Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6530019 | Disk boot sector for software contract enforcement Method and computer for implementing a technique that disables all the software on a disk until the user agrees to a software contract. In a departure from the art, the present invention modifies a boot record of the disk which contains the software to be... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6178089 | Securing device for computer equipment housing A securing device for securing a computer equipment housing. The securing device is pivotable and slideable with respect to the computer equipment housing. The securing device is physically coupled to the computer equipment housing by e.g. via a pin and s... | 01/23/2001 |
| 5916313 | Low cost power converter for a computer Method and apparatus for providing a regulated, direct current (DC) output voltage for use in computers. An unregulated voltage source is regulated by a power converter of the present invention that produces the regulated voltage reliably, inexpensively, ... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5832282 | Method and apparatus for implementing protected battery hot swapping in portable computers Apparatus and method for insuring that a computer is in battery swap mode before a battery thereof is hot swapped by a user is described. A switch is located under the battery receptacle cover, which switch is actuated by the removal of the battery recept... | 11/03/1998 |
| 5812356 | Computer docking system having an electromagnetic lock A method and apparatus for electromechanically locking a docking station to a computer using an electromagnetic attractive force is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the docking station includes a latching mechanism with a ferromagnetic handle, and an... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5808863 | Computer system having quick-detachable recyclable parts and method A computer system, or other electronic device, having two parts that are easily attached and quickly detached. One of the parts has a plurality of stakes projecting from one surface thereof, and the other part has a plurality of through openings for recei... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5809262 | Commonly housed multiple processor type computing system and method of manufacturing the same A multiple processor type computing system and an associated method of manufacturing the same from first and second computer systems, each of which include a PCI bus and both a processor and LAN device coupled to the PCI bus, which are selected such that ... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5788566 | Integrated cooling fan and finger guard assembly A fan/finger guard assembly for a computer, or other types of electronic equipment in which a housing is provided for receiving a fan rotor and a motor and having at least one opening extending therethrough. The housing extends between, and in abutment wi... | 08/04/1998 |
| 5774384 | Keyboard with elevatable keys 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... | 06/30/1998 |
| 5769646 | Integrated electrical connector guard device for use in a personal computer The present invention provides, for use in a personal computer having a chassis with an electrical interface configured to form a connection with an electrical apparatus that extends externally from the chassis, an electrical connector protection device. ... | 06/23/1998 |
| 5768622 | System for preemptive bus master termination by determining termination data for each target device and periodically terminating burst transfer to device according to termination data A PCI bus master which determines the termination characteristics of one or more PCI targets coupled to the bus and uses this information to eliminate the wait states that are incurred during a bus cycle when a target device attempts to perform a data pha... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5768541 | System for hot-plugging peripheral device to computer bus and disconnecting peripheral device upon detecting predetermined sequence of keystrokes inputted by user through keyboard A system and method is disclosed for hot-plugging a peripheral device via an array of interface switches to a computer bus having active signals thereon. The peripheral device is electrically connected to the interface switches via a device controller. Th... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5768093 | Technique for minimizing the height of a portable computer A technique for minimizing the height of a portable PC comprising a lid and a base when the lid is in a closed position is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the lid of the PC is rotatably connected to the base in such a manner that, when the lid is in... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5754809 | Perspective windowing technique for computer graphical user interface System for implementing a perspective windowing technique for a computer GUI is disclosed. The perspective windowing system of the present invention displays each of a plurality of open but inactive, or "background," windows, with perspective depth with r... | 05/19/1998 |
| 5745342 | Hinge detent mechanism in a computer system A multi-positionable power supply mounting hinge device includes first and second chassis members. The second chassis member is movably connected to the first chassis member. A bracket is fixedly mounted on the first chassis member. A flexible hinge deten... | 04/28/1998 |
| 5745041 | System for dissipating heat from a power supply A system for dissipating heat from a power supply enclosed within a housing having an air inlet and outlet. The system includes fans disposed in a plenum structure adapted to fit over the housing to thereby establish air communication between the fans and... | 04/28/1998 |
| 5743606 | Computer cabinet latching mechanism Apparatus for securing a computer cover to a computer chassis is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a computer cover and computer chassis include a latching mechanism with components attached to each. The cover includes a button and a stop located adja... | 04/28/1998 |
| 5742103 | External line harmonics reduction module for power supplies A line harmonics reduction module is enclosed in a chassis having a receptacle and a plug on opposite faces, for connection externally to a computer system unit or similar electronic equipment between the AC line power cord and the AC power receptacle con... | 04/21/1998 |
| 5735618 | Method and apparatus for adjusting height of keyboard A computing system having a keyboard that is supported from a work surface by one or more support members. The positions of the support members relative to the keyboard are varied in accordance with a predetermined timed sequence, causing corresponding va... | 04/07/1998 |
| 5734557 | Mounting assembly for electronic equipment A mounting assembly for mounting a component in an enclosure for electronic equipment, such as a computer, and having at least one mounting plate. The mounting assembly includes a sled member extending around a portion of the component, and at least one a... | 03/31/1998 |
| 5714789 | Circuit board-mounted IC package cooling apparatus In a circuit board/IC package assembly the die cavity in the IC package body portion is filled with a thermally conductive liquid to substantially facilitate the transfer of operational die heat toward the inner, lid side of the IC package that faces the ... | 02/03/1998 |
| 5714941 | Integral information and energy storage system An integral information and energy storage system is disclosed comprising a disk drive having a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, and a disk platter coupled to the shaft. A flywheel is also coupled to the shaft and includes, embedded in the flyw... | 02/03/1998 |
| 5699954 | Device for securing an electronic component to a pin grid array socket The present invention is directed to a device for securing an electrical component to a pin grid array (PGA) socket that has a substantially planar body portion and a plurality of conductor pins, which are electrically connectable to a circuit board and p... | 12/23/1997 |
| 5699226 | Computer docking station having interchangeable receivers configured for docking various sized portable computers A docking apparatus for docking selected portable computers, each of the portable computers having a portable computer connector positioned on its rear end. The docking apparatus comprises a base having a first end and a second end, with an electronics en... | 12/16/1997 |
| 5696968 | Method and apparatus for effecting drive ordering via adapter preference A method for enabling a user to designate device order and boot-device preference in a computer system in which the devices are controlled by mass storage controllers is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a customization program of the present inventio... | 12/09/1997 |
| 5691742 | Software battery gauge for portable computers Method and apparatus for transparently executing in a graphical operating system environment a battery gauge utility that provides accurate battery status information adaptable to different users' needs. In a preferred embodiment, a software battery gauge... | 11/25/1997 |
| 5682291 | Carrier for a computer device Method and apparatus for quickly and easily securing a computer device, such as a floppy disk drive, to a device carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier contains a plurality of dowels that align with pre-existing screw holes on the device. When th... | 10/28/1997 |
| 5680293 | Screwless hard drive mounting in a computer system with a chassis via a first bracket rigidly mounted to the chassis and a second bracket movably mounted to the chassis A screwless hard drive mounting in a computer system includes first and second interconnectable brackets. The first bracket is rigidly mounted on the computer chassis and provides a releasable engagement with the hard drive. The second bracket is movably ... | 10/21/1997 |
| 5673170 | Secondary display system for computer Apparatus and method for a secondary display system for a computer are disclosed. A secondary display system of the present invention includes a flat panel display configured such that the display is conveniently located both during and between use thereo... | 09/30/1997 |
| 5613786 | Keyboard with adjustable splay and pronation pivot points A data input keyboard apportioned between two demi-boards, the splay and pronation of which may be adjusted. Each of the demi-boards include a plurality of user activated keys extending therefrom, and define a distal side for orientation away from the use... | 03/25/1997 |
| 5613858 | Compact circuit board switching apparatus and associated methods A circuit board structure is provided with a compact switching system for selectively connecting and disconnecting a pair of electrically conductive lead portions thereof. The switching system includes a through hole formed in the substrate portion and ex... | 03/25/1997 |
| 5601349 | Captive latch mechanism for use with an expansion card cage in a personal computer In a computer chassis having a wall, an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the wall, and the card cage having a card guide slot therein, a card guide retaining device. In a preferred embodiment, the card guide retaining device has a retainer ... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5594620 | Secondary display system having a plurality of clamping devices for mounting on a computer monitor Apparatus and method for a secondary display system for a computer are disclosed. A secondary display system of the present invention includes a flat panel display configured such that the display is conveniently located both during and between use thereo... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5592394 | FET current sensor for active balancing or regulating circuits A method and apparatus for balancing shared power supplies or regulating a power supply device includes disposing a transistor (310) in series with a power supply current that is supplied to a load resistor (316) The gate of the transistor (310) is contro... | 01/07/1997 |
| 5586324 | Computer system having system feature extension software containing a self-describing feature table for accessing I/O devices according to machine independent format A computer system with self-describing feature table accessible by device drivers. Thus a simple process can access these feature tables to fully customize the device drivers at installation, or at boot: or the device driver can branch on the data in the ... | 12/17/1996 |
| 5581700 | Hierarchical multiple password acceptance system A computer has user IDs stored in a ROM, and user passwords associated with each stored user ID. A command from the CPU directs a coprocessor in the computer to read a password for a first ID. The coprocessor compares the password entered by the user with... | 12/03/1996 |
| 5579491 | Local proactive hot swap request/acknowledge system Apparatus and method for implementing a local proactive hot plug request/acknowledge scheme is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, each hot pluggable device installable on a computer bus, such as a SCSI bus, is provided with a physical user interface co... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5575546 | Apparatus for retention of computer expansion cards and filler panels An apparatus for the retention of computer expansion cards and filler panels. The apparatus includes a mount in the expansion card or filler panel having a first edge and a second edge, opposite the first edge, to position the expansion card or filler pan... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5576519 | Anisotropic interconnect methodology for cost effective manufacture of high density printed wiring boards An interconnect sheet for connecting multiple layers of a circuit board for the manufacture of high interconnect density PWBs. The interconnect sheet preferably comprises an area array grid of 0.003 inch solder columns having a 0.006 inch pitch. The inter... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5574858 | Method and apparatus for, upon receipt of data from a mouse, requiring the remainder of data needed to constitute a packet to be received within one second A method of operating a computer which has a CPU, an input/output coprocessor, and an attached pointing device, the input/output coprocessor receiving data in packets from the attached pointing device. When the coprocessor receives data from the pointing ... | 11/12/1996 |
