Abstract: A method and implementing apparatus is provided which include a plurality of perceptible indicia devices which are mounted on an I/O drawer of a computer system server equipment rack. In the exemplary embodiment, the indicia devices include a light-emitting diode in combination with an alphanumeric display device. Various states of a system initialization process are indicated by different combinations of possible states of the LED and the display device such that the sequencing of a system initialization process can be traced by visual inspection of the status of the perceptible indicia devices.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a plurality of components, a power control network, processing resources, and a memory that contains initialization firmware. At system startup, the power control network initiates supply of power to the plurality of components and collects information regarding which components are supplied power. In addition, the initialization firmware initializes the plurality of components to establish a configuration. If an ambiguity in the configuration arises, the initialization firmware resolves the ambiguity utilizing the information collected by the power control network.

Abstract: A multitude of devices coupled to a processor are each given a location code, which is then displayed in proximity to each of the devices. Then, when the processor indicates an error within a particular device, the service person can easily find which device has the error by the displayed location code associated with the device.

Abstract: A visual acuity tester based on a personal computer is provided that is capable of displaying visual acuity test characters at varying sizes on a monitor. The visual acuity tester antialiases the test characters to overcome the effects of staircase distortion. Preferably, the visual acuity tester performs unweighted area sampling antialiasing. The visual acuity tester also centers the test characters relative to the pixel array of the monitor to improve the appearance of the test characters. The test characters can be centered relative to either the center of a pixel or the corner of a pixel (a pixel coordinate). Test characters can also be centered relative to a pixel center in one dimension and a pixel coordinate in the other dimension.

Abstract: In an automatic screw thread cutting machine having a clamping carriage for clamping an elongated workpiece, one end portion of which is to be provided with a screw thread, and a spindle coaxially arranged with a workpiece held by said clamping carriage and carrying at one end thereof facing the end portion of the workpiece a screw cutting tool and being driven over a stepdown gearing from a motor, an advancing mechanism for advancing the clamping carriage towards said spindle and including a rod connected to the carriage and having a pair of opposite smooth parallel friction surfaces and a friction wheel driven by the spindle and pressed against one of the friction surfaces while the other friction surface is engaged by a counter roll. The friction wheel is exchangeble against a friction wheel of different diameter to thereby change the speed of advancement of the carriage.

Abstract: An emptying apparatus for pasty materials is disclosed. The apparatus consists of a cylindrical container and means for stirring pasty materials in the container. The container is equipped with a spiral pump associated with an adjustable strip baffle along the vertical wall of the container wherein the baffle strip can be adjusted to vary the angle the baffle makes with the container wall. The spiral pump is connected with a suitable outlet means such as a pipe which may be provided with a closure means such as a stopcock and an overflow pipe to return material to the container when the closure means is closed.

Abstract: The apparatus has a transporting arrangement which is movable in a predetermined direction and workpiece gripping devices which grip a workpiece to be withdrawn in this direction from a machine tool. The gripping devices are movable with the transporting arrangement in the aforementioned direction and are also movable relative to the transporting arrangement in and opposite to this direction. A control device controls the relative movement between the gripping device and the transporting device.