Abstract: Stand-alone modules or blocks for use in creating low-power sensor-based monitor/control systems. Each module performs a pre-defined function, and when included in a monitor/control network operates as a node on the network and automatically communicates with one or more connected nodes using a uni-directional packet-based protocol. One class of such predefined nodes communicates Boolean values, for example, with input sensor nodes detecting the presence or absence of environmental phenomena (e.g., motion, light, sound, water, button presses, etc.), intermediate nodes transforming those Boolean values using combinational or sequential logic, and output nodes converting the resulting Boolean values to environmental phenomena (e.g., beeping, light, electric relay activation, etc.) or to data for further processing by a computer. Another class of nodes communicates integer or number values.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for updating a temperature table for a disk subsystem in a client system using information provided by a server system. In one embodiment, among others, the client receives an update command from the server system. The update command comprises instructions to update the temperature table. The client updates the temperature table in the disk subsystem in accordance with the update command. The client selects one of the write current values in the temperature table based on a disk subsystem temperature, and writes data to the disk subsystem using the selected write current values.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for updating a temperature table for a disk subsystem in a client system using information provided by a server system. In one embodiment, among others, the client receives an update command from the server system. The update command comprises instructions to update the temperature table. The client updates the temperature table in the disk subsystem in accordance with the update command. The client selects one of the write current values in the temperature table based on a disk subsystem temperature, and writes data to the disk subsystem using the selected write current values.

Abstract: By adjusting a scale factor of a phase locked loop in computers for generating a basic clock signal of a front-side bus, the frequency of the basic clock signal is modulated when the central processing unit of computers operates. By a bridge unit of the present invention, a selecting signal is received so as to output a corresponding adjustment signal to a check unit and then the check unit checks the adjustment signal for outputting a checking signal to a scale parameter adjustment unit. According to the checking signal, the scale parameter adjustment unit adjusts a first scale parameter of the scale factor that the phase locked loop uses now and outputs this parameter to the phase locked loop. Thus after receiving a fixed clock signal for generating the basic clock signal, the phase locked loop generates the basic clock signal of the front-side bus in accordance with the adjusted first scale parameter and further the frequency of the basic clock signal is adjusted.

Abstract: A clock control circuit including a divider unit for dividing a master clock signal at a falling timing of the same to generate a divided clock signal, a multiplier unit for multiplying the master signal by n at a rising timing of the same, and thinning out an n-th clock pulse to generate a multiplied clock signal, and a selector unit for selecting a bus clock signal from multiplied clock signals at a variety of timings, derived from the multiplied clock signal, and the divided clock signal in accordance with a selection signal, and supplying the selected signal to a processor.

Abstract: In a networked system in which high speed busses interconnect sources and destinations of data, systems for and methods of data alignment, data re-timing, and circular buffer underflow/overflow detection, are described. The invention is directed to a system for detecting either or both underflow and overflow of a circular buffer capable of holding n entries. The invention is also directed to a method of detecting either or both underflow and overflow of a circular buffer capable of holding n entries.

Abstract: A method of generating a timestamp includes measuring a time period between two events, automatically determining a precision for an indication of the time period, and storing the timestamp. The precision for the indication of the time period is decreased as the time period increases. The timestamp includes an indication of the precision and the indication of the time period, wherein the indication of the time period in the timestamp is stored according to the automatically determined precision.

Abstract: Systems and methods for masking strobe signals in strobe-based systems are provided below. These strobe-masking systems receive a strobe signal from a component operating under one clock domain and in turn generate a masked version of the strobe signal. Components of a host system use the masked strobe signal to receive or transfer data from the clock domain of the strobe signal through a mesochronous clock domain crossing into a different clock domain.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing a data signal to a clock signal in a source-synchronous system, the source-synchronous system having first and second systems linked by an interface, the first system providing the clock signal to the second system, the second system providing the data signal and a return clock signal synchronous to the data signal to the first system, the method comprising: determining a first time delay between the clock signal and the return clock signal and delaying the data signal by the first time delay; after a predetermined period, determining a second time delay between the clock signal and the return clock signal; determining a difference between the first and second time delays; and, further delaying the data signal by at least a portion of the difference to thereby compensate for a temperature change of the source-synchronous system.

Abstract: A system has a plurality of electronic components that are powered by a power source, and each of the components is associated with a respective power cap. The system further has logic configured to monitor power consumption of the electronic components over a duration and dynamically adjust at least one power cap associated with at least one of the electronic components based on the monitored power consumption.

Abstract: A method for configuring a plasma cluster tool is disclosed. The method includes generating a key file from option specifications, the key file encapsulating configuration restrictions specifically imposed on the plasma cluster tool. The method also includes generating at least one system-wide configuration file and at least one component-level configuration file using the key file. The method additionally includes generating run-time executable objects from a database of option definition files, the at least one system-wide configuration file and the at least one component-level configuration file. Furthermore, the method includes employing the run-time executable objects to configure the plasma cluster tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wireless computer peripheral device that comprises a first power detecting unit with a set first threshold value, coupled to the first power and; and a second power detecting unit with a set second threshold value, coupled to the first power, second power and the first power detecting unit; thereby, the power energy supplied from the second power will be cut off and the power energy supplied from the first power will be provided to the wireless computer peripheral device for using when the power energy stored in the first power is higher than the power energy stored in the second power; and the power energy supplied from the first power will be cut off and the power energy supplied from the second power will be provided to the wireless computer peripheral device for using when the power energy stored in the first power is lower than or equal to the power energy stored in the second power.

Abstract: An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner.

Abstract: A power control circuit is provided. The circuit is adapted for an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) controller to transform output signals of a chipset which outputs a STR (Suspend to RAM) control signal and a power control signal. The circuit generates control signals of the ACPI controller by performing logical operations on the STR control signal and the power control signal. The control signals of the ACPI controller are used to regulate the power supply state of a host system.

Abstract: A CAN communication module (10) comprising a protocol kernel (14) and a CAN logic block (12) is provided. The protocol kernel includes a CAN bus interface and the CAN logic block includes a module interface for connection to an external peripheral bus (22), a message RAM (28) and a CAN message handler (26). The protocol kernel (14) and the CAN logic block (12) have separate clock inputs (32,36).

Abstract: Variable compensation for part to part skew of components in a substrate-mounted circuit is described. The variability may be provided through a computer software program acting on a programmable delay buffer such that compensation for a skewed signal may be continuously checked against a reference signal or through other methods. The skewed signal may be delayed until the signal matches, within a predetermined margin of error, the reference.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for thermal management of a CPU. Both hardware and software data are used to periodically calculate a power consumption index. An internal database is provided to convert power consumption data to rotational speed of an associated cooling fan for the CPU. Based upon a change in the calculated power consumption, the rotational speed of the fan may be adjusted to accommodate the change in power consumption. Accordingly, the method and system monitors and adjusts the rotational speed of the cooling fan based upon available hardware and software data.

Abstract: Power saving strategies are presented for use in communication systems, networks, and devices. In at least one embodiment, a power saving probe request is sent from a first entity to a second entity to request information on available power saving capabilities of the second entity. The first entity may then receive a power saving probe response from the second entity that includes information on available power saving capabilities of the second entity. The first entity may then negotiate with the second entity for provision of at least one power saving service chosen from the available power saving capabilities. In another embodiment, a first entity may send power saving probe requests to a number of second entities to request information on available power saving capabilities of the second entities. The first entity may then receive power saving probe responses from the second entities that each include information on available power saving capabilities of a corresponding second entity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a leading edge of a bus clock signal are disclosed herein. One edge detecting system includes a device for providing a bus clock and a processor clock, in which the processor clock is an integer multiple of the bus clock. The device for providing the clocks, however, does not provide a control signal that indicates the location of an edge of the bus clock. The system further includes a clock tree configured to distribute the bus clock and processor clock to multiple destinations, whereby the destinations receive the bus clock and processor clock delayed by an insertion time of the clock tree. The system also includes a processor having a device for detecting the leading edge of the bus clock delayed by the insertion time. Furthermore, a method is disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed to enable and control power reduction in a blade/chassis system. A “maximum power reduction” attribute is stored in the VPD of the blade (or can otherwise be input to or retrieved or calculated by the management entity). The management module of the chassis in which the blades and power supplies are located uses this information to manage the power reduction of blades when the system is operating in an over-subscription mode and a power supply fails. If throttling is required, the system knows the amount of power reduction available for each blade and controls the throttling by spreading it out among the blades in the system so that, ideally, no blade will cease operation altogether.