Abstract: A computer system includes a processor and a cache and memory management unit. The processor includes a means for retiring instructions in program order. The cache and memory management unit includes means for detecting when a translation has been evicted from a lookaside buffer and means for communicating eviction information to the means for retiring instructions in program order. The means for retiring instructions in program order includes means for holding a storage related instruction which causes a miss in the lookaside buffer or in the cache in a first pass of execution until the instruction becomes the oldest storage related instruction in program sequence and further includes means responsive to the eviction information for flushing all storage related instructions except the current storage related instruction. The system avoids the occurrence of misses in the buffer late in execution (e.g., PASS 2 or later), thus avoiding a necessity for complex recovery provisions.

Abstract: A method of planarizing a layer of a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer includes rotating the layer against an electrolytic polishing slurry and flowing an electrical current through the slurry and through only one major side and/or minor sides of the layer, to remove portions of the layer. The one major side carries no microelectronic components which might be damaged by the current. At least a part of each step of rotating and of flowing occurs simultaneously. An apparatus for planarizing a layer includes a rotatable workpiece carrier, a rotatable platen arranged proximately to the carrier, a polishing pad mounted on the platen, and workpiece electrodes. The workpiece electrodes are movably attached to the carrier so as to engage electrically the minor sides of a layer when a workpiece is held on the carrier.

Abstract: A programmable firmware store for a personal computer system includes a plurality of nonvolatile alterable electronic memories connected in a mutually paralleled circuit arrangement. The memories are connected to a controller that controls the memories to read firmware from and write firmware into the electronic memories, and to write-protect at least one of the memories. Any memory can be write-protected as initially selected by a user or technician of the system. The initial selection can be changed easily to write-protect another of the memories. The firmware in one memory includes code for checking the validity of firmware stored in another memory, and for selecting one or the other of the memories dependent upon a version code of the firmware. The controller also includes an update code for updating the firmware in a selected memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit configuration including a carrier having recesses for supporting individual semiconductor die units. The semiconductor die units and the carrier recesses have lithographically defined dimensions so as to enable precise alignment and a high level of integration.

Abstract: A method of planarizing a layer of a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer includes rotating the layer against an electrolytic polishing slurry and flowing an electrical current through the slurry and through only one major side and/or minor sides of the layer, to remove portions of the layer. The one major side carries no microelectronic components which might be damaged by the current. At least a part of each step of rotating and of flowing occurs simultaneously. An apparatus for planarizing a layer includes a rotatable workpiece carrier, a rotatable platen arranged proximately to the carrier, a polishing pad mounted on the platen, and workpiece electrodes. The workpiece electrodes are movably attached to the carrier so as to engage electrically the minor sides of a layer when a workpiece is held on the carrier.

Abstract: A vertical double-gate field effect transistor includes a source layer, an epitaxial channel layer and a drain layer arranged in a stack on a bulk or SOI substrate. The gate oxide is thermally grown on the sides of the stack using differential oxidation rates to minimize input capacitance problems. The gate wraps around one end of the stack, while contacts are formed on a second end. An etch-stop layer embedded in the second end of the stack enables contact to be made directly to the channel layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit configuration including a carrier having recesses for supporting individual semiconductor die units. The semiconductor die units and the carrier recesses have lithographically defined dimensions so as to enable precise alignment and a high level of integration.

Abstract: An elevator system for up-peak servicing of a building having a dual lobby. The system includes a controller having an electronic processor coupled to a memory; a plurality of elevator cars controllably connected to the controller, a dual lobby routine stored within the memory, the dual lobby routine includes instructions for dispatching at least one of the elevator cars to a lower lobby during up-peak, indicating a sector assigned to the car, nudging (if needed) the car if a lower lobby time-out is exceeded, dispatching the car to the upper lobby if a load weight threshold is not exceeded, and then indicating the sector assigned to the car while the car is located at the upper lobby.

Abstract: An elevator door safety system includes hoistway side doors (2), (3) which open on both sides installed in the side of the hoistway in such a way that they can freely open and close, car side doors (5), (6) which open on both sides installed in the side of the car in such a way that they can freely open and close, a light-emitting element (10) and a light-receiving element (11) respectively provided on either door in the car side, and a pair of reflection members (12), (13) provided on either door in the hoistway side. The reflection members are arranged and dimensioned such that the light from the light-emitting element (10) is emitted toward one of the reflection members (12), which light is reflected from one of the reflection members (12) to the other reflection member (13), and from the other reflection member (13) toward the light-receiving element (11).

Abstract: An elevator roller guide includes a platform 12 having a supporting arm portion 12a and being arranged on a cage, a roller 3 in contact with a guide rail erected in a channel, an arm 6 which supports the roller 3 in a freely rotatable manner and which is arranged on the platform 12 in a freely rockable manner, and a spring 16 arranged between the arm 6 and the supporting arm portion 12a of the platform 12. The guide further includes a stopper rod 13 arranged on the supporting arm portion 12a at a position separated by a certain distance in the horizontal direction from the arm 6 on the side of the rocking direction and separated by a certain distance from the spring 16; and a viscoelastic part 63 arranged between the stopper rod 13 and said arm 6. The viscoelastic part 63 is deformed in the shear direction alone, and its damping effect can be efficiently realized.

Abstract: A traction-type elevator includes a driving sheave (19) arranged in an upper portion of an elevator shaft, cage sheaves (6, 7) arranged at an angle with respect to the driving sheave (19) and mounted on a support beam (5), multiple (or turns of a rope) ropes (17) hung on the cage sheaves (6, 7) and the driving sheave (19), and a hanging rod (10) for hanging a cage from the support beam (5). In this traction-type elevator according to the invention, one torsion coil spring (16) is arranged between the cage side and the aforementioned support beam (5) appropriately so that the aforementioned hanging rod (10) is inserted through it; the two ends of torsion coil spring (16) are attached to a cage side and a side of the support beam (5), respectively. The support beam (5) can effectively rotate to relax torsion in the ropes (17), and it is possible to suppress generation of vibration by the torsion. Also, the torsion coil spring (16) can play the role in damping vibration without shifting outwardly.

Abstract: An elevator wiper (6) includes a sheet steel (7), installed in a removable fashion on side jams (2), (3) which face the surfaces (4a), (5a) of the elevator doors (4) and (5), and a sponge (8), installed on this sheet steel (7) in contact with the surfaces (4a), (5a) of the aforementioned doors (4), (5) for wiping dirt off.

Abstract: In a traction-type elevator equipped with a driving sheave (16) positioned at the top of the shaft for ascent and descent (1), cage sheaves (4, 5) are attached to the upper section of the cage (2) and are inclined in relation to this driving sheave (16), and multiple ropes (12, 13, 14) are wound around the outer surface (4a) of this cage sheave and the outer surface (16a) of the above-mentioned driving sheave; the traction-type elevator is characterized in that along with making the outer surface (4a) of the above-mentioned cage sheave (4) parallel to the outer surface (16a) of the driving sheave (16), this cage sheave (4) is divided into multiple sheave pieces (17, 18, 19) according to the abovementioned ropes (12, 13, 14). The ropes (12, 13, 14) are pulled by the driving sheave (16), and even if the cage (2) is caused to move upwardly or downwardly at a high speed, there is essentially no more generation of vibration and noise, because none of the abovementioned ropes (12, 13, 14) twists undesirably.

Abstract: An arrangement for detecting elevator car position relative to a floor landing includes an optical potentiometer associated with both the elevator car and the interior of an elevator hoistway. One portion of the potentiometer is attached to the elevator car, while the other portion of the potentiometer is fixed within the hoistway. Car position is ascertained by illuminating portions of a fluorescent fiber optical cable and then reading electrical signals outputted by photodetectors at either end of the cable. The difference between the electrical signals corresponds to the distance of the elevator car from the landing.

Abstract: An automated arrangement selects one of a plurality of load weight bypass thresholds for an elevator car. The selection depends, for example, upon the car direction and the time of day. Alternative embodiments of the arrangement utilize in the selection either actual or estimated elevator car floor space. Fuzzy logic is used to estimate available floor space.

Abstract: An obstruction detection system includes emitters, a sensor, and obstruction detection circuitry. The emitters mounted along the top of an opening radiate a plane of light toward the floor. The plane of light intersects the floor and creates a floorline at the intersection of the plane of light and the floor. The plane of light also intersects the door edge and creates a door edge line at the intersection of the door edge and the plane of light. A sensor, located outside the plane of light, monitors the opening so that the presence of the obstruction can be detected from a change in a received light pattern of the floorline, the door edge line, and from reflections from an obstruction in the plane of light. The sensor provides an output signal in response to the received light pattern to a means for analyzing said sensor output signal for obstruction detection.

Abstract: System For Detecting A Breakage Of A Power Cable For An Elevator System Which can accurately detect the breakage of at least one copper wire in the respective power cables present between the inverter of the elevator system and a linear motor moving element and which is difficult to visually inspect.

Abstract: A remote elevator monitoring system includes a master associated with a building and a local connected to the master. The local includes an electronic processor which executes instructions for determining whether the master has transmitted a signal packet to the local within a time period selectable at will by an operator at the local. The time period is, for example, a period selected within a range of 0-255 days. Optionally, for example, the master is programmed to transmit a signal packet to the local at a selected time on the last day of the selected time period.

Abstract: Motor control arrangement for elevator car doors includes a controller which outputs driving signals to the door opening/closing motor which opens or closes the door of the car, a door open button and a door close button provided in the car for opening or closing the door of the car, a first line for transmitting an open signal from the door open button to the controller, and a second line for transmitting a close signal from the door close button to the controller. The first line and the second line communicate with (or are connected to) a third line. Within this third line, a break contact of a detection switch that operates (e.g., opens) when the car door is fully open is provided. A make contact (normally open) of the detection switch is provided between a connection point on the second line and the controller. When the car door starts to close, the make contact opens and the break contact closes so that only an open signal is transmittable to the controller.

Abstract: An electronic failure detector includes an electronic processor having processor inputs and processor outputs, a memory connected to one of the inputs, a logic circuit having logic circuit inputs and logic circuit outputs, the logic circuit inputs and logic circuit outputs being connected to others of the processor inputs, and instructions, stored within the non-volatile memory, for causing the processor to perform a logic check of the logic circuit and to generate a first signal on the processor output if said logic check is true, and to generate a second signal on the processor output if said logic check is false.