rat Opening apparatus for a door that has an outer panel, a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle door with such an opening apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A door (200) of a motor vehicle has an outer panel (100) and an opening apparatus. The opening apparatus has a door handle (30) and a door lock (20) with a lock barrel (10). The lock barrel (10) and the door handle (30) are arranged completely on the inner side of the outer panel (100) of the door (200). Full Article
rat Key lockable operator cover By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A key lockable window operator, including a crank handle that is shiftable between a folded storage position and an unfolded operating position and a lock cylinder operably engaged to a rack and a sliding pin. The rack and the sliding pin are shiftable between an unlocked position and a locked position. When in the locked position, at least a portion of the sliding pin is engaged into a cavity in the crank handle whereby the crank handle is secured in the folded storage position. Full Article
rat Integrated door operator hardware By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed in one aspect is the fixed door pull handle assembly that includes an elongated door pull handle with two or more support standoffs projecting away from the elongated door pull handle and securing the elongated door pull handle to the doorframe or to the body of the door. One of the support standoffs is user rotatable, and rotatably engages a door latch assembly within the door. In another aspect, the support standoff is not user rotatable. Instead, a center-pivoting handle is mounted in-line with one of the support standoffs and rotatably engages the door latch assembly within the door. The center-pivoting handle is recessed within the elongated handle. Full Article
rat Lock apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Lock assembly and method of coding and recoding locks. Some embodiments of a lock include a housing, a lock cylinder, a plurality of tumblers, a plurality of codebars, and a sidebar. Some embodiments of a lock include a housing, a lock cylinder, a plurality of tumblers, a plurality of code blocks, a sidebar, and a codebar. Full Article
rat Electronic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a convertible type computer (PC) 1 comprising a second housing 3 including a display section 3a, and a first housing 2 including a palm rest 2b. A first antenna 6a is disposed on the palm rest 2b, and a second antenna 7a is disposed on a reverse surface 2e of the first housing 2 immediately beneath the first antenna 6a. An attitude sensor 8 detects whether the PC 1 has a clam shell form or a tablet form. In accordance with a detection result, a switch section 9 switches between the first antenna 6a and the second antenna 7a for establishing wireless communication with an external terminal to communicate information. Therefore, it is possible to switch between information signals through the first antenna 6a and information signals through the second antenna 7a depending on the attitude of the PC 1, and fine communication can be established. Full Article
rat Retractable key storage apparatus with original key adaptor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides an apparatus to retractably store multiple keys. The apparatus is designed to permit a user to install up to eight (8) custom keys in a compact “key wallet.” Individual keys are pivotally deployed by pressing a designated button on the apparatus and are returned to a stowed position by rotating the key back into the apparatus until it locks into position. The apparatus uses a spring-loaded key release mechanism to release and retract the keys. Full Article
rat Ratcheting tool with angular positioning handles for cutting non-metal pipe and tubing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an improved pipe cutting tool based upon a ratchet closure action wherein handles are pivotedly attached to allow successive movement of a cutting blade in response to the squeezing of the handles. The handles are also hingedly coupled to the cutting member to maintain the cutting member in a position perpendicular to the tubular item to be cut while allowing the operator to squeeze the handles at offset angles, up to and including a right angle cut. The hinged handles allow for offset operation without forgoing the ease of operation by the consumer or causing a large reduction in the mechanical advantage. A ratchet allows sequential advancement of a cutting member toward a tubular shaped jaw that holds the item to be cut. Full Article
rat Perforated food ladle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A perforated food ladle includes a bowl member having a one-quart capacity. The bowl is uniformly perforated throughout its surface area. An elongate handle has its lower end attached to the rim of the bowl. The upper end of the handle terminates in a bend or hook portion. Vertically aligned capacity markings are disposed on the outer surface of the bowl. Full Article
rat Hair clipper with a rotary motor vibration and noise damper By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hair clipper has a base structural housing with a blade set operably secured thereto. The blade set has a stationary blade and a reciprocating blade. The base has at least one support for a rotary motor. A flexible motor vibration and noise damper fits over half of the motor, and a motor cover is secured to the base structural housing over the vibration damper. A secondary housing cover is secured to the base structural housing over the motor cover. Full Article
rat Vehicle driving apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A rear wheel driving apparatus (1) includes: a first right-left communication passage (FP) through which a left reservoir (RL) and a right reservoir (RR) are communicated with each other; and a second right-left communication passage (SP) which is provided in parallel with the first right-left communication passage (FP) and through which the left reservoir (RL) and the right reservoir (RR) are communicated with each other. Thus, flowability of a liquid fluid stored in a case (11) is enhanced, and smoothing of a fluid level is enabled. Full Article
rat Integrated thermal management system and environmental control system for a gas turbine engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gas turbine engine includes a first and second pump driven by a spool. An Air-Oil Cooler downstream of the first pump. An air-air precooler is downstream of the second pump, the air-air precooler downstream of the Air-Oil Cooler. Full Article
rat Apparatus and method for operating a gas turbine engine during windmilling By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a windmill pump driven by a spool. A first pump driven by said spool with an air-oil cooler is located downstream of the first pump. A second pump is also driven the spool with an air-air precooler located downstream of the second pump. A method of operating a gas turbine engine during a “windmilling” condition includes driving a windmill pump with a spool during a “windmilling ” condition. A lubricant is communicated to a geared architecture with the windmill pump. A first pump is driven by the spool and an air-oil cooler is located downstream of the first pump. Full Article
rat Turbomachinery with integrated pump By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The disclosed embodiments include self-lubricating oil feed systems that may include an integral bearing. The oil feed systems may include gear pumps suitable to minimize the axial profile of the oil feed systems. Additionally, the oil feed systems may be directly coupled to turbomachinery having a gear, and provide for mechanical support and lubrication of certain components of the turbomachinery. In certain embodiments, the oil feed systems enables the transfer of a lubrication fluid to the bearing during operations of the turbomachinery. Full Article
rat Dual-line pump unit, lubrication system, and related apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A dual-line pump unit for supplying lubricant includes a reservoir having an interior for holding lubricant. A first pump is provided for pumping lubricant from the reservoir through a first main line to a lubricant distribution system. A second pump is provided for pumping lubricant from the reservoir through a second main line to the lubricant distribution system. During a first stage of operation, the first pump operates to pump lubricant from the reservoir through the first main line to the lubricant distribution system and the second pump is idle, the second main line venting back to the reservoir via the second pump. During a second stage of operation, the second pump operates to pump lubricant from the reservoir through the second main line to the lubricant distribution system and the first pump is idle, the first main line venting back to the reservoir via the first pump. Full Article
rat Foot manifolds, apparatuses, systems, and methods for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site on a foot By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatuses, systems, and methods for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site on a foot are provided. An apparatus may include an insole and a tissue contacting surface covering at least a portion of the insole. At least one portion of the tissue contacting surface is removable to form a void. The apparatus may also include a reduced-pressure interface for receiving reduced pressure from a reduced-pressure source, and at least one flow channel fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure interface and the void. Full Article
rat Orthopods and equipment to generate orthopedic supports from computerized data inputs By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods of measuring feet and designing and creating orthopedic inserts are described. The method can include measuring a pressure the foot exerts during a stride at a plurality of points over a period of time, and analyzing a pressure at the plurality of points over the period of time and designing the orthopedic inserter based on the analysis. The system can include a device that measures a pressure exerted by foot at a plurality of times at each of a plurality of points and a computer connected to the device, the computer having a memory that stores the measured pressures and a program operable to analyze the measured pressures to create a design of an orthopedic insert. Full Article
rat Article of footwear having an upper incorporating a knitted component By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An article of footwear has an upper that includes a knitted component and a sole structure secured to the upper. The knitted component may define a tube formed of unitary knit construction, and a strand may extend through a length of the tube. As another example, the knitted component may have a pair of at least partially coextensive knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, and a plurality of floating yarns may extend between the knitted layers. In some configurations, the knit type or yarn type may vary in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. Additionally, the knitted component may incorporate a thermoplastic yarn that is fused in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. A flat knitting process or a variety of other knitting processes may be utilized to form the knitted component. Full Article
rat Smartphones app-controlled configuration of footwear soles using sensors in the smartphone and the soles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A smartphone app that causes a smartphone device to actively control a configuration of footwear structural elements located in a footwear sole or removable inner sole insert of a user of the smartphone device, and one or more sensors located in either one or both of the sole or the removable inner sole insert the user's footwear and a sensor including a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer in the smartphone device; and the footwear structural elements being configured for computer control by the smartphone device when the smartphone app is operating on the smartphone device; and wherein instructions of the smartphone app, when executed, cause the smartphone device to, first, process measurement data received from the footwear and smartphone sensors and, second, use the processed measurement data to alter a configuration of the footwear structural elements based on the output from processing measurement data. Full Article
rat High rate, long cycle life electrochemical energy storage devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electrochemical energy storage device includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode. The anode includes a capacitive material as a majority component, and further includes an electrochemically active material as a minority component, such that an operating potential of the anode is configured according to a reaction potential of the electrochemically active material. Full Article
rat Electronic personal thermal control apparatus and system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic personal thermal control apparatus and method may provide heating and cooling for a user. A power source may provide power to a thermal module that is capable of heating or cooling a heat transfer component to a desired temperature. The heating or cooling may be managed by a controller. The components may be placed in a housing. The apparatus may be placed at any suitable position on a user's body, such as the wrist or ankle(s). The housing of the apparatus may be incorporated or combined with clothing, such as wristband(s), apparel, jackets, footwear, or the like. Full Article
rat Heating apparatus for an appliance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A heating apparatus for heating a subcompartment in a compartment of an appliance is disclosed. The heating apparatus includes an electromagnetic member disposed in the compartment, and a metal member thermally coupled to the subcompartment. The metal member is magnetically coupled to the electromagnetic member to generate an eddy current in the metal member in response to a magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic member for heating the subcompartment. A related heating method and a refrigerator incorporating such a heating apparatus are also disclosed. Full Article
rat Methods for removing heat from enclosed spaces with high internal heat generation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods are provided for cooling data centers based on a cooperative system including a plurality of Indirect Air-Side Economizers, also referred to as Recirculation Air Cooling Units, that are advantageously operated in conjunction with one or more Side Stream Filtration Units or filters inclusive to a portion of the IASE/RACUs, and one or more Make-Up Air Dehumidification/Humidification Units for the introduction of ventilation air and control of humidity within the enclosed space. An objective of the systems and methods according to this disclosure is to provide the necessary rejection of heat, removal of particulate from the air, and control of the absolute moisture content of the air within a data center. Full Article
rat Ice maker for a refrigerator appliance and a method for operating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice maker for a refrigerator appliance and a method for operating the same are provided. The ice maker includes a mold body that is rotatable relative to an ejector. The ejector is configured for selective receipt within the mold body to assist with removal of ice from the mold body. The ice maker also includes at least two sensors for monitoring rotational motion of the mold body. Utilizing the at least two sensors, the ice maker can monitor ice removal from the mold body. Full Article
rat Adaptive defrost controller for a refrigeration device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for controlling automatic defrost of a refrigerator device adaptively moves the defrost cycle to a time period of comparatively low compressor activity based on an evaluation of compressor usage over a cyclically recurring time interval. An adaptive defrost controller (ADC) analyzes stored data to develop a profile for compressor activity vs. time. From this profile, high compressor activity times of the time interval are distinguished from low compressor activity times in the time interval and a defrost cycle is scheduled based on the results of the analyzed data. Full Article
rat Electronics cooling using lubricant return for a shell-and-tube style evaporator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A refrigeration system that induces lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture flow from a flooded or falling film evaporator by means of the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture flow adsorbing heat from an electronic component. Full Article
rat Electronics cooling using lubricant return for a shell-and-tube evaporator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A refrigeration system that induces lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture flow from a flooded or falling film evaporator by means of the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture flow adsorbing heat from an electronic component. Full Article
rat Solar-absorption hybrid modular cooling apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides cooling apparatus comprising: a solar heat collection means (2); two or more absorption refrigeration modules (1), each module being arranged to receive heat from the heat collection means and to re-circulate refrigerant through an evaporator (16); and means for putting a fluid to be cooled into thermal contact with each of the evaporators. Full Article
rat Slide assembly for refrigerator storage drawer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A slide assembly for a drawer inside a refrigerator employs both side and central rollers which control both horizontal and vertical movement of the drawer through a first set of rollers employed at front and rear portions at each side of the drawer to control vertical movement within side tracks while the drawer is moved between an extended position and a retracted position. A second set of rollers is mounted along axes which are arranged 90 degrees relative to the first set of rollers and underneath the drawer. This second set of rollers control side-by-side movement of the drawer as it is opened and closed. In one embodiment, the second set of rollers is mounted in a refrigerated compartment and travel within a track or guideway mounted on the bottom of the drawer. Full Article
rat Apparatuses and methods for thermodynamic energy transfer, storage and retrieval By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for transferring and optionally storing and/or retrieving thermal energy are disclosed. The systems and methods generally include a heat engine and a heat pump, the heat engine including first isothermal and gradient heat exchange mechanisms, and the heat pump including second isothermal and gradient heat exchange mechanisms. The heat engine and the heat pump exchange heat with each other countercurrent across the first and second gradient heat exchange mechanisms, the first isothermal heat exchange mechanism transfers heat to an external heat sink, and the second isothermal heat exchange mechanism receives heat from an external heat source. Full Article
rat Temperature control system with thermoelectric device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Certain disclosed embodiments pertain to controlling temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. For example, a temperature control system (TCS) can include an air channel configured to deliver airflow to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The TCS can include a one thermal energy source and a heat transfer device connected to the air channel. A first fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the thermal energy source and a thermoelectric device (TED). A second fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the TED and the heat transfer device. A bypass circuit can connect the thermal energy source to the heat transfer device. An actuator can cause coolant to circulate selectively in either the bypass circuit or the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. A control device can operate the actuator when it is determined that the thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the airflow. Full Article
rat Beverage cooler, a refrigerator comprising such a beverage cooler and a method for cooling beverage By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a beverage cooler having an in-line operating cooling unit for instant cooling of beverage flowing through the same, comprising a cooling container (5) having an inlet (10) and an outlet (11), for feeding the beverage to and from the cooling container, respectively, and a cooling tube (14) located inside the cooling container. The cooling container (5) is adapted to be located in an ambient temperature which is above the freezing point for the beverage, wherein the cooling tube (14) is adapted to carry a cooling fluid having a temperature below the freezing point of the beverage and is located such that the beverage can pass between the cooling tube and an outer wall of the cooling container (5). Hence, the beverage will pass by the cooling tube and be cooled from it and freeze to solid phase in the area closest to the cooling tube, whereas the outside of the cooling container, having a temperature above the freezing point of the beverage, will ensure a free passage of non-frozen beverage closest to the outside wall of the cooling container. Full Article
rat Apparatus and method for separating droplets from vaporized refrigerant By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating droplets from vaporized refrigerant. The droplet separator according to the invention has a separation vessel, where the droplets gravitationally separate from the vaporized refrigerant. A partition plate has been arranged in the separation vessel, which partition plate divides the separation space into two separation parts. Thereby the refrigerant is arranged—to pass firstly through the first separation space on the first side of the partition plate, —then to transfer to the second side of the partition plate, i.e. to the second separation space—then to pass through the second separation space on the second side of the partition plate. Full Article
rat Separation method and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Separation method and apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture, for example, air, in a cryogenic rectification plant in which a compressed stream is divided into subsidiary streams that are extracted from a main heat exchanger of the plant at higher and lower temperatures. The two streams are then combined and expanded in a turboexpander to generate refrigeration for the plant. The flow rates of the two streams are adjusted to control inlet temperature of a turboexpander supplying plant refrigeration and to minimize potential deviation of the turboexpander exhaust from a saturated vapor state. Control of the expansion ratio can advantageously be applied to allow variable liquid production from the rectification plant. Full Article
rat Insulated beverage apparatus and cooling device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for a beverage container may include a tubular member that is insulated and has an axis. The tubular member may further include an upper axial end and a lower axial end. Both the upper and lower axial ends can be open. The tubular member may be configured to receive and insulate the beverage container therein. The device may include a base. The base may be removably coupled to the lower axial end of the tubular member to close the lower axial end. The base may include an interior compartment containing a fluid permanently sealed therein. The fluid can have a freezing point of about 0° C. or less. Full Article
rat System and method for cooling heat generating components By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An assembly for cooling heat generating components, such as power electronics, computer processors and other devices. Multiple components may be mounted to a support and cooled by a flow of cooling fluid. A single cooling fluid inlet and outlet may be provided for the support, yet multiple components, including components that have different heat removal requirements may be suitably cooled. One or more manifold elements may provide cooling fluid flow paths that contact a heat transfer surface of a corresponding component to receive heat. Full Article
rat Dynamically limiting energy consumed by cooling apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Cooling apparatuses and methods are provided which include one or more coolant-cooled structures associated with an electronics rack, a coolant loop coupled in fluid communication with one or more passages of the coolant-cooled structure(s), one or more heat exchange units coupled to facilitate heat transfer from coolant within the coolant loop, and N controllable components associated with the coolant loop or the heat exchange unit(s), wherein N≧1. The N controllable components facilitate circulation of coolant through the coolant loop or transfer of heat from the coolant via the heat exchange unit(s). A controller is coupled to the N controllable components, and dynamically adjusts operation of the N controllable components, based on Z input parameters and one or more specified constraints, to provide a specified cooling to the coolant-cooled structure(s), while limiting energy consumed by the N controllable components, wherein Z≧1. Full Article
rat Refrigeration system having dual suction port compressor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Jan 2016 08:00:00 EST A cooling system for appliances, air conditioners, and other spaces includes a compressor, and a condenser that receives refrigerant from the compressor. The system also includes an evaporator that receives refrigerant from the condenser. Refrigerant received from the condenser flows through an upstream portion of the evaporator. A first portion of the refrigerant flows to the compressor without passing through a downstream portion of the evaporator, and a second portion of the refrigerant from the upstream portion of the condenser flows through the downstream portion of the evaporator after passing through the upstream portion of the evaporator. The second portion of the refrigerant flows to the compressor after passing through the downstream portion of the evaporator. The refrigeration system may be configured to cool an appliance such as a refrigerator and/or freezer, or it may be utilized in air conditioners for buildings, motor vehicles, or other such spaces. Full Article
rat Method and Apparatus for Tuning USB Power Delivery Signals By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A USB interface to provide power delivery negotiated through a dedicated transmission channel includes a transmitter circuit including a digital-to-analog converter having an output coupled with an input of a transmission filter, a receiver circuit including an analog-to-digital converter having an input coupled with an output of a receiving filter, and a switching circuit configured in an operating mode of the USB interface to connect an output of the transmission filter and an input of the receiving filter to a connection node of the dedicated transmission channel. Full Article
rat Capability Determining Method, Capability Configuration Method, Host, Terminal Device, and System By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A capability determining method for a terminal device, a host, and a system is provided. The capability determining method includes acquiring, by the host, a capability supported by the terminal device. The method also includes determining, by the host according to the capability supported by the terminal device and a capability supported by the host, a capability supported by both the terminal device and the host, and using the capability supported by both the terminal device and the host as an overlapping capability, where the overlapping capability is used by the terminal device to perform capability configuration. The method also includes sending the overlapping capability to the terminal device. Full Article
rat SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS SWITCHING DEVICE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present application relates to a serial data communications switching device and a method of operating the serial data communications switching device. The serial data communications switching device comprises one host port for connecting to a host device; a plurality of client ports each for connecting to one of a plurality of client devices; an arbiter configured to arbitrate the permission to send a message sequence between the plurality of the client devices according to an arbitration scheme; and a TX flow analyzer adapted to detect a client transmission received at one of the client port from a current client device currently having granted the permission and to instruct the arbiter to maintain the granted permission for the current client device for the ongoing client transmission. Full Article
rat METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SWITCHING STATE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of switching an apparatus state of a first apparatus having a first universal serial bus (USB) interface connected via a connecting wire with a second USB interface of a second apparatus is provided. The method may include receiving a state switching instruction, setting a level of a configuration channel (CC) in a USB interface circuit corresponding to the first USB interface from a first high level to a first low level via a logic controller of the first apparatus when the state switching instruction instructs the first apparatus to perform a master-to-slave switch, and setting the level of the CC in the USB interface circuit corresponding to the first USB interface from the first low level to the first high level via the logic controller of the first apparatus when the state switching instruction instructs the first apparatus to perform a slave-to-master switch. Full Article
rat Interface with Variable Data Rate By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A device includes a transmitter coupled to a node, where the node is to couple to a wired link. The transmitter has a plurality of modes of operation including a calibration mode in which a range of communication data rates over the wired link is determined in accordance with a voltage margin corresponding to the wired link at a predetermined error rate. The range of communication data rates includes a maximum data rate, which can be a non-integer multiple of an initial data rate. Full Article
rat METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING A PCI DEVICE CONTROLLER FROM MASQUERADE ATTACKS BY MALWARE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A technique allows for protecting a PCI device controller from a PCI BDF masquerade attack from Ring-0 and Ring-3 malware. The technique may use Virtualization technologies to create guest virtual machines that can use a hypervisor to allocate ACPI information from ACPI tables to a secure VM and using extended page tables (EPT) and VT-d policies to protect the MMIO memory range during illegal runtime events. Full Article
rat COMPUTING SYSTEM WITH A CACHE INVALIDATION UNIT, A CACHE INVALIDATION UNIT AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A CACHE INVALIDATION UNIT IN A COMPUTING SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present application relates to a cache invalidation unit for a computing system having a processor unit, CPU, with a cache memory, a main memory and at least one an alternate bus master unit. The CPU, the main memory and the at least one an alternate bus master unit are coupled via an interconnect for data communications between them. The cache invalidation unit generates one or more invalidation requests to the cache memory in response to the alternate bus master unit writing data to the main memory. The cache invalidation unit comprises a page address generator unit to generate page addresses relating to at least one address range and an invalidation request generator unit to generate an invalidation request for each page address. The one or more generated invalidation requests are transmitted by the cache invalidation unit via to the cache memory of the CPU. Full Article
rat SPECULATIVE ENUMERATION OF BUS-DEVICE-FUNCTION ADDRESS SPACE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A first device is determined as connected to a first one of a plurality of ports of a root complex. Addresses are assigned corresponding to a first hierarchy of devices including the first device. A second device is determined as connected through a mapping portal bridge at a second one of the ports of the root complex, the second device included in another second hierarchy of devices. A mapping table is generated that corresponds to the mapping portal bridge. The mapping table defines a translation between addressing used in a first view of a configuration address space of the system and addressing used in a second view of the configuration address space. The first view includes a view of the root complex and the second view includes a view corresponding to the second hierarchy of devices, the first hierarchy of devices being addressed according to the first view. Full Article
rat Arbitration of requests requiring a variable number of resources By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Arbitration circuitry is provided for arbitrating between requests awaiting servicing. The requests require variable numbers of resources and the arbitration circuitry permits the request to be serviced in a different order to the order in which they were received. Checking circuitry prevents a given request other than a oldest request from being serviced when a number of available resources is less than a threshold number of resources. The threshold number is varied based on the number of resources required for at least one other request awaiting servicing. Full Article
rat SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUITS AND A BUS CONNECTING THE CIRCUITS TO ONE ANOTHER, AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device includes a plurality of circuits, a general bus configured to be connected to each of the plurality of circuits and to provide a general channel among the plurality of circuits, and a designated bus configured to be connected to a subgroup of circuits from among the plurality of circuits and to provide a designated channel among the subgroup of circuits. Full Article
rat HARDWARE ACCELERATED COMMUNICATIONS OVER A CHIP-TO-CHIP INTERFACE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A device and method for communicating, via a memory-mapped communication path, between a host processor and a cellular-communication modem are disclosed. The method includes providing logical channels over the memory-mapped communication path and transporting data organized according to one or more cellular communication protocols over at least one of the logical channels. In addition, the method includes acknowledging when data transfer occurs between the host processor and the cellular-communication modem, issuing commands between the host processor and the cellular-communication modem, and communicating and managing a power state via one or more of the logical channels. Full Article
rat Encapsulated Accelerator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A data processing system comprising: a host computer system supporting a software entity and a receive queue for the software entity; a network interface device having a controller unit configured to provide a data port for receiving data packets from a network and a data bus interface for connection to a host computer system, the network interface device being connected to the host computer system by means of the data bus interface; and an accelerator module arranged between the controller unit and a network and having a first medium access controller for connection to the network and a second medium access controller coupled to the data port of the controller unit, the accelerator module being configured to: on behalf of the software entity, process incoming data packets received from the network in one or more streams associated with a first set of one or more network endpoints; encapsulate data resulting from said processing in network data packets directed to the software entity; and deliver the network data packets to the data port of the controller unit so as to cause the network data packets to be written to the receive queue of the software entity. Full Article
rat Configuration arbiter for multiple controllers sharing a link interface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In a system where multiple controllers share a link interface but are not all (1) compatible with the same configuration of the physical layer or (2) using the same clocking, a configuration arbitration subsystem intercepts, organizes, and re-clocks configuration-access requests from the various controller agents. Priorities are assigned according to stored policies. The configuration arbiter grants configuration access to the top-priority agent, synchronizing the agent's message with the arbiter's clock. Lower-priority agents' messages are stored in command queues until they ascend to top priority. Besides preventing timing conflicts and streamlining the coordination of clocks, the configuration arbiter may provide access to physical-layer registers beyond the controllers' built-in capabilities to further optimize configuration. Full Article