Abstract: A memory system includes a plurality of memory modules, wherein the selection of one among the memory modules is performed in preselection as to the memory activation for a memory access operation on the basis of the previously performed selection of the same module for a preceding memory access operation and wherein, in case the performed preselection is not the appropriate one, the appropriate selection is first performed and then the memory access operation is "retried".

Abstract: An automatic paper bail actuator for a printer having a rotating platen or equivalent means for feeding a printing support including a helicoidal spring wound on the platen shaft and having two end arms, a first arm being elongated to interfere with the bail and a first reference stop, the spring coil being clamped on the shaft by interference with the bail and opening the bail when the shaft rotates in the direction opposite to the one providing normal forward feeding of a printing support, closing the bail when the shaft rotates in the direction providing normal forward feeding until the first arm interferes with the first reference stop and releases the spring coils; the second arm interfering with a second reference stop for a rotation of the shaft in the direction opposite to the normal one and releasing the spring coils for a predetermined angular position of the spring and the first arm, hence for a predetermined open position of the bail.

Abstract: A data processing system having a dual arbiter for controlling access to a system bus where two processors, each clocked by one of two timing signals having equal periods but out of phase by half a period, operate synchronously each to the other, but outphased by the half period of the clock signal, and generate equal priority signals requesting access to a system bus, each processor in a time distinct and non overlapped phase of the respective timing signals, and where an arbitration unit grants system bus access to either one or the other requesting processor on the time order in which the access requesting signals are received, the granting being performed asynchronously and without sampling and set up delays.

Abstract: In a data processing system having a system controller unit (SCU) which interfaces a plurality of equipments with a memory unit, the SCU determines which of the equipments will be permitted to communicate with the SCU or memory unit in response to a request from the equipments. The SCU includes an activity monitor and control apparatus which determines whether the request from the equipments can be accepted. The activity monitor and control apparatus comprises a plurality of first elements, each of the first elements being assigned to monitor a request which has been accepted. The activity monitor and control apparatus monitors the operations with the SCU thereby providing status information of the SCU. A plurality of second elements, which is operatively connected to the first elements, combines preselected status information to generate control signals thereby indicating current and future availability of the SCU in order to determine whether a request can be accepted.

Abstract: A computer aided software engineering tool is disclosed which is particularly well adapted to identify potential Assembly language source code errors resulting from incorrectly used symbolic and literal address constructs. This objective is achieved by providing a debugging program which has a complete awareness of the specific machine interfaces, conventions and symbol sets. By essentially stepping through the Assembly language statements (without regard to neighboring statements), the debugging program is able, through such examination, to identify, in the Assembly language program under study, specific instances of the use of statements containing possibly incorrect symbolic or literal address constructs and to run closely related additional tests. The programmer may then examine the denoted Assembly language code to determine if a genuine error exists.

Abstract: A locking device for connectors of printed wired boards, the connectors being of EURODIN (DIN41612C/R) type, which device prevents the disconnection of two coupled connectors, consisting of a rectangular elongated plate in plastic material having four tenons at its corners in relief over said plate, the tenons inserting in end recesses of the connectors when the plate is overlapped to two coupled connectors, the plate further having two resilient end arms, perpendicular to the plate and extending in the same direction as the tenons, each arm having a locking tooth which hooks to the lower side of the connector pair when the plate is overlapped to the coupled connector pair.

Abstract: Instability resulting from the presence of reactive components in the output filter of regulated power supplies of the general type in which regulation is obtained by feeding back the output voltage to the regulator circuitry is eliminated by deriving a feedback signal from the output voltage which includes not only a direct component, but also separately derived first and second derivative components referenced to the reactive characteristics of a series output choke and parallel output capacitor of the output filter circuit. The amplitude ratios of the feedback signal components are selected in accordance with a key aspect of the invention to eliminate the output filter from the characteristic equation of the power supply to thereby eliminate instability whatever its source.

Abstract: Instability resulting from the presence of reactive components in the output filter of regulated power supplies of the general type in which regulation is obtained by feeding back the output voltage to the regulator circuitry is eliminated by deriving a feedback signal from the output voltage which includes not only a direct component, but also separately derived first and second derivative components referenced to the reactive characteristics of a series output choke and parallel output capacitor of the output filter circuit. The amplitude ratios of the feedback signal components and the elements of the local feedback loop of the regulator error amplifier are selected in accordance with key aspects of the invention to eliminate the output filter (including the effective series resistance of the output filter capacitor) from the characteristic equation of the power supply to thereby eliminate instability whatever its source.

Abstract: A protective grounding and referencing arrangement for a high-voltage, high-energy bulk supply is provided in the present invention. Isolation from ground is provided through the use of an isolation transformer connected between the a-c utility supply and the rectifiers which are provided for conversion to d-c. The d-c bus and its energy storage capacitors are then referenced to ground by a high resistance divider network. In such an arrangement the likelihood of an insulation breakdown to ground is significantly reduced. More importantly, in the event that such a breakdown should occur from one or the other terminal of the d-c bus the fault currents that result are limited by the referencing arrangement to a safe level. The energy hazard is thus very significantly reduced for the equipment.

Abstract: In a two-page printer system, there is included a first and second print engine placed on a path in which paper to be printed travels and displaced a distance, L, from one another along the path, the first print engine printing a first side of the paper and the second print engine printing a second side of the paper. The two-page printer system also includes an apparatus for coordinating the printing of the paper, the two-page printer further including a process controller for generating control signals. The apparatus comprises a first storage element for storing information to be printed. A processor element, operatively connected to the first storage element, formats the information to be printed in a form required by the printer, the information to be printed being fetched from first storage element.

Abstract: Memory system and related error detection and correction apparatus wherein the memory, independently on its parallelism, is organized in modules having single byte parallelism, each module having a section with a plurality of bit parallelism for storing SEC-DED codes related to the information stored in the module and wherein a fast memory, addressed with the information codes and the related SEC-DED codes read out from a memory module produces an information output code, corrected as a function of the SEC-DED code, a parity check bit for the corrected information code, and further bits indicative of a corrected single error and a multiple error which cannot be corrected.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system architecture in which two processors are each provided with an autonomous bus and the two buses can be selectively connected to each other to form a unique system bus which enables access by all processors to common memory resources connected to one of the autonomous buses. The communication between processors takes place through messages stored into mailboxes located in the common memory. The presence of a message is evidenced by a notify/interrupt signal generated by a logic unit to which each processor has access to modify and verify the logic unit's status, using the processor's autonomous bus, and without interfering with operations using the other autonomous buses of the other processor. Such verification and access does not require access to common memory resources nor polling operations to verify the status of messages stored into "mailboxes".

Abstract: Control circuit for a dot matrix printing head of the permanent magnetic type or simple electromagnet type, wherein a printing element is subjected to a variable magnetic flux, owing to an energization current and/or to a movable armature movement, which causes an energization current to be established in the printing element for its actuation. The energization current is switched off for the deactivation of the printing element and which thereafter establishes a shorting path letting a current, induced in the printing element by mangetic flux changes due to the movable armature movement, to flow in the printing element, with a damping effect on the armature movement.

Abstract: The apparatus controls access to at least one subsystem in response to requests for access from a plurality of equipments operatively connected to a corresponding port of said apparatus. The requests for access have a plurality of command levels wherein the command levels have a fixed predetermined priority relative to each other. The apparatus comprises a plurality of port request control elements for generating a plurality of specific request signals including a command level request signal to indicate the command level of a request received from the corresponding equipment, and a go signal to indicate the availability of the apparatus and the subsystem in order to execute the command requested. An activity priority select control element receives the specific request signals, and processes the go signals from each of the port request control elements to grant access within a predetermined time period to the equipment connected to the port having the highest port priority within the highest command level.

Abstract: A gas distribution system provides a gas to a chamber comprising a feed tube, having a tube-like configuration with an input and an output. The gas supplied to the input escapes via the output, the output being configured to have a first and second slot opening. The first slot opening has a predetermined first length along the length of the feed tube and has a predetermined first width across the length of the feed tube, and the second slot opening has a predetermined second length along the length of the feed tube and has a predetermined second width across the length of the feed tube. The second slot is contiguous with and abuts the first slot, and further the predetermined second width is smaller than the predetermined first width. The first and second slot configuration provides the gas at the output at a predetermined pressure, the predetermined pressure being reduced from an area near the output.

Abstract: A furnace for firing a non-precious metal paste including organic material, comprising a furnace enclosure, tube-like in shape, having a definable length. First and second ends of the furnace enclosure is open forming an entrance and exit, respectively. A cross-section across the length of the furnace enclosure has a flat base, a first and second vertical wall at each end of the flat base, and a roof, the shape of the roof being essentially the upper half of an ellipse. The interior chamber of the furnace is divided across the length of the furnace enclosure into a burnout zone and a firing zone, the entrance leading to the burnout zone, and the exit being nearest the firing zone. A sparging element distributes a mixture of an inert gas and at least one other gas within the burnout zone, wherein the other gas supports burnout of the organic material.

Abstract: Cache memory includes a dual or two part cache with one part of the cache being primarily designated for instruction data while the other is primarily designated for operand data, but not exclusively. For a maximum speed of operation, the two parts of the cache are equal in capacity. The two parts of the cache, designated I-Cache and O-Cache, are semi-independent in their operation and include arrangements for effecting synchronized searches, they can accommodate up to three separate operations substantially simultaneously. Each cache unit has a directory and a data array with the directory and data array being separately addressable. Each cache unit may be subjected to a primary and to one or more secondary concurrent uses with the secondary uses prioritized.

Abstract: A multiple processor computer system features a store-into cache arrangement wherein each processor unit of the system has its own unique cache memory unit. Data operated upon by any one of the processor units is stored in the cache memory associated with that processor unit. When a thus modified block of data is required by another one of the processor units, the requested data is transferred directly to the requesting processor unit without having to first transfer the data to a shared main memory. Provision is also made for transferring data, under prescribed conditions from a cache to the main memory, but not as a precondition for transfer to a requesting processor.

Abstract: A bolt-on configuration of a power distribution system utilizes an apparatus which connects a first element to a second element, the second element having a hole, such that a minimum predetermined force exists at the connection between the first element and the second element. The apparatus comprises a shaft, having a first, second, and third diameter along the axis of the shaft, thereby forming a first, second, and third shaft, respectively, the first diameter being the smallest diameter and the third diameter being the largest diameter. The first shaft is threaded, for mating with the second element. A spring, having an inside diameter smaller than the diameter of the third shaft and having a length approximately equal to the length of the first and second shaft is coaxially positioned over the first and second shaft.

Abstract: One of a plurality of taps of at least one transformer is selected by choosing a predetermined plug to mate with a predetermined jack. The connection arrangement between each transformer and a corresponding jack is such that each pin of a respective jack is operatively connected to a predetermined transformer tap of the corresponding transformer whereby the corresponding taps of each of the transformers are connected to different corresponding pins for each of the corresponding jacks. Further, the starting tap of each transformer is operatively connected to the same corresponding pin of the jack corresponding to the transformer. A plurality of plugs, the number of plugs corresponding to one less than the number of pins of the jacks, is included whereby each plug has a plurality of mating pins corresponding to the pins of the jack. Each mating pin of each plug which corresponds to the pin of the starting tap is operatively connected to a first supply terminal.