Abstract: A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.

Abstract: An electronic system includes an electronic display device and a communication port. Each display mode corresponds to a particular position of the communication port relative to a line of sight of a user. In one embodiment, the communication port is an infrared communication port. Each display mode corresponds to a particular display orientation. The electronic display device displays visual data in the particular display orientation corresponding to the display mode of the electronic system. In one embodiment, the electronic system is a palmtop computer system such as a personal digital assistant. A user can selectively operate the electronic system in any one of the multiple display modes for communication with a second electronic system via the communication port. The user positions the electronic system such that the communication port is located in a position facilitating communication with the second electronic system via the communication port.

Abstract: An interface device having a video BIOS component. The device includes a substrate for implementing a mother board connection and implementing a GPU (graphics processor unit) connection. A video BIOS component is mounted on the substrate for providing video BIOS functions for the computer system.

Abstract: The present invention is an efficient system and method for cascading optical switches in architectures that enable three dimensional multi-plane optical signal beam steering to be performed with two dimensional steering devices. A plurality of cascaded optical switches form a cascaded multi-plane optical switch fabric and direct an optical signal beam from one of the plurality of optical switches to another of the plurality of optical switches in a different plane. In addition, a multi-plane directional device directs an optical signal beam from a first optical switch stage to a second optical switch stage oriented in a different plane. Furthermore, a fixed incidence corrective device directs an optical signal beam in a shallow angle to an optical switch located in a relatively close proximity on the optical switch fabric and a optical signal beam spread correction device provides for refocusing of spreading optical signal beams and mitigation of signal loss.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement permits a microcontroller wirebond pad to be configured to be an analog or digital input or output. The circuit arrangement uses any of a plurality of switching configurations to selectively determine the use of the wirebond pad under control of the microcontroller's processor. The microcontroller can be configured using configurable analog and configurable digital blocks to perform any of a plurality of functions with certain of the pinouts determined under program control.

Abstract: A semiconductor switching device or amplifier combined in parallel with one or more active devices defined as starter devices. A starter device is used to reduce the terminal voltage of a switching device or amplifier to a dc level below about 0.4 volts which will then allow the switching device to easily change between the on or conducting state and the off or non-conducting state. Three different starter devices are utilized. The first being a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT), the second a Metal Oxide Silicon Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET), and the third consisting of three normally off JFETs connected serially. Generally, a single starter device is coupled across the terminals of a semiconductor switching device or amplifier, but it is possible and sometimes advantageous to couple two or more starter devices in parallel. In a first case, a symmetrical, normally off or enhancement mode JFET is used as the switch or amplifier.

Abstract: A communication connector, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, includes an insulative housing having a cylindrical opening, a light source, and a first and second electrical interconnect. The insulative housing includes a body portion and a head portion. The cylindrical opening extends through the head portion and partially into the body portion of the insulative housing. The light source is disposed in the insulative housing proximate the head portion. The first electrical interconnect includes a terminal portion for fixedly connecting the communication connector to a device and a contact portion comprising a resilient conductive element disposed in the cylindrical opening for engaging a mating communication connector. The second electrical interconnect couples an indicator signal to the light source.

Abstract: A method of switching a network access configuration associated with a first electronic system to a second electronic system via a network is described. The first electronic system is inoperable. The second electronic system replaces the first electronic system such that a user seamlessly transitions from the first electronic system to the second electronic system. The user continues to access the network resources using the second electronic system rather than the first electronic system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing streaming content over telephones is described. The creation of a voice portal is supported by the invention. Embodiments of the invention use allows users to place a telephone call to access the voice portal. The user can access many different types of content. This content can include text based content which is read to the user by a text to speech system (e.g., news reports, stock prices, text content of Internet sites), audio content which can be played to the user (e.g., voicemail messages, music), and streaming audio content (e.g., Internet broadcast radio shows, streaming news reports, and streaming live broadcasts). This content can be accessed from many different places. For example, the content can be retrieved from a news feed, a local streaming content server, an audio repository, and/or an Internet based streaming content server. The streaming content allows the user to access live web broadcasts even though the user may not have access to a computer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for automatically determining, and accordingly prompting an email user as to whether an attachment is to accompany an email message prior to transmission of the message. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method, which can prompt an email user as to whether an attachment is to accompany an email addressed to certain individuals, groups, or organizations, prior to transmission of the message. In one embodiment, a database of certain addressees to whom attachments are frequently transmitted is consulted. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method, which automatically prompts users based on the content of an email message as to whether an attachment is desired prior to transmission. In one embodiment, a database of certain keywords appearing in message text frequently correlated with attachment inclusion is consulted. In one embodiment, the databases are automatically updated by a self-learning modality.

Abstract: The present invention system and method enables dynamic reconfiguration of an electronic device in a convenient and efficient manner. In one embodiment, the electronic device includes a microprocessor, a plurality of internal peripherals, an interconnecting component, an external coupling port, and a memory for storing instructions. The plurality of internal peripherals, the interconnecting component and the external coupling port are programmably configurable to perform a variety of functions. The memory stores a plurality of configuration images that define the configuration and functionality of the plurality of internal peripherals, the interconnecting component and the external coupling port. The instructions stored by the memory facilitate dynamic reconfiguration of the electronic device. Based upon the existence of a predetermined condition, the electronic device is automatically reconfigured by activating different configuration images.

Abstract: A method for establishing frequency and phase alignment of clock signals across a domain of analog blocks coupled in a single integrated circuit. Different analog functions are implemented by selectively and electrically coupling different combinations of analog blocks. The analog blocks may be arrayed in a number of columns. A synchronized clock signal is supplied to all of the analog blocks in a combination of blocks, even when the blocks are in different columns. The frequency of the clock signal can be changed dynamically depending on the analog function to be achieved.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing transparent compressed memory paging within a computer system. Data compression is performed in memory to increase resources available to the computer system and to reduce disk accesses. The compression is performed transparently to the operating system which requires no special software interfaces to make use of the reclaimed memory. In a first embodiment, data compression is performed in hardware to reclaim memory. This reclaimed memory is not made available to the operating system but is rather used as a hardware controlled disk cache to increase system performance. In this embodiment, a novel method is employed to reduce duplicate memory pages in the disk cache and the operating system memory. In another embodiment, the reclaimed memory is made available in a transparent way to the operating system. Variable compression ratios can lead to varying physical memory space available for the operating system.

Abstract: A CPU (1) automatically preserves the CPU context in a computer memory (5) that remains powered-up when the CPU is powered down in sleep mode. By means of the preserved CPU context, the CPU is able to instantly and transparently resume program execution at the instruction of the program that was asserted for execution when the CPU was powered down. The CPU is permitted to power down frequently, even during execution of a program, and results in reduced average overall power consumption.

Abstract: A handheld device with a compact integrated touch panel is disclosed. A handheld device incorporating a touch panel display requiring electrical connections is reduced in size by incorporating electrical pathways within the support structure of the touch panel display, obviating the need for a flex circuit extension from the touch panel display for connection to the handheld device. A further reduction in size is obtained by providing an inherent visually homogeneous perimeter for the touch panel display by matching the colors of the conductive and dielectric materials, thereby eliminating the need for a bezel.

Abstract: A method to facilitate circuit design. First, a schematic and data sheet for a selected module may be displayed. Next, in response to a request for a position for the module among available resources (e.g., programmable system blocks), a potential position for the module is computed. The position is displayed on a graphical user interface by mapping the module to one or more programmable system blocks. Additional user modules may then be selected and placed. After allowing the user to configure the circuit by selecting circuit parameters and pin-outs, various items are automatically generated to facilitate programming the target device. For example, application programming interfaces (APIs) for programming an operation of the modules, source code for realizing the modules in the resources, an interrupt vector table, and a data sheet for the circuit may be automatically generated.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for utilizing graphics memory of a computer system to provide storage for video BIOS initialization. Video BIOS memory is accessed to execute video BIOS initialization routines. A portion of graphics memory is configured for access by the video BIOS initialization routines. Program execution data from the video BIOS initialization routines is then stored in the portion of graphics memory. The program execution data is stored prior to a completion of a video BIOS power on self test.

Abstract: A virtual device control module for interfacing with a target device is disclosed. A DCM (device control module) is operable for interfacing with the target device, wherein the DCM includes a first FCM (function control module) and a second FCM operable for controlling respective first and second functional components of the target device. The first FCM can be a physical FCM operable for controlling the operation of the first functional component, and the second FCM can be a virtual FCM operable for controlling the operation of a second functional component.

Abstract: A display device having a display matrix including a pixel border of width x and located around the edge locations of the matrix for improved viewability. In particular, the border can be several pixels wide, e.g., 1<x<5. In one embodiment, the border is two pixels wide and surrounds a liquid crystal display (LCD) matrix area in which images are generated from a frame buffer memory. In one embodiment, the pixels of the border are “dummy pixels” each containing a red, a green and a blue subpixel. Each subpixel has a color filter and is manufactured with a “dummy” transistor which operates to fix open the subpixels thereby allowing a predetermined amount of “white” color brightness through the dummy pixels. In one implementation, the brightness amount is approximately 80–95 percent of the saturation brightness for the display screen.

Abstract: A method of providing and enabling a dynamic and scaleable system architecture for a computer system is disclosed. The method is executed on a computer system having a processor, a computer readable memory, and an adapter for receiving a module that will add functionality to the computer system. The processor is coupled to the computer readable memory and to the adapter. The method is implemented on the computer system by storing program instructions on memory and executing them via the processor in conjunction with other components of the computer system. The method comprises several steps, starting with a first step of detecting the availability of a new function. Next, an input interface specification and an output interface specification for the new function is received by the computer system.