Abstract: A breathing monitor and method for monitoring respiration, such as for detecting apnea events and/or preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome includes one or more variable inductance sensors that are configured to stretch and contract in response to breathing movements. Stretching and contraction are associated with an inductance change in the sensors, which are configured to alter a frequency of an oscillator circuit. The breathing monitor may also comprise a transmitter circuit coupled to a microcontroller or other processor that analyzes the frequency changes and sounds an alarm in the event that breathing ceases for a predetermined time period. The breathing monitor and associated sensor circuitry can be secured to a garment to be worn by an infant or other subject to be monitored.

Abstract: An artificial neuron is formed from an input subcircuit, a capacitor free leaky integrator subcircuit, and an output switching subcircuit. The input subcircuit is configured to supply a pulsed input signal. The capacitor free leaky integrator subcircuit is configured to supply a parasitic capacitance and to utilize the parasitic capacitance to provide differing time constants for the rising and falling edges of an output signal produced in response to the pulsed input signal. The output switching subcircuit s configured to, upon receipt of a sufficient output signal from the capacitor free leaky integrator subcircuit, switch off the input subcircuit and to release a neuron firing signal.

Abstract: A leaky integrator is formed from a capacitor-free, non-linear delay resistor having a parasitic capacitance and a capacitor-free amplifier. The amplifier utilizes utilize the parasitic capacitance of the delay resistor to provide differing time constants for the rising and falling edges of an output signal produced in response to a pulsed input signal.

Abstract: A leaky integrator is formed from a capacitor-free, non-linear delay resistor having a parasitic capacitance and a capacitor-free amplifier. The amplifier utilizes utilize the parasitic capacitance of the delay resistor to provide differing time constants for the rising and falling edges of an output signal produced in response to a pulsed input signal.

Abstract: A storage system having a plurality of disks arranged in a RAID array with one of said disks being a replacement disk. A method and apparatus for restoring the contents of the replacement disk without interrupting concurrent access to the RAID array. An access request by a user application to a data block in the replacement disk results in regeneration and reconstruction of the accessed data block. In addition, the systematic reconstruction of data or parity blocks not yet accessed by the user application occurs by locating status bits associated with each data and parity block of the new disk.

Abstract: A data storage system using a RAID array and a logging process and apparatus that identifies a parity block that may not contain the proper parity for its associated data blocks and which prevents such inconsistent parity information from being used in the regeneration of unavailable data. A small fraction of the blocks of each disk are dedicated to storing parity metadata bits. The parity metadata is associated with the parity blocks and identifies whether or not each parity block contains the proper parity information for its associated data blocks or may contain invalid information. The data integrity of the RAID array is preserved by preventing the generation of undetected corrupt data.

Abstract: A servo loop controls an actuator and read head, the loop being responsive to training signals to cause the actuator to move the read head. An error signal is produced that indicates a less than optimum positioning action by the actuator. A compensating filter alters the servo loop's response to a training signal to cause the actuator to produce a more optimum positioning action, the filter exhibiting an initial value filter characteristic. A processor is responsive to a first training signal to alter the filter's initial characteristic value in a first direction to cause the filter to act upon the first training signal in accordance with the altered characteristic value, and is further responsive to a second training signal to alter the filter's initial characteristic in a second direction to cause said filter to act upon the second training signal in accordance with the altered characteristic value.

Abstract: A linear power supply is preregulated to compensate for variations in load and power line voltage. The inductance on the primary side of the power supply step down transformer is varied by a current controlled inductor to efficiently maintain the desired power supply output voltage. A variable current is supplied to the inductor by a d.c. power source under control of an integrator which monitors output voltage fluctuations. In one embodiment of the invention, a voltage selector is included for use with power supplies which provide more than one output voltage. This selector automatically selects the most heavily loaded output voltage for control of the inductor.