Abstract: Because correct configuration data is essential to the operation of any RAID system, and because multiple copies of the configuration data are kept, not only in the RAID controller itself, but also in each disk drive unit in the configuration, it is imperative that the various copies of the configuration data do not become "out of synchronization", which means that one or more copies of the configuration data are different from one or more other copies of the configuration data. To maintain synchronization of all copies of the configuration data, the current invention compares the configuration data stored in the RAID controller's NVRAM to that of the current system, and records any new, non-responding, repositioned or unidentified storage devices in a change list.

Abstract: A "double-touch" input method is described that is particularly suitable for use as a substitute for a "double-click" input from a mouse or trackball, and that is particularly suitable for use with a touch panel. Briefly, the input method involves contacting a touch panel at a first location (for example, over an area where an icon is displayed) with a first finger. Before a predetermined period of time T.sub.wait elapses, a second finger "taps" the panel at a second location. The location tapped by the second finger is greater than a predetermined distance from the first location tapped by the first finger. In addition, the tap by the second finger is shorter than a second predetermined period of time T.sub.tap. After the tap by the second finger, the first finger is still in contact with the touch panel. The position of the first finger after the tap should be within a predetermined range of its position just prior to the tap.

Abstract: An interactive, tree structured, graphical visualization aid enables a user to better understand and interpret underlying structures in collections of digitally stored data elements, such as documents, programs and other data files. The visualization aid responds to user input, which directs the aid to operate in one of at least two modes. In a first mode, the visualization aid displays a graphical tree structure that includes a selected node and all branches of the selected node, including all subordinate nodes and data elements. In this first mode of operation, all data elements or documents branching either directly from the selected node or directly from subordinate nodes are displayed in the tree structure as branching directly from their respective nodes.

Abstract: Cathode ray tube display apparatus comprises a cathode ray display tube (210) in which an electron beam spot is scanned in a raster pattern to produce an output image. Drive means (200) generates drive voltages on the focus electrode, first and second grid electrodes, and a cathode of the cathode ray tube to generate the electron beam spot in the cathode ray tube. Spot size control means (120) simultaneously varyies, in response to a spot control signal, the voltages generated on the focus electrode, first and second gird electrodes and the cathode by the drive means to vary the size of the electron beam spot in the cathode ray tube.

Abstract: OCR processing involves: acquisition of images from image capturing devices; determination of location/size/style for each character; normalization; smoothing for large corners; smoothing by the deletion of individual protruding and extraneous dots; extraction of features; pattern matching; automatic error correction using a word dictionary; and output of recognition results.In the present invention, high speed software processes accomplish smoothing large corners and deletion of individual protruding and extraneous dots. In this software processing, the smoothing process is performed by shifting bit rows and using only the logical operators NOT, AND, and OR; not used are the often employed conventional conditional branch commands, such as the "if then else" and "switch" statements. This smoothing method (using only NOT, AND, and OR) contributes to a substantial reduction in the processing speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data processing apparatus that has two or more internal SCSI devices, to include a SCSI controller, that can also accommodate eternal SCSI devices via a port connector and that can manage the ID numbers (identification numbers) of the internal SCSI devices separately from all the other SCSI devices without requiring any action by a user; and a method for controlling such a data processing apparatus. According to the present invention, ID numbers can be written into internal SCSI devices. ID numbers that do not collide with the ID numbers of the externally connected SCSI devices are assigned to the respective internal SCSI devices. The system can automatically write the ID numbers during the booting process or when the system configuration is physically changed. Even when there are SCSI hard disk drives installed both inside and outside the system, the ID numbers of the SCSI hard disk drives that are internally positioned can be read so that the internal SCSI hard disk drives can be designated.

Abstract: A power supply circuit prevents, without the use of a series diode, the flow of reverse current from a battery to an AC power adaptor when the power adaptor is disconnected from its external power source. The circuit includes both voltage and current detectors to determine if the output voltage and current of the power adaptor are above or below predetermined reference levels. A summing circuit sums the outputs of the voltage and current detectors, and when both the detected voltage and current are below the reference levels, a switch disconnects the battery from the output terminal of the power adaptor, thereby preventing reverse current flow.

Abstract: An extended PCI bus (100) accepts both standard 33 MHz (101-102) and extended 66 MHz (103-104) PCI I/O devices, and permits the intermixing and interoperability of both types of devices on the same bus. Each extended 66 MHz initiator device (103) includes a target memory (205) that is programmed at boot up to include a list of address ranges of all extended 66 MHz devices. Each extended 66 MHz device includes a clock multiplier (202) that generates an internal 66 MHz clock signal by doubling the 33 MHz bus clock frequency. This clock multiplier may be in the form of a simple edge detecting frequency doubler (FIG. 4), or a phase locked loop (FIG. 5) that can also provide for phase adjustments to alter the skew between the bus and internal clocks. To transfer data between two extended 66 MHz devices, an extended initiator device sends, during the address/control phase of the bus cycle, a fast read or write command to the extended target device over the C/BE lines of the bus.

Abstract: Blocks of data are transferred in burst mode from a first device attached to a first bus, to a second device attached to a second bus having time multiplexed address/data lines. A bridge circuit includes an address register, which is coupled to the first bus, a circuit for incrementing the address register, and an output register coupled to the address/data lines of the second bus. In an aborted burst mode transfer of a block of data from one device to the other in which a "last" data byte in the block was successfully transferred, but a "next" byte of data was not successfully transferred, the system provides for an efficient retry of the transfer of the aborted data block. This efficient retry is accomplished in part by swapping the information in the address register of the bridge circuit with the information in its output register, such that the output register contains the address of the "next" data byte.

Abstract: A processor clock (302) is momentarily synchronized to a subsystem clock (307) during transfers of data between a processor (301) and a subsystem (305). After the completion of the data transfer, synchronization is disabled and the processor clock runs asynchronously at its own internal frequency, which is higher than the subsystem clock frequency. In one embodiment, the processor clock uses a free running ring oscillator (401) that is constructed on the same integrated circuit chip as the processor. Changes in temperature and power supply voltage not only cause changes in the maximum operating speed of the processor, but they also cause corresponding changes in the frequency of the processor clock. Thus, the frequency of the processor clock tracks changes in the maximum operating speed of the processor caused by temperature and power supply variations.

Abstract: The system resources in a computer system having a multi-level, hierarchical bus structure are allocated by determining the address resource requirement of the devices and lower level PCI-PCI bridges, if any, subordinate to every higher level bridge by receiving address resource requirement information from each device and each lower level bridge, if any. Then, the address value of resource address requirement of the devices and lower level bridges requiring specific address allocation are sorted in an ascending order. Next, the size of resource address requirement of the devices and lower level bridges with non-specified address allocation is sorted in an descending order. Finally, the sorted list is grouped by an first fit algorithm to determine the resource allocation for each device within the bus hierarchy.

Abstract: A portable computer is adapted for use with an overhead projector and includes a main body having a keyboard on its upper face and a lid, which is hinged to the rear edge of the main body. The lid includes front and back portions. The front lid portion includes a liquid crystal display, a driver for the display, and a backlight. The back lid portion includes a light diffuser that diffuses light emitted by the backlight. The back lid portion is connected to the front lid portion by a latch, which is only accessible to the user when the lid is in the open position, thereby preventing the inadvertent removal of the back lid portion when the lid is closed against the main body. A switch is also provided that detects the removal of the back lid portion and cuts off the drive current to the backlight in the front lid portion.

Abstract: Provided are a plurality of texture memory clusters for storing interleaved texture image data composed of a plurality of texels in each memory so as to avoid duplication, each having a collecting circuit for computing, from the coordinates of a texture image for one pixel, texels for calculating a texture value corresponding to the coordinates, and for collecting the texel values from the plurality of texture memory clusters, and circuitry for calculating the texture value for the above one pixel from the collected texel values, a bus for interconnecting the plurality of memory clusters, and a plurality of texture generators each connected to one of the plurality of memory clusters for calculating the coordinates of the texture image for the above one pixel. Texel values can efficiently exchanged between each memory cluster without redundantly holding texels in memories.

Abstract: A data processing system that employs a rechargeable battery and supports a full discharge of the battery and that is not shut down even if a user mistakenly removes a battery while the system is being operated in a full discharge mode, and a power supply apparatus for such a data processing system and a method for using the apparatus. When a data processing system is to be operated in a full discharge mode, an external power source constantly and steadily supplies power to the first electric circuitry, while a battery supplies power to the second electric circuitry until the discharge is completed. The first electric circuitry is designed to include components, such as a CPU and a main memory, that may force the entire system to be shut down when the supply of power is abruptly halted to those components.

Abstract: A conductive coating on the front surface of the display screen is used to determine the position of an object, such as a user's finger, touching the screen. Sensors at the edge of the conductive coating detect changes in the level of the ambient field pickup when the user's finger touches the display screen. The conductive coating may optionally be divided into blocks with separate connections to each block, or may have a resistivity profile so as to allow full X and Y co-ordinate determination of the position of the finger. Also, optionally, a stylus generating an electromagnetic field when in contact with the display may be used in place of the finger.

Abstract: A method and device for rapidly restarting a computer system expansion device from a power save mode. The expansion device comprises a central processor for controlling the operation of the expansion device; a first memory, which is volatile, used as a working area by the central processor in handling tasks; interface for communicating with the computer system; power supply to each element in the expansion device; and a second memory, which is non-volatile and write-enable, for saving the context information held by the interface and the data stored in a first memory, in response to a request from the computer system via the interface.

Abstract: A battery compartment latch mechanism holds a battery in either a fully loaded or a partially loaded position. The partially loaded position prevents the battery from slipping out of the battery compartment when the battery is being ejected. To hold the battery in the fully loaded position, a latch (66) at one end of a lever (60) is urged by a cantilever spring (72) into engagement with a battery recess (50). To disengage the latch from the recess, the lever is rotated manually by moving a handle (84) located at another end of the lever. As the battery is being withdrawn, a plunger (90) engages the battery recess to prevent the battery from slipping out. To fully remove the battery, the user forcibly urges the battery out of the compartment. Because the side walls (104) of the plunger are sloped, forcing the battery outward causes the plunger to be depressed, thereby disengaging the plunger from the battery recess.