Abstract: An ultrasonic welding system and a method are provided. The system includes an ultrasonic welding device and a controller that generates control signals for inducing the device to form a first weld joint. The system further includes a power adjusting unit having a desired output power level curve indicating desired power levels over time for obtaining a desired weld joint. The unit receives data from the controller indicating power levels when forming the first weld joint. The unit compares a power level output by the controller at a first time with an associated power level of the curve at the first time, and induces the controller to increase the power level at a second time if the power level output by the controller at the first time is less than the associated power level of the curve at the first time.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for improving scalability of a storage system. In one embodiment, a storage system comprising a stand-alone storage element that is reconfigurable to improve storage performance features of the storage system. The storage element comprises a plurality of disk drives, each configured for storing data. The storage element also comprises a storage controller communicatively adapted for coupling to a host computer system and configured for processing I/O requests received from the host computer system. The storage controller is also adaptable to interface with another storage controller added to the storage system. When adapted to communicate with the other storage controller, the storage controller of the stand-alone storage element can route the I/O requests to the other storage controller through a switching fabric.

Abstract: A circuit and special cable which allow a single DB9 connector to provide a standard RS-232 interface to a RAID controller in single RAID controller systems or to provide a controller-to-controller communication link for messaging, control and status signals when the special cable is used to interconnect two RAID controllers in a dual-active system.