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Representative Patents Written by Thomas F. Brennan
Computer Hardware
- U.S. Patent No. 5,623,698 - MEMORY INTERCONNECT NETWORK HAVING SEPARATE ROUTING NETWORKS FOR INPUTS AND OUTPUTS USING SWITCHES WITH FIFO QUEUES AND MESSAGE STEERING BITS
A processor to memory interconnect network which can be used to construct both small and large scale multiprocessing systems. The interconnect network includes network modules and memory modules. Each module includes a series of n x m switches, each of which route n inputs to m outputs. The switches are designed such that message contention in the interconnect network is reduced. The switches, and thus the memory and network modules are highly modular, thus allowing virtually any scale multiprocessing system to be constructed utilizing the same components.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,434,970 - SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTED MULTIPROCESSOR COMMUNICATION
A tightly coupled interprocessor communication system based on a common shared resource circuit and adapted particularly to a multiprocessing system including 2N processors. A local control circuit is connected to each processor and a shared resource circuit is tightly coupled through the local control circuits to each processor. The shared resource circuit includes a shared semaphore register, a shared information register and a read and increment circuit which can be used to increment the contents of a shared information register as a single instruction. The local control circuit includes an issue control circuit used to determine when a transaction with the shared resource circuit is permitted, a circuit which generates a command to the shared resource circuit when the transaction is permitted and a real time clock.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,371,879 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TESTING OF NEW OPERATING SYSTEMS THROUGH PRIVILEGED INSTRUCTION TRAPPING
A maskable interrupt generator in the instruction decode logic is used to detect privileged instructions and interrupt the processor during the processing of privileged instructions in user mode. An exception handler processes the privileged instruction interrupt and performs a function similar to the execution of the privileged instruction in privileged instruction mode. The combination of the privileged instruction interrupt and the post-interrupt exception handling enables the operating system developer to test new operating systems by laying them over the current operating system.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,442,475 - OPTICAL CLOCK DISTRIBUTION METHOD AND APPARATUS
An optical clock distribution method and apparatus is disclosed that minimizes clock skew in the distribution of clock signals to logic assemblies in a computer system. The logic assemblies convert the optical signals into equivalent electrical signals.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,418,481 - REPETITIVE SIGNAL DETECTOR FOR PREVENTING THERMAL RUNAWAY
A circuit monitors electronic devices which require continuous clocking for non-destructive operation. The circuit samples a repetitive signal, such as a clock, from a device of interest (DOI). If, for whatever reason, the clock signal becomes absent, the circuit responds by deactivating the DOI. If the clock revives or becomes intermittent the circuit will not reactivate the DOI. The circuit will reactivate the DOI only upon application of an explicit reset signal. The circuit is all digital and therefore technology independent, and provides for precise control of the deactivation response time.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,481,746 - VECTOR SHIFT FUNCTIONAL UNIT FOR SUCCESSIVELY SHIFTING OPERANDS STORED IN A VECTOR REGISTER BY CORRESPONDING SHIFT COUNTS STORED IN ANOTHER VECTOR REGISTER
Vector shifting elements of a vector register by varying amounts in a single process is achieved in a vector supercomputer processor. A first vector register contains a set of operands, and a second vector register contains a set of shift counts, one shift count for each operand. Operands and shift counts are successively transferred to a vector shift functional unit, which shifts the operand by an amount equal to the value of the shift count. The shifted operands are stored in a third vector register. The vector shift functional unit also achieves word shifting of a predetermined number of vector register elements to different word locations of another vector register.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,548,372 - PCB TOOLING APPARATUS FOR FORMING PATTERNS ON BOTH SIDES OF A SUBSTRATE
A tooling apparatus designed to provide accurately aligned printed circuits on both major sides of a printed circuit board layer, especially advantageous for use in multi-layer PCB's. The apparatus includes patterns formed on glass masks attached to frames incorporating alignment pins and slots. The patterns include registration marks for alignment during manufacture of the apparatus. During use, the apparatus allows accurate alignment of patterns on both sides of a PCB layer. Also disclosed is the apparatus with buttons used to pattern PCB layers having pre-drilled Z-axis holes.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,272,754 - SECURE COMPUTER INTERFACE
Communication elements for secure data communication between remote nodes of a computer system on a standard, unsecured, communications medium. Terminals, workstations and personal computers are connected through a user-side terminator to a standard unsecured communications medium. Processors are connected through a computer-side terminator to the same medium. The combination of a user-side terminator, a computer-side terminator and a standard communications medium constitutes a secure computer interface.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,596,718 - SECURE COMPUTER NETWORK USING TRUSTED PATH SUBSYSTEM WHICH ENCRYPTS/DECRYPTS AND COMMUNICATES WITH USER THROUGH LOCAL WORKSTATION USER I/O DEVICES WITHOUT UTILIZING WORKSTATION PROCESSOR
A method and apparatus for ensuring secure communication over an unsecured communications medium between a user working on an unsecured workstation or computer and a host computer. A secure user interface is created by inserting a trusted path subsystem between input/output devices to the workstation and the workstation itself. Data transferred from the input/output devices is intercepted, encrypted and transmitted in packets to the host computer. Packets of screen display data from the host computer are decrypted and presented within a user-defined screen overlay.
- U.S. Patent No. D 375,944 - COMPUTER CABINET
The ornamental design for a computer cabinet.
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Computer Software
- U.S. Patent No. 5,247,696 - METHOD FOR COMPILING LOOPS HAVING RECURSIVE EQUATIONS BY DETECTING AND CORRECTING RECURRING DATA POINTS BEFORE STORING THE RESULT TO MEMORY
A vector update method for vectorizing loops containing recursive equations. According to the method, program code containing a loop is transformed into a nested loop in which the interior loop performs an integer number of iterations of the original loop equal to the vector length of the system. Vector operations are executed on the arrays of data within the interior loop, a check is made for recurring data points and repairs are made to the results of the vector operations.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,535,365 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOCKING SHARED MEMORY LOCATIONS IN MULTIPROCESSING SYSTEMS
A method of synchronizing accesses to shared data in a multiprocessing system having an atomic swap capability. A distinguished lock value is defined. A processor which wishes to access a shared data memory location performs an atomic swap of the lock value to the shared data memory location. If the data received from the atomic swap is equivalent to the lock value the processor knows that the memory location has been locked by another processor. The processor then repeats the atomic swap at intervals until data is received which is not equivalent to the lock value. If the processor receives data which is not equivalent to the lock value, the processor operates on the data and then performs a write to the shared data memory location to replace the lock value with the updated data. For situations where a unique lock value cannot be defined, an array is created to store lock values associated with particular shared data memory locations. A processor seeking access to a shared data memory location performs atomic swaps of the lock value to the lock array to determine access to a shared data memory location.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,586,325 - METHOD FOR THE DYNAMIC ALLOCATION OF ARRAY SIZES IN A MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEM
A method of setting array boundaries in order to simplify addressing across processor elements in a distributed memory system having global addressing. Each dimension of an array is examined to determine a lower bound, a declared upper bound and an implicit upper bound. The lower bound and the declared upper bound in each dimension are used to set limits for operations on array elements while the implicit upper bound calculated from the lower bound and the declared upper bound is used in calculating the location (processor element and offset) of a particular array element.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,566,321 - METHOD OF MANAGING DISTRIBUTED MEMORY WITHIN A MASSIVELY PARALLEL PROCESSING SYSTEM
A method of managing distributed memory in which a local memory is partitioned into a shared heap segment, a shared stack segment, a private heap segment and a private stack segment. One of the segments starts at a fixed address and grows upward. A second segment starts at a fixed address and grows downward. A third segment starts at a relocatable segment wall and grows downward and a fourth segment starts at a relocatable segment wall and grows upward.
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Communications
- U.S. Patent No. 5,420,583 - FIBER OPTIC CHANNEL EXTENDER INTERFACE METHOD AND APPARATUS
A digital optical serial communication system and encoding method which uses a transmitter responsive to an input of parallel information to parse the information into 4-bit groups. The 4-bit groups are then encoded into 5-bit codes having a 40/60 duty cycle, wherein no more than two consecutive bits are logical 1's or 0's on either end of the 5-bit code. The 5-bit codes are serially transmitted by an optical transmission medium for providing a conduit from the transmitter to a receiver. The receiver receives and decodes the serial information to recover the 4-bit groups. The 4-bit groups are concatenated to form a parallel packet of information suitable for data processing.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,592,487 - COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR TRANSFERRING INFORMATION ACROSS A SERIAL COMMUNICATION LINK
A communications protocol having a number of predefined signals, including data packets, control packets, checksum packets and sync symbols. According to the protocol, signals are transmitted in a predefined order such that one of the control packets is transmitted after a sync symbol is transmitted. One of the sync symbols, data packets or checksum packets is transmitted after the control packet is transmitted. One of the sync symbols is transmitted after one of said checksum packets is transmitted and one of the sync symbols or another of the data packets is transmitted after one of the data packets is transmitted.
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Signal Processing
- U.S. Patent No. 5,200,931 - VOLUMETRIC AND TERRAIN IMAGING SONAR
A method and apparatus for the generation of a three-dimensional image representing structures detected within a volume. Two dimensional differential phase measurements are made on backscatter signals. Azimuth, elevation and range are calculated over a statistically large number of spatially diverse backscatter returns and used to construct a histogram of backscatter data. The histogram of backscatter data is then processed with standard image processing techniques to produce terrain maps or volumetric models of the volume of water. A system constructed according to the methods of this invention is capable of producing a three-dimensional map of the volume insonified without mechanical array scanning or electronic beam scanning. A combination of two or more volumetric scanning systems can be used to increase the resolution achievable in modeling the volumetric area.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,379,001 - CLOSED LOOP LINEARIZER FOR RAMP MODULATED VCO
A closed loop linearizer method and apparatus for providing a linear ramp modulation for a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). A counter is connected to the VCO for calculating two frequency values of the oscillator at one or more time points during a ramp interval. The difference of the two frequency values is then compared with that of a predetermined ideal difference frequency value. A resulting correction value is then generated and used to adjust digital control values upward and downward, thereby causing the VCO to produce a linear modulation ramp output slope over time.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,222,152 - PORTABLE FINGERPRINT SCANNING APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFICATION VERIFICATION
A portable fingerprint scanning apparatus for identification verification which can optically scan and record fingerprint images in the field and wirelessly transmit said images to a mobile unit for processing and subsequent wireless transmission to a central location for the purpose of providing immediate identity and background checks on the individual being fingerprinted. The apparatus includes a fingerprint scanner and a wireless transmitter to transmit the fingerprint image to a mobile unit. The apparatus can also include a video camera to capture a photographic image or "mug shot" for wireless transmission to a mobile unit.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,467,403 - PORTABLE FINGERPRINT SCANNING APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFICATION VERIFICATION
A portable and lightweight fingerprint scanning apparatus which can optically scan and record fingerprint images in the field and transmit said images to a mobile unit for processing and subsequent wireless transmission to a central location for the purpose of providing immediate identity and background checks on the individual being fingerprinted. The apparatus of the present invention includes a fingerprint scanner for capturing a fingerprint image, a camera for capturing a photographic image of a person or a scene and means for transmitting the fingerprint image and the photographic image to a mobile unit. In the preferred embodiment the present invention includes a highly integrated camera with a superior signal to noise ratio and an infrared lighting source for illuminating a person or scene in low ambient light situations. An especially preferred embodiment of the present invention also provides the ability to preview the fingerprint and "mug shot" images on a display screen and to control transmission and processing of the fingerprint and "mug shot" images by the mobile unit using a terminal or keypad located on the portable fingerprint scanning apparatus.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,067,096 - TARGET ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING PROXIMITY TO A TARGET
A target engagement system uses target motion analysis to determine a target engagement decision for ground targets, such as vehicles. The input to the engagement system is the target azimuth as a function of time. A detect algorithm issues and records a detect azimuth when confirmation is made that a valid target is being tracked and legitimate azimuth information is being provided.
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Electronic Systems
- U.S. Patent Nos. 5,243,174 and 5,500,514 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GIFT CERTIFICATES
An electronic gift certificate dispenser device for printing and dispensing a gift certificate purchased by a credit card. A consumer approaches the device and inserts a credit card into a magnetic card reader. The consumer chooses a retailer from a menu of participating retailers and enters the gift certificate value. The machine automatically verifies the credit card, causes the account to be debited and prints the gift certificate. In one approach, two or more gift certificate dispensing devices can be connected in a network under the control of a central processing unit. Information regarding gift certificate purchases is transferred from the devices to the central processing unit to be collated and billed to credit card accounts. The central processing unit can also be used to inform merchants of the purchase of gift certificates that will be redeemed at their stores.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,438,509 - TRANSACTION PROCESSING IN A DISTRIBUTED DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM
A system for processing transactions and a methodology for the design of such a system for enhanced transaction processing across different computing platforms. Transaction orders and transaction data are transferred and stored within the system in a standard, hardware independent format. Data generated as part of a transaction is stored in a circular queue; orders are stored so that they can be accessed by their order number or other key attribute. Nonvolatile memory is used extensively to increase system reliability and data integrity by reducing the chances of data loss due to a system shutdown. Data is stored to nonvolatile memory before pointers to the data are modified to eliminate problems due to pointers pointing to nonexistent data.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,347,468 - COMPUTERIZED GRAIN DELIVERY SYSTEM
A method and apparatus for controlling the addition of a liquid to a continuous flow of material. An algorithm is described for controlling the hydration process within a computerized grain delivery system. The grain delivery system operates by adding moisture to grain moving through the system, testing the moisture level of the hydrated grain and controlling the rate of flow of the wetting agent as a function of the wet grain moisture reading. In addition, a method is described for determining the relationship between dry grain moisture level, hydration level and the expected wet grain moisture level reading. Finally, a communications link is described which connects the grain delivery system to a remote computer.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,260,875 - NETWORKED AGRICULTURAL MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM
A controller system having a half-duplex serial line as a bus for transferring commands, status and data between all controllers in a planting and spraying system. A bus master connected to the serial line synchronizes each controller to the network while a base console coordinates the operation of each planting and spraying system. Separate system controllers operate in conjunction with each system accessory module to control the components of each planting and spraying system. Operation of a spray control module is controlled by the sprayer control console, operating in conjunction with a base console. A planter monitor module provides control over a plurality of components in a seed-planting system. A base console with a primary user interface and a planter controller console with a planter user interface are connected to the planter monitor module over a communications medium. Operation of the planter monitor module is controlled by the planter controller console operating in conjunction with the base console.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,327,342 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING PERSONALIZED HANDWRITING
An apparatus and method for processing text to produce handwriting that simulates the user's own handwriting.
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Semiconductor Devices and Processing Equipment
- U.S. Patent No. 5,619,103 - INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA GENERATING DEVICES
Apparatus and method for varying a field profile used to generate a plasma within a gas. A parallel conductor coupling structure has two basic forms: separate parallel conductors each driven by its own generator/tuning circuit, or single conductor such as a flattened helix or series of square coils driven by one generator/tuning circuit. Two or more such structures can be placed in proximity to each other to vary a field profile. The resulting plasma generator can be used in such applications as plasma processing and inductive plasma lighting.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,115,291 - ELECTROSTATIC SILICON ACCELEROMETER
A solid state accelerometer having an all silicon sensor for measuring accelerational and gravitational forces. The accelerometer measuring system also has associated electronics that include an analog rebalance loop and a digitizer loop.
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