Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a hot plug bus slot on a bus has an input for receiving a set of float signals (i.e., the set may have one or more float signals), and a driver having an output electrically couplable with the bus. The apparatus also has float logic operatively coupled with the input. The float logic is responsive to the set of float signals to cause the output to float at a high impedance in response to receipt of the set of float signals.

Abstract: A system and method of transferring data of unknown length in a computer system includes providing an embedded device having a processing apparatus and a DMA engine, the processing apparatus processing the data and the DMA engine transferring the data from the embedded device to a component in the computer system, determining whether information from the embedded device is an address value or a data value, programming the DMA engine with the address value if the information is the address value, and transferring the data value to the address value in the component if the information is the data value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing X4 or larger types of memory first receives a data word to be stored in the memory, and then generates a check datum, which is a function of the data word and a set of encode data. After storing the data word in memory, the method and apparatus use the check datum and the data word to generate a syndrome. The method and apparatus then determine if the data word in the memory is correct as a function of the syndrome.

Abstract: A method and means for changing the characteristics of a substance, particularly a viscous substance, involves passing the substance into a path, passing a solvent for that substance into the path, and subjecting the substance and the solvent to a pulsating electric field in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz.

Abstract: According to this invention there is provided a process for the heat treatment of noncaking, noncoking coal with a process derived gaseous fuel having a variably controllable calorific heating value.

Abstract: According to this invention there is provided a process and apparatus for the ignition of a pilot burner in an inert atmosphere without substantially contaminating the inert atmosphere. The process includes the steps of providing a controlled amount of combustion air for a predetermined interval of time to the combustor then substantially simultaneously providing a controlled mixture of fuel and air to the pilot burner and to a flame generator. The controlled mixture of fuel and air to the flame generator is then periodically energized to produce a secondary flame. With the secondary flame the controlled mixture of fuel and air to the pilot burner and the combustion air is ignited to produce a pilot burner flame. The pilot burner flame is then used to ignited a mixture of main fuel and combustion air to produce a main burner flame.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring the properties of materials. This nondestructive, noncontacting instrument detects electromagnetic radiation from the materials across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and combines these diverse data so as to derive the material property values desired. In particular, the properties detectable through particle magnetic resonance, spectroscopy of light in the infrared-visible-ultraviolet range, and detection of x-ray and gamma ray radiation may be included in the instrument. Sensors detect each wavelength band of electromagnetic radiation, and data from all of these sensors is merged in a central data processor to evaluate the material properties of interest.