Abstract: A notebook computer has a base housing with a heat-generating microprocessor therein, and a lid housing pivotally connected to the base housing. Operating heat from the microprocessor is transferred to the lid housing, for dissipation therefrom, via a specially designed thermosyphoning heat pipe structure formed from first and second heat pipes. The first heat pipe representatively has a rectangular cross-section, an evaporating portion thermally communicated with the microprocessor, and a coiled condensing portion centered about the lid hinge line and having a circularly cross-sectioned interior side surface portion defined by flat sides of the first heat pipe. The second heat pipe has a circular cross-section, an evaporating portion pivotally received within the coiled first heat pipe portion, and a condensing portion thermally communicated with the lid housing.

Abstract: A battery charging system in which current is averaged over a long time period (seconds) to determine the maximum average charging rate. When the integral of charging current over this long period reaches the programmed maximum charge value for one period, current is simply cut off for the remainder of the fixed long period.

Abstract: A lithium-ion cell charging system wherein pulse charging (with excursions above the critical voltage) is followed (once average current has fallen low enough) by charging in a linear regulator mode, using a transistor internal to a battery pack as an element of a linear regulator.

Abstract: A sealed rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack which includes a switching voltage regulator. The regulator uses the normal cutoff transistors as the switching devices, and also includes a discrete inductor in the battery pack. The regulator is operated with programmable voltage and current parameters, under control of a microcontroller which is also inside the sealed battery pack enclosure.

Abstract: A method for fan-folding lithium-ion-polymer battery cells, wherein gaps are left in the active material at fold locations of the metallic backing conductor. This avoids fatigue at the fold locations when the active materials expand and contract during charge and discharge.

Abstract: A data processing system for executing multimedia applications which interface with multimedia devices that consume or produce at least one of real-time and asynchronous streamed data includes a CPU for execution of one or more multimedia applications and a DSP for processing data including streamed data. A plurality of modular multimedia software tasks may be called by the multimedia application for execution in the DSP. A plurality of data communication modules are provided for linking selected ones of the software tasks with selected others of the software tasks, and linking selected multimedia devices with selected ones of the software tasks. Each of the communications modules allows continuous, real-time and unidirectional communication of streamed data.

Abstract: A data processing system is provided for executing multimedia applications which interface with multimedia end devices that consume or produce at least one of (a) real-time and (b) asynchronous streamed data. The data processing system includes a central processing unit for data processing operations including execution of the multimedia application, a digital signal processor for processing data including the streamed data, and a plurality of modular components which cooperate to provide a substantially open architecture.

Abstract: A technique for trimming photoresistors to change relatively high tolerance parts to relatively low tolerance parts by blocking out a portion of the photoactive area, and the so-trimmed photoresistors. The blocking out can be performed by placing ink over the photo-active area. This ink placement step can be easily added in the photoresistor assembly line after the initial calibration location.

Abstract: A LCD backlight system which regulates the light generated by the lamp by controlling the intensity of the light using a photoresistor cell. The current provided to the lamp is controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The PWM signal responds to brightness adjustments by the user and to a photoresistor exposed to the light from the lamp. An operational amplifier circuit controls the PWM signal so that if the lamp is too bright, the current to the lamp is reduced, and if the lamp is too dim, the current to the lamp is increased. When the lamp brightness reaches the appropriate intensity, the output of the operational amplifier is unchanging, causing the intensity of the lamp to remain stable.