Abstract: Within a data processing system, a pool of facilities are allocated to an operating system, where each facility within the pool of facilities has an associated real address. The operating system allocates from the pool at least one bypass facility to a first process that the first process is permitted to directly access by its associated real address without first obtaining translation of a non-real address. The operating system also allocates from the pool at least one protected facility to a second process that the second process accesses only by translation of a non-real address to obtain the real address associated with the protected facility. Accesses to the facilities are either protected or unprotected based upon the state of a bypass field within a request address.

Abstract: A tester comprises test logic and a connector for at least one device under test. The connector, which may comprise a wafer probe for dice on a wafer or a test fixture for packaged integrated circuit devices, has connections for the device under test that present an impedance selected to emulate the characteristic impedance of an end-use environment of the device under test. For example, in an embodiment in which the device under test comprises a logic device using Rambus Signaling Levels (RSL) to communicate to other devices and the end-use environment is connection to a Rambus channel, the characteristic impedance is between approximately 20 and 60 ohms. If, on the other hand, the end-use environment is connection to a Rambus memory module, then the characteristic impedance is approximately 28 ohms. Alternatively, if the end-use environment is connection to a DDR memory module, then the characteristic impedance is approximately 60 ohms.

Abstract: An electrically powered clamp has a housing, a motor attached to the housing, a ball screw driven by the motor via a belt, and a linkage driven at one end by the ball screw such that the linkage rotates an output shaft attached to the other end of the linkage. The motor and belt drive the ball screw between a fully extended position to rotate the shaft to a clamped position, and a fully retracted position to rotate the shaft to an unclamped position. A built-in computer monitors and controls the clamp. The clamp can also be controlled and monitored by a remote pendant. Indicator lights on the housing and remote pendant convey clamp status information. The clamp is programmable and can memorize the clamped and unclamped positions. The clamp uses velocity and position feedback to determine appropriate drive mode. Torque monitors and timers determine if the clamp becomes stuck.

Abstract: A method and system for stabilizing and demodulating an interferometer at quadrature are described. In response to receipt of a signal indicative of optical power of the interferometer, an interferometer control system determines an optical path length correction required to stabilize the interferometer at quadrature utilizing signal amplitudes appearing at multiple harmonics of the signal. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the signal amplitudes are calculated utilizing the Goertzel algorithm, a computationally efficient discrete Fourier transform. The interferometer control system then outputs an error signal indicative of the optical path length correction. In a preferred embodiment, the error signal forms the DC component of a composite stabilization signal, whose AC component is the reference modulation signal utilized to excite a transducer to modulate the optical path length of the interferometer.

Abstract: A telephone network capable of handling directory assistance calls includes a switch, connection circuitry coupled between the switch and a directory assistance center, and call origination circuitry. In response to receipt of a incoming directory assistance call from the switch, the connection circuitry connects the incoming directory assistance call to the directory assistance center. Following receipt of a requested telephone number from the directory assistance center, the call origination circuitry originates an extension call to the requested telephone number on the public telephone network and transmits, in conjunction with the extension call, at least a billing identifier captured from the incoming directory assistance call. In this manner, the switch is able to automatically associate the extension call with the billing identifier captured from the incoming directory assistance call.

Abstract: A retention mechanism has a base and a snap ring that are mounted to two components. The snap ring has a hole for attaching a first component. A conical element with a rounded knob protrudes from the snap ring. The base is cylindrical and has a cap with a rounded face and a conical opening that tapers to a cylindrical hole. Both the knob and the base are slit for greater compliance. After the base and snap ring are mounted to their respective components, the snap ring may be removably connected to the base by inserting its knob into the conical opening in the base. The complementary shapes of the snap ring and base allow for significant axial and angular misalignment. The slits allow the snap ring and base to elastically deform. The snap ring and base are disengaged by pulling the snap ring away from the base.

Abstract: An electrically powered clamp has a housing, a motor attached to the housing, a ball screw driven by the motor via gears, and a linkage driven at one end by the ball screw such that the linkage rotates an output shaft attached to the other end of the linkage. The motor and gears drive the ball screw to a fully extended position to rotate the shaft to a clamped position or to a fully retracted position to rotate the shaft to an unclamped position. A built-in computer monitors and controls the clamp. The clamp can also be controlled and monitored by a remote pendant. Indicator lights on the housing and remote pendant convey clamp status information. The clamp is programmable and can memorize the clamped and unclamped positions. The clamp uses velocity and position feedback to determine appropriate drive mode. Torque monitors and timers determine if the clamp becomes stuck.

Abstract: In an automated welding machine, where a flow of liquid coolant is supplied to welding components on the machine from a source of coolant and then returned to the source of coolant, a safety system is provided that shuts down the flow of coolant in the event of a fault. Faults are detected by a supply sensor and a return sensor for measuring the flow rates of coolant in the supply and return lines. A microprocessor is adapted to compare the supply flow rate and return flow rate and detect differences between the two rates. The difference between the detected rates as compared to a leak threshold value, and the microprocessor is adapted to generate a valve shutoff signal in the event the detected difference in flow rates exceeds the leak threshold value. A value in the supply coolant line is responsive to the valve shutoff signal to shutoff flow of coolant in response thereto.

Abstract: A data buffer management system and method between two different types of systems, The data buffer management system employs circular buffer chaining, wherein multiple state machines service buffer updates from multiple sources, dual buffer structures are maintained, mapping is provided between two different control block structures, and full duplex operation is supported. The data buffer management system manages use of a data buffer memory. A transmit operation is performed by transferring and storing data from one of the two different systems to the data buffer memory The data in the data buffer memory is converted and read by another of the two different systems. A receive operation is performed by transferring and storing data from the other of the two different systems to the data buffer memory.

Abstract: An electrically driven gripper has a housing, a gearmotor attached to the housing, a cam engaged to the gearmotor, a pair of opposing jaws slidingly mounted to the housing, a cam follower secured to one of the jaws and in sliding contact with the cam; and a spring configured to impart a force to the jaws such that the jaws are pulled toward each other. The gearmotor drives the cam to force the jaws to a maximum open position. Continued rotation of the cam allows the spring to pull the jaws closed to grasp an object with the jaws. Sensors mounted to the housing determine whether the jaws are in an open or closed state. A simple circuit on a printed circuit board mounted to the housing is used to control the electric gearmotor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spectral analysis of a sampled signal are provided. According to the method, a first time interval &Dgr;T is determined which represents a sample set over which the signal can be averaged for purpose of decomposing the signal into instantaneous mean and random components. From random component of the signal, the optimal time-dependent time interval AW over which the random component should be averaged to obtain the instantaneous frequency spectrum (IFS) is then calculated based upon the instantaneous signal memory. Signal memory specifies the extent in time beyond which the signal “forgets” its past behavior and thus is a measure of its degree-of-randomness. Defining AW in this way reduces the likelihood that short-lived events are lost (or masked) due to uncharacteristically short (or long) averaging intervals. Importantly, both time intervals &Dgr;T and AW are dynamic and vary randomly with time.

Abstract: A method of providing wireless directory assistance service includes the steps of receiving a call placed by a caller at a telecommunications carrier switch, routing the call to a call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch. A directory assistance service provider is contacted via the telecommunications carrier switch or via a frame relay network. The call is then split from the call to the directory assistance service provider. The call management platform then receives a destination number from the directory assistance service provider and supplies it to the caller in a voice announcement. The destination number may be received in-band or via the frame relay network. The call management platform waits a predetermined time period and then automatically connects the call to the destination number via the telecommunications carrier switch if the call has not been disconnected within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A two-piece retention mechanism has a base and a snap ring that are individually mounted to two separate components that a user desires to releasably join. The snap ring has a round body with a hole for attaching the first component thereto. A conical element with a spherical tip protrudes from the snap ring body. The base has a cylindrical body for mounting to the second component. The body of the base has a cap with a rounded face and a conical opening that tapers down to a cylindrical hole. After the base and snap ring are mounted to their respective components, the snap ring may be removably connected to the base by inserting its spherical tip into the conical opening in the base. The complementary shapes of the snap ring and base allow for significant axial and angular misalignment. The snap ring and base elastically deform and emit an audible “snap” during this sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting fixture that functionally provides a mold for creating a light diffuser from ice, a stand upon which to display the created light diffuser (including a shaped-surface support element to stabilize the light diffuser as it de-solidifies), a collection element to collect and contain the melted light diffuser material, and a support and containing system for a light source that, in use, is surrounded by the light diffuser.

Abstract: A structure intended for above-ground use has a floor support structure including at least one substantially horizontal member. A floor sheet having an upper surface and an area bounded by a perimeter is supported by the floor support structure, and at least one wall extends upwardly from the floor sheet. In order to preclude rodents and other small vertebrates from the interior of the structure, the structure is provided with an intrusion barrier disposed between the substantially horizontal member and the floor sheet. The intrusion barrier underlies substantially all of the area of the floor sheet and, at the perimeter of the floor sheet, extends upwardly to at least the upper surface of the floor sheet so that rodents and other small vertebrates are precluded from entering the structure from below. The structure may also have a roof including exterior roofing material, a support system for the exterior roofing material, and a second intrusion barrier overlaying the support system.

Abstract: A first circuit and a second circuit are connected by a pumped signal line that conducts a signal having a plurality of states. A dynamic termination circuit is connected to the pumped signal line. The dynamic termination circuit includes a switch responsive to the signal conducted by the pumped signal line such that the dynamic termination circuit is enabled only in response to certain of the plurality of states of the signal. In one embodiment, the switch is a first transistor that is coupled in series with a first impedance between a first reference voltage and an intermediate node. In this embodiment, the dynamic termination circuit further includes a second transistor coupled in series with a second impedance between a second reference voltage and the intermediate node and only first and second inverters that are each coupled between the intermediate node and the control input of a respective one of the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: An object-oriented processor and method of operating such a processor are disclosed. According to the method, in response to receiving a first instruction that references a first object having both data and at least a first method associated therewith, an address of the first method is calculated. In addition, at least one pointer is cached that indicates (possibly together with other pointers) the address of the first method. In response to receipt of a subsequent second instruction that references a second object having both data and one or more methods associated therewith, where the one or more methods include the first method, the address of a second method associated with the second object is determined by reference to the cached pointer. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second methods comprise the same method, and the cached pointer indicates the entry point of that single method.

Abstract: A graphical pointing device and method for controlling a graphical pointer displayed within a display device of a data processing system are disclosed. The graphical pointing device includes a transducer, which converts manipulation of the graphical pointing device into electrical signals utilized by a data processing system to move a graphical pointer displayed within a display device. In addition, the graphical pointing device includes a graphical pointer speed control for varying a relationship between the electrical signals and manipulation of the graphical pointing device, thereby enabling the graphical pointer to be moved within the display device at various speeds by differing adjustments of the graphical pointer speed control without modifying programming within the data processing system.