Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Ronald D Noblett

Joseph R Allen

John P Franz

Wade David Vinson

Javier F Izquierdo

Kurtis J Bowman

Raymond A Freer

Michael L Marshall

Power distribution to computer systems. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems including a power supply configured to convert an alternating current (AC) power signal to a direct current (DC) power signal (and the power supply comprising a first power port and a second power port, the second power port different than the first power port), a first computer system coupled to the first power port (the power supply configured to provide DC operational power to the first computer system through the first power port, and the first computer system the only computer system receiving operational power through the first power port), and a second computer system different than the first computer system (the power supply configured to provide DC operational power to the second computer system through the second power port, and the second computer system the only computer system receiving power from the second power port).

Power distribution to computer system

A computer comprising a chassis supporting an electronic component. A fan housing with an axial duct is mounted to the chassis. A blade assembly is rotatably disposed within the duct and comprises a plurality of fan blades that extend radially from a hub to a fan diameter. The axial duct has a chord length at least equal to the fan diameter.

Computer having an axial duct fan

A cooling fan comprising a housing that connects to a chassis that is operable to support an electronic component. An axial duct runs through the housing. A blade assembly is rotatably disposed within the duct and comprises a plurality of fan blades that extend radially from a hub to a fan diameter. The axial duct has a chord length at least equal to the fan diameter. A motor assembly is disposed within the axial duct and coupled to said blade assembly. The cooling fan provides a cooling capacity of at least 1.5 air horsepower per cubic inch volume of the cooling fan.

Axial duct cooling fan

A expansion board including a main board, a common board and a system connector. The main board including a cutout and a board connector for receiving the common board. The common board having a data connector at one end and a board connector at the other end. The board connector being mounted perpendicular to the system connector to connectably mate to the common board whether components are mounted on either side of the main board. The main board includes circuitry for one of several expansion buses, the common board contains circuitry independent to any specific expansion bus.

Common circuit board connectable to multiple alternative single-sided

A soft switching circuit gradually connects an audio signal to zero reference level to mute the audio signal, or connect a filter to enable the filter. A MOSFET is connected between the audio signal and the zero reference level. A resistor-capacitor circuit is connected to the gate of the MOSFET and receives the MUTE or FILTER* signal from the computer system. When the MUTE or FILTER* signal changes condition, the RC circuit provides a signal to the MOSFET gate that changes relatively gradually. Consequently, the drain-to-source resistance of the MOSFET also changes from short circuit to open circuit or vice versa relatively gradually.

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Bellaire, TX, United States of America

Ronald D Noblett