Abstract: Noise is reduced in a disk drive enclosure by using vibration damping materials on the inside surface of the enclosure. These materials and their placement on the inside surface of the enclosure reduce noise without thermally insulating the disk drive. A temperature controlled fan may be used to remove heat by convection while generating a minimum amount of noise. The connection between the disk drive and the external connector of the disk drive enclosure is made more reliable by using a printed circuit board instead of a cable. Because a printed circuit board has a fixed location and fixed layout, variability among disk drive enclosures can be minimized. Also, errors in manufacturing of the disk drive enclosure can be reduced. To facilitate the use of the disk drive in a stripe set, the disk drive enclosure has a set of mechanical interlocks that permit the enclosures to be stacked vertically.

Abstract: Noise is reduced in a disk drive enclosure by using vibration damping materials on the inside surface of the enclosure. These materials and their placement on the inside surface of the enclosure reduce noise without thermally insulating the disk drive. A temperature controlled fan may be used to remove heat by convection while generating a minimum amount of noise. The connection between the disk drive and the external connector of the disk drive enclosure is made more reliable by using a printed circuit board instead of a cable. Because a printed circuit board has a fixed location and fixed layout, variability among disk drive enclosures can be minimized. Also, errors in manufacturing of the disk drive enclosure can be reduced. To facilitate the use of the disk drive in a stripe set, the disk drive enclosure has a set of mechanical interlocks that permit the enclosures to be stacked vertically.

Abstract: An audio/video input/output (I/O) port apparatus for acquiring digital audio samples from one or multiple channels of input audio and synthesizing digital audio samples into one or multiple channels of output audio. The apparatus comprises a video I/O port, a frequency synthesizer, and an audio I/O port. The video I/O port generates a video-rate clock, and is configured to digitize input video into digital video, and to synthesize output video from digital video. The frequency synthesizer is configured to derive an audio sampling clock based on the video-rate clock. The audio I/O port is configured to sample input audio and convert it into digital audio samples according to the sampling clock, and to synthesize digital audio samples into output audio according to the sampling clock. The apparatus ensures that the video and audio data track together, both when inputting the information from an external source and when outputting the audio/video data streams.

Abstract: An audio/video input/output (I/O) port apparatus for acquiring digital audio samples from one or multiple channels of input audio and synthesizing digital audio samples into one or multiple channels of output audio. The apparatus comprises a video I/O port, a frequency synthesizer, and an audio I/O port. The video I/O port generates a video-rate clock, and is configured to digitize input video into digital video, and to synthesize output video from digital video. The frequency synthesizer is configured to derive an audio sampling clock based on the video-rate clock. The audio I/O port is configured to sample input audio and convert it into digital audio samples according to the sampling clock, and to synthesize digital audio samples into output audio according to the sampling clock. The apparatus ensures that the video and audio data track together, both when inputting the information from an external source and when outputting the audio/video data streams.

Abstract: An audio/video input/output (I/O) port apparatus for acquiring digital audio samples from one or multiple channels of input audio and synthesizing digital audio samples into one or multiple channels of output audio. The apparatus comprises a video I/O port, a frequency synthesizer, and an audio I/O port. The video I/O port generates a video-rate clock, and is configured to digitize input video into digital video, and to synthesize output video from digital video. The frequency synthesizer is configured to derive an audio sampling clock based on the video-rate clock. The audio I/O port is configured to sample input audio and convert it into digital audio samples according to the sampling clock, and to synthesize digital audio samples into output audio according to the sampling clock. The apparatus ensures that the video and audio data track together, both when inputting the information from an external source and when outputting the audio/video data streams.

Abstract: An oscillator including an oscillator input node for receiving an oscillator input analog signal, an oscillator output node for providing a train of output pulses having a frequency related to the magnitude of the input analog signal, a trigger gate component connected between the input node and the output node and having a low threshold and a high threshold, the gate component being in a path between the input and output without other active components and having a low input current in the range of 1 uA or less, a feedback switch connected in parallel to the trigger gate component and having a switch turn on threshold such that the switch is turned on to conduct current when the trigger gate is in one output state and is turned off when the trigger gate is in the other output state, and capacitance between a reference voltage and the input node so that the voltage at the input node ramps from one threshold to the other at a rate dependent on the input current.