Abstract: A system and apparatus are provided for selectively terminating an analog video signal depending on whether or not a terminating device is present. A conditional terminator receives an analog video signal from a video input and terminates the video signal in the absence of a terminating device and does not terminate the video signal when a terminating device is connected to the analog video signal. A conditional terminator may comprise a resistor and transistor connecting the video signal to ground when a ground signal from a terminating device is not present and disconnecting the signal from ground as a result of the presence of a ground signal from a connected terminating device. The conditional termination may occur in a video input device or alternatively in a video cable connector.

Abstract: A sensor fixture can be affixed within a wall and powered using the same cable along which data signals are transmitted. A data cable is attached to the fixture, and power for a sensor is isolated from the data signals. The sensor may be used in conjunction with a building automation system in order to provide environmental inputs, such as from a motion sensor, a light sensor, and an audio sensor. The sensor may also be combined with LED lights for a combined fixture that lights when sensing motion or other environmental changes, for example.

Abstract: A system and apparatus are described for removably mounting one or more hard disk drives within a computer system. According to one embodiment, the system includes a disk drive carrier cage configured to receive a disk drive backplane and up to eight pair of disk drive carrier rails. The disk drive carrier cage is sized for insertion into a drive bay having the dimensions of two optical mass storage devices compatible with a 5.25 inch form factor. The system also includes a disk drive backplane for receiving up to eight hard disk drives, disk drive carriers for holding the hard disk drives, and disk drive carrier rails mountable within the disk drive carrier cage for slidably receiving the disk drive carriers. The disk drive carriers and disk drive carrier rails are translucent thereby permitting light emanating from the backplane to be viewed at the front of the cage.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for providing supplemental functionality to a computer system with an expansion card adaptable for both internal and external coupling to the computer system. An expansion card has a bracket for internally coupling to a host computer and a housing for external coupling to a host computer. The expansion card may receive power from the host computer via an edge connector when internally coupled and through a power adapter via a power port when externally coupled. The expansion card may further receive data from the host computer via the edge connector when internally coupled and through an external bus when externally coupled. When externally coupled, the expansion card is mounted within a housing that may be mounted to an outside surface of a computer rack to preserve space within the rack.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide for remote management of a set of local computers by transferring screen frames produced by the local computer for viewing at a remote computer. A redirection module captures and transmits video signals from a local computer through over a network, such as the Internet, to a remote computer where the remote computer produces a display that contains the screen frames being transferred. The module is configured for use with and installation within a keyboard, video, and mouse switch configured for receiving the module. The redirection module is further configured for use with and installation on a server-blade to allow remote management of the server-blade.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for bridging two or more data communications interfaces. The apparatus includes a powered enclosure for receiving and powering one or more storage devices and one or more computing devices and provides a first data communications interface connecting the one or more storage devices to the one or more computing devices. One or more computing devices are also provided for use within the enclosure, each device comprising a controller for communicating with the one or more storage devices via the communications interface provided by the powered enclosure. The computing devices also include a controller for enabling communications via second data communications interface, and a bridging component for providing a bridge between the interface provided by the enclosure and the second interface. The second interface may be connected to an external bus or an external network.

Abstract: A system and apparatus are described for removably mounting one or more hard disk drives within a computer system. According to one embodiment, the system includes an enclosure configured to receive a disk drive carrier cage, a disk drive backplane, a disk drive controller, and a power supply. The system also includes a disk drive backplane for receiving hard disk drives, disk drive carriers for holding the hard disk drives, and disk drive carrier rails mountable within the disk drive carrier cage for slidably receiving the disk drive carriers. The disk drive carriers and disk drive carrier rails are translucent thereby permitting light emanating from the backplane to be viewed at the front of the cage. The disk drive controller provides a disk drive interface between the disk drive backplane and a host computer system.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide for remote management of a local computer by transferring screen frames produced by the local computer for viewing at a remote computer. The screen frame data may be obtained by digitizing an analog video output of the local computer and then grabbing frames from the digitized video, or by directly grabbing frames from a digital video output of the local computer. Additionally, interaction may be established with the local computer through user input devices such as a mouse and keyboard of the remote computer whose signals are transferred back to the local computer to alter the screen frames being produced by the local computer that are then transferred back to the remote computer for display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for hot swapping a hard disk drive. A gateway is connected between the disk drive and the bus leading to the host adapter. The gateway can isolate the disk drive from the bus prior to a disk drive being removed and can signal to the host adapter when a new drive has been installed. The gateway can de-isolate the newly installed disk drive from the bus to allow the host adapter to communicate with the newly installed disk drive. Additionally, the gateway can remove system power from a disk drive being removed and ramp up power to a newly installed disk drive while system power is uninterrupted for other components of the computer system. An adapter may be provided to connect a disk drive to the gateway, and the gateway and the adapter engage and/or disengage during the hot-swapping of the disk drive.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for suspending communications with a hard disk drive in order to transfer data relating to the hard disk drive between the host and an intermediate communications gateway, thereby isolating the hard disk drive from the bus while this data is transferred. The data transferred between the host and the intermediate communications gateway may include control signals transferred from the host to the intermediate communications gateway and status signals transferred from the intermediate communications gateway to the host. In one embodiment, normal communications with an IDE hard disk drive are suspended upon the assertion of the reset line of the AT bus. As such, the state of the reset line may be controlled such that the reset line is no longer merely utilized as a system reset but, instead, is used to define the state of communications between the host and the hard disk drive.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for identifying one or more mounting locations for mounting a printed circuit board or other type of electronic device, including a mounting surface and one or more light sources mounted on the mounting surface. The light sources are located at positions corresponding to the mounting locations for mounting the printed circuit board or other type of electronic component. When illuminated, the light sources identify one or more mounting locations. The mounting locations are defined by mounting patterns corresponding to the mounting locations for a given type of printed circuit board or other electronic component. The light sources are illuminated so that only light sources corresponding to mounting locations defined by a particular mounting pattern are illuminated.

Abstract: An apparatus for powering one or more devices is provided. The apparatus includes a housing that has a power input connector that directly receives a power cord and a power output connector connected in series to the power input connector. The housing also contains a power supply connected in parallel to the power input connector. The power supply can generate power for delivery to a second powered device, such as a remote server management device. A cable assembly may extend from the housing for delivering power to the second powered device. The housing may also store a control circuit for controlling the flow of current between the power input connector and the power output connector. The control circuit receives an input signal and, based on the input signal, allows or prevents the flow of current to the integrated power output connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for powering one or more devices is provided. The apparatus includes a housing that has a power input connector that directly receives a power cord and a power output connector connected in series to the power input connector. The housing also contains a power supply connected in parallel to the power input connector. The power supply can generate power for delivery to a second powered device, such as a remote server management device. A cable assembly may extend from the housing for delivering power to the second powered device. The housing may also store a control circuit for controlling the flow of current between the power input connector and the power output connector. The control circuit receives an input signal and, based on the input signal, allows or prevents the flow of current to the integrated power output connector.

Abstract: A rack-mount apparatus for mounting printed circuit boards and other types of electronic components is provided. A five-sided enclosure is provided for mounting one of several different types of electronic components. The enclosure includes a bottom panel having countersunk holes for mounting electronic component. The countersunk holes are arranged according to two or more mounting patterns. Mounting hardware is also provided for mounting the printed circuit board or other type of electronic component to the bottom panel without protruding from the bottom surface of the bottom panel and also providing a gap between the printed circuit board and the bottom panel as specified by the type of printed circuit board or other electronic component. The rack-mount apparatus allows many different types of printed circuit boards or electronic components to be mounted in a standard rack-mount chassis.

Abstract: A cable retention apparatus is provided for an electronic device. The electronic device has a power supply receptacle for holding a power supply cable. The cable retention apparatus includes an arm, which is pivotally connected to the electronic device. An integrated locking member extending from the arm is used to engage the arm with a portion of the power supply cable when the arm is pivoted from an unlocked position away from the cable to a locked position with the cable so that the cable is prevented from being removed from the receptacle.

Abstract: A card receiving system and apparatus for retaining the edges of at least two electronic circuit component cards, in which the cards are preferably positioned horizontally so that one card is disposed above or over the other card and those two cards are oriented substantially parallel to each other. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure. The abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b).

Abstract: Methods and devices provide for remote management of a local computer by transferring screen frames produced by the local computer for viewing at a remote computer. The screen frame data may be obtained by digitizing an analog video output of the local computer and then grabbing frames from the digitized video, or by directly grabbing frames from a digital video output of the local computer. Additionally, interaction may be established with the local computer through user input devices such as a mouse and keyboard of the remote computer whose signals are transferred back to the local computer to alter the screen frames being produced by the local computer that are then transferred back to the remote computer for display.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for bridging two or more data communications interfaces. The apparatus includes a powered enclosure for receiving and powering one or more storage devices and one or more computing devices and provides a first data communications interface connecting the one or more storage devices to the one or more computing devices. One or more computing devices are also provided for use within the enclosure, each device comprising a controller for communicating with the one or more storage devices via the communications interface provided by the powered enclosure. The computing devices also include a controller for enabling communications via second data communications interface, and a bridging component for providing a bridge between the interface provided by the enclosure and the second interface. The second interface may be connected to an external bus or an external network.

Abstract: A cable retention apparatus is provided for an electronic device. The electronic device has a power supply receptacle for holding a power supply cable. The cable retention apparatus includes an arm, which is pivotally connected to the electronic device. An integrated locking member extending from the arm is used to engage the arm with a portion of the power supply cable when the arm is pivoted from an unlocked position away from the cable to a locked position with the cable so that the cable is prevented from being removed from the receptacle.

Abstract: A retaining device for stationarily positioning at least one electronic circuit component card comprising a bracket and a fastener. In one exemplary embodiment, a single fastener is manipulated from outside a wall of a chassis to hold two or more electronic circuit component cards in position. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure.