International Business Machines Corporation

Other

Edward Joseph Pawlowski

Robert George Emberty

Craig Anthony Klein

George W Brock

Donald Eugene Denning

Robert N Hyland

Frank B Shelledy

David Dale McBride

Ricardo R Stone

Kenneth Glenn Day

Felix J Misewich

A self-healing coupler for a serially linked device that is serially coupled to other devices. The serially linked device has a communication input and a communication output. When a break occurs between a first serially linked device and other devices, as indicated by a lack of communication output from the first serially linked device, the self-healing coupler by-passes the break in the first serially linked device to maintain communication between the other devices. The invention is particularly suited to maintaining communication to serial Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) storage devices.

Self-healing coupler for a serial raid device

Disclosed are a switching system and method for a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI). The SCSI has a plurality of ports coupled to devices having differing priorities including a highest priority (initiator) and lower priorities (targets). The present invention interconnects a plurality of the highest priority initiator devices to the lower priority target devices. A plurality of analog switches are each coupled to one of the initiator device ports and to the lower priority target device ports, preferably on a singular target bus, for selectively interconnecting the coupled initiator device to the lower priority target device ports. A controller is coupled to the initiator devices and to the plurality of analog switches, and is responsive to requests for connection from the initiator devices for arbitrating amongst the initiator devices to operate the analog switches to interconnect only one of the initiator device ports to the lower priority target device ports.

Switching multi-initiator SCSI devices to a singular target bus

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an accessor device to magnetically hold a stored item while the item is transported within the system. To sense the presence of a magnetically attractable label on the item, the device generates a pulsed signal having a first strength. The reluctance of the magnetic field is compared with a base value; if the comparison indicates that a label is present, the device generates another pulsed signal having a greater strength to 'lock' the item against the accessor. The device then generates another pulsed signal having a reduced strength to maintain and hold the item against the accessor during transportation. Less power is used and, therefore, less heat generated.

Apparatus and method for sensing and holding an item

This invention relates to rotating saw alignment devices and methods and more particularly to devices and methods which facilitate the proper alignment of radial arm saws, and more specifically to a very simple device (10), used in conjunction with a carpenter's square and a writing instrument, with a flange (50) containing an extended section (60) used as a writing instrument guide, which in use can align the fore and aft edges of the saw blade, and a plurality of auxiliary flanges (30),(40), used to align the saw blade perpendicular to the table. The alignment device can also be used to aid in replacement and alignment of the saw table and check the trueness of the saw blade retainers and motor arbor.

Radial arm saw alignment device, and method of alignment

A magnetic head assembly useful as a write head is formed with a ferrite substrate, having a recessed channel on one surface in which a conductive coil is deposited, and a ferrite closure having a planar surface that is joined to the substrate surface to establish a transducing gap and to enclose the recessed coil. In operation, pulsed write current is applied to the write head and a significant reduction in Joule heating is realized. A low resistance substrate is employed to provide a high saturation flux density.

Magnetic head assembly

Signal peaks are identified by measuring the slopes on each side of a signal peak. Each slope measurement is linearized to ascertain a slope angle. Both linearized portions and slope angles are compared to find an intersection of the linearized portions. Such intersection identifies the location of a single peak. The measurement method is particularly useful for detection of peaks in signals with low signal to noise ratios. A programmed digital computer may be used in the measurement method.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Edward Joseph Pawlowski