IBM ThinkPad UltraPort

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IBM UltraPort was a nonstandard USB 1.1 port used by IBM on its range of ThinkPad laptop computers.

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an IBM A series ThinkPad with UltraPort web camera S126E007727 - STS-126 - Computer on MDDK - DPLA - a5ea5050d24f13019994bb13bcb818db.jpg
an IBM A series ThinkPad with UltraPort web camera

Electronically the UltraPort connector is identical to the standard USB port. UltraPort uses a proprietary mechanical connection, so UltraPort devices cannot be plugged into a normal USB interface. However, the UltraPort devices shipped with an adapter which allowed them to be attached to a regular USB port.

Select ThinkPad models from 2000 to 2002 came with an UltraPort connector on the top edge of the laptop's screen, and IBM sold a variety of laptop-relevant UltraPort devices, including webcams, [1] speakers, and microphone arrays. [2]

UltraPort was designed in 1999 in response to the proliferation of many laptop computers from Sony, Fujitsu, and others that had built-in cameras, but proprietary predecessor can be found on a released in 1996 ThinkPad 850 laptop. [3]

See also

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References

  1. "Options by IBM: IBM UltraPort Camera II". www-01.ibm.com. 2000-09-11. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  2. THG.RU (2017-07-22). "IBM ThinkPad A31p - An Exclusive First Look - THG.RU". www.thg.ru. Archived from the original on 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  3. "ThinkPad PowerSeries 850 (6042-G6D)". www.mars.dti.ne.jp. Retrieved 2021-01-07.