Abstract: A system for providing a signal indicating whether a processor is installed and providing improved voltage regulation. A contact is selected and isolated from an array of ground contacts and is further coupled with circuit for generating an INSTALL signal. A capacitor and pull up resistor coupled to a supply voltage, ground and the isolated contact form a signal line at a common node such that a circuit to ground is completed through the processor and the isolated contact when the processor is plugged in and a direct signal indication of the presence or absence of the processor is provided. Voltage sense lines of a Voltage Regulation Module (VRM) are coupled directly to processor contacts isolated from an existing voltage supply contacts coupled to the supply plane of a supply voltage within the circuit board providing improved regulation without adversely affecting power supply current capacity considerations.

Abstract: A bus configuration and associated termination for an Intel Slot 2 bus supporting communication for at least one Intel Pentium II Xeon processor. The Intel Slot 2 bus is configured in an in-line topology and includes a plurality of Intel Slot 2 bus connectors connected to the Intel Slot 2. A first plurality of bus terminators are electrically connected to a first end of the in-line Intel Slot 2 bus and a second plurality of bus terminators are electrically connected to a second end of the in-line Intel Slot 2 bus. The first and second plurality of bus terminators are constructed in accordance with termination specifications required by Intel on terminator cards which are inserted into unpopulated Intel Slot 2 bus connectors except that one end of the bus has the one hundred and fifty ohm pull-up resistor required by Intel replaced with an eighty two ohm pull-up resistor.

Abstract: A modularized computer chassis for housing multiple computer modules, such as a processor module, media storage module, an I/O module, and power supplies includes a housing divided generally into four regions, with each region configured for receiving one of the modules or power supplies. A single center pluggable midplane board is positioned in the middle of the housing such that each of the modules and power supplies can be interconnected through the single midplane board. The single center pluggable midplane board includes direct pluggable connectors which correspond to connectors on each of the modules and power supplies, such that each of the modules and power supplies are directly connected to the single pluggable midplane board, and no ribbon signal and power cables are needed for the connection. The direct connection between the single center pluggable midplane board and the modules and power supplies helps to minimize the height of the chassis, thereby saving valuable rack space.

Abstract: Control is switched from a first server to a second server in a fault tolerant system. The first and second servers are coupled with an expansion bus in an expansion box for communication with the expansion bus. An indication is provided to the second server to indicate the activity state of the first server. Communication between the first server and the expansion box is disabled if the indication indicates the first server is inactive. Communication between the second server and the expansion bus is disabled if the indication indicates that the first server is active. Communication between the second server is enabled if the indication indicates that the first server is inactive. The indication includes a heartbeat message transmitted periodically to the second server. The expansion bus includes a PCI bus.

Abstract: A sill cover article for automobiles and other vehicles which has a first, relatively rigid sill cover portion and a second, relatively flexible lower door sealing portion that is manufactured as a single component and can be attached to a vehicle in a single mounting operation. The sill cover article is preferably manufactured of two materials of different durometer which are coextruded to form a single component. The sill cover article or a portion thereof may be provided with various coatings and/or additives to provide the article with desired properties. For example, the lower door sealing portion may be provided with an ice-release agent to prevent ice from forming on a surface thereof. The sill cover article of the present invention provides a reduction in assembly time, inventory requirements and overall manufacturing costs of a vehicle.

Abstract: An animal tag assembly is disclosed having at least one relatively wide section along the length of the body of said tag, thicker than the body of said tag and containing a connector and optionally a washer to enable the tag to rotate. The body of the tag including edge beads is extruded from a powdered or finely divided compounded plasticized vinylchloride polymer insecticide releasing composition at temperatures below about 150.degree. C., preferably below about 125.degree. C., to provide a tag after extrusion with retention of at least about 90+% by weight of the migratory and volatile insecticide which is initially contained. The connector and washer, free of insecticide, are suitably compounded and molded from tough, impact resistant and relatively hard thermoplastics such as one of the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, polystryenes, polyvinyl acetals, rigid polyvinyl chlorides, nylons and poly alpha olefins.