Abstract: A method and apparatus for printed circuit board pads with registering feature for component leads. A U-shaped metalized pad is disposed on a printed circuit board for soldering to a component lead. Solder is disposed on the pad and heated to a molten state so that surface tension and wetting effects form the molten solder into a solder mound having a U-shaped lateral cross section conforming to the U-shaped metalized pad. The solder mound has a first arm and a second arm, and a lateral aperture extending therebetween for receiving an extremity of the component lead, and registering the extremity of the component lead with respect to the pad.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for flexibly and precisely varying temporal placement and duration of pulses, within a train of high speed, high power optical pulses. The invention includes optics adapted for focusing on a layer of an information storage media. An optical pulse generator is coupled with the layer through the optics for generating a train of optical pulses, wherein each pulse has a respective temporal placement within the train and has a respective pulse duration. The respective pulse duration of each pulse is controlled by an amount of an analog duration control voltage, in accordance with a WRITE STRATEGY, which is based on a physical property of the layer of the information storage media. Similarly the respective temporal placement of each pulse is controlled by an amount of an analog temporal placement control voltage, in accordance with the WRITE STRATEGY.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printed circuit board pads with registering feature for component leads. A U-shaped metalized pad is disposed on a printed circuit board for soldering to a component lead. Solder is disposed on the pad and heated to a molten state so that surface tension and wetting effects form the molten solder into a solder mound having a U-shaped lateral cross section conforming to the U-shaped metalized pad. The solder mound has a first arm and a second arm, and a lateral aperture extending therebetween for receiving an extremity of the component lead, and registering the extremity of the component lead with respect to the pad.

Abstract: An automated method and apparatus for determining the extent of user-interface enhancement capabilities available to a user, and for providing appropriate control signals to employ such user-interface enhancements. The invention includes providing a computer coupled with a user-interface having an extent of enhancement capabilities available to the user. The invention automatically determines the extent, and generates control signals to employ the enhancements within the extent. The control signals are then transmitted from the computer to the user-interface.

Abstract: A clock buffer circuit having a reduced propagation delay therethrough. The clock buffer circuit has a clock input for receiving an initial clock pulse thereto, and a clock output for transmitting a buffered clock pulse therethrough. A first driver chain arrangement of transistors is coupled with the clock input and the clock output for switching the buffered clock pulse from a low voltage level to a high voltage level. A second driver chain arrangement of transistors is coupled with the clock input and the clock output for switching the buffered clock pulse from the high voltage level to the low voltage level. A holder circuit and a first and trigger circuit for the second driver chain are also included.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically analyzing and controlling intensity of a train of high speed, high power multi-level optical pulses. The invention includes an optical pulse generator for generating the train of high speed, high power, multi-level optical pulses, wherein the optical pulse generator provides a low optical intensity level and a medium optical intensity level and a high optical intensity level. A photodetector is optically coupled with the optical pulse generator for generating a train of electrical pulses having amplitude levels in response to optical intensity levels of the train of optical pulses. At least one reference is employed, wherein an analyzer electrically coupled with the reference and the photodetector for analyzing the amplitude levels of the train of electrical pulses in comparison to the reference. A controller is electrically coupled with analyzer for generating a high correction signal based upon the analysis of the amplitude levels.

Abstract: A surface mount solder pad that is adapted to function as a heat sink for an electronic component soldered to the pad. Included is a printed wiring board having solder pads disposed on its surface that are adapted for soldering to leads of surface mount components. The solder pads are electrically interconnected by conductive traces also disposed on the surface. At least one of the solder pads has an enhanced surface area that is selected larger than necessary for the soldering, and that is selected sufficiently large so as to sink enough heat generated by one of the surface mount components to provide for its proper operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for centering an optical component, such as a lens element, within an optical bore sleeve. The optical component has an outer perimeter, and the optical bore sleeve has an inner perimeter for receiving the outer perimeter of the optical component. A plurality of deformable ridges are interposed between the outer perimeter of the optical component and the inner perimeter of the sleeve for aligning the optical component and the sleeve along a common optical axis as the ridges are deformed upon insertion of the optical component into the sleeve.

Abstract: A compact cooling method and apparatus arranged for simultaneously drawing heat from both a processor and from the voltage regulator. The invention provides for advantageous arrangement of the voltage regulator and memory proximate to the processor for high speed operation. The invention includes a processor requiring at least one bias voltage, and further includes a companion voltage regulator for providing the bias voltage. The voltage regulator is arranged sufficiently proximate to the processor, so as to limit inductance of electrical coupling therebetween.

Abstract: A ring-type signal controlled oscillator comprising a series of active delay elements, each including a respective differential pair of transistors. The inputs and outputs of the differential pair transistors are interconnected in a closed ring to produce oscillations at a frequency determined by the delay of each delay element. The differential pair of transistors further has a pair of current source inputs for controlling an amount of delay of the delay element, and a pair of load inputs for stabilizing the amount of delay. The invention advantageously provides high frequency operation with substantially symmetric rise and fall time, while limiting spread in oscillation frequency and spread in amplitude in relation to fabrication process variability and power supply variability.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for computer network configuration and address mapping. The invention provides for connecting mobile laptop PCs to a network, without the need to re-configure its network configuration parameters every time. The invention includes a device having a protocol stack configured with a network level protocol address that identifies a first tap point of a local network, so as to provide for data communications between the portable device and a local device connected to a second tap point of the local network, when the portable device is connected to the network at the first tap point of the local network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for kernel level modules or drivers identifying message processing functions and for controlling execution of the message processing functions at the stream head, so that the functions are available at the stream head for adapting stream data interpretation, stream execution behavior, and the like in accordance with various system requirements such as requirements of devices or user processes.

Abstract: A tool for compressing a torsional spring for clamping a heat sink. The tool includes a base having an aperture extending therein for receiving the torsional spring and the heat sink. A first set of opposing jaws is pivotally coupled with the base for compressing the torsional spring in a vertical direction. A second set of opposing jaws is pivotally coupled with the base for compressing the torsional spring in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A parallel optical data link using multimode optical components. The invention includes an array of photonic optical sources and an array of multimode waveguides optically coupled adjacent to the array of sources. Similarly, the invention further includes an array of photonic optical detectors and an array of multimode waveguides optically coupled adjacent to the array of detectors. The invention further includes a multimode optical fiber ribbon having a longitudinal dimension and first and second opposing extremities for transmission of light there through. The source coupled waveguide array is in optical communication with the first extremity of the fiber ribbon, while the detector coupled waveguide array is in optical communication with the second extremity of the fiber ribbon.

Abstract: A compact apparatus for cooling circuit packs disposed in a supporting cage, while providing a substantially uniform flow of coolant at enhanced volume and static pressure, and while reducing ambient noise level. The invention includes a circuit pack cage having a plurality of parallel longitudinal slots for receiving the circuit packs and for arranging the circuit packs in parallel with one another. A plenum of the invention has a plurality of parallel longitudinal troughs, wherein each trough has a respective elongated opening extending along a longitudinal dimension of the trough. The elongated openings of the troughs are arranged for proximate fluid coupling along the longitudinal dimension of each of the circuit packs adjacent to the surfaces of the circuit packs, Each trough of the plenum has a respective extremity opening, which provides for coupling with an impeller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying line rotation on a raster computer graphics display, so that substantially rotated versions of original lines maintain a line style pattern that is identical to a line style pattern of the original lines. The invention includes controlling the line style of the substantially rotated version based upon rotation of the substantially rotated version. A line style array is stored in a computer memory for storing consecutive line style pattern features of the substantially rotated version of the first line and assigning a respective length value to each of the pattern features. A line style feature pixel counter is used for counting the pixels of each line style pattern feature. A comparator is used for comparing the incremented pixel counter to the respective length value. A pixel step value is scaled based upon a trigonometric function of the rotation of the substantially rotated version so as to generate a scaled pixel step value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for soft error comparison testing of electronic components exposed to a flux of high energy particles, while providing for simultaneous comparison testing of different components at full rated operating speed, and providing for programmable control of level of the supply voltage applied to the components. Included a method and apparatus for simultaneously exposing electronic components to a flux of high energy particles, operating the components, and simultaneously measuring soft errors of the components induced by the flux of high energy particles.

Abstract: A method and article of manufacture for providing a balanced tradeoff between size of a single binary file and performance of that binary on various computer architectures of a wide range of computer platforms. The invention includes identifying performance critical source code and complementary source code having less performance criticality than the performance critical source code. The performance critical source code is compiled so as to generate performance critical object code for a first computer architecture, or an additional plurality of computer architectures as desired. The complementary source code is compiled so as to generate complementary object code for a particular computer architecture, selected as a generic computer architecture, which is different than at least one of the plurality of computer architectures.

Abstract: A register dump providing enhanced efficiency by using a transmission gate for generating a register word line signal so as to reduce clock loading, and by using a complementary gate for generating a precharged pull-down signal so as to reduce discharge time and register word line capacitive loading.

Abstract: A simplified apparatus and a design method for providing microwave resonators having high Q factors. The apparatus includes a resonant microwave cavity having three mutually orthogonal dimensions and a low loss dielectric body substantially enclosing each dimension of the resonant microwave cavity. To further increase Q-factor, the apparatus of the invention preferably includes a plurality of resonant microwave cavities and a plurality of low loss dielectric bodies each substantially enclosing a respective one of the microwave resonant cavities. In some embodiments the low loss dielectric bodies are arranged in a stack. In other embodiments the low loss dielectric bodies are concentrically arranged.