Abstract: An improved file service administration method is disclosed in a computer network having an administrator account and a user account. The administrator account has an administrator privilege, and the user account has a user privilege which is different from the administrator privilege. The computer network further includes at least one sharepoint that is selectively accessible through the user account. The includes the step of displaying, in accordance with the administrator privilege and through the administrator account, the sharepoint on the computer display screen. There is further included the step of modifying, through the administrator account, the access privilege for the user account. Furthermore, the method includes the step of displaying, in accordance with the user privilege and through the administrator account, the sharepoint and the access privilege for the user account.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in one embodiment, to an apparatus for holding a door. The apparatus includes a body member and a blocking member rotatably coupled to the body member. The coupling is such that when the body member is positioned vertically in front of the door, the blocking member is disposed in one of a first blocking position and a second blocking position. The blocking member, in the first blocking position, contacts the door to hold the door at a first predefined position. The apparatus, when the blocking member is in the second blocking position, contacts the door to hold the door at a second predefined position. The door is opened further in the second predefined position than in the first predefined position.

Abstract: In a distributed object computing system, a client makes a call to a daemon process of a host computer in order to communicate with a target object in an object server process. This call uses a particular security mechanism to ensure a secure communication. The daemon process locates the object server and starts it if necessary. The object server provides the daemon process with a list or table of all the particular security mechanisms that it supports. Using a security class identifier provided by the client in the original call, the daemon process selects a particular security mechanism supported by the server, and then returns this new security mechanism along with the server's port to the client. The client constructs a new object reference to the target object and then calls the target object directly using the new security mechanism. The new security mechanism may be different from the original security mechanism used to communicate with the daemon process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing the timing behavior of datapath in integrated circuit design and fabrication. A set of circuit specifications for an integrated circuit are developed and described in a hardware description language (HDL) description. A datapath library including datapath cells and a gate library including primitive gate cells are provided, and a netlist is synthesized from the HDL description. The netlist is composed of datapath cells from the datapath library and primitive gate cells from the gate library. If a datapath cell instance in the netlist does not meet the timing constraints imposed by a user for the circuit, an alternative datapath cell instance can be substituted for that cell instance in a resynthesis and optimization step. An integrated circuit is preferably fabricated as specified by the resynthesized netlist. The netlist is preferably resynthesized multiple times in an iterative loop to optimize the netlist according to the constraints.

Abstract: A variety of methods and apparatus for managing a database in a object oriented environment are disclosed. According to the present invention, a database is provided which includes a database cache and a persistent database portion. Clients of the database are able to write quickly and asynchronously to the database cache, which may be located in transient memory such as random access memory. In order to maintain consistency between the state of the client and the state in the database, the data in the database cache must be written to the persistent database portion. In preferred embodiments a time commit thread executing in a computer process will, in single operations performed at predetermined intervals and when predetermined conditions are met, commit the data in the database cache into the persistent database portion. Thus through the strategies of the present invention, a single client database can have multiple clients.

Abstract: A diaphragm valve including a main valve body and a ring member welded to the main valve body, and a flexible diaphragm having an outer periphery welded to the ring member. The weldment between the main valve body, the ring member, and the diaphragm, provide a hermetic seal for the chamber cavity of the diaphragm valve. The diaphragm may include an inner periphery welded to an axially movable valve member, also for providing a hermetic seal of the chamber cavity. In other embodiments, the outer periphery of the diaphragm is clamped to seal the chamber cavity by a bonnet being welded to the valve body.A seal arrangement includes a groove provided in a surface surrounding a port, and an elastic sealing material disposed in the groove.

Abstract: A photolithography optical proximity correction method for mask layouts (e.g., reticle masks) is disclosed. The method includes performing pattern recognition on a layout design to identify locations of feature edges with respect to other feature edges in the layout design. The method further includes obtaining an optical proximity correction for at least one of the feature edges by evaluating one or more non-linear mathematical expressions for optical proximity correction at the location of that edge with respect to other feature edges.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a rectified signal from a first alternating current signal. The method includes the step of inputting the first alternating current signal into a variable gain amplifier to obtain a second alternating current signal. The second alternating current signal has a substantially constant peak-to-peak voltage irrespective of a power level of the first alternating current signal. The method further includes the step of rectifying the second alternating current signal, using a power detector circuit, to obtain the rectified signal, whereby a direct current level of the rectified signal is substantially proportional to the power level of the first alternating current irrespective of the power level of the first alternating current. The rectified signal may then be employed in, for example, a feedback control circuit to control the amount of power output by an RF signal source.

Abstract: A computer system and a computer-implemented method are described which may be used in a distributed client/server computing environment to convert an exception identifier received by a host computing system from a remote device to a more readable message string that corresponds to the exception identifier. The exception identifier is arranged to uniquely identify the exception. Initially, the exception identifier is used to help identify an exception tag that includes a domain name and a message identifier. The message string that corresponds to the exception identifier is then found based at least in part upon the domain name and the message identifier. More specifically, the domain name is used to identify an exception message file that corresponds to the remotely located device. The message identifier is then used to locate a message string within the exception message file that corresponds to the exception indicated by the exception identifier.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for manufacturing antifuse structures on topographically varying silicon substrates. The antifuse structures are intelligently formed over topographically lower silicon substrate regions such that subsequent via hole etching processes do not over-etch underlying antifuse structures. Also discloses an apparatus and method for designing dummy metallization and polysilicon features in close proximity to antifuse structures such that subsequently deposited dielectric materials are induced to form thicker dielectric layers over antifuse structures. Advantageously, subsequent via hole etching does not substantially remove antifuse structure materials with may cause detrimental ionic contamination or antifuse infant mortality. In this manner, standard via hole etching techniques may be implemented for all inter-layer via holes without concern the concern of over-etching sensitive underlying devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring three-dimensional (3-D) coordinates. A 3-D object can be digitized into a mesh representation manipulable by a computer system by tracing a stylus of a probe apparatus over surfaces of the object. The probe apparatus includes an arm having a series of linkages and joints. The arm can be assembled by placing the joints of the arm in joint fixtures a desired distance and angle apart and bonding the joints to a linkage. The probe apparatus is calibrated by placing the tip of the stylus at an arbitrary point in a work volume and varying the stylus' orientation to find error values and determine calibration parameters. The sensors of the probe apparatus are zeroed by placing the probe apparatus in the only possible home position and assigning assumed starting angles to the sensors. A rotary table can be used to support the object being digitized, where the rotation of the rotary table and object during digitization is sensed and included in coordinate calculations.

Abstract: When an operating knob (12) is moved in an XA direction, an XB direction which is opposite to the XA direction, or a Y direction which is perpendicular to the XA and XB directions, coupling bars (44), (45) provided in a holder (20) which moves together with the operating knob (12) travel over slanted edges of push plates (34), (35), causing a pusher (22) to move in the Y direction. In other words, the pusher (22) moves in the same direction regardless of the moving direction of the operating knob (12). When the pusher (22) moves, a projection (33) formed at a far end of an elastic element (32) provided on the pusher (22) presses against a tactility-producing wall (40), resulting in an increase in force required for moving the operating knob (12).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interfacing the motion of an object with a digital processing system includes a sensor for detecting movement of the object along a degree of freedom. A passive pneumatic or hydraulic damper is coupled to the object to provide a damping resistance to the object along the degree of freedom and resist a movement of the object. The damping resistance is provided by regulating the control of a fluid with a digital computing apparatus, thus providing a low-cost, low-power force-feedback interface that is safe for the user. The damper and sensor provide an electromechanical interface between the object and the electrical system. A gimbal or other interface mechanism can be coupled between the damper and the object. The interface is well suited for simulations or video games in which an object such as a joystick is moved and manipulated by the user.

Abstract: A method for transferring data between a host computer and peripheral storage including the steps of: (a) receiving data from the host; (b) determining if an escape command is present in the data; (c) writing the data to the a peripheral storage medium if a escape command is not present in the data; and (d) performing as least one command relative to the peripheral storage if a escape command is present in the data. Also disclosed is a method for controlling a disk drive unit including the steps of: (a) determining on a host computer a current action to be performed with a disk drive unit; (b) formatting a track of a disk engaged with a disk drive unit based upon output data provided by the host computer if the current action is a formatting action; (c) writing a sector on the disk based upon the output data provided by the host computer if the current action is a writing action; and (d) reading a sector of the disk and transferring input information to the host computer if the action is a reading action.

Abstract: A computer system including a central processing unit (CPU) and a power management circuit (PMC). The CPU has an active mode where it is responsive to interrupt and direct memory access requests, and a standby mode where it is in a low power state and is not responsive to the interrupts and direct memory access requests. The PMC monitors the interrupts and direct memory access requests in the system when the CPU is in the standby mode, and causes the CPU to enter the active mode upon the detection of either an interrupt or a direct memory access request.

Abstract: Low threshold voltage MOS devices having buried electrodes are disclosed herein. Such devices have source and drain regions which include tip regions and plug regions. The buried electrodes have bottom boundaries located above the bottoms of the plug regions. The buried electrode has the same conductivity type as the device's bulk (albeit at a higher dopant concentration) and, of course, the opposite conductivity type as the device's source and drain. The exact dopant concentrations and locations of the buried electrodes should be provided such that punch through is avoided in MOS devices.

Abstract: An improved technique for monitoring computer processes and their attributes using a three-dimensional graphical image. The three dimensional graphical image is formed by displaying the graphical objects associated with the computer processes and their attributes. The physical relationship between the various graphical objects within the graphical image preferably model the actual relationships between the processes and their attributes. The computers which run or activate the processes may also be represented by a graphical object within the graphical image. As the attributes of the computer processes change, the characteristics of the graphical objects are quickly adjusted and the three-dimensional graphical image is updated to reflect the changes to the attributes of the computer processes being monitored.

Abstract: A questionless case-based knowledge base suitable for access by an intelligent search engine and an associated method for constructing the same from pre-existing on-line documentation. A case structure for questionless cases is determined. The determined case structure includes a first field for containing a title for a case, a second field for containing a description of the case and a third field for containing a solution for the case. On-line documentation having information directed to a plurality of topics, each of which includes a title portion and a contents portion, is then provided. The information directed to each of the plurality of topics is then reconfigured into the determined case structure such that the title portion of each topic is configured as a first field of a corresponding case and the contents portion of each topic is configured as a second field of the corresponding case.

Abstract: Low power consuming circuitry for amplifying sensed signals in memory devices is disclosed. The low power circuitry includes a amplifier circuit having a data bus line for receiving a data signal from a selected column of a memory array. The data bus line being coupled to a first pre-charger transistor for limiting a data bus voltage swing, and a virtual ground control line for controlling a virtual ground application to a selected column of the memory array. The virtual ground application configured to provide a path to ground for the selected column, and the virtual ground control line being coupled to a second pre-charger transistor for limiting a virtual ground voltage swing. Further included is a gain transistor configured to receive the data signal from the data bus line and provide an amplified data signal to a pull down node located at an input of an inverter. And, a digital data output node located at an output of the inverter.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a gas purification system for the purification of noble gasses and nitrogen. An improved method of purification generally includes the following steps: (a) heating an impure gas; (b) contacting the impure gas with an impurity sorbing material to produce a purified gas; (c) cooling the purified gas to a temperature less than about 100.degree. C.; and (d) contacting the purified gas with a hydrogen sorbing gas to remove residual hydrogen. The system includes an improved heat exchange apparatus for cooling the purified gas and a low temperature hydrogen sorption apparatus.