Abstract: A position sensor for providing an electronic output indicating the magnitude of transverse movement of an edge of a magnetic tape. A first light pipe and lens arrangement is used to deliver light to one side of a tape. A second light pipe with a small light receiving aperture is used to receive light and to deliver the received light to a detector. The focal point for the lens in the first light pipe is at the receiving aperture of the second light pipe, enabling the aperture to be very small but still receive substantially all the transmitted light. The light pipe arrangement enables use of a variety of light sources and light detectors without having to place either a source or a detector physically close to the tape or the magnetic head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the noise level in an optical amplifier in the presence of a signal at a signal wavelength. The signal is detuned to a second wavelength different from the signal wavelength. A difference function corresponding to the difference in noise levels before and after detuning of the signal as a function of wavelength is determined. The noise level at the signal wavelength is measured. The value of the difference function at the signal wavelength is added to the noise level measured in the previous step.

Abstract: A system measures the positions of bit errors in digital recording devices and displays the physical locations of the bit errors and their distribution in such a manner that they can be grasped visually and intuitively. The system compares a data stream to be measured with a correct data stream and measures the bit errors. The apparatus includes a data stream memory which holds the correct data stream, a comparator, a counter which totals the number of bit errors, a measured bit number counter which totals the measured data stream and determines the boundaries of the logical recording blocks of the recording medium, an error number memory which holds the number of errors in each logical recording block, and an error address memory. The physical locations of bit errors are calculated on the basis of the measured and recorded bit error information for each logical block, and the bit error information is displayed on the physical form of the recording medium.

Abstract: The methods concern fully utilizing storage capacity in a heterogenous hierarchic disk array having storage disks of differing capacities. The disks are segmented into multiple regions. One method links non-contiguous regions from individual storage disks to form RAID areas. The RAID areas are mapped into a virtual storage space that provides a view of the physical storage space as a single storage volume. Data is then stored in these RAID areas according to different redundancy criteria, such as RAID Level 1 and RAID Level 5. A second method fully utilizes of storage capacity by configuring the heterogeneous disk array to employ a minimum of two equal-sized storage disks that have larger capacity than other individual storage disks in the disk array. The contiguous regions across the multiple disks are then grouped together to form the RAID areas.

Abstract: Marangoni flow induced print defects are alleviated by underprinting and/or overprinting by a primary ink-jet ink with at least one treating solution that is capable of inducing the precipitation of the colorant in the primary ink-jet ink upon sustained contact. Since the time scale of precipitation is fast compared with the development of print defects due to Marangoni flow, the deleterious effects of Marangoni flow are forestalled. The method of the invention offers an effective and easily-implemented solution to the problem of Marangoni flow induced print defects that supplants the use of specially-treated paper and its associated high cost and inconvenience.

Abstract: A system that translates the color of a pixel being displayed in a first visual type into a comparably colored pixel for a second visual type. The system first allocates a ramp of colors evenly distributed over the color palette of the second visual type, with the ramp occupying half of the colormap in the second visual type. For each pixel displayed on the first visual type, the colors of the pixel are matched to the ramp and if a close color is in the ramp, it is displayed on the second visual type. If no ramp color is sufficiently close, a new color is allocated in the colormap of the second visual type, if possible. Color translations are retained and used again when possible. When read-only and read-write classes of colors are used, a corresponding class is defined in the second visual type's colormap.

Abstract: A geometry accelerator for a computer graphics system performs transformations on vertex data representative of graphics primitives, decomposes quadrilaterals into triangles, and performs lighting, clipping and plane equation calculations for each primitive. The geometry accelerator incorporates a memory mapping technique that achieves high efficiency transfer of vertex information from the host computer to the geometry accelerator. A double buffered vertex RAM with granularity permits the quantity of data transferred to the geometry accelerator to be reduced. The transformation and decomposition engines of the geometry accelerator employ data management techniques in which calculations for shared vertices and shared edges of primitives are performed only once.

Abstract: An item buffer is used to determine which graphic object has been picked by a user. A graphics object list is traversed to display each graphic object and assign a unique item identifier to each. For each pixel location in each of the graphic objects, the unique item identifier is stored at a corresponding location in the item buffer. A graphics object is selected using a pointer device, and the pointer device location is used to access the item buffer and retrieve the item identifier that defines the graphic object picked. If a pixel location in the item buffer is not large enough to hold the complete item identifier, the item identifier is partially constructed in each of several passes, and the pass data combined in main memory.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus for depositing a sheet from a printer in one of a plurality of output trays. The apparatus has a pair of rollers that moves the sheet, leading edge first, out of the printer. As the sheet exits the rollers, it encounters a deflector. Depending on the position of the deflector, the sheet either moves into a first output tray or to a flipper assembly. The flipper assembly inverts the sheet so that trailing edge of the sheet exits the flipper assembly before the leading edge of a sheet. A continuous belt removes the sheet from the flipper assembly trailing edge first. Finally, a distribution head, which is movable along the continuous belt, is positioned adjacent to the one of a plurality of output trays prior to the arrival of the sheet. The distribution head then removes the sheet from the belt and directs it to the output tray.

Abstract: A method for expressing image data and for image restoration does not depend on the format of input/output devices, does not suffer from block distortion in the restored image, provides superior scale ability, and can be easily applied to motion pictures. The distribution of a pixel feature, such as luminance or chrominance, in a two dimensional (x,y) image space is expressed by contours, i.e. an isoluminance line or a line of equal color difference, on a curved surface with the feature along a z-axis. When restoring image data, regions between contours of the feature and regions in which peaks or saddles exist, even if the contours do not accompany them, are feature interpolated, and said curved surface is reproduced as a surface of a polyhedron, wherein the contour is a contour of a cross-sectional area of a curved surface that represents an image in x-y-z space in which the two-dimensional image on x-y plane is combined with the feature along the z-axis.

Abstract: Detecting blank sectors in an optical disk is disclosed. Such detection operates by sampling a target data field of a sector on the optical disk and generating a read peak signal based upon the sampling. The read peak signal is then compared to a predetermined amplitude threshold. A counter is incremented if the read peak signal is less than the predetermined amplitude threshold. After the above steps are performed a predetermined number of times, the counter is compared to a predetermined sample threshold value. Then, the sector is interpreted as being blank if the counter is greater than the predetermined sample threshold value. If, instead, the counter is less than the predetermined sample threshold value, then the sector is interpreted as being non-blank.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for using the dual port feature of Fibre Channel to allow multiple computer hosts to simultaneously access a cluster of memory units that are Fibre Channel arbitrated. Typical multiple host access schemes require an expensive Fibre Channel switch and do not allow simultaneous accessing. The dual port feature of Fibre Channel devices provides for fault tolerance and redundancy, but can be used for the present invention.

Abstract: An integrated sound/telephone headset system is provided comprising a music source, a telephone, a headset having a microphone and earphones, and a control system. The control system receives music from the music source, a telephone ring signal from a telephone line, the telephone audio, and ambient sounds received by the microphone. A handset lift device is manually actuated by the user to select between a bypass mode and operational modes. When operating in the bypass mode, the phone is answered with its handset, and the headset is connected to a mixer with audio input from the music source, the ambient sounds, and a ring tone indicating a ring signal on the telephone line. When in the operational modes, a user initiates or answers a call by lowering the microphone, which switches the headset from the mixer to the telephone and connects the telephone to the telephone line.

Abstract: A stripper roller is formed by cutting ends of a cylindrical roller and then placing a shim between the center shaft and each end portion. Paper-feed springs oppose the eccentric portions of the feed roller, while a centrally located separator pad opposes the cylindrical middle portion of the feed roller. The extended radius at the apogee of the eccentric portions allows the eccentric portions to effectively reach out and grab the bottommost sheet even if the stack of sheets were only initially lightly contacting the roller. The eccentric portions of the feed roller also provide surges in the frictional force urging the bottommost sheets toward the separator pad. This surge in force acts to spread out (or pre-separate) the paper in the stack so the paper can be more easily separated by the separator pad.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring blood pressure is housed in a hermetically sealed, small casing, which is sealed in dust, water and pressure-tight manner by a film on the outside of the casing's cover and on the casing's underside. Pneumatic connecting lines are integrated into the casing cover and consequently separate the pressure-side area from the pressureless area in the casing interior. The casing interior contains a pump for filling a blood pressure cuff that is connectable to the apparatus, a valve for the controllable venting of the cuff, pneumatic connecting lines, pressure sensors and an electric control circuit and electric connecting lines. As a result of the construction according to the invention it is possible to obtain a high integration density and therefore a very small and compact blood pressure measuring module.

Abstract: A method for optimizing data retrieval from a multidatabase system by restructuring a database query tree to optimize query response time in a two step optimization process. First, the query tree is transformed into a left deep join tree having a root query, a plurality of subordinate (descendant) query nodes and a plurality of table nodes, each subordinate query node having a left child subtree and a right child subtree. This transformation is usually the result of a first optimization scheme such as System-R. A response time for the root query and for each of the plurality of subordinate query nodes is estimated and access response times to each table node and subtree are estimated. Then, this data is utilized in the balancing of the left deep join query tree so that the cost for access to each left child subtree is substantially equal to the cost for the right child subtree.

Abstract: A drive chassis for magnetic tapes, the chassis having adjustable azimuth for a magnetic head. The magnetic head is mounted onto a plate. The plate has one end forming a hinge surface. The hinge surface is forced into contact with a stationary hinge surface on the chassis. A second end of the plate is moveable, permitting the plate to rotate around the hinge surfaces, thereby rotating the magnetic head. A spring in contact with the second end of the plate forces the hinge surface of the plate against the hinge surface on the chassis. In a preferred embodiment, the spring is integral with a side wall of the chassis.

Abstract: A basic structure for a liquid chromatography degasser, includes a supporting structure with a perimeter encompassing an opening in which support ribs are arranged. The opening is covered by a membrane made from a material with a good permeability index. Two basic structures are combined to form a basic module. A liquid chromatography degasser comprises at least one or a plurality of basic modules, which are stacked on top of each other, whereby a micro-vacuum-pump is arranged at the top of the stack, and an inlet and an outlet for the liquid being degassed are provided at the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: A docking system is described for use with a portable computer of the type having a lock receptacle that is engageable by an anchored Kensington lock. The docking system has a case that forms a receiving portion located adjacent the lock receptacle of the portable computer when the portable computer is docked. The Kensington lock is received by the receiving portion and secures both the docking system and the portable computer.

Abstract: An IQ modulator incorporates a quadrature network that is responsive to a frequency dependent control signal and that has in-phase and quadrature signals that are of equal amplitude and in exact quadrature over a wide range of applied frequencies. The quadrature network includes RC and CR phase shifters whose C's are fixed capacitors of equal value and whose R's are made equal to each other and to the capacitive reactance of the C's by the action of the frequency dependent control signal. The R's may be FET's. The frequency dependent control signal may be generated without express knowledge of the applied frequency by a servo loop that nulls out the amplitude difference between the in-phase and quadrature outputs from the quadrature network; it may also be generated from a look-up table as an express function of frequency. The frequency dependent control signal is split into separate instances that are applied to each R, and an offset may be introduced therebetween to provide extreme precision.