Abstract: A method for displaying status information during execution of an application task in a windowed application. The method provides two formats for displaying status information for an application task: (1) a detailed display format wherein status information is presented in a dialog box displayed over the application window, obscuring a portion of the application window, and which remains displayed until execution of the application task completes and obscuring a portion of said display screen; and (2) a concise display format wherein a brief summary of the status information is presented in a message displayed in a status bar along the bottom edge of the application window. The detailed display format wherein status information is presented in a dialog box is presented as the default display format. The concise display format is selected by dragging the title bar for the dialog box into the status bar, the concise display format thereafter being displayed in substitution for the detailed display format.

Abstract: A semiconductor fuse and method for fabricating the same An insulating layer is provided and a trench formed therein. A fusible link is then formed across the insulating layer and trench and conformal therewith. The link has a break region of minimum thickness and width at an intersection of a sidewall and bottom surface of the trench.

Abstract: The invention concerns integrated circuits in which a MACRO is embedded in a standard cell array. One level of metal is devoted exclusively to non-local interconnect, and a layer of polysilicon is devoted to local interconnect, thereby saving significant space.

Abstract: The invention concerns storage of correction tables for digitizing tablets. A digitizing tablet produces data indicative of position of a stylus. The data does not, in general, exactly indicate the position; errors exist. For example, a tablet may produce a data pair indicating a Cartesian position of (5.0, 6.0) when the position is actually (4.9, 6.1). Correction tables are used to correct the errors. These tables may be viewed as containing correct data for each possible pair of data produced by the tablet. Thus, in this example, a user would (a) receive (5.0, 6.0) from the tablet, (b) look up this data in the table, and (c) find that the actual position which corresponds to this data is (4.9, 6.1). The invention concerns compression of such tables, to reduce storage space.

Abstract: A LCD in a laptop computer is resiliently mounted to a light-weight stiff celled composite sandwich panel that protects the LCD against breakage. The composite panel comprises a layer of lightweight preferably aluminum honeycomb celled material that is sandwiched between inner and outer sheets of graphite epoxy material. The carbon fibers comprising the graphite epoxy material have their axes parallel to a plane of the composite panel and exhibit a high strength modulus, whereas the axes of the honeycomb cells are normal to the plane of the composite panel. The LCD is mounted to the composite panel using vibration-isolated threaded fasteners, and/or using double-sided adhesive foam tape. In addition to providing an attachment surface for electronic printed circuit boards, the composite panel advantageously provides a large dissipation area for thermal management.

Abstract: There is provided electronic devices with dielectric layers obtained from boron-oxide doped, spin-on glass formulations which form glassy layers with high oxygen resistance. Suitable electronic devices include integrated circuits. With high oxygen resistance, the glassy layer formed maintains its integrity in subsequent processing. Also provided is a method for preparing boron-oxide doped, spin-on glass formulations with a high carbon content having a silane adhesion promoter and boron-dopant incorporated therein.

Abstract: A procedure for scheduling multiple process requests for read/write access to a disk memory device within a computer system. The procedure considers disk characteristics, such as the number of sectors per track, the number of tracks per cylinder, speed of disk rotation and disk controller queuing capability in determining the optimal order for executing process requests. Process requests are placed in packets within an execution queue, each packet including up to a predetermined maximum number of requests. Within the packets, the process requests are sorted in ascending/descending order by the cylinder number to which the requests desire access, while within each cylinder the requests are placed in next-closest-in-time sequence.

Abstract: A method whereby a host computer system is informed of the drive status in a disk array when one or more of the disk drives fail. A data pattern (timestamp or status code) is written on each of the disk drives in service in the array when an event occurs which changes the operating state of an array. The state of an array changes only when the array is configured, unconfigured, a disk drive fails, parity is marked inconsistent or the array is restored. The timestamp includes a binary number to allow the system to determine the status of each disk drive in the array. At each state, the timestamp on each of the operating disk drives is updated to reflect the number of operating disk drives and the status of the parity data. The distinct binary numbers that result when the array changes states allow the system to maintain the data integrity of the array.

Abstract: The invention concerns the simultaneous display of video data and text data on a computer display. The invention stores both types of data in display memory. Transition codes mark the separation between the two types. The invention converts each type of data into signals which a CRT display can understand. The invention changes the type of conversion, as appropriate, when transition codes are reached.

Abstract: A high performance scaleable hardware architecture for a disk array storage subsystem which supports RAID modes 0, 3, 4 and 5. The architecture features a high bandwidth parity calculation engine, a buffered PCI interface operating at the full speed of the PCI bus, and a dedicated local memory. The dedicated local memory is dual ported so that PCI and parity operations may operate concurrently. The architecture of the disk array controller allows parity calculations and memory block moves to occur without interfering with the controller processor or its associated memory, freeing the controller processor to manage array task control. The array controller configuration allows simultaneous operation of data block moves between storage I/O devices and local memory; data block moves between host SCSI connections and local memory; parity calculations; and normal CPU memory fetches, queued operations for block moves and queued operations for parity tasks.

Abstract: A Video-On-Demand (VOD) system including a plurality of video storage devices; an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) telephony technology network connected to provide video data to a plurality of subscribers; and a unique video server coordinating the conversion and transfer of video data from computer technology devices to the ATM telephony technology network.

Abstract: A probabilistic neural network (PNN) comprises a layer L1 of input nodes, a layer L2 of exemplar nodes, a layer L3 of primary Parzen nodes, a layer L4 of sum nodes, and optionally a layer L5 of output nodes. Each exemplar node determines the degree of match between a respective exemplar vector and an input vector and feeds a respective primary Parzen node. The exemplar and primary Parzen nodes are grouped into design classes, with a sum node for each class which combines the outputs of the primary Parzen nodes for that class and feeds a corresponding output node. The network includes for each primary Parzen node (e.g. L3-2-3P) for the design classes a secondary Parzen node (L3-2-3S), the secondary Parzen nodes all feeding a null class sum node (L4-0). Each secondary Parzen node has a Parzen function with a lower peak amplitude and a broader spread than the corresponding primary Parzen node, and is fed from the exemplar node for that primary Parzen node.

Abstract: An ESD protection system that makes use of several different types of over-voltage protection devices provides ESD conduction paths between different power lines. For example, the system may employ shunt diodes between the ground lines of the different power supplies and between I/O pads and power supply lines; SCR protection between I/O pads and ground; and thick field device protection between different power supply V.sub.DD lines. In this way, a conduction path for an ESD event between two input, output power and ground pads may be implemented using the device whose switching characteristics are best suited to that application.

Abstract: A directional antenna connected to a portable communications transceiver is adaptively directed towards a remote station in a communication system. The amount of RF power required by the portable device is significantly reduced, relative to a non-directional antenna. The operational period of the transceiver between battery recharges is therefore considerably maximized.

Abstract: The invention concerns approaches to interconnecting individual field-effect transistors (FETs) in integrated circuits (ICs), in order to provide a larger, composite transistor. In one approach, the individual FETs are positioned symmetrically about centroids, which are themselves distributed symmetrically over the IC. The invention allows individual digital transistors to be connected into a larger, composite, analog transistor.

Abstract: The invention concerns pen-based computers, wherein a pen, or stylus, is positioned on a display of the computer, and produces a signal which allows the computer to detect the position of the stylus. The stylus produces a second signal, which is used as a carrier for telemetry, to transmit data from the stylus to the computer.

Abstract: The invention concerns battery back-up for electronic equipment. A sensor detects a drop in power supply voltage and, in response, connects the back-up battery to the equipment, via a Field-Effect Transistor (FET). The FET causes a lower voltage drop between the battery and the equipment, as compared with a commonly used alternative, namely, a diode.

Abstract: The invention concerns using Automated Teller Machines as video conferencing stations. In a video conference, two parties can both see, and speak with, each other. The invention allows a user of an ATM to hold a video conference not only with the financial institution which operates the ATM, but with any other suitable facility, such as a personal computer, properly equipped.

Abstract: Electronic display system capable of displaying communication signal strength on individual electronic display modules and method of using the same. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pseudo-price change command is transmitted by a base communication station to an individual electronic display module and the strength of the acknowledgment signal returned by the individual electronic display module is observed and temporarily recorded. The base communication station then transmits a command to change the electronic display on that particular electronic display module to display the value of the received communication signal strength.

Abstract: A CMOS disk drive motor control circuit which has back-EMF regulator circuitry which prevents the back-EMF from the disk drive motor from exceeding a predetermined level. The back-EMF provides an alternate power source for parking the read/write head when power is removed from the disk drive. The circuit is fabricated as a single CMOS integrated circuit which is coupled between a power supply and the disk drive motor. The disk drive control circuit also includes a blocking diode through which power from the power supply flows to the motor and which prevents dissipation of a back-EMF from the motor when power is removed from the motor, and disk drive head parking circuitry which uses the back-EMF to retract and park the disk drive head.