Patents by Inventor Michael R. Flannery

Michael R. Flannery 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: 6286106
    Abstract: A computer having an emergency protection program is disclosed. The emergency protection program turns off the computer in response to receiving a notification of an impending potential local emergency. In one embodiment, the program receives the notification from an external network site over an external network connection. In one embodiment, the program waits a predetermined amount of time prior to shutting down the computer, and also is responsive to an abort-shut down input to not shut down the computer, or an immediate-shut down input to immediately shut down the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Flannery
  • Patent number: 6275211
    Abstract: A display apparatus is provided having a back light generated by waste heat of a system. A thermally illuminated strip is disposed on a surface of the display apparatus. The system has heat generating components, such as a CPU, which produce excess waste heat. A heat pipe conveys the heat from the heat generating components to the thermally illuminated strip. Once the heat generating component warms up, the thermally illuminated strip is illuminated by the conveyed heat and provides back lighting for the display apparatus. Although several other applications are appropriate, one particular application for the display apparatus is for a status LCD within a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Flannery
  • Patent number: 5898424
    Abstract: A pointing device for a computer, having switching mechanisms with perceptively differing actuation forces, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the pointing device comprises a housing, a sensor, a first switching mechanism and a second switching mechanism. The sensor is disposed within the housing and translates movement into an electrical signal. The first switching mechanism is also disposed within the housing and has a first predetermined actuation force. The second switching mechanism is also disposed within the housing and has a second predetermined actuation force. The second predetermined actuation force is perceptively different than the first predetermined actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Flannery
  • Patent number: 5826092
    Abstract: The performance of a computer system which use reduction of clock speed to conserve power is enhanced by dynamically adjusting the minimum number of clock cycles required for memory access ("wait states"). When the computer system decreases its clock speed, the minimum number of wait states is decreased to account for the longer cycle time. Likewise, when the computer system increases its clock speed, this invention determines whether any increase in the minimum number of wait states is required, and if so, implements such an increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Flannery
  • Patent number: 5799196
    Abstract: The capability of a peripheral bus to provide an alternative low power source is combined with existing power management software that controls a computer's main power supply unit to provide stand-by power to logic in the computer that remains active to monitor the system environment for predetermined wake-up events. A self-powered Universal Serial Bus device supplies the minimal power needed by the active logic without the inefficiencies of a dual-stage power supply unit or the expense of incorporating both low-power and a full-power units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Flannery
  • Patent number: 5557739
    Abstract: A computer system having a removable component, such as a removable hard disk drive, and an electromechanical switch that mechanically locks and releases the component. The switch also generates an electrical signal when the component is released. At this point, before the component is physically removed, the central processing unit ("CPU") of the computer executes software that causes the computer system to save what information is necessary for recovery and suspend the system. When the system resumes, the CPU determines whether the component was replaced and, if so, causes an appropriate message to be displayed. The user then may select whether to reset the system or to resume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Gupta, Howard K. Fullmer, Michael R. Flannery, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5473347
    Abstract: A computer pointing device is disclosed for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on the display screen of a computer. A manually manipulatable member in the form of a stubby button-like joystick is permanently and ergonomically located within the area defined by the rows of computer keyboard keys and is immediately adjacent the last key in one row of keys, so that the computer operator can move or apply a force to the member to position the cursor in a manner which is very comfortable and similar to the movement from home position that is required when using a mouse as a pointing device. Operational click or "mouse" buttons are located on the front face of the computer case in position for pressing by the right thumb of the computer operator with a normal thumb contraction motion, which is natural and comfortable as opposed to pressing sideways with the side of the thumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Gateway 2000
    Inventors: James P. Collas, Michael R. Flannery
  • Patent number: D360407
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Gateway 2000
    Inventors: James P. Collas, Michael R. Flannery