Abstract:
A circuit for controlling the duty cycle of a high frequency logic system clock using negative feedback. A high-level buffer (18) used to drive the system clock bus receives the output of a crystal oscillator (40). The buffer output (50) is sampled by an integrator circuit which produces a voltage level corresponding to the duty cycle of the clock, and this voltage level is compared to a reference voltage using an operational amplifier (60). The op-amp output (70) is applied to the buffer input (75) as negative feedback to alter the bias level at the buffer input (75) in a way as to vary the point in the rising and falling transitions of the crystal oscillator (40) where the threshold of the buffer (48) is crossed. A circuit (52,54) monitors the clock signal output of a high-level buffer (48), and determines whether the duty cycle of the crystal oscillator (40) which drives the output buffer (48) should be increased or decreased. A corresponding DC bias to the input of the output buffer (48) causes the crystal oscillator (40) output to reach threshold levels of the output buffer (48) at different times during each clock pulse, thus adjusting the duty cycle of the buffer output (50). An RC integrator (52,54) is used to monitor the buffer output, and the output of this integrator is compared with a reference voltage in an operational amplifier (60). The output of the operational amplifier (60) biases the input (75) to the output buffer (48) to a level corresponding to a need to increase or decrease the duty cycle of the buffer output clock signal.
Abstract:
Control is switched from a first server to a second server in a fault tolerant system. The first and second servers are coupled with an expansion bus in an expansion box for communication with the expansion bus. An indication is provided to the second server to indicate the activity state of the first server. Communication between the first server and the expansion box is disabled if the indication indicates the first server is inactive. Communication between the second server and the expansion bus is disabled if the indication indicates that the first server is active. Communication between the second server is enabled if the indication indicates that the first server is inactive. The indication includes a heartbeat message transmitted periodically to the second server. The expansion bus includes a PCI bus.
Abstract:
A bus ring-back and voltage over-shoot reduction apparatus with capability for rendering an expansion slot (408) of a computer system hot-pluggable, wherein a logic gate (406) controls a switching element so that when the element is turned on, the input and output (I/O) nodes of the element are in a low ohmic conductive relationship. One of the I/O nodes is coupled to an expansion card (410) whereas the other node is coupled to a bus (404) to which the expansion slot is connected. The apparatus (406) operates as a level shifter wherein the output node voltage follows the input node voltage until pinch-off such that the output voltage remains substantially stable thereafter. The apparatus also isolates the expansion card (410) from the bus (404) when the system is running or during the powering up of the card.
Abstract:
Faults in a computer system having circuits are managed by fault detectors connected to detect fault states of respective circuits. A fault manager associates the fault states with the respective circuits. The fault manager includes a system manager connected to identify which of the circuits is causing faulty operation in the computer system. The fault detectors associated with the respective circuits are configured to detect faulty operation of and to generate fault state information for the respective circuits. A central manager is connected to accumulate fault state information from the fault detectors. One of the circuits includes a bus, and the fault state includes a bus error condition. The bus is connected to multiple devices, and the fault manager identifies which of the multiple devices causes the bus error condition. One of the circuits includes multiple modules, and the fault manager identifies fault states of the multiple modules. The modules include state machines. One of the circuits includes an internal clock, and the fault state of the circuit includes the internal clock not functioning properly. One of the circuits includes a temperature sensor, and the fault state of the circuit includes a high temperature condition detected by the temperature sensor.
Abstract:
Control is switched from a first server to a second server in a fault tolerant system. The first and second servers are coupled with an expansion bus in an expansion box for communication with the expansion bus. An indication is provided to the second server to indicate the activity state of the first server. Communication between the first server and the expansion box is disabled if the indication indicates the first server is inactive. Communication between the second server and the expansion bus is disabled if the indication indicates that the first server is active. Communication between the second server is enabled if the indication indicates that the first server is inactive. The indication includes a heartbeat message transmitted periodically to the second server. The expansion bus includes a PCI bus.
Abstract:
A circuit for controlling the duty cycle of a high frequency logic system clock using negative feedback. A high-level buffer (18) used to drive the system clock bus receives the output of a crystal oscillator (40). The buffer output (50) is sampled by an integrator circuit which produces a voltage level corresponding to the duty cycle of the clock, and this voltage level is compared to a reference voltage using an operational amplifier (60). The op-amp output (70) is applied to the buffer input (75) as negative feedback to alter the bias level at the buffer input (75) in a way as to vary the point in the rising and falling transitions of the crystal oscillator (40) where the threshold of the buffer (48) is crossed. A circuit (52,54) monitors the clock signal output of a high-level buffer (48), and determines whether the duty cycle of the crystal oscillator (40) which drives the output buffer (48) should be increased or decreased. A corresponding DC bias to the input of the output buffer (48) causes the crystal oscillator (40) output to reach threshold levels of the output buffer (48) at different times during each clock pulse, thus adjusting the duty cycle of the buffer output (50). An RC integrator (52,54) is used to monitor the buffer output, and the output of this integrator is compared with a reference voltage in an operational amplifier (60). The output of the operational amplifier (60) biases the input (75) to the output buffer (48) to a level corresponding to a need to increase or decrease the duty cycle of the buffer output clock signal.