Abstract: A battery-operated two-speed salad spinner. The bowl receives one of two differently sized baskets. A cover includes a driving mechanism that rotates a selected bowl through a driving wheel.

Abstract: A container having an external gutter located below a primary wiping surface or edge. Drips from the wiping surface to the exterior of the container accumulate in the gutter and drain back into the container through drain holes at the bottom of the gutter.

Abstract: An RF power combiner. A plurality of RF inputs connect to a power combiner switch assembly. RF switches connect each input to a common node. A single stub matching circuit connects between the common node and an output node such that an open-ended transmission line stub extends from the output node. An RF output connector feeds an RF output connection from the output node. The stub of the L-match circuit has fixed length or variable length configurations. As a consequence, the impedances at the common and output nodes are more closely matched.

Abstract: A data processing network including a local system and a geographically remote system. Each of the local and remote systems includes a data storage facility. The remote data storage facility mirrors the local data storage facility. In a normal operating mode, the local and remote systems operate in near synchronism or in synchronism. In an alternate operating mode, writing operations at the local system immediately update the storage devices in the local data storage facility. Transfers of corresponding data to the remote data storage facility are made independently of and asynchronously with respect to the operation of the local system.

Abstract: Load balancing of activities on physical disk storage devices is accomplished by monitoring reading and writing operations to blocks of contiguous storage locations on the physical disk storage devices. A list of exchangeable pairs of blocks is developed based on size and function. Statistics accumulated over an interval are then used to obtain access activity values for each block and each physical disk drive. These activities are represented as disk seek, latency and data transfer times. A statistical analysis leads to a selection of one block pair. After testing to determine any adverse effect of making that change, the exchange is made to more evenly distribute the loading on individual physical disk storage devices.

Abstract: A data storage facility that allows data on a standard device to be replicated to other storage devices for independent and concurrent access. The standard device includes first and second tables for monitoring the operation of the standard device. The other storage device that receive the copies have tables that identify their status. The system utilizes these tables in various combinations to enable multiple copies to be altered and updated.

Abstract: A coffee grinder with a removable storage and dispensing element that has a housing and rotatable assembly in the housing. The rotatable assembly includes a distributor allows a single one of multiple open sectors to be filled in any given position. A dispensing component has an open sector angularly offset from the open sector of the distributor. When the dispensing component open sector aligns with a filled sector, the beans drop into a hopper for grinding. A grinder operates until all the beans in the hopper are ground.

Abstract: A humidifier comprises a water tank with a top opening and an assembly with a warm mist distributor and a vaporization module with a boiling chamber. The vaporization module has an insulated wall chamber, nozzles extending from a closed end proximate the warm mist distributor and an end closure at the opposite end. The end closure has a central opening the facilities filling and draining of the boiling chamber. In use the central opening is closed, and a labyrinth passage through the end closure meters the water that enters the boiling chamber.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance with reversible cooking elements. A base carries two pivoted contact boxes. Each contact box includes a support surface for receiving a cooking element including a sleeve for supporting the cooking element on the contact box. Each cooking element is molded with an integral, internal heating element and desired cooking surfaces. Reversal of cooking surfaces is accomplished by removing, flipping and reversing the cooking element with its internal heating element on its contact box.

Abstract: A data network with a remote data facility for providing redundant data storage and for enabling concurrent point-in-time backup operations. A local data processing system with a data facility stores a data base and processes applications. A second system, physically separated from the first system, includes a data facility that normally mirrors the data in the first system. In a backup mode, the second system is enabled to transfer data from its data facility to a backup facility concurrently with, but independently of, the operation of the first system. On completion of the backup operation, the second system reconnects with and synchronizes with the first system thereby to reestablish the mirroring operation of the second system.

Abstract: An RF signal divider useful in the 250 to 2500 MHz range includes an RF input connection and a plurality of RF output connections. A resistive path connects each RF output connection from an RF output connection with a impedance ZL to a common node with an impedance ZQ. An input impedance transformer couples an RF input connection with an input impedance ZL to the common node. This RF signal divider is characterized by good insertion loss variation and isolation over the entire frequency range and by a minimal circuit area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling an on-line reconfiguration of striped data in a disk array storage device. A replicated copy of the striped logical device is made in parallel with host operations. A logical device with a new configuration is then substituted for access by the host application even before any data is transferred to locations within the newly configured logical device. Independent processes operating in this disk array storage device reconfigure the data transparently to any host operations while accommodating host I/O requests directed to locations in the new configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assuring data consistency in a data processing network including local and remote data storage controllers interconnected by independent communication paths. The remote storage controller or controllers normally act as a mirror for the local storage controller or controllers. If, for any reason, transfers over one of the independent communication paths is interrupted, transfers over all the independent communication paths to predefined devices in a group are suspended thereby assuring the consistency of the data at the remote storage controller or controllers. When the cause of the interruption has been corrected, the local storage controllers are able to transfer data modified since the suspension occurred to their corresponding remote storage controllers thereby to reestablish synchronism and consistency for the entire dataset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a common data set to be utilized by multiple data processes. During a first operating mode, first and second data stores in a data storage facility with a common buffer attach to a first data process and act as mirrors. Data to be written transfers to the common buffer and then to the data stores. A second command produces a split whereby the first data store remains attached to the first data process and the second data store is available to the second data process. After the second command is executed, any data in the common buffer is transferred to the corresponding data stores in parallel with and transparently to the actions between the first and second data processes and the first and second data stores, respectively.

Abstract: A power combiner circuit for RF signals includes a multi-path network for conveying a plurality of RF signals over a selected path or paths, to a common node. A switched RF impedance transformer connects between the common node and an RF load. The switched RF transformer switches between first and second transformation functions depending upon the number of network paths that are selected.

Abstract: A modularized loudspeaker enclosure having an open-ended enclosure body, a loudspeaker support at one open end and an end structure at the other end. The enclosure body can be modified to alter the volume of the enclosure. A finally assembled enclosure can be sealed or ported. In one embodiment, the enclosure body includes a cylindrical tube cut to a length that provides a desired volume. In another embodiment the enclosure comprises standard corner, wall and end structures that constitute a component set for a constant length enclosure that can have different cross section areas.

Abstract: Load balancing of activities on physical disk storage devices is accomplished by monitoring reading and writing operations to logical volumes on the physical disk storage devices. A list of exchangeable pairs of logical volumes is developed based on size and function. Statistics accumulated over an interval are then used to obtain access activity values for each logical volume and each physical disk drive. A statistical analysis selects one logical volume pair. After testing to determine any adverse effect of making that change, the exchange is made to more evenly distribute the loading on individual physical disk storage devices.