# US 7,612,990 B2 · LCD panel for a server system

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- Number: US 7,612,990 B2
- Document ID: US7612990B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/384,834
- Filed: 2003-03-10
- Published: 2003-09-11
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2001-08-07
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Thane M. Larson; Kirk Bresniker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612990B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/18: Packaging or power distribution
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An LCD panel configured to be attached to a server system and coupled to a management card of the server system includes an LCD display. The panel includes a plurality of alphanumeric keys for entering alphanumeric strings that are displayed on the LCD display, and a plurality of navigation keys for navigating through a menu displayed on the LCD display and selecting menu items.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An LCD panel configured to be attached to a computer server system and coupled to a server management card of the computer server system, the LCD panel comprising:
an LCD display;
a plurality of alphanumeric keys for entering alphanumeric strings that are displayed on the LCD display;
a plurality of navigation keys for navigating through a menu displayed on the LCD display and selecting menu items; and
a lockout key for gaining and releasing control of the management card.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The LCD panel of claim 1, and further comprising:
an LED associated with the lockout key for indicating a lockout status.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The LCD panel of claim 1, wherein the LCD panel is configured to retrieve and display computer server status information, and transmit computer server configuration information.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The LCD panel of claim 2, wherein the LED is off when the management card is not being controlled by a user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The LCD panel of claim 2, wherein the LED is on when the management card is being controlled through the LCD panel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The LCD panel of claim 3, wherein the LED flashes on and off when the management card is being controlled through a connection other than the LCD panel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The LCD panel of claim 1, wherein the LCD panel is configured to display error information during start-up of the server system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The LCD panel of claim 1, wherein the LCD display is a 2×20 display.

### Claim 9

An LCD panel configured to be coupled to a management card of a server system, the LCD panel comprising:
user input means for entering data;
display means for displaying information; and
lockout means for gaining control of the management card, thereby preventing control of the management card through connections other than the LCD panel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The LCD panel of claim 9, wherein the user input means includes a plurality of alphanumeric keys for entering alphanumeric strings.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The LCD panel of claim 10, wherein the user input means includes a plurality of navigation keys for navigating through a menu displayed by the display means and selecting menu items.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The LCD panel of claim 9, and further comprising:
light emitting means associated with the lockout means for indicating a lockout status.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The LCD panel of claim 12, wherein the light emitting means is off when the management card is not being controlled by a user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The LCD panel of claim 12, wherein the light emitting means is on when the management card is being controlled through the LCD panel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The LCD panel of claim 12, wherein the light emitting means flashes on and off when the management card is being controlled through a connection other than the LCD panel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The LCD panel of claim 9, and further comprising:
means for retrieving server status information from the management card.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The LCD panel of claim 9, and further comprising:
means for transmitting server configuration information to the management card.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The LCD panel of claim 9, wherein the LCD panel is configured to display error information during start-up of the server system.

### Claim 19

A method of sending and receiving information with an LCD panel, the method comprising:
connecting the LCD panel to a management card of a server system;
gaining control of the management card by pressing a lockout key on the LCD panel;
entering data with alphanumeric keys of the LCD panel;
transmitting entered data to the management card; and
displaying information received from the management card on an LCD display of the LCD panel.