Abstract: A method for allowing a data processing system to use multiple smart batteries substantially simultaneously coupled to the same smart bus, the method including but not limited to detecting at least two smart batteries connected to a smart battery bus; and selectively controlling at least one of the at least two smart batteries via isolation of the smart battery bus clock signal. In one embodiment, circuitry is used to effect the foregoing-described method; the circuitry can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the foregoing-described method depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

Abstract: An electrically conductive vibration dampener is formed from an electrically conductive base, such as a piece of stamped metal, with at least one tab projecting from the base, and a dampening material member coupled to the base so that the tab can be oriented to provide electrical continuity between other conductors when the electrically conductive vibration dampener is installed into a device. The dampening material member is molded to the base, attached to the base with adhesive, or mechanically attached by for example, registering an edge of the base to a groove formed in the dampening material member. Additionally, the electrically conductive vibration dampener can include an aperture through which a fastener can pass, so that the electrically conductive vibration dampener can be used much like a grommet or washer when fastening components together.

Abstract: A battery charging apparatus, computer system and method provide current from a single power line to charge either a first battery or multiple batteries in an independent mode or a simultaneous mode. The apparatus includes an AC-to-DC adapter, the power line, and a battery charging control system that measures the charge of the individual batteries and compares the measured charge. If the charging system detects a difference in charge between the batteries, the lowest or the lower charged batteries are charged until the charging system detects no difference in charge, and then resumes simultaneous charging. The battery charging control system also includes a comparator circuit that determines whether to enable charging in the independent mode or the simultaneous mode based on input from a user or input from a computer system. The computer system includes a processor, a memory, a bus, a power line, and a battery charging apparatus coupled to the power line.

Abstract: A circuit including bridge rectifier, switches across one or more of the diodes of the bridge rectifier, and a comparator providing control signals to the switch or switches can be constructed to apply a constant polarity voltage to an electrical load, regardless of the polarity of the input power applied to the circuit. The comparator produces a control signal depending upon a comparison of the input power voltages, and the control signal activates one or more of the switches to allow current flow through an appropriate path in the circuit to yield the constant polarity across the electrical load. Thus, the circuit can protect the electrical load from an inappropriately applied voltage by switching the applied voltage's polarity. Because an activated switch can short a diode in the bridge rectifier, power loss associated with current flow through the diode is reduced. Additionally, the circuit can provide constant polarity across the electrical load with either AC or DC input power.

Abstract: A switching flyback regulator circuit for providing a plurality of regulated DC voltage power supplies. The flyback regulator circuit includes a primary inductive element coupled in series with a first switch to turn charging current flow through the primary inductive element ON and OFF. A first secondary inductive element having a first end coupled to supply a first power source. A second secondary inductive element has a first end coupled to produce the second power source, and a second end coupled to a second switch to turn current flow through the second secondary inductive element ON and OFF. The first secondary inductive element and the second secondary inductive element are magnetically coupled to the primary inductive element.

Abstract: Performing graphics rendering without the computational expense of hither plane clipping and with only a minimum of display image clipping. Where a three dimensional polygon crosses to both sides of a hither plane, any vertices on the back side of the hither plane are translated to the hither plane, producing polygons which occupy only the area in front of the hither plane. A display image memory, from which display images are generated, is located within a larger guard memory such that many images which would need to be clipped to fit in the display image memory may be written to the guard memory without clipping.

Abstract: A limiting circuit for controlling overshoot in a charge current in a battery recharging system includes a current amplifier receiving input indicative of charge current in a rechargeable battery circuit and generating a current error signal, a voltage amplifier receiving input indicative of charge voltage in the rechargeable battery circuit and generating a voltage error signal, and a power amplifier receiving a first signal indicative of power in a switching voltage regulator and a second power signal indicative of power in the rechargeable battery circuit, and generating a power error signal. The limiting circuit compares the voltage error signal, the current error signal, and the power error signal to determine the error signal having the greatest value, and generates an input signal to a pulse width modulation comparator.

Abstract: Following the constant-current portion of a rechargeable battery charging scheme with repeated current pulses having a lower current value than that of the constant current portion, for at least part of the period of the pulse, can increase the amount of time that elapses before the voltage of the rechargeable battery is at or above a threshold voltage, thereby decreasing the total charge time for the rechargeable battery. Various current pulse shapes can be used to reduce the total charge time for the rechargeable battery, including, for example, a ramped pulse that begins at a low current level and increases over some or all of the period of the pulse, and a constant current pulse whose current level is reduced from that of the constant-current portion of the rechargeable battery charging scheme by a specified amount.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for driving a cold cathode fluorescent lamp in a floating configuration with an inverter circuit having a transformer with a primary winding and two secondary windings. At least one sense resistor is coupled in series between terminals of the secondary windings. The other terminal of each secondary winding is coupled to a respective end of the fluorescent lamp. A rectifier is coupled to the secondary portion of the transformer to receive a signal indicative of the current in at least one end of the fluorescent lamp and generates a feedback signal. A control and drive circuit generates drive signals based on the feedback signal to control the current in the fluorescent lamp and outputs the drive signals to the primary transformer winding.

Abstract: For an electronic device having at least one power switch for each of two or more power sources such that the power switches can be selectively activated or deactivated depending on a signal supplied to them, a protection circuit having a current-sense circuit coupled to measure the current from the two or more power sources, and a latch for producing a switch deactivating signal and applying it to the switches in response to an over-current signal from the current-sense circuit can protect the switches and the electronic device from soft-short circuits and absolute short circuits. Bypass resistors coupled to the switches allow the electronic device to receive a small current ("pre-charge") before any of the switches are activated so that a comparator can test for the presence of various types of short circuits. Additionally, the precharging brings the electronic device to a higher voltage (as compared to no pre-charging) when one of the switches is activated, thereby helping to reduce in-rush currents.

Abstract: A plant package for an artificial aquarium plant including a card member having a front face and a shaped shell member affixed to the front face by a peripheral bonding flange. The shell member has an upper section including a plant base holding pocket with a top edge. The top edge is free of the card member. The bottom portion of the plant base holding pocket is shaped to confine a base of the artificial aquarium plant with the top portion being restricted and shaped to overlay and support one or more plant stems of the artificial aquarium plant. A lower section of the shell member is designed with raised ridges reinforcing the shell member and defining an indicia window portion.

Abstract: An inverter circuit having dual converters for driving a fluorescent lamp comprising a pulse width modulator coupled to receive a feedback signal indicative of current in the fluorescent lamp. The pulse width modulator generates driving signals that are received by a synchronously switching voltage regulator having a high side driver and a low side driver. A self-resonant converter is coupled between the synchronously switching voltage regulator and the fluorescent lamp and generates a voltage signal for illuminating the fluorescent lamp. The self-resonant converter includes a transformer having a primary winding and at least one secondary winding, a capacitor coupled in parallel with the primary winding, and a full bridge circuit. The full bridge circuit may include four switching transistors, such as MOSFETs coupled in an H-configuration to the primary winding and the capacitor.

Abstract: A switching flyback regulator circuit for providing a plurality of regulated DC voltage supplies, wherein one of the regulator circuits includes a saturable reactor for regulating one of the output voltages. The flyback regulator circuit includes a primary inductive element coupled to a first switch to turn charging current flow through the primary inductive element ON and OFF, a first secondary inductive element having a first end coupled to supply a first power source and magnetically coupled with the primary inductive element, and a second secondary inductive element magnetically coupled with the primary inductive element. The second secondary inductive element has a first end coupled to produce the second power source and a second end coupled in series with the saturable reactor and a second switch to control current flow through the second secondary inductive element.

Abstract: A current converter that includes stored information about the converter can provide that information to an electronic device, such as a computer system, when the current converter is in use with the device. The current converter information can include manufacturer and model identity information, compatibility information, electrical characteristics, current converter type information, and current source information. A storage device in the current converter is coupled to a data bus for connecting to the electronic device, or can make use of one or more of the existing power output terminals to provide current converter information to the electronic device. Based on the information provided to the electronic device, the device can determine whether to allow operation of the device, and if so, under what circumstances and conditions.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack that includes a temperature monitoring circuit a rechargeable battery, and a discharge circuit, advantageously provides a battery pack which senses when the battery pack is exposed to a harmful temperature and cause the discharge circuit to discharge electricity stored in the battery until the battery's charge level is reduced to a safe level for the particular temperature. The rechargeable battery has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The discharge circuit is coupled to the rechargeable battery. A controller is coupled to the discharge circuit. The temperature monitoring circuit is coupled to the controller and measures a temperature of the battery, providing a temperature indication to the controller. The controller causes the discharge circuit to discharge electricity from the battery based upon the temperature indication.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack that includes a controller, a temperature monitoring circuit, a rechargeable battery, and a heating circuit, can sense when the battery pack is exposed to a harmful low temperature and cause the heating circuit to heat the battery pack, particularly the battery pack's controller, so that it remains in a temperature regime compatible with normal operation. The rechargeable battery has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The heater circuit is coupled to the rechargeable battery and the controller is coupled to the heater circuit. The temperature monitoring circuit is coupled to the controller. The temperature monitoring circuit is capable of measuring a temperature of the battery pack and providing a temperature indication. Based upon the indication, the controller causes the heater circuit to heat the controller.

Abstract: A system for charging dual battery packs. The system includes a charger for supplying current to charge a first battery pack when the first battery pack is electrically coupled to the computer system. The charger supplies current to charge a second battery pack when the second battery pack is electrically coupled to the computer system. The system also includes a charge controller, such as a keyboard controller executing a program stored in a memory, for controlling the charging of the first battery pack and the second battery pack such that the charger charges the first battery pack to a first level, the charger charges the second battery pack to a second level, and the charger simultaneously charges the first battery pack and the second battery pack when the first battery pack is charged above the first level and below a third level and the second battery pack is charged above the second level and below a fourth level.

Abstract: A dual smart battery mutual detection system that utilizes intelligence built in to "smart batteries" in combination with a battery presence pin for enabling each battery of a dual battery power supply system of a PC to detect the presence, or, more importantly, the absence, of the other battery and to react accordingly is disclosed. In one embodiment, upon detection by the battery that is not being used to power the PC (the "inactive battery") of the removal of the battery that is being used to power the PC (the "active battery"), a microprocessor internal to the inactive battery closes an internal switch thereof, thereby causing the previously inactive battery to be "selected" and used to power the PC.

Abstract: A wind turbine for converting wind energy to useable energy having a plurality of overlapping sail members. The sail members extend radially outward from a vertically disposed shaft in three columns positioned equidistantly around the shaft. The overlapping sail members hang downwardly in a naturally biased, vertical orientation so as to block rotational movement of each other in one direction. This configuration allows the wind to engage with the sail members on one side of the shaft to rotate the shaft, and blow past the sail members on the other side of the shaft. Rotation of the cylinder is thus achieved while wind resistance is greatly minimized, regardless of the wind direction. A generator can be rotatably intercoupled with the cylinder to thereby convert the kinetic energy of rotation to useable energy. Each sail member is preferably positioned such that a gap resides between the sail member and the shaft, the gap being at least as wide as the sail member.