Abstract: Digital data communication system uses a common channel to carry both normal messages and supervisory messages, the latter being inserted into the message stream during intervals between normal messages. Each transmitting location has a switch or equivalent controller with three settings. Setting 1 enables data to pass from the normal message generator directly to the channel. Setting 2 enables data to pass indirectly from the normal message generator through a delay line to the channel. Setting 3 enables data to pass from the supervisory message generator to the channel. Message status means associated with the delay line enables the switch to assume setting 3 when no normal message is being generated and a supervisory message is awaiting transmission.

Abstract: A plurality of digital data processing systems are interconnected as nodes in a telecommunication network. When two intelligent nodes are conneected and one local node determines that a process which it is executing requires the use of resources held at the second remote node, the local system sends a request to the remote system. It is desirable that the remote system handle the request from the local system as it handles all other requests so that source integrity is maintained. The local system, in response to a request from a local application program which it is sevicing, sends a corresponding transaction request along a communication link to the remote system. This transaction request passes directly from node to node without going through any intermediate controller. The remote system receives the request and creates a new unit of work. The remote system then performs the unit of work and sends the result back to the local node.

Abstract: An interface comprising normal asynchronous I/O interface hardware in combination with certain additional synchronizing connections is provided between a microcoded central processing unit (CPU) and a microcoded secondary processor (such as a floating point processor) for enabling these processors to function conjointly under common timing control as though they were natively attached to each other insofar as the execution of their respective microcodes is concerned.

Abstract: This carry save adder (CSA) utilizes a pair of edge-triggered flip-flops as output manifesting elements at each CSA bit position, one of these flip-flops being the "sum trigger" which registers the half-sum value (herein called the "sum bit"), and the other flip-flop of the pair being the "carry trigger" which registers the carry value resulting from the binary addition performed by the CSA at that bit position. Each trigger has a latch portion for storing a sum or carry bit value that can be set or changed only at the leading edge of a clock pulse, being stable in the period between clock pulses. A latched sum or carry output bit value at any CSA bit position can be re-entered at any time as input to the same bit position or another CSA bit position, depending upon the operation to be performed (add, left or right shift, or complement). Each trigger also produces an unlatched output sum or carry value known as a "presum" or "precarry" bit.

Abstract: A carry save adder (CSA) is adapted for use in dividing operations by providing it with a lookahead capability whereby it accurately predicts whether or not each of the proposed complemental subtractions in a division process could be successfully performed if actually attempted, and it actually performs only those subtractions that will not result in overdrafts. Each bit position of the carry save adder is arranged to receive sum, carry and data inputs and to furnish sum, carry, presum and precarry outputs. The sum and carry output bits are latched and remain undisturbed until the next complemental subtraction is performed.

Abstract: An array of closely spaced injection lasers is mounted upon a common substrate of grooved semiconductor or insulating material, with the active (hot) layers of the lasers as close as possible to the substrate. Individual grooves of relatively large cross-sectional area are formed in the portions of the substrate upon which the respective lasers are seated, each of these grooves underlying a respective one of the lasers, and each groove is filled with a material that has high thermal and electrical conductivity, thereby providing a massive beam lead which also serves to dissipate heat generated by the respective laser. The walls of the grooves are treated to provide electrical isolation between the beam leads, so that these leads can be used to establish individual switching connections to the active elements of the respective lasers.

Abstract: A vector magnetic ink jet printer is arranged so that the ink droplets in the initial jet stream are alternately selected (i.e., magnetized) and unselected (unmagnetized). The interposition of unselected droplets between selected droplets prevents undesired magnetic interactions between selected droplets and gives them optimum spacing before they are deposited upon the recording surface, while at the same time keeping all of the droplets in sufficiently close proximity to give the stream aerodynamic stability. The gutter or catcher for unselected droplets is located between the second axial deflector (X deflector) and the recording surface. The magnetic field of the second deflector is specially shaped so that it can effectively control the trajectories of all selected droplets that have passed through the field of the first axial deflector (Y deflector), but without affecting the trajectories of unselected droplets aimed at the gutter.

Abstract: By means of a suitable data entry device such as an electronic digitizing tablet or graph board, items of data respectively defining the original configuration of a roughly sketched object and the desired final proportions thereof are entered into a stored table called a "pointing sequence list" (PSL), which is capable of storing all of the information required to define both the original form and the desired final configuration of the object. Initially the PSL contains positional entries representing the coordinates of definitive points on the roughly sketched object and dimensional entries specifying the proportions which the object is to have in its final delineation, all arranged in an order corresponding to a predefined pointing sequence which is followed by the operator when he enters the necessary items of graphic information into the system.

Abstract: The invention provides a reinforced mask which enables closely spaced strips or other narrowly separated parts of a deposited pattern to be formed upon a substrate by a non-line-of-sight deposition process (such as ion plating or sputter deposition) without causing unwanted voids or discontinuities to appear in the deposited pattern at points that underlie the reinforcing ribs on the mask. The mask is formed by a selective material removing process that produces a thin web adjoining one or more relatively thick ribs that provide rigidity to the web.

Abstract: An electron beam image of a microcircuit pattern is projected from an irradiated photocathode window to a resist-coated silicon wafer through two successive lens systems having field-containing regions which communicate through a small aperture in a common pole structure that otherwise shields these regions from each other. The lens region in which the photocathode is located contains electrostatic and magnetic fields for accelerating the electrons and focusing the beam toward a crossover point in the aperture. The region in which the wafer is positioned contains only a magnetic field to correct aberrations of the beam image. The arrangement permits reduction of the image size. Beam registration detectors and deflecting devices are located near the aperture in the common pole structure. Because it is isolated from objects located outside of its own lens region, the electrostatic field is not perturbed by these detecting and deflecting devices or by variations in flatness of the wafer surface.

Abstract: The voltages to be compared are applied to a passive MOS capacitor differencing circuit for producing a voltage difference signal, which then is amplified by a high-gain non-precision FET amplifier, the output of which is passed through a low output impedance FET buffer amplifier to a FET latching circuit. Capacitive coupling is used for enabling the amplifiers to be independently biased and to eliminate D.C. offsets. The operating cycle of the comparator has two periods. During an initial set-up or preconditioning period the amplifiers are self-biased by appropriate switching actions which cause each of the amplifiers to be set at a desired operating point that is maintained when its respective bias switching connection subsequently is opened. The bias switch openings in the respective amplifier and latching stages are timed to occur in a chosen sequence which causes the switching transients to be absorbed.

Abstract: Measurements of physical attributes such as dielectric film thickness that are susceptible to spectral analysis are accomplished rapidly and accurately by a spectrophotometric system in which a programmed digital computer operating concurrently with the optical scanning means automatically performs the calibrating, normalizing and data reducing functions that otherwise must be carried out as time-consuming human, mechanical or analog electronic operations. The control over the optical data handling operations exercised by the computer eliminates the need for mechanically or electronically adjusting the optical apparatus to meet changing system conditions, whether periodic or aperiodic.