Abstract: An optical drive reads information from an optical medium by measuring the reflectivity of the optical medium to determine the type of optical medium, setting read parameters associated with the determined type and attempting to read identification information from the optical medium to verify the optical medium type. If the identification information verifies the type of optical medium as determined by the measured reflectivity, the optical drive reads information with the read parameters. If the identification information is not readable or fails to verify the measured optical medium type, an alternative optical medium type read parameters are used to read the identification information. If the alternative optical medium type matches the identification information optical medium type, read parameters associated with the alternative optical medium type are used to read information from the optical medium and the user is provided a warning that the optical medium has substandard quality.

Abstract: An automated method and system for refunding the unused portion of an electronic ticket are provided. In accordance with the method, an aging period is set and is added to the scheduled departure date of the issued ticket. If the scheduled departure date plus the aging date is earlier than the current date, a determination is made as to whether the ticket has been used. If the ticket has not been used, the residual value of the ticket is calculated and a refund is issued.

Abstract: A computer system includes a chassis, a processor mounted in the chassis, a memory coupled to the processor, and an optical disc drive coupled to the processor and the memory, the optical disc drive comprising a removable storage media, the optical disc drive being configurable to internally generate an audio tone signal in response to receiving a command during an absence of the removable storage media; to receive a second command, wherein the second command generates a corresponding second audio tone signal and to receive a third command, and wherein the third command is configurable to stop the generation of the second audio tone signal.

Abstract: An alignment circuit (18) is configured to receive a reference clock signal (ref_clk) derived from a main clock having a period T and successive sets of 2n data bits that are transmitted in parallel on a data bus (26) wherein said data bits are aligned with respect to said reference clock signal but misaligned with respect to each other. It first comprises a plurality of n aligners. Each aligner (49-i) is coupled to said reference clock and a pair of said data bits, referred to as primary bits, one data bit (bit_tdat (i)) having the rank (i) in a determined set and the other being the corresponding data bit (bit_tdat i+n)) having the rank (i+n) in the set.

Abstract: A deskewing circuit configured to receive a main clock signal wherein data bits are misaligned with respect to the main clock signal. A multiphase clock generator coupled to the main clock to generate N/2 clock phases on the rising edge of the main clock and N/2 clock phases on the falling edge. A plurality of n samplers to generate a first set of N/2 sampled signals on the positive phases and a second set of N/2 sampled signals on the negative phases. A corresponding plurality of n phase selectors to determine which phase is the best for each set of sampled signals and generate the two selected signals corresponding to that phase. A control logic block configured to receive a corresponding plurality of n first control signals. A data bus gathering all said selected signals for further processing, wherein said selected signals are aligned with said reference clock but misaligned with respect to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel hemoglobin compositions, particularly novel recombinant mutant hemoglobin compositions, which eliminate or substantially reduce 1) the creation of heart lesions, 2) gastrointestinal discomfort, 3) pressor effects, and 4) endotoxin hypersensitivity associated with the administration of extracellular hemoglobin compositions in various therapeutic applications. Applications described include treatments for anemia, head injury, hemorrhage or hypovolemia, ischemia, cachexia, sickle cell crisis and stroke; enhancing cancer treatments; stimulating hematopoiesis; improving repair of physically damaged tissues; alleviating cardiogenic shock; and shock resuscitation.

Abstract: A computer system includes a chassis, a processor mounted in the chassis, a memory coupled to the processor, and an optical disc drive coupled to the processor and the memory, the optical disc drive comprising a removable storage media, the optical disc drive being configurable to internally generate an audio tone signal in response to receiving a command during an absence of the removable storage media; to receive a second command, wherein the second command generates a corresponding second audio tone signal and to receive a third command, and wherein the third command is configurable to stop the generation of the second audio tone signal.

Abstract: A converter circuit for converting a double width data bus (transmitting data at a single rate) to a single width data bus (transmitting data at a double rate). The circuit operates with a single clock, using the clock (positive clock) and its complement phase (negative clock) to process a set of even data and odd data. The circuit has a data mixer stage and an XOR stage. Even and odd data are mixed, using multiplexors and the positive and negative clocks, to generate mixed data. An XOR function is performed on the mixed data, using NAND gates. Using NAND gates to perform the XOR instead of a multiplexor ensures synchronous output timing, and ensures that the two stages are fully testable according to any scan-chain test method.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel hemoglobin compositions, particularly novel recombinant mutant hemoglobin compositions, which eliminate or substantially reduce 1) the creation of heart lesions, 2) gastrointestinal discomfort, 3) pressor effects, and 4) endotoxin hypersensitivity associated with the administration of extracellular hemoglobin compositions in various therapeutic applications. Applications described include treatments for anemia, head injury, hemorrhage or hypovolemia, ischemia, cachexia, sickle cell crisis and stroke; enhancing cancer treatments; stimulating hematopoiesis; improving repair of physically damaged tissues; alleviating cardiogenic shock; and shock resuscitation.