Patents by Inventor Mark Rapaich
Mark Rapaich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 7151970Abstract: Multiple audio digital to analog converters (DACs) are provided to convert multiple digital audio streams to analog audio signals concurrently in a personal computer. Different digital audio streams are routed to each DAC and audio output device depending on priority, desired quality and the source of the audio stream.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1998Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Gateway Inc.Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Patent number: 7132927Abstract: A controller capable of being located in a peripheral device or host, is capable of engaging in data communications with a host or peripheral device over a power line. A power line interface provides a first data communications interface over the power line. An interface controller connects peripheral device and host using the first and a second data communications interface having a protocol. A power supply supplies power associated with the second interface. The controller appears to the peripheral device as the host or as the host to the peripheral. In accordance with the protocol the power supply supplies power such that the interface is fully compliant with the protocol.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2004Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Gateway Inc.Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Patent number: 7076325Abstract: A modular information handling system includes an upper chassis having a display and a power supply, and a lower chassis having a motherboard, memory, a processor, and a number of drive bays. The upper and lower chassis are interdependent, neither capable of functioning without the other. The upper and lower chassis are separately manufacturable, separately serviceable, and separately shippable.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2001Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Gateway Inc.Inventors: Mark Rapaich, Elisa E Zappacosta
-
Patent number: 6972688Abstract: A power supply that has an integrated power line networking coupling circuit and a connector to accept a removable power line networking module. The power supply and associated system can be sold without power line networking or with power line networking, and if sold without power line networking, it can be upgraded at a later time to support power line networking. Additionally, power line networking modules can be replaced in the field if failures occur or for upgrade purposes if a more robust networking standard becomes available.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2004Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Gateway Inc.Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Patent number: 6966358Abstract: A system is provided including a cooling station with a fluid reservoir containing a cooling fluid, a circulating pump, and a first fluid circuit including first couplers. A portable computer has a second fluid circuit with second couplers coupling to first couplers thereby coupling the first and second fluid circuits when the portable computer and the cooling station are docked. Fluid is circulated in the first and second fluid circuits when docking is detected. An interface connector, fan, and a controller are further provided, the controller configured to detect docking and activate the circulating pump and de-activate the fan when docking is detected. The fluid includes one or more of: water, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and oil.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2004Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Gateway Inc.Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Publication number: 20050257095Abstract: An apparatus and a method of the present invention provide diagnostics to defect faults on the motherboard of a computer system and to indicate the faults without having operating system fully functioning. When power is applied to the motherboard, a visual indicator may be turned on. After diagnostics performs a successful initialization of the motherboard and onboard integrated circuits, the visual indicator may be turned off. The faults on the mother board may be isolated from faults of other components in the computer system so that the user can detect the motherboard problem easily. Further, the visual indicator may flash if the diagnostics detect problems in the memory subsystem. The apparatus and the method of the present invention may require few modifications to the computer system thus incurring very small cost.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2004Publication date: November 17, 2005Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Patent number: 6963935Abstract: A peripheral communications protocol hub includes an input device such as a keyboard or remote cursor control wirelessly connected to a host computer. The input device has a number of connectors for connection of peripherals to the input device. The connection of input device to peripheral may be wired or wireless.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1999Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Gateway Inc.Inventors: Bruce A. Young, Frank W. Liebenow, Mark Rapaich
-
Publication number: 20050161197Abstract: A system is provided including a cooling station with a fluid reservoir containing a cooling fluid, a circulating pump, and a first fluid circuit including first couplers. A portable computer has a second fluid circuit with second couplers coupling to first couplers thereby coupling the first and second fluid circuits when the portable computer and the cooling station are docked. Fluid is circulated in the first and second fluid circuits when docking is detected. An interface connector, fan, and a controller are further provided, the controller configured to detect docking and activate the circulating pump and de-activate the fan when docking is detected. The fluid includes one or more of: water, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and oil.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2004Publication date: July 28, 2005Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Publication number: 20040186926Abstract: A controller capable of being located in a peripheral device or host, is capable of engaging in data communications with a host or peripheral device over a power line. A power line interface provides a first data communications interface over the power line. An interface controller connects peripheral device and host using the first and a second data communications interface having a protocol. A power supply supplies power associated with the second interface. The controller appears to the peripheral device as the host or as the host to the peripheral. In accordance with the protocol the power supply supplies power such that the interface is fully compliant with the protocol.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Publication number: 20040157474Abstract: A power supply that has an integrated power line networking coupling circuit and a connector to accept a removable power line networking module. The power supply and associated system can be sold without power line networking or with power line networking, and if sold without power line networking, it can be upgraded at a later time to support power line networking. Additionally, power line networking modules can be replaced in the field if failures occur or for upgrade purposes if a more robust networking standard becomes available.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2004Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Publication number: 20040120113Abstract: The present invention is directed to an acoustic management system for an electronic device. The acoustic management system may include an acoustic detection system capable of controlling at least one component of the electronic device. The acoustic detection system is suitable for detecting acoustics generated by the component so that if component acoustics rise above a threshold level or exceed a ratio based on ambient acoustic levels the acoustic detection system may control the component so that component acoustics are varied depending on the situation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2002Publication date: June 24, 2004Applicant: Gateway, Inc.Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Patent number: 6502142Abstract: A controller on a card in a personal computer or set top box controls routing of multiple audio or video signals to multiple outputs concurrently. Also provided is the ability for the user to configure the controller via software or hardware controls, such as a multi-position switch located on the external surface of the computer hardware. Multiple different formats of video and audio are properly converted and routed.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1998Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Gateway, Inc.Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Patent number: 6441870Abstract: A system has video output connections capable of connecting to different display devices. The system has input connections capable of receiving image signal from multiple sources. A table of gamma values is indexed by both the display type and image source type. A software or hardware module applies a gamma correction from the table to the received video to transform it to have a gamma consistent with that of the display device. In a further embodiment, the images are encoded with a gamma identifier which is used to index into the table of system gammas. A video card that detects video source and display is also described. The video card utilizes a table of gamma values indexed by video source and display type and operating mode. Images are then corrected by the card to display properly on the display.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1998Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Gateway, Inc.Inventor: Mark Rapaich
-
Publication number: 20020067435Abstract: Gamma correction, color saturation, tint, brightness, and contrast correction are provided for digital YUV signals by use of video hardware or software in a personal computer. The video hardware receives a digital YUV signal from a source such as a DVD player. An algorithm is empirically determined for the type of display device used to display the signal. A least-squares fit polynomial equation or a lookup table is used to determine a correction for displayed intensity by applying one or more corrections such as gamma correction, color saturation, tint, brightness, or contrast correction. The resulting image is displayed with the proper gamma for both video source and display.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 1998Publication date: June 6, 2002Inventor: MARK RAPAICH
-
Patent number: 6366454Abstract: A modular information handling system includes an upper chassis having a display and a power supply, and a lower chassis having a motherboard, memory, a processor, and a number of drive bays. The upper and lower chassis are interdependent, neither capable of functioning without the other. The upper and lower chassis are separately manufacturable, separately serviceable, and separately shippable.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1999Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Gateway, Inc.Inventors: Mark Rapaich, Elisa E Zappacosta
-
Patent number: 6185627Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively sending a first signal or a second signal to an output signal are described. An electrical characteristic of a device coupled to the output is determined, and, in the event the electrical characteristic is determined to be a predetermined value, the first signal to the output, otherwise, the second signal is sent. A detector coupled to the output of an information handling system detects a characteristic of a device coupled to the output. The characteristic is indicative of the type of signal sent to the output. A first type of signal is sent to the output when the characteristic has a predetermined value and a second type of signal is sent to the output when the characteristic does not have the predetermined value. Whether a speaker is an analog speaker or a digital speaker may be automatically determined, and an appropriate analog or digital signal is sent to the speaker depending upon its type.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1998Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: Gateway, Inc.Inventors: John L. Baker, Mark Rapaich
-
Patent number: 6151645Abstract: Computer systems provide separate ports for USB (Universal Serial Bus) and PS2 peripherals. Unfortunately, this arrangement requires the computer to have two separate wireless transmitters to communicate with wireless USB and PS2 peripherals. Accordingly, the present invention provides a device, a method, and a system for combining PS2 data and USB data into one serial data stream, thereby enabling one wireless transmitter to serve both a PS2 and a USB peripheral. Specifically, one embodiment includes a PS2 port for receiving PS2 data; a USB port for receiving USB data; a data combiner, coupled to the PS2 and USB ports, for combining the PS2 and the USB data; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to the data combiner, for broadcasting a wireless signal carrying combined PS2 and USB data. In one embodiment, the data combiner includes a processor and a memory that stores unique data-combining software.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1998Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc.Inventors: Bruce A. Young, Mark Rapaich
-
Patent number: 6140577Abstract: An improved apparatus for reducing and minimizing Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) leakage from electrical devices or assemblies contained in a cabinet or other similar enclosure such as a computer system unit. Spring fingers or arms contained in the enclosure force two adjacent faces of the enclosure components together to create an EMI minimizing seal.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1998Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Gateway 2000, INCInventors: Mark Rapaich, Elisa E. Zappacosta
-
Patent number: 5999405Abstract: A support apparatus is disclosed including a support structure for holding a printed circuit board module, a heat sink thermally coupled with the printed circuit board module, and a capture bar secured to the support structure. The support apparatus includes a holding member with extension members for securing the holding member to the main printed circuit board. The heat sink has a projection extending from one surface, and the capture bar frictionally engages with the projection. Standoffs are disposed between the main printed circuit board and a chassis surrounding the main printed circuit board. A method for cooling the printed circuit board module is also disclosed. The method comprises coupling the printed circuit board module with the holding member, and thermally coupling the heat sink with the printed circuit board module. The capture bar is coupled with the projection of the heat sink and is secured to the holding member. Standoffs are disposed under the main printed circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1997Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc.Inventors: Elisa E Zappacosta, Mark Rapaich
-
Patent number: 4631749Abstract: A microphone is provided with a read only memory (ROM) which is programmed to compensate for the microphone's nonlinear frequency response characteristic during their integration into a single unit. The ROM is thus programmed to provide a frequency response complementary to that exhibited by the microphone. The microphone may have a relatively poor frequency response over the audio spectrum, i.e., 20 Hz-20 kHz, but with the ROM serving to calibrate the microphone, the combination exhibits a relatively flat frequency response over this frequency range. Intended for use in a portable, battery operated, microprocessor-controlled audio spectrum analyzer, the integrated microphone and ROM combination is coupled to a CMOS random access memory (RAM) in which the calibration contents of the ROM are stored. During normal operation, the microprocessor reads the microphone calibration data from the thus programmed RAM in order to conserve battery power, but may read this data from the ROM when necessary.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1984Date of Patent: December 23, 1986Assignee: Heath CompanyInventor: Mark Rapaich