Abstract: A device driver system comprises a core that manages the specific functions of a plurality of I/O devices. The core includes an operating system interface that is generic to different operating systems. An operating system has a device driver interface that is unique to the operating system. A conversion program is layered between the core and the operating system for converting communications between the device driver interface of the operating system and the generic operating system interface of the core. The core includes a channel manager including a request dispatcher, request queues, a command initiator, and a plurality of state machines corresponding to state machine in the I/O devices. A transport layer interfaces between the hardware and the channel manager.

Abstract: A data processing system such as a personal computer includes a plurality of expansion connectors for receiving adapter cards. A non-volatile memory stores programmable option select (POS) data that is stored when the system is configured. A Power On Self Test (POST) operation is performed during which adapters are checked to determine if any have been added, moved or removed, since a previous system configuration. If any have been so altered, the system may be placed in operation with all adapters enabled except for those which were altered.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a processor for accessing a memory in either a direct mode or an indirect mode. The memory includes at least two memory banks and two decoders for decoding bank addresses. The decoders produce bank select signals. In direct mode, the decoder outputs are generated according to which bank is addressed. In interleave mode, the two decoder outputs are ANDed to select both banks covering the address range of the selected banks.

Abstract: A personal computer housing has a plurality of air intake openings located around the sides and front. A fan is mounted at the rear of the housing and sucks or draws coolant air through the intakes and exhausts the air to the rear. A bulk power supply is mounted along one side of the housing and is cooled by air flow through adjacent intakes. A plurality of I/O or expansion cards are located along the opposite side of the housing and cooled by air flowing through adjacent side intakes. A plurality of system cards including a processor card and memory cards, are located in parallel, rearwardly extending rows directly between at least some of the front intakes and the fan. A DC/DC regulator card is mounted over the system cards and has a heat sink provided with rearwardly extended cooling fins aligned in the direction of air flow from front to rear.

Abstract: A data processing device has a battery compartment in which a battery is fastened by a releasible latch. A manually actuated eject button is used to release the battery. A light is source is placed in or near the eject button and provides, when illuminated, a light signal warning the user not to eject the battery. The eject button is covered by a door, and both the door and button are designed for two handed operation which, in addition to preventing accidental actuation of the button, forces the user to concentrate attention on the eject button and warning light.

Abstract: A wireless stylus includes a pocket clip having a latch which, upon insertion into a storage compartment within a digitizer, engages a cam. The cam has a shape that causes the latch to move into engagement with a keeper as the stylus is pushed into the compartment and then released. The keeper holds the stylus in a stored position. The latch is released upon first pushing the stylus and then releasing it. Biasing means engages the stylus and moves it against the keeper and ejects the stylus outwardly from the storage compartment allowing the stylus to be grasped and withdrawn from the tablet. The storage compartment is open at opposite ends and has two cams, one at each end of the compartment so that the stylus, at the convenience of the user, can be inserted into either end for storage.

Abstract: A gas chromatography (GC) system includes a primary complete, independently-operable, self-contained GC system and a secondary, dependently-operable GC system. The primary and secondary systems have two independently controlled GC ovens. Injectors and detectors are supported by heater blocks or ovens mounted on the respective GC ovens and are connected to the electrical and pneumatic controls of the primary GC system. The injectors and detectors of the secondary GC system share operation of the primary GC system. GC columns can be mounted in each oven and operated completely independently or dependently in different ways. A separate power supply for the secondary oven is connectable to a separate circuit or power line in the user environment.

Abstract: A data processing system has a working or buffer store connected between a main or bulk store and a vector processing unit. The buffer store contains one or more vitual vector registers operable under user control in register-to-register vector operations. A user instruction specifies the length of a vector operand to be processed, the type of operation to be performed, and which vector registers will be used. Vector processing is controlled by a series of programs defined at the code level of the processing unit where for a given function or operation, the same program is used for both register-to-register and storage-to-storage processing. The latter processing is controlled by passing predetermined parameters to the program whereas register-to-register processing is controlled by passing parameters generated in response to user program instructions.

Abstract: A hermetic seal is provided between opposing surfaces of a two part housing containing highly permeable fluids. A three element seal, located between the surfaces to be sealed, consists of a spring metal C-ring having a ductile metal coating on at least the surfaces thereof which are to contact the surfaces to be sealed, and an organic material coating applied at least to the ductile metal coated surfaces which contact the surfaces to be sealed. Pressure is applied to the coated C-ring by the surfaces to be sealed causing the organic material to fill any microvoids or scratches in the sealing surfaces, and causing the ductile metal coating to fill the larger voids and discrepancies, thereby, forming an impermeable leakage barrier for the highly permeable fluids contained within the housing.

Abstract: A method is described for the quantitative analysis of a solution in which the solvent produces a nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR) spectral peak that dominates the system. A first spectrum containing the peak is made by operation of a nuclear magnetic resonant spectrometer at a first gain setting. The NMR apparatus is a pulse-modulated, Fourier-transform type spectrometer. A second spectrum is produced in which a 180.degree. pulse is applied to invert the spectral component magnetization followed after a period of time by a 90.degree. pulse. The period of time is sufficient to allow the solvent or component producing the unwanted peak to relax from the inverted state to a point where there is minimum magnetization along the longitudinal axis. At this point, in many solutions the other components have completely relaxed so that the 90.degree.

Abstract: In a textile color analyzer, a sample of textile is supported on the pad of an elevator mechanism that holds the sample against an instrument head. The head has an opaque housing provided with a chamber having an opening therein. A glass plate is mounted in the head and covers the opening and presses against the textile sample to provide a stable reference plane. The head includes an illuminating fiber optic bundle that directs light substantially perpendicular to the textile sample. A plurality of additional fiber optic bundles are mounted to receive diffuse light reflected from the sample. The elevator includes a pad of translucent polyethylene material that backs up the textile sample and takes on the color of the sample so that there are no adverse effects due to light showing through the sample and reflecting from the plate.

Abstract: An article handler or positioner includes an X-Y table driven by reversible stepping motors. Zero position sensors function to provide an output signal when the X-Y table moves into a zero or home or reference position. The sensors are electro-optical devices having two beams of light one of which is gradually interrupted while the other one is gradually uninterrupted as the table moves into the zero position. Photo detectors provide output signals one of which increases and the other of which decreases as the table moves into the zero position and, at the point of crossover of the respective output signals, another output signal is generated indicating the home position is reached. This signal is then used to inhibit further operation of the driving motors.

Abstract: A thin flat circular silicon wafer is mounted or supported by a wafer holder mounted on an X-Y table. Motive means drives the table in two different linear directions so as to selectively position different areas of the wafer beneath a test probe. A plurality of wafer chips are also mounted on the table at different positions locatable beneath the test probe. Each of the wafer chips has different characteristics suitable for use in calibrating the test system. The wafer chips are located at predetermined positions relative to a reference position so that the table can be automatically moved during calibration to present the wafer chips to the test probe.