Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of making a soft, thick, single-ply, absorbent paper in the form of a bathroom tissue, facial tissue, or napkin wherein the cellulosic fibers incorporated in the furnish comprise: (a) at least 20 percent by weight of the fibers in the web have a coarseness exceeding 23 mg/100 m; (b) at least about 20 percent by weight of the fibers in the web have a coarseness of less than about 1.2 mg/100 m; and (c) the weight average coarseness to length ratio of the fibers in the web is less than about 8.5 mg/100 m/mm having a serpentine configuration and to a process for the manufacture of such absorbent paper having a basis weight of about 15 lbs. per 3000 square foot ream and having low sidedness, said tissue exhibiting: a specific total tensile strength of between 40 and 200 grams per 3 inches per pound per 3000 square foot ream, a cross direction specific wet tensile strength of between 2.75 and 20.

Abstract: A read only input system provides a source of information for a controller of an automated data storage library, separate from the controller stored microcode, and that will be available for use by the controller after the controller microcode has been updated or restored. The read only input system comprises a bar code reader mounted on an accessor of the library and coupled to the controller for providing the output of the bar code reader to the controller, and a bar code label mounted in the automated data storage library, positioned at a predetermined fixed location. The bar code label encodes input control information for the controller, which is read by the bar code reader and supplied to the controller. The bar code label input control information may comprise an offset value for at least one of the X, Y and Z direction coordinates of the accessor in order to align the accessor.

Abstract: An attached storage media link has a self-timed interface (STI) in which a clock signal clocks bit serial data onto a parallel, electrically conductive bus and the clock signal is transmitted on a separate line of the bus. The received data on each line of the bus is individually phase aligned with the clock signal, providing a high speed, cost effective interface to a direct access storage device.

Abstract: A massively parallel system has a self-timed interface (STI) in which a clock signal clocks bit serial data onto a parallel, electrically conductive bus and the clock signal is transmitted on a separate line of the bus. The received data on each line of the bus is individually phase aligned with the clock signal. Digital data is transmitted at high speeds via the parallel bus to provide a scalable communications network for parallel processing systems while eliminating precise bus length and system clock rates as a critical or limiting factor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soft, thick, single-ply, absorbent paper in the form of a bathroom tissue, facial tissue, or napkin wherein the cellulosic fibers incorporated in the furnish comprise: (a) at least 20 percent by weight of the fibers in the web have a coarseness exceeding 23 mg/100 m; (b) at least about 20 percent by weight of the fibers in the web have a coarseness of less than about 1.2 mg/100 m; and (c) the weight average coarseness to length ratio of the fibers in the web is less than about 8.5 mg/100 m/mm having a serpentine configuration and to a process for the manufacture of such absorbent paper having a basis weight of about 15 lbs. per 3000 square foot ream and having low sidedness, said tissue exhibiting:a specific total tensile strength of between 40 and 200 grams per 3 inches per pound per 3000 square foot ream, a cross direction specific wet tensile strength of between 2.75 and 20.

Abstract: A first circuit and a second circuit are connected by a pumped signal line that conducts a signal having a plurality of states. A dynamic termination circuit is connected to the pumped signal line. The dynamic termination circuit includes a switch responsive to the signal conducted by the pumped signal line such that the dynamic termination circuit is enabled only in response to certain of the plurality of states of the signal. In one embodiment, the switch is a first transistor that is coupled in series with a first impedance between a first reference voltage and an intermediate node. In this embodiment, the dynamic termination circuit further includes a second transistor coupled in series with a second impedance between a second reference voltage and the intermediate node and only first and second inverters that are each coupled between the intermediate node and the control input of a respective one of the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: Non-invasive recalibration is performed for an accessor in a data storage library. The library includes an accessor along with multiple targets such as fiducials, media storage cells, and one or more media drives. A storage unit contains stored coordinates aligning the accessor with the targets. One of the fiducials is predefined as a master fiducial. When recalibrating, the accessor is used to determine new master coordinates currently defining the master fiducial. A positional difference is derived between the new master coordinates and the stored coordinates of the master fiducial. Coordinate update values are determined for each cell and drive according to the positional difference. The coordinate update value of each target may be the derived positional difference, or the target's new coordinate. The coordinate update values are finally stored for use to position the accessor during subsequent operation of the library.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for maintaining states of an operator interface, such as an operator panel and convenience input/output station, of a dual library manager/dual controller system in the event of a failure to one controller during an operation. The invention allows control of the operator panel and convenience input/output station status lights and the states themselves by more than one controller without reinitializing at a default condition by detecting a failure during an operation, switching control to a second accessor controller and establishing a correct state for the operator interface via the second accessor controller. A correct state for a station is established by first establishing a fake empty status for the station and then locking the station, if necessary.

Abstract: Disclosed are an automated data storage library and a method for operating the library. The library includes two pickers arranged on a common guideway; a plurality of media storage slots arranged in a plurality of regions alongside the guideway; a plurality of read/write stations arranged in regions alongside the guideway. Commands are received for jobs to move media amongst the storage slots and the read/write stations, and a controller queues the received commands and allocates the queued commands to the pickers and in an order of jobs which will allow the pickers to independently access and move the media so as to avoid interference in the same region, or in regions which are behind the other picker. The media storage slots may be arranged in row sets and regions alongside the guideway, each row set including one or more storage slots and each region including one or more columns, with the regions narrower than the pickers.

Abstract: Frequency differences between differing clock sources are compensated for by an adaptive filtering mechanism. An amount of frequency drift between two clock sources is determined. Then, based on that amount of frequency drift, a filtering value is selected to be used in tracking the frequency drift. If the frequency drift is determined to be large, then a minimum filtering value is selected. However, if it is determined to be small, then a maximum filtering value is selected. The selected filtering value is used to adjust the address(es) of one or more data bits being transmitted and received using the two clock sources, such that the frequency drift is properly tracked.

Abstract: In a data storage subsystem a virtual removable media server (VRMS) handles host audit requests, whether directed to a physical volume or a virtual volume physically stored in cache or in a removable physical media item. The subsystem includes a storage interface between the host and data storage facilities including a cache and a physical media library. To the host, the storage interface emulates a virtual library including a plurality of virtual media items, each containing a logical volume of data. The library may also maintain physical media items each storing one logical volume, as in a traditional library. To verify presence of a specified logical volume of the virtual library, the host sends an audit request. Responsively, the subsystem cross-references the specified logical volume in a first list to identify physical locations of underlying data. This physical location may be an address in the cache and/or a physical volume corresponding to a physical media item in the library.

Abstract: A durable substrate subassembly for a high power transistor switching module. The substrate subassembly is durable because wire bonds to the semiconductor device electrodes are replaced with a soldered metal/ceramic composite conductor. The part of the composite conductor contacting the semiconductor device has a coefficient of thermal expansion close to that of the semiconductor device. The metal of the composite conductor is preferably a strip of copper foil. The ceramic portion is a layer of alumina on the copper foil that is generally coextensive with the semiconductor device electrodes.

Abstract: An automated data storage library for storing and accessing a plurality of data storage media stored in a plurality of storage slots. A plurality of accessors access the data storage media between the storage slots and data recording device(s), an operator interface allows an operator to designate one of the accessors as active, and a library manager is interconnected with the accessors and with the operator interface to set operation modes of the accessors.

Abstract: Frequency differences between differing clock sources are compensated for by an adaptive filtering mechanism. An amount of frequency drift between two clock sources is determined. Then, based on that amount of frequency drift, a filtering value is selected to be used in tracking the frequency drift. If the frequency drift is determined to be large, then a minimum filtering value is selected. However, if it is determined to be small, then a maximum filtering value is selected. The selected filtering value is used to adjust the address(es) of one or more data bits being transmitted and received using the two clock sources, such that the frequency drift is properly tracked.

Abstract: According to the preferred embodiment, a phase-locked loop system is provided that overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing the ability to switch output frequencies without a disruption in the phase lock of the output signal. The system uses a first phase-locked loop coupled with a second phase lock-loop such that their output signals are phase aligned and a switching mechanism for switching between the first phase lock output signal and the second phase lock loop output signal. The system is thus able to switch the frequency of its output without a disruption in the phase-lock of the signal.

Abstract: A self-timed interface (STI) in which a clock signal clocks bit serial data onto a parallel, electrically conductive bus and the clock signal is transmitted on a separate line of the bus. The received data on each line of the bus is individually phase aligned with the clock signal. The received clock signal is used to define boundary edges of a data bit cell individually for each line and the data on each line of the bus is individually phase adjusted so that, for example, a data transition position is in the center of the cell.

Abstract: A method and system for reclaiming stacked volumes within a peripheral data storage subsystem is disclosed. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, a database is interrogated to determine whether or not an opportunistic reclaim threshold of a stacked volume has been reached after a service request from a host computer has been performed on a stacked volume and while the stacked volume is still mounted. If the opportunistic reclaim threshold of the stacked volume has not been reached, the stacked volume is released and dismounted. However, if the reclaim threshold of the stacked volume has been reached, another determination is made as to whether or not a service request for the host computer is pending. If the host computer requires service, the stacked volume is again released and dismounted. Otherwise, if the host computer does not require service, at least one data set from the mounted stacked volume is opportunistically reclaimed while the stacked volume is still mounted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Input/Output station of an automated storage and retrieval system, or library, which uses an elevator mechanism to vertically translate a cartridge or a magazine containing a plurality of cartridges from a maximum vertical position above the top surface of the library to a minimum vertical position beneath the top surface and internal to the library. The Input/Output station is aligned with the other components of the library such that the vertical path of the elevator mechanism does not interfere with the path of the accessor. The operation of the Input/Output station does not pause the accessor and thus, does not interfere with the operation of the other automated processes within the library. Cartridges can be added to or removed from the library using the Input/Output station while the accessor is moving a different cartridge from a storage cell in the storage array to a drive.

Abstract: According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a phase-locked loop is provided that overcomes the limitations of the prior art by facilitating fast locking on transition to a different output frequency. The phase-locked loop comprises an oscillator that provides a phase-locked loop output signal at various selected frequencies; a feedback divider; a phase comparator; a memory storage mechanism for storing phase-locked loop control information corresponding to selected output frequencies; and a digital circuit mechanism that receives the control information from the memory storage mechanism on transition to a different output frequency. The control information includes a digital counter value corresponding to the last recorded phase difference of the output signal at the different output frequency. On transition, this information is loaded directly to the digital circuit mechanism, reducing the need and time required for the phase comparator operation to drive the PLL to lock.

Abstract: A serial data stream is recovered using a local clock, which is asynchronous to the clock used to transmit the serial data. The incoming serial data stream is phase shifted or delayed by a digital phase-locked loop so that it may be reliably sampled by the local clock. The DPLL samples the serial data stream and captures data on both the rising and falling edges of the local clock employing three edge detectors. This partitions the data stream into two bit samples, which the DPLL presents to a deserializer. The deserializer converts the serial data to parallel data and assembles the received data back into data bytes. The deserializer also generates a received byte clock used for presenting the parallel data to, for example, the ESCON channel logic.