Abstract: Method and system for controlling the state of a system bus during live insertion and removal of a pluggable feature card (FC) by driving control signals, which are transferred over the system bus, to an active signal level, or by driving down level active control signals to a low signal level near ground level. By this mechanism, the system bus becomes immune to signal disturbances and thereby allows pluggable units to be live inserted and removed without causing adverse effects to the system such as a system reset or compromise of data integrity. During live insertion or removal, a Live Insertion Bus Controller (LIBC) acquires access to the system bus through its interface with a System Bus Controller (SBC), after it has been signalled by a live insertion mechanism associated with the FC that the FC is in the process of being live inserted or removed.

Abstract: Method and system for controlling the state of a system bus during live insertion and removal of a pluggable feature card (FC) by driving control signals, which are transferred over the system bus, to an active signal level, or by driving down level active control signals to a low signal level near ground level. By this mechanism, the system bus becomes immune to signal disturbances and thereby allows pluggable units to be live inserted and removed without causing adverse effects to the system such as a system reset or compromise of data integrity. During live insertion or removal, a Live Insertion Bus Controller (LIBC) acquires access to the system bus through its interface with a System Bus Controller (SBC), after it has been signalled by a live insertion mechanism associated with the FC that the FC is in the process of being live inserted or removed.

Abstract: A system for controlling staggered connection timing of an adapter module so that live insertion, or "hot swapping", may be performed with the adapter module, has a connector with staggered pins, i.e., some pins being longer than others for initial contact with mating pins of a mating connector. The system further has a latch for controlling the timing of the connection of the staggered pins. As an adapter module is inserted into a housing, the latch allows the adapter module to be in one of three positions: (1) an entirely disconnected position where none of the pins of the adapter module are connected to the pins of the housing connector; (2) a "stopped", or partially connected, position where the longer of the staggered pins are connected between the housing and adapter modules connectors; and (3) a "fully-engaged" position wherein all pins of the connectors are engaged.

Abstract: The invention is related to hot plugging of an electrical circuit (1) into a separate non-quiesced signal net (6) in an active system (7), such as a digital or analog bus. The inventive solution proposes the addition of a preconditioning network (4) to precondition the electrical circuit (1) to be hot plugged by partially precharging the parasitic input capacitances (C.sub.c, C.sub.e, C.sub.m) of the electrical circuit (1) before hot plugging. The precharging of the parasitic input capacitances serves to minimize transient effects on the active system (7).

Abstract: Apparatus for molding the sole of a shoe and the like to an upper comprises a pair of mold elements adapted to come together laterally and having peripheral edge portions for engaging the upper. Corresponding ends of the peripheral edge portions are configured for defining a gap therebetween where the mold elements join together. An edge portion of a pivoted blade member spans the gap when the mold elements come in contact.