Abstract: A fault-tolerant router first and second router matrix card. The first and second router matrix cards receive a common set of 4n parity encoded input digital audio data streams and respectively generates therefrom, first and second sets of M output digital audio streams. As the first and second sets of data streams propagate along the first and second router matrix cards, respectively, one or more health bits are set whenever an error or other type of fault condition is detected. First and second parity check circuits are configured to detect parity errors and/or assess the relative health of the first and second sets of data streams and one of the two sets of data streams is selected as the output of the fault-tolerant router based upon either the parity error analysis, health analysis or both.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a semiconductor wafer (100) dicing process. The dicing process comprises removing circuit features (120) from a street (115) located between dies (105) on a semiconductor substrate (102) using a first blade (135), such that the semiconductor substrate is exposed, and cutting through the exposed semiconductor substrate using a second blade (190). The first blade has a surface (140) coated with an abrasive material (145) comprising grit particles (150), having a median diameter (155) of at least about 25 microns. The grit particles are adhered to the first blade with a bonding agent (160) having a hardness of about 80 or less (Rockwell B Hardness scale). The grit particles have a concentration in the bonding agent ranging from about 25 to about 50 vol %. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device (200).

Abstract: With a continuous source of data relating to transactions, the data may be segmented and processed in a data flow arrangement, optionally in parallel, and the data may be processed without storing the data in an intermediate database. Data from multiple sources may be processed in parallel. The segmentation also may define points at which aggregate outputs may be provided, and where checkpoints may be established.

Abstract: A control valve system is disclosed which provides a mechanism by which the valve can be moved to its fail-safe position. The system includes a valve actuator which receives pressurized fluid from a regulator. The regulator is provided with a reverse pressure exhaust valve such that if pressure within the valve actuator is to be alleviated, as when the valve is to be positioned into its fail-safe position, the reverse pressure exhaust valve is opened thereby providing an immediate and accurate passageway through which excess pressure within the regulator outlet can be alleviated.

Abstract: The present invention is an enhanced staged event-driven architecture (SEDA) stage. The enhanced SEDA stage can include an event queue configured to enqueue a plurality of events, an event handler programmed to process events in the event queue, and a thread pool coupled to the event handler. A resource manager further can be coupled to the thread pool and the event queue. Moreover, the resource manager can be programmed to allocate additional threads to the thread pool where a number of events enqueued in the event queue exceeds a threshold value and where all threads in the thread pool are busy.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of managing lists in a multiprocessor system without the use of locks that prevent contention for the list. List management in a linear list with a front and a back of the list has applications where it is desirable to manage the list in a Last In First Out (LIFO) and a First In First Out (FIFO) or a combination of LIFO and FIFO. LIFO and FIFO list management can be done by restrictively adding data elements to the front, back and removing data elements from the front of a managed list. At certain times there can be contention for a list and either locking routines are in place to prevent contention or some other method is used to guarantee data element integrity. The present invention discloses a set of operations that when used with certain protocols allow two or more processors to access a list as a LIFO or FIFO in a multiprocessor system without the use of locks.

Abstract: Initially, data is copied from a disk to a page frame and then to a read buffer, for instance. Next, a check is made to determine whether the percent of real memory occupied by file pages is less than a preset maximum volume. If so, no space is allocated for additional file page and no page frames are returned to the free list. If not, the VMM selects the best candidate file pages in real memory and returns them to the free list. Ideal candidates are a thread's memory pages, from a thread doing sequential I/O the file system. In so doing, the page frames are added to the free list as soon as the I/O is complete.

Abstract: A magnetic hinge that connects and secures adjacent components while allowing for rotational movement of the components with respect to each other. The magnetic hinge may be incorporated into a magnetic stand magnifier or a variety of other structures. The magnetic hinge of this invention consists of an arm and a shaft with a magnet therebetween.

Abstract: A magnetic hinge that connects and secures adjacent components while allowing for rotational movement of the components with respect to each other. The magnetic hinge may be incorporated into a magnetic stand magnifier, or a variety of other structures. The magnetic hinge of this invention consists of an arm and a shaft with a magnet therebetween. A magnetic stand magnifier of this invention uses a magnetic hinge and provides a magnifying lens with the ability to pivot and rotate about a fixed base. The base has one or more magnets in its bottom by which it may be attached to any ferromagnetic surface. The magnetic stand magnifier can be used for numerous purposes including reading, craftwork, material inspection, and the assembly of small parts.

Abstract: A carrier for a rasp that serves to support the rasp when it is in use and store the rasp when it is not being used. The rasp carrier includes a bottom, two side walls, a back wall, and a tab positioned on the back wall. To support the rasp, the rasp is positioned atop the carrier. The side edges of the rasp fit over the side walls of the carrier to prevent lateral movement of the rasp relative to the carrier. A mounting hole on the rasp engages the tab on the rasp carrier to prevent linear movement of the rasp along the carrier. To store the rasp, the rasp is removed from the top of the carrier and slid between the side walls of the carrier.

Abstract: A technique, system, and computer program for run-time translation of procedurally-oriented Emulator High Level Language Application Programming Interface (EHLLAPI) calls into object-based host access calls (such as those provided with IBM's Host Access Control Library or the Open Host Interface Objects under development by the IETF), without requiring changes to the workstation EHLLAPI applications. This translation, in addition to generating the appropriate method invocation, reconciles the operational differences between EHLLAPI's sequential function call model and the event-driven approach used in the object-oriented model.

Abstract: A one-trip system for removing casing from a wellhead is described. The string includes a cutting device spaced at the required depth and a grappling device above it at the appropriate location. A swivel tool, such as a marine swivel, is used in conjunction with a seal-pulling assembly so that after cutting the casing, the seal assembly can be pulled without an additional trip into the well. The grappling device or spear can be hydraulically actuated to grab the casing for removal from the wellbore. The spear features a drop-in restrictor which allows sufficient flow during cutting operations with a mechanical cutter without actuating the spear, while at the same time allowing actuation of the spear by circulation after dropping in the restrictor after the casing section has been cut.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which control execution of an application executing on a data processing system by receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode and determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode. Execution of the application is suspended for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode. A sleep history associated with the location in the application may also be generated based on previous durations of sleep associated with the location in the application and the first predetermined time adjusted based upon the sleep history associated with the location in the application so as to control the number of requests for entry of sleep mode associated with the location in the application.

Abstract: A technique, system, and computer program for enabling workstation software applications to efficiently and reliably use legacy host application data streams, without requiring change to the host applications. This is achieved by defining attributes of presentation spaces (screens or parts of screens) that are of interest to the workstation application, defining target objects to process the legacy host data, registering these attribute definitions and corresponding target objects with a screen recognition object, using the screen recognition object to monitor the host data streams for occurrence of a registered screen, and generating an asynchronous event to invoke the target object when a registered screen is detected. The efficiency is obtained because the workstation application programmer no longer has to write code to monitor the host data streams for the screens of interest.

Abstract: A self-aligning valve disc assembly for a fluid regulator valve. A disc holder includes a central, raised protrusion enabled in one embodiment by a cone-shaped floor surface for providing a single point of contact with a disc. The single contact point provides a pivoting action with a point of force inside the diameter of the opposing force of the valve seat. This enables the pivoting action of the disc to self-align the disc to the seating surface so as to reduce the forces required for the regulator to function properly.

Abstract: Active sites (18) on a semiconductor wafer (14) are protected from particulate and fluid contaminants (40,42)while the wafer (14) is sawed into chips (16) by a tape (62) carrying a pattern of adhesive (64) which is congruent and registerable with saw paths (15) between the active sites (18). Adhering the tape (62) to the wafer (14) encapsulates each active site (18) beneath a non-adherent protective envelope which if formed by adhesive-free portions (68) of the tape (62) as sawing occurs along the saw paths (15) and the congruent adhesive pattern (64). After sawing, the adhesive (64) is treated, as by directing UV through the tape (62), to release the tape (62) from the chips (16).