Abstract: A portable computer includes a base and a cover incorporating a display screen pivotably mounted to the base between a closed position overlying the base and an open position raised over the base. A swivel arrangement is located in the cover enabling at a least a portion of the cover and the display screen to be rotatable about an axis which is perpendicular to the cover in the open position, and between a landscape orientation in which the display screen has a longer dimension extending in a substantially horizontal direction and a portrait orientation in which the display screen has a shorter dimension extending in a substantially horizontal direction. The cover is also mounted for sliding movement. Front speaker ports are opened and closed when the cover moves. A recessed corner segment is provided on the cover for easier manipulation of the cover.

Abstract: A metalized film capacitor has a plurality of electrodes separated by dielectric spacers and contains a dielectric fill system including 1 to 50 wt % of calcium oxide scavenger. This dielectric fill system is especially useful in aluminum metalized film capacitors for AC service.

Abstract: A device (10) adding keyboard input to a handheld computer (12) lacking such input (such as pen computers and personal digital assistants) includes a bracket (30) having a plurality of clips (33) removably carrying the handheld computer (12), and a joint (40) secured to the keyboard (11) and the bracket (30) for positioning the keyboard (11) in a plurality of orientations relative to the handheld computer (12). These orientations include a first orientation in which the keyboard (11) is operable and at a preselected viewing angle from a display (14) that is pan of the handheld computer (12), a second orientation adjacent the display (14) in which the keyboard (11) substantially covers the display (14), and a third orientation proximate the handheld computer (12) in which the display (14) is unobstructed, thereby facilitating pen-based input through the display (14).

Abstract: A portable notebook computer having an ergonomically designed keyboard made up of two rotatably separable keyboard sections. Upon opening up the lid of the notebook computer, the user may manually rotate the keyboard sections apart to a desired angle. When the user is finished working on the notebook computer, the user folds the lid onto the main body of the computer. While the lid is being closed, the separated sections of the keyboard are automatically driven together in response to the user closing the lid. Thus, the user is not required to make an additional maneuver of rotating the keyboard sections together.

Abstract: An improved portable personal computer preferably configured to facilitate outdoor field-use has an impact attenuating case, a sealed keyboard, and a sealed mouse which facilitate use of the computer in harsh environments. The case has a impact attenuating covering in which is housed a hard drive on a shock-isolated mount and a display further mounted in die case in a resilient shock-isolated manner. The case, hard drive mount, and display mount cooperate to attenuate shock-induced damage resulting from impacts and sudden accelerations of the computer caused during rugged use. Furthermore, the sealed keyboard and mouse assemblies prevent any damage which might result from liquids migrating within the case and into the computer components.

Abstract: A thermostatic switch has a housing and a temperature responsive bimetallic disc located in the housing and responsive to a predetermined temperature for exerting a flexing action. A fixed contact member is located in the cavity along with a movable contact member which is biased and movable between a switch-closed position in which it makes electrical contact with the fixed contact member and a switch-open position in which it is spaced from the fixed contact member. An actuating member is located in the housing, and is responsive to flexing movement of the disc for moving the movable contact member from the switch-closed position to the switch-open position. A hook portion is mounted within the cavity of the housing, the hook portion engaging an arm portion of the movable contact member upon the movement of the movable contact member to its switch-open position and entering an opening of the arm portion for retaining and maintaining the movable contact member in its switch open position.

Abstract: An apparatus in a hand-held computing device for providing non-simultaneous user access to a pair of mutually exclusive electrical connectors is disclosed. The present invention includes a slidable door having three operative positions. In its closed position, the door is adapted to cover the pair of the mutually exclusive electrical connectors to prevent user access. The door can be guided to stop at a first open position where a first electrical connector of the pair is exposed for user access and the other connector remains covered. The door can also be guided to stop at a second open position where the other connector is exposed whereas the first connector is covered up. One aspect of the invention includes detents associated with the three door positions for user feedback.

Abstract: A portable computer includes an upper housing which has an inner surface with a display provided thereon, and a lower housing which is connected pivotally to the upper housing and which has an inner surface with a keyboard device provided thereon. One of the upper and lower housings has an outer surface provided with a thin compartment for receiving a flat article therein.

Abstract: An electric circuit device, such as an igniter for internal combustion engine ignition systems, has a metallic package which is floated from the electric ground, and an electric circuit which is formed by conductive patterns and circuit elements mounted on a ceramic substrate. Another conductive pattern is formed as a guard pattern along an outer periphery of the substrate and electrically grounded. The protective film is formed in a comb shape on the guard pattern, exposing the guard pattern only partly. The exposed guard pattern located close to the metallic package absorbs electric noises coming in through the metallic package.

Abstract: A work station is disclosed that combines a work platform with a personal computer. The monitor of the personal computer is located beneath the upper surface of the work platform to provide easy use of the computer without taking up space or obstructing the view of the user when not in use. The monitor is oriented to cooperate with a pivotable reflector system that reflects visual information displayed on the monitor to a person sitting at the work station.

Abstract: A docking apparatus for docking selected portable computers, each of the portable computers having a portable computer connector positioned on its rear end. The docking apparatus comprises a base having a first end and a second end, with an electronics enclosure positioned on the base between the first end and the second end. The electronics enclosure has a first end positioned to extend generally perpendicularly from a first side to a second side of the base and generally perpendicularly upwardly from the base to form a wall with a docking apparatus connector being positioned on the wall and configured to matingly engage the portable computer connector. A receiver for at least one of the portable computers is positioned on the base and configured to matingly engage the bottom and the first and second sides of at least one portable computer to position the portable computer for mating engagement of the portable computer connector and the docking apparatus connector.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a backplane and a plurality of logic boards connected to the backplane by a plurality of connectors. In one embodiment of the invention, a set of common points is electrically coupled to the connectors by individual conductive traces between each common point and the corresponding pins of the connectors. The common points are preferably centrally located among the plurality of connectors to reduce propagation delay. A connector can be attached at the common points. The traces are separated from each other by lateral displacement in a single plane. If the backplane is a multi-layered printed circuit board, the traces are separated from each other by vertical displacement between the layers of the printed circuit board or by both vertical and horizontal displacement. The traces to the connectors nearest the common points have a minimum length greater than the distance between the nearest connectors and the common points.

Abstract: A docking station has a removable guide and support shelf along which a portable computer may be slid into operatively coupled engagement with the docking station. By using a vertical side portion of the shelf as a horizontal computer guide, and appropriately positioning the computer docking connector relative to the corresponding guided computer surface, the shelf enables the same docking station to be used with portable computers having different geometric configurations. Alternatively, a differently configured portable computer may be operatively coupled to the docking station by replacing the shelf with a differently configured guide and support shelf. The removable shelf is provided with a mounting latch structure for removably retaining it on the docking station, and a security latch structure that automatically engages the computer during its docking movement. When docked, the computer rests atop three mutually spaced vertical projections formed on the top side of the base wall portion of the shelf.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a base portion connected to a main apparatus. An operation panel comprises one or more panel units fittable on the base portion in such a way that the panel units can change direction. The operation panel units each include a lower part fittable in the base portion, an upper part including an input device and/or a display device, and a rotating part permitting rotation of the panel units to change direction of the panel units on the base portion. The rotating part is slidable on the base portion between a home position of the panel units and a direction changing position of the panel units. A holder holds and releases each panel unit to fix the panel unit in the home position.

Abstract: A replaceable hard disk drive box structure including a box body and a securing seat accommodating the box body. The box body comprises a base, an inner face plate, an upper cover, and a handle. The inner face plate has two outwardly projecting mounting portions for accommodating respective fans. An identification code display is disposed between the mounting portions to allow the user to directly locate the hard disk on the SCSI interface. The outer ends of the inner face plate are respectively provided with coupling portions for connecting the handle. The handle has a projection resembling a quadrant of a circle at either end thereof so that the curvature of the projection of the handle may urge against a rectangular recess at either end of an access of the securing seat when the box body is pulled out, so that the connecting ports of the box body and the securing seat may smoothly disengage, achieving fast and easy installation and removal.

Abstract: A bracket apparatus having a plurality of protruding fingers is employed for simultaneously making contacts with the attachment brackets of add-on cards, exerting force on the attachment brackets towards the add-on cards' receiving expansion slots, thereby securing the add-on cards in place attached to the expansion slots. The system unit back panel is modified to include an additional cutout orthogonal to the traditional cutouts that allows the fingers to pass through and make contacts with the attachment brackets. Additionally, the bracket apparatus and the back panel further includes complementary fastening features to allow the bracket apparatus to be fastened to the back panel.

Abstract: In a portable personal computer in which high-exothermic devices are mounted within a flat case equipped with an input unit, the and in which a surface temperature of the exothermic devices and the input unit is cooled down to or below a predetermined temperature. A first space is created between the back of a keyboard operating section and an electronic circuit board 3, the electronic circuit board 3 is installed so that the face thereof on which the high-exothermic devices are mounted faces away from the back of the keyboard, a second space is created between the electronic circuit board 3 and an electronic circuit board 2, and a fan 4 is installed inside the case so that cooling air flows from the first space to the second space. A flow path for circulating outside air into the case via an air intake hole 8 is constructed on the wall of the input device operating section.

Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus comprising a main body. The main body has a box-shaped housing including a unit receptacle. The unit receptacle protrudes upwards from said box-shaped housing and is located in a rear part of the box-shaped housing. The unit receptacle define a chamber and extends in a widthwise direction thereof. The apparatus further comprises a display unit and an AC power unit. The display unit is coupled to the rear part of the box-shaped housing. The AC power unit is provided in the chamber and electrically connected to said main body. The AC power unit is designed to convert AC power to DC power and supply the DC power to the main body. The AC power unit contains circuit components which generate heat while operating. The AC power unit is supported by a holder which is mounted on a circuit board and by a connector support member which is located at an inner side of the back wall of the box-shaped housing.

Abstract: An electronic device has a chassis configured to hold multiple electronic components in a predefined three-dimensional arrangement whereby some of the electronic components are positioned elevationally above, and overlapping, other electronic components. Each electronic component has an external dimension which falls within a tolerance range between a lower acceptable tolerance limit and an upper acceptable tolerance limit. The chassis has form fitting recesses to receive and hold the electronic components. Each chassis recess is undersized relative to the lower acceptable tolerance limit for the external dimension of an associated electronic component, but the chassis has effective compliant qualities to receive and hold an electronic component even if it has an external dimension at the upper acceptable tolerance limit. The electronic components are interconnected by conductive cables.

Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus includes flat display unit and a box-shaped housing having a bottom wall. A circuit unit incorporated in the housing has a circuit board and a frame to support this circuit board. The display unit is rotatably connected to the housing by a hinge mechanism. This hinge mechanism has a stay which extends parallel to the bottom wall of the housing and sandwiches the circuit unit together with the bottom wall. The stay is fastened by a screw which is driven into the bottom wall through the circuit unit.