Abstract:
A data processing system which is comprised of a plurality of devices that carry on conversations with each other over a time-shared bus. These conversations can consist of a message from a device A to a device B which is immediately followed by a message from device B back to device A, or a message from device A to device B which is immediately followed by a message from device B to another device C, or a single message from device A to device B. In each case, the last device to receive a message assumes control of the bus; and it reliquishes this control by either sending a message to another device or by broadcasting a poll code to all devices on the bus.
Abstract:
An enclosure (10) for electronic, electrical or electro-mechanical equipment is provided with catches (22, 32) wherein an elastic spring arm (44) is displaced over a boss (32) as the enclosure is closed for a cross member (54) to engage a sheer surface (38) of the boss (32) to hold the two parts (12, 14) together. In opening the enclosure (10) a screwdriver or other sharp instrument (64) pushes a wedge (30) mounted in a slot (48) in the elastic spring member to urge the cross member (54) clear of the boss (32) and for the wedge (30) to sit on a ledge portion (34) of the boss (32) for a sufficient distance that the cross member (54) in separation of the two parts (12, 14) of the enclosure (10) falls on a side (36) of shallow slope of the boss (32) whose direction and shallowness of slope allow the continued separation of the two parts (12, 14) of the enclosure (10).
Abstract:
A storage module device - data link processor (200d, Fig. 1) manages data transfers between a main host computer (10) and up to eight disk drive units (D0 - D7, Fig. 1). The data link processor (200d) provides a host access unit (Fig. 2) to the host computer (10) and connects to a Formatter Unit (Fig. 3) which establishes the protocol for accessing a particular sector of a selected disk drive unit and for transferring data to-from a selected disk drive (D0 - D7) via an Interface Circuit Unit (Fig. 4) which insures that only one particular disk drive is selected at a given time. The data link processor (200d) initiates a self-test operation to verify integrity of the host access unit (Fig. 2) and the Formatter Unit (Fig. 3) before data transfer operations can take place.
Abstract:
Error detecting and correction operations for a plurality of input bits comprised of input data bits (ID0-ID39) and associated check bits (CB0-CB7) are implemented using two IC chips in order to overcome chip output limitations. In addition, redundancies derived from the use of two IC chips are employed to provide automatic self-checking of the detecting operation of each chip. The use of two identical IC chips (10 and 10') for this purpose is made possible by employing a specifically chosen inversely symmetrical Hamming code and by wiring the input data bits and the input check bits in an inverse manner with respect to the input terminals of the two IC chips. As a result, even though each IC chip performs the same error detecting and correcting operations, it does so inversely with respect to the input data bits and the input check bits so that each IC chip is able to provide one-half of the required output bits.
Abstract:
A heat exchange attachment device (10) for integrated circuits (30) which eliminates any need for contact with adhesive pastes or solder. A snap-on holding piece (20) permits a finned cooling unit (12) to be threaded through an aluminum base plate (25) attached to the pin grid array package (30) so that a threaded shaft (12t) of the cooling unit may be screwed into adjustable contact with a berylium oxide disk (30d) mounted on the integrated circuit package.
Abstract:
A programmatic comparator digital testing system which cooperates with a host computer driver system and output display panel in order to permit the testing of any given type of standard reference digital electronic module with another electronic module to be tested. Multiple numbers of output signals from the standard reference module can be compared to their analogous output signals from the module to be tested in order to find out of tolerance differences between comparable digital signals which can then be flagged as errors and analized by the driver host computer (100) through its display terminal (7).
Abstract:
An exclusive OR gate (502) receives first (A) and second (B) input digital signals for comparison and converts the time differential (skew) between the leading and trailing edges of the two signals into digital-difference signals. An adjustable R-C circuit (502r, 502c) converts the digital-difference signals to analog signals for an amplitude detector (507) having a set threshold value to detect non-allowable skew levels.
Abstract:
A method of electronically moving portions of several different images on a CRT screen (16) includes the steps of: storing a first image in one section of an image memory (14), and storing a second image in a different section of the image memory (14); storing control bits in a control memory (38) which define high and low priority viewports on the screen (16) and correlate portions of the first and second images to the high and low priority viewports respectively; displaying, in response to the stored control bits, the entire portion of the image in the high priority viewport and only the non-overlapping portion of the image in the low priority viewport by transferring the image portions from the image memory (14) to the screen (16) with no frame buffer therebetween; modifying at least some of the stored control bits to change the priorities of the high and low priority viewports to low and high respectively; and repeating the displaying step, in response to the modified control bits, to display the entire portion of the image in the new high priority viewport and only the non-overlapping portion of the image in the new low priority viewport.
Abstract:
A novel optical data storage medium is contemplated, one apt for data-modulated writing with a laser beam (and reading with a non-erasing reading laser beam) of predetermined wavelength -- the embodiments thereof being characterized by an island-film information structure on multiple layers whose optical characteristics and thickness are chosen to accommodate a prescribed writing and reading energy and wavelength, whereby to provide an anti-reflection condition for unrecorded portions of the information film and a relatively higher reflectivity for recorded portions; the island configuration being adapted to be so affected by the contemplated write beam as to "agglomerate" and better transmit the read beam.
Abstract:
Improved serial impact printer which both prints and serrates a document. The printer includes a print wheel (10) which is rotated to position a selected character in front of an anvil (12). The print wheel (10) includes a wheel-like circular member (28) having print characters (38) at the end of fingers (24) which extend from the top of the print wheel's perimeter. An impact mechanism (14) pressures the selected print character against the anvil (12), the document (16) being positioned between the selected print character (38) and impact mechanism (14). The impact mechanism (14) includes a controlled torque d.c. motor (40) which turns a threaded shaft (44) which is engaged with a threaded hole in the end of a hammer (50). Counterclockwise motion of the d.c. motor advances the hammer's head to pressure the back of the print character against the anvil (12), thereby printing and serrating the document with the selected character. Thereafter, clockwise motion of the d.c. motor (40) restores the impact mechanism (14) to its original position.