Abstract: A system having input/output hot spot tracking is disclosed. The storage system includes a storage device, a host controller coupled to the storage device, and a tracking engine coupled to the host controller and the storage device. The host controller is configured to managed input/output of the storage device. The tracking engine includes a storage map cycling between active status and passive status. Input/output commands are stored in the storage map during the active status. Like input/output commands in the storage map during active status are counted and compared to a number. Counts greater than the number are reported as input/output hot spots.

Abstract: A storage system is disclosed including storage devices configured to store data, and a logical storage volume coupled to the storage devices and configured to store a subset of the data as segments. The storage system also includes a controller including a cache and memory. The memory is configured to include records such that each record corresponds with a segment in the logical storage volume and each record includes information regarding data stored in the corresponding segment. The controller is configured to access the records in response to a cache miss of the cache to determine if requested data from the cache miss is stored and ready for access in the logical storage volume. The controller is also configured to update the subset of data stored in the segments as a function of cache misses.

Abstract: A system having input/output hot spot tracking is disclosed. The storage system includes a storage device, a host controller coupled to the storage device, and a tracking engine coupled to the host controller and the storage device. The host controller is configured to managed input/output of the storage device. The tracking engine includes a storage map cycling between active status and passive status. Input/output commands are stored in the storage map during the active status. Like input/output commands in the storage map during active status are counted and compared to a number. Counts greater than the number are reported as input/output hot spots.

Abstract: A storage system is disclosed including storage devices configured to store data, and a logical storage volume coupled to the storage devices and configured to store a subset of the data as segments. The storage system also includes a controller including a cache and memory. The memory is configured to include records such that each record corresponds with a segment in the logical storage volume and each record includes information regarding data stored in the corresponding segment. The controller is configured to access the records in response to a cache miss of the cache to determine if requested data from the cache miss is stored and ready for access in the logical storage volume. The controller is also configured to update the subset of data stored in the segments as a function of cache misses.

Abstract: A system and method for producing spectrally segmented images of object fields. In one embodiment the system includes an optical system that focuses light received from an object field along a focal plane with a field stop positioned within the optical system that has plural apertures for selectively transmitting the light from the object field. A diffractive element is positioned within the optical system to spectrally spread, along the focal plane, the light transmitted through the apertures. The apertures can be parallel slots or geometrically arranges holes. The plural apertures are spaced such that the spectrally spread light transmitted through any given aperture and incident upon the focal plane does not overlap on the focal plane with the light transmitted through any other aperture. The diffractive element may spread light across one or more directions. In one embodiment, a processor is coupled to a plurality of pixels in a focal plane array.

Abstract: Storage controllers and related methods of operation are described. One method tracks storage access operations to a logical disk. The method persistently identifies storage blocks that have been accessed. Responsive to the identifying, the method selectively skips subsequent operations to storage blocks that have not been accessed.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing firmware revisions in redundant controllers in a storage system is disclosed. Redundant controllers transmit firmware revision numbers during the establishment of a communication links between the controllers. The revision numbers are compared and, if they are not equal, then controller that possesses the more recent firmware revision transmits its firmware across the communication link to the other controller. The more recent firmware is stored in the memory of the other controller, which is then re-booted to ensure that both controllers are operating with the same firmware. If a failed controller is replaced or rebooted while the other controller remains operational, then the firmware revision from the operational controller is transmitted to the replaced or re-booted controller and stored in its memory. The controller is then re-booted to ensure that both controllers are operating with the same firmware.

Abstract: Wafer-level electronic packages having waveguides and methods of fabricating chip-level electronic packages having waveguides are disclosed. A representative chip-level electronic package includes at least one waveguide having a waveguide core. In addition, another representative chip-level electronic package includes a waveguide having an air-gap cladding layer around a portion of the waveguide core. A representative method for fabricating a chip-level electronic package includes: providing a substrate having a passivation layer disposed on the substrate; disposing a waveguide core on a portion of the passivation layer; disposing a first sacrificial layer onto at least one portion of the passivation layer and the waveguide core; disposing an overcoat layer onto the passivation layer and the first sacrificial layer; and removing the first sacrificial layer to define an air-gap cladding layer within the overcoat polymer layer and around a portion of the waveguide core.

Abstract: A method of operating a storage controller that receives data access requests containing a logical block address and a count of blocks involved in the access request. A record is generated and persistently stored indicating whether particular logical block addresses have been accessed since creation. The persistent record is subsequently accessed to enable selected operations to be skipped or aborted when they selected operations involve logical block addresses that have never been accessed.

Abstract: Wafer-level electronic packages having waveguides and methods of fabricating chip-level electronic packages having waveguides are disclosed. A representative chip-level electronic package includes at least one waveguide having a waveguide core. In addition, another representative chip-level electronic package includes a waveguide having an air-gap cladding layer around a portion of the waveguide core. A representative method for fabricating a chip-level electronic package includes: providing a substrate having a passivation layer disposed on the substrate; disposing a waveguide core on a portion of the passivation layer; disposing a first sacrificial layer onto at least one portion of the passivation layer and the waveguide core; disposing an overcoat layer onto the passivation layer and the first sacrificial layer; and removing the first sacrificial layer to define an air-gap cladding layer within the overcoat polymer layer and around a portion of the waveguide core.

Abstract: A compensated radome is provided, comprising an inner layer of a negative index of refraction material, often referred to as a “metamaterial”, and an outer layer of a positive index of refraction material. The thickness of the two materials and their respective refractive indices are adjusted so that a beam of light passing through the radome is effectively not refracted. The metamaterial-compensated radomes solve the bore sight angle problem with a minimum of complexity.

Abstract: Optical interconnect layers and methods of fabrication thereof are described. In addition, the optical interconnect layers integrated into devices such as backplane (BP), printed wiring board (PWB), and multi-chip module (MCM) level devices are described. A representative optical interconnect layer includes a first cladding layer, a second cladding layer, one or more waveguides having a waveguide core and an air-gap cladding layer engaging a portion of waveguide core, wherein the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer engage the waveguide.

Abstract: A compensated radome is provided, comprising an inner layer of a negative index of refraction material, often referred to as a “metamaterial”, and an outer layer of a positive index of refraction material. The thickness of the two materials and their respective refractive indices are adjusted so that a beam of light passing through the radome is effectively not refracted. The metamaterial-compensated radomes solve the bore sight angle problem with a minimum of complexity.

Abstract: Wafer-level electronic packages having waveguides and methods of fabricating chip-level electronic packages having waveguides are disclosed. A representative chip-level electronic package includes at least one waveguide having a waveguide core. In addition, another representative chip-level electronic package includes a waveguide having an air-gap cladding layer around a portion of the waveguide core. A representative method for fabricating a chip-level electronic package includes: providing a substrate having a passivation layer disposed on the substrate; disposing a waveguide core on a portion of the passivation layer; disposing a first sacrificial layer onto at least one portion of the passivation layer and the waveguide core; disposing an overcoat layer onto the passivation layer and the first sacrificial layer; and removing the first sacrificial layer to define an air-gap cladding layer within the overcoat polymer layer and around a portion of the waveguide core.

Abstract: Optical interconnect layers and methods of fabrication thereof are described. In addition, the optical interconnect layers integrated into devices such as backplane (BP), printed wiring board (PWB), and multi-chip module (MCM) level devices are described. A representative optical interconnect layer includes a first cladding layer, a second cladding layer, one or more waveguides having a waveguide core and an air-gap cladding layer engaging a portion of waveguide core, wherein the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer engage the waveguide.

Abstract: A method of absorbing microwave radiation is provided. The method comprises placing a structure in the path of the microwave radiation, the structure comprising an array of metal plates supported over a metal substrate by vertical conducting vias. The structure finds specific use in missiles having a dome portion that operates in a stealth mode. At least the inside of the dome portion is provided with the above-described structure for absorbing microwave radiation. The structure also finds use in anechoic chambers for use in testing microwave-emitting devices. Such anechoic chambers have walls, a floor, and a ceiling, which are provided with the above-described structure for absorbing microwave radiation. Surface patterning is thus used to enhance the micro-wave absorption. In addition, the frequency over which the material is highly absorptive can be shifted by changing the height of the structure, thus allowing active control (“tunable in real time”).

Abstract: A system and method for producing spectrally segmented images of object fields. In one embodiment the system includes an optical system that focuses light received from an object field along a focal plane with a field stop positioned within the optical system that has plural apertures for selectively transmitting the light from the object field. A diffractive element is positioned within the optical system to spectrally spread, along the focal plane, the light transmitted through the apertures. The apertures can be parallel slots or geometrically arranges holes. The plural apertures are spaced such that the spectrally spread light transmitted through any given aperture and incident upon the focal plane does not overlap on the focal plane with the light transmitted through any other aperture. The diffractive element may spread light across one or more directions. In one embodiment, a processor is coupled to a plurality of pixels in a focal plane array.

Abstract: A method of operating a storage controller that receives data access requests containing a logical block address and a count of blocks involved in the access request. A record is generated and persistently stored indicating whether particular logical block addresses have been accessed since creation. The persistent record is subsequently accessed to enable selected operations to be skipped or aborted when they selected operations involve logical block addresses that have never been accessed.

Abstract: A new and improved apparatus and method for rebuilding a replacement disk of a fault tolerant, mass storage drive array subsystem of a computer system. The method calls for a microprocessor to check a stripe for consistency. If the stripe is inconsistent, the microprocessor rebuilds a predetermined number of stripes. If the checked stripe is consistent, then the microprocessor checks a next stripe and repeats the above-described process. Because the drive array subsystem receives both system requests and rebuild requests, the present invention allows a user to select the drive array subsystem's priority in processing system requests versus rebuild requests, thereby allowing greater system access to the drive array subsystem during peak times of system requests.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing firmware revisions in redundant controllers in a storage system is disclosed. Redundant controllers transmit firmware revision numbers during the establishment of a communication links between the controllers. The revision numbers are compared and, if they are not equal, then controller that possesses the more recent firmware revision transmits its firmware across the communication link to the other controller. The more recent firmware is stored in the memory of the other controller, which is then re-booted to ensure that both controllers are operating with the same firmware. If a failed controller is replaced or rebooted while the other controller remains operational, then the firmware revision from the operational controller is transmitted to the replaced or re-booted controller and stored in its memory. The controller is then re-booted to ensure that both controllers are operating with the same firmware.