Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Guy E Lichtenwalter

Jacques H Helot

Gerald W Steiger

Masahiko Muranami

Norman D Marschke

Jaime Segura

Michael D Derocher

Edward C Miller

A method and apparatus for printed circuit board pads with registering feature for component leads. A U-shaped metalized pad is disposed on a printed circuit board for soldering to a component lead. Solder is disposed on the pad and heated to a molten state so that surface tension and wetting effects form the molten solder into a solder mound having a U-shaped lateral cross section conforming to the U-shaped metalized pad. The solder mound has a first arm and a second arm, and a lateral aperture extending therebetween for receiving an extremity of the component lead, and registering the extremity of the component lead with respect to the pad.

Method and apparatus for printed circuit board pads with registering feature for component leads

Method for registering a component lead with a U-shaped metalized pad

The invention provides a single docking station structure which is usable for a set of different pieces of equipment having essentially similar interfaces, such as a manufacturer's line of portable (&ldquo;notebook&rdquo; or &ldquo;laptop&rdquo;) computer product models. A common first module supports interfaces with peripheral devices or the like. A model-specific second module, second from a set of second modules that correspond with various models from the line of portable computers, is coupled with the first module to support the portable computer. The second module supports the portable computer, so as to interface it directly with the interface on the first module. The second modules, preferably configured as trays for holding the portable computers, are very simple and inexpensive to manufacture. The trays can be stored next to the docking station (like magazines on a bookshelf). An identification system, which labels the different trays and cross-references them to the corresponding portable computers, allows for future changes in the manufacturer's product line, in which a new model of portable computer requires either a new tray or one of the previously existing trays. The invention is advantageous to manufacturers because it reduces the number and variety of docking station products required for use with the manufacturer's portable computers.

Docking station having a plurality of adapter trays for a plurality of portable computers

A security mechanism is provided, for use with portable equipment, such as a &ldquo;notebook&rdquo; type portable computer, which is to be coupled for use with stationary equipment, such as a port replicator or docking station. The security mechanism includes locking structures, located in complementary positions on the computer and the port replicator, for engaging each other to prevent theft by removal of the computer from the port replicator. The locking structures on the computer are standardized across a line of different computer models, so that the security mechanism is operative regardless of which of the different computer models is docked. Specifically, the locking structures of the various computers within the line of products are in corresponding positions on the computers, relative to the positions the computers occupy when docked. Therefore, the locking structures engage the same way, regardless of which computer of the line of products is docked. The security mechanism is manipulated by the presence of the computer being docked, so that the user is not required to manipulate the security mechanism separately from docking the computer.

Single retracting security hook of desktop port replicator providing security for dissimilar multiple portable computers

Radio frequency emissions within a computer system having a printed circuit assembly in proximity of a metal surface are reduced by the placement of one or more lossy components electrically connected to a metal plane within the printed circuit assembly. A connector electrically connects the lossy components to the metal surface. In one embodiment, the lossy components include two resistors at opposite ends of an edge of the printed circuit assembly that is closest to the metal surface. In an alternate embodiment, a single lossy component is a resistor placed in the middle of an edge of the printed circuit assembly that is closest to the metal surface. In the alternate embodiment, a second connector at a first end of the edge of the printed circuit assembly that is closest to the metal surface directly connects the metal plane to the metal surface, and a third connector at a second end of the edge of the printed circuit assembly that is closest to the metal surface directly connects the metal plane to the metal surface. A spring is used to connect the printed circuit assembly to the metal surface. Ends of the spring are inserted into vias within the printed circuit assembly. Traces on the printed circuit assembly electrically connect the vias to the lossy component. Similarly, the vias may be directly connected to a ground or power plane without an intervening lossy component.

Reduction of radio frequency emissions through terminating geometrically

A card guide for positioning a circuit card relative to a backplane is disclosed. The card guide provides electrical contacts to a ground plane on the circuit card in addition to positioning the card. The card guide utilizes two types of protuberances to reduce the force needed when the card is inserted or removed from the card guide, while providing accurate mating of paired connectors.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Guy E Lichtenwalter