Abstract: A parallel processor is provided that includes integrated debugging capabilities. The processor includes a pipelined processing engine, having an array of processing element complex stages, and input and output header buffers. A debug system is provided that, when triggered, may put some or all of the processing element complexes into a debug mode of operation. When a complex is in debug mode, examination of internal stages of the component circuits of the complex may occur, in order to facilitate debugging of software and hardware errors that may occur during operation of the processor.

Abstract: A synchronization and control system for an arrayed processing engine of an intermediate network station comprises sequencing circuitry that controls the processing engine. The processing engine generally includes a plurality of processing element stages arrayed as parallel pipelines. The control system further includes an input header buffer (IHB) and an output header buffer (OHB), the latter comprising circuitry for receiving current transient data processed by the pipelines and for decoding control signals to determine a destination for the processed data. One destination is a feedback path that couples the OHB to the IHB and returns the processed data to the IHB for immediate loading into an available pipeline.

Abstract: A system and technique facilitate fast context switching among processor complex stages of a pipelined processing engine. Each processor complex comprises a central processing unit (CPU) core having a plurality of internal context switchable registers that are connected to respective registers within CPU cores of the pipelined stages by a processor bus. The technique enables fast context switching by sharing the context switchable registers between upstream and downstream CPUs to, inter alia, force program counters into the downstream registers. In one aspect of the inventive technique, the system automatically reflects (shadows) the contents of an upstream CPU's context switchable registers at respective registers of a downstream CPU over the processor bus. In another aspect of the invention, the system redirects instruction execution by the downstream CPU to an appropriate routine based on processing performed by the upstream CPU.

Abstract: A high temperature rechargeable electrochemical cell comprises a housing in the form of a canister which is polygonal in cross-section so that it has a plurality of peripherally spaced corners. A solid electrolyte separator which is a conductor of sodium ions, separates the interior of the housing into an anode compartment containing an anode and a cathode compartment containing a cathode. The separator is tubular or cup-shaped, having a closed end and an open end, and having a plurality of peripherally spaced radially outwardly projecting ribs or lobes corresponding in number to the corners of the housing. The separator is concentrically located in the housing, with each lobe of the separator being peripherally aligned with, and projecting towards, one of said corners of the housing. Anchoring components anchoring the separator in position relative to the housing, are provided.

Abstract: A method of making a cathode for a high temperature rechargeable electrochemical cell comprises impregnating a mixture, in granular form, of an alkali metal halide and a substance comprising a transition metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium, manganese, and mixtures thereof, with an alkali metal aluminium halide molten salt electrolyte. The impregnated mixture is subjected to at least one charge cycle in a high temperature electrochemical cell in which the impregnated mixture forms the cathode and is located in a cathode compartment of the cell. The cathode compartment is separated from an anode compartment by a solid electrolyte separator. Alkali metal forms in the anode compartment during the charge cycle.

Abstract: A method of maintaining directory data in a switching system network having plural switching systems and a centralized directory data management system in which local directory data is stored at each switching system, A copy of directory data of all the switching systems is stored at the management system. Directory data entries of the directory data stored at the management system are associated with groups of switching systems. Data entries associated within each group are downloaded to the switching systems designated in that group.

Abstract: A high temperature rechargeable electrochemical power storage cell comprises an anode compartment containing a molten alkali metal anode; a cathode compartment containing an alkali metal aluminium halide molten salt electrolyte as well as a cathode which comprises an electronically conductible electrolyte-permeable porous matrix which has dispersed therein an active cathode substance, with the matrix being impregnated with said molten electrolyte; a separator separating the anode compartment from the electrolyte; and a wick in the anode compartment to enhance contact of alkali metal with the separator in the anode compartment. The wick comprises a layer of alkali metal wettable particles on the separator surface, and a metallic anchoring component abutting the wettable particles and protruding into the anode compartment.

Abstract: The invention provides a rechargeable high temperature electrochemical storage cell having a molten alkali metal anode and a cathode separated from the anode by a ceramic solid electrolyte separator which is a conductor of ions of the anode. The separator has, in contact with its surface exposed to the alkali metal of the anode, a lining of material which is porous to and permeable by the molten alkali metal of the anode. The molten alkali metal of the anode, when in contact with the surface of the material of the lining, exhibits a contact angle of at least 90.degree. with respect to the surface of the lining material.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing a surface of a ceramic solid electrolyte conductor of alkali metal ions for wetting by said alkali metal in molten form. The method comprises doping the ceramic surface with an oxide of a transition metal. Transition metals such as Fe, Ni, Cu, Mn, Co, Cr or Mo have suitable oxides for doping beta-alumina for wetting by sodium.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of making a cathode for a high temperature rechargeable electrochemical cell. A mixture is formed in particulate form of an alkali metal chloride such as sodium chloride and a substance comprising a transition metal such as iron, and the mixture is impregnated with a chloride ion-containing alkali metal aluminium halide molten salt liquid electrolyte such as molten sodium aluminium chloride. The impregnated mixture is then subjected to at least one charge cycle in a high temperature cell in which it forms the cathode and is separated from an alkali metal anode by a solid electrolyte separator.

Abstract: In a sodium sulphur cell, improved protection of a cathode current collector is obtained by isostatically pressing graphite foil or flakes onto the surface of the collector, which surface is preferably roughened or coated with an intermediate conductive layer such as a nickel-chromium alloy or a conductive carbide providing a rough surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making a cathode for an electrochemical cell which involves incorporating sodium chloride in dispersed form into an electrolyte permeable matrix and impregnating the matrix with a suitable sodium aluminum halide molten salt electrolyte. The matrix is formed from a transition metal selected from at least one member of the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Cr and Mn, and the intermediate refractory hard metal compounds of said transition metals with at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, boron, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Abstract: In a sodium sulphur cell, improved protection of a cathode current collector is obtained by isostatically pressing graphite foil or flakes onto the surface of the collector, which surface is preferably roughened or coated with an intermediate conductive layer such as a nickel-chromium alloy or a conductive carbide providing a rough surface.

Abstract: In a sodium sulphur cell having beta alumina solid electrolyte material separating an anodic region containing sodium from a cathodic region, the surface of the electrolyte exposed to the sodium is pretreated with a first metal, conveniently lead, which will form an alloy with sodium and the anodic region contains a second metal, e.g. titanium or aluminium which will react with sodium oxide to form a sodium oxide compound of the second metal or an oxide thereof. The combined effect of these features gives a significant improvement in preventing resistance rise of the cell on discharge.

Abstract: In a sodium sulphur cell or other electrochemical cell or energy conversion device in which beta-alumina is used as a solid electrolyte in contact with liquid sodium, improved wetting of the electrolyte by the sodium is obtained by coating the electrolyte, on the surface in contact with the sodium, with a metal, such as lead or bismuth, which will form an alloy with sodium. Conveniently the electrolyte is coated with an aqueous solution of lead acetate, dried and the lead acetate decomposed by heating to leave a lead coating.

Abstract: In a sodium sulphur cell having a solid electrolyte tube separating an annular anodic region containing liquid sodium from a cathodic reactant, this anodic region containing also metallic aluminium flakes constituting a wicking medium.