Abstract: A servo writer for writing servo code to a magnetic tape having a width, the servo writer comprising a tape head including a plurality of write elements and being configured to write servo code to a plurality of bands across substantially the entire width of the tape. A method comprising providing a tape having a width; and writing servo code on the tape using a servo writer configured to transport the tape in a length direction normal to the width, and configured to write servo code in linear bands along the length of the tape, the bands together occupying substantially the entire width of the tape.

Abstract: Color optical image scanners, optical scanners, and methods of scanning color images are described. In one embodiment, variations in a velocity profile of a moving object to be scanned are compensated for by selecting for illumination during greater velocity regions, colors having lesser degrees of sensitivity to a human eye. In another embodiment, manipulation of color planes of a scanned object takes place to provide improved images with reduced color artifacts.

Abstract: A multi-die integrated circuit (IC) assembly and method for constructing the same are disclosed. Briefly described, the IC assembly can be constructed with a semiconductor die, a layer of die-attach material, and a flip-chip die. The semiconductor die may contain circuit elements disposed across a top surface of the die. The flip-chip die may be oriented such that circuit elements are disposed across a bottom surface of the flip-chip die. The die-attach material may contact and bond the non-circuit element surfaces of the semiconductor die an the flip-chip die (i.e., the bottom surface of the semiconductor die and the top surface of the flip-chip die). This configuration permits the close arrangements of input/output circuit drivers along the entire perimeter of each of the dies. A method for constructing the multi-die IC assembly is also presented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to retain mounting hardware on a heat-sink or heat-pipe. One embodiment of the invention involves a method to assemble a component having a heat dissipation device with a plurality of heat dissipation fins on a substrate. A second embodiment of the invention involves a method to assemble an electrical component having a heat dissipation device with a plurality of heat dissipation fins on a substrate. A third embodiment of the invention involves an assembled substrate, an electrical component, and a heat dissipation device attached to the electrical component, wherein the heat dissipation device includes heat dissipation fins with holes to contain and shims (or clips) to make captive within the holes, the hardware used to attach the heat dissipation device to the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state mass memory storage device which comprises a printed circuit assembly and a plurality of nonvolatile, high density storage devices mounted to the printed circuit assembly and electrically connected thereto. The solid-state memory device includes at least one controller mounted to the printed circuit assembly and electrically connected thereto, and a connector mounted to the printed circuit assembly and electrically connected thereto, the connector being adapted to electrically connect the solid-state mass memory storage device to a separate electronic device.

Abstract: A web site navigation technique is presented wherein each web page along at least one link-traversable path of a web site presents a drop down link selection list activator. Upon activation, event handler script displays a drop down link selection list in a pop-up frame overlaid over a web page currently being displayed. The drop down link selection list presents a plurality of predefined links to most frequency accessed web pages associated with the web site, indicating hierarchical relationships between the links. Upon selection of one of the predefined links from the drop down link selection list, the web page associated with the selected link is loaded and displayed.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of detecting, storing, and retrieving information relating to an animal over a period of time is disclosed. The method includes electrically coupling an atomic resolution storage device to a detecting device within a single unit. The single unit is attached to an animal, such as a mammal or a fish. At least one monitored parameter, such as a location of the animal, a heart rate of the animal, a blood flow rate of the animal, or a temperature of the animal, is stored in the storage device over a period of time. The information stored within the storage device is retrieved from the single device after a period of time.

Abstract: A method for printing barcode, comprising the steps of obtaining a 1D barcode for an area of a medium; obtaining a 2D bar code; combining the 1D and 2D bar codes in the area to overlap at least in part; and printing the combination of the 2D barcode with the 1D barcode in the area of the medium.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a first helical conductive trace and a second helical conductive trace. The first helical conductive trace extends generally along a longitudinal axis of a layer of the printed circuit board. The first helical conductive trace is provided successively: along a first surface, from the first surface through the layer to a second surface, along the second surface, and from the second surface through the layer to the first surface. The second helical conductive trace extends generally along the longitudinal axis of the layer of the printed circuit board. The second helical conductive trace is provided successively: along the second surface, from the second surface through the layer to the first surface, along the first surface, and from the first surface through the layer to the second surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic record storage system has a plurality of stored records. Each record includes its content (such as a word processor document, spreadsheet, or drawing) which may be changed from time to time. In addition, each record has a record identifier (such as its filename or URL) which is not normally changed when the record content is changed. The content of each record can be printed out as and when required.

Abstract: A head design that reduces wear at the leading and trailing edges where the tape contacts the head while minimizing any adverse effects on the performance of the head. In one embodiment of the invention, a localized layer of wear resistant material is formed on the leading edge where the tape contacts the head before passing over the head recording surface. In a second embodiment, the leading edge is formed as wear resistant material embedded in the head structure adjacent to the recording surface. And, in a third embodiment, the leading edge is formed as a wear resistant material strip affixed to the side of the head structure. For each embodiment, the wear resistant material may also be applied in the manner described to the trailing edge where the tape may also contact the head after passing over the recording surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for selecting categorized content items for download to a mobile device (10E). The method involves monitoring, at the device (10E), use of content items (67) downloaded to the device, in order to derive (30) usage data providing an indication of use of the content items by content-item category as indicated by category indicator information (68) associated with each item. The usage data is processed (31) to provide a category-based user-preference profile (71). Subsequent downloading of content items to the device from a content source (16E) is then controlled (32) on the basis of the preference profile (71) and the categorization of the content items available from the content source.

Abstract: A system is provided for enabling a pulse width modulator to render video data for a laser at a frequency independent of the operating frequency of the pulse width modulator. The system includes phase measuring circuitry, edge output determining circuitry, edge location circuitry, and a summer. The phase measuring circuitry is operative to detect a phase offset on a scan line for a laser. The edge output determining circuitry is operative to determine which system clock cycle to output an edge on the system clock to act as if it were on a video clock. The edge location circuitry is operative to locate placement of an edge for a given pixel. The summer communicates with the phase measuring circuitry, the edge output determining circuitry, and the edge location circuitry. The summer is operative to combine values from the phase measuring circuitry, the edge output determining circuitry, and the edge location circuitry to generate a desired video signal. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A data storage tape 4 has an associated memory device 3 in which is stored a number of signatures 12 each representative of and associated with a particular data set recorded on the storage medium. By comparing the signatures against either signatures created during reading of the data sets back from the tape or against reference information held on a secure database any tampering or alteration of the data on the storage medium can be detected.

Abstract: A computer system or peripheral device includes an arithmetic-logic circuit that provides, for example, in binary parallel format a maximum code from a set of input codes, each input code in binary parallel format. The circuit has minimal propagation delay owing to its expandable architecture which includes: an array of product term generators, a summary term generator, and a selection circuit. Each product term generator primarily includes one AND gate per product term having inputs that combine bits of an input code, the product terms being organized in sets. The summary term generator includes one OR gate for each summary term. The selection circuit includes a multiplexer for each set having data inputs responsive to summary term signals and control inputs responsive to summary term signals of higher significance than the highest summary term on a data input of the multiplexer. In illustrated embodiments, a printer includes an integrated circuit processor of the present invention.

Abstract: Raster images are highly compressed by first reordering the data. Next the reordered data is indexed to encode any and all predicted runs and literal runs. Each piece of the present line of the raster image is compared to a previous line. If there is a match, then the present piece is a predicted run and indexed accordingly. If there is no match, then the present piece is a literal run and indexed accordingly. A predicted run can have a minimum run length of one piece, and a maximum run length of the image width in pieces divided by the number of strings. The same is true for literal runs. The index strings are then compressed using a lossless compression method such as Huffman encoding. If Huffman encoding is used, the Huffman tables are predefined and known to both the compressor and decompressor. As the compressor compressed the index strings, the Huffman tables are adapted. The decompressor is notified by the compressor when the adapted tables are to be used.

Abstract: A method of sending a facsimile of a document includes diffusing a grayscale image to produce a binary, black-and-white image having on/off image values corresponding to a first spatial resolution. When communicating with a remote facsimile device that supports a lower resolution, the black-and-white image is converted to a lower resolution. To perform this conversion, a scaled value for each image value of the lower-resolution image is calculated by interpolating between neighboring dots of the original black-and-white image. The resulting scaled values are then error diffused to create a black-and-white image.

Abstract: A system is provided for rendering an output image on an image transfer surface using multiple optical scan paths in an image rendering device. The system includes a plurality of lasers, a plurality of scan time detectors, and processing circuitry. Each of the lasers is configured to generate an optical scan path on the surface. Each scan time detector is associated with a corresponding laser and is operative to measure scan time of the laser along the respective optical scan path. The processing circuitry communicates with each scan time detector and is operative to generate a video signal having a video frequency associated with the scan time detected for the respective laser. A method is also provided.

Abstract: There is disclosed a configuration for multiplexing the USB signals onto the IEEE 1284 signals thereby allowing a single connector on the device to support either protocol. Within the device, each protocol block is connected to transceiver to compensate for differences in driver/receiver characteristics for the protocol. The outputs of the transceivers are connected to a signal conditioner to allow proper selection of termination impedance. A controller senses whether a passive adapter is attached to the connector. When the passive adapter is not connected the controller selects the 1284 protocol and its associated transceiver and signal conditioning. If the passive adapter is connected, the controller selects the USB protocol and its associated transceiver and signal conditioning. The passive adapter connects pre-selected pins on the device's connector to a USB connector. There is also described an arrangement to allow the passive adapter and device to provide USB hub functions.