International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Carlos Munoz-Bustamante

Daniel Edward McConnell

David Carroll Challener

Russell Speight VanBlon

Rod D Waltermann

Randall Scott Springfield

Joseph Michael Pennisi

Xin Feng

Gordon J Robbins

Douglas Warren Robinson

Yasushi Tsukamoto

Jerry William Pearce

Joel C Leininger

James W Davis

Ephraim D Starr

Fergal Clarke

One embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, at an electronic device, data; repurposing, using a processor, an output based on the data; and providing, using an output device of the electronic device, the repurposed output as a notification. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Virtual notifications

A device can include a processor; memory operatively coupled to the processor; a touchscreen display operatively coupled to the processor; a sensor operatively coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to render targets to the touchscreen display, receive, via the touchscreen display, pattern information associated with the targets, receive sensor information via the sensor, and transition the device from a locked state to an unlocked state based at least in part on stored pattern information, the received pattern information and the received sensor information.

Swipe mechanism

An approach is provided that, upon receiving a keyboard event, reduces a volume of an audio input channel from a first volume level to a lower volume level. After the volume of the audio input channel is reduced, the approach waits until a system event occurs, with the system event based at least in part on the occurrence of a nondeterministic event. The volume of the audio input channel is then increased from the lower volume level to a higher volume level when the system event occurs

Noise reduction during voice over IP sessions

Haptic feedback is used on a device to give a indications as to the location and/or function of user interface (UI) elements presented on the screen of the device.

Using haptic feedback on a touch device to provide element location indications

An apparatus and method are disclosed for separating print jobs. Print jobs may be separated by alternating between outputting entire print jobs in straight and askew orientations. Print jobs may also be separated by outputting jobs in a straight orientation and outputting a separator page between each print job in an askew orientation. In one embodiment, separator pages may be input from a specified input tray that may contain sheets of a different color than that used for print jobs.

Print job separation apparatus and method

A system and method for improved scroll mouse operation is presented. A user operates a computer mouse, which includes a scroll ring that functions as a middle mouse button. During operation, the user configures a scroll suppression manager to discard a particular number of scroll commands when the user moves the computer mouse's scroll ring. The user specifies a number of scroll commands to discard when the computer mouse's pointer location is positioned over particular mouse-over conditions, such as a web page link or a drop down menu. Once the scroll suppression manager has discarded the user-specified number of scroll commands, the scroll suppression manager processes subsequent scroll commands until the user stops scrolling or the user selects an object on the user's computer screen.

System and method for improved scroll mouse operation

An apparatus for broadcasting optical signals within an optoelectric computer network is disclosed. The optoelectric computer network includes multiple computers. Each of the computers includes a first fiber optic cable for sending optical signal beams and a second fiber optic cable for receiving optical signal beams. The apparatus for broadcasting optical signals within the optoelectric computer network includes a lens and a mirror array. The lens is capable of splitting an optical signal beam received from a first fiber optic cable of one of the computers into multiple optical signal beams. The mirror array, which is formed by an array of deformable mirrors, then individually directs each of the split optical signal beams to a respective second fiber optic cable of the selected remaining computers within the optoelectric computer network.

Method and apparatus for broadcasting optical signals within an optoelectric computer network

In a system having a multiplexed address/data bus, initiator and target devices on the bus use special three mode drivers to achieve fast back-to-back read operations without intervening turnaround cycles. These drivers have voltage, current and Hi-Z modes characterized by low output impedance, high output impedence and very high output impedance, respectively. During a first clock cycle, an initiator device places an address on the bus using voltage mode during the first phase of the clock cycle and current mode during second phase. During a second clock cycle, a target device places data on the bus using voltage mode during the first phase of the clock cycle and current mode during second phase. Because a high impedance current mode precedes a low impedance voltage mode, electrical contention problems are eliminated, even if two devices momentarily drive the bus to opposite logical states. Fast back-to-back write operations are also described.

Elimination of turnaround cycles on multiplexed address/data buses

A method and apparatus for switching optical signals within an optoelectric computer network is disclosed. The optoelectric computer network includes multiple computers. Each of the computers includes a first fiber optic cable for sending optical signal beams and a second fiber optic cable for receiving optical signal beams. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for broadcasting optical signals within the optoelectric computer network includes a prism and a mirror array. The prism is capable of splitting an optical signal beam from a first fiber optic cable of one of the computers into multiple optical signal beams. Each of the optical signal beams is of an unique frequency within a light spectrum. The mirror array, which is formed by an array of deformable mirrors, then individually directs each of the optical signal beams to a respective second fiber optic cable of the rest of the computers.

Method and apparatus for switching optical signals within an optoelectric computer network

A printed circuit board for coupling surface mounted optoelectric semiconductor devices within a computer system is disclosed. The printed circuit board includes at least one substantially planar surface. There are multiple electrically conductive sites located on the substantially planar surface for connection to a surface mounted semiconductor electronic device. The electrically conductive sites are also connected to electrical interconnects embedded within the printed circuit board. In addition, there are multiple optical pathways terminated at the substantially planar surface. A droplet of viscous fluid is placed at each of the optical pathways terminated at the substantially planar surface in order to provide better coupling between a surface mounted semiconductor optoelectric device and the printed circuit board.

Printed circuit board having fluid-linked optical pathways for coupling surface mounted optoelectric semiconductor devices

A printed circuit board for coupling surface mounted optoelectric semiconductor devices within a computer system is disclosed. The printed circuit board includes at least one substantially planar surface. There are multiple electrically conductive sites located on the substantially planar surface for connection to a surface mounted semiconductor electronic device. The electrically conductive sites are also connected to electrical interconnects embedded within the printed circuit board. In addition, there are multiple optical pathways terminated at the substantially planar surface for coupling a surface mounted semiconductor optoelectric device.

Printed circuit board for coupling surface mounted optoelectric semiconductor devices

An improved architecture for an optoelectric computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes an optical bus and an electrical bus. With this computer system, electrical devices are connected to the electrical bus and optoelectric devices are connected to the optical bus. Furthermore, a few optoelectric devices are utilized to provide communications between the optical bus and the electrical bus.

Printer circuit board for an optoelectric computer system

A method and apparatus for aligning surface mounted optoelectric devices on a printed circuit board are disclosed. An optical transmitter and an optical receiver are added to the surface mounted optoelectric device. Also, a fiber optic cable is embedded within a printed circuit board. The length of the fiber optic cable is at least equivalent to a distance between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver placed on the surface mounted optoelectric device. An orientation of the surface mounted optoelectric device is aligned on the printed circuit board such that an optical signal transmitting from the optical transmitter can be received by the optical receiver via the fiber optic cable.

Method and apparatus for aligning surface mounted optoelectric

A driver circuit includes both a conventional three state mode of operation and a five state operating mode. In the three state mode of operation, the output of the driver can be in logical 0 or logical 1 'voltage source' states, as well as a very high impedance state. In addition to these three states, the output of the driver in the five state mode of operation can also be in logical 1 and logical 0 'current source' states. The voltage source states are characterized by low output impedance (e.g., 30 Ohms), while the current source states are characterized by higher output impedance (e.g., 600 Ohms). The driver circuit is particularly useful for eliminating turnaround cycles on a multiplexed address/data bus. When coupled to such a bus, the clock line is used to select the voltage source mode during the first half of the clock cycle, and the current source mode during the last half of the clock cycle. Thus, two drivers that are coupled to the same line of the bus are prevented from being switched ON in the voltage source mode at the same time, which could otherwise occur momentarily during the transition from one clock cycle to the next.

Five state bus driver having both voltage and current source modes of

An extended PCI bus (100) accepts both standard 33 MHz (101-102) and extended 66 MHz (103-104) PCI I/O devices, and permits the intermixing and interoperability of both types of devices on the same bus. Each extended 66 MHz initiator device (103) includes a target memory (205) that is programmed at boot up to include a list of address ranges of all extended 66 MHz devices. Each extended 66 MHz device includes a clock multiplier (202) that generates an internal 66 MHz clock signal by doubling the 33 MHz bus clock frequency. This clock multiplier may be in the form of a simple edge detecting frequency doubler (FIG. 4), or a phase locked loop (FIG. 5) that can also provide for phase adjustments to alter the skew between the bus and internal clocks. To transfer data between two extended 66 MHz devices, an extended initiator device sends, during the address/control phase of the bus cycle, a fast read or write command to the extended target device over the C/BE lines of the bus. Subsequently during the data phase of the bus cycle, data is transferred over the bus at the 66 MHz rate using the 66 MHz internal clock signals.

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Carlos Munoz-Bustamante