Portable computer with integrated alarm system

• US 5,760,690 A
• Filed: 05/02/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: French, Roger Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/641,793
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/568, 340/825.31, 340/565, 395/2.79, 395/2.82
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection

Abstract

A portable computer is provided with an integrated alarm system. When armed, the alarm system provides for the sounding of an alarm and/or disabling of the computer upon unauthorized movement of the computer from a stationary position.

Claims

1. A portable computer including an integrated alarm system, comprising:

a first case and a second case hingeably coupled such that said first and second cases may be positioned into one of an opened or a closed position where said open position results from rotating said first and second cases away from each other to reveal a display and controls of said portable computer and where said closed position results from rotating said first and second cases toward each other until said first and second cases are in contact with each other to conceal said display and said controls;

status indicator means, said status indicator means providing an indication as to whether said alarm system is in an enabled state or a disabled state, said indicator means accessible both when said portable computer is in said open position and when said portable computer is in said closed position;

motion sensing means for providing a motion signal indicating that said portable computer is being moved from a stationary position;

control means responsive to said motion signal for providing a siren signal to a siren means, said siren means responsive to said siren signal for producing an audible tone;

interface means coupled to said control means for enabling and disabling said alarm system, said interface means accessible when said portable computer is in both said open and said closed positions, said interface means contained substantially within either of said first or second cases.

2. The portable computer of claim 1 wherein said interface means comprises a keypad having a plurality of keys mounted to either of said first or second cases.

3. The portable computer of claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes at least one light emitting diode mounted to either of said first or second cases.

4. The portable computer of claim 1 wherein said audible tone has a magnitude of approximately 110 decibels.

5. The portable computer of claim 1 wherein said alarm system further includes power supply means, said power supply means providing operating voltages and currents to said sensing means, said control means, said indicating means, and said siren means.

6. The portable computer of claim 5 wherein said power supply means is separate from a power supply used to operate said portable computer.

7. The portable computer of claim 6 wherein said power supply means is the power supply used to operate said portable computer.

8. A portable computer including an integrated alarm system, said alarm system comprising:

motion sensing means for providing a motion signal indicating that said portable computer is being moved from a stationary position;

control means responsive to said motion signal for providing a siren signal to a siren means, said siren means responsive to said siren signal for producing an audible tone;

interface means coupled to said control means for enabling and disabling said alarm system; and

disabling means responsive to a disable signal from said control means for disabling operation of said portable computer, said control means asserting said disable signal in response to assertion of said motion signal by said motion sensing means, said disabling means including;

means for writing data to a memory, said data to be read by said computer system during a boot procedure such that if said data indicates unauthorized use, said boot procedure is halted thereby rendering said computer system inoperable.

9. The portable computer of claim 8 wherein said interface means provides for the selection of a plurality of operation modes of said alarm system.

10. The portable computer of claim 9 wherein said plurality of operation modes includes said enabling and disabling of said siren means and/or said operation disabling means.

11. A portable computer including an integrated alarm system, comprising:

motion sensing means for providing a motion signal indicating that said portable computer is being moved from a stationary position;

control means responsive to said motion signal for providing a siren signal to a siren means, said siren means responsive to said siren signal for producing an audible tone;

interface means coupled to said control means for enabling and disabling said alarm system; and

disabling means responsive to a disable signal from said control means for disabling operation of said portable computer, said control means asserting said disable signal in response to assertion of said motion signal by said motion sensing means, wherein said portable computer includes a central processing unit capable of being placed in a reset state by asserting a signal on a reset terminal of said central processing unit, said disabling means including means for asserting and maintaining said signal on said reset terminal.

12. A portable computer including an integrated alarm system, comprising:

a first case and a second case hingeably coupled such that said first and second cases may be positioned into one of an opened or a closed position where said open position results from rotating said first and second cases away from each other to reveal a display and controls of said portable computer and where said closed position results from rotating said first and second cases toward each other until said first and second cases are in contact with each other to conceal said display and said controls;

at least one motion sensor;

a control circuit coupled to said motion sensor via a motion signal line;

a siren coupled to said control circuit via a siren enable signal line and;

an alarm status indicator coupled to said control circuit, said alarm status indicator providing an indication as to whether said alarm system is in an enabled state or a disabled state, said alarm status indicator accessible both when said portable computer is in said open position and when said portable computer is in said closed position; and

a keypad coupled to said control circuit and having at least one key for enabling and disabling said alarm system, wherein said keypad is mounted on an external surface of said portable computer to provide access to said keypad both when said portable computer is in said open position and when said portable computer is in said closed position.

13. The portable computer of claim 12 wherein said motion sensor generates said motion signal upon detection that said portable computer is rotated from said closed position to said open position.

14. The portable computer of claim 12 wherein said motion sensor generates said motion signal upon detection of said portable computer being moved.

15. The portable computer of claim 12 wherein said control circuit is responsive to a motion signal asserted on said motion signal line for asserting a siren enable signal on said siren enable signal line.

16. The portable computer of claim 15 wherein said siren is responsive to said siren enable signal to provide an audible tone.

17. The portable computer of claim 15 wherein said audible tone has a magnitude of approximately 110 decibels.

18. The portable computer of claim 12 wherein said alarm status indicator includes at least one light emitting diode.

19. The portable computer of claim 18 wherein said at least one light emitting diode is mounted on an external surface of said portable computer to provide access to said at least one light emitting diode when said portable computer is in either one of an open or closed position.

20. The portable computer of claim 12 further comprising:

a disable circuit coupled to said control circuit and a central processing unit of said portable computer, said disable circuit responsive to a disable signal from said control circuit for placing said central processing unit in an inoperable state.

21. The portable computer of claim 20 wherein said disable circuit is operable to write data into a non-volatile memory indicating unauthorized movement of said portable computer, said data to be read by said central processing during a boot procedure to prevent completion of said boot procedure when said data indicates said unauthorized movement.

22. A portable computer including an integrated alarm system, comprising:

a first case and a second case hingeably coupled such that said first and second cases may be positioned into one of an opened or a closed position where said open position results from rotating said first and second cases away from each other to reveal a display and controls of said portable computer and where said closed position results from rotating said first and second cases toward each other until said first and second cases are in contact with each other to conceal said display and said controls;

latching means for securing said first and second cases in said closed position, said latching means operable to allow said first and second cases to be placed in said open position;

status indicator means, said status indicator means providing an indication as to whether said alarm system is in an enabled state or a disabled state, said indicator means accessible both when said portable computer is in said open position and when said portable computer is in said closed position;

motion sensing means for providing a motion signal indicating when said latching means is operated to allow said first and second cases to be placed in said open position;

control means responsive to said motion signal for providing a siren signal to a siren means, said siren means responsive to said siren signal for producing an audible tone; and

interface means coupled to said control means for enabling and disabling said alarm system, said interface means accessible when said portable computer is in both said open and said closed positions, said interface means contained substantially within either of said first or second cases.

23. The portable computer of claim 22 wherein said interface means comprises a keypad having a plurality of keys mounted to either of said first or second cases.

24. The portable computer of claim 22 wherein said indicating means includes at least one light emitting diode mounted to either of said first or second cases.

25. The portable computer of claim 22 wherein said audible tone has a magnitude of approximately 110 decibels.

26. The portable computer of claim 22 wherein said alarm system further includes power supply means, said power supply means providing operating voltages and currents to said sensing means, said control means, said indicating means, and said siren means.

27. The portable computer of claim 26 wherein said power supply means is separate from a power supply used to operate said portable computer.

28. The portable computer of claim 27 wherein said power supply means is the power supply used to operate said portable computer.

29. A portable computer including an integrated alarm system, comprising:

a first case and a second case hingeably coupled such that said first and second cases may be positioned into one of an opened or a closed position where said open position results from rotating said first and second cases away from each other to reveal a display and controls of said portable computer and where said closed position results from rotating said first and second cases toward each other until said first and second cases are in contact with each other to conceal said display and said controls;

latching means for securing said first and second cases in said closed position, said latching means operable to allow said first and second cases to be placed in said open position;

disable signal generating means, responsive to said latching means, for providing a disable signal indicating when said latching means is operated to allow said first and second cases to be placed in said open position; and

disabling means, responsive to said disable signal, for disabling operation of said portable computer, said disabling including means for writing data to a memory, said data to be read by said computer system during a boot procedure such that if said data indicates unauthorized use, said boot procedure is halted thereby rendering said computer system inoperable.

30. A portable computer including an integrated alarm system, comprising:

a first case and a second case hingeably coupled such that said first and second cases may be positioned into one of an opened or a closed position where said open position results from rotating said first and second cases away from each other to reveal a display and controls of said portable computer and where said closed position results from rotating said first and second cases toward each other until said first and second cases are in contact with each other to conceal said display and said controls;

latching means for securing said first and second cases in said closed position, said latching means operable to allow said first and second cases to be placed in said open position;

disable signal generating means, responsive to said latching means, for providing a disable signal indicating when said latching means is operated to allow said first and second cases to be placed in said open position; and

disabling means, responsive to said disable signal, for disabling operation of said portable computer, wherein said portable computer includes a central processing unit capable of being placed in a reset state by asserting a signal on a reset terminal of said central processing unit, and said disabling means including means for asserting and maintaining said signal on said reset terminal.