Patents by Inventor Michael P. Krau
Michael P. Krau 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).
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Patent number: 6378068Abstract: A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back in effect. Further, set-up changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Mark J. Foster, Saifuddin T. Fakhruddin, James L. Walker, Matthew B. Mendelow, Jiming Sun, Rodman S. Brahman, Michael P. Krau, Brian D. Willoughby, Michael D. Maddix, Steven L. Belt, Scott A. Hovey, Mark A. Ruthenbeck
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Patent number: 6301673Abstract: A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back in effect. Further, set-up changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1997Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Mark J. Foster, Saifuddin T. Fakhruddin, James L. Walker, Matthew B. Mendelow, Jiming Sun, Rodman S. Brahman, Michael P. Krau, Brian D. Willoughby, Michael D. Maddix, Steven L. Belt, Scott A. Hovey, Mark A. Ruthenbeck
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Patent number: 6223293Abstract: A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back in effect. Further, setup changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1995Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Mark J. Foster, Saifuddin T. Fakhruddin, James L. Walker, Matthew B. Mendelow, Jiming Sun, Rodman S. Brahman, Michael P. Krau, Brian D. Willoughby, Michael D. Maddix, Steven L. Belt, Scott A. Hovey, Mark A. Ruthenbeck
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Patent number: 5987618Abstract: A programmable hardware timer provides a relatively consistently measure of predetermined time intervals over a relatively wide range of performance levels. The programmable hardware timer includes a downcounter, driven by a predetermined clock frequency, that counts a preprogrammed number of preselected time intervals. The time intervals, also programmable, are written to registers which, in turn, are used to control the downcounter such that the zero flag on the downcounter goes active at the predetermined time interval. A second downcounter is used to enable multiples of the predetermined time interval to be selected.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Packard Bell NECInventors: David T. DeRoo, Mark D. Nicol, Michael P. Krau
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Patent number: 5872967Abstract: A computer system employs a process on warm boot which obviates the need to copy code in non-volatile memory to volatile memory; a normal function in a warm boot process. The computer system checks a warm boot flag which indicates that the code was previously copied on cold boot. By avoiding copying this already copied code and executing directly from the volatile memory considerable time is saved. Since BIOS code is typically on the order of 10K bytes, elimination of the necessity to rewrite BIOS and vectoring directly to BIOS image file in RAM saves on the order of ten thousand clock cycles.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Packard Bell NECInventors: David T. DeRoo, Mark D. Nicol, David J. DeLisle, Michael P. Krau, Saifuddin Fakhruddin, Lloyd W. Gauthier, Robert A. Kohtz
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Patent number: 5867655Abstract: In the present invention, a single EEPROM is used to store firmware for the CPU, firmware for the SCP and the system password and other critical system data. Hardware protection is provided that prevents the CPU from accessing the portion of the EEPROM that contains the password or other critical systems data.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1997Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Packard Bell NecInventors: David T. DeRoo, Mark D. Nicol, David J. DeLisle, Michael P. Krau, Saifuddin Fakhruddin, Lloyd W. Gauthier, Robert A. Kohtz
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Patent number: 5809290Abstract: A programmable hardware timer provides a relatively consistently measure of predetermined time intervals over a relatively wide range of performance levels. The programmable hardware timer includes a downcounter, driven by a predetermined clock frequency, that counts a preprogrammed number of preselected time intervals. The time intervals, also programmable, are written to registers which, in turn, are used to control the downcounter such that the zero flag on the downcounter goes active at the predetermined time interval. A second downcounter is used to enable multiples of the predetermined time interval to be selected.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1997Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Packard Bell NECInventors: David T. DeRoo, Mark D. Nicol, Michael P. Krau
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Patent number: 5802376Abstract: The invention provides a simple I/O port which can be used to support a variety of system functions such as a revision, configuration or identification register. This port is provided with a means to be programmable once, upon system power-up so that changes to the port contents are possible, but only under controlled conditions. Once the register has been programmed, it will no longer respond to writes.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1997Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Packard Bell NECInventors: David T. DeRoo, Mark D. Nicol, Michael P. Krau
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Patent number: 5764995Abstract: The invention provides a simple I/O port which can be used to support a variety of system functions such as a revision, configuration or identification register. This port is provided with a means to be programmable once, upon system power-up so that changes to the port contents are possible, but only under controlled conditions. Once the register has been programmed, it will no longer respond to writes.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1996Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Packard Bell NECInventors: David T. DeRoo, Mark D. Nicol, Michael P. Krau
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Patent number: 5765004Abstract: A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back in effect. Further, set-up changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Vantus Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark J. Foster, Saifuddin T. Fakhruddin, James L. Walker, Matthew B. Mendelow, Jiming Sun, Rodman S. Brahman, Michael P. Krau, Brian D. Willoughby, Michael D. Maddix, Steven L. Belt, Scott A. Hovey, Mark A. Ruthenbeck
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Patent number: 5752063Abstract: The invention provides a simple I/O port which can be used to support a variety of system functions such as a revision, configuration or identification register. This port is provided with a means to be programmable once, upon system power-up so that changes to the port contents are possible, but only under controlled conditions. Once the register has been programmed, it will no longer respond to writes.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1995Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: Packard Bell NECInventors: David T. DeRoo, Mark D. Nicol, David J. DeLisle, Michael P. Krau, Saifuddin Fakhruddin, Lloyd W. Gauthier, Robert A. Kohtz
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Patent number: 5742841Abstract: A method and apparatus providing alternate access to standard ports to enable the functionality of such standard ports to be expanded without the need to provide additional software or hardware while obviating the problem that any non-standard commands will be ignored. All standard commands are written to the standard ports. However, any non-standardized commands are written to the standardized ports by way of an alternate access path. In particular, the non-standardized commands are written to an index register and a value register at non-standardized port addresses. The value written to the index register selects one of a predetermined group of index registers, while the value register is used for data for the register selected by the index register. By including standardized port addresses, such as 60H and 64H in the group of index registers, non-standardized commands can be written to these ports by way of the index register to enable non-standardized commands to be assigned to such standardized ports.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1995Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Packard Bell NECInventors: David T. DeRoo, Mark D. Nicol, Michael P. Krau
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Patent number: 5687379Abstract: This invention relates to a system for providing programmable configuration protection of a programmable Input/Output device. By configuration protection, it is meant that the programming options of an I/O controller can be set in accordance to a given environment, and then by use of a programming controlled signal, prevent the changing of the programmed environment or remove those programmed options considered unsafe in the now secured environment.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1996Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Packard Bell NECInventors: Jimmy Dean Smith, Mark D. Nicol, Brian K. Straup, Terence Paul O'Brien, Michael P. Krau, Richard David Ball
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Patent number: 5652890Abstract: A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back in effect. Further, set-up changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1993Date of Patent: July 29, 1997Assignee: Vantus Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark J. Foster, Saifuddin T. Fakhruddin, James L. Walker, Matthew B. Mendelow, Jiming Sun, Rodman S. Brahman, Michael P. Krau, Brian D. Willoughby, Michael D. Maddix, Steven L. Belt, Scott A. Hovey, Mark A. Ruthenbeck
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Patent number: 5551033Abstract: A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. The system includes a first interrupt mask register having a bit for indicating whether an interrupt is to be recognized by the processor, a second interrupt mask register having a bit for indicating whether the interrupt is to be recognized by a further circuit, and an arrangement responsive to a load of the first mask register for conforming the bit of the second mask register to the bit of the first mask register in a manner invisible to an application program being executed by the processor.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1992Date of Patent: August 27, 1996Assignee: Zenith Data Systems CorporationInventors: Mark J. Foster, Saifuddin T. Fakhruddin, James L. Walker, Matthew B. Mendelow, Jiming Sun, Rodman S. Brahman, Michael P. Krau, Brian D. Willoughby, Michael D. Maddix, Steven L. Belt, Scott A. Hovey, Mark A. Ruthenbeck