Bus Expansion Or Extension Patents (Class 710/300)
  • Patent number: 8171194
    Abstract: An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Clark Schubert, Wang Chun Leung, Gregory T. Lydon, Scott Krueger, Paul Phillip Holden, John Archibald, Lawrence G. Bolton, Donald J. Novotney, John Benjamin Filson, David Tupman
  • Patent number: 8171176
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a SAS controller device that abstract access from one or more virtual machines operating on a host system to SAS physical devices connected to the SAS controller without a routing table for port-to-port messaging on the SAS controller. An embodiment may create a virtual expander for each physical port of the SAS controller and further create virtual ports within the virtual expanders to provide abstracted access to SAS physical devices for the virtual machines. The SAS physical devices may be replicated/cloned within the virtual ports. Each replicated/cloned SAS physical device may be assigned a unique SAS address for the SAS controller (i.e., unique for the SAS controller such that other replicates/clones on other virtual ports have a different SAS address).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Sayantan Battacharya, Lawrence J. Rawe, Edoardo Daelli
  • Patent number: 8171195
    Abstract: An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Clark Schubert, Wang Chun Leung, Gregory T. Lydon, Scott Krueger, Paul Phillip Holden, John Archibald, Lawrence G. Bolton, Donald J. Novotney, John Benjamin Filson, David Tupman
  • Patent number: 8171342
    Abstract: A device and method for outputting BIOS POST code, applied to a computer system. The device includes a basic input output system (BIOS), a transfer module and a video graphics array (VGA) connector. The BIOS generates a power-on self-test (POST) code using a low pin count (LPC) interface format. The transfer module receives the POST code and transfers the format of the POST code to a system management bus (SMBus) format. The VGA connector receives and outputs the POST code transmitted from the transfer module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Micro-Star Int'l Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Diablo Wu
  • Publication number: 20120102251
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus and/or a system of serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) domain access through a universal serial bus (USB) interface of a data processing device. A method includes communicatively coupling a serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) domain to the data processing device through the universal serial bus (USB) interface of the data processing device via an expander device. The method also includes accessing a SAS device of the SAS domain and/or the SAS domain through the USB interface of the data processing device via the expander device. The method further includes bridging through a firmware of the expander device between a USB command of the data processing device and a SAS command of the SAS domain to communicate between the data processing device and the SAS domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: SHASHI RANJAN, Gooty Bharat Kumar Reddy
  • Patent number: 8166337
    Abstract: Relating with board numbers of the boards mounted with the logic circuits and mounted places on the boards and in relation to log information to be collected from the logic circuits, analysis information describing information to be processed when the log information is generated, information of a condition for which the log information is to be valid, and information of a condition for which the log information is to be invalid are defined for analyzing failures using the analysis information based on the logic circuits. Upon the realization of the failure analysis based on the logic circuits, the analysis information further describes information of the priority of the log information to realize a thorough analysis of critical failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masato Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8161220
    Abstract: A system for enhancing universal serial bus (USB) applications comprises an upstream processor, a downstream processor and a main controller. The upstream processor accepts standard USB signals from a USB host and independently provides responses required by USB specification within the required time frame. The upstream processor also contains storage for descriptors for a device associated with this upstream processor. The main controller obtains the descriptors by commanding the downstream processor, and passes them to the upstream processor. The downstream processor connectable to USB-compliant devices accepts the USB signals from the USB-compliant devices and provides responses required by USB specification within the required time frame. The main controller interconnects the upstream and downstream processors, and provides timing independence between upstream and downstream timing. The main controller also commands the downstream processor to obtain device descriptors independent of the USB host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Vetra Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Jonas Ulenas
  • Publication number: 20120084478
    Abstract: Stacked die having vertically-aligned conductors and methods for making the same are disclosed for providing a non-volatile memory, such as flash memory (e.g., NAND flash memory), for use in an electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nir J. Wakrat, Nick Seroff, Anthony Fai
  • Publication number: 20120079136
    Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, a method for dynamically configuring a target device comprises receiving by one or more ports of a target device one or more initiator identifiers from one or more initiators. The method further comprises determining whether a plurality of ports received initiator identifiers from a common initiator. The method further comprises configuring the plurality of the ports to operate as a single, logical port if the plurality of ports received initiator identifiers from a common initiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Gary B. Kotzur, Chandrashekar Nelogal, John R. Sieber, Kevin T. Marks
  • Patent number: 8145814
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and apparatus for a configurable connector for Ethernet are provided. In this regard, a configurable Ethernet connector residing in an Ethernet enabled communication device may couple the communication device to one or more twisted pairs and enable communication of Ethernet frames over the twisted pair(s). Conductors of each of the twisted pairs may make contact with adjacent pins of the configurable Ethernet connector. A size and shape of the configurable Ethernet connector may enable housing of more than 48 instances of the configurable Ethernet connector in a single standard size one rack unit face plate of a 19-inch rack. The configurable Ethernet connector may provide mechanical and electrical indications that enable a device coupled to the configurable Ethernet connector to determine configuration information of the configurable Ethernet connector. The information may indicate presence or absence of various components within and/or on the configurable Ethernet connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Wael William Diab, Kevin Brown, Michael Johas Teener
  • Patent number: 8141094
    Abstract: Mechanisms to address the situation where an input/output (I/O) fabric is shared by more than one logical partition (LPAR) and where each LPAR can share with the other LPARs an I/O adapter (LOA) are provided. In particular, each LPAR is assigned its own separate address space to access a virtual function (VF) assigned to it such that each LPAR's perception is that it has its own independent IOA. Each VF may be shared across multiple LPARs. Facilities are provided for management of the shared resources of the IOA via a Physical Function (PF) of the IOA by assignment of that PF to an I/O Virtualization Management Partition (IMP). The code running in the IMP acts as a virtual intermediary to the VFs for fully managing the VF error handling, VF reset, and configuration operations. The IMP also acts as an interface to the PF for accessing common VF functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron C. Brown, Douglas M. Freimuth, Renato J. Recio, Steven M. Thurber
  • Patent number: 8135891
    Abstract: A method, system, and connector interface for transferring status information between a media player and an accessory. The method includes determining, by the accessory, when a button event occurs; and transmitting, by the accessory, at least one button status command to the media player, where the one or more button status commands comprise a context-specific button status command and at least one command associated with a particular media type. According to the method and system disclosed herein, the media player and accessory may utilize a plurality of commands in a variety of environments such as within a connector interface system environment to facilitate the transfer of status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Lydon, Lawrence G. Bolton, Emily C. Schubert, Jesse Lee Dorogusker, Donald J. Novotney, John B. Filson, David Tupman
  • Publication number: 20120059964
    Abstract: A method of providing high density expansion of a USB network, the method comprising: attaching a plurality of USB hubs to adjacent slots in a PXI instrumentation chassis; configuring one of the USB hubs as a primary USB Hub; connecting an upstream port of the primary USB Hub to a USB network; configuring a first downstream port of the primary USB Hub to communicate across a first PXI Local Bus to a first adjacent USB Hub of the USB Hubs other than the primary USB Hub, the first adjacent USB Hub being adjacent to the primary USB Hub; configuring a plurality of other downstream ports of the primary USB Hub to provide expansion of the primary USB Hub; connecting an upstream port of the first adjacent USB Hub to the first PXI Local Bus, wherein the first PXI Local Bus is in the direction of the primary USB Hub; configuring a first downstream port of the first adjacent USB Hub to communicate across a second PXI Local Bus to a second adjacent USB Hub of the USB Hubs other than the primary USB Hub, the second adjac
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: CHRONOLOGIC PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: Peter Graham Foster
  • Patent number: 8131882
    Abstract: A method for expanding input/output in an embedded system is described in which no additional strobes or enable lines are necessary from the host controller. By controlling the transitions of the signal levels in a specific way when controlling two existing data or select lines, an expansion input and/or output device can generate a strobe and/or enable signal internally. This internal strobe and/or enable signal is then used to store output data or enable input data. The host controller typically utilizes software or firmware to control the data transitions, but no additional wires are needed, and no changes are needed to existing peripheral devices. Thus, an existing system can be expanded when there are no additional control lines available and no unused states in existing signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Schuman Assets Bros. LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Waller Melvin
  • Publication number: 20120054396
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a SAS controller device that abstract access from one or more virtual machines operating on a host system to SAS physical devices connected to the SAS controller without a routing table for port-to-port messaging on the SAS controller. An embodiment may create a virtual expander for each physical port of the SAS controller and further create virtual ports within the virtual expanders to provide abstracted access to SAS physical devices for the virtual machines. The SAS physical devices may be replicated/cloned within the virtual ports. Each replicated/cloned SAS physical device may be assigned a unique SAS address for the SAS controller (i.e., unique for the SAS controller such that other replicates/clones on other virtual ports have a different SAS address).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Sayantan Bhattacharya, Lawrence J. Rawe, Edoardo Daelli
  • Publication number: 20120054397
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device having a plurality of hardware interfaces is disclosed. The network device includes a central processing unit and a main circuit board. The main circuit board has expansion slots that receivably connect corresponding secondary circuit boards to the main circuit board. The main circuit board also has sensors for detecting predetermined parameters. A voltage regulator is operative to regulate one or more particular expansion slots, in response to detection of a predetermined parameter associated with respective slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SmartSynch, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Melvin, JR., Robert B. Seal, Phillip Warren, Edward G. Howard
  • Patent number: 8127155
    Abstract: A wireless power adapter that mounts to the docking station port of a portable computer, such as a laptop computer, notebook computer or tablet computer. The wireless power adapter includes a docking port electrical connector selected to interface with the pre-existing docking port electrical connector on the portable computer. The adapter docking port electrical connector includes power pins to connect with the pre-existing power pins of the portable computer docking port electrical connector. The wireless power adapter may include an inductive secondary to wirelessly receive power from an inductive primary. The wireless power adapter may include a mechanical connector that interfaces with the pre-existing docking station mechanical connector on the portable computer. The present invention may also include a remote inductive power supply having a base adapted to support the laptop and adapter combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: David W. Baarman, Joshua K. Schwannecke, Matthew J. Norconk
  • Publication number: 20120047277
    Abstract: This disclosure describes devices, systems and techniques relating to a dongle device that is designed to provide broadcast video capabilities to an electronic device. In one example, a dongle device is configured to communicatively couple to an electronic device, wherein the dongle device comprises a multimedia receiver that receives a broadcast that includes multimedia data, and a web server that communicates the multimedia data to a web browser of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ron Keidar, Igor Malamant, Yitzhak Sabo, Tomer Rafael Ben-Chen
  • Patent number: 8120418
    Abstract: A large-scale integrated circuit according to the present invention includes a plurality of functional blocks for independently performing a signal processing operation, and a selection controlling circuit for generating a first control signal to select one of the plurality of functional blocks, in which the selection controlling circuit includes a control signal generating circuit for generating a second control signal for stopping the operation of its circuit, and the selection controlling circuit generates the first and the second control signals by a command from a different control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Kii
  • Patent number: 8116814
    Abstract: A mobile communications terminal using a multi-functional socket and a method thereof, the mobile communications device comprising a connector capable of connecting the mobile communications device to at least one external device for establishing an electrical connection between the at least one external device and the mobile communications device; a switching unit; and a controller cooperating with the connector and the switching unit to perform, sending and/or receiving at least one signal with respect to the at least one external device via at least one dedicated path according to at least one identification signal; and generating a control signal to control the at least one signal, wherein the at least one signal comprises at least one of a power signal and data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong-Hum Lee, Seong-Cheol Lee, Sung-Il Ha, Sang-Chul Shin
  • Patent number: 8112568
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for detecting the presence of a cable in a connector. The system may comprise one or more of the following features: (a) a first circuit contact; (b) a second circuit contact; (c) a first capacitive element; (d) an electrical ground; (e) a voltage source; and (f) a logical output. The second circuit contact may be connected to ground. The capacitive element may be driven to ground by connection of the first and second circuit contacts to corresponding cable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Ely, Mark Lipford, George Feltovich, Robert Clark
  • Patent number: 8108567
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing serialized HDMI data from an HDMI source to an HDMI sink. An HDMI transmitter may include inputs including control inputs, a deserializer, and a parser. The inputs may receive serialized HDMI data from an HDMI data source. A deserializer may deserialize the serialized HDMI data received on each of the respective inputs and outputting parallel data for each of the inputs. A parser may parse the parallel data output from the deserializer from each of the respective inputs into serial video data at a first clock rate and audio data at a second clock rate. Control inputs of the transmitter may be set to a first mode in which from the deserializer is caused to bypass the parser, and the parallel data is output from the HDMI transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Willibald Bohm
  • Publication number: 20120023278
    Abstract: A device is provided including a first SAS expander coupling a SAS initiator and the first port of a SAS target and a second SAS expander coupling the SAS initiator and the second port of the SAS target. The first SAS expander notifies the SAS initiator of a virtual expander address instead of its SAS address and notifies the SAS initiator of a virtual target port address instead of a SAS address of the first port. The second SAS expander notifies the SAS initiator of the virtual expander address instead of its SAS address, and notifies the SAS initiator of the virtual target port address instead of a SAS address of the second port such that the SAS initiator recognizes a single SAS expander coupled to a wide port of the SAS initiator and that the SAS target is connected to the single SAS expander through a single port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Jinno, Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Yoshihiko Terashita
  • Publication number: 20120017019
    Abstract: The in-vehicle display device includes a central information display device 10, an extension device 20, and an individual functional device 30 formed separately from the central information display device 10. The individual functional device 30 includes a storage device for storing application software to execute the function of the central information display device 10. A CPU for executing the application software may be in the central information display device 10, the extension device 20, or the individual functional device 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hitoshi Inaba, Koji Shimoda
  • Patent number: 8099630
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method, system and computer program product for determining hardware diagnostics during initial program loading (IPL). A space is allocated for a diagnostics hardware table storing hardware identifications corresponding to hardware to be tested. A hardware monitor function detects new and/or defective hardware. Hardware can be manually selected. A runtime diagnostics detects defective hardware. The hardware identifications corresponding to the new, failing, and/or selected hardware are added to the diagnostics hardware table. The hardware identification to be tested is acquired during the building of a system Hardware Objects Model (HOM). A diagnostics flag is set within HOM according to the diagnostics hardware table. Diagnostics are performed per HOM diagnostics flag indication. The diagnostics table is cleared, and the operating system is run. At system runtime, diagnostics code monitors for runtime error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Y. Lim
  • Patent number: 8099536
    Abstract: An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Clark Schubert, Wang Chun Leung, Gregory T. Lydon, Scott Krueger, Paul Phillip Holden, John Archibald, Lawrence G. Bolton, Donald J. Novotney, John Benjamin Filson, David Tupman
  • Patent number: 8095715
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing host bus adapter (HBA) management features for Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) based HBAs produced by different vendors use a standard interface. A virtual SCSI target is created to emulate each HBA in a system, representing the HBA as a logical unit. Standard commands specified for logical units are used by an HBA device driver to perform HBA management operations. The standard commands may be used to access HBA management features for any HBA regardless of the vendor. Therefore, the HBA communication interface is standardized for HBA devices, permitting efficient access regardless of the operating system or HBA vendor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Overby
  • Publication number: 20120005388
    Abstract: An exemplary high speed data storage system includes hard disks, a first control panel, a second control panel and a midplane interconnected between each of the first and second control panels and the hard disks. Each of the first and second control panels includes a control chip and a connector. First and second printed circuit wires corresponding to the hard disks are layered on the first and second control panels for electrically connecting the control chip with the connector, respectively. The first printed circuit wires of the first control panel and the second printed circuit wires of the second control panel are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other, and an order of stacking circuit layers of the first printed circuit wires of the first control panel is the reverse of an order of stacking of circuit layers of the second printed circuit wires of the second control panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Chuan HSIEH, Chien-Hung LIU, Yu-Chang PAI
  • Publication number: 20120005389
    Abstract: A system memory includes a memory hub controller, a memory module accessible by the memory hub controller, and an expansion module having a processor circuit coupled to the memory module and also having access to the memory module. The memory hub controller is coupled to the memory hub through a first portion of a memory bus on which the memory requests from the memory hub controller and memory responses from the memory hub are coupled. A second portion of the memory bus couples the memory hub to the processor circuit and is used to couple memory requests from the processor circuit and memory responses provided by the memory hub to the processor circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph M. Jeddeloh
  • Patent number: 8090889
    Abstract: A mother board is disclosed. The mother board includes a first processor and a controlling module. A second processor is electrically coupled to the mother board. The controlling module includes a utilization ratio comparing unit and a controlling unit. The utilization ratio comparing unit is configured for comparing a current utilization ratio of the first processor with a predetermined first utilization ratio, and comparing a current utilization ratio of the second processor with a predetermined second utilization ratio. The controlling unit is configured for controlling the first processor and the second processor to process data together when the current utilization ratio of the first processor is lower than the predetermined first utilization ratio and the current utilization ratio of the second processor is higher than the predetermined second utilization ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hong Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kim-Yeung Sip
  • Publication number: 20110320666
    Abstract: A system for implementing non-standard input/output (I/O) adapters in a standardized I/O architecture, comprising an I/O hub communicatively coupled to an I/O bus and a plurality of I/O adapters, the I/O hub including logic for implementing a method comprising receiving a request from a requester to perform an operation on one of the plurality of I/O adapters. The method further comprising determining that the request is in a format other than a format supported by the I/O bus, determining that the requester requires a completion response for the request, transforming the request into the format supported by the I/O bus, transmitting the request to the I/O adapter, receiving the completion response from the I/O adapter, the completion response comprising an indicator that the request has been completed, the completion response in the format supported by the I/O bus and transmitting the completion response to the requester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gregg, David F. Craddock, Eric N. Lais
  • Publication number: 20110320653
    Abstract: A system for implementing non-standard input/output (I/O) adapters in a standardized I/O architecture, comprising an I/O hub communicatively coupled to an I/O bus and a plurality of I/O adapters at I/O adapter addresses, the I/O hub including logic for implementing a method comprising receiving requests from the plurality of I/O adapters, storing the I/O adapter addresses of a requester along with their corresponding target recipient addresses and operation codes, receiving a response from a responder, the response indicating that a request has been completed, determining that the response is in a format other than a format supported by the I/O bus, transforming the response into the format supported by the I/O bus, locating a stored I/O adapter address having a corresponding target recipient address that matches the responder address and a corresponding operation code that matches the responder operation code, and transmitting the response to the stored I/O adapter address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric N. Lais, David F. Craddock, Thomas A. Gregg
  • Patent number: 8086774
    Abstract: A networking apparatus electrically connectable with a removable device and an external device through a network is provided. The networking apparatus includes a removal instruction receiving unit to receive a disconnection instruction to electrically disconnect the removable device from the networking apparatus, an approval inquiry transmission unit to transmit an inquiry for approval for the removal of the removable device to the external terminal device, an approval receiver unit to receive the approval for removal from the external terminal device, a connection control unit to control electrical connection and disconnection between the removable device and the networking apparatus, and a disconnection unit to electrically disconnect the removable device from the networking apparatus based on the control of the connection control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Ohara
  • Patent number: 8086773
    Abstract: This disk array subsystem includes a data input/output unit for inputting and outputting data in and from the network, a connecting unit for connecting the data input/output unit and a plurality of storage apparatuses, and a control unit for controlling the input and output of data in and from the network. The control unit includes a logical link setting unit for zoning at least one or more physical links among a plurality of physical links for inputting and outputting data between the data input/output unit and the connecting unit, or between the connecting unit and the connecting unit into at least one or more logical links, and setting a plurality of logical links to one physical link; and a link unit for simultaneously multiplexing the data to a plurality of the logical links set with the logical link setting unit, and linking the data to the physical link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8086777
    Abstract: A multimedia system includes a portable device, a multimedia expansion apparatus and a second display. The portable device further includes a main body and a first display coupling with the main body, in which the main body has a first multimedia module and a switch module. The multimedia further includes an expansion port for coupling the portable device, a multimedia switch circuit, a plurality of signal output ports and a power control circuit for energizing the expansion port, the multimedia switch circuit and the signal output ports. The second display is coupled with one of the signal output ports. The switch module forwards a multimedia signal of the main body to one of the first multimedia module and the multimedia switch circuit, and the power control circuit is to terminate power output to while the portable device is separated from the expansion port of the multimedia expansion apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mou-Ming Ma, Li-Chih Hsieh, Min-Yu Chou, Yih-Neng Lin, Chun-Kun Lan, Cheng-Hao Huang
  • Patent number: 8082376
    Abstract: An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Clark Schubert, Wang Chun Leung, Gregory T. Lydon, Scott Krueger, Paul Phillip Holden, John Archibald, Lawrence G. Bolton, Donald J. Novotney, John Benjamin Filson, David Tupman
  • Patent number: 8078776
    Abstract: A connector interface system for a communication device is disclosed. The interface includes a docking connector. The docking connector includes first make/last break contacts that minimize internal damage to the internal electronics. The docking connector also includes specific keying arrangement to prevent noncompliant connectors from being plugged in, and thereby minimizes potential damage to the multi-communication device. The connector interface system also includes a remote connector which provides for the ability to output audio, input audio, provides I/O serial protocol, and to provide an output video. Embodiments of the present invention allow for a standard headphone cable to be plugged in but also for special remote control cables, microphone cables, video cables could be utilized in such a system. The connector interface system also includes a serial protocol to control device features. These controls help a user sort and search for data more efficiently within the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Novotney, John B. Filson, David Tupman
  • Patent number: 8078335
    Abstract: A storage system includes a housing, a cooling unit cooling the interior of the housing, and a plurality of control units adapted to control the cooling unit. The control units each include a mount state acquisition unit acquiring a mount state of the control unit in the housing, an operation state acquisition unit acquiring an operation state of the cooling unit, and a determining unit determining a provisional main control unit, from among the plurality of control units, that is operable to control the entire cooling unit based on information acquired from the mount state acquisition unit and the operation state acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shinnosuke Matsuda, Takanori Ishii
  • Publication number: 20110292597
    Abstract: A modular processing module is provided. The modular processing module comprises a set of processing module sides. Each processing module side comprises a circuit board, a plurality of connectors coupled to the circuit board, and a plurality of processing nodes coupled to the circuit board. Each processing module side in the set of processing module sides couples to another processing module side using at least one connector in the plurality of connectors such that, when all of the set of processing module sides are coupled together, the modular processing module is formed. The modular processing module comprises an exterior connection to a power source and a communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Carter, Wael R. El-Essawy, Elmootazbellah N. Elnozahy, Wesley M. Felter, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Thomas W. Keller, JR., Karthick Rajamani, Juan C. Rubio, William E. Speight, Lixin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110296070
    Abstract: A motherboard includes a main board, a CPU seat, and at least one CPU expansion interface. The first CPU seat is seated on the main board. The at least one CPU expansion interface is formed on the main board abutting the first CPU seat for providing an expansion accessing terminal to add another CPU to the motherboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: FU-CHIAO SHIH, TSUNG-KUEL LIAO, TE-CHUNG KUAN
  • Publication number: 20110296071
    Abstract: A blade server and a method for auto-assigning a unique communication address for a blade server system. The blade server system includes a plurality of blade servers and a mainboard with a plurality of slots. The plurality of blade servers is received in the mainboard operating in the blade server system. The blade server includes at least one processor, a memory and a bus. The blade server connects the memory to the at least one processor by the bus and assigns a unique slot identification to the receiving slot. The blade server detects the unique slot identification of receiving slot of the mainboard. Then, the blade server assigns the unique communication address to the memory of the blade server according to the unique slot identification of the receiving slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: MING-YUAN HSU
  • Patent number: 8069293
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system allowing a flexible upgrade of a computer system (e.g. server) to a high-speed network connection comprises base configuration motherboard or network card including a set of low-speed (e.g. 1 Gbps Ethernet) media access controllers (MACs) each connected to a low-speed physical controller (PHY), and a set of high-speed (e.g. 10 Gbps Ethernet) MACs. An expansion card including high-speed PHYs of choice can be connected by an end user to the base configuration motherboard or network card. A flow classifier classifies data sent/received over both high-speed and low-speed ports, and a single driver may control both high- and low-speed ports. One or both of the motherboard and/or expansion card are configured according to a detected type (e.g. physical layer standard, vendor) of expansion card connected to the motherboard and/or type of physical medium connected to the expansion card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: QLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Rogan, Vikram Karvat, Govind Kizhepat
  • Patent number: 8069292
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for data processing and virtualization. The method and apparatus are configured to receive communications, separate a command communication from a data communication, parallel process the command communication and the data communication, generate at least one virtual command based on the command communication, and generate virtual data according to the at least one virtual command. The apparatus can comprise a parallel virtualization subsystem configured to separate data communications from command communications and to parallel process the command communications and the data communications, to generate virtual commands and to generate virtual data according to a virtual command, and a physical volume driver coupled with the parallel virtualization subsystem, wherein the physical volume driver receives the virtual data and configures the virtual data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Dynamic Network Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Powell, Randall Brown, Stephen G. Finch
  • Patent number: 8061614
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for illuminating a subject using a light pipe that transmits light from a source, such as an LED ring illuminator to an outlet that directs the light appropriately as either bright field illumination, dark field illumination or both. The light pipe can include concentric cylinders, typically with a bright field illuminator nested within a dark field illuminator. The tip of the dark field illuminator may be angled so as to internally reflect light inwardly toward the central optical axis of a camera at a low angle. The tip can be located near the focal plane of the camera for the desired field of view. The field of view of the camera sensor can be modified to reject data outside of a illumination field of a particular shape. This illumination field can be created by shaping the light pipe in a predetermined form that projects the modified illumination field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment Corporation
    Inventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesh Nadabar
  • Patent number: 8064194
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a light source configured to emit light indicative of a disk drive status. A disk drive status light guide system for a disk drive also includes a first light pipe configured and dimensioned to mechanically couple to the disk drive and configured to directly receive and guide light emitted by the light source, and a second light pipe separate from the first light pipe, the second light pipe configured to receive and guide light from the first light pipe to a status lens visible to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Wally Szeremeta
  • Patent number: 8065456
    Abstract: An advanced processor comprises a plurality of multithreaded processor cores configured to support a plurality of software generated read or write instructions for interfacing with a star topology serial bus interface. The multiple-core processor has at least one of an internal fast messaging network or an interface switch interconnect configured to link the processor cores together such that each processor core has a data pathway to each of the other processor cores without going through memory. The fast messaging network or interface switch is also configured to be operably coupled to the star topology serial bus interface. In one aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the fast messaging network connects to a high-bandwidth star-topology serial bus such as a PCI express (PCIe) interface capable of supporting multiple high-bandwidth PCIe lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: NetLogic Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Julianne Jiang Zhu, David T. Hass
  • Publication number: 20110276738
    Abstract: Provided is a general-purpose interface port that may interface with a sensor board including multiple types of sensor device drivers and download a sensor device driver from the sensor board, and a sensor node that may recognize a type of sensor included in the sensor board using the downloaded sensor device driver, the sensor node including a micro control unit that may process sensing data received from the sensor board, thereby providing a plug and play function between a micro control unit of a sensor node and a sensing unit including a sensor board in a Ubiquitous Sensor Network (USN) or a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Se Han KIM, Kyo Hoon SON, Nae Soo KIM, Cheol Sig PYO, Ho Yong KANG, Hoon JEONG, Seong Bae EUN
  • Publication number: 20110271013
    Abstract: In an input device, a controller for controlling an input portion and acquiring data is connected to a bus. The bus can be connected with an external expansion device via an expansion connector. The connection of the bus from the expansion connector to the controller is switched on and off by a switcher. Data acquired from a sensor having a function equivalent to that of the external expansion device is transmitted to the controller via the bus by a sensor controller which is connected to each of a side of the controller and a side of the expansion connector of the bus without interposing the switcher. The sensor controller switches the connection of the switcher off when an access to itself is made from the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Susumu INOUE, Haruki Tojo
  • Publication number: 20110271025
    Abstract: A computer motherboard includes a printed circuit board which includes a central processing unit (CPU) socket and a group of memory slots. The group of memory slots includes an in-line type memory slot and a surface mounted device (SMD) type memory slot. The in-line type memory slot includes a number of plated through holes. The SMD type memory slot is set between the in-line type memory slot and the CPU socket. The through holes of the in-line type memory slot are connected to the CPU socket through traces, pads of the SMD type memory slot are connected to corresponding through holes of the in-line type memory slot having the same pin definition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YUNG-CHIEH CHEN, CHENG-HSIEN LEE, SHOU-KUO HSU, SHEN-CHUN LI, HSIEN-CHUAN LIANG, SHIN-TING YEN
  • Patent number: 8051217
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing an extensible information handling system (IHS) bus implemented on predetermined channels of a digital video interface. IHS video signal information is multiplexed with IHS bus information by a host multiplexer for transmission across a digital video connector. The multiplexed IHS video signal and IHS bus information is received by a display multiplexer, where it is demultiplexed. Demultiplexed IHS video signal information is received by a video interface receiver, where it is used to generate an image on a digital display. Demultiplexed IHS bus information is received by a host bus interface transmitter/receiver, where it is used to support peripheral devices attached to the digital display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Edgar Goodart, Shuguang Wu