Patents by Inventor John M. Morrison
John M. Morrison has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6931576Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods of providing heightened data integrity in a data processing system are disclosed. A data processing system may include a host computer system, an interconnect coupled to the host computer system, and a storage array coupled to the interconnect and configured to store data received from the host computer system over the interconnect. A data integrity device including at least one processor may be coupled to the interconnect. The data integrity device is configured to be enabled and disabled. If the data integrity device is disabled, the data processing system may provide a base level of error protection for the data. If the data integrity device is enabled, the processor is configured to perform a first data integrity operation on the data in order to provide a heightened level of error protection for the data.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2002Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: John M. Morrison, Joseph Sanzio
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Patent number: 6888785Abstract: In one embodiment, a storage device includes a controller, an integral storage medium that includes one or more stacks, where each stack includes multiple storage locations that are distributed throughout a portion of the volume of the integral storage medium, and an access mechanism that is configured to access the integral storage medium. The controller is configured to receive a command to write a unit of primary data to a first storage location. The controller is configured to generate a unit of redundant data corresponding to the unit of primary data and to control the access mechanism so that the unit of primary data is written to the first storage location in a first stack and the unit of redundant data is written to a second storage location within the integral storage medium.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2002Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: John M. Morrison
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Patent number: 6798956Abstract: Networks may include optical cables to transmit data between various devices in the network. Indicators positioned on or within optical cables may be used to identify cables that have been compromised during installation, movement and/or use of the cables. Indicators may reduce a network downtime by decreasing the time needed to identify compromised cables. In some embodiments, indicators may change color and/or emit light to indicate that an optical cable has been compromised.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: John M. Morrison
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Publication number: 20040146254Abstract: Networks may include optical cables to transmit data between various devices in the network. Indicators positioned on or within optical cables may be used to identify cables that have been compromised during installation, movement and/or use of the cables. Indicators may reduce a network downtime by decreasing the time needed to identify compromised cables. In some embodiments, indicators may change color and/or emit light to indicate that an optical cable has been compromised.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2002Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventor: John M. Morrison
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Patent number: 6687791Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and system for sharing a cache such as an on-chip L1 cache are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processing device includes a shared cache and a plurality of processors that are each coupled to the shared cache and each configured to store the result of a data integrity operation in the shared cache. Each of the processors performs the same data integrity operation on the same data to generate its result. Because the results are stored in the shared cache, a first processor may quickly access and operate on the results. In one embodiment, the first processor may perform a comparison operation or voting operation on the results stored in the shared cache.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: John M. Morrison
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Publication number: 20030142595Abstract: In one embodiment, a storage device includes a controller, an integral storage medium that includes one or more stacks, where each stack includes multiple storage locations that are distributed throughout a portion of the volume of the integral storage medium, and an access mechanism that is configured to access the integral storage medium. The controller is configured to receive a command to write a unit of primary data to a first storage location. The controller is configured to generate a unit of redundant data corresponding to the unit of primary data and to control the access mechanism so that the unit of primary data is written to the first storage location in a first stack and the unit of redundant data is written to a second storage location within the integral storage medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventor: John M. Morrison
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Publication number: 20030131197Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and system for sharing a cache such as an on-chip L1 cache are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processing device includes a shared cache and a plurality of processors that are each coupled to the shared cache and each configured to store the result of a data integrity operation in the shared cache. Each of the processors performs the same data integrity operation on the same data to generate its result. Because the results are stored in the shared cache, a first processor may quickly access and operate on the results. In one embodiment, the first processor may perform a comparison operation or voting operation on the results stored in the shared cache.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventor: John M. Morrison
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Publication number: 20030131291Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods of providing heightened data integrity in a data processing system are disclosed. A data processing system may include a host computer system, an interconnect coupled to the host computer system, and a storage array coupled to the interconnect and configured to store data received from the host computer system over the interconnect. A data integrity device including at least one processor may be coupled to the interconnect. The data integrity device is configured to be enabled and disabled. If the data integrity device is disabled, the data processing system may provide a base level of error protection for the data. If the data integrity device is enabled, the processor is configured to perform a first data integrity operation on the data in order to provide a heightened level of error protection for the data.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: John M. Morrison, Joseph Sanzio
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Patent number: 5187540Abstract: An optical system, for the remote determination of the position and orientation of a body in a frame of reference, e.g. a helmet within a cockpit of an aircraft, comprises co-operating light emitting means and light sensing means. At least three of one type of said co-operating means are located on the body and scanning optic means are arranged to scan the frame of reference with a pair of planar beams. The planes of the beams are inclined to each other and are arranged to provide a light path between the co-operating means. A signal processing means is operative to provide a signal indicative of the position and orientation of a body and a time during the scan of each respective beam in which the beam is coincident with each of the said means mounted on the body. In one embodiment three light sensing means are located on the body and the planar beams are beams of light from a light emitting means.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1991Date of Patent: February 16, 1993Assignee: GEC Ferranti Defence Systems LimitedInventor: John M. Morrison
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Patent number: 4651138Abstract: An intruder alarm system includes a number of sensors each of which comprises first and second series-connected resistances and a sensor switch connected in parallel with the first resistance. The first resistances of each sensor are different in value from one another, but their values are related in a known manner. The sensors are connected in series with one another by a connecting cable and to a constant current source. The voltage developed across the series-connected sensors is applied to a circuit arrangement operable to offset the effect of the total resistance of the second resistances of each sensor and of the connecting cable. An analogue-to-digital converter is responsive to the output of the circuit arrangement to deliver a digital output to an indicator which indicates the actuation of any sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1983Date of Patent: March 17, 1987Inventor: John M. Morrison
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Patent number: 4580138Abstract: Measurement-expressing apparatus for monitoring (n) switches, the state of each switch representing the state of a station, has a resistor in parallel with each switch, the (n) resistors having binary related resistances, a constant current is supplied to the parallel combinations of switches and resistors connected in series with each other, and signals each representative of the sum of the voltage drops within the series of parallel combinations are operated upon by an n-bit analogue-to-digital converter, the (n) outputs of the converter each being individually associated with a parallel combination, in each quantization period (t) of the converter, a signal is obtained on each converter output representative of one of the two possible states of the corresponding station, and signals of one form, provided on at least one output individually are accumulated in a counter over an interval (mt). The numbers accumulated by any counter in each of a plurality (p) of intervals (mt) are operated upon.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1983Date of Patent: April 1, 1986Assignee: Ferranti plcInventor: John M. Morrison
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Patent number: 4538177Abstract: Automatic equipment, in which each of a plurality of identical devices is positioned automatically to co-operate with processing means and/or test probes, has a TV camera considered as being arranged to move in a raster scan over each device, and to provide signals in response to detecting boundaries of an orthogonal pattern of device features. Initially, with a unique pattern of feature boundaries having been determined, and possibly by reference to the representation, provided by a display unit driven by the camera, of a manually, accurately, located device, there is caused to be generated, in each frame scan period, pairs of signals, individually corresponding to, and representative of a defined location for, a determined feature boundary, each signal representing a marker boundary as if detected by the camera.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1983Date of Patent: August 27, 1985Assignee: plc FerrantiInventor: John M. Morrison
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Patent number: 4392718Abstract: A liquid display device comprises two spaced electrodes each having a resistance characteristic such that a potential gradient may be developed across the electrode. A liquid crystal material is located between the two electrodes. Voltage supply means are provided which apply an alternating potential across each electrode, such that the two potentials are of the same frequency, and, preferably, in quadrature with one another.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1980Date of Patent: July 12, 1983Assignee: Ferranti Limited (now Ferranti plc)Inventor: John M. Morrison
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Patent number: 4389697Abstract: A circuit assembly has at least one component comprising a thin film module, or a discrete component, with leads extending therefrom, the assembly also including a substantially planar substrate supporting the component, and at least one connector with a block of electrical insulating material either adhering to or integral with the substrate, and with a plurality of connector pieces, secured to the block, co-operating with the leads, and comprising terminals of the circuit assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1981Date of Patent: June 21, 1983Assignee: Ferranti plcInventors: Melvyn R. Bell, John M. Morrison, Charles M. Stewart
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Patent number: 4292586Abstract: Testing of thin film modules is facilitated by employing predetermined test procedures, so that analysis of the results is facilitated; and the test signals are supplied to, and the corresponding output signals are supplied from, the module terminals, a predetermined interface printed circuit board being connected to these terminals for this purpose, and so that electrical and mechanical damage to the module is obviated during the test procedures.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1979Date of Patent: September 29, 1981Assignee: Ferranti LimitedInventors: Donald A. Longmuir, John M. Morrison