Abstract: An apparatus for loading BIOS stored on a direct access storage device in a personal computer system, the system comprising direct access storage device, and a processor card removably mounted to a planar board. The processor card comprises a system processor and ROM memory, while the planar board includes a main memory. A master boot record is stored on the direct access storage device. The master boot record contains a data segment and an executable code segment, the data segment representing the hardware configuration of the personal computer system. A first portion of BIOS included in the ROM memory initializes the system and causes loading of the master boot record into main memory. This first portion of BIOS further compares the hardware configuration data of the master boot record with the hardware configuration data in the ROM memory to verify compatibility with the system processor.

Abstract: A workstation controller is disclosed which operates in either full screen write mode or partial screen write mode. In one embodiment, the controller looks for a "Clear Display"(CD) command in the data stream from the host. If the data stream contains a CD command and if a screen image buffer is available, the controller operates in full screen write mode. Subsequent "Write to Device" (WTD) commands in the data stream are sent to the buffer, not to the device. When the controller detects the end of the data stream the entire contents of the buffer are sent to the display in one operation. If the controller does not detect a CD command in the data stream, or if the CD command is detected but a screen image buffer is not available, the controller operates in partial screen write mode. WTD commands in the data stream are sent directly to the display one at a time.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing operating system efficiency in a data processing system by ensuring alignment of stack memory at a multi-byte boundary such that multi-byte data fetch operations may be utilized to efficiently retrieve data from the stack memory. At each invocation of an operating system procedure from an application within a data processing system, a stack memory pointer is examined to determine if stack memory contents including passed parameters and local variables to be allocated onto the stack memory will be aligned at a multi-byte boundary. In response to a prospective nonalignment of local variables, the operating system procedure is recursively invoked with an additional "dummy" parameter, such that stack memory contents will be aligned at a multi-byte boundary. Thereafter, the operating system will automatically align data within the stack memory at a multi-byte boundary so that the data may be efficiently stored and retrieved utilizing multi-byte data operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating software application performance utilizing a compiler application. An evaluation function is created which may be utilized to track and store software application execution information at each invocation thereof. A software application to be evaluated is compiled utilizing a compiler application which inserts at least one prelude routine command during compiling which is utilized to invoke the prelude routine upon each entry to a procedure within the software application. A command invoking the evaluation function is inserted into the prelude routine such that each entry to a procedure within the, software application under evaluation will result in the storage of execution information at that point. In the depicted embodiment of the present invention execution information at each exit from a procedure within the software application is also tracked and stored by invoking the evaluation function automatically prior to returning from a current procedure.

Abstract: An elevator car dispatcher having an artificially intelligent supervisor which generates a crowd prediction signal associated with a particular floor, monitors a condition of a first elevator car which has serviced the predetermined floor and controls the remainder of elevator cars assigned to the predetermined floor dependent upon the condition of the first car.

Abstract: A translator suitable for use in a computer system provides an interpreter and a translation table defining a state machine. The interpreter steps through the states of the state machine defined in the translation table to perform translation of input characters or codes into output characters or codes. The interpreter is fixed, and does not affect the translation to be performed. The translation function is defined entirely within the translation table, and selecting a different translation table for use by the interpreter selects a different translation function. All of the required actions are defined in the translation table with no additional external procedures being required.

Abstract: A linear motor elevator system includes a car mechanically coupled to a counterweight assembly such that the car roping ratio is less than the counterweight assembly roping ratio. A primary element of the linear motor is disposed on or within a hoistway wall associated with the secondary element of the linear motor. Alternatively, the primary element is affixed to a support frame of the elevator system. The counterweight assembly includes the motor secondary. The elevator system of the present invention reduces the volume within the hoistway interior occupied by the primary and secondary members of the linear motor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to notifying a user of an arriving elevator car in response to a hall call registered by the user, wherein notification occurs a threshold time value before elevator car arrival. In the preferred embodiment, an elevator car is assigned to a floor in response to a hall call. The amount of time required for the assigned elevator car to arrive at the floor is determined and compared with the threshold time value. If the arrival time is greater than the threshold time value, the system reexamines assignment, possibly reassigning a different elevator car to respond to the hall call. The arrival time of the assigned (or newly assigned) elevator car is again determined, and this process continues until the arrival time is less than or equal to the threshold time value. When the arrival time is less than or equal to the threshold time value, the hall lantern at the door of the assigned elevator car is energized, e.g., illuminated and/or sounded.

Abstract: The current an inverter is used as a power source for a brake circuit. The brake circuit includes a current detector, a comparator for comparing the detected value with a dictated brake current pattern, and a switch which switches the brake current in accordance with the magnitude of the difference between the detected current value and the dictated value. The brake current is selected to smoothly increase and decrease the brake current to prevent vibration and noise.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor includes a detector associated with a regenerated power absorbing circuit for monitoring operation of the regenerated power absorbing circuit for detecting an abnormal condition thereof. The control circuit is responsive to detection of abnormality in the regenerated power absorbing circuit for controlling operation of an inverter in a fail-safe mode.

Abstract: Probes are formed on a support in a pattern to engage pads on an integrated circuit chip and leads on a printed circuit board. As a preliminary step, a thin layer of a conductive material may be formed on the support. The probes may then be formed by (a) providing facsimiles of the probes on a disposable member, (b) providing a photoresist on the support, (c) adhering the facsimiles to the support in a relationship providing for an easier removal of the disposable member from the facsimiles than the support, (d) developing the photoresist in the areas not occupied on the support by the facsimiles, (e) removing the disposable member, and then the facsimiles, from the support, (f) forming the probes on the support in the spaces previously occupied by the facsimiles and (g) removing the photoresist from the support.

Abstract: A probe card provides an interconnection between pads on an integrated circuit chip and leads on a printed circuit board to test the chip operability. The card includes a dielectric substrate having a substantially planar surface and at least one channel disposed in such surface in a particular direction. Electrically conductive material is disposed in the channel to contact a conductive, preferably resilient, probe having a first portion disposed in the channel in abutting relationship with the planar surface on the support. Detents are provided in mating relationship in the channel and on the support to position the probe precisely in the channel. A second probe portion extends from the first portion at an angle to the first portion. A probe tip is at the end of the second portion to contact a pad on the chip.

Abstract: Apparatus for environmental stress screening of electronic components includes a chamber having a wall defining an opening therein. A product carrier pallet has a portion dimensioned and configured to inserted in the opening. The portion of the product carrier pallet has a periphery and structure is provided to seal the periphery with respect to the opening. Structure is provided for conducting a plurality of electrical signals through the portion and for electrical coupling to the structure for conducting. The structure for electrical coupling is disposed outside of the product carrier pallet. The apparatus may include a zero insertion force connector. Other forms of the invention relate to a chamber having opposed aligned openings.

Abstract: A cover assembly apparatus dimensioned and configured for engagement with an associated conduit body having an opening for access to the interior. The apparatus includes a generally plate shaped member, a bow shaped member having flanges extending from the extremities thereof, the flanges dimensioned and configured for engagement with an interface of the associated conduit body, the bow shaped member having a convex side thereof disposed in abutting relationship to the plate shaped member, and apparatus for urging the flanges against respective portions of the plate shaped member to cause the bow shaped member to be less bowed and thus to have a greater length intermediate length as measured between the respective flanges thereof.

Abstract: An improved slot forge type furnace, including a front or workstation wall constituted of vacuum formed modules of fibrous insulating material; the wall in the form of an arch, is assembled of a number of elongated modules, sometimes referred to as logs, which are adhered together and compressively positioned abutting the interior side thermal lining and arched top of the furnace. As wear develops in the bottom edge of the front arch wall, which edge defines the top of the slot, the wall is removed, its bottom edge is cut back, and the wall is repositioned.

Abstract: A cable guard for use with conduit bodies to faciliate low friction and low abrasion, threading or pulling of cable through cable openings in the body. The cable guard consists of a tubular clip having a longitudinal or elongated slot extending its entire length and adapted to fit in gripping and removeable engagement with the rim or lip portion of the conduit body access opening. The clip also has a pair of notches positioned at opposite ends and opposite the longitudinal slot to facilitate installation of the clip at the narrow end of an elongated conduit body access opening and to prevent the clip from rolling when in use. The clip has still another pair of notches positioned intermediate its ends and on opposite sides of the longitudinal slot to facilitate removal of the clip from the conduit body.

Abstract: There is provided an expendable device for use with a standard immersion sensor for a molten metal bath to simultaneously hold a standard immersion sampler in juxtaposition to the sensor when the sensor is in its protective sleeve at the end of a lance ready for immersion into the bath. This device provides another expendable heat insulating protective sleeve for accepting in its end the sampler with means being provided for maintaining a side by side relationship between the sampler sleeve and the sensor sleeve during immersion. This combination may advantageously have a vent pipe extending between the sleeves to allow air displaced from the sampler by influx of the sample to vent to a region above the molten metal bath by way of a passage in the sensor sleeve.

Abstract: An identification system for guaranteeing that a cash box adapted to receive revenue from an associated fare box is delivered to an authorized location; the system includes a transmitter as part of the cash box for generating a coded series of pulses uniquely identifying the particular cash box; a receiver is included as part of the fare box for receiving that coded series of pulses; a microcomputer connected to the output of the receiver reads and decodes the coded series of pulses to provide the identification number for the particular cash box; the microcomputer also stores the cash box number in its memory; further provided is an arrangement for selectively varying the coded series of pulses so as to uniquely identify each of a group of cash boxes.

Abstract: An expandable immersion oxygen sensor for molten metal is provided with an improved oxygen reference electrode including Cr, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, NiO, and Fe and the oxygen electrode and thermocouple are secured in the face of the sensor by resin-sand to reduce initial overshoot and failure due to thermal shock.

Abstract: A crystal growing furnace has lift and rotation control apparatus for both a growing crystal and a crucible containing a melt. A transducer and a servo motor are disposed above the furnace having respective shafts connected along a common horizontal axis on opposite sides of a longitudinal light tube wherein the light tube and transducer shaft can be axially positioned by the shaft of the servo motor. The light tube has a lens for focusing at times on a spot on a meniscus in the furnace and at times on the melt, a light sense detector is connected to the light tube for at times generating a servo motor control error signal to drive the servo motor incrementally to an angular position corresponding to growth in the diameter of the meniscus by tracking a spot on the meniscus. The transducer generates an output signal indicative of incremental angular movement in response to growing the crystal for governing the lift and rotation control apparatus.