Abstract: A data storage domain is provided to determine a set of signal conditioning parameters for data being transmitted over smart cables in a data storage domain between an SAS switch and SAS expanders and among SAS expanders. A first expander interrogates any attached smart cables for cable persistent data and captures in a table the cable persistent data. One or more interfaces of the first expander are operated at a first data rate. The switch collects the captured cable persistent data and, in response, determines a set of signal conditioning parameters for data being transmitted on each attached smart cable. The set of signal conditioning parameters includes a first maximum data rate for each attached smart cable. The signal conditioning parameters are then set for each attached smart cable in accordance with the set of determined signal conditioning parameters, whereby the data storage domain is tuned for optimum signal transmission.

Abstract: An electronics component support assembly and an electronics system assembly employing the component support assembly are provided. The component support assembly includes a rotatable base support and a component connector assembly. The rotatable base support is sized to reside within an electronics enclosure and to operatively support multiple electronics components thereon. The component connector assembly is associated with the rotatable base support, and at least some electronics components of the multiple electronics components couple thereto when operatively supported by the rotatable base support. Rotation of the rotatable base support facilitates access to the multiple electronics components, and the component connector assembly allows for rotation of the rotatable base support with the multiple electronics components operatively supported on the rotatable base support.

Abstract: A data processing unit including a first active cooling device configured to respond to a first control signal and a second active cooling device configured to respond to a second control signal. The control signals may be any type of control signal suitable to control the operation of the first and second active cooling devices. The data processing unit also includes a first control function selectively capable of providing the first control signal and/or the second control signal, and a second control function selectively capable of providing the first control signal and/or the second control signal. Logic associated with the first and second control functions is included to determine which of the control functions will provide which control signal at a specific time. Logic and/or switching or isolation apparatus is also included to prevent both the first and second control functions from attempting to provide one of the control signals simultaneously.

Abstract: A multiple-master Inter Integrated Circuit (“I2C”) bus system includes a first master device including a first processing device within a first power boundary and a second master device including a second processing device within a second power boundary connected through a single I2C bus to one or more slave devices. The second master device utilizes a software algorithm or hardware component to detect or manage power up of the first power boundary. Additionally, the second master device includes a bus control algorithm that allows it, once initiated, to communicate with the connected slave device, to direct the first power boundary to activate or detect that the first power boundary has powered up, and to release the I2C bus. Once the first processor has initialized, the first master device acquires control of the I2C bus without arbitration or interference with the second master device.

Abstract: A method to convert a plurality of sectors from a first sector format to a second sector format is disclosed. The method provides (N) contiguous first sectors comprising a first sector format to a sector format conversion device which includes a buffer and a data queue, where those (N) first sectors comprise a first number of bytes, and determines that (M) contiguous second sectors, comprising a second sector format, comprise at least the first number of bytes. The method overlays the (i)th first sector onto part or all of the (j)th second sector, and enqueues the newly-overlain (j)th second sector. The method then transmits the newly-overlain (j)th second sector to a data storage device, and writes that (j)th overlain second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed to convert data from a first sector format to a second sector format. The sector format conversion device includes a processor, and microcode which causes the processor to overlay (N) first sectors having a first sector format onto (M) second sectors having a second sector format, where that sector format conversion device does not include an operating system comprising a user mode and a kernel mode.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to preserve data integrity during loss of power to an information storage and retrieval system. Applicants' method converts a plurality of sectors having a first sector format to a plurality of sectors having a second sector format. If a power failure warning is received during the sector format conversion process, the method prefetches the next second sector, overlays the next first sector onto part of all of that prefetched second sector, and saves the newly-written second sector before loss of utility power. After restoration of utility power to the information storage and retrieval system, Applicants' method writes that newly-written second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: A method to convert a plurality of sectors from a first sector format to a second sector format is disclosed. The method provides (N) contiguous first sectors to a sector format conversion device, where those (N) first sectors include a beginning first sector and a first number of bytes, and determines that (M) contiguous second sectors comprise at least the first number of bytes, where those (M) contiguous sectors include a beginning second sector and an ending second sector. The method overlays the beginning first sector onto the beginning second sector, and overlays the (i)th first sector onto part or all of the (j)th second sector. The method then transmits the newly-formed (j)th second sector to a data storage device, and writes that (j)th second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: A method to convert a plurality of sectors from a first sector format to a second sector format is disclosed. The method provides (N) contiguous first sectors to a sector format conversion device, where those (N) first sectors include a beginning first sector and a first number of bytes, and determines that (M) contiguous second sectors comprise at least the first number of bytes, where those (M) contiguous sectors include a beginning second sector and an ending second sector. The method overlays the beginning first sector onto the beginning second sector, and overlays the (i)th first sector onto part or all of the (j)th second sector. The method then transmits the newly-formed (j)th second sector to a data storage device, and writes that (j)th second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: A state machine is used to remove residual electric charge from a sense line and to sample the voltage of the sense line at multiple pre-determined times to determine the presence of a terminating capacitor and its value. Various values of capacitors identify discrete conditions. These discrete conditions may identify different types of plug-in cards or models of plug-in cards within a group type.