Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.p.

Kevin R Frost

James Luke Mondshine

Gregory B Memo

William E Jacobs

Daniel V Forlenza

Tim L Zhang

Lonnie J Pope

Greg B Memo

Dan V Forlenza

Bill E Jacobs

Mitch A Markow

A portable computer provides a modular ported speaker enclosure independent of the portable computer surfaces of the portable computer. The speaker enclosure can include a speaker enclosure top and a speaker enclosure base. A plurality of ports are formed into the speaker enclosure base. A plurality of port covers within the speaker enclosure can cover the inner surfaces of the plurality of ports. A plurality of loudspeakers are housed between the speaker enclosure top and the speaker enclosure base.

Ported speaker enclosure of a portable computer

A portable computer case whether in a closed state or open state permits a user to exercise control and monitor certain operating features. The user may toggle a control switch to place the computer system in a secondary operational mode, determine when a computer system is in a secondary operational mode, and adjust a digital master volume control during the secondary operational mode. The portable computer system includes a status indicator for indicating when a computer is in a secondary operational mode, digital master volume control buttons operable in a secondary operational mode, and a control switch for placing the computer system in a secondary operational mode. The status indicator, volume control buttons, and control switch are preferably provided on a top surface of the bottom shell of the portable computer for convenient access by a user. As such, a user is capable of placing the computer system in a secondary operational mode and determining when the computer system is in a secondary operational mode without opening the portable computer case. A user is also capable of adjusting volume control during a secondary operation mode without the need to access a plurality of volume controls, sort through software to adjust the volumes of the audio sources, or open the portable computer case to visualize volume controls for the audio sources on the main display screen.

Controls and indicators for a secondary operational mode of a computer system

Briefly, a computer system plays audio CDs in a CD-ROM drive during an audio CD play mode in which the computer system is not fully powered. An audio CD play controller of the computer system includes a means for detecting a plurality of audio CD play buttons for playing an audio CD in the CD-ROM drive and a means for communicating a plurality of audio CD play commands corresponding to the plurality of audio CD play buttons to the CD-ROM drive. The computer system enters the audio CD play mode without a full boot-up procedure and without loading an operating system.

Audio CD play controller for controlling a CD-rom drive independent of system bios of a computer system

A portage computer case whether in a closed state or open state permits a user to exercise control and monitor certain operating features. The user may toggle a control switch to place the computer system in a secondary operational mode, determine when a computer system is in a secondary operational mode, and adjust a digital master volume control during the secondary operational mode. The portable computer system includes a status indicator for indicating when a computer is in a secondary operational mode, digital master volume control buttons operable in a secondary operational mode, and a control switch for placing the computer system in a secondary operational mode. The status indicator, volume control buttons, and control switch are preferably provided on a top surface of the bottom shell of the portable computer for convenient access by a user. As such, a user is capable of placing the computer system in a secondary operational mode and determining when the computer system is in a secondary operational mode without opening the portable computer case. A user is also capable of adjusting volume control during a secondary operation mode without the need to access a plurality of volume controls, sort through software to adjust the volumes of the audio sources, or open the portable computer case to visualize volume controls for the audio sources on the main display screen.

Method and system for controlling a CD-ROM drive in an operating system-independent reduced power mode

A computer system is capable of playing audio CDs in a CD-ROM drive independent of the operating system by using an embedded CD-ROM drive application or a CD-ROM drive controller. When an audio CD mode switch of the computer system is in an &ldquo;on&rdquo; state and the main power switch of the computer is in an &ldquo;off state&rdquo; the computer system is in an audio CD mode. When the computer is placed in such an audio CD mode, the computer either loads the embedded CD application from a non-volatile memory region such as read-only-memory (ROM) region or enables the CD-ROM drive controller of the CD-ROM drive to receive a CD selection and transmit the selections to the CD-ROM drive. The embedded CD application includes an embedded CD-ROM device driver for driving the CD-ROM drive to process audio CDs, power-on-self test (POST) code for selectively powering and initializing hardware device in the computer system, initialization code for the embedded CD-ROM device driver, and system management interrupt/keyboard controller interface code used for processing the selection of a CD button of the computer system.

Computer system capable of playing audio CDs in a CD-ROM drive independent of an operating system

A computer system is capable of playing audio CDs in a CD-ROM drive independent of the operating system by using an embedded CD-ROM drive application or a CD-ROM drive controller. When an audio CD mode switch of the computer system is in an &ldquo;on&rdquo; state and the main power switch of the computer is in an &ldquo;off&rdquo; state, the computer system is in an audio CD mode. When the computer is placed in such an audio CD mode, the computer either loads the embedded CD application from a non-volatile memory region such as read-only-memory (ROM) region or enables the CD-ROM drive controller of the CD-ROM drive to receive a CD selection and transmit the selections to the CD-ROM drive. The embedded CD application includes an embedded CD-ROM device driver for driving the CD-ROM drive to process audio CDs, power-on-self test (POST) code for selectively powering and initializing hardware devices in the computer system, initialization code for the embedded CD-ROM device driver, and system management interrupt/keyboard controller interface code used for processing the selection of a CD button of the computer system.

Audio CD play subsystem capable for playing audio CDs in a CD-ROM drive during computer system is in power-off state

A portable computer system incorporating a multi-purpose status display module that is visible when the main video display is in either an open or locked condition. The status display module is used as an autonomous, real-time battery gauge. The battery gauge display allows a user to monitor the charge status of a battery pack when the system is powered up, when the battery is being recharged by an AC adapter, or when the portable computer is placed into a secondary operating mode. Control signals for the status display are generated by a multi-purpose microcontroller. Battery charge conditions are displayed from 0% to 100% in 10% increments, allowing the computer user to accurately estimate the amount of computing time sustainable by an installed battery pack. The battery gauge display functions independently of the portable computer's operating system, and the computer user need not initiate a software process in order to ascertain remaining battery life. The invention is particularly useful when the portable computer system is being utilized as a stand-alone CD player or in other non-standard operating modes.

Real-time battery gauge display

Controls and indicators available to a user for a secondary operational

A computer system is capable of playing audio CDs in a CD-ROM drive independent of the operating system by using an embedded CD-ROM drive application or a CD-ROM drive controller. When an audio CD mode switch of the computer system is in an 'on' state and the main power switch of the computer is in an 'off' state, the computer system is in an audio CD mode. When the computer is placed in such an audio CD mode, the computer either loads the embedded CD application from a non-volatile memory region such as read-only-memory (ROM) region or enables the CD-ROM drive controller of the CD-ROM drive to receive a CD selection and transmit the selections to the CD-ROM drive. The embedded CD application includes an embedded CD-ROM device driver for driving the CD-ROM drive to process audio CDs, power-on-self test (POST) code for selectively powering and initializing hardware devices in the computer system, initialization code for the embedded CD-ROM device driver, and system management interrupt/keyboard controller interface code used for processing the selection of a CD button of the computer system.

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Spring, TX, United States of America

Kevin R Frost