Abstract: An apparatus and a method for node synchronization that can be used in a heterogeneous computer system where nodes in the system do not share a common system clock. Time stamps, which are critically important, are attached to transaction requests. Time stamps are based on a “time of day” value, which may simply be a register incremented by a system clock. Since each node has its own system clock, the frequency of these clocks may drift which results in variation in the time stamp values. If the values drift too far apart, data updates may be lost. A frequency synthesizer capable of high resolution and rapid frequency adjustments can be connected to system clock. When a shift in phase between the master and slave time of day values is detected, the frequency synthesizer output can be changed by a small amount to bring the two signals back into phase.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving estimation of battery impedance when determining the state of charge of a battery including injecting a wide spectrum signal continuously across a battery when the battery is in generator mode. Additionally, the wide spectrum signal may be injected across an alternator of a conventional internal combustion engine to improve estimation of battery impedance and subsequent state of charge the battery.

Abstract: A continuous heat set line for setting yarn, having spaced-apart, elongate, tubular entrance and exit cooling chambers interconnected by an elongate intermediate steam heat-setting chamber communicating therewith. The entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate heat-setting chamber collectively define a single longitudinally-extending axis along the combined length thereof. Sealing heads seal the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the intermediate heat-setting chamber to a degree sufficient to maintain a pressurized condition within the heat-setting chamber. A yarn conveyor extends through the pretreatment chamber for conveying the yarn through the entrance and exit cooling chambers and the heat-setting chamber. At least one piston and cylinder assembly moves sealing rolls into and out of position relative to each other, while independently-operating springs urge the rolls together sufficiently to effect a seal.

Abstract: A method for determining state of charge (SOC) of a battery system based upon an equivalent circuit of the battery system. A potential and resistance of the equivalent circuit are computed. The method uses a least squares regression means, and includes: providing a plurality of data points as a starting point based upon determinations including measurement or prior computation, wherein the determinations include a determination of a voltage of the battery system; weighting the plurality of data points; and computing values of the resistance and potential based upon weighted data points using recursive formulas, wherein only a state at a previous time is reflected respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for making high resolution frequency adjustments in a multistage frequency synthesizer. The initial stage of the frequency synthesizer is a conventional phase lock loop connected to a dynamically variable frequency divider. There are one or more intermediate stages that consist of the forward portion of a phase locked loop with feedback through a fixed frequency divider and connected to a dynamically variable frequency divider. The final stage consists of the forward portion of a phase locked loop with feedback through a fixed frequency divider and connected to another fixed frequency divider. By varying the constant of division in the variable frequency dividers in the circuit, fine frequency adjustments can be made very rapidly. The precision of the adjustments depends on the relative values of the frequency dividers and the number of intermediate stages in the system.

Abstract: A method for determining state of charge (SOC) of a battery system based upon an equivalent circuit of the battery system. A potential and resistance of the equivalent circuit are computed. The method uses a least squares regression means, and includes: providing a plurality of data points as a starting point based upon determinations including measurement or prior computation, wherein the determinations include a determination of a voltage of the battery system; weighting the plurality of data points; and computing values of the resistance and potential based upon weighted data points using recursive formulas, wherein only a state at a previous time is reflected respectively.

Abstract: A thermal radiation shield 44 and a method for applying the same includes a first coating layer 46, a second coating layer 48, and a thermal shield layer 50. The first coating layer 46 is applied to a first surface. The second coating layer 48 is applied to a second service. The thermal shield layer 50 is positioned between the first coating layer 46 and the second coating layer 48 to form the thermal radiation shield 44. The thermal radiation shield 44 has non-interfering electrical properties.

Abstract: A purge control system for an electric vehicle including a fuel tank, a purge canister coupled to the fuel tank, an internal combustion engine coupled to the purge canister, a microgenerator coupled to the purge canister, and where said microgenerator uses fuel in the purge canister to generate electrical energy.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for making small frequency adjustments in a frequency synthesizer. The frequency synthesizer consists of the forward portion of a phase locked loop with feedback through a fixed frequency divider and the output of the forward portion of the phase locked loop connected to a dynamically variable frequency divider. By changing the constant of division in the variable frequency divider, the output of the frequency divider can be rapidly changed in small increments. The dynamically variable frequency divider is key to this design. This digital circuit stores the current divisor value and has an input for a new divisor value. When a signal is sent to switch to the new divisor value, the circuit uses an incrementer and associated logic to rapidly change to the new constant of division.

Abstract: A thermal radiation shield 44 and a method for applying the same includes a first coating layer 46, a second coating layer 48, and a thermal shield layer 50. The first coating layer 46 is applied to a first surface. The second coating layer 48 is applied to a second service. The thermal shield layer 50 is positioned between the first coating layer 46 and the second coating layer 48 to form the thermal radiation shield 44. The thermal radiation shield 44 has non-interfering electrical properties.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving estimation of battery impedance when determining the state of charge of a battery including injecting a wide spectrum signal continuously across a battery when the battery is in generator mode. Additionally, the wide spectrum signal may be injected across an alternator of a conventional internal combustion engine to improve estimation of battery impedance and subsequent state of charge the battery.

Abstract: A method of determining the state of a battery including the steps of generating a state vector that describes the state of the battery, predicting a response for the state vector, measuring a response of the battery, and correcting the state vector based on the differences between the predicted response and a measured response to determine the state of the battery.

Abstract: A low noise imaging apparatus for producing Magnetic Resonance (MR) images of a subject and for substantially minimizing acoustic noise generated during imaging is provided. The imaging apparatus comprises a magnet assembly, a gradient coil assembly, and a rf coil assembly, wherein at least one of the magnet assembly, the gradient coil assembly and the rf coil assembly are configured to reduce the generation and transmission of acoustic noise.

Abstract: High levels of inorganic filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer are compounded and devolatilized into homogeneous filled compositions with requisite reinforcing properties and levels of volatiles. In the method, a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer are mixed in a first compounding apparatus to produce a dispersed composition containing volatiles. The dispersed composition is then compounded in a long extruder having an L/D ratio of greater than 50 to devolatilize the dispersed composition.

Abstract: A method of and system for transmitting multicast packets unidirectionally from a transmitter of a source network to a receiver of a client network and unicast packets bidirectionally between the source network and the client network by configuring a selected router of the client network to accept multicast packets from the receiver, establishing a virtual connection between the selected router of the client network and a selected router of the source network, and advertising in the client network that the virtual connection is the shortest path from the client network to the source network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the state of charge of a battery including determining a current-based state of charge measurement based on coulomb integration, determining a voltage-based state of charge measurement based on the resistance of said battery and a hysteresis voltage, and combining the current-based state of charge measurement and the voltage-based state of charge measurement to generate the state of charge measurement of the battery.

Abstract: A non-uniform memory access (NUMA) computer system includes at least a local processing node and a remote processing node that are each coupled to a node interconnect. The local processing node includes a local interconnect, a processor and a system memory coupled to the local interconnect, and a node controller interposed between the local interconnect and the node interconnect. In response to receipt of a read request from the local interconnect, the node controller speculatively transmits the read request to the remote processing node via the node interconnect. Thereafter, in response to receipt of a response to the read request from the remote processing node, the node controller handles the response in accordance with a resolution of the read request at the local processing node.

Abstract: A method for supporting software partition and dynamic reconfiguration within a non-uniform memory access (NUMA) computer system is disclosed. A NUMA computer system includes multiple nodes coupled to an interconnect. Each of the nodes includes a NUMA bridge, a local system memory, and at least one processor having at least a local cache memory. Multiple groups of software partitions are formed within the NUMA computer system, and each of the software partitions is formed by a subset of the nodes. A destination map table is provided in a NUMA bridge of each of the nodes for keeping track of the nodes within a software partition. A command is forwarded to only the nodes within a software partition.

Abstract: A non-uniform memory access (NUMA) computer system includes a plurality of processing nodes coupled to a node interconnect. The plurality of processing nodes include at least a remote processing node, which contains a processor having an associated cache hierarchy, and a home processing node. The home processing node includes a shared system memory containing a plurality of memory granules and a coherence directory that indicates possible coherence states of copies of memory granules among the plurality of memory granules that are stored within at least one processing node other than the home processing node. If the processor within the remote processing node has a reservation for a memory granule among the plurality of memory granules that is not resident within the associated cache hierarchy, the coherence directory associates the memory granule with a coherence state indicating that the reserved memory granule may possibly be held non-exclusively at the remote processing node.

Abstract: A method for avoiding livelocks due to colliding invalidating transactions within a non-uniform memory access system is disclosed. A NUMA computer system includes at least two nodes coupled to an interconnect. Each of the two nodes includes a local system memory. In response to a request by a processor of a first node to invalidate a remote copy of a cache line also stored within its cache memory at substantially the same time when a processor of a second node is also requesting to invalidate said cache line, one of the two requests is allowed to complete. The allowed request is the first request to complete without retry at the point of coherency, typically the home node. Subsequently, the other one of the two requests is permitted to complete.