Abstract: A network file server includes a first set of data processors for receiving requests from clients, and a second set of data processors for accessing read-write file systems. A respective data processor in the second set is assigned to each file system for exclusive management of read and write locks on the file system. Each data processor in the first set can authorize access to file systems directly accessed by more than one data processor in the second set. Processing of a request for access that is assigned to manage the locks on the file system to be accessed. The exclusivity of lock management eliminates cache coherency problems, and dynamic load balancing can be used to prevent the lock management from becoming a bottleneck to performance.

Abstract: A network file server includes a first set of data processors for receiving requests from clients, and a second set of data processors for accessing read-write file systems. A respective data processor in the second set is assigned to each file system for exclusive management of locks on the file system. The file server can detect failure of a failed data processor and automatically recover from the failure. When a failure of a data processor in the first set is detected, a spare data processor is programmed with the logical and physical network addresses of the failed data processor so that the spare data processor assumes the network identity of the failed data processor. When a failure of a data processor in the second set is detected, responsibility for management of the locks on each file system managed by the failed data processor is transferred to an operational data processor.

Abstract: A network file server includes a first set of data processors for receiving requests from clients, and a second set of data processors for accessing read-write file systems. A respective data processor in the second set is assigned to each file system for exclusive management of read and write locks on the file system. Each data processor in the first set can authorize access to file systems directly accessed by more than one data processor in the second set. Processing of a request for access that is authorized is continued by the data processor that is assigned to manage the locks on the file system to be accessed. The exclusivity of lock management eliminates cache coherency problems, and dynamic load balancing can be used to prevent the lock management from becoming a bottleneck to performance. A preferred embodiment includes a cached disk storage subsystem linked to data mover computers.

Abstract: A method of dynamically changing a storage system from a RAID configuration to a mirror configuration is provided. The change occurs when a device begins to fail or fails completely. Data from the logical volumes of the failed device is written to corresponding parity volumes within the RAID group. In addition, data from all logical data volumes is copied to spare devices. Once all the data is copied, the system operates in a mirrored mode. A mirrored mode includes writing data to both and active and backup volume for each write transaction. When the failed device is replaced the data and parity volumes are restored. Once restored, the spare devices are returned to inactive status.

Abstract: A decoder that provides simultaneous horizontal scanning lines for digital color video, and then band splits each line into high and low frequency signals using low pass filters and subtractors to subtract the low frequency signals from the source video. The high and low frequency signals and the source video for each line is fed to a three tap comb filter, and the high and low frequency signal inputs to the comb filter are also fed to a vertical transition detector that demodulates the high frequency signals, and then provides differences between pairs of lines for luma, chroma magnitude, and chroma phase. The difference signals are used to provide a control signal that automatically switches the comb filter from a three line weighted comb to a two line comb when large vertical transitions are detected in luma, chroma magnitude, or chroma phase.

Abstract: An electronic controller is programmed to operate in a plurality of different modes to enable the controller to be used in a variety of different models, each requiring a different operating mode. A wire harness is used to operatively couple the controller to an electric component such as a thermistor in a clothes dryer. A connector of the wire harness has terminal pins interconnected by jumper wires in a manner uniquely corresponding to the particular model in which the wire harness is used. Logic signals are coupled through the jumper wires to the controller to identify the particular model in which the controller is installed. In response thereto, the controller selects the particular operating mode corresponding to that model.

Abstract: A bilayer thin film resistor and a method of fabricating such as resistor. A layer of a resistive material such as titanium tungsten is sputter deposited on a substrate before depositing a relatively thick overlayer of a material such as chromium silicon monoxide to form a bilayer resistor. Whereas the sheet resistance of a chromium silicon monoxide layer by itself would be relatively unpredictable and unreproducible, the sheet resistance and the uniformity of the bilayer can be accurately controlled by making small adjustments to the scan rate of the titanium tungsten to control the thickness of the underlayer. Optionally, the titanium tungsten underlayer can be sputter etched to increase to sheet resistance of the bilayer, and also to increase heat stability so as to decrease the drop in sheet resistance during subsequent thermal processing.

Abstract: An environmental connector formed by insert molding a thermoplastic rubber insert into a plastic cylindrical housing having an external shoulder adjacent to an exit aperture for the thermoplastic rubber to flow to an annular void in the cavity of the mold. In such manner, an annular ring such as a gasket or o-ring is formed by the insert molding process, and is connected as one piece with the thermoplastic rubber insert formed in the internal chamber of the housing. The housing is made of polypropylene and the thermoplastic rubber is Santoprene so the two materials stick together to hold the annular ring snugly against the shoulder. The insert of the female connector has a concentric opening to receive the housing of the male connector, and the concentric opening terminates in thin protrusion that is compressible to from an inner seal to prevent the ingress of moisture into the connectors.

Abstract: A high resolution digital phase detector adapted to receive a threshold value and a sequence of digital samples of a substantially linear portion of an analog video signal. A first output signal is provided when a digital sample is detected as having crossed the threshold value. An interpolation is done between the value of the digital sample to first cross the threshold value and the immediately preceding digital sample on the opposite side of the threshold value. In such manner, the time of the crossing within the sample interval is resolved to a subpixel level. A second output signal represents a fractional phase error between the actual crossing and a desired crossing point within the sample interval. The first and second signals are added in a phase locked loop to adjust the output of a voltage controlled oscillator to be synchronized to the incoming analog video signal in both integer and subpixel phase.

Abstract: A narrow band receiver is shown to include a double downconversion arrangement wherein the frequency of the second local oscillator is controlled to maintain the frequency of the second I.F. signals at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin film resistor includes a step of sputter depositing a thin film of resistive material such as a chromium diboride compound on an insulative substrate using an argon sputter gas having a percentage of dopant such as nitrogen selected to optimize a trade off between desirably increasing the thickness of the film and undesirably increasing the temperature coefficient of resistance. A cap layer having a solid diffusant such as free chromium is deposited over the thin film of resistive material. The cap layer serves to protect the thin film of resistive material during subsequent patterning of conductors using wet etching, and also the solid diffusant diffuses into the resistive material during subsequent thermal treatment to drive the temperature coefficient of resistance back down.

Abstract: A circuit to improve the sensitivity of a receiver by more than 3 dB. According to the invention, conventional predetection integrators are replaced by a circuit to compute the correlation of the received signal with a delayed version of the received signal. The time delay is selected such that the noise in the signal and the delayed signal are statistically independent.

Abstract: A control system is provided which prevents a powerful, propeller driven, jet training aircraft from requiring corrective action to throttling and gyroscopic effects when the student wishes to fly the aircraft in coordinated flight. The control system includes a digital memory having stored therein flight test generated data representative of the relationship between the amount of rudder trim required to maintain the aircraft in coordinated flight as a function of aircraft engine torque and airspeed. Sensors are provided to measure aircraft engine torque aircraft altitude aircraft speed, and pitch rate. The measured parameters are coupled to the digital computer. The digital computer combines the parameters provided by the sensors and data read from the memory to produce a composite rudder trim signal which automatically reduces rudder forces induced by throttling and gyroscopic effects produced in response to pilot commanded maneuvers to thereby maintain the aircraft in coordinated flight.

Abstract: A field effect transistor including a substrate comprised of a material having a spinel crystal structure and a buffer layer lattice matched to the crystal structure of the substrate comprising gallium aluminum indium arsenide is described. Several types of field effect transistors are possible with the described substrate arrangement, including metal semiconductor field effect transistors, insulating gate field effect transistors, pseudomorphically strained and pseudomorphically strain compensated metal semiconductor field effect transistors, as well as, high electron mobility transistor structures.

Abstract: An infrared detector array having a plurality of infrared detectors arranged in a matrix of rows and columns in a first semiconductor body; and, a plurality of integration/read circuits arranged in a matrix of rows and columns in a second semiconductor body, each one of the plurality of integration/read circuits being in vertical registration with, and electrically connected to, a corresponding one of the plurality of detectors. Each one of the integration/read circuits includes: a capacitor; a first transistor, electrically coupling the capacitor and the corresponding one of the detectors during an integration mode, for enabling current generated in the detector in response to impinging radiation to pass from the detector to the capacitor for integration; and a second transistor, electrically coupling the charge built-up on the capacitor during the integration mode to an output bus during a subsequent read mode.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for filling a wash tub of an automatic clothes washer wherein a controller uses a thermistor embedded in the mixing valve to generate and store historical averages of the cold and warm water temperatures. From these, the hot water temperature is calculated under the assumption that the warm water is 50/50 hot and cold. The controller also uses a timer and a pressure sensitive switch to generate and store a historical average of the flow rate. A flow washer helps justify the assumption that the flow rate is always constant. Based on the hot and cold water temperatures and the anticipated flow rate, the controller calculates the ratio of hot and cold water, and how long each must be turned on to provide the selected water level. Then, each water valve is individually controlled for a single extended on cycle to satisfy the final requirements of temperature and level.

Abstract: A decoder that provides simultaneous horizontal scanning lines for digital color video, and then band splits each line into high and low frequency signals using low pass filters and subtractors to subtract the low frequency signals from the source video. The high and low frequency signals and the source video for each line is fed to a three tap comb filter, and the high and low frequency signal inputs to the comb filter are also fed to a vertical transition detector that demodulates the high frequency signals, and then provides differences between pairs of lines for luma, chroma magnitude, and chroma phase. The difference signals are used to provide a control signal that automatically switches the comb filter from a three line weighted comb to a two line comb when large vertical transitions are detected in luma, chroma magnitude, or chroma phase.