Abstract: A vibration dampening mechanism for operative arrangement with a data storage media drive canister, having: a cantilevered dampening spring secured to a surface of, or integral with, a side of a housing for the drive canister. The spring has a free end that can extend over an aperture through the housing side. The spring can comprise a bent portion, having an outer bend surface, between a secured end and the free encl. When installed in a canister support structure, this outer bend surface will contact an under surface of the structure causing the bent portion to at least partially flatten; the free end may deflect into the aperture. Also, a storage media drive vibration dampening system for operation with a media drive canister support structure having: a cantilevered dampening spring secured to, or integral with, a side of a drive canister housing.

Abstract: A display screen assembly apparatus and method are disclosed including a base assembly and a rotatable coupling attached to the base assembly. The rotatable coupling preferrably includes a display screen interface and a first electrical interface conductively connected to the base assembly. A display screen assembly releasably secures to the display screen interface. The display screen assembly has a second electrical interface operable to releasably engage the first electrical interface and conduct electrical signals from the base assembly through the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface to the display screen assembly.

Abstract: A fan duct induces an air flow generated by a fan of a lower supply of a computer to flow simultaneously through at least two heat-generating components of the computer. The fan dut is formed by plastic injection molding to have a cuboidal configuration, defining a first opening in alignment with the fan, a second opening proximate a first heat-generating component, and a third opening proximate a second heat-generating component when the fan duct is mounted in the computer at a predetermined position. When the fan is operated in a direction to draw air from the computer, an air flow is generated to simultaneously flow through the two heat-generating components and into the fan duct via the second and third openings. The heated air is then expelled out of the fan duct via the first opening to reach an exterior of the computer.

Abstract: A shock mounting system for data storage modules that house disk drives such as those used in RAID systems. In one embodiment of the invention, a flexible spacer formed on or fastened to the module housing provides the desired tight but cushioned fit between the module and the enclosure. In a second embodiment, a flexible guide formed on or fastened to the enclosure that houses the modules provides the desired fit.

Abstract: A bracket support includes a chassis and a bracket movably mounted in the chassis. A locking tab is mounted on the bracket and is movable between an engaged position with the chassis and a released position with the chassis. A door is mounted on a surface of the chassis and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The door includes a tab securing slot. An arm extends from the door. The door urges the locking tab to the engaged position when the door is in the closed position. The arm moves the locking tab to the released position and partially extracts the bracket from the chassis when the door is moved to the open position. The tab securing slot secures the locking tab into the engaged position when the door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A structure of building-block type members for assembly of computer components permitting spatial variation, within, blocks in pillar and tube of same length and equally spaced are butted to a monitor and the main unit with the circumference of the tube in diameter not greater than the spacing between any two abutted pillars of surrounding four pillars; said tubes are provided on the back panel of the monitor, and pillars, on the sides of the main unit combine the monitor and main unit allowing optimal space use for combination as desired and the additional of peripherals.

Abstract: A computer system includes a chassis, a microprocessor mounted in the chassis, an input coupled to provide input to the microprocessor, a mass storage coupled to the microprocessor, a display coupled to the microprocessor by a video controller, and a memory coupled to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor. The chassis includes an elongated channel guide having openings formed therein. A slider member is movably mounted within the guide on the chassis. The slider member has a plurality of connectors thereon which are movable therewith. The connectors are positioned in the openings in the guide in response to the slider member being in a first position. The connectors are removed from the openings in response to the slider member being in a second position and an engagement member on one end of the slider member engaged with a resilient release device attached to the chassis. A cover is mounted in the chassis.

Abstract: A disk-drive chassis of the invention has stiffening and damping members for reducing the transmission of vibrations between disk-drive units of a disk-drive array. The stiffening members include vertical dividers that are mechanically coupled between top and middle panels of the chassis. The stiffening members also include a corrugated stiffener attached to a bottom surface of the middle panel. The stiffener's corrugations are aligned parallel with a spindle axis of the respective disk-drive units. The damping member includes a constrained-layer damping plate which is attached to a top surface of the top panel by a visco-elastic damping adhesive. The chassis allows improved performance by the individual disk-drive units.

Abstract: A modular computer assembly includes a peripheral circuit module having a first housing half, a connecting circuit board mounted inside the first housing half, and peripheral interface circuit units mounted on the connecting circuit board. The connecting circuit board has peripheral interface connectors to connect with the peripheral interface circuit units, and a mother board connector mounted thereon. The mother board connector is electrically connected to the peripheral interface connectors. The assembly further has a system circuit module including a second housing half and a mother board mounted inside the second housing half. The mother board has an insert edge insertable into the mother board connector to establish electrical connection with the peripheral circuit module. The second housing half complements with the first housing half to form a computer housing when the system circuit module and the peripheral circuit module are assembled.

Abstract: An inflatable and collapsible display screen for electronic devices such as portable computers, TV screens, LCD and the like, which provides a screen area of approximately the size of conventional and comparable portable computer monitor screens, and the like. Upon deflation, the display screen may be folded into a small package for storage and/or transport.

Abstract: A flat panel display (FPD) module can be mounted into a peripheral device bay of a computer system. The peripheral device bay of a convertible computer system is rotatable, allowing the FPD module to be mounted in a horizontal orientation regardless of the computer system's orientation. Additionally, the FPD panel of the module is rotatable so that the panel can be pivoted into an orientation convenient for viewing. The FPD module includes a sled having a front panel and a pair of opposing side panels, the front panel and side panels defining an interior portion. An FPD panel, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), is mounted in a frame rotatably coupled to the sled. At least one mounting feature is located on one of the side panels for mounting the module into a peripheral device bay.

Abstract: A computer has an internal chassis with four wall-like frame members located at its rectangular perimeter. A variety of electronic components are mounted to the chassis within the rectangular perimeter. A bezel is mounted to an outer portion of one of the frame members and forms an exterior rear panel of the computer. The chassis is sidably mounted within an integral, five-sided enclosure having a rectangular opening at its rearward end. The enclosure closely receives the chassis to eliminate relative movement therebetween. The bezel has an integral handle with a pair of tabs which engage recesses in the enclosure when the chassis is in the enclosure. The chassis is removed from the enclosure by lifting the handle on the bezel such that the tabs disengage the recesses in the enclosure to allow the chassis to slide out of the enclosure.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus docking station is provided in which a USB hub includes a housing which may receive at least one additional USB module which is connected to the USB hub without the use of an additional cable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, up to three USB modules may be inserted into the housing in stacked arrangement. In addition, each USB module maybe used as a stand alone unit by snapping a sleeve onto the rear of the module. Still further, a USB connector is adapted for use standing vertically from a circuit board and being retained by spring clips extending through the circuit board in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector.

Abstract: Cooling apparatus for electronic systems and a computer system with such apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus dissipates heat from circuit boards of such systems to the surroundings, thus effectively cooling the circuit boards. The cooling apparatus has a cooling unit, having a board seat defined in its bottom and side walls and seating a circuit board in the seat. A fan is exteriorly seated on the unit at a position opposite to the board seat. An air passage extends from the fan to the board seat, thus dissipating heat from the circuit board to the surroundings using air. Such a cooling unit is detachably set in the main body of a computer system with both a central processing board being seated in the board seat of the unit and a system board being set in the main body.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for and method of attaching a peripheral electronic component to an electronic system uses spring-urged protrusions to attach the peripheral electronic component to the electronic system without screws or other traditional hardware fasteners. Preferably, the spring-urged protrusions are configured to allow quick and easy installation and removal without the need for tools. Further, the apparatus is preferably configured to use standard mounting holes included in most peripheral electronic components. Therefore, the apparatus does not require costly custom modification for use with a variety of peripheral electronic components. More particularly, the apparatus is preferably electrically conductive to ground the chassis of the peripheral electronic component to the electronic system. In addition, the apparatus uses the spring-urged protrusions to reduce or eliminate the transmission of vibration between the peripheral electronic component and the electronic system.

Abstract: A mobile hard disk drive (HDD) rack includes an inner casing adapted to receive an HDD therein and having a plurality of connectors of different interface specifications to be selectively connected to the HDD. The inner casing includes a first conversion circuit which converts the interface specification of each of the connectors into a predetermined interface specification. An outer casing is adapted to be mounted in a computer to receive the inner casing therein and electrically connect thereto. The outer casing may optionally include a second conversion circuit which converts the predetermined interface specification into a plurality of different interface specifications each having a connector mounted on the outer casing associated therewith so as to allow the computers of different HDD interfaces to be selectively connected thereto. By means of such an arrangement, HDDs of different interfaces may be readily and exchangeably connected to the computers of different HDD interfaces.

Abstract: A portable electronic information device for performing information processing, data communication or the like. In the device, a slot is housed within a longitudinal rectangular housing recess formed at the rear portion of a lower wall of a device body so as to be able to be ejected therefrom and buried therein. A spring is provided within the housing recess so as to urge the slot outward. A locking unit is provided for locking the slot within the housing recess against the urging force of the spring. A guide frame is pivotally attached to the front portion of the lower wall of the device body so as to be erectable therefrom. A card-shaped information medium is attached through a through-hole of the erected guide frame to the slot which protrudes outside from the housing recess.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a programming device (1) for multiaxial industrial robots. The housing (2) has a display (3) and a plurality of switches and/or function keys (4). It has three or more ergonomically designed grip areas (6, 7, 8, 9), wherein grip strips (6, 7, 8) are made in one piece with two or more housing edges (25, 26), and the function keys (4) are located on these grip strips within the reach of the fingers. A joystick (14) is arranged horizontally at the lateral housing edge (26), and a grip strip (8) and a thumb ball pad (15) are located in its vicinity. The housing (2) also has one or more interfaces (16, 17) for connection to external communications means, especially external input or output devices and/or external computing units.

Abstract: A computer has an internal chassis with a variety of electronic components including a power supply and a ventilation fan. The chassis is mounted within an enclosure which has having a ventilation port for exhaust air near a lower end. The power supply and ventilation fan are located at the bottom of the enclosure to lower the center of gravity of the computer and increase its overall stability while maintaining proper cooling efficiencies.

Abstract: A winding chain dissipating unit suitable for an electronic device is disclosed. The winding chain dissipating unit has a winding chain outer tube, a winding chain inner tube, and heat pipe within the winding chain inner tube. The inner diameter of the winding chain outer tube is matched with the outer diameter of the winding chain inner tube so as to have a smaller front end and a larger rear end. Moreover, an elastic element is installed at a position between the front end of the winding chain inner tube and the front wall of the winding chain outer tube so that the winding chain inner tube generates a continuously front pulling force to the winding chain outer tube. Once a wear from rotation friction therebetween is formed, the winding chain inner tube will move forwards gradually so as to automatically adjust and compensate the gap from the wear.