Abstract: In a keyboard operation two sequential keystrokes are used for generation of a character code. A rule is set up according to which some preset combinations of two sequential keystrokes are valid and others are not. The rule is implemented by storing the validity conditions into a table in a control unit. According to a preferred rule the second key to be operated must be located in a column to the right of the column where the first key is located, otherwise an error signal will be generated. The method is preferably used for a one hand keyboard with three times four keys.

Abstract: An automatic loading mechanism for use in the manufacture of thin, metallic circuit board panels. The invention includes a lower drum unit which accepts the metallic panels from a conveyor system. The lower drum unit is rotatably mounted within a frame assembly, and includes a plurality of clamps which can automatically receive several metallic panels of varying size. The lower unit includes automatic clamp control means, and has the capability of rotating the panels from a horizontal to a vertical position or vice-versa. The lower drum unit guidingly feeds the metallic panels, through a spline assembly, to an upper unit. The uppper unit includes a plurality of clamps, in diametrically placed pairs, which delicately handle only the peripheral edge of the metallic panels while feeding them automatically into a rack assembly.

Abstract: An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system which includes a plurality of interactive terminals which are interconnected to permit an end user at each terminal to interchange information with each other and to maintain an electronic calendar. The method facilitates the reply process to an electronic invitation to attend a meeting that is issued by one of the end users by arranging for the system to advise the invitee that a meeting notice is available to review in the "In Box" of the terminal. The method causes a composite screen to be built which simultaneously displays the meeting details and the relevant section, i.e. a day of entries, of the owner's calendar in a side by side format so that calendar entries are correlated to the meeting data and time. The composite display permits an interactive selection by the calendar owner end user of at least one option which can be either to accept the invitation and calendar the meeting or to reject the invitation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for concurrent data entry and manipulation in a plurality of computer applications which are simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of viewports or "windows." A display attribute is set in selected windows which permits the utilization of a "global" cursor. After designating a location within each selected window, a global cursor is positioned therein. Thereafter, data entered at or manipulated by a single global cursor will be automatically and concurrently entered at or manipulated within each window having a global cursor positioned therein.

Abstract: Resonant tunneling semiconductor devices are disclosed useful for transport functions such as switching or amplification, and also for electro-optical conversions. In the structure of these devices, a central potential well is formed of an opposite conductivity type of semiconductor material to two semiconductor layers outside resonant tunneling barriers on each side of the central potential well, such that electrons in the well can tunnel to and from the outside semiconductor layers. The central potential well serves as the base of a three terminal device in transport applications, and as the light responsive portion for electro-optical applications. In one disclosed embodiment, the device is constructed in five layers of the most commonly used gallium-aliminum-arsenide compounds, an n GaAlAs, undoped GaAlAs, p GaAlAs, undoped GaAlAs, and n GaAlAs.

Abstract: A method for processing address translation exceptions occurring in a virtual memory system employing demand paging and having a plurality of registers and a real storage area, includes the steps of: (a) temporarily storing for each storage operation; (i) the effective storage address for the operation; (ii) exception control word information relative to the ones of the registers involved in the operation and the length and type of the operation; and (iii) any data to be stored during the operation; (b) retrieving the temporarily stored information to form an exception status block if an exception is generated indicating a failed operation; and (c) reinitiating the failed operation based on the information contained in the exception status block.

Abstract: A method for scheduling time initiated tasks from an Intelligent Work Station (IWS) of an SNA network in which a host processor has created a plurality of run ready virtual machines which are assigned under control of a Virtual Machine Pool Manager in response to an LU 6.2 allocate verb to establish an LU 6.2 conversation between distributed parts of an application program, one part of which is resident at the IWS and the other part of which is resident at the host. A distributed application program named BATCH is provided, Part A of which is resident on the user's IWS and Part B of which is resident on the host processor. Part B is functionally a component of Virtual Machine Pool Manager (VMPM). The BATCH program allows the user to tranfer information regarding the task that is to be initiated at a designated time, to the host processor.

Abstract: A portable thermocouple template is built to have one or more separate thermocouple beads fixedly attached at predetermined locations on a thin insulator sheet, with appropriate tape or the like for holding each thermocouple and its pair of connector wires in position on the sheet. The template is mountable between interconnected electronic components, such as on the pin side of a multichip module, in order to monitor the temperature of the adjacent components under actual operating conditions. After the test is completed and the temperature data is recorded and/or displayed on a data logger, the template and related assembly wires are removed and stored until such time as the template is needed for mounting again in order for additional thermal tests to be conducted.

Abstract: A system for interrupting loading of data into a high speed memory device from main storage when a processor requests cache access. A high speed cache is connected to main storage for storing at least a subset of the data residing therein, and the cache can be directly accessed by a processor. In a preferred embodiment, a buffering device is connected to main storage and to the cache for buffering data to be loaded therein. The data buffer is adapted to receive data from main storage continuously and is adapted to transfer the data to the cache continuously unless the cache is being accessed by the processor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for notifying both the source and intended recipient of a classified electronic message transmitted via a computer network of a delivery restriction imposed by an insufficient classification level at the recipient's system. A required classification level is transmitted by the source of a classified electronic message in association with each classified electronic message in an indication of each classified electronic message is stored in an output log at the source system. Prior to permitting delivery of a classified electronic message, the required classification level is then compared to the classification level of the intended recipient. Delivery of a classified electronic message is automatically restricted in response to an insufficient classification level at the recipient's system and a status message is then transmitted to either or both the source and the intended recipient of the classified electronic message.

Abstract: A method for processing a distributed application program in a SNA type network having a host processor executing a virtual machine type operating system and a relatively large plurality of terminals, in which a plurality of run ready virtual machines are established at the host and primed by pre-initializing each machine with the host resident portion of the application program under the control of a Virtual Machine Pool Manager that was previously created. Primed virtual machines are assigned to process requests from the terminals for LU 6.2 type conversation with the application program since the virtual machine is pre-initialized the request is immediately accepted for processing. At the end of the conversation the primed machine is returned to the pool of primed machines to await the processing another request. The Pool Manager is provided with a control strategy which determines the number of primed virtual machines that are in the pool during any period of time.

Abstract: A sub-surface interconnection structure for coupling an n-type diffusion to a p-type diffusion. The structure is a conductor-filled trench disposed between the diffusion regions. The trench has a thin dielectric layer on its sidewalls and bottom. The conductor within the trench contacts the diffusion regions. Parasitic device formation between the diffusion regions is suppressed because the trench provides a parasitic gate that is shorted to the parasitic source regions (i.e., the coupled diffusion regions). Moreover, the trench provides an enlarged contact to the coupled diffusion regions for the subsequently-applied metal layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for a bipolar active semiconductor magnetic field sensor that has a higher sensitivity than semiconductor field sensors presently existing in the art. Specifically, the inventive sensor utilizes a semiconductor structure containing a single emitter layer, a single base layer that is overlaid over the emitter layer and two separate oppositely situated collectors located above the base layer. A bias lateral majority carrier flow is established, in preferably and respectively both the base and emitter layers (electrons in the emitter, holes in the base), that flows in opposite directions in these layers and is oriented normal (transverse) both to the direction of transistor current and to the direction of a magnetic field that is to be detected. When the magnetic field is applied to the sensor, this field imparts a Lorentz force to these carriers which causes these majority carriers to deflect in the same direction in both the emitter and base layers, respectively.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring call setup communications between a communications station and a telecommunications network. A plurality of so-called "result codes," each consisting of a numeric prefix and an associated textual message, are transmitted from the telecommunications network in response to an attempted call setup. These result codes are screened at the communications station by matching numeric prefixes against a predetermined list of selected numeric prefixes and to eliminate irrelevant and/or redundant messages. Next, an alphanumeric display is utilized at the communications station to display in a user discernible manner all those messages indicative of the status of call setup information.

Abstract: A boost clock signal generator which provides a boost clock signal from a pair of phase clocks. A pair of differentially-connected FET transistors which generate a boost clock signal. The transistors have drain connections connected to each of two clock signals, and commonly connected sources which form an output terminal for the boost clock signal. A series pass FET transistor is connected with each gate of the differential transistors for maintaining the gate at a floating voltage potential. A pair of capacitive elements couple the drain of each pair of differentially-connected FET transistors to the gate of an opposite transistor. A first and second logic circuit are connected to the series pass FET transistors for enabling one or the other of the differnetially-connected FET transistors into conduction.

Abstract: A touch sensing display apparatus having improved electrical signal processing is described. A plurality of signal threshold comparison levels are employed by the electronic signal calculating and processing unit to identify actual touch signals and to exclude extraneous vibration and offset signal components. Static thresholds of comparison are utilized at lower signal levels and a dynamic, signal tracking threshold is utilized at higher signal levels. The apparatus is particularly effective for use in designs employing a suspended CRT display or other display device in which the screen of the display device is directly touched by a user to record selections of information presented or to input graphical or handwritten information.

Abstract: A circuit macro is provided for a VLSI circuit device having a semiconductor substrate and M1 and M2 metal layers defining a grid of M1 and M2 conductive lines extending in orthogonal directions. Numerous similar unit cells are arrayed side-by-side in rows extending in one direction and each unit cell spans an integral number of M1 conductive lines and an integral number of M2 conductive lines. The circuit device includes a plurality of circuit blocks each including two of the rows of unit cells. A plurality of wiring bays extend between adjacent circuit blocks, and each wiring bay includes a plurality of M1 conductive lines. The circuit macro includes a number of circuti blocks separated by wiring bays, and connections extend to unit cells of circuit blocks included in the macro.

Abstract: A sub-band coder utilizes one or more bit allocation tables to dynamically distribute the channel bit capacity bandwidth among the frequency bands according to the desired output quality of speech rather than by means of complex algorithms or simulation techniques. Multiple bit assignment tables are provided to allow various quality levels to be traded off as increasing bit rate demands are placed upon the transmission system. The technique is used for a single coder to achieve a minimum bit rate for a desired given level of subjective quality in speech output or may be used in a shared bit resource to maintain equal and minimum quality degradation for all users. The quality tables determine the number of bits to be dropped from the encoded representation of each signal sample to minimize the transmission load for a given coder without sacrificing speech quality to an unacceptable degree.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly including a housing, a flexible circuit located within the housing and including first and second terminals thereon, a carriage movably positioned within the housing and designed for having a circuit board inserted therein, actuation means connected to the carriage to cause it to move and occupy first and second positions within the housing, and biasing means in the form of a pair of leaf springs which continuously exert biasing force against the carriage during its positioning within the invention's housing. As defined herein, contact is possible between a plurality of individual contact elements which form part of the circuit board and respective terminals located at one end portion of the flexible circuit. Second terminals located at the other end of the flexible circuit are designed for mating with and contacting respective conductors located on the second circuit device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and analyzing errors in a communications system is described. The method employs expert system techniques to isolate failures to specific field replaceable units and provide detailed messages to guide an operator to a solution. The expert system techniques include detailed decision trees designed for each resource in the system. The decision trees also filter extraneous sources of errors from affecting the error analysis results.