Abstract: An anti-fatigue mat is disclosed including a foam member and a gel member that each exhibit a different durometer. The foam member includes a support surface that supports the gel member atop the foam member. The foam member includes a foam ramp that extends outwardly downward from the gel member to a bottom surface of the foam member. A flexible cover layer is situated above the gel member and extends over the foam ramp so that the foam member and the flexible cover layer together encapsulatively seal the gel member therein. The flexible cover layer includes an indentation region situated substantially adjacent a gel/foam interface between the gel member and the foam member and further situated a predetermined distance from the peripheral edge of the mat in one embodiment. The bottom surface of the mat may include a non-slip surface to stabilize the mat on the particular surface that the mat covers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for fabricating an anti-fatigue mat are disclosed. In one embodiment an anti-fatigue mat includes a foam member and a gel member, wherein each member exhibits a different durometer. The foam member includes a gel receiver that is configured with a geometry shaped to receive the gel member. A top fabric is situated on the top of the mat above the gel member and the foam member. A non-slip surface is provided on the bottom of the anti-fatigue mat. The gel member may be sealed within the mat by the foam member and the top fabric.

Abstract: A docking station structure is used to operatively connect a notebook computer to desktop computer peripheral devices. The docking station has an internal receiving chamber into which the portable computer may be manually inserted, an electrical connector positioned within the receiving chamber, a travel plate movably carried within the receiving chamber, a motorized drive system operative to drive the travel plate toward and away from the electrical connector, and a latch structure carried by the travel plate for movement therewith. With the travel plate in a wait position thereof, the portable computer is rearwardly inserted into the receiving chamber. In response to such insertion, the latch structure automatically locks the computer to the travel plate, and the drive system rearwardly moves the travel plate to mate the electrical connector with a corresponding connector on the computer, thereby operatively linking the computer to the peripheral devices.

Abstract: A portable computer in which a single switch is positioned to be closed when the case is closed, and also to be readily operable by the user's finger. Software polls the switch. If the switch is briefly depressed, the software detects that the user is requesting entry into standby mode, and accordingly powers down certain input/output functions until new stimulus is received. If the switch is held down for a long time by the user closing the case cover, or manually holding the button down for a long time, the software causes the system to enter sleep mode (its lowest power mode).

Abstract: An apparatus for locking and ejecting a media module in a media bay includes a locking device engaging the media module to lock the media module in a locked position in the media bay, a rod engaging the locking device to disengage the locking device from the media module, a rotating body mounted on a pivot, the pivot physically coupled to the media bay, and a first spring, the first spring generating a force against the rotating body, the force against the rotating body rotating the rotating body on disengagement of the locking device from the media module, the rotation of the rotating body ejecting the media module from the locked position.

Abstract: A portable computer has a base housing portion to which a display screen structure is pivotally connected. The display screen structure is defined by a solid, relatively thin plastic screen panel instead of the usual lid/display screen housing having mounted therein an LCD panel, a panel illumination system and associated display electronics. To form a selectively variable image on the screen panel a relatively small LCD projection structure is mounted on the top side of the base housing for pivotal movement relative thereto between an upwardly extending use orientation and a downwardly retracted storage and transport orientation. The LCD projection structure includes a lens housing having a lens disposed therein, a small LCD projection panel supported on an underside portion of the lens, and a high intensity light source supported beneath the LCD projection panel.

Abstract: A keyboard structure is recessed within an open-topped base housing portion of a compact portable computer such as a notebook or laptop computer. Front comer portions of the keyboard structure are secured to the base housing in a manner permitting the keyboard structure to be pivoted relative to the base housing between a storage/transport orientation in which the top side of the keyboard structure is generally parallel to the bottom side of the base housing, a tilted use orientation in which the top side of the keyboard structure slopes forwardly and downwardly toward the user and an access position which allows easy access to the interior portion of the computer for making modifications to a mother board that has been positioned in the upper interior portion of the base housing. A resilient latch assembly has cooperable detent structures that are disposed on the keyboard structure and the base housing.

Abstract: A docking station structure is used to operatively connect a notebook computer to desktop computer peripheral devices. The docking station has an internal receiving chamber into which the portable computer may be manually inserted, an electrical connector positioned within the receiving chamber, a travel plate movably carried within the receiving chamber, a motorized drive system operative to drive the travel plate toward and away from the electrical connector, and a latch structure carried by the travel plate for movement therewith. With the travel plate in a wait position thereof, the portable computer is rearwardly inserted into the receiving chamber. In response to such insertion, the latch structure automatically locks the computer to the travel plate, and the drive system rearwardly moves the travel plate to mate the electrical connector with a corresponding connector on the computer, thereby operatively linking the computer to the peripheral devices.

Abstract: A battery-powered lap-top computer has a main battery for ordinarily supplying power to the computer circuitry. A reserve battery is connected through a manual switch to the circuitry. When the main battery starts to lose its charge, the manual switch is operated to connect the reserve battery to the circuitry prior to removal of the main battery. A new main battery is installed and the switch is operated to disconnect the reserve battery from the circuitry. Provision is made for the main battery to slowly charge the reserve battery.

Abstract: A battery-powered lap-top computer has a main battery for ordinarily supplying power to the computer circuitry. A reserve battery is connected through an automatic switch to the circuitry. The circuitry is connected to a pair of contacts and the switch is connected to a contact. The main battery has positive and negative terminals, and a removal terminal which is shorter in length than the positive and negative terminals. When the main battery loses its charge, it is removed by a sliding action which slides the terminals past the contacts, the removal terminal being the first terminal to lose contact. This activates the automatic switch, connecting the reserve battery into the circuitry so that when the positive and negative terminals are no longer contacted, the reserve battery will have been supplying and will continue to supply power to the circuitry. A charged main battery is then installed, deactivating the switch, removing the reserve battery from the circuitry.

Abstract: A hinge assembly has a plurality of rollers which are pressed against an elastic washer by a shaft. The rollers and elastic washer are contained within a cylindrical retainer which is held in a fixed position relative to a first bracket, while the shaft is held in a fixed position relative to a second bracket so that, when either or both the first and second brackets are moved relative to each other, the roller move around the outside diameter of the shaft resisted by the elastic washer, providing a smooth resistance to the movement of the first bracket and/or second bracket relative to the other. An electronic digital device, having a display section with an adjustable viewing angle utilizing the improved hinge assembly, is shown in which the hinge assembly provides a smooth resistance for the movement of the display section relative to the base of the device.