Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

David E Gough

Mitchell A Markow

Kevin L Massaro

Michael S Lempicki

Dennis D Lamberth

Mark David Senatori

Kelly Kennedy Smith

Jeremy M Ford

Luis C Armendariz

Punan Tang

Ricardo Marquez

Edgar Diego Haren

Steve S Homer

Patrick V Illingworth

Arthur L Daniel

Ann J Lai

There is provided an electronic device having an audio system for reproducing audio signals. An exemplary electronic device has an analog region and a separate and non-overlapping digital region. The electronic device comprises an analog ground plane disposed within the analog region and a digital ground plane disposed within the digital region. Digital circuitry is disposed opposite the digital ground plane, wherein digital signals are routed on or over the digital ground plane. Analog circuitry is disposed opposite the analog ground plane, wherein analog signals are routed on or over the analog ground plane. At least one audio output channel disposed opposite the analog ground plane.

Apparatus and method for reproducing an audio signal

A docking station for supporting a notebook computer. In one embodiment, an docking station includes a base, a platform on which the notebook computer can be placed, and a platform support armature that extends up from the base and supports the platform, wherein the armature can be pivoted to change the height of the platform and the platform can be pivoted independent of the armature to change an angle of inclination of the platform.

Notebook computer docking stations

A vibration attenuation method comprising identifying a hard drive disposed on an electronic device and, based on the identity of the hard drive, attenuating an output of at least one operation of the electronic device.

Vibration identification and attenuation system and method

A desktop computer which has a driver mounted in the back wall of the chassis. The chassis is acoustically a very leaky box, so the driver is designed as if it were a free-space driver (using large cone area and long throw). In one class of embodiments, a single driver is used, and is centered in the back of the box so that there is an equal left-right split, although not true stereo. The front of the box may be made more acoustically leaky to move the acoustic image forward. The treatment of the box as being acoustically leaky means that the airflow required for thermal management has not been restricted. The use of a long-throw driver permits the volume-velocity of the driver to be increased. Treatment of the box as very leaky also means that no user changes or custom configurations will significantly disturb the expected acoustic environment. An audio system incorporating a free-space driver with an equalizer designed for use with a free-space driver further improves acoustic quality. Gain staging may also be used to improve acoustic quality of the audio system.

Computer with acoustic driver built into acoustically leaky chassis

A portable electronic device having a rigid chassis. The portable electronic device utilizes a reinforcement structure within the chassis. The structure is designed for application in a space constrained area by incorporating one or more speaker mounts and speakers for audio output.

Portable electronic device having chassis reinforcement system

Custom designed polar patterns for a microphone of a portable computer are achieved. A custom designed polar pattern permits a microphone in a portable computer to suppress sources of spatially-dependent noise internal and external to a portable computer system. A custom designed polar pattern is generated by specially configuring the boot of a microphone by varying the hole sizes of the boot and/or varying location of the microphone element in the boot. In addition, the shape of a particular polar pattern may be adjusted by inserting acoustic absorption material into the boot, forming enclosed walls into the boot, or rotating the top shell of the portable computer which contains the microphone relative to the bottom shell of the portable computer. Thus, a directional response of a microphone may be form-fitted to a particular portable computer configuration.

Method of custom designing directional responses for a microphone of a portable computer

A stereo speaker system for portable computers which maximizes spatial impression by using rearward-firing speakers, mounted in the back of the display, in combination with forward-firing speakers mounted on the chassis or in the front side of the display.

Onboard speaker system for portable computers which maximizes broad spatial impression

A portable computer system having a loudspeaker enclosure defined by a printed circuit board, a keyboard section cover and a gasket. A second enclosure is defined by an existing frame, the keyboard section cover and a second gasket. Advantageously, a loudspeaker mounting system provides positive urging of the speaker with the keyboard section cover and all other openings, such as the grill attachment apertures and any other openings, are sealed to achieve the total enclosure concept for a speaker system for a portable computer.

Portable computer having loudspeakers in enclosures formed by gaskets

A portable computer docking station has a molded plastic housing within the interior of which are a ported speaker structure operative at low, mid and high frequencies, and a nonported speaker structure operative only at mid-to-high frequencies. The ported speaker structure has a ported enclosure section formed integrally with an exterior wall portion of the housing and having an open side. A first speaker is mounted on a lid member at an opening therein, with the lid member being secured to the ported enclosure section over the open side thereof with a seal member being sandwiched between the lid member and the enclosure section, and a sound absorbing structure being disposed within the enclosure section under the first speaker. The nonported speaker structure includes a second speaker supported on a second wall portion of the housing. A mid-range enclosure, formed from an open cell foam material, engages a section of the second wall portion that circumscribes the second speaker and has a chamber therein that receives the second speaker. The input of the first speaker is connected to the output of a first amplifier having an input in turn connected to a first equalizing circuit. The input of the second speaker is connected to the output of a second amplifier, having a wattage capacity less than that of the first amplifier. A second equalizing circuit is connected to the input of the second amplifier.

Portable computer docking station having improved speaker apparatus

A portable computer system including sealed acoustic suspension speaker enclosures which are each molded of a high density-low-density polymer combination, so that the low-density polymer can provide good sealing to adjacent surfaces. Preferably, neither speaker enclosure is sealed as a free standing unit, but the acoustic seal is completed only when the speaker enclosure is in place inside the portable computer.

Portable computer speaker enclosure

The present invention is directed to an orifice plate for use with an ink jet printhead assembly and a method for fabricating that orifice plate and a printhead assembly incorporating the orifice plate and a method for fabricating that printhead. The orifice plate has either a projection extending outwardly from a rear side surface of the orifice plate that is configured to be closely received by a corresponding alignment cavity in the front end body portion of the printhead or an alignment cavity formed in the rear side surface of the orifice plate that is configured to closely receive a projection extending outwardly from the front end portion of the printhead body. An ultraviolet light curable adhesive may be used to adhesively intersecure and seal the orifice plate on the printhead body.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

David E Gough