Abstract: A U-valve apparatus including a bidirectional check valve for controlling the flow of liquid from a vessel while preventing inadvertent discharge from the vessel. The check valve allows passage of a fluid such a gas into the vessel, for purposes of agitating the liquid or for other purposes, and also permits the evacuation of the liquid from the vessel. The U-valve apparatus is advantageously included in a universal fluid exchange device including upper and lower reaction vessel supports which include pressure sealed injection and evacuation ports for each supported reaction vessel. Reaction vessels matingly engage through the injection and evacuation ports with fittings which are connected through flexible tubing to respective supplying and receiving vessels. Each of one or more reaction vessels may suitably be connected by a U-valve apparatus including a check valve to a corresponding receiving vessel.

Abstract: A variety of advantageous mechanisms for improved data transfer control within a data processing system are described. A DMA controller is described which is implemented as a multiprocessing transfer engine supporting multiple transfer controllers which may work independently or in cooperation to carry out data transfers, with each transfer controller acting as an autonomous processor, fetching and dispatching DMA instructions to multiple execution units. In particular, mechanisms for initiating and controlling the sequence of data transfers are provided, as are processes for autonomously fetching DMA instructions which are decoded sequentially but executed in parallel.

Abstract: A thickness sensor assembly (200) for a self-service terminal (SST) arranged to dispense media from at least one media cassette. The sensor assembly comprises a platform (202) and a resonant circuit (300) mounted on the platform (202) and resiliently biased towards a rest position, the sensor assembly (200) being arranged such that the displacement of the resonant circuit (300) can be detected by an SST in which the platform (202) is mounted. In use, the platform (202) is mounted in an SST adjacent to a feed path (72) of media being dispensed thereby such that media moving along the feed path (72) displaces the resonant circuit (300). Such a sensor assembly (200) can be used to detect, for example, when two media sheets have been picked up instead of one.

Abstract: In one aspect, the ESL system automatically detects ESL communication errors which result in incorrect data in the ESL's registers, and then automatically takes corrective action to update the ESL's memory with the correct data. In one aspect, the host computer transmits a register update message to an ESL. If a negative acknowledgment message or no response is received, then the host computer resends the register update message, or takes other appropriate corrective action. If the host computer receives a positive acknowledgement message, the host computer then automatically transmits one or more messages to the ESL to verify the contents of the ESL's registers to ensure that a positive acknowledgement was actually transmitted.

Abstract: Since an aspirator 7 is disposed at a position lower than a fuel gallery 11 and an overflow fuel pipe 81, DME fuel remaining in the fuel gallery 11 and the overflow fuel pipe 81 can be more efficiently retrieved to a fuel tank 4 by a combined force of gravity and suction force produced in a suction port 7c of the aspirator 7. Since the vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe opening/closing solenoid valve 74 is disposed at a position higher than the fuel gallery 11, DME fuel in a liquid state remaining in the fuel gallery 11 and the overflow fuel pipe 81 is forcedly delivered under pressure to the suction port 7c of the aspirator 7 by a combined force of gravity and the pressure of a vapor phase 4b in the fuel tank 4. Accordingly, time taken to retrieve the DME fuel in an injection system to the fuel tank after the stop of a diesel engine.

Abstract: In the DME fuel supply device for a diesel engine, the time necessary to retrieve DME fuel remaining in the injection system after stopping the diesel engine into the fuel tank can be reduced. In a non-injection state, a three-way valve (71) is controlled to be OFF to form a communication passage in the direction indicated by the arrow B and a two-way valve (72) is controlled to be ON. DME fuel delivered from a feed pump (5) is delivered to an aspirator (7), passed from an inlet (7a) to the outlet (7b) thereof and returned to a fuel tank (4). That is, the DME fuel circulates via the aspirator. A vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe switching solenoid valve (75) is controlled to be ON and opened so that flow can pass through a vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe (73) connecting the vapor-phase (4a) in the fuel tank (4) and the inlet of the fuel gallery (11).

Abstract: A system and method of determining unprocessed items which is used to verify an item count based upon the number of radio frequency identification labels that have responded with their label information. The system includes an imaging system for producing image information about items in a container, and a computer for receiving label information from a radio frequency identification label reader following interrogation of a number of radio frequency identification labels on the items in the container, for producing a first count of the items from label information obtained from the number of radio frequency identification labels, for producing a second count of the items in the container from the image information, and for comparing the first count to the second count to produce a third count of the items not processed by the radio frequency identification label reader.

Abstract: A circuit is described which uses a thick gate oxide device in the input stage and a thin gate oxide device in a second stage that is connected to the input stage. The input stage thick gate oxide device provides a low input gate leakage current. The thin gate oxide device in the second stage has high performance characteristics due to the use of the thin gate oxide device. The circuit thereby has high performance characteristics and low input gate leakage current. In various applications, the circuit may be, for example, an amplifier, a differential amplifier, a variable gain differential amplifier, or an operational amplifier in a sample and hold circuit. A guideline is provided where the thick gate oxide layer is about 1.5× the thickness of the thin gate oxide layer. Also, a design to control the circuit's common mode voltage using common mode voltage feedback is described.

Abstract: A self-checkout terminal system includes a self-checkout core application module for controlling a self-checkout terminal, the self-checkout core application module controlling peripheral input and output devices at the self-checkout terminal for receiving inputs from, and providing outputs to, a retail customer. An emulator module connected to the self-checkout core application module emulates, independent from the self-checkout core application, a native vendor software application in a network of cashier-operated checkout terminals administered by a vendor server computer, the emulator module passing commands and data to, and receiving commands and data from, the vendor server. The self-checkout core application converts inputs received at the peripheral input devices into inputs expected by the emulated native vendor software application, and converts device update outputs from the emulated native vendor software application into updates to the peripheral output devices.

Abstract: An VLIW instruction mechanism is described which accesses multiple slot instructions for execution to achieve high levels of selectable parallelism and to make improvements to code density. To this end, the VLIW instruction mechanism includes a short instruction word (SIW) register for holding an SIW. The SIW includes an indication of a slot instruction to execute and a dynamic slot instruction operand which is used by the slot instruction to execute. Further, the VLIW instruction mechanism includes a register for holding slot instructions which are retrieved from VLIW memory. The retrieved slot instructions include a stored operand which is used when executing the retrieved slot instruction. The VLIW instruction mechanism further includes a controller and an execution unit. The controller selects which of the operands are utilized with the retrieved slot instructions. The execution unit executes the retrieved slot instruction with the selected operand.

Abstract: Techniques are described for using unique features of a storage medium for authentication of data as originating from the storage medium, and also for installing software and data to a storage medium in a way which inhibits unauthorized copying of the software and data to another storage medium. Cryptoprocessing keys are created using unique features of the storage medium such as location information related to storage of selected elements of a software installation on the storage medium, or alternatively defective block information relating to the storage medium. The cryptoprocessing keys are used to encrypt data for transmission to a remote server. The remote server uses the cryptoprocessing keys to decrypt the data and authenticates the data as having been encrypted with the correct keys. In order to control operation of software on a storage medium, location information unique to the storage medium is employed to create links between software modules comprising the software.

Abstract: A system core having an internal memory which transfers data from an external device to the internal memory is described. To this end, the system core includes a processor, a direct memory access (DMA) controller, an instruction memory and a plurality of memories. The instruction memory contains processor instructions and DMA instructions. The DMA controller fetches DMA instructions from the instruction memory. The DMA controller executes the fetched DMA instructions and thus populates the plurality of memories with data from the external device. The processor then operates on the data found in the populated memories.

Abstract: Low power architecture features and techniques are provided in a scalable array indirect VLIW processor. These features and techniques include power control of a reconfigurable register file, conditional power control of multi-cycle operations and indirect VLIW utilization, and power control of VLIW-based vector processing using the ManArray register file indexing mechanism. These techniques are applicable to all processing elements (PEs) and the array controller sequence processor (SP) to provide substantial power savings.

Abstract: Techniques for adding more complex instructions and their attendant multi-cycle execution units with a single instruction multiple data stream (SIMD) very long instruction word (VLIW) processing framework are described. In one aspect, an initiation mechanism also acts as a resynchronization mechanism to read the results of multi-cycle execution. This multi-purpose mechanism operates with a short instruction word (SIW) issue of the multi-cycle instruction, in a sequence processor (SP) alone, with a VLIW, and across all processing elements (PEs) individually or as an array of PEs. A number of advantageous floating point instructions are also described.

Abstract: A coprocessor instruction interface is described which provides a flexible degree of coupling with a host control processor. Specific methods are defined for architectures to make use of multiple coprocessing instruction interfaces with a single coprocessor for supporting client-server coprocessors (CSCOPs). A dynamic debug interface is used in each coprocessor instruction interface to support tightly coupled, loosely coupled and firmly coupled operation of the single conprocessor for a corresponding coupled control processor.

Abstract: The ManArray core indirect VLIW processor consists of an array controller sequence processor (SP) merged with a processing element (PE0) closely coupling the SP with the PE array and providing the capability to share execution units between the SP and PE0. Consequently, in the merged SP/PE0 a single set of execution units are coupled with two independent register files. To make efficient use of the SP and PE resources, the ManArray architecture specifies a bit in the instruction format, the SP/PE-bit, to differentiate SP instructions from PE instructions. Multiple register contexts are obtained in the ManArray processor by controlling how the array SP/PE-bit in the ManArray instruction format is used in conjunction with a context switch bit (CSB) for the context selection of the PE register file or the SP register file.

Abstract: An electronic price label (ESL) system with automatic assignment of an ESL to an appropriate CBS and timeslot is described. In one aspect, the ESL system automatically assigns a missing ESL to an appropriate CBS and timeslot following a successful find command. After a find command has been transmitted and responded to by the missing ESL, a host computer system has a record of the CBS nearest the ESL and the timeslot that the ESL responded on. The host computer then determines a new timeslot for use by the ESL. The new timeslot is one of the timeslots normally used by the nearest CBS for communication. The host computer may select a timeslot which is currently assigned to fewer ESLs, to allow for even distribution of messages across the timeslots. An assign command is then transmitted to the ESL on the current timeslot, instructing the ESL to change to new timeslot when listening for messages. The host computer system then updates an ESL data file to include the correct CBS and timeslot information.

Abstract: A module (38), a terminal (12) including the module, and a system (10) including the terminal (12), are described. The module may be a printer module (38) comprising a print engine (60), a microcontroller (62), and a wireless receiver (66), such as a wireless modem, so that the module (38) is operable to receive data from a remote server (18) and to print the received data. The module (38) also includes a coupler (70 or 270) for directing data received from the wireless modem (66) to the microcontroller (62) and for directing data from the terminal (12) to the microcontroller (62). A method of printing tickets at a terminal (12) and a method of retro-fitting a self-service terminal (12) are also described.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for control of RFID devices. An RFID device has an antenna connected with a switch or switches whose states can be changed so as to disable or reduce the effective range of the antenna. The RFID device includes a transceiver that uses the antenna to carry on communications with an RFID reader. The transceiver can set the states of switches in order to set the reader to a desired state. The reader is capable of issuing commands to the RFID device, acted on by the transceiver in order to set states of switches in order to achieve a desired state for the RFID device. The reader may issue commands through RF communication, or alternatively may issue commands through a close proximity interface, for example through contacts or through an inductive connection, allowing the state of the device to be reset after the RF capability of the device has been disabled or reduced.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10) comprising a user interface (14) including a display (30) is described. The display has a display area (80) for presenting financial information to a user (12). The terminal (10), which may be an ATM, comprises: a sensor (16) for sensing people in the vicinity of the terminal (10), and means (74) for confining transaction information to a sub-portion (84) of the display area in response to the sensor (16) sensing people in the vicinity of the terminal (10). A method of improving privacy on a self-service terminal is also described.