Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement for "seamlessly" integrating telephone services relative to primitive analog telephone equipment into general purpose computer systems. The integration is effected through present "secondary" adaptation of data link control adapter devices which are adapted primarily for coupling such computer systems to high speed data communication links for transmission and reception of digital data. This permits general resources of the computer system (keyboard, memory, disk drives, etc.) to be used for specific applications associated with telephone services. Presently described link control devices have a telephone attachment port which couples through analog-to-digital conversion circuits to a primitive analog telephone (no dial or keys). Such devices operate normally in time division multiplex to process communication data between a computer (host) system and data link ports.

Abstract: An extension module for tandem connection to a base circuit card having an external sheet material jacket girding the card. The module includes a module housing and a pair of spaced apart parallel support fingers extending from the housing. The outer sides of the support fingers are configured for slidable insertion into corresponding spaced apertures in the rearward end of the base circuit card to engage inner surfaces of the jacket adjacent opposite side edges of the jacket of the card. An electrical connector is located between the support fingers and is adapted for mating connection with a corresponding electrical connector located at the rearward end of the base circuit card, when the extension module is connected to the base circuit card.

Abstract: This invention relates to the adaptation of personal computers to communication through external networks, and more particularly to the ready adaptation of such computers to networks of varying characteristics, such as telecommunications networks located in various countries of the world. The adapter has first and second controllable digital/analog convertors for exchanging signals with a digital signal processor of the computer and controllable by a bus interface controller of the computer for converting signals between digital and analog forms. The adapter also has first and second connectors of the type required by the particular external network, coupled to the convertors for exchanging signals with the external network and for exchanging signals with an external device such as a telephone set.

Abstract: A method and computer implementation are disclosed for correcting skew and shift which may occur as the image on a document or other field is scanned with line scanning apparatus. By selecting scans, lines are logically overlaid upon a memory map of the scanned image and a best-fit line is calculated through left-most image points near the left ends of the lines. The best-fit line substantially defines the left margin. The angle which complements the angle between the overlay lines and the best-fit line is calculated and the image map is rotated in storage, aligning the image with scanner's x-axis and y-axis. The method may be started while scanning is still in progress and the last portion of the image may be rotated according to the invention as it is being stored. The left margin is more accurately found by expanding the search for left-most pixels using search areas around the fit originally found left-most points.

Abstract: An extension module for tandem connection to a base circuit card having an external sheet material jacket girding the card. The module includes a module housing and a pair of spaced apart parallel support fingers extending from the housing. The outer sides of the support fingers are configured for slidable insertion into corresponding spaced apertures in the rearward end of the base circuit card to engage inner surfaces of the jacket adjacent opposite side edges of the jacket of the card. An electrical connector is located between the support fingers and is adapted for mating connection with a corresponding electrical connector located at the rearward end of the base circuit card, when the extension module is connected to the base circuit card.

Abstract: A computer system having a CPU, a non-volatile storage device, a power management processor having a volatile power management configuration, and a power supply in circuit communication. The power management processor controls the regulation of power to the CPU by the power supply. Prior to causing the power supply to cease providing regulated power to the CPU, the power management processor interrupts the CPU via a system management interrupt. Responsive to being interrupted via the system management interrupt, the CPU performs tasks associated with the power supply imminently ceasing to provide regulated power to the CPU. Such tasks include writing data to non-volatile memory and refreshing an alarm value in the power management processor. The CPU can extend the period of time before the power management processor causes the power supply to cease providing regulated power to the CPU while the CPU performs the necessary tasks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hand held computer having a housing. The housing has a first side and a second side wherein the second side is opposite the first side. A display and a processor are included in the housing. There is an opening in the first side of the housing for receiving a memory card. A connector is mounted within the housing for connecting the memory card to the processor. An ejector mechanism is operable from outside the housing from the second side to eject the memory card from the connector. The ejector mechanism has a bar that spreads the ejection force to both corners of the card nearest the connector so as to provide balanced ejection force to eject the card without damage to the connector contacts. The bar is moved by a button which is held captive in the second side of the housing. The button transmits the force provided by a user's finger to the bar.

Abstract: An interrupt-driven processor system comprising a processor connected via a plurality of processor input and output lines to a keypad or keyboard. Actuation of one of the keys of the keypad or keyboard generates an interrupt signal on one of the input lines which invokes an interrupt service routine in the processor. A secondary interrupt source can be attached via an interrupt line to each of the input lines with the interrupt service routine being designed to discriminate between an interrupt signal generated by actuation of a key and an interrupt signal generated by a secondary source. Using this technique, further interrupts can be added to an off-the-shelf processor including keypad interrupts without the need for additional interrupt controlling hardware. Furthermore, a custom-built microprocessor can be designed with fewer interrupt pins.

Abstract: Control of LCD backlighting, contrast, and video port selection with BIOS. Calls made from application programs to BIOS result in BIOS read and write operations to a distributed register in video adapters. The use of the register allows BIOS to simultaneously obtain information from multiple displays, as well as simultaneously execute hardware functions such as backlight control. In addition, use of BIOS simplifies programming of hardware related tasks such as backlight control to improve mean time between failure (MTBF) of LCD displays.

Abstract: A register distributed across multiple single port adapters allows the system to operate the single port adapters identically to a single multi-port adapter. Each adapter has its own priority logic identical to the logic used on a multi-port adapter to select an individual port. The priority logic on the adapter allows the system to deselect one adapter and select another adapter in one operation. Each adapter has switch settings to allow selective control of individual bits on the system bus, which allows multiple adapters to respond to the processor simultaneously for different ports in the same manner as a multi-port adapter. By replying simultaneously, the system can use the same software to control two different hardware adapter types: single port, or multi-port.

Abstract: A fixture is provided for locating open conditions within circuits and short conditions between adjacent circuits on a flexible substrate having circuits extending along each side, as well as individual circuits extending along both sides. In one station of the fixture, the flexible circuit extends against a conductive backing plate, and conductivity measurements, to detect open conditions, are made between two probes moving among test points on the first side of the substrate, which is opposite the backing plate, and between one of these probes and the conductive backing plate. The latter type of measurement is used particularly to detect an open condition in a via extending through the substrate.

Abstract: A network adapter and wiring scheme makes use of existing plain old telephone service (POTS) wiring to provide support between analog devices within the subscriber premise and an Integrated Digital Service Network (ISDN). Moreover, the network adapter and wiring scheme provides further support between digital devices within the premise and the ISDN while concurrently supporting analog devices.

Abstract: This invention relates to personal computers used as network servers, and more particularly to unattended activation and operation of such personal computers through cooperation of power supplies for supplying electrical power to electrically operated components which manipulate or store digital data with a controlling network option card added to the personal computer in adapting it to the network environment. In accordance with this invention, a system administrator is relieved of any necessity of leaving equipment in the power-on active state in order to have network resources available to client users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing circuit boards uses a pair of probes to contact the various nodes on the circuit board. A single one of the pair of probes may be used to deposit a charge at a being tested net and checking for the presence of a charge at subsequent nets to determine whether a short condition exists. Moreover, the pair of probes is used to contact two nodes of a network being tested to measure the resistance within the network being tested; the measured resistance being compared to a nominal resistance, to determine whether an open condition exists. In addition, the pair of probes may be used to measure the resistance between networks in order to verify or determine whether a short condition exists between networks.