Nec Corporation

Packard Bell Nec

Russell S Uithoven

Robert R Turnbull

Peter A Ojeda

John P Wagner

Timothy A Bonardi

William C Hallowell

Upal Sengupta

Eric D Fuhs

Rodman S Brahman

Wayne L Griffin

Bruce Wang

William R Cubbage

Norman D Stobert

Larry A Sparling

Larry L Jeffery

Russell M Niedzielski

Daniel R Carter

Larry D Bailey

An external flexible bay system includes an external flexible bay, a modular battery pack and a modular disk drive. The external flexible bay is adapted to receive either the modular battery pack or the modular disk drive to facilitate use of such devices with a portable PC. The external flexible bay includes a parallel port which enables an external I/O device, such as a printer, to be connected thereto. The external flexible bay contains circuitry to automatically sense whether a printer is connected and to determine whether a modular battery pack or modular disk drive has been inserted therein. In order to ensure proper configuration, the external flexible bay includes a mode switch for selecting between a floppy mode and a printer mode.

External modular bay for housing I/O devices

A flexible multimedia presentation system is configured to be releasably secured to a portable personal computer to provide additional features, such as a PCMCIA interface, a port replicator and other options. The system is configured to enable the unit to be rather easily transported as a unit. A retractable handle is provided which further facilitates transport of the unit. In order to provide enhanced flexibility of the flexible multimedia presentation system, the system includes a PCMCIA interface, as well as replicates the various I/O ports on the rear of the portable personal computer. By replicating the I/O ports on the portable personal computer, external I/O devices, such as an external monitor, keyboard, mouse and printer can be used when the portable personal computer is docked to the flexible multimedia presentation system. In the event that the personal computer is turned off; or the personal is not docked to the system; or the power supply within the system is unavailable, the various data, address and control signals in the flexible multimedia system are disconnected to prevent any loss of data or any damage to the personal computer and the flexible multimedia system.

Apparatus and method for automatically disconnecting address and data

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, IN, United States of America

Russell S Uithoven