstract: An audio system component is disclosed which has a boxlike casing partitioned into an air intake passageway extending along one side of the casing, an exhaust passageway extending along the other side, and a circuit chamber between the two passageways. Both passageways are open rearwardly of the casing. A cooling fan is mounted in the circuit chamber for causing airflow from the intake to the exhaust passageway through the circuit chamber. The electric circuitry of the instrument, possibly including electronic components that need cooling, is housed in the circuit chamber so as to be cooled by the airflow. The circuitry has terminals arranged on the back of the casing and between the open ends of the air passageways.

Abstract: An extension device 5 is engaged in a connector provided on one side of a lower case 102 of a cabinet 100 of an PIP apparatus PI. An adjustable foot 6 is provided on the bottom surface 102u to adjust the extension device 5 and the cabinet 100 in height. Therefore, the cabinet 100 can be horizontally placed on a plane. When the extension device 6 is approximately equal in height to the lower case 102, the adjustable foot is retracted into the lower case 102. Therefore, the thickness of the PIP apparatus PI can be minimized.

Abstract: A portable computer having a main computer body and a keyboard unit slidably attached to the main computer body and movable to various positions in front of the main computer body. A display unit is also slidably attached to the main computer body and movable to various positions up and away from the computer main body.

Abstract: A heat transfer device for a mobile computer system using a loop heat pipe, the evaporator of the loop heat pipe coupled to the processor die. The vapor space and liquid space are separated. The separation of the vapor space, and the wick structure of the liquid space, ensures that the vapor space will not be distorted or clogged by the wick structure. The heat transfer device can be bent to meet design criteria without distorting the width or radius of the vapor space. In one embodiment of the present invention the evaporator, condenser, and liquid space have different types of wick structure. Another embodiment of the present invention, the vapor space of the loop heat pipe has uniform thickness. The loop heat pipe device of the present invention provides reduced evaporator and condenser resistance and increased burn out flux, thereby increasing the power handling capacity of the device.

Abstract: A handheld computer system for data collection tasks includes a front housing having a first set of spaced apart ribs and a rear housing having a second set of spaced apart ribs. A logic printed circuit board is affixed to the rear housing and serves as the motherboard for the computer system. A digital camera electrically connected to the logic printed circuit board is affixed to the rear housing and provides the computer system with bar code recognition and monochrome imaging capabilities. A 2.4 Ghertz, spread spectrum radio frequency transmitter electrically connected to the logic printed circuit board is affixed to the rear housing and provides the computer system with data transmission capabilities.

Abstract: A smart module circuit board carries a programmable microprocessor and a plurality of relay type interface circuits for use in organizing relatively high voltage input devices and output devices into a complex system wherein a programmed combination of input device signals determines when and if to energize one or more output devices in the system. The interface circuit comprises input and output stages which operate on logic level voltages and which are decoupled by opto-couplers from a relatively high voltage energization circuit which passes through a relatively high voltage electrical device. The energization circuit comprises a triac which is operated by the output stage in response to outputs from the microprocessor, a manual switch connected in parallel with the triac so that a given electrical load device can be manually activated and a multi-colored LED for indicating the conditions of the input and output circuits individually and in combination.

Abstract: A peripheral wrapper having a wrapper frame for enclosing the computer peripheral. The frame includes a first end for containing a connecting end of the computer peripheral. The wrapper includes a clip or gripping member attached to the frame near the second end of the frame, wherein the clip for grippedly and removably couples the frame to a dock section of a computer peripheral container chassis. The clip has a first leg coupled to the frame and a second leg generally parallel to first leg, the second leg not coupled to the frame. The second leg having a spring force towards the first leg when the clip is engaged to an edge of the chassis dock so that the clip is grippedly and removably attached to the chassis dock. In one embodiment, the clip includes a damping material located between the frame and the chassis dock. Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer peripheral modular system including a chassis having at least one dock.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus body and a portable terminal connectable to the apparatus body as a keyboard. The portable terminal is separable from the apparatus body and is operable as a data terminal alone. The portable terminal functions as a keyboard and a storage when mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is easy to carry and capable of sharing, e.g., schedule data with a desk-top personal computer.