Dell USA L.p.

Other

Texas Instruments Corporation

Rochester Gauges, Inc.

Dan E Swindler

Orin Michael Ozias

Pearce R Jones

John P Busch

Thomas J Kocis

Mark B Penniman

Michael D Durkin

Thomas Shu

Jerry D Gandre

Karl M Steffes

Carl A Taylor

Joseph B Crosby

Derek Westmoreland

A dial assembly with magnetic calibration feature adapted for use as part of a gauge assembly for measuring fluid levels in cryogenic applications is disclosed. The dial assembly includes a base, a pivot pin extending from the base, a pointer assembly pivotally mounted on the pivot pin, and a calibration magnet with adjustment feature. The pointer assembly includes a pointer coupled with a pointer magnet. The calibration magnet with adjustment feature is magnetically coupled to the pointer magnet and adapted to adjust a position of the pointer magnet and therefore the pointer relative to volume indicia on a dial face of the dial assembly. In operation, a movement of the calibration magnet induces a movement in the pointer magnet. The adjustment feature is coupled to the calibration magnet such that it is manipulatable even when the dial assembly is mounted on a gauge head of a gauge assembly installed on a vessel. Further, the dial assembly preferably also includes a pivot pin adjustment feature for repositioning the pointer assembly relative to the dial face.

Fluid level indicator dial assembly with magnetic calibration feature

A docking station structure is used to operatively connect a notebook computer to desktop computer peripheral devices. The docking station has an internal receiving chamber into which the portable computer may be manually inserted, an electrical connector positioned within the receiving chamber, a travel plate movably carried within the receiving chamber, a motorized drive system operative to drive the travel plate toward and away from the electrical connector, and a latch structure carried by the travel plate for movement therewith. With the travel plate in a wait position thereof, the portable computer is rearwardly inserted into the receiving chamber. In response to such insertion, the latch structure automatically locks the computer to the travel plate, and the drive system rearwardly moves the travel plate to mate the electrical connector with a corresponding connector on the computer, thereby operatively linking the computer to the peripheral devices. To remove the computer, the drive system is operated to forwardly move the drive plate and the computer to an ejection position in which the computer and docking station electrical connector structures are disconnected from one another, and the computer is unlocked from the travel plate. Upon insertion of the computer into the docking station opposite side portions of the computer are slidingly received in docking station track indentations operative to maintain the computer in a precisely aligned relationship with the docking station electrical connector during driven movement of the computer.

Motorized portable computer/expansion chassis docking system

Disclosed is an access door for computer systems comprising an outer case containing an electronic component of the computer system that is capable of generating heat during the operation of the computer system. The outer case has an aperture in its surface proximate the component to allow external access into the outer case. The access door is capable of assuming a closed position where it closes the aperture, covers the component and forms a part of the outer. The access door is also capable of being placed in an open position wherein the component is externally exposed through the aperture. The access door includes a heat sink having a heat receiving portion positioned to mechanically contact a surface of the component to allow transmission of heat from the component to the heat receiving portion. The heat sink further includes a heat dissipating portion forming an outer surface of the access door that is capable of dissipating heat received from the component via the heat receiving portion into an environment surrounding the computer system. The door thereby cools the component when in the closed position and allows access to the component when in the open position.

Heat sink/component access door for portable computers

A desktop computer is provided with an expansion card/riser card module which includes a housing within which a riser card and a plurality of associated expansion cards are removably supported and electrically coupled to one another. The module, and thus the riser and expansion cards it carries, may be quickly and operatively coupled to the computer motherboard simply by pushing the module housing downwardly onto the board in a manner matingly inserting a connection edge portion of the housing-supported riser card into a corresponding motherboard connection socket. The module may be quickly removed from the motherboard simply by pulling upwardly on the module to disconnect the riser card from the motherboard socket. In an alternate embodiment of the module, this disconnection is facilitated by a leveraged removal latch structure carried by the module housing and forcibly engageable with the motherboard to lift the module upwardly therefrom. A variety of other useful features are incorporated in the module including a cooling fan removably mounted thereon, a built-in grounding connection for the riser card, and the provision by the module housing of support for a monitor mounted atop the computer housing.

Expansion card/riser card module for desktop computers

A sheet metal support cage structure within a computer has an inturned side wall ledge portion and removably receives a spaced series of expansion cards. Extending along edge portions of the cards that face the ledge are sheet metal mounting brackets having outwardly bent end tab portions that overlie and engage the side wall ledge. The tabs are removably held in place on the ledge by an elongated hold-down bar secured at an inner end thereof to the cage structure for pivotal movement relative thereto between a closed position in which the bar overlies the tabs and captively retains them on the ledge, thereby locking the expansion cards in place within the cage structure, and an opened position in which the bar is moved away from the tabs and releases them from the ledge to permit the expansion cards to be removed from the cage structure. A single screw member is captively retained on the outer end of the bar and may be threaded into a corresponding opening in the ledge to releasably lock the bar in its closed position.

Computer expansion card support structure

A four-way integral switch mechanism allows activation of any one of four switches. This mechanism may be used to position a cursor on a display in both the vertical and horizontal directions where there is a need to control four separate switches to properly locate the cursor. The switch mechanism includes two switch toppers, one of which snaps into and pivots within the other along an axis in a first direction. These two switch toppers then snap into a base which provides a second pivot axis for the second topper which is 90 degrees from the first. The base may have guide pin holes for positioning it as well as the two switch toppers. A spring mechanism engages each of the four lower surfaces of the switch toppers. The switch toppers thereby form one integral whole providing control of four switches by sliding a finger in the direction that cursor movement is desired. Each key has only one degree of freedom, that of rotation, which gives the key a firm controlled feel.

Growing community of inventors

Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Dan E Swindler