Abstract:
A plug-in electronic card assembly having a retractable antenna comprises a casing with a connector for coupling the electronic card assembly to a host device and an antenna that is selectively movable between a first position, in which the antenna is enclosed within the casing, and a second position, in which the antenna is substantially outside of the casing. In an embodiment of the invention, the antenna comprises a circular antenna element disposed on a printed circuit board that is movable, between the first and second positions, by sliding the printed circuit board in grooves contained in sides of an electronic card assembly casing having PCMCIA standard dimensions. When the antenna is in the second position, transmission pads provide an RF signal path between the antenna and a second printed circuit board contained within the casing.
Abstract:
Through a menu driven selection procedure, a user is given options for how a server should respond to an actuation of a power switch. In one option, the power switch is disabled to prevent accidental shut down of the power supply in response to power switch actuation. In another option, the shut down of the power supply follows soon after the expiration of a count down timer which is triggered by power switch actuation. A subsequent actuation of the power switch in this option aborts the count down. In yet another option, the shut down of the power supply follows soon after the completion of a graceful shut down of the server operating system which is triggered by power switch actuation. A subsequent actuation of the power switch in this option causes an immediate shut down of the power supply.
Abstract:
A computer system has a skew compensation circuit for synchronizing the phase of a first periodic signal in one device with a second periodic signal in a second device connected to the first device by a connection that imposes a propagation delay. The skew compensation circuit has a receiver connected to receive the second periodic signal delayed by the propagation delay and circuitry for providing a delay signal representative of the propagation delay. The skew compensation circuit further includes a generator connected to generate the first periodic signal in phase with the second periodic signal based on the first periodic signal and the delay signal.
Abstract:
A computer system has a central processing unit and a bus. A first bus device and a second bus device are connected to the bus. A circuit is connected to configure the second bus device to be addressable by the central processing unit via the bus only by interaction with the first bus device. The first bus device may be an I.sub.2 O processor, and the second bus device may be an I.sub.2 O subordinate bus device.
Abstract:
A computer system having a bridge and I.sup.2 C EEPROMs is provided with a host I.sup.2 C controller implemented in the bridge for accelerating the reading of the I.sup.2 C EEPROMs. The host I.sup.2 C controller accelerates the reading of I.sup.2 C EEPROMs by executing current address reads of the I.sup.2 C EEPROM when a requested slave address matches a current slave address stored in a current slave address register, and the requested EEPROM address matches a current EEPROM address stored in a current EEPROM address counter. The host I.sup.2 C controller thus eliminates the use of software to track the read accesses of a plurality of masters to an I.sup.2 C EEPROM and also eliminates the use of bus command protocols to support both random reads and current address reads to an I.sup.2 C EEPROM.
Abstract:
A direct media independent interface (DMII) connection for a network device including a data link circuit, a connector, a clock circuit and a crossover connection. The data link circuit includes a reconciliation circuit that transmits and receives signals according to the MII standard. The clock circuit asserts at least one MII clock signal on the crossover connection to synchronize data transfer. The crossover connection crosses MII transmit signals with MII receive signals. A grounding circuit is optionally provided to ground one or more of the MII signals that are not required for the DMII connection. The connector may be a standard MII connector, or may be implemented as a minimum or reduced profile connector for carrying only the desired MII signals. The crossover connection is performed internally within the DMII port, or externally by a crossover cable. The cable is a standard MII cable, or is implemented as a minimum or reduced profile cable. The clock and ground circuits may be incorporated within either or both DMII ports, or may be incorporated within a crossover cable.
Abstract:
A universal battery pack which contains an integral transformerless DC--DC switching power converter, with no DC connection between the battery and the power terminals. This provides inherent protection against overcurrent, and permits smaller fuse sizes to be used for a given current rating.
Abstract:
A portable computer is provided with comparable performance to a desktop computer when docked at a docking station. When the portable computer is docked or physically coupled to the docking station, the microprocessor of the portable computer switches to an increased operating frequency. The onboard power supply of the portable computer is also disabled on docking, and the portable computer receives power from the docking station. Increased heat transfer capability is also enabled in the portable computer when it is docked, providing increased cooling to the portable computer. The portable computer thus overcomes the normal performance disparity between a portable computer system and a desktop computer system when the portable computer is docked.