All The Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable electronic device interconnection system, comprising:
a portable electronic device having an interface connector configured to be positioned therein, the interface connector including:
an elongate housing including a front side having a power port defined therein, the front side configured to be exposed at a peripheral portion of the portable electronic device; and
strike plates configured to be positioned in the power port, each strike plate having a contact portion extending to a blocking surface defined therein; and

a power connector configured to provide power to the portable electronic device through the power port of the interface connector, the power connector having latching contacts configured to both electrically engage with the contact portion of the strike plates and latch with the blocking surface of the strike plates in the power port of the portable electronic device.
2. The interconnection system of claim 1, wherein the latching contacts comprise a power contact and a ground contact each of which are electrically separate and are positioned adjacent to recesses defined in opposing sides of a contact housing of the power connector.
3. The interconnection system of claim 1, wherein the latching contacts are configured to be spring biased outward and are configured to be movable inward into recesses defined in opposing sides of a contact housing to facilitate both electrically engaging and latching with the power port.
4. The interconnection system of claim 1, wherein the elongate housing comprises data ports defined in the front side thereof with the strike plates positioned in each of the data ports.
5. The interconnection system of claim 4, further comprising a data connector configured to removably interconnect with the data ports to transfer data to and from the portable electronic device.
6. The interconnection system of claim 1, wherein the strike plates are configured to be positioned on opposing sides of the power port to electrically engage and latch to the latching contacts.
7. The interconnection system of claim 1, wherein the strike plates are insertable in a bottom side, adjacent to the front side, of the elongate housing, the strike plates having a shoulder portion positioned against the bottom side and electrically interconnected to a printed circuit board in the portable electronic device.
8. A power connector configured to power a portable electronic device through a power port of an interface connector, the power interconnection comprising:
a contact housing having first and second recesses defined in respective opposing sides of the contact housing; and
first and second latching contacts configured to be positioned adjacent the respective first and second recesses defined in the contact housing, the first and second latching contacts configured with outward spring bias and configured to be movable inward into the respective first and second recesses, the latching contacts configured to both (1) electrically engage to transfer power to the portable electronic device, and (2) latch to the power port of the interface connector to power the portable electronic device.
9. The interconnection system of claim 8, wherein the first and second latching contacts comprise a power contact and a ground contact, respectively, each of which maintain electrical separation via the contact housing.
10. The interconnection system of claim 8, wherein the latching contacts comprises an electrically conductive material.
11. The interconnection system of claim 8, wherein the latching contacts comprise a protrusion configured to bias against the power port and latch thereto.
12. A conductive terminal configured to be positioned in an interface connector of a portable electronic device, the conductive terminal comprising:
a strike plate having a contact portion and a shoulder extension, the shoulder extension extending outward from a lower portion of the strike plate configured to electrically interconnect with a printed circuit board of the portable electronic device, the contact portion including a beveled surface extending to a blocking surface of the strike plate;
wherein the contact portion and the blocking surface of the strike plate are configured to both electrically engage and latch with an external power interconnection configured to provide power to the portable electronic device.
13. The conductive terminal of claim 12, wherein the strike plate comprises extension portions configured to align and retain the strike plate in the interface connector.
14. The conductive terminal of claim 12, wherein the strike plate is configured to be insertable at a bottom side of the interface connector, the bottom side adjacent to a front side at least partially exposed on the portable electronic device, with the shoulder extension configured to be retained in a channel at the bottom side of the interface connector.
15. The conductive terminal of claim 12, wherein the strike plate comprises a window opening defined therein with the blocking surface configured as a portion of a periphery of the window opening.
16. The conductive terminal of claim 12, wherein the strike plate comprises an electrically conductive material.
17. The conductive terminal of claim 12, wherein the strike plate is configured as a latching mechanism and as an electrically conductive mechanism to be positioned in an interface connector for interconnection with at least one of a power connector and a data connector.
18. A method of powering a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
inserting a power connector having latching contacts into a power port defined in a peripheral portion of a portable electronic device; and
engaging the latching contacts of the power connector with conductive plates positioned on opposite sides of the power port so that the latching contacts latch to the conductive plates as well as electrically conduct power through the conductive plates to power the portable electronic device.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A secure device mounted to a heat dissipating component, which provides a plurality of parallel cooling fins, comprising:
a frame shaped base body being provided for accommodating the heat dissipating component, having four corners, providing two grooves at each of two opposite lateral sides thereof being disposed near and parallel to the four corners respectively and a locating hole being disposed at the bottom of the respective groove and passing through the respective lateral side; and
four rod shaped engaging members being provided to fit with the grooves respectively, each of the engaging members providing a bent upper end and a bent lower end, the bent upper end constituting a secure part to hold the upper edge of the heat dissipating component, the bent lower end passing through the respective lateral side via the locating hole as a follower part for the respective engaging member being capable of pivoting with respect to the follower part;
whereby, once the heat dissipating component is placed in the base body to touch a central processing unit (CPU) at the center of the base body, the respective engaging member is capable of holding the heat dissipating component in a way of said engaging members fitting with said grooves, said follower part being pressed with the heat dissipating component and the secure part holding the top of the heat dissipating component elastically and tightly; and once the heat dissipating component is detached from the base body, the follower part is free from being pressed by the heat dissipating component and the engaging member is capable of being pivotally moved away instead of holding the heat dissipating component.
2. The secure device mounted to a heat dissipating component as defined in claim 1, wherein a mounting hole is disposed between the respective engaging member and die follower part such that the respective engaging member is capable of being pivotally joined to the respective lateral side with a pivotal unit.
3. The secure device mounted to a heat dissipating component as defined in claim 1, wherein the two engaging members at one of said two opposite lateral sides being joined to each other with a rod shaped connecting unit.
4. A secure device mounted to a heat dissipating component, which provides a plurality of parallel cooling fins, comprising:
a frame shaped base body being provided for accommodating the heat dissipating component, having four corners, providing two grooves at each of two opposite lateral sides thereof being disposed near and parallel to the four corners respectively and a locating hole being disposed at the bottom of the respective groove and passing through the respective lateral side;
two rod shaped first engaging members being provided to fixedly attached to the two grooves at a first lateral side, each of the first engaging members providing a bent upper end and a bent lower end, the bent upper end constituting a secure part to hold the upper edge of the heat dissipating component, the bent lower end passing through the respective lateral side via the locating hole; and
two rod shaped second engaging members being provided to fit with the grooves at a second lateral side, which is opposite to the first lateral side, each of the second engaging members providing a bent upper end and a bent lower end, the bent upper end constituting a secure part to hold the upper edge of the heat dissipating component, the bent lower end passing through the respective lateral side via the locating hole as a follower part for the respective engaging member being capable of pivoting with respect to the follower part;
whereby, once the heat dissipating component is placed in the base body to touch a central processing unit (CPU) at the center of the base body, the respective engaging member is capable of holding the heat dissipating component in a way of said first engaging members fixedly joined to the first grooves, the second engaging members fitting with said second grooves, said follower part being pressed with the heat dissipating component and the secure part holding the upper edge of the heat dissipating component elastically and tightly; and once the heat dissipating component is detached from the base body, the follower part is free from being pressed by the heat dissipating component and the second engaging members are capable of being pivotally moved away from the heat dissipating component instead of holding the heat dissipating component.
5. The secure device mounted to a heat dissipating component as defined in claim 4, wherein the respective first engaging member has a through hole at the lower section thereof and the first grooves provides a fixing hole corresponding to the through hole for the first engaging members being joined to the first lateral side with a fastener respectively.
6. A secure device mounted to a heat dissipating component, which provides a plurality of parallel cooling fins, comprising:
a frame shaped base body being provided for accommodating the heat dissipating component, providing two first grooves at a first lateral side thereof and a second groove at a second lateral side, which is opposite the first lateral side, in a way of the first grooves being disposed near and parallel to two corners next to the first lateral side respectively and the second groove being disposed at the middle of the second lateral side, a first locating hole being disposed at the bottom of the respective groove and passing through the respective lateral side; and
two rod shaped first engaging members being provided to fit with the first grooves respectively, each of the first engaging members providing a bent upper end and a bent lower end, the bent upper end constituting a first secure part to hold the upper edge of the heat dissipating component, the lower end passing through the respective lateral side via the first locating hole to constitute a first follower part for the respective engaging member being capable of pivotally moving with respect to the first follower part and the first engaging members being joined to each other with a rod shaped connecting unit;
a rod shaped second engaging member being provided to fit with the second groove, the second engaging member providing another bent upper end and another bent lower end, said bent upper end constituting a second secure part to hold the upper edge of the heat dissipating component, said lower end passing through the respective lateral side via the second locating hole to constitute a second follower part for the second engaging member being capable of pivoting with respect to the second follower part;
whereby, once the heat dissipating component is placed in the base body to touch a central processing unit (CPU) at the center of the base body, the respective engaging member is capable of holding the heat dissipating component in a way of said engaging members fitting with said grooves, said follower parts being pressed with the heat dissipating component and said secure parts holding the upper edge of the heat dissipating component elastically and tightly; and once the heat dissipating component is detached from the base body, said follower parts are free from being pressed by the heat dissipating component and said engaging members are capable of being pivotally moved away the heat dissipating component instead of holding the heat dissipating component.
7. The secure device mounted to a heat dissipating component as defined in claim 6, wherein a mounting hole is provided between the respective engaging member and the follower part such that the respective engaging member is capable of being pivotally joined to the respective lateral side with a pivotal unit.

1. An electropneumatic transducer comprising:
a lower block assembly, the lower block assembly comprising a lower housing configured to receive a supply nozzle, the supply nozzle in fluid communication with a supply port and in intermittent fluid communication with an output port of the lower housing through an internal fluid passageway, the lower housing further comprising an exhaust nozzle in fluid communication with an exhaust port and in intermittent fluid communication with the output port of the lower housing through the internal fluid passageway; and
an upper block assembly, the upper block assembly comprising an upper housing configured to receive a coil and an armature, the upper housing, coil and armature defining a latching electromagnetic circuit that provides alternating contact of the armature with the supply nozzle and the exhaust nozzle of the lower housing assembly.
2. The electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 1, wherein the coil is arranged to receive an electrical input signal to activate and de-activate the electromagnetic circuit to thereby latch the output port at a high output state and a low output state.
3. The electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 2, wherein the transducer is arranged to alternately modulate fluid flow through the supply nozzle and the exhaust nozzle to substantially eliminate constant flow through the transducer.
4. The electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower housing is further configured to receive a bias spring adjustment screw and the upper housing is further configured to receive a bias spring.
5. The electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 4, wherein the bias spring and bias spring adjustment screw cooperate to provide a bias spring force to bias the armature of the electromagnetic circuit.
6. The electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 5, wherein the electropneumatic transducer is arranged for connection to a pneumatic supply source, and further wherein the transducer is arranged to operate on pneumatic supply pressures in a range of approximately 20 psig to 150 psig.
7. The electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 1, wherein a predetermined thermal expansion co-efficient of the upper housing assembly and the lower housing assembly cooperate to provide an operational temperature range of about +85 Celsius to \u221260 Celsius.
8. The electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 1, wherein internal fluid passageway further comprises a pressure chamber, a supply port bore, an exhaust port bore and an output bore.
9. The electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 7, wherein the supply nozzle and the exhaust nozzle have a predetermined perpendicularity relative to a cylinder defined by a first section of the supply nozzle and the exhaust nozzle along a longitudinal axis of the supply nozzle and the exhaust nozzle.
10. The electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 2, wherein the armature includes a plurality of hinges, the hinges providing a spring force moment opposing a magnetic force moment to alternatively latch the armature immediately adjacent to and nonadjacent to the upper housing.
11. A latching electropneumatic transducer, comprising:
a pneumatic circuit, the pneumatic circuit comprising a lower housing having a supply port, an exhaust port and an output port in fluid communication through an internal fluid passageway and a pressure chamber;
an electromagnetic circuit, the electromagnetic circuit comprising an upper housing configured to receive a coil and an armature, the armature movable in response to an electrical input signal, the electromagnetic circuit defining a spring force moment and a magnetic force moment, the spring force moment and the magnetic force moment cooperating to alternatively latch the armature immediately adjacent to and nonadjacent to the upper housing.
12. The latching electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 11, wherein a power of the electrical signal is substantially zero when the armature is latched immediately adjacent to and nonadjacent to the upper housing.
13. The latching electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 11, wherein a supply nozzle is in fluid communication with a supply port and in intermittent fluid communication with an output port through an internal fluid passageway and an exhaust nozzle in fluid communication with an exhaust port and in intermittent fluid communication with the output port through the internal fluid passageway.
14. The latching electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 11, wherein the latching electropneumatic transducer is alternatively configurable for direct-acting operation or reverse-acting operation.
15. The latching electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 11, wherein the transducer can operate on a pneumatic supply pressures in a range of approximately 20 psig to 150 psig.
16. The latching electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 11, wherein a predetermined thermal expansion co-efficient of the upper housing assembly and the lower housing assembly cooperate to provide an operational temperature range of about +85 Celsius to \u221260 Celsius.
17. The latching electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 11, wherein the internal fluid passageway further comprises a pressure chamber, a supply port bore, an exhaust port bore and an output bore.
18. The latching electropneumatic transducer as defined in claim 13, wherein the supply nozzle and the exhaust nozzle have a predetermined perpendicularity relative to a cylinder defined by a first section of the supply nozzle and the exhaust nozzle along a longitudinal axis of the supply nozzle and the exhaust nozzle.
19. An electropneumatic switch valve, comprising:
a pneumatic circuit coupled to a pressurized fluid source;
an electromagnetic circuit coupled to the pneumatic circuit; and
a control module connected to the electromagnetic circuit that provides a first control signal inducing a first state of the pneumatic circuit, a second control signal inducing a second state of the pneumatic circuit, a third control signal inducing a third state of the pneumatic circuit and a fourth control signal inducing a fourth state of the pneumatic circuit.
20. The electropneumatic switch valve as defined in claim 19, wherein the first control signal and the third control signals are substantially equivalent.
21. The electropneumatic switch valve as defined in claim 19, wherein the second control signal motivates the electropneumatic switch valve from the first state to the third state.
22. The electropneumatic switch valve as defined in claim 19, wherein the fourth control signal motivates the electropneumatic switch valve from the third state to the first state.
23. The electropneumatic switch valve as defined in claim 19, wherein the first state of the pneumatic circuit corresponds to a first quiescent condition of the pneumatic circuit, the second state of the pneumatic circuit corresponds to a first non-quiescent condition of the pneumatic circuit, the third state of the pneumatic circuit corresponds to a second quiescent condition and the fourth state corresponds to a second non-quiescent condition.
24. The electropneumatic switch valve as defined in claim 23, wherein the first quiescent condition of the pneumatic circuit is at a pressure substantially equal to a fluid pressure at an exhaust port and the second quiescent condition of the pneumatic circuit is at a pressure substantially equal to a fluid pressure at a supply port.
25. The electropneumatic switch valve as defined in claim 23, wherein the first non-quiescent condition of the pneumatic circuit is characterized by a positive pressure gradient within the pneumatic circuit and the second non-quiescent condition of the pneumatic circuit is characterized by negative pressure gradient pneumatic circuit.
26. The electropneumatic switch valve as defined in claim 23, wherein the first non-quiescent condition of the pneumatic circuit is characterized by a negative pressure gradient within the pneumatic circuit and the second non-quiescent condition of the pneumatic circuit is characterized by positive pressure gradient pneumatic circuit.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A tire made of a rubber-based material of black color comprising at least one attention-attracting design molded onto an outer surface of the tire, this material being a diene elastomer or rubber, i.e. an elastomer obtained at least in part from diene monomers, the design being visible in at least one color different from the black color of the rubber-based material due to the design having on its outer surface at least one light diffraction grating formed by a plurality of ridges or grooves of height H arranged parallel to one another with a period P.
2. The tire of claim 1, wherein the height H of the ridges is less than or equal to 1 micron and their period P is less than or equal to 1.5 micron.
3. The tire of claim 1, wherein the height H is between 0.17 and 0.23 micron.
4. The tire of claim 1, wherein one same design is formed of at least two portions, each portion having at its surface a diffraction grating formed of a plurality of striations, the orientations of the striations of the gratings being different from one another.
5. The tire of claim 4, wherein the difference between the angles of the striations in one portion of the design and in another portion of the same design is at least equal to 10\xb0.
6. The tire of claim 1, wherein the design has on its visible surface at least one diffraction grating whose characteristics enable a hologram to be seen, i.e. an image in three dimensions.
7. The tire of claim 1, wherein the tire material on which the design is arranged is free from waxes and anti-ozone or anti-oxidant agents.
8. The tire of claim 4, wherein the tire material on which the design is arranged is free from waxes and anti-ozone or anti-oxidant agents.
9. The tire of claim 6, wherein the tire material on which the design is arranged is free from waxes and anti-ozone or anti-oxidant agents.