Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Duke University

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Compaq Computer Corportion

Neil L Condra

Stacy L Wolff

Robert E Fischer

Chris F Felcman

Biljana Tadic-Galeb

Chi-Tsong Chu

Pasha S Mohi

Gregory J Mora

David W Kappel

Sean M Donnelly

Ann M Muscato

Earl W Moore

Mark S Tracy

Dale S Walker

Kevin W Mundt

Thomas Mitchell

Kenneth J Buras, Jr

Sam D Blackwell

Drew D Granzow

Patrick V Illingworth

D Stephen Goodrich

Robert M Merritt

James R Utz

Chris F Feleman

A notebook computer base housing has operatively disposed therein a CD ROM drive, a hard disk drive and a floppy disk drive, an AC/DC electrical power converter, a modem, a PCMCIA card bay structure and a battery. This internal provision of three drive units in addition to the other equipment within the base housing is facilitated from a space standpoint by the vertical stacking of the hard disk drive atop the CD ROM drive within the base housing. To dissipate the operating heat from these components within the base housing, a heat spreader plate is interposed between the CD ROM drive and the overlying hard disk drive, and the high heat-generating components&mdash;namely, the modem, the AC/DC converter, the PCMCIA card bay structure, and the computer processor&mdash;are closely grouped together, with the AC/DC converter in thermal communication with a second heat spreader plate. The processor is disposed above the other high heat-generating components on a horizontally oriented main system circuit board. with the circuit board having top and bottom side heat sink members thermally communicated with the processor. An axial fan disposed in the base housing creates an upper flow of cooling air that passes over the upper heat sink member, and a lower flow of cooling air that passes over the lower heat sink member and the heat-generating components grouped below the processor.

Multi-drive portable computer

A notebook computer base housing has operatively disposed therein a CD ROM drive, a hard disk drive and a floppy disk drive, an AC/DC electrical power converter, a modem, a PCMCIA card bay structure and a battery. This internal provision of three drive units in addition to the other equipment within the base housing is facilitated from a space standpoint by the vertical stacking of the hard disk drive atop the CD ROM drive within the base housing. To dissipate the operating heat from these components within the base housing, a heat spreader plate is interposed between the CD ROM drive and the overlying hard disk drive, and the high heat-generating components&mdash;namely, the modem, the AC/DC converter, the PCMCIA card bay structure, and the computer processor&mdash;are closely grouped together, with the AC/DC converter in thermal communication with a second heat spreader plate. The processor is disposed above the other high heat-generating components on a horizontally oriented main system circuit board with the circuit board having top and bottom side heat sink members thermally communicated with the processor. An axial fan disposed in the base housing creates an upper flow of cooling air that passes over the upper heat sink member, and a lower flow of-cooling air that passes over the lower heat sink member and the heat-generating components grouped below the processor.

Multi-drive portable computer having a plurality of heat sink members therein

A notebook computer base housing has operatively disposed therein a CD ROM drive, a hard disk drive and a floppy disk drive, an AC/DC electrical power converter, a modem, a PCMCIA card bay structure and a battery. This internal provision of three drive units in addition to the other equipment within the base housing is facilitated from a space standpoint by the vertical stacking of the hard disk drive atop the CD ROM drive within the base housing. To dissipate the operating heat from these components within the base housing, a heat spreader plate is interposed between the CD ROM drive and the overlying hard disk drive, and the high heat-generating components&mdash;namely, the modem, the AC/DC converter, the PCMCIA card bay structure, and the computer processor&mdash;are closely grouped together, with the AC/DC converter in thermal communication with a second heat spreader plate. The processor is disposed above the other high heat-generating components on a horizontally oriented main system circuit board, with the circuit board having top and bottom side heat sink members thermally communicated with the processor. An axial fan disposed in the base housing creates an upper flow of cooling air that passes over the upper heat sink member, and a lower flow of cooling air that passes over the lower heat sink member and the heat-generating components grouped below the processor.

Projection lenses and projection lens systems are telecentric between an illumination subsystem and a set of imagers. The lenses and systems can exhibit color fringing correction, uniform imager illumination, athermalization, and component articulation for improved imaging. The lenses and systems may be employed in display apparatuses, such as folded display apparatuses that have decreased footprint size, but long effective projection lengths.

Projection lens and system

Projection lenses and projection lens systems are telecentric between an illumination subsystem and a set of imagers. The lenses and systems can exhibit color fringing correction, uniform imager illumination, athermalization, and component articulation for improved imaging. The lenses and systems may be employed in displays, such as folded displays that have decreased footprint size, but long effective projection lengths.

Lens design to eliminate color fringing

Projection lens and system including a reflecting linear polarizer

A notebook computer base housing has operatively disposed therein a CD ROM drive, a hard disk drive and a floppy disk drive, an AC/DC electrical power converter, a modem, a PCMCIA card bay structure and a battery. This internal provision of three drive units in addition to the other equipment within the base housing is facilitated from a space standpoint by the vertical stacking of the hard disk drive atop the CD ROM drive within the base housing. To dissipate the operating heat from these components within the base housing, a heat spreader plate is interposed between the CD ROM drive and the overlying hard disk drive, and the high heat-generating components--namely, the modem, the AC/DC converter, the PCMCIA card bay structure, and the computer processor--are closely grouped together, with the AC/DC converter in thermal communication with a second heat spreader plate. The processor is disposed above the other high heat-generating components on a horizontally oriented main system circuit board, with the circuit board having top and bottom side heat sink members thermally communicated with the processor. An axial fan disposed in the base housing creates an upper flow of cooling air that passes over the upper heat sink member, and a lower flow of cooling air that passes over the lower heat sink member and the heat-generating components grouped below the processor.

A door apparatus for a portable computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) aperture formed in a surface of a portable computer having a molded housing structure. The aperture has opposing edges and is configured to receive a PCMCIA card therethrough. The door apparatus includes a first and second doors having inner and outer sides. The outer sides are hingedly coupled via journal members and bearing supports to the opposing edges of the aperture to separately rotate between a closed position wherein the inner sides of the first and second doors are adjacent to one another and an open position wherein the inner sides of the first and second doors are rotated in opposing directions when a PCMCIA card is inserted through the aperture. The door apparatus further includes a biasing member coupled to the first and second doors to thereby pivotally rotate the first and second doors toward the closed position when the PCMCIA card is removed from the aperture. The width of the doors is such that they do not contact a PCMCIA guide/ejector that is positioned adjacent the PCMCIA aperture.

Door apparatus for a portable computer

A battery pack for a portable or notebook computer which substantially eliminates hard wiring components including a generally rectangular housing having an opening in the bottom. The opening in the bottom receives a support chassis which mounts a series of electrical contact points for interfacing with the main computer housing. The support chassis mounts a printed circuit board which receives the electrical contact points for electrical connection to the various components of the printed circuit board such that electrical connection is made between the array of batteries and the main computer housing utilizing a series of electrical surface contact points rather than hard wiring, which preserves space and reduces manufacturing costs.

Battery pack with minimum hard wiring connection for portable computer

A computer systems which combines the capabilities of both notepad and notebook computers. The main housing includes an liquid crystal display display with a digitizer input to be used as the display in all modes and the input device when used with a stylus in notepad mode. Also located in the main housing are a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, an optional modem unit, batteries, and the electronics of the computer. The main housing contains a recessed portion for receiving a detachable keyboard. The keyboard includes a pivoting, mating extension which is received in the recess so that the keyboard is retained in the recess during storage conditions and in some cases of use, where the housing acts as a partial keyboard support to allow angling of the keyboard. The keyboard contains pivoting legs so that the keyboard can be used remotely from the main housing and yet be angled. The main housing contains a pivoting portion which can operate as a stand when the computer is being operated with the keyboard, so that the display is properly angled for viewing by the user. The pivoting portion can also be pivoted to a position generally parallel with the main housing, but having a portion extending past the housing to act as a handle.

Combined notepad and notebook computer

An improved cover assembly for the electrical connectors of a notebook computer. The notebook computer of the present invention is adapted to be connected by electrical connectors with an expansion base. The improved cover assembly includes a cover plate hinged to the housing of the notebook computer movable relative to the housing between an uncovered position and a retained position. The cover plate includes a slidable door being sized so as to allow connection of a preselected connector of the notebook computer. The improved cover assembly can be adapted to allow the notebook computer to be connected to the expansion base while the remaining notebook computer electrical connectors are covered to reduce the amount of undesirable foreign matter in the open ended connectors that can reduce connection performance.

Growing community of inventors

The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Neil L Condra