Abstract: A method and system of servicing asynchronous interrupts in multiple processors executing a user program. Some of the exemplary embodiments may be a method comprising executing a user program on a first processor and a duplicate copy of the user program on a second processor, receiving an asynchronous interrupt by both the first and second processors, executing an interrupt service routine on the first processor at an agreed system call of the user program executed on the first processor, and executing an interrupt service routine on the second processor at the agreed system call of the user program executed on the second processor.

Abstract: Method and system of determining whether a user program has made a system level call and thus whether the user program is uncooperative with fault tolerant operation. Some exemplary embodiments may be a processor-based method comprising providing information from a first processor to a second processor (the information indicating that a user program executed on the first processor has not made a system level call in a predetermined amount of time), and determining by the first processor, using information from the second processor, whether a duplicate copy of the user program substantially simultaneously executed in the second processor has made a system level call in the predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: In a redundant-processor computing device, an error handling method comprises detecting equivalent disparity among processor elements of the computing device operating and responding to the detected equivalent disparity by evaluating secondary considerations of processor fidelity.

Abstract: A method and system of exchanging information between processors. At least some of the illustrative embodiments may be a method comprising exchanging information between a plurality of processors by writing (by a first processor) a first datum to a logic device and then continuing processing of a user program by the first processor, writing (by a second processor) a second datum to the logic device and then continuing processing of a user program by the second processor, and writing (by the logic device) the first and second datum to each of the first and second processors after all the processors have written their respective datum to the logic device.

Abstract: A method and system of loosely lock-stepped non-deterministic processors. Some exemplary embodiments may be a processor-based method comprising executing fault tolerant copies of a user program, one copy of the user program executed in a first processor performing non-deterministic execution, and a duplicate copy of the user program executing in a second processor performing non-deterministic execution, with the executing in the first processor and second processor not in cycle-by-cycle lock-stepped.

Abstract: In a system including multiple-slice processors and memories, a synchronization unit with race avoidance capability includes a delegated write engine that receives data and memory address information from the processors and writes data to the memory as a delegate for the processors.

Abstract: An apparatus employs a work request list to access a memory device. The apparatus comprises an upper layer protocol that generates the work request list comprising a plurality of work requests, the work request list having an attribute that indicates the number of the plurality of work requests in the work request list. The apparatus additionally comprises an interface that is adapted to receive the work request list and individually enqueue the plurality of work requests.

Abstract: A variety of approaches to reducing or eliminating “end effect” or the tendency of tubular ends to reduce in diameter after expansion are disclosed. Some involve pre-bending the ends outwardly while others involve removing material internally or/and externally near the ends. Yet other approaches feature weakening the ends in other ways including penetration of the tubular material using openings of various shapes including slots or/and holes where the openings are between the tube ends or where they can extend on one or both ends all the way to the end of the tubular. Inserts that are softer than the tube material can be placed near the ends. If there is an end effect, then the protruding material can be pushed out of the way or broken off.

Abstract: A shaper for an ion beam gun has a thin, flat plate with a non-symmetrical profile including notches and tabs. The shaper is mounted to the surface of an ion beam grid having an array of holes. The shaper is oriented radially on the grid and covers some of the holes in the grid. The grid is mounted to an ion beam gun above a specimen that is rotated beneath the ion beam gun. The ion beam is filtered into smaller ion beamlets by the grid. The ion beamlets permeate the holes in the grid that are not covered by the shaper. The ion beamlets reach the specimen to etch it more uniformly than a grid that does not have a shaper. The shaper may be further optimized for a particular grid via a trial-and-error process to even further refine the uniformity of etching depth.

Abstract: A shaper for an ion beam gun has a thin, flat plate with a non-symmetrical profile including notches and tabs. The shaper is mounted to the surface of an ion beam grid having an array of holes. The shaper is oriented radially on the grid and covers some of the holes in the grid. The grid is mounted to an ion beam gun above a specimen that is rotated beneath the ion beam gun. The ion beam is filtered into smaller ion beamlets by the grid. The ion beamlets permeate the holes in the grid that are not covered by the shaper. The ion beamlets reach the specimen to etch it more uniformly than a grid that does not have a shaper. The shaper may be further optimized for a particular grid via a trial-and-error process to even further refine the uniformity of etching depth.

Abstract: A shaper for an ion beam gun has a plate with a non-symmetrical profile including notches and tabs. The shaper is mounted to the surface of an ion beam grid having an array of holes. The shaper is oriented radially on the grid and covers some of the holes in the grid. The grid is mounted to an ion beam gun above a specimen that is rotated beneath the ion beam gun. The ion beam is filtered into smaller ion beamlets by the grid. The ion beamlets permeate the holes in the grid that are not covered by the shaper. The ion beamlets reach the specimen to etch it more uniformly than a grid that does not have a shaper. The shaper may be further optimized for a particular grid via a trial-and-error process to even further refine the uniformity of etching depth.

Abstract: A shaper for an ion beam gun is a thin, flat plate having a generally elongated, non-symmetrical profile with notches and tabs. The shaper is mounted flat to the surface of an ion beam grid having an array of holes. The shaper is oriented radially on the grid from its center to a perimeter of the grid and covers some of the holes in the grid. The grid is mounted to an ion beam gun above a specimen that is rotated beneath the ion beam gun. The large ion beam is filtered into smaller ion beamlets by the grid. The ion beamlets permeate the holes in the grid that are not covered by the shaper. The ion beamlets reach the specimen to etch it more uniformly than a grid that does not have a shaper. This phenomena is due to blockage of the higher ion beam density along the radial direction. The ion beamlets that ultimately arrive at the specimen are themselves more uniform and can produce the more uniform pattern on the specimen.

Abstract: A new EFG (Edge-defined Film-fed Growth) crucible/die configuration is provided which (a) overcomes the tendency for silicon feed material to form a solid mass near the center hub region in the hot-zone during the crystal growth and (b) prevent the crucible/die unit from fracturing its supporting susceptor during cool-down.

Abstract: A distributed database application for logging large volumes of data to a plurality of database servers. Central configuration management is employed to balance the database load, to direct requesting workstations to the appropriate database, and to manage the mirroring of data for fault tolerance and the location of distributed data for query, print, or archive purposes. This system is implemented using workstations and database servers, and configuration controllers connected to a dual network. Dual networks and dual configurators provide system redundancy for fault tolerance. The configuration controller provides database server access information to each requesting workstation. Each database server reports status and availability to the configuration controller which can then adjust future logging requests. The network operator can change the configuration stored in the configuration controller whenever reconfiguration is necessary such as by the addition of new database servers.

Abstract: A distributed database application for logging large volumes of data to a plurality of database servers. Central configuration management is employed to balance the database load, to direct requesting workstations to the appropriate database, and to manage the mirroring of data for fault tolerance and the location of distributed data for query, print, or archive purposes. This system is implemented using workstations and database servers, and configuration controllers connected to a dual network. Dual networks and dual configurators provide system redundancy for fault tolerance. The configuration controller provides database server access information to each requesting workstation. Each database server reports status and availability to the configuration controller which can then adjust future logging requests. The network operator can change the configuration stored in the configuration controller whenever reconfiguration is necessary such as by the addition of new database servers.