Patent ID: 8282687

Claim:
In a portable computer, security apparatus comprising: a locking mechanism having a user interface and a locking element, wherein said locking element is movable from a lock mode to an unlock mode in response to operation of said user interface; a slot adjust component joined to said portable computer proximate to a slot disposed to receive said locking element, said component being selectively adjustable to hold and release configurations, said received locking element being fixably retained in said slot when said locking element is in said lock mode and said component is adjusted to said hold configuration; and a device actuatable in response to a command generated by a specified program running on said computer to adjust said component from said hold configuration to said release configuration, wherein said actuatable device is movable between first and second positions to adjust said component between said hold and release configurations, respectively, wherein said actuatable device is moved to said second position only for a specified time interval, and is thereafter moved back to said first position, wherein said slot adjust component is positioned proximate to the entrance to said slot and comprises a mechanism responsive to movements of said actuatable device to vary at least one dimension of said slot entrance between hold and release configurations.