Abstract: The present invention provides improved electrochromic layers, which comprise polymeric matrices with electrochromic solutions interspersed therein. Varying an electrical potential difference across a layer of the invention results in reversible variation in the transmittance of light across the layer because of electrochemical processes in the electrochromic solution of the layer. The invention further provides electrochromic devices, in which the electrochromic layers of the invention provide reversibly variable transmittance to light, and various apparatus in which the devices of the invention provide light-filtering or light-color modulation. Such apparatus include windows, including those for use inside and on the outside walls of buildings and in sunroofs for automobiles, and variable reflectance mirrors, especially rearview mirrors for automobiles.

Abstract: Disclosed are a storage controller, and a method of operating a storage controller, for interfacing between host systems and a storage devices system. The storage controller includes a first cluster including a first processor and a first cache, and a second cluster including a second processor and a second cache. The method comprises the step of directing data from the host systems through first and second data paths to the storage system. The first processor and cache are associated with the first data path, and the second processor and cache are associated with the second data path. Under one set of conditions, the controller enters a failover mode, wherein data directed to the first data path are routed to the second data path. Under another set of conditions, the controller deconfigures the first cache without entering the failover mode.

Abstract: An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system comprises a master control circuit and user input circuits for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of slave window control circuits coupled to the master control circuit, user input circuits and the variable transmittance windows. Each slave window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit and/or user input circuits. Also disclosed are novel methods for the manufacture of an electrochromic device used in variable transmittance windows. Novel structural features for improving heat transfer away from the windows, shielding the window from external loads, and improving the electrical performance of the windows are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochromic device including a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes at least one solvent, at least one anodic material, and at least one cathodic material, wherein the first and second substrates are substantially uniformly spaced apart by a spacing member comprising a non-polymeric material which substantially dissolves upon association with the at least one solvent.

Abstract: A method for storing customer data at a non-volatile storage (NVS) at a storage server. A track buffer is maintained for identifying first and second sets of segments that are allocated in the NVS. A flag in the track buffer identifies which of the first and second sets of segments to use for storing customer data for which a write request has been made. The customer data is stored in the NVS in successive commit processes. Following a power loss in the storage server, the NVS uses the track buffer information to identify which of the first and second sets of segments was involved in the current commit process to allow the current commit process to be completed.

Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly is disclosed that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is maintained in a parallel and spaced relation from the first substrate by means of a window frame and spacer. The window assembly further includes an electrochromic device mounted within the airtight chamber formed between the first and second substrates. Electrochromic device 22 may be mounted so as to provide an air chamber between first substrate 12, which is the external substrate, and electrochromic device 22. At least one of the chambers formed between substrates 12 and 14 and electrochromic device 22 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon. Also disclosed are novel methods for manufacture of an electrochromic device for incorporation into such a window assembly. A novel electrochromic device is also disclosed having electrical bus clips secured about the entire periphery of the electrochromic device.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for data tracking and, in particular, for facilitating failure management within an electronic data communication system. The apparatus includes a tracking module and an error analysis module. The tracking module stores an adapter identifier in a tracking array. The adapter identifier corresponds to a source adapter from which data is received. The error analysis module determines a source of a data failure in response to recognition of the data failure. The data failure may occur on a host adapter, a device adapter, a communication fabric, a multi-processor, or another communication device. The apparatus, system, and method may be implemented in place of or in addition to hardware-assisted data integrity checking within a data storage system.

Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; an anodic electroactive material; a cathodic electroactive material; wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a self-healing, cross-linked polymer matrix.

Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly is disclosed that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is maintained in a parallel and spaced relation from the first substrate by means of a window frame and spacer. The window assembly further includes an electrochromic device mounted within the airtight chamber formed between the first and second substrates. Electrochromic device 22 may be mounted so as to provide an air chamber between first substrate 12, which is the external substrate, and electrochromic device 22. At least one of the chambers formed between substrates 12 and 14 and electrochromic device 22 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon. Also disclosed are novel methods for manufacture of an electrochromic device for incorporation into such a window assembly. A novel electrochromic device is also disclosed having electrical bus clips secured about the entire periphery of the electrochromic device.

Abstract: Disclosed are a storage controller, and a method of operating a storage controller, for interfacing between host systems and a storage devices system. The storage controller includes a first cluster including a first processor and a first cache, and a second cluster including a second processor and a second cache. The method comprises the step of directing data from the host systems through first and second data paths to the storage system. The first processor and cache are associated with the first data path, and the second processor and cache are associated with the second data path. Under one set of conditions, the controller enters a failover mode, wherein data directed to the first data path are routed to the second data path. Under another set of conditions, the controller deconfigures the first cache without entering the failover mode.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing write processes in which a list of destination location identifiers for pending write operations is maintained in an array having an array pointer which identifies the next available entry of the array. In one embodiment, the array includes a stack of variable size. Adding a destination location identifier of a pending write operation increases the size of the stack. Removing a destination location identifier of a completed write operation reduces the size of the stack. A stack index may be incremented as write operation destination location identifiers are added and may be decremented as write operation destination location identifiers are removed from the stack.

Abstract: A method for storing customer data at a non-volatile storage (NVS) at a storage server. A track buffer is maintained for identifying first and second sets of segments that are allocated in the NVS. A flag in the track buffer identifies which of the first and second sets of segments to use for storing customer data for which a write request has been made. The customer data is stored in the NVS in successive commit processes. Following a power loss in the storage server, the NVS uses the track buffer information to identify which of the first and second sets of segments was involved in the current commit process to allow the current commit process to be completed.

Abstract: A method to rebuild an NVS image is disclosed. The method provides information to a first cluster of an information storage and retrieval system, and writes that information to a non-volatile storage device disposed in a second cluster. Upon losing utility power to all or part of the information storage and retrieval system, the method provides back-up power to a processor and a data cache, and determines if the information written to the second non-volatile storage device is accessible. If the information written to the second non-volatile storage device is accessible, then the method copies the image of that second non-volatile storage device to an external storage device. If the information written to said second non-volatile storage device is not accessible, then the method creates a virtual NVS image using the information disposed in a local data cache, and copies that virtual NVS image to an external storage device.

Abstract: A data storage control unit is coupled to one or more host devices and to one or more physical storage units, the storage control unit configured as a plurality of clusters. Each cluster includes cache memory and often non-volatile storage (NVS). The storage control unit receives and processes write requests from the host devices and directs that data updates be temporarily stored in the cache in one cluster and copied to the NVS of the other cluster. The data updates are subsequently destaged to the logical ranks associated with each cluster. During an initial microcode load (IML) of the storage controller, space in the cache and NVS of each cluster is allocated to buffers with the remaining cache and NVS space being allocated to customer data. After an IML has been completed, the size of the buffers become fixed and no further buffer allocation may occur.

Abstract: A method to initialize information disposed in an information storage and retrieval system comprising a data cache and one or more information storage media comprising a plurality of addresses. The method receives an initialization command, where that initialization command comprises a range of addresses and, optionally, an initialization pattern, where the plurality of addresses includes the range of addresses. The method forms and saves state information, where that state information includes the initialization pattern, and generates and saves a plurality of indicators, where that plurality of indicators includes an indicator for each track comprising the range of addresses. The method sets each of those indicators to a first value thereby indicating special handling, and provides an ending status signal, such that the receiving step, forming step, generating step, setting step, and providing step are performed substantially synchronously.

Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly is disclosed that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is maintained in a parallel and spaced relation from the first substrate by means of a window frame and spacer. The window assembly further includes an electrochromic device mounted within the airtight chamber formed between the first and second substrates. Electrochromic device 22 may be mounted so as to provide an air chamber between first substrate 12, which is the external substrate, and electrochromic device 22. At least one of the chambers formed between substrates 12 and 14 and electrochromic device 22 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon. Also disclosed are novel methods for manufacture of an electrochromic device for incorporation into such a window assembly. A novel electrochromic device is also disclosed having electrical bus clips secured about the entire periphery of the electrochromic device.

Abstract: A data storage control unit is coupled to one or more host devices and to one or more physical storage units, the physical storage units collectives configured as a plurality of logical storage ranks. The storage control unit receives and processes write requests from the host devices and directs that data updates be stored in a temporary storage. The data updates are subsequently destaged to the logical ranks. Write requests are processed at a predetermined rate relative to the rate at which destages are performed (destage mode or rate). The storage control unit evaluates workload conditions of the temporary storage and modifies the destage mode if the temporary storage is in danger of becoming backlogged or if an actual backlog is created, thereby applying a “throttle” to the host write requests. Thus, method, apparatus and program product are provided to dynamically modify a level of throttling whereby through-put of a host device is substantially maintained.