Patents by Inventor Matt Herron

Matt Herron 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).

  • Portable computer and docking station having an electromechanical docking/undocking mechanism and a plurality of cooperatively interacting failsafe mechanisms
    Patent number: 5323291
    Abstract: A first embodiment of the present invention comprises a fully functional portable computer with central processing unit, hard disk drive data storage, and liquid crystal display and a docking station having at least a floppy disk drive, video random access memory and video controller. A motorized docking/undocking mechanism automatically docks and undocks the portable computer and docking station after the user has inserted the portable computer into the docking station or after the user has requested that the units be undocked. Numerous mechanical and electrical safeguards prevent the docking or undocking of the units if such docking or undocking is likely to lead to the loss of data or damage to the components of either unit. The internal mechanical construction of the docking station allows the user to place a large cathode ray tube display monitor directly atop the docking station without hindering the docking or undocking of the portable computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Boyle, Matt Herron, David Blakely, Mary Johnson, James J. Halicho, Brian Howard