Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for aligning and press-fitting connector terminals into a substrate. The terminals are initially supported together by a bandolier strip, and an alignment tool aligns the terminals with apertures in the substrate to which the terminals will be press-fitted. A pressing tool engages the shanks of the terminals to fold the bandolier away from the terminals and thereafter press the terminals into the apertures.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for processing sparse vectors in a tandem or parallel processing environment. Sparce vectors are those vectors stored in memory with their zero-valued operands deleted. They have a corresponding order vector of bits whose state indicates the order of zero and non zero operands in a corresponding expanded vector. The apparatus fetches the order vectors n bits at a time, n corresponding to the number of tandem processors, and counts the number of one bits. This number of operands is then fetched from memory. The apparatus aligns and orders the fetched sparse vector operands, inserts zero operands where appropriate, and forwards the resulting portion of the expanded vector to the tandem processors for processing.

Abstract: Compensation for radial misalignment between a data head and a servo head is provided. At least one pair of servo data tracks having a servo null there between are written on each data surface. The servo head is moved to a corresponding servo track null and the offset of the data head from its servo track null is measured iteratively by injecting voltages generated by a digital-to-analog converter into the servo head servo loop to progressively decrease the offset of the data head from its servo null until the data head is positioned over the servo null. The digital value of the digital-to-analog converter input is then stored in a digital memory for later use in fine positioning of the data head over a data track by means of retrieving the digital value from memory, converting it to a voltage through the digital-to-analog converter and injecting it into the servo head servo loop.

Abstract: A cache memory organization is shown using a miss information collection and manipulation system to insure the transparency of cache misses. This system makes use of the fact that the cache memory has a faster rate of operation than the rate of operation of central memory. The cache memory consists of a set-associative cache section consisting of tag arrays and control with a cache buffer, a central memory interface block consisting of a memory requester and memory receiver together with miss information holding registers section consisting of a miss comparator and status collection device. The miss information holding register section allows for an almost continual stream of new requests for data to be supplied to the cache memory at the cache hit rate throughput.

Abstract: A system is provided for predicting in advance the result of a conditional branch instruction in a computer system. The system includes a hash mechanism, a random access memory, an address buffer, a branch outcome result receiving means and a counter buffer. The hash mechanism and memory use the input branch instruction address to produce a count which in effect is a way of weighting recent branch history to predict the branch decision. The counts are stored in the random access memory (RAM). The random access memory is addressed by the hashed branch instruction address to produce the system result.

Abstract: A demand driven access mechanism comprises logic apparatus at each station capable of seizing use of a shared communication channel for enabling access to a selected one station. The logic apparatus receives status signals from all stations so that if one station seeks access to the channel it will be enabled immediately upon an inactive status to the channel. If two or more stations simultaneously seek access to the channel, the logic apparatus establishes a priority order between them, thereby enabling access to only one station at a time. The priority ordering is based, in part, by the identity of the station last enabled, to thereby assure priority order allocation among the stations.

Abstract: A pneumatic radius sensor is embodied in a fluid bearing, such as an air bearing for a tape transport, to determine the radius of tape wrapped on an adjacent supply or take up reel. The sensor includes a chamber in fluid communication through a plurality of metered orifii to the region of the changing wrap angle of the tape on the air bearing, the plurality of orifii being arranged to provide an essentially linear relationship between pressure in the chamber and the wrap angle of the tape. Pressure sensing means in the chamber senses the pressure therein, so the radius of tape on the adjacent reel can be determined.

Abstract: A modified least recently used resolving network provides the capability of ignoring any one or more of the signals indicating use of the device in resolving the least recently used status of the devices.

Abstract: A delay lock loop has a fixed delay element, means for detecting the edge transitions of pulses, analog or digital feedback means related to the timing differences between the edge transitions of a pair of pulses and a variable delay means responsive to the feedback means for adjusting the timing differences between a pair of pulses in response to the feedback signals. In the analog embodiment, the feedback may be a voltage related feedback with a varying voltage controlling a voltage responsive variable delay means. In the digital embodiment, the feedback means may use a counter responsive to signals from an edge detecting flip-flop and the counter may control a programmable delay means.

Abstract: A disc memory cartridge double-acting handle design increases, over an earlier design, the amount of material resisting stresses at critical points to increase overall stiffness and strength. The increased stiffness and strength allows plastic to be used as the structural material for the mechanism, rather than the metal of the earlier design. The manipulation required is unchanged from the earlier design.

Abstract: A time synchronization system involves a master station sending time information to a remote station and in which a portion of the time message is used as a trigger to start a counter or interval clock in the remote station. When the time message is concluded, the remote station adds the time in the interval clock or counter to the time from the message received to create an actual time which replaces the existing time information in the remote station clock. The time portion of the message sent represents the actual time at which the trigger in the time message was actuated and represents a later portion of the message as sent.

Abstract: In a microcode control memory for a computer central processing unit, a network is provided for generating a modified microcode address in a sequence of instructions where the modified address is determined by a function of the results of preselected events.

Abstract: A pilot cell driver for a capacitive memory plasma display device having three output states: high, low, and floating. The floating state of the pilot cell driver is used in combination with a feedback of the plasma display panel sustain voltage to create a third voltage level on the pilot cell drive line for use in rewriting the pilot cells. The pilot cell driver is comprised of a pull-up switch and pull-down switch. After the pull-up switch is activated for a short period of time, the output of the pilot cell driver relaxes to the floating state. The floating state voltage is achieved, for example, on a vertically oriented pilot cell drive line by coupling to a horizontal sustain drive voltage which switches from the pull-up voltage to the pull-down voltage during the relaxation time of the pilot cell driver. By capacitively coupling the horizontal sustain voltage to the vertical pilot cell drive electrode, the floating state voltage is achieved.

Abstract: Electronic circuitry for improving the speed and accuracy of shifting the magnetic heads of a disk memory from one to another track cylinder. Head velocity is measured with great accuracy by measuring the servo head transit time between adjacent tracks of the servo disk. A microprocessor controller in conjunction with preferred velocity profile data stored in a read only memory provides a control signal to the linear motor control causing the head arm velocity to follow the preferred velocity profile with excellent precision.

Abstract: In a data processing device using flexible magnetic disc media, apparatus is disclosed for improved positioning of a magnetic read/record head against the recording surface of a magnetic disc. A carriage, moveable radially on the disc, has two opposed swing arms pivotal between a load position and a retracted position. A gimbal spring is cantilevered to each swing arm and carries at its free end a transducer. A retainer is attached to the end of each swing arm. During movement of the swing arm toward the load position, each retainer is engaged with its associated gimbal spring and maintains its associated head in a controlled attitude as the head approaches the disc. In the load position, the heads are opposite one another against recording surfaces on opposite sides of the disc, and each is free of its associated retainer.

Abstract: A temperature compensated current source includes three successive source current paths to produce a controlled output current. Each current path has a different value of current flowing therein so that current fluctuations in one current path will tend to be isolated from the other current paths because of the difference in current flow. In the embodiment of the invention shown, a reference zener diode provides a reference voltage at the base of a first transistor to establish a first reference current as its emitter current. A second transistor uses the first current as the reference to establish a second current value which has a positive temperature coefficient. Third, fourth and fifth transistors use the second reference current to establish a third reference current value independent of the gain values of these transistors.

Abstract: An ink jet printer is provided which will print in both the left to right and right to left directions of ink jet head travel with respect to the print media. Relative horizontal displacement of ink jet droplets caused by horizontal travel of the ink jet head is compensated for by a deflection plate system which is tilted with respect to the direction of travel to provide an electric field which tilts the pattern of ink jet droplets in an equal and opposite amount from that caused by horizontal movement of the ink jet head. In one direction of travel an ascending pattern of ink jet droplets is provided and in the other direction of travel a descending pattern of ink jet droplets is provided for printing so that the tilted deflection plate system compensates appropriately for the particular direction of travel.

Abstract: A cateye-signal intercept detector for aligning a read-write head above a computer data storage disk. The detector used in conjunction with a standard disk having two adjacent cateye-type head alignment tracks thereon. The subject invention automates the detection of each intercept in the cateye-signal so that associated processing equipment responsive to the output signal produced can measure the read-write head disk alignment automatically.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for enhancing the quality of characters printed on a media by a dot matrix printer, and particularly for enhancing edges of characters disposed at an angle to the rows of the matrix. First and second memory matrices contain the information as to the relative position along each row for printing dots to form each character; the first memory containing information to form a basic pattern and the second memory containing information related to an enhancement pattern which, if printed at the same carrier frequency as the basic pattern but phase shifted therefrom by a predetermined relationship (for example, 180.degree.), will enhance those edges of the character being printed disposed at an angle, other than 90.degree., from the rows of dots being printed. The information in the first and second memories are sequenced through first and second shift registers, one of which is sequenced by a clock signal and the other is sequenced by an inverted clock signal.

Abstract: A high-speed binary divider is provided which produces two quotient bits per processor cycle using two carry-save adders in a nonrestoring division mode with a delayed sign logic circuit selecting the adder having the required adder result for the current partial remainder.