Abstract: A computer system requiring input of a password on startup has an on-screen keyboard generation division for displaying an on-screen keyboard having a predetermined key layout on a touch panel, a keyboard type determination division for determining the key layout of the on-screen keyboard displayed on this touch panel, and a password checking division for processing a password inputted by pointing to the on-screen keyboard displayed on this touch panel. The key layout displayed on the touch panel is determined by a user pressing a particular key on a mechanical keyboard, which identifies which layout is to be displayed on the touch panel.

Abstract: A server blade system includes a plurality of slots for receiving server blades. The system includes an air moving device to move air through each of the server blades installed in the system. When one of the server blades is removed, a bypass damper rotates into the empty slot to obstruct the flow of air through the slot. The bypass damper is pivotally mounted within each slot and includes a torsion spring to move the damper into the obstruction position. Two hinge pin mounts, which are “U” shaped in cross section, provide a snap fit for two hinge pins positioned at one end of the bypass damper. A spring mounting pin is positioned between the two hinge pins and a torsion spring is mounted over the spring mounting pin.

Abstract: While restoring a preload image to a hard drive, the ability to boot the operating system on the hard drive is inhibited until the recovery process is complete. In one embodiment, a file that must be loaded in order to boot the operating system on the hard drive (for example, IO.SYS) is written to the hard disk only at the end of the recovery operation. If a user inadvertently attempts to start the operating system before the recovery operating is complete, the operating system will not boot until the recovery process is complete and the required file is written to the appropriate directory (usually the root directory) on the hard drive.

Abstract: A folding keyboard for a data processing system having two or more keyboard sections, keys attached to the keyboard sections, and a keyboard housing for receiving the keyboard sections. The keyboard may be configured to assume an extended position in which each of the keyboard sections is extended, and may be further configured to assume a second position in which each of the keyboard sections are collapsed. The keyboard may be further configured to transmit in response to a change in the extension state of the keyboard, a state signal to the data processing system for directing the data processing system to transition between a wake mode and a sleep mode.

Abstract: A system and method for storing adapter card Option ROM BIOS extensions on the system's DASD and, more particularly, on a partition of the DASD that is generally inaccessible to the operating system. The system may partition the system DASD into a user partition and a hidden partition where the hidden partition is preferably inaccessible to the operating system. BIOS extensions files are stored in the hidden partition. The system BIOS, when executed, identifies the peripheral devices on the system and interrogates the hidden partition for BIOS extension files corresponding to each of the identified devices. If the hidden partition contains a BIOS extension file corresponding to an identified peripheral device, the file is verified for authenticity. If the verification completes successfully, the BIOS extension file is copied into shadow RAM and control is passed to it.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing message transfers from a sender to a receiver, such that message latency and overhead processing are minimized. A next inter-message arrival delay is initially predicted in accordance with traffic history. The predicted inter-message arrival delay is categorized as either an intra-burst delay or an inter-burst delay. In response to a prediction of an inter-burst delay, the receiver is operated in a blocking mode wherein the receiver waits for an interrupt request from the sender. In response to a prediction of an intra-burst delay, the receiver is switched to a polling mode wherein the receiver polls for a message complete signal from said sender.

Abstract: A modular personal computer of the present invention includes inlet and outlet openings for a cooling air flow, which are provided on a side portion of a housing disposed opposite to a desktop connection device, with the openings being spaced from each other across a central processing unit, and air passages extending between the inlet and outlet openings in an overlapping manner. Static pressure near the outlet opening is reduced by a diffuser. Air inside the modular personal computer is drawn out through the outlet opening to create negative pressure inside the modular personal computer, so that the cooling air flow is introduced from the inlet opening.

Abstract: An air moving system such as a fan or blower system includes a back flow damper that functions in two orientations; non-inverted and inverted. First and second “end” baffles are pivotally attached at opposite ends of the damper, and three “middle” baffles are pivotally attached between the two end baffles. When the air moving system fails in the non-inverted orientation, the first end baffle and the three middle baffles are gravity operated to close off the air outlet to prevent the back flow of air, and the second end baffle pivots away from the outlet. When the air moving device fails in the inverted orientation, the second end baffle and the three middle baffles operate to close off the air outlet, and the first end baffle pivots away from the outlet. The three middle baffles are pivotally coupled to a connecting rod, which prevents the inadvertent jamming of baffles.

Abstract: A chassis controller can identify a blade that spans more than one power plane. If power is healthy and available on all power planes then the blade may be granted permission to power on. The chassis controller validates that when a blade spans multiple power planes that the necessary power is available before permitting the blade to go to fully power operation.

Abstract: A method for backing up data stored using a filing system on a computer non-volatile storage device is described. First pre-defined signature data is written, using the filing system, to substantially all of the unused portion of the computer non-volatile storage device. The data stored on the computer non-volatile storage device is then backed up, independent of the filing system. Data consisting of the first pre-defined signature is not backed up. In this manner, a backup is completed without access to the filing system, but which backs up only portions of the non-volatile storage medium which are in use.

Abstract: A conveying system including multiple conveying tracks where each track acts as the output track from one operation and the input track to a subsequent operation. When the manufacturing process at a first operational area is completed, the completed product is placed on the area's output track and conveyed to a subsequent operational area. When the processing at the subsequent area is completed, the unit is placed on the subsequent area's output track, which is a physically distinct track from the area's input track. The input and output tracks within an operational area may occupy different levels of a multi-level system in which the various levels share a common floor space footprint to conserve floor space requirements. The tracks may be configured as a pair of tracks to facilitate simultaneous processing of two products or jobs. In addition, one or more of the tracks may have a support surface that is not parallel to the manufacturing floor.

Abstract: An electronic circuits module includes a cover and a base. A lever and cam assembly is rotatably attached to the cover, and the cam includes first and second lobes. The lever and cam assembly is rotatable between first, second and third positions. In the first position, the first lobe can be inserted through an eccentric opening in the base, and then rotated to the second position to lock the cover to the base. In the third position, the module can be inserted into the computer and when the lever and cam assembly is moved back to the second position, the second lobe locks the module in the computer. A mechanism in the computer inhibits the movement of the lever and cam assembly into the first position, thereby preventing the disconnection of the base from the cover when the module is installed in the computer.

Abstract: A combined lens includes a first luminescence surface, a second luminescence surface, a first concave surface for reducing surface reflection of light from the light source and for conducting the light to the first luminescence surface, and a second concave surface 26 for reducing surface reflection of the light from the light source and for conducting the light to the second luminescence surface. This allows the same status display to be provided in a plurality of directions by one light source.

Abstract: A virtual mirror “crossover” package includes two groups of electrically interconnected pairs of first and second connection points. Within each group, the set of first and second connection points are positioned adjacent opposing edges of a chip carrier or other package, such that one group of connection point pairs can be connected to a first bus running in an “X” direction on a substrate, while the other group of connection point pairs can be connected to a second bus running in a “Y” direction perpendicular to the “X” direction. The virtual mirror crossover package can be used in an array of packages in which the packages in each column are connected to a unique system bus, and a row of packages containing a virtual mirror crossover package is also connected to an inter-system bus (such as a cluster bus) for providing communication between the various system buses via the inter-system bus.

Abstract: In a system having a multiplexed address/data bus, initiator and target devices on the bus use special three mode drivers to achieve fast back-to-back read operations without intervening turnaround cycles. These drivers have voltage, current and Hi-Z modes characterized by low output impedance, high output impedence and very high output impedance, respectively. During a first clock cycle, an initiator device places an address on the bus using voltage mode during the first phase of the clock cycle and current mode during second phase. During a second clock cycle, a target device places data on the bus using voltage mode during the first phase of the clock cycle and current mode during second phase. Because a high impedance current mode precedes a low impedance voltage mode, electrical contention problems are eliminated, even if two devices momentarily drive the bus to opposite logical states. Fast back-to-back write operations are also described.

Abstract: In a network computer system wherein the type of keyboard at a managing terminal is different from the type of keyboard at a managed terminal, keyboard scan code data from the keyboard at the managing terminal is first converted to virtual scan code data. Next, the virtual scan code data is converted to keyboard scan code data that is compatible with the keyboard at the managed terminal. This conversion, which uses two conversion tables that are selected from a plurality of conversion tables by detecting the different types of keyboards at the managing and managed terminals, permits the keyboard at the managing terminal to be of a different type than that at the managed terminal.

Abstract: A virtual mirror “crossover” package includes two groups of electrically interconnected pairs of first and second connection points. Within each group, the set of first and second connection points are positioned adjacent opposing edges of a chip carrier or other package, such that one group of connection point pairs can be connected to a first bus running in an “X” direction on a substrate, while the other group of connection point pairs can be connected to a second bus running in a “Y” direction perpendicular to the “X” direction. The virtual mirror crossover package can be used in an array of packages in which the packages in each column are connected to a unique system bus, and a row of packages containing a virtual mirror crossover package is also connected to an inter-system bus (such as a cluster bus) for providing communication between the various system buses via the inter-system bus.

Abstract: A computer or other electronic system includes a primary I2C bus and a plurality of secondary I2C buses that can be selectively coupled to the primary bus. The primary I2C bus is coupled to the input of an I/O expander, which has a unique address on the primary bus, and to the bus input of a bus switch. Each of the secondary I2C buses is coupled to a unique one of the bus outputs of the bus switch, which are controlled by a plurality on control inputs. Activating a selected control input of the bus switch couples the primary I2C bus to the corresponding secondary I2C bus. A controller addresses the I/O expander and then transmits a unique data byte that activates a selected output of the expander. Each of the outputs of the I/O expander is coupled to a unique control input of the bus switch through a delay circuit.

Abstract: An electrical equipment rack includes an electrical equipment unit that slides in and out of the rack on two drawer slides. A hinge attaches a first cable management arm to the rack or to a first drawer slide, which is attached to the rack. Another hinge attaches a second cable management arm to the equipment unit or to a second drawer slide, which is attached to the equipment unit. A flexible linkage is connected between and joins each of the free ends of the two cable management arms. Cables for interconnecting two or more equipment units are attached to the cable management arms and flexible linkage. The equipment unit can be extended out the front or back of the rack for servicing, and each of the cable management arms can be rotated away from the equipment unit to permit easy access to the unit. The flexible linkage limits the bend radii of the cables without regard to the position of the cable management arms or the position of the equipment unit relative to the rack.

Abstract: A method for migrating data from one level of RAID system to the same or another level of RAID system having the same or a different number of removable and identifiable storage devices and having the same or a different stripe unit size is disclosed. The storage devices can be attached to the system at a number of different attachment points which facilitates replacement or removal of a failed device. The system is represented as a logical media drive. After determining the number of migrations and the direction of migration, a start logical block address and an end logical block address is defined. The migration is performed by moving data from the source physical blocks to the destination physical blocks starting with the physical block corresponding to the start logical block address and continuing to the physical block corresponding to the end logical block address.