Abstract: A circuit board has mounted thereon a component package which is secured in place by a retaining device designed to maintain the component package in place and protect it from shock and vibration. The retaining device includes a shortened and strengthened retaining arm which in one position acts to snap on to the component package thereby holding it in place. In a second position the retaining device is removed and repositioned relative to the component package to be utilized in providing a leveraging action to detach the component package from the circuit board.

Abstract: An integrated palm rest and battery pack in a portable computer system includes a base member of the portable computer having a keyboard. The base member has a multi-level surface adjacent the keyboard. A first portion of the multi-level surface defines a palm rest surface. A second portion of the multi-level surface simultaneously defines an extended palm rest area and a battery housing. The two portions define a pair of adjacent arcuate cascading surfaces.

Abstract: A supporting device for a laptop type model computer unit. The device is constructed and arranged for the support and stabilization of the laptop computer or notebook type computer unit when directly positioned in front of, or before, the user in order to permit the maximum amount of stability and thus allowing the operator to freely stand, sit, walk, carry, or move about with the computer unit intact when in an upright position with little or no stress. The instrument, when in its operational position, has an over the shoulder or over the neck strap, connecting the central computer carrying tray directly before or perpendicular to the user's body. Because the instrument is arranged perpendicularly to the body, the user has maximum stability of the entire computer unit and access to its operational surface.

Abstract: A drive bay module for a computer cabinet holds multiple peripheral drives. The drive bay module is easily uncoupled and rotated within the computer cabinet so that the drives remain in a upright orthogonal orientation whether the cabinet is positioned vertically or horizontally and the user does not have to rotate each individual drive separately. In addition, the drive bay module can be positioned toward either end of the computer cabinet. In an alternate embodiment, the drive bay module can be positioned and secured at any one of a plurality of angles within the receiving bay.

Abstract: A temperature controller (10) having bimetallic switching device (15) which switches at an excess temperature and a heating resistor (23) in the same circuit as this which has the effect of a self-locking function. The heating resistor (23) is designed on a film (22) which is provided for thermal and/or electrical insulation.

Abstract: A portable computer is provided with a battery-carrying handle member which is connected to the computer housing by an attachment structure extending between the handle member and the housing. The battery is electrically connectable to various electrical power-consuming devices in the housing, and the handle member is rotatable relative to the attachment structure, about an axis spaced apart from the handle member, between (1) a storage position, (2) a carrying position, and (3) a keyboard tilt orientation. Abutment end portions of the handle member are engageable with the attachment structure in a manner limiting the total rotational arc of the handle member relative to the attachment structure.

Abstract: For use with a printed circuit board (PCB), a socket removably retains a CPU integrated circuit package and a separate voltage regulator module with only one manually-engaged latch. The socket includes a non-moveable member and a moveable member. The non-moveable member interfaces with the PCB and with the voltage regulator module. The non-moveable and moveable members receive the CPU integrated circuit package and the moveable member includes a retaining arm for locking into the voltage regulator module. The moveable member is moved from an unlocked position into a locked position for fixedly securing the CPU integrated circuit package, with the arm securing the voltage regulator module. Other optional features include power plane connectors and decoupling capacitors within the socket.

Abstract: A metallized plastic film capacitor is here disclosed which is impregnated with an electrically insulating oil composition comprising 10 to 95% by weight of an aromatic hydrocarbon having at least 3 benzene rings and 90 to 5% by weight of an olefin oligomer containing 7% by weight or less of a fraction having a molecular weight of 500 or less and 2% by weight or less of a fraction having a molecular weight of 400 or less.

Abstract: An IC card comprises a module with an electric circuit and two panels adhered to each other to cover the module between them. The two panels are adhered with an adhesive with a sufficient adhesion strength and seals the module with no path of air to the outside of the IC card. Airtight sealing of the IC card in realized in various ways. For example, a groove having a varying width is provided in one of the panels for applying an adhesive, while a groove engaging to the groove is provided in the other of the panels. When the two panels are adhered to each other, gas channels may be formed in the groove at portions with narrower widths, while an adhesive in the groove at portions with wider widths fills the gas channels due to viscosity. In another way, a protrusion provided in one of the panels has an edge opposite to a groove provided in the other of the panels. Thus, the groove is kept air-tight. In a different way, an adhesive having a high viscosity at curing temperature is used.

Abstract: A removable door locks a removable modular unit into place within a computer case. The computer case includes a first opening and a second opening. The door fits into the first opening. The modular unit fits into the second opening to be positioned, when inserted, adjacent to the door. The door has a protrusion extending into the first opening toward the modular unit. The door is inserted within the first opening in either a first orientation or a second orientation. When inserted in the first orientation, the protrusion extends into a recess within the modular unit blocking removal of the modular unit. When inserted in the second orientation, the protrusion still extends into the first opening, but does not mate to the recess. Thus, the modular unit is not blocked by the protrusion and can be removed from of the computer case through the second opening.

Abstract: A mobile office system includes a folding rack system for integrating with a computer system including a portable computer and peripheral components. The folding rack system includes a first shelf for supporting a portable computer and a port replicator, and a second shelf for supporting one or more peripheral components. A connecting structure is provided for coupling the first shelf and the second shelf, wherein the connecting structure moves the second shelf between a stowage position and a computer operating position. The computer, port replicator and peripheral component can remain attached to the folding rack system when in the stowage position and when stowed in a carrying case. A retaining mechanism is coupled to the connecting structure for retaining the second shelf in an intermediate position between the stowage position and the operating position. A cable for connecting the portable computer and the peripheral components is embedded into the connecting structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing tilting and rotational movements of a display panel. The apparatus includes a first device for tilting the display panel toward or away from a viewer and a second device for rotating the display panel in sidewise directions. The first device has a supporting member for supporting the display panel and a pair of connecting members for connecting the display panel with the supporting member. The connecting members have spring loaded balls for rotatable engagement of the supporting member with the display panel. The second device has a pinion for driving the display panel and a power conveying unit for conveying the power from the driving pinion. The power conveying unit has a rack divided into a first gear portion and a second gear portion engaged with the driving pinion, and a driven pinion coupled to the supporting member and having a gear portion engaged with the first gear portion of the rack.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing tilting and rotational movements of a display panel includes a first device for tilting the display panel toward or away from the viewer, a second device for rotating the display panel in sidewise directions, and a member connecting the first and the second devices. The first device has a pinion for driving the display panel and a unit for conveying the power from the pinion to the display panel, and the second device has a bevel gear for driving the display panel and a unit for conveying the power from the bevel gear to the display panel via the connecting member, thereby providing tilting movement of a visual display panel toward or away from a viewer and rotational movement thereof in sidewise directions.

Abstract: A removable/adjustable digital display accessory (10) for computers (60) for displaying a digital readout indicative of the current operating speed of the processor incorporated in a personal computer (60). The accessory (10) is designed for being removably secured to the cover (64) of a personal computer case (62) within an otherwise unused drive slot (66) defined by the cover (64). The accessory (10) is adapted to be installed in lieu of a cover plate (68) in the cover (64). The accessory (10) includes a base plate (12) and at least a digital display unit (26) having a digital display (28). The digital display unit (26) is provided for indicating the current processor speed and is carried on the back of the base plate (12). A turbo indicator (34) and a hard disk drive indicator (36) are also carried by the base plate (12). The accessory (10) may also be provided with a date and time clock (38) for continual display of the date and time.

Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus has a housing and a frame incorporated within the housing. A lower half of the housing has a bottom wall and first wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The first wall defines a first receptacle for containing a first functional component in said lower half. The frame has a second wall opposing the first wall. The second wall defines a second receptacle for containing a second functional component within said frame. The second wall further defines a third receptacle for containing a third functional component within the lower half along with the first wall.

Abstract: An apparatus securing at least first and second generally flat, rectangular I/O expansion boards in seated electrical connection with a mother board mounted in a computer card cage, wherein each expansion board has opposite first and second longitudinal edge portions and opposite first and second lateral edge portions and an electrical connector portion provided at the first lateral edge portion and wherein the electrical connector portion of each expansion board is matingly seated in an associated electrical connection portion of the mother board, and wherein the distance between the first and second lateral edge portions of the first expansion board is different from the distance between the first and second lateral edge portions of the second expansion board comprising a bracket assembly fixedly mounted with respect to said card cage and having a first surface portion disposed next adjacent to said second lateral edge portion of said first expansion board and a second surface portion disposed next adjacent

Abstract: In a subrack for electronic circuit boards connected to mother boards the mother boards are disposed in at least two planes parallel to the front face of the subrack. Each plane contains one or more mother boards. The planes are superposed to form a stack in the shape of a pyramid.

Abstract: A connector with two mating surfaces is configured within a computer housing to accept removable PC cards. These connector surfaces are capable of mating with PC cards mounted both internally and externally to the housing. The bottom surfaces of the externally mounted PC cards are flush with a lower external surface of the computer housing. This configuration allows external cards to be supported by any flat surface upon which the computer rests without the requirement for the space of an additional internal slot. The connector is offset between opposing sides of the housing. When a PC card is connected to the connector from a first side a maximum of 25% of the length of the PC card fits within the housing and when connected to the connector from a second opposing side a minimum of 75% of the length of the PC card fits within the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media console which includes a base member and a drive housing that can be moved within the base member between an open position and a closed position. A spring is connected to a bottom of the base member and to the drive housing for biasing the drive housing in the open position. A pair of gear tracks are integrally formed in opposite sides of the base member for cooperating with a pair of geared dampers attached to opposite ends of the drive housing. The drive housing includes a direct access storage device disposed at a front end thereof and the direct access storage device has an opening for receiving a removable storage medium. The spring, gear tracks and geared dampers cooperate with each other (1) to allow the drive housing to move smoothly from the closed position to the open position wherein a user may access the opening, and (2) to allow the drive housing to move smoothly from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A thin and small computer system that can be used generally for control of equipment or the like, includes a CPU chip, peripheral control chips, and other components mounted in the form of a bare chip, whereby a computer system having a so-called hierarchy architecture can be incorporated in an IC card-like casing. Computer system components are affixedly attached to a double-sided printed wiring board. Electronic components may be attached to the printed wiring board in a bare form and then at least partially sealed with a resin. A system may further include a second printed board which is independent from the first printed board and adhesively attached to a inner surface of the casing and connected to the first printed board by a flexible member. In addition the second circuit board may include structure which enables it to connect to an apparatus for programming an electronic component attached thereto.