Abstract: An electronic apparatus including a semiconductor device mounted on a substrate. A support member is disposed between the semiconductor device and the substrate. A heat dissipating body has a cavity formed therein. The heat dissipating body is positioned adjacent to the support member with the heat generating device received within the cavity. The cavity is sized to define a gap between the heat dissipating body and the semiconductor device. A flowable thermally conductive material is disposed within a portion of the gap. A sealing member is disposed between the heat dissipating body and the support member. A principal advantage is that the flowable material can be used in mass produced devices such as electronic packages for computers. Preferred interface materials are phase change materials and thermally conductive greases.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for installing and connecting one or more expansion boards in a computer system while the computer system is being manufactured as well as when a user upgrades or reconfigures the computer system. An expansion board bay for receiving the expansion board is located within the computer system, typically on a circuit board such as the motherboard. A connector module that is separate from the expansion board and the expansion board bay is positioned within the computer system. The connector module is positioned to provide easy external access to a contact portion of the connector module, thereby allowing a user to connect an external data signal line to the connector module. A connector cable operably connects the expansion board with the connector module to establish communication between the data processor and the external data line through the expansion board.

Abstract: A docking station having an electrical connector for mating with the electrical connector of the portable computer when the portable computer is operably coupled to the docking station. The docking station electrical connector is movable with respect to the housing between at least two mating positions to accommodate for variations in location of portable computer electrical connectors of different portable computer types. The docking station electrical connector extends out from a slot in a back wall of the docking station housing. The docking station electrical connector can be manually moved or moved by a motor. With some docking stations according to the present invention, the docking station electrical connector is moveable between mating positions at different elevations. For some docking stations, the slot that the docking station electrical connector extends out from has at least two levels each at a different elevation.

Abstract: A system and method which will generate power from waste heat in a data processing system in such a way that system waste heat is reduced within, and no additional power is drawn from, the data processing system. The system includes a thermoelectric regenerator having a hot junction formed between a first material and a second material and a cold junction formed between the first material and the second material; the hot junction located at a hot junction position defined by a hot junction horizontal location and a hot junction vertical location defined relative to a point on a heat source; and the cold junction located at a cold junction position defined by a cold junction horizontal location and a cold junction vertical location defined relative to the point on the heat source such that the difference between the hot junction horizontal location and the cold junction horizontal location yields a non-zero horizontal location difference.

Abstract: A data entry module having a keypad responsive to manual activation for generating electrical signals. A shaped mass of material is provided having a processor embedded therein for processing the generated signals. The processor is connected to the keypad so that the generated signals pass from the keypad to the processor. A housing is detachably riveted to the keypad to enclose, and secure to the keypad, the mass of material so that the connection between the keypad and the processor is maintained.