Dell USA L P

Dell Computer Corporation

Ken P Okaya

Bryan Franklin Howell

John P Busch

Stephen A Burke

A multimedia carousel for use in video conferencing and multimedia presentation applications is disclosed. The multimedia carousel includes a cube-shaped media unit rotatably disposed on a stationary base. Each of the four outwardly facing sides of the media unit is equipped with an active color matrix display, a voice-activated charge coupled device ('CCD') camera and a microphone. A single high fidelity speaker is disposed on the top side surface of the cube for producing high quality audio output.

Multimedia carousel for video conferencing and multimedia presentation

A keyboard having a base and first and second demi-boards, which demi-boards include respective first and second key arrays. The first demi-board is supported in the base, and the second demi-board is supported in a variable elevation relative to the base. The elevation of the second demi-board may be selectively varied between a first elevation in which the first and second key arrays are substantially even relative to one another and a second elevation in which the first and second key arrays are substantially offset relative to one another. The second key array is operative in a first function mode when in the first elevation, and in a second function mode when in the second elevation. In one aspect, the second key array comprises first and second linked key rows, the second key row being moveable relative to the first key row so that the first and second key rows may be vertically aligned.

Keyboard with elevatable keys

A portable computer and a method of securing the same. The portable computer comprises: (1) a main chassis containing (a) data processing and volatile storage circuitry of the portable computer, (b) a nonvolatile storage unit coupled to the data processing and volatile storage circuitry and (c) a source of electrical power and (2) a security module removably coupled to the main chassis and containing circuitry for (a) enabling decryption of encrypted data stored in the nonvolatile storage unit and (b) coupling the source of electrical power to the data processing and volatile storage circuitry only when the security module is coupled to the main chassis, the decryption disabled and the source of electrical power decoupled from the data processing and volatile storage circuitry when the security module is removed from the main chassis. The security module impairs the intrinsic value of the portable computer's hardware by removing critical portions thereof, such as the physical connection between the source of electrical power and the data processing and volatile storage circuitry and at least the logical connection between the nonvolatile storage unit and the data processing and volatile storage circuitry.

Portable personal computer having removable security module

The present invention provides a personal computer comprising a main chassis having an exterior wall forming, in part, an interior portion of the personal computer. The exterior wall has a data card slot formed therein and is configured to receive a data card therethrough. The interior portion contains data processing circuitry for processing data recorded on a data card. A data card reader is positioned within the interior portion and has a reading head positioned adjacent a first end of the data card reader for linearly reading the data when the data card is received through the slot. Further, the data card reader has a second end electrically connectable to the data processing circuitry for transmitting the data to the data processing circuitry when the data card is passed through the data card reader. The data card reader may be incorporated into a PCMCIA structure such as a PCMCIA card housing or guide/socket frame.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Ken P Okaya