Abstract: Special purpose power systems for electric vehicles, control methods and special purpose electric vehicles are disclosed. Special purpose power systems control and manage loads in special purpose devices used in special purpose vehicles such as first responder vehicles. Disclosed systems and methods offer systematic control load shedding according to user designated load circuit priorities to maintain special purpose system capabilities without degrading the electric vehicle traction system and provide control of multiple circuit connections for redundant, fault tolerant operations.

Abstract: Special purpose power systems for electric vehicles, control methods and special purpose electric vehicles are disclosed. Special purpose power systems control and manage loads in special purpose devices used in special purpose vehicles such as first responder vehicles. Disclosed systems and methods offer systematic control load shedding according to user designated load circuit priorities to maintain special purpose system capabilities without degrading the electric vehicle traction system and provide control of multiple circuit connections for redundant, fault tolerant operations.

Abstract: A method for facilitating the integrity validation of data files includes providing a portable cryptographic device having a software verification key, and coupling the portable cryptographic device to a computing device. The method also includes identifying a target data file for validation on the computing device, and generating a software verification value for the target data file using the software verification key. An apparatus for facilitating the integrity validation of data files includes a software verification key that is provided on a portable cryptographic device. The apparatus also includes a security logic that is coupled to the software verification key. The security logic is operable to receive as input a target data file loaded on a computing device, and to generate a software verification value for the target data file using the software verification key.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for creating and securely managing accounts holding cash equivalents is disclosed. Using the system, method, and apparatus of the present invention, a business can issue an account to a consumer. The account holds cash equivalents such as electronic cash, loyalty points, or the like. When a consumer makes a purchase from the business, the value of the account increases. The purchase may be made using cash, checks, or credit cards issued by the business. Generally, the value of the account will not be increased if the consumer makes a purchase using a third party credit card such as a Visa or MasterCard. Once a consumer's account has reached a sufficient value, the consumer can use the value of the account to purchase goods and/or services from the business that issued the account. Thus, by increasing the amount of cash equivalents in a consumer's account, the consumer has an incentive to purchase goods and/or services from the business.

Abstract: A latch/ejector mechanism (2), designed for use with components (6) such as power supplies, computer modules and circuit boards, is used to secure a component to and release the component from a housing (104) by engaging and disengaging a catch element (96) on the housing. The mechanism includes a handle (8) pivotally mounted to the component for moving between latched and unlatched positions. The handle has a latch (94) at one end (28) which engages with and disengages from the catch element during such pivotal movement of the handle. The mechanism also includes a trigger (10) which must be actuated to permit the handle to be moved from the latched position to the unlatched position. A security lock (12), movable between locked and unlocked positions, is used to prevent the actuation of the trigger. In the locked position the lock surface (86) of the security lock opposes a portion of the trigger, called a prevent element (90).

Abstract: An electronic assembly includes an electronic module mountable to a backplane having a ground plane for grounding and EMI shielding. The electronic module includes a conductive chassis having a floating chassis board. Interface connectors are mounted to the chassis board and to the backplane and mate with one another when the electronic module engages the backplane. A grounding clip is mounted to the chassis board and is used to engage an alignment pin extending from the backplane. The grounding clip includes a laterally extending resilient arm which grounds the clip to the chassis. The alignment pin is electrically connected to the backplane ground plane and the grounding clip is electrically connected to the chassis board ground plane so that both ground planes are grounded to the chassis through the grounding clip. The backplane includes a ground pad which circumscribes the interface connectors and is connected to the ground plane.

Abstract: A packaging system for components of a computing system includes an external, modularized, ecto-skeletal support frame for supporting a plurality of uniformly, horizontally dimensioned cabinets in stacked arrangement. The support frame is formed from a plurality of support shelves that form the support platforms for the cabinets. Separating and support shelves are support sleeves, that can be of variable lengths in order to accommodate the varying vertical dimensions of the cabinets held by the support frame.

Abstract: A panel is provided with a plurality of breakout elements attached to one another, and the panel, by a plurality of tab-like protrusions formed on a non-viewable surface of the panel. The breakout elements are removed by twisting the tabs for the particular element to be removed, leaving any scoring resultant from tab removal on a non-viewed surface of the panel.

Abstract: A system interconnects electronic modules with one another, to a power supply and to signal lines through a printed circuit board. The modules are electrically connected to traces on the printed circuit board using blind mateable connectors. EMI shielding plates are mounted to the circuit board at the I/O connectors for the external cables. Guide elements, such as pin and socket guides and printed circuit board edge guides, are mounted to the circuit board to guide the blind mateable connectors. The syustem eliminates the numerous cables which would otherwise be required. The printed circuit board is mounted within the system housing and acts as an air duct barrier to aid proper air circulation. The circuit board also acts as a structured element helping to stabilize the housing and various module supports and serves as a mounting structure for various elements, such as cooling fans.

Abstract: An insertion/extraction mechanism is used to cause blind mateable electrical connectors on an electrical module to engage and disengage mating electrical connectors in a housing by forcing the module to and from its fully inserted position within the housing. The mechanism includes a U-shaped handle pivotally mounted to the module at its ends through elastomeric sleeves. The sleeves are each mounted in a mounting hole in the module and each has a central bore within which a mounting shaft, extending from the handle, is housed. Each end of the handle has a camming surface which engages a pivot pin carried by the housing as the handle is pivoted while inserting the module into and withdrawing the module from the housing. This engagement of the camming surfaces and the pivot pins causes the handle ends and the associated mounting shafts to push radially against the elastomeric sleeves as the handle is pivoted during insertion and extraction.

Abstract: A system interconnects electronic modules with one another, to a power supply and to signal lines through a printed circuit board. The modules are electrically connected to traces on the printed circuit board using blind mateable connectors. EMI shielding plates are mounted to the circuit board at the I/O connectors for the external cables. Guide elements, such as pin and socket guides and printed circuit board edge guides, are mounted to the circuit board to guide the blind mateable connectors. The system eleminates the numerous cables which would otherwise be required. The printed circuit board is mounted within the system housing and acts as an air duct barrier to aid proper air circulation. The circuit board also acts as a structured element helping to stabilize the housing and various module supports and serves as a mounting structure for various elements, such as cooling fans.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a combined guide and barrier for the edge mounting of ciruit boards within a housing. The barrier guides are designed to be used in multiples in high density packing applications. The barrier guide includes a top, a bottom and a barrier extending between the top and bottom. The top and bottom have opposed grooves facing one another. The grooves guide and position the printed circuit within the housing. The barrier, positioned near and parallel to the grooves and extending along the length of the top and bottom, helps prevent the user from inadvertently coming into contact with exposed edge connectors or adjacent circuit boards after a circuit board is removed from the housing. The barrier also guides cooling air through the housing.

Abstract: A fault tolerant computing facility is disclosed. The facility includes a housing array for containing a plurality of hardware element modules such as disk drives, a plurality of modularized power supplies and plural power distribution modules, each being connected to a separate source of primary facility power. Each module is self aligning and blind-mateable with the housing and may be installed and removed without tools, without disturbing the electrical cabling within the cabinet, and automatically by a maintenance robot. The logical identity of each module is established by programming at a control panel and by corresponding physical location of installation of each module within the housing array.

Abstract: A storage unit for an array of modular assemblies, such as disk drives, includes a cabinet having an array of rectangular cavities open toward the front, each for receiving an assembly carrier drawer. Each carrier drawer has electrical connections for receiving an electrical assembly in the drawer. The rear of each drawer has an electrical connection panel for mating a receiving panel connected to the inside back of the cabinet, and associated with the electrical connection panels are pin-and-aperture locating and registering means for precisely aligning the carrier drawer for proper mating electrical contact with the back of the cabinet automatically as the carrier drawer is pushed fully into the cabinet. This enables disk drive maintenance to be performed quickly and efficiently by pulling out a carrier drawer and inspecting, repairing or replacing the modular assembly.