Abstract: A Wide Area Serial PCI system for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. The WASP system includes a host computer system connected through a serial bus to a remote device. The serial bus can range from several meters to several kilometers or more. The host computer system includes a CPU and memory, and also includes a first Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, also referred to as the local PCI bus. A primary bridge according to the present invention is coupled to the first PCI bus. The primary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the first PCI bus. The remote device is located remotely from the computer system and comprises a second or remote PCI bus and one or more peripheral devices coupled to the second PCI bus. The remote device also includes a secondary bridge coupled to the second PCI bus. The secondary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the second PCI bus. The serial bus is coupled between the primary bridge and the secondary bridge.

Abstract: A method and computer graphics system for rendering images using programmable sample positions is disclosed. In one embodiment, the computer graphics system may comprise a graphics processor, a sample buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor may be configured to generate a plurality of samples using a sample positioning algorithm selected from a programmable memory or generated by programmable hardware. The sample buffer, which is coupled to the graphics processor, may be configured to store the samples. The sample buffer may be super-sampled and double buffered. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit is programmable to select a variable number of stored samples from the sample buffer to filter into an output pixel. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit performs the filter process in real-time, and may use a number of different filter types.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sorber which is suitable for use in an electromagnetic wave activated sorption system and which is easily adaptable to packaging constraints. One embodiment of the sorber comprises a flexible enclosure having an outer conductor, and inner conductor, a port through which a sorbate can be communicated into and out of said enclosure, and a sorbent in the enclosure which can adsorb the sorbate to form a sorbate/sorbent compound. The enclosure is configured to be coupled to an electromagnetic wave generator so that waves generated by the electromagnetic wave generator propagate through the sorbate/sorbent compound within the enclosure. Another embodiment of the sorber comprises an enclosure which is configured to serve as a structural component.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an instrumentation system, wherein the present invention includes an improved instrument driver software architecture. The instrument driver software architecture of the present invention provides a number of features, including improved simulation features. The system may comprise a computer system comprising a CPU and memory. The memory of the computer system may store a user application, a class driver, and a class simulation driver. The user application is operable to perform an application using an instrument, wherein the instrument is of a first class. The class driver is operable to receive calls from the user application, wherein the class driver is common to a plurality of instruments of the first class. The class driver may then call a class simulation driver, wherein the class simulation driver is operable to simulate operation of the instrument.

Abstract: A computer system includes a real-time interrupt that causes the operating system to determine which isochronous tasks are pending. In one embodiment, applications that include isochronous tasks are certified to be well-behaved and the operating system will only initiate applications that are known to be well-behaved by checking a list of certified applications. The operating system will not initiate an application if insufficient resources are available for executing the tasks of the application. Each application informs the operating system of an execution rate and a maximum duration of its isochronous tasks. Prior to initiating an application, the operating system verifies that resources are available to execute the isochronous tasks of the application. The operating system includes a non-maskable interrupt to terminate isochronous tasks. Termination may be necessary if an isochronous task fails to execute within its specified maximum duration.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. The lens forming unit may include an LCD filter disposed between activating light sources and a mold assembly. The mold assembly preferably includes two mold members held together by a gasket. The gasket preferably includes four protrusions spaced at 90 degree intervals about the gasket. A lens forming composition may include a first photochromic compound, a second photochromic compound and a light effector. The light effector may alter the color of a lens when exposed to photochromic activating light, when compared to a lens formed from a lens forming composition which does not include a light effector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sorber cooling device suitable for use in an electromagnetic wave activated sorption system. One embodiment of the sorber cooling device has a metallic tubular enclosure extending coaxially into the sorber, a plurality of fins connected to a portion of the tubular enclosure extending outside of the sorber, a reservoir in fluid communication with the tubular enclosure, and a wick located within the portion of the tubular enclosure extending into the sorber. A refrigerant which is placed in the cooling device is drawn by the wick into the portion of the tubular enclosure extending into the sorber. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the sorber and evaporates. The evaporated refrigerant is condensed in the portion of the tubular enclosure extending outside of the sorber and the heat of condensation is dissipated by the fins. The condensed refrigerant is collected in the reservoir. This cycle repeats automatically.

Abstract: A computer security system whereby access is controlled by remote enablement or disablement. The system can be coupled with third-party products to accommodate satellite transmissions for long-distance access control.

Abstract: A system for running in, in which multiple PCI bus connections are each bridged to multiple boards-under-test. The presence or absence of power in each of these bus connections is monitored, and the boards-under-test are correspondingly powered up (or not). Multiple test-bed subboards are preferably used, each with multiple sockets for receiving boards-under-test with high-insertion-force connectors, and the independent power control permits the boards-under-test on one subboard to be powered off and swapped while the boards-under-test on the other subboard are still being exercised. Preferable a single movable extractor mechanism is mounted on each subboard, and can be positioned (with respect to any one of the high-insertion-force connectors) for linear extraction of the board-under-test without any torque.

Abstract: A memory expansion module including multiple memory banks and a bank control circuit is disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory module includes a printed circuit board with a connector edge adapted for insertion in an expansion socket of a computer system. Mounted upon the circuit board is a plurality of memory chips, typically Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) chips, which make up an upper bank and a lower bank of memory. A buffer circuit is mounted upon the printed circuit board, for the purpose of driving address signals, Column Address Strobe (CAS) signals, and write enable signals to each of the memory chips. Also mounted upon the printed circuit board is a bank control circuit, which is coupled to the memory chips. An address signal is used as a bank selection input to the bank control circuit, which will drive Row Address Strobe (RAS) signals to the memory chips of the selected memory bank.

Abstract: A system and method for data compression of structured medical history information using multiple, updatable, static dictionaries in conjunction with an advanced probability-based model. The system is not a free text, word or phrase compressor as is presented in generalized or universal data compression systems. It employs a series of static dictionaries consisting of structured data developed from standardized medical classifications of disease, disorders, surgical procedures and medications. Prior probability information is utilized to achieve a high level of data compression of multiple data items at a time. The dictionaries are designed for flexible updating, efficient storage and retrieval, and data integrity. A portable medical card may be imprinted with the compressed medical information.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for viewing computer generated images and for tracking the positions of the user's head and hand. One alternative of the apparatus includes a frame element, versatilely mountable, with sensors for the head tracking of a user whose bodily movement is constrained to a small area. Short range and inexpensive sensors are deployed for tracking the position of the user's head; these sensors are deployed partly on a on the user's head and partly on the tracking frame. All the electronics for tracking and user input are enclosed in a mobile pack. In another alternative of the tracking invention natural forces such as gravity, the Earth's magnetic field, and inertia are used, so additional references. The display allows for interchangeable optical elements so that it may be tailored to suit the needs of a particular user or application.

Abstract: A geographic based communications service system that includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region. One or more service providers or information providers may be connected to the network to provide services or information on the network. Content provided by the service providers may be based on the known geographic location of the user of a portable computing device (PCD). The known geographic location may be determined with a high degree of precision, using one or more access points and one of several different techniques. In one embodiment, the geographic location of the PCD may be determined within a radius of ten feet. Access points may be configured to determine the bearing of a signal received from a PCD, as well as the strength of the signal transmitted by the PCD. Access points may also be configured to send and receive signals with time stamps.

Abstract: A processor employs an SMC check apparatus. The SMC check apparatus may minimize the number of explicit SMC checks performed for non-cacheable stores. Cacheable stores may be handled using any suitable mechanism. For non-cacheable stores, the processor tracks whether or not the in-flight instructions are cached. Upon encountering a non-cacheable store, the processor inhibits an SMC check if the in-flight instructions are cached. Since, for performance reasons, the code stream is often cached, non-cacheable stores may frequently be able to skip an explicit, complex, and time consuming SMC check. Performance of non-cacheable stores (and memory throughput overall) may be increased. The handling of non-cacheable stores as described herein may be particularly beneficial to video data manipulations, which may frequently be of a non-cacheable memory type and which may be important to the overall performance of a computer system.

Abstract: The system and method of industrial automation provides improved network transfer of data between nodes. The system comprises a plurality of computer systems which are interconnected through a network, wherein each of the computer systems executes industrial automation software. One or more of these computer systems interface to various hardware I/O devices for data acquisition. Each computer system is home to one or more client and/or server processes. When a hardware I/O device generates data, a server process which is linked to that device through a device driver receives a block of data from the device. Using a real-time protocol, the server adds one or more blocks of data to a packet and transmits the packet to every client which has subscribed to the data. For increased network and computational efficiency, the real-time protocol includes compression techniques and is exception-based: only changes in data are sent to clients.

Abstract: A conditional clock buffer circuit is disclosed. In one embodiment, a conditional clock buffer circuit includes a precharge circuit, a first transistor and a second transistor coupled to the precharge circuit via the first node and the second node, a third transistor coupled to the first transistor and the second transistor. The first transistor may be activated responsive to a condition external to the clock buffer circuit. When the first transistor is activated, an output clock signal driven by the clock buffer circuit may be inhibited.

Abstract: A casing joint locator device and methods of use are described. The locator device includes a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor that is capable of detecting joints between sections of casing in a wellbore. The methods and devices described detect perturbations in the earth's magnetic field caused by air gaps and discontinuities associated with a casing joint or with an external casing joint collar. As a result, they are capable of detecting flush and standard collared joints. The casing joint locator generates essentially no magnetic or electromagnetic field so that other downhole instrumentation is not affected by its presence.

Abstract: A microprocessor is configured to fetch a compressed instruction set which comprises a subset of a corresponding non-compressed instruction set. The compressed instruction set is a variable length instruction set including 16-bit and 32-bit instructions. The 32-bit instructions are coded using an extend opcode, which indicates that the instruction being fetched is an extended (e.g. 32 bit) instruction. The compressed instruction set further includes multiple sets of register mappings from the compressed register fields to the decompressed register fields. Certain select instructions are assigned two opcode encodings, one for each of two mappings of the corresponding register fields. The compressed register field is directly copied into a portion of the decompressed register field while the remaining portion of the decompressed register field is created using a small number of logic gates.

Abstract: A transistor and a method for making a transistor are described. A metal layer is formed upon a semiconductor substrate, and a masking layer is formed upon the metal layer. The masking layer is patterned to form an opening therein, and portions of the metal layer not covered by the masking layer are removed. A gate dielectric layer is formed within the opening upon the semiconductor substrate; in an embodiment, spacers are also formed upon opposed sidewall surfaces of the masking layer. A conductive material is then deposited upon the dielectric material to form a gate conductor. The masking material is then removed, source and drain and lightly doped drain impurity areas are formed in the semiconductor substrate, and the metal layer is annealed to form a silicide in close proximity to the channel region. By depositing the metal layer prior to forming the gate conductor, the process described herein allows formation of a metal silicide adjacent or in close proximity to the channel region of the transistor.

Abstract: A USB-based data acquisition system including virtual DMA software which increases USB data transfer rates with minimal changes to DAQ driver level software. The virtual DMA software operates to receive or intercept DMA instructions provided by the DAQ driver level software to program a DMA controller to acquire data from the device. The virtual DMA software intercepts the DMA instructions and emulates operation of the DMA controller in software. The virtual DMA software operates to request the data in bulk packets from the device. The virtual DMA software then stores the received packets of data in the addresses specified in the DMA instructions. The virtual DMA software thus emulates operation of a DMA device, thus “fooling” the DAQ driver level software into thinking the data is being acquired using real DMA transfers. Thus, the present invention allows for much faster data transfers, while requiring minimal or no changes to the existing DAQ driver level software.