Abstract: A high voltage integrated circuit operable in a system having a low voltage reference, a high voltage reference, and a ground, for providing an output voltage higher than the high voltage reference. The integrated circuit includes a high voltage ground reference circuit, operable to provide a high voltage ground reference node. Also included is an oscillator, operable to provide a clock signal, the oscillator being connected to the high voltage reference and to the high voltage ground reference node. An isolated charge pump circuit is provided, operable to generate the output voltage and isolated in the integrated circuit from other circuitry.

Abstract: A loop network hub including a hub port with a loop initialization insertion mechanism. The loop initialization insertion mechanism causes a hub port which detects a new node port connection to automatically begin generating loop initialization data. A hub port continues to generate loop initialization data until that hub port receives a loop initialization sequence. The loop initialization data propagates around the loop of the hub, halting ordinary processing. In this way, the entire loop is cleared. Upon receiving a loop initialization sequence, the hub port originating the loop initialization data inserts the new node port into the loop. At this point, loop initialization begins and each node port in the loop network obtains a unique loop network address.

Abstract: In accordance with one specific embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for sputter deposition within an evacuated volume comprises a compact ion source to generate ions into which an ionizable gas is introduced and from which ions leave with directed energies near or below the sputtering threshold, a sputter target near that source and located within the beam of ions leaving that source, a sputter target with a grounded shield that defines the target portion exposed to sputtering, and a power supply to bias the target negative relative to ground so that ions are attracted to and sputter the target. Particles sputtered from the target are deposited on a deposition substrate separate from both the ion source and the sputter target. For an insulating target, the target is biased with a radiofrequency power supply and the bias has a mean negative value rather than a direct-current negative value relative to ground.

Abstract: The ensoBox™ is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) appliance. An Internet appliance can be classified as a ready-to-use device that supports a specific Internet requirement. The software to support this appliance is pre-installed in the factory, is typically proprietary in nature, and is purchased in conjunction with the associated hardware. An appliance supports a plug-and-play configuration to allow for easy installation and management by the appliance's owner. An Internet appliance does not require the separate purchase of hardware and software, and then the subsequent systems integration by the owner.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method that defines a standard configuration useful for scaling services independently. This method makes efficient use of the Network, Server and Storage layers of a computing infrastructure in such a way that services can be clustered. These clustered services allow for redundancy in hardware and software and take full advantage of the hardware and software to increase customer performance and throughput. By making appropriate use of inexpensive servers, network attached storage, virtual local area networks, content switching and service clustering, Internet services can be scaled incrementally as customer demand grows. This method is efficient and relatively affordable.

Abstract: A system for defining, implementing, and maintaining geographically disperse Internet Service Providers (ISP) from a centralized processing center. Customers of ISP are provisioned services that include, but are not limited to, internet access, e-mail access, and web-hosting space. System provides ability to define flexible service offerings at price points dependent on disparate market conditions. Further, the system generates billing data based on specified service offerings that is aggregated and presented to the customer in a formatted bill in local currency and in accordance to local customs. Collection for services rendered is performed by the system in conjunction with third party processing systems in local currencies.

Abstract: A hub port in a Fibre Channel loop for detecting and bypassing attached node ports in an OLD-PORT state is disclosed. The hub port includes a hub data source, a detect circuits, and an output control circuit. The hub data source supplies data to the hub port from a Fibre Channel loop. The detect circuit is configured to detect a valid non-Arbitrated Loop sequence from an attached node port indicating that the node port is in an OLD-PORT state. The output control circuit operates to bypass the node port from the loop when the valid non-Arbitrated Loop sequence is detected.

Abstract: A hub port in a Fibre Channel loop for detecting and bypassing attached node ports in an OLD-PORT state is disclosed. The hub port includes a hub data source, a detect circuits, and an output control circuit. The hub data source supplies data to the hub port from a Fibre Channel loop. The detect circuit is configured to detect a valid non-Arbitrated Loop sequence from an attached node port indicating that the node port is in an OLD-PORT state. The output control circuit operates to bypass the node port from the loop when the valid non-Arbitrated Loop sequence is detected.

Abstract: An electromagnet that produces a uniaxial magnetic field for magnetically orienting thin films on a substrate in a low-pressure processing environment is arranged with a plate-shaped core having a circular periphery and an electromagnetic coil having windings that are arranged in a pattern across a front side of the core for reducing skew of the uniaxial magnetic field. The individual windings include lengths divided in different proportions between straight center sections and two bent end sections. The straight sections of the windings, which extend normal to a winding axis, incrementally decrease in length from the center towards the periphery of the core along the winding axis. Spacing between adjacent center sections of the windings is greater than a spacing between adjacent end sections of the front winding portions along the core periphery. The end sections are increasingly bent at the core periphery as a function of cumulative differences in spacing between the center and end sections.

Abstract: A loop network hub port with an automatic bypass feature. The automatic bypass feature causes the hub port to enter a bypass mode upon detection of a specified loop failure initialization sequence from a node port attached to the hub port. The hub port does not propagate loop failure initialization data generated by the attached node port upon the failure of a data channel from the hub port to the node port. The hub port replaces loop failure initialization data received from the node port with buffer data and conceals the node port failure from the remainder of the loop. Upon detection of the loop failure initialization sequence received from the attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode and maintains that bypass mode until a recovery sequence is received from the node port. At that point, the hub port reinserts the node port into the loop.

Abstract: A loop network hub port with an automatic bypass feature. The automatic bypass feature causes the hub port to enter a bypass mode upon detection of a specified loop failure initialization sequence from a node port attached to the hub port. The hub port does not propagate loop failure initialization data generated by the attached node port upon the failure of a data channel from the hub port to the node port. The hub port replaces loop failure initialization data received from the node port with buffer data and conceals the node port failure from the remainder of the loop. Upon detection of the loop failure initialization sequence received from the attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode and maintains that bypass mode until a recovery sequence is received from the node port. At that point, the hub port reinserts the node port into the loop.

Abstract: In one embodiment of this invention, the apparatus for sputter deposition within an evacuated volume comprises a compact gridless ion source into which an ionizable gas is introduced and from which ions leave with directed energies at or near the sputtering threshold and a sputter target near that source, biased negative relative to the surrounding vacuum enclosure, and located within the beam of ions leaving that source. Particles sputtered from the target are deposited on a deposition substrate spaced from both the ion source and the sputter target. An energetic beam of electrons can be generated by the incident ions striking the negatively biased sputter target and the deposition substrate is located either within or outside of this beam, depending on whether the net effect of bombardment by energetic electrons is beneficial or detrimental to that particular deposition process.

Abstract: A hub port in a hub of a loop network which detects and replaces invalid data and invalid control signals in the datastream of the loop. The hub port detects invalid data and invalid control signals or primitives received from an attached node port and substitutes buffer data or valid primitives. The hub port substitutes buffer data or primitives which have correct running disparity for the datastream at the point of substitution. In another implementation, an error detection device is included in a loop network and monitors the datastream of the loop network. The error detection device detects invalid data and invalid control signals or primitives received from an upstream node in the loop and substitutes buffer data or valid primitives. The error detection device substitutes buffer data or primitives which have correct running disparity for the datastream at the point of substitution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a technique for inserting and removing a node in a network loop. In a preferred implementation, a hub port includes a detect element which monitors data from the node and from an upstream node. The detect element sets a first flag when a primitive is received at the port, and sets a second flag when a primitive which is a frame termination primitive is received at the port. A frame termination generator generates frame termination primitives and a buffer data generator generates buffer data. A switching element has a control input, an output, and a plurality of data inputs. One data input is connected to each of an output of the node, the upstream node, the frame termination generator, and the buffer data generator. A control element is connected to the detect element and the control input of the switching element.

Abstract: A hub port in a hub of a loop network which automatically bypasses a node port which is generating a particular loop failure initialization sequence. The hub port contains a detection circuit which enables the hub port to detect loop failure initialization data received from its attached node port. Upon detecting such data from an attached node port, the hub port replaces such data with buffer data to be passed to the next hub port. Upon detecting the completion of a loop failure initialization sequence from an attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode. The hub port no longer passes on output from its attached node port and instead forwards along the internal hub link data received from the previous hub port in the hub loop. The bypass is maintained until the hub port receives a primitive sequence indicating the recovery of the attached node port. The hub port periodically sends at least one recovery sequence to the node port.

Abstract: A loop network hub port with an automatic bypass feature. The automatic bypass feature causes the hub port to enter a bypass mode upon detection of a specified loop failure initialization sequence from a node port attached to the hub port. The hub port does not propagate loop failure initialization data generated by the attached node port upon the failure of a data channel from the hub port to the node port. The hub port replaces loop failure initialization data received from the node port with buffer data and conceals the node port failure from the remainder of the loop. Upon detection of the loop failure initialization sequence received from the attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode and maintains that bypass mode until a recovery sequence is received from the node port. At that point, the hub port reinserts the node port into the loop.

Abstract: A hub port in a hub of a loop network which automatically bypasses a node port which is generating a particular loop failure initialization sequence. The hub port contains a detection circuit which enables the hub port to detect loop failure initialization data received from its attached node port. Upon detecting such data from an attached node port, the hub port replaces such data with buffer data to be passed to the next hub port. Upon detecting the completion of a loop failure initialization sequence from an attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode. The hub port no longer passes on output from its attached node port and instead forwards along the internal hub link data received from the previous hub port in the hub loop. The bypass is maintained until the hub port receives a primitive sequence indicating the recovery of the attached node port. The hub port periodically sends at least one recovery sequence to the node port.

Abstract: An external FET (12) has protection provided thereto for excessive voltages between the gate and drain and between the gate and source. A drain-to-gate clamp is provided with a plurality of series connected zener diodes (34), (36) and (38) which are connected in series with a Schottky diode (42). The current therethrough is sensed with a resistor (56) which turns on a bypass transistor (58) to shunt current around the zener diodes when an excess voltage causes them to break down. This will turn on the FET (12). The gate-to-source clamp is configured with two zener diodes (74) and (76) which are reversed biased. A series current sense resistor (82) senses the current through the diodes and turns on a transistor (84) when the current exceeds a predetermined level. This will effectively shunt current around the zener diodes (74) and (76).

Abstract: Peptides that bind to the interleukin-1 type I receptor (IL-1RtI) can be used to assay the amount of IL-1R, or an IL-1R agonist or antagonist, in a sample and comprise a sequence of amino acids selected from the group consisting of (1) WXXXGZ.sub.1 W where Z.sub.1 is L, I, A, or Q; (2) XXQZ.sub.5 YZ.sub.6 XX where Z.sub.5 is P or Aze where Aze is azetidine; and Z.sub.6 is S, A, V, or L; and (3) Z.sub.23 NZ.sub.24 SZ.sub.25 Z.sub.26 Z.sub.27 Z.sub.28 Z.sub.29 Z.sub.30 L where Z.sub.23 is D or Y; Z.sub.24 is D or S; Z.sub.25 is S or W; Z.sub.26 is S or Y; Z.sub.27 is D or V; Z.sub.28 is S or W; Z.sub.29 is F or L; and Z.sub.30 is D or L; and where each amino acid is indicated by standard one letter abbreviation; and each X can be selected from any one of the 20 genetically coded L-amino acids or the stereoisomeric D-amino acids. Also provided are peptides which bind to the IL-1RtI, which are 11 to 40 amino acids in length, which comprise the core sequence of amino acids:Z.sub.31 XWZ.sub.32 Z.sub.33 Z.sub.34 Z.