Abstract: A portable liquid design system includes a portable information handling system (IHS) that employs a liquid design application capable of operating in different modes to design different liquids such as corn syrup, espresso, coffee, soda pop and others. The portable liquid design system may include a refractometer to measure the refractive index and temperature of a liquid under test. The liquid design application may apply the measured refractive index and temperature to a 3 dimensional representation of the correlation of refractive index, temperature and concentration (% total dissolved solids) to determine a particular concentration corresponding to the measured refractive index and temperature. A single 3 dimensional scale may apply to virtually all values of interest of refractive index, temperature and concentration for a particular liquid under test.

Abstract: A signal-of-opportunity location device (SOLD) that may be situated in a complex radio propagation environment with multiple RF signal obstructions receives RF signals from a distant transmitter. The RF signals from the distant transmitter interact with obstructions in the propagation environment local to the SOLD. The local obstructions perturb the RF signals causing the RF signals to exhibit near field behavior in the complex radio propagation environment. The SOLD receives the locally perturbed signals. The SOLD detects signal characteristics of RF signal components of the received signals and compares these signal characteristics with reference data in a reference data store to determine the current location of the SOLD.

Abstract: A coffee refractometer includes a prism that receives a brewed coffee sample, thus forming a prism-sample interface. A processor or microcontroller controls a light source to provide incident light to the prism-sample interface. The prism-sample interface refracts light toward a photodetector. A temperature sensor provides temperature information to the processor. The refractometer includes a memory store that stores a TDS formula that expresses the TDS of brewed coffee as a function of the index of refraction (ns) of brewed coffee and the temperature of brewed coffee. The processor determines the TDS of the brewed coffee sample by accessing the TDS formula in the memory store and employing the determined index of refraction (ns) of the brewed coffee sample to find the TDS from the TDS formula. The refractometer displays the resultant TDS % on a display of the refractometer and/or transmits such information to an information handling system.

Abstract: A methodology for acquiring a frequency correction burst using a radio communication device including an RF circuit and digital processing circuitry is disclosed. The radio communication device employs a time period during which an signal acquisition time window is open and during which the RF circuit is activated to receive RF signals intended to be processed by the digital processing circuitry. The acquisition time window is discontinuous and includes N sub-acquisition windows during which the RF circuit is activated, wherein N?2. The N sub-acquisition windows are separated from one another by N?1 non-acquisition time slots, during which the RF circuit is deactivated. In one embodiment, a portion of the digital processing circuitry is deactivated during those times when the RF circuit is activated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for fabricating an anti-fatigue mat that employs a layer of resilient gel material. The method employs a frame assembly that receives a flexible sheet to form the base sheet of the mat. In one embodiment, the frame assembly includes a movable frame member having an angled aperture for controlling the geometry of the gel layer when heated gel is dispensed into the aperture. In one embodiment, the frame assembly receives another flexible sheet disposed on the gel layer to form the support sheet of the mat. In one embodiment, the frame assembly may further include a cooling channel for convective or liquid cooling of liquid gel dispensed into a gel receiving cavity formed by the aperture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for fabricating an anti-fatigue mat that employs a layer of resilient gel material that exhibits a first durometer. The method employs a frame assembly that receives a flexible support sheet. The frame assembly includes an aperture that receives a layer of heated liquid gel which cools to form the layer of resilient gel material exhibiting the first durometer. In one embodiment, a barrier layer exhibiting a second durometer is situated on the gel layer that exhibits the first durometer. In one embodiment, the barrier layer prevents the flow of oils from the gel layer to a flexible base sheet disposed on the barrier layer. In another embodiment, the flexible base sheet may exhibit a second durometer. In either embodiment, the layers exhibiting the first and second durometer cooperate to influence the feel of the mat to the user.

Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed wherein isolation buffers couple to respective active circuits or stages of the device to convey test information regarding such active circuits to a test data line from which status information may be collected. The communication device operates in two modes, namely a normal operational mode wherein the isolation buffers effectively short spurious emissions from the active circuits to a ground, and a test mode wherein the isolation buffers may convey test information from a selected active circuit to the test data line. The isolation buffers prevent spurious emissions from escaping the active circuits to which they are coupled and prevent spurious emissions from traveling from active circuit to active circuit over the test data line throughout the wireless device.

Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed wherein the voltage swing of a local oscillator (LO) signal is controlled to prevent overstressing semiconductor devices in a mixer to which the LO signal is supplied. A quadrature divider supplies the LO signal to the mixer. Digital calibration methodology controls the current that the quadrature divider draws from a power supply to set the voltage swing of the LO signal that the quadrature divider generates.

Abstract: A wireless communication receiver is disclosed that operates in a test mode to determine image correction information that is used to suppress undesired image signals when the receiver switches to a normal operational mode. In one embodiment, the receiver includes a frequency synthesizer coupled by a quadrature divider to an in-phase (I) mixer and a quadrature mixer. The mixers are coupled by respective analog to digital converters (ADCs) to respective I and Q channel inputs of a digital signal processor (DSP). In the test mode, a test tone is provided to the mixer inputs. The test tone is divided down further and provided to clock the frequency synthesizer, the ADCs and the DSP. This configuration locks together the mixers, frequency synthesizer, ADCs and DSP ratiometrically in frequency during the test mode while image correction information is being determined.

Abstract: A dual path frequency synthesizer is disclosed which includes a controlled oscillator and a phase detector that determines the phase difference between an output signal of the controlled oscillator and a reference signal. The synthesizer also includes a charge pump that is coupled to the phase detector. The synthesizer includes a direct path loop filter which is coupled to a charge pump output. The synthesizer also includes an integrating path loop filter which is coupled to another charge pump output and which has substantially the same topology as the direct path loop filter. The direct path loop filter and the integrating path loop filter are substantially matched with one another. The charge pump pumps charge into the direct and integrating path loop filters in response to the phase difference between the reference signal and the output signal of the controlled oscillator as determined by the phase detector.

Abstract: A bias system is disclosed including a calibration bus to which a controller, a reference bias source, a master bias source, and first and second slave bias sources are coupled. The controller varies a control code sent over the calibration bus to the master bias source until a particular control code is found that causes the bias signal of the master bias source to equal a desired bias value which is provided by the reference bias source. The controller then sends the particular control code to the first and second slave bias sources to cause the first and second slave bias sources to generate a bias signal having the same desired bias value as the master bias source. Isolation between load circuits coupled to the first and second bias sources is thus enhanced while providing low noise, stable operation.

Abstract: A content management system is provided including a plurality of tables forming a tree-based hierarchy for storing information such as item information. An information retrieval interface is provided to facilitate retrieval of information from the tree-based table hierarchy. The number of cursors employed for retrieving information is dynamically variable with the number of tables in the hierarchy. Advantageously, the content management system permits tables to be added or appended to the initial tree-based table hierarchy after the database is created. The number of cursors is dynamically varied to accommodate the additional cursors needed to query the additional table or tables.

Abstract: A resilient mat is disclosed which provides cushioning and comfort to users standing thereon or otherwise contacting the mat. The mat includes a resilient gel inner layer surrounded by a support ring to which an upper cover member and a lower cover member are attached. The support ring exhibits stiffness greater than the stiffness of the upper and lower cover members so that adherence of the upper and lower cover members to the support ring is enhanced even after prolonged use. The upper and lower cover members can exhibit the same or different colors in particular embodiments. The upper and lower cover members also can exhibit anti-slip properties in selected embodiments.

Abstract: A method, computer product, and system for rewriting database without decreasing pushdownability is provided. First, a pushdown analysis of the query in its entirety is performed prior to the application of any query rewrite rules in order to establish a baseline on pushdownability for the query. The results of this analysis is stored with the internal query representation. After each rule is applied to rewrite a portion of a query, that rewritten portion is analyzed again for pushdownability. If pushdownability is not decreased, then the rewritten query remains and the internal representation of the query is updated to reflect the pushdownability of that portion. If pushdownability is decreased, then an undo operation is applied to the rewritten portion of the query to back out the effects of the rule and leave the query in the same state as before the rewrite. Finally, additional rewrite rules that are directed to the heterogeneous database environment are also provided.

Abstract: A personal computer includes a DC to DC converter which employs a dual function capacitive energy storage device at the output rail of the converter. The energy storage device provides both a transition control function and a bulk or output function. In this manner, the size and expense of a separate bulk capacitor is advantageously avoided. The converter includes a switching transistor coupled to a bulk inductor. The switching transistor exhibits a high frequency switching rate which is sufficiently high to permit the inductor to directly replenish the capacitive energy storage device thus enabling the converter to withstand both major and minor load fluctuations without loss of voltage regulation at the output rail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which enhances computer system performance in systems that incorporate a cache system that requires a first non-zero number of wait states and a memory system write buffer that requires a second lesser number of wait states. The present invention reduces or eliminates wait states that are otherwise required during write cycles in prior art designs without adding cost. During burst writes to data entries cached in the second level cache system, a cache protocol is used whereby the cache controller snoops the respective addresses which are the target of the burst write cycle out of the cache system, i.e., marks the respective cache line invalid. This effectively eliminates the data from the cache at the beginning of the burst write cycle. Since the data has now been marked invalid, the cache line is not required to be updated.

Abstract: A modular computer bus providing a system for automatically maintaining proper bus termination. A module connector is located at on end of the bus. A switch device is located at the end of the bus as close as possible to the connector. The switch device couples a termination device to the end of the bus when the switch device is in an on state. The switch device is in the on state when no module is present in the connector and in an off state when a module, such as a processor module, is present in the connector. When the switch device is in the off state, the termination device is not coupled to the bus. Instead the end of the bus is terminated by a termination device on the module. Thus, computer bus is correctly terminated automatically when a module is inserted into or removed from the connector. Thus a bus structure is provided for implementing a bus standard while providing modularity and automatically maintaining proper bus termination.

Abstract: A switching power supply system for digitally measuring switching regulator current is provided. The switching power supply contains a pulse-width-modulator (PWM) controller for providing a series of constant voltage and constant frequency pulses to a tank circuit. The tank circuit provides a DC current to an electronic system. The duty cycle of the pulses, however, is varied, depending on the current drain of the electronic system. A counter is attached to an output of the PWM controller to provide a count that is relative to the width of an output pulse from the PWM controller. The count is provided to a power control system that utilizes the value of the count to determine the current output of the PWM controller. The power control system is also connected to the output of the tank circuit to monitor the voltage output of the PWM controller. The power control system utilizes the determined current output, and the monitored voltage output to determine the instantaneous power output of the PWM controller.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a multi-component mounting footprint for mounting one of several possible differently sized discrete component packages on the circuit board. The multi-component mounting footprint includes a first mounting pad which has two connection points for mounting a connector on one of two different sized components. The footprint also includes a second mounting pad which is symmetric to the first mounting pad. About the mounting pads are cut outs which prevent solder buildup when either one of two different sized components are mounted thereon.

Abstract: A portable computer is provided in which the consumption of power by the I/O ports of the computer is reduced. The processor of the computer distinguishes port I/O operations that require an actual data transfer from port I/O operations that do not require an actual data transfer. The I/O ports of the computer remain off until an I/O operation involving an actual data transfer at a particular port is required. When an I/O operation which requires an actual data transfer is encountered, then the appropriate port is powered up. In this manner, power consumption by the I/O ports of the computer is significantly reduced. Advantageously, the disclosed technique for reducing power consumption by the I/O ports of the computer is operating system independent. In this manner, the power management feature functions regardless of which particular operating system or application software is installed on the computer.