Abstract: A portable computer (5) having a lightweight case are disclosed. The case includes a top panel (10) and a bottom panel (8), each with side panels (14t; 14b) integrally molded therewith or otherwise attached thereto. The top panel (10) and bottom panel (8) each are molded to have an inner surface portion (30; 28) having a checkerboard pattern of protrusions (20) and recessed portions (22). The side panels (14t; 14b) are of the full thickness of the protrusions (20), to provide structural support for the computer (5). Other panels (12; 18) may be similarly constructed to have checkerboard patterns of protrusions (20) and recessed portions (22), as desired.

Abstract: A computer includes a base unit and an upper unit which encloses all electronic components of the computer, such as an LCD display, system board, various drives, sound card, speakers, and modem. The base unit has dimensions of only about 11 inches by 7 inches and can easily be placed in small areas. Unlike a typical desk-top computer which has external cords or cables connecting the display to a main casing, the computer only requires a single power cable and a telephone cord and has a light weight which permits the computer to be easily transported to different locations. The upper unit can pivot relative to the base unit by simply pulling or pushing the upper unit with one hand to the desired angle and then releasing the upper unit. The LCD display is mounted to a support frame with a plurality of fasteners. A plurality of spring members are inserted between the LCD display and the support frame for absorbing pressures exerted on the display.

Abstract: A hand-held computer having a contoured housing with a head, a body, and a neck portion therebetween, the housing having a contoured protrusion positioned on the body portion substantially adjacent the hand-held computer's center of gravity. The contoured protrusion is sized and ergonomically shaped to correspond to a support portion of the person's hand between approximately the metacarpal-phalangeal joint ridge and the proximal phalangeal joints when the hand-held computer is carried by the person. The hand-held computer has a longitudinal axis and a display screen that is oriented at a positive angle relative to the longitudinal axis for improved viewing by the user of the display screen. The hand-held computer includes a scanning unit that scans along a scanning axis that is angled downwardly at a negative angle relative to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of computer keys define a keypad plane such that the tilted display screen is at a selected angle relative to the keypad plane.

Abstract: A computer in which an expansion card cage assembly is mounted in the computer chassis. The expansion card cage assembly includes a wall extending parallel to the chassis wall, a riser card mounted relative to the wall of the cage assembly and having a connector adapted to engage the connector of the motherboard, and at least one expansion card connected to the riser card. A lever is provided on the cage assembly wall and is adapted to engage the chassis wall to quick-detachably connect the cage assembly to the chassis.

Abstract: A computer case having at least one 31/2" drive housing which can be removably mounted within the case. Each 31/2" drive housing has one or more (typically, two) channels. A 31/2" drive is slidably insertable within each channel. A plurality (normally, as many as four) 31/2 drive housings are removably mountable at different locations within the case via quick release connectors provided at different locations within the case. A "U" shaped mounting bracket captures each 31/2" drive. The bracket has two opposed legs, with one or more inwardly projecting pins on each leg. The pins slide into apertures located in the opposed sides of industry standard 31/2" drives. A one-piece backplane with quick release connectors is easily removed and replaced by adjacent a cutout provided in an outer wall of the case. A series of cutouts are provided in the backplane. Each cutout is positioned to align with a connector on a motherboard mounted in the case, when the backplane is in place adjacent the case outer wall cutout.

Abstract: A tower type CPU unit portion of a computer system has a housing with a top side wall in which a spaced series of parallel, elongated support wells are formed. The wells are sized and configured to removably receive relatively small lower edge portions of portable media storage devices, such as compact discs in their protective cases, and support the devices in generally upright positions atop the CPU unit. When the CPU unit is positioned on the floor to one side of the desk upon which the balance of the computer system is placed, the compact discs are conveniently stored in an easily seen, readily accessible and otherwise unused location without requiring a space-consuming storage area on the desktop work area.

Abstract: A hand-held workslate computer is disclosed. The workslate computer includes electronic circuitry including a microprocessor and a visual display screen electrically coupled to the microprocessor. The display screen includes a position sensitive contact portion. The workslate computer also includes a housing including a top face and a bottom face separated by a side wall and defining an interior region, the housing supporting the electronic circuitry and the visual display screen. A set of modular devices is provided, each device including interface circuitry. The housing further includes at least two modular device docking stations adapted to releasably engage a selected one of the set of modular devices. Interface circuitry is provided to electrically couple circuitry in the selected modular device and the microprocessor. The modular devices may be mounted to selected modular device docking stations to provide an ergonomically correct weight balance.

Abstract: The elongated body portion of a lap-supportable remote infrared computer keyboard is contoured on its bottom side, by means of a spaced pair of arcuately shaped, generally parallel recesses that extend between front and rear sides of the body, to conform to upper side portions of a seated user's thighs. Positioned in the recesses are spaced series of elongated outwardly projecting parallel ribs which longitudinally extend transversely to the lengths of the recesses and serve to frictionally inhibit front-to-rear shifting of the lap-supported keyboard along the user's thighs. The key member portions of the keyboard are positioned on the top side of the body between left and right end portions thereof. On the top side of one of these end portions is a pointing device, representatively a track ball, and on the top side of the other end portion are a pair of selection buttons.

Abstract: An apparatus for locking and ejecting a media module in a media bay includes a locking device engaging the media module to lock the media module in a locked position in the media bay, a rod engaging the locking device to disengage the locking device from the media module, a rotating body mounted on a pivot, the pivot physically coupled to the media bay, and a first spring, the first spring generating a force against the rotating body, the force against the rotating body rotating the rotating body on disengagement of the locking device from the media module, the rotation of the rotating body ejecting the media module from the locked position.

Abstract: A flexible I/O port configuration and connector labeling scheme for a computer chassis. An I/O shield that includes connector cutouts specific to a system motherboard is attached to the system motherboard. The motherboard to which the I/O shield is attached may be installed in a generic chassis that includes cutouts for "standard" connectors, such as VGA, keyboard, audio and mouse connectors, as well as a flexible I/O cutout for receiving custom connectors, such as USB and network connectors. Any connector cutout or portion of a cutout provided in the chassis through which a connector does not extend is filled by the I/O shield. In another aspect, an I/O labeling strip on which are printed icons for identifying the various connectors is press-fit onto the chassis, such that the strip can be easily removed and replaced.

Abstract: The apparatus is a device for transferring heat across the hinged joint between the two sections of the case of a laptop computer. Two simple heat pipe cylinders are inserted into parallel cylindrical holes in a heat conductive block. One cylinder is bonded within its hole, and the other cylinder is permitted to rotate within its hole. The axis of the rotatable cylinder is located in line with the axis of the mechanical hinges which permit the panels to pivot relative to each other. A heat producing device in one panel can be then attached to one heat pipe, and a heat sink on the other panel can be attached to the other heat pipe. The heat transfer between the heat source and the heat sink is essentially that of a heat pipe except for the very short heat conductive path through the solid block and the one rotating joint.

Abstract: An add-in circuit card is secured in an electronic device. A clamp is movably coupled to the electronic device and is configured to releasably engage the card upon movement of the clamp from a card engagement position to a card disengagement position. A switch may control electrical power to the card, the switch operated by the clamp such that movement of the clamp between the engagement and disengagement positions closes and opens the switch.

Abstract: A computer includes a base unit and an upper unit which encloses all electronic components of the computer, such as an LCD display, system board, various drives, sound card, speakers, and modem. The base unit has dimensions of only about 11 inches by 7 inches and can easily be placed in small areas. Unlike a typical desk-top computer which has external cords or cables connecting the display to a main casing, the computer only requires a single power cable and a telephone cord and has a light weight which permits the computer to be easily transported to different locations. The upper unit can pivot relative to the base unit by simply pulling or pushing the upper unit with one hand to the desired angle and then releasing the upper unit. The base unit frictionally engages the upper unit to maintain the upper unit at the desired angle. The computer has a unique configuration in which input/output connectors of a typical motherboard are placed on a separate riser board positioned perpendicular to the system board.

Abstract: A portable computer having a keyboard and one or more support members that are pivotable from a retracted position to an extended position to raise the front end of the computer. In the extended position, the support member raises the front end of the housing, and therefore tilts the keyboard an amount sufficient to reduce wrist extension from a neutral position when the keyboard is in use.

Abstract: A computer system is provided having elevating members which are coupled to a front portion of a lap top computer. The elevating members may be placed and retained in several different positions, creating varying heights of elevation for the computer. The elevating members can be retained, among other methods, by frictional engagement or mechanical stops. Additionally, the members adjustably elevate the computer system, or may alternatively be stowed underneath the computer system. When in storage or in an open position, the elevating members have a slip resistant surface for maintaining the computer in a desired location. The elevating members provide a comfortable adjustment for the portable computer, without adding significant weight to the computer. The elevating members could be used in conjunction with other types of electronic components.

Abstract: A system for docking a portable computer to a docking station. The portable computer including a connection module and an electrical connector capable of mating an electrical connector attached to the docking station. The connection module including a spring for providing the force necessary to unmate the electrical connectors. The connection module including a sliding block for receiving an alignment pin attached to the docking station. The alignment pin includes a groove. The connection module includes a retaining member with a gripping surface which engages the groove when the computer is docked in the docking station. To dock the portable computer in the docking station, the user pushes the portable computer towards the docking station electrical connector so as to mate the portable computer electrical connector with the docking station electrical connector. To undock the portable computer, the user pushes the portable computer towards the docking station electrical connector and releases.

Abstract: A monitor and a slide-in PC tray are operatively disposed in a common housing in an all-in-one type personal computer. User operable control buttons are mounted on the front side wall of the housing, and the PC tray forwardly slides into the housing, toward the rear ends of the control buttons, through an opening in the rear side wall of the housing. A circuit board is supported within the housing inwardly adjacent the front wall, with depressible switches mounted on the unit being in an aligned, facing relationship with the inner ends of the control buttons. As the PC tray is slid forwardly into the housing, cooperating alignment structures on the tray and the housing facilitate the automatic mating of a pair of facing electrical connectors on the tray and the rear side of the circuit board to thereby electrically couple the switches to the electronic apparatus on the PC tray. Each control button, when pressed, activates its facing circuit board switch and thus the related circuitry on the PC tray.

Abstract: A monitor viewing angle adjusting assembly mainly including a monitor, a supporting arm assembly, and a base. The supporting arm assembly includes two parallel and symmetrical supporting arms which each includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion extending in opposite directions in one plane and slightly bent toward each other at their joint. The monitor and the base are pivotally connected to circular ends of the first and the second arm portions of the supporting arms, respectively, via turning-limit assemblies and locating brackets. The monitor can be turned relative to the supporting arms and the supporting arms can be turned relative to the base, so that the monitor can be adjusted to almost any angular position relative to the base and a viewer may select a viewing angle most suitable for him. When the monitor is adjusted to be parallel with the base, the whole monitor assembly can be hung on a vertical wall to effectively save the space required to pack and store the monitor assembly.

Abstract: An electronic component assembly (10) is formed by mounting an electronic component (31) to a substrate (11). An encapsulating material (33) is used to protect the electronic component (31) from environmental hazards. The encapsulating material (33) is formed by dispensing an encapsulating fluid over the electronic component (31). A trench (36) is formed in a masking layer (21) on a substrate (11) to stop the flow of the encapsulating fluid. The trench (36) provides an edge (35) which acts as a discontinuity in the surface (23) of the masking layer (21). This discontinuity is sufficient to control the flow of the encapsulating fluid until the encapsulating fluid is cured to form the encapsulating material (33).

Abstract: A circuit breaker box including a holder base having two wire holder shieldings and pairs of clamping spring plates in the wire holder shieldings, each of the clamping spring plates having a pair of vertical ribs disposed at an inner side, the vertical ribs having a thickness gradually increasing from a bottom side toward a top side; an input wire holder mounted in the first wire holder shielding to hold input lead wires, and a plurality of output wire holders mounted in the second wire holder shielding to hold output lead wires, the input wire holder and output wire holder having pairs of metal contact spring plates respectively inserted into the clamping spring plates of the holder base and stopped between the respective vertical ribs of the respective pairs of clamping spring plates for receiving fuse plugs.