Abstract: A sequential information controller for use in combination with a computer comprising a slider bar, integrating standard velocity and direction indicators, and a control icon. The user controls the playback velocity and direction of the sequential information, such as video information, on the display of the computer through an interactive user interface, which works in combination with the computer's system software. The interface includes an interactive slider bar and an interactive control icon which are depicted within an operating window of the display. The slider bar includes both playback direction/velocity indicators and control buttons. The playback of video information is primarily controlled by manipulating the image of the control icon with respect to the image of the slider bar.

Abstract: A user interface element having a plurality of user interface elements for marking, finding, organizing, and processing data within documents stored in an associated computer system are described. Each element typically has an appearance which is uniquely related to the data or the function the element is designed to represent or perform, respectively. In their simplest form, these elements are only used to mark data within a document. Each element, however, can also be programmed to cause the computer to perform some function in association with the marked data, such as printing the data or mailing the data to someone. A user can select particular data within a document using an element and have that data associated with the element in memory. Data marked with common elements can be found by searching for a particular representative element in memory. Users can create their own elements, program elements with their own desired functionality, and modify existing elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligent scrolling. In a computer system that has a user interface which allows for the movement of items from a first open window to a second open window or to a second region, such as a desktop, the present invention allows a user to select one or more items in the first window, move the selected item(s) to within a predetermined distance from an edge of the first window for a predetermined period of time and cause the viewable portion of the data and/or document within the first window to scroll in a corresponding direction.

Abstract: A head and media for optical data storage with a media in which a partially light transmissive recording layer and a reflective layer are located on opposite faces of a transparent substrate layer. The head emits a light beam which passes through the recording layer, transits the substrate layer, reflects internally off the reflective layer, transits the substrate layer in the opposite direction, and comes to focus on the recording layer. This optical path is used for reading and writing. Two of these optical media, placed back to back, with recording layer faces outward, can be used to form a double-sided media with read and write capability from either side. In a magneto-optical system, since the recording layer is near the outer surface, both the optical and magnetic heads can be located and moved as a single unit, increasing the speed and reliability and reducing the cost.

Abstract: A bi-directional bus adapter coupling a system bus, which operates at a first speed using a first protocol, and an IO bus, which operates at a second speed using a second protocol, and allowing data transfering devices on either bus to transfer data to or from devices on the other bus. The bus adapter includes a cycle generation mechanism which is responsive to data cycles from one of the buses in order to generate bus cycles needed to complete a data transfer to a device on the other bus. The bus adapter includes a synchronization mechanism for converting the plurality of data cycles generated by the cycle generation mechanism from either the first speed to the second speed or vice versa. The bus adapter includes bi-directional data path mechanism for routing data between the system and IO buses according to said protocols, such that the data path directs bytes of data to specific data lines to perform byte steering and dynamic bus sizing on the data from the system bus to the IO bus.

Abstract: An improved backlighting system for electronic displays that require such backlighting is disclosed. The system comprises a fluorescent lamp with improved visible light generating means and a reflector means for channeling the light generated by the lamp into the electronic display. In particular, the lamp comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a cylindrical glass housing, sealed at both ends and containing a plasma which can be excited to generate short wavelength light. A strip of phosphorescent material is placed along the inside surface of the tube, the strip being relatively restricted in width, its width being partially determined by the thickness of the electronic display. A reflector surrounds the lamp and helps drive the light the lamp generates into the phosphor. The lamp is also comprised of a glass transparent to the frequencies of light generated by the plasma.

Abstract: A method for reducing interrupt processing overhead is applied in situations when it is not necessary to preserve processor state information. A flag is provided to indicate whether or not the processor is available. Upon recognition of an interrupt, an interrupt vector address is computed based, in part, on the state of the processor available flag. If the processor is available, indicating that it is not currently working on a task, there is no need to preserve the processor state information, and the state-saving portions of the interrupt processing routines are bypassed. On the other hand, if the processor is not available, indicating that the it is engaged in a task, the state information must be preserved so that the processor can return to the task after the interrupt is processed. In this case, the state-saving portions of the interrupt processing routines are not bypassed.

Abstract: Interface ciruitry for accomplishing a block transfer of information over a NuBus protocol bus having associated therewith a plurality of individual computer modules through the steps of testing to determine whether an addressed module is capable of accomplishing a NuBus protocol block transfer, conducting such a transfer if that module is capable of accomplishing a NuBus protocol block transfer, locking the bus if that module is not capable of accomplishing a NuBus protocol block transfer, conducting a series of individual data transfer operations during the period the bus is locked, terminating the individual operations, and unlocking the bus.

Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit is disclosed for use with a device locatable on a serial data bus of a data communication system. Attention and synch receiving circuitry is provided for receiving an attention and synch signal being transmitted on the serial data bus for synchronizing the device in accordance with the timing of the attention and synch signals. Demodulation circuitry is provided for receiving a command byte signal and a stop bit signal being transmitted on the serial data bus. Demodulation circuitry is provided for demodulating the command byte signal. Reset circuitry is coupled to the demodulation circuitry for receiving the command byte signal if the command byte signal contains a predetermined reset code. Flush circuitry is coupled to the demodulation circuitry for receiving the command byte signal if that signal contains a predetermined flush code. The flush circuitry clears all device specific data in the integrated circuit in response to the predetermined flush code.

Abstract: An optically transmissive armature is presented for use with an optical encoder mechanism in a cursor control device. The armature includes a substantially planar rectangular base, a plurality of supports, and a plurality of optical wave guides. An encoder mechanism is rotatably secured to the supports by an axis and is disposed in a predetermined position between the wave guides. The guides provide an optical pathway between photo-emitter/photo-detector pairs mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board of the cursor control device.

Abstract: A power manager within a portable laptop computer provides power and clocking control to various units within the computer in order to conserve battery power. Transistor switches controlled by the power manager control the distribution of power and/or clock signals to the various units within the computer. The power manager includes a software routine for continually monitoring the various units and when these units are either not needed and/or not currently in use, power and/or clock signals are removed from a given unit.

Abstract: A computer system interconnection including a plurality of nodes each such node being associated with at least one of a plurality of computer system components. Transmission apparatus connects each of said nodes to a node which is a source of information and to a node which is a recipient of information. Each of such nodes comprises apparatus for storing information, apparatus for receiving information from and transferring information to the associated one of the system components, and apparatus for placing a voucher signal on the transmission apparatus in response to the receipt of information from the associated one of such components to indicate that the node has information to be transmitted to another system component.

Abstract: An electrical conductor that electrically couples a circuit board to another electrical device. The connector has a flexible circuit board with at least one electrical conductor that is attached to a flexible dielectric sheet. Attached to the electrical conductor is an electrically conductive elastomer adapted to engage conductive pads on the surface of the circuit board. The connector has a plate or other member that presses the conductive elastomer onto the conductive surface pads, creating an electrical path between the conductor and the circuit board. The conductor is attached to the electrical device, wherein the electrical device is electrically coupled to the circuit board.

Abstract: In an improved computer system ring interconnection including a plurality of nodes such nodes being connected by transmission apparatus to a source node of information and a recipient node of information and being associated with at least one of a plurality of computer system components; in which each of such nodes includes information receive and transmit apparatus to and from the associated system component(s) including voucher signal placing apparatus indicating internodal information for transfer, voucher signal receive apparatus determining ability to receive, ticket signal placing apparatus indicating ability to receive information associated with voucher; apparatus to relay information to other nodes; internodal relay apparatus for tickets and vouchers; and information selection apparatus depending on urgency status including apparatus for storing information originated from component and information from other nodes to other nodes based on urgency level, and apparatus for selecting of this information

Abstract: A collapsible keyboard for use with portable personal computers is disclosed. A first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a keyboard molded from a conductive, elastomeric material and a collapsible frame/circuit board substrate, the substrate having a plurality of electrical contacts to indicate to the computer when a key is pressed. As the keyboard is formed from an elastic material, it can be compressed into a first, closed position of minimum size to facilitate carrying the computer and to minimize the computer's size. In the keyboard's second, expanded position, each of the molded keys overlies a pair of contacts. When a key is pressed while the keyboard is in this second position, an electrical circuit is formed by the key and the contacts, indicating to the computer both that a key has been pressed and which key has been pressed.