Abstract: The invention includes apparatus and methods for forming a tape pack on a drum or the like in aligned formation. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention can include at least one alignment member. The tape pack, as it is formed, can be periodically passed by the alignment member to facilitate substantially aligned formation thereof. A method in accordance with the present invention includes rotating a tape pack, winding a length of tape around the tape pack, and periodically passing the tape pack past a localized, stationary contact point where outermost windings of the tape pack are urged into aligned formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decompressing and communicating a predetermined amount of data in a client-server environment in which the server relays communications between a client web browser and at least one shared peripheral device. Compressed data from the peripheral device is decompressed on-the-fly, and is packaged and transmitted to the client web browser. Appropriate logic is provided to ensure that the web browser receives an expected amount of decompressed data regardless of the amount of compressed data provided by the peripheral device. Moreover, logic is provided to reduce the amount of resources required in decompressing the data.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a credential transfer method for use on a distributed electronic network (2), the method comprising the steps of a sender (4) communicating to a recipient (6) a credential index (300) comprising an index referring to at least one credential (302), the recipient (6) selecting at least one of the credentials (302) from the index (300) of at least one credential provided by the sender (4), the recipient (6) communicating to the sender (4) an indication of the selected at least one credential (302) and the sender (4) providing to the recipient (6) at least one credential (302) corresponding to the selected at least one credential. A corresponding method of communication, system and digital credential index are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention enables an application program to communicate a message over a network without having information regarding a protocol employed by the network. A network library program, running independently of the application program, stores communication protocol data and procedures for establishing message transport data structures to be used in communicating over the network. Initially, the application program passes an address string to the network library program. In response, the network library program determines a network protocol to be used by analyzing the received address string. The network library program then creates a “transport address” data structure which records both the protocol and the address string. The network library program further establishes a “transport” data structure for the specific message type to be dispatched, which data structure includes a dispatch command and a socket handle to be used during the transmission.

Abstract: A computing system includes a viewing screen, user interface means, a plurality of application processes, a data file and agent engine means. The viewing screen displays images. The user interface means enables a user to select and move the images displayed by the viewing screen. Each application process in the plurality of application processes includes command processor means and action processor means. The command processor means receives semantic commands and executes the semantic commands. The action processor means monitors selection and movement of the images on the viewing screen and generates the semantic commands by lexical and syntactical analysis of the selection and movement of the images on the viewing screen. The semantic commands are sent to the command processor for execution. The data file includes first semantic commands executable by a first application process from the plurality of application processes.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for efficiently translating virtual addresses utilizing either single address space or multiple address space models in a virtual memory management system. In particular, a Virtual Hash Page Table (VHPT), an extension of the Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) hierarchy, is designed to enhance virtual address translation performance. Virtual Hash Page Table (VHPT) efficiently supports two different methods of operating systems use to translate virtual addresses to physical addresses. This directly benefits the highly frequented path of address resolution.

Abstract: A method and substrate using a wave spring to clamp a component to the substrate. One embodiment of the invention involves a method to use a wave spring to clamp a component to a substrate. The method includes placing the component on the substrate, placing a structure having holes on the component, placing a number of wave springs on a corresponding number of bolts, inserting the bolts into the holes in the structure, and attaching the bolts to the substrate. A second embodiment of the invention involves a substrate with an electrical contact area, an interposer placed on the electrical contact area, a component placed on the interposer, a block having holes placed on the component, bolts and wave springs inserted in the holes, wherein the bolts and wave springs clamp the component, the interposer and the substrate together on the electrical contact area of the substrate.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems for dynamically measuring the capacity of a host system to gather network management data by a network management system application. The methods of the present invention are operable as part of a network management system on host systems of the network management applications. An NMS application is provided a list of other nodes on the network with which it will likely exchange data to perform desired network management functions. The NMS application then directs a steady stream of data units to the identified nodes which, in turn, echo the received data units back to the originating host system. The data units are sequentially identified with, at least, a sequence number. The NMS application then examines the data unit received back from the nodes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting a plurality of electronic, or electrical, devices include at least one elongated structural element that defines an elongated channel in which the devices can be supported. The structural element can be a singlepiece configuration. A plurality of support surfaces can be defined on the structural element, or can be defined on a support member which is mounted on the structural element. The support surfaces supportably contact each of the devices while the devices are supported on the structural element. Two or more structural elements can be connected to one another in a substantially parallel orientation to provide additional supporting capacity for additional devices. A fan can be employed to induce the flow of a stream of air through a respective structural element to facilitate cooling of the devices.

Abstract: A projection surface includes scattering microparticles that are in constant motion in relation to each other and to a source of laser radiation in a laser projection system. The microparticles reduce the formation of spots that normally occur when viewing the contents of images which are uniformly illuminated by means of laser projection and which are reflected off a projection surface. The microparticles are reflective in a suspension fluid and move due to Brownian molecular motion. A mirror is placed on the back wall of the screen so that the viewer sees both the backscattered light from the incident beam as well as the forward scattered light from the reflected beam. A cellular structure is located in the suspension fluid to laterally confine the scattered light increasing the sharpness of the laser light seen by the viewer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optics module for a scanning device such as a portable scanner. The optics module includes an illumination source and guide that transmits light through an optical window of the scanning device casing before reflecting off of the object to be scanned. The reflected light from the object travels back through the optical window and a lens before reaching a photosensor for evaluation by an associated microprocessor. The optical window of the scanning device provides a recessed portion in the scanning device casing. The recessed portion of the window is formed using the functional components of the optics module to eliminate a piece of glass typically used within the optical window that can be easily scratched or broken and provides a loss during the illumination process.

Abstract: A display apparatus for selectively controlling the illumination of two dependent visual indicators with a single control line. The apparatus includes two visual indicators, two amplifiers, and a logic circuit. The same end of the two visual indicators connect to a conductive terminal. A first amplifier connects between the line and the other end of one indicator and a second amplifier connects between the line and the other end of the other indicator. A combination of signals applied to the two inputs selectively illuminates one or both indicators with one signal from the control line. The inventive circuit designs of the present invention are compact in size, elegant in its simplicity and operation, and miserly in its power consumption. Therefore, a minimal amount of power will be used to highly illuminate one or two visual indicators being dependent on one another with the use of a single control pin of an IC.

Abstract: A memory device responsive to command signals includes multiple banks of memory arrays. Each bank includes a plurality of primary storage cells and a spare unit of spare storage cells. A detector detects an error in a first unit of the primary storage cells in a first one of the banks. A controller responsive to command signals automatically re-maps the first unit of the primary storage cells to the spare unit of storage cells, without interrupting access to memory data.

Abstract: A belt drive operative to rotate one or more photoconductor drums while carrying media sheets past the rotating drum or drums. For single pass color printers in which the different color planes are developed using a series of photoconductor drums, a substantially flat movable belt is positioned adjacent to and extends across each of the drums. The belt simultaneously engages each drum so that movement of the belt past the drums causes the drums to rotate together as the belt carries media sheets past the rotating drums. In one preferred version of the invention, grit applied to the ends of the drum(s) and/or to the edge of the belt is used to transfer driving force from the belt to the drums.

Abstract: A modular cooling component for installation in multi-component-bay electronic devices. The modular cooling component includes multiple cooling fans, each positioned to produce an air stream within a component bay of a multi-component-bay electronic device. The cooling fans are internally wired and interconnected to signal lines and power supply lines of the electronic device through a plastic plug-type electrical connector. The modular cooling component is held in place by a thumbscrew.

Abstract: A computer system housing for providing an attenuating barrier for electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise. The computer system housing includes a backplane wall having a plurality of connectors for receiving PCB's, and a bulkhead wall coupled to the backplane wall. The bulkhead wall defines a plurality of bulkhead slots through which connector receptacles of printed circuit boards (PCB's) can extend. An EMI bulkhead gasket is positioned on the bulkhead wall. A conductive metal impregnated, elastomer EMI gasket is positioned on a mounting flange of the bulkhead wall. The computer system housing also includes a plurality of bulkhead plates. The bulkhead plates contact the EMI bulkhead gasket and the elastomer EMI gasket along their entire peripheral edges so that EMI noise is conducted through these gaskets to the bulkhead wall. The computer system housing further includes a bulkhead plate alignment and mounting system that does not employ separable fasteners.

Abstract: A servo positioned carriage and actuator assembly in which a part of the carriage is positioned within the central portion of the motor. The motor, typically a voice coil motor, includes a coil of electrically conductive windings and a magnet or magnets adjacent to the coil. In one embodiment of the invention, the central portion of the motor is defined by a perimeter of the magnets and the carriage is positioned at least partially inside this perimeter. The carriage, for example, will typically include a ring shaped center portion in which the coil is mounted. This ring shaped center portion mounting the coil is positioned inside the magnets to help minimize the overall mass of the carriage elements of the assembly.

Abstract: In general, the present invention provides an efficient and effective means for positioning multiple documents over a scanning surface of a scanner or copier without a user's intervention. More specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus and process for allowing a plurality of photographic prints to be moved from a tray to a scanning surface and back to the tray without being damaged. Each document is scanned through a transparent belt that protects the document as it moves through the inventive photofeeder and across an associated surface of a scanner or copier.