Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6246549 | Method and apparatus for reducing the coupling of the reaction force from the head actuator into the track follow servo loop of a media drive The reaction force decoupling system, as implemented in a tape drive, reduces the motion that is coupled back into the tape cartridge from the reaction force that is generated by the operation of the read/write head actuator. The read/write head actuator ... | 06/12/2001 |
| 6239930 | Method and apparatus for automatically activating a one of video data channel and a computer data channel in a tape drive in response to detection of the nature of the data recorded on a magnetic tape loaded in the tape drive The tape drive control unit administers both computer data and video data that is stored on the same type of data storage media. This is accomplished by determining, when a magnetic tape is mounted in the tape drive, the format that is used to store the d... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6167496 | Data stream optimization system for video on demand The present data storage subsystem includes a data stream optimization system that optimizes its data throughput performance for a particular type of data that is stored therein, such as video on demand data. The data stream optimization system manages th... | 12/26/2000 |
| 6118605 | System for gap positioning optimization in a tape drive The system for gap positioning optimization in a tape drive takes advantage of the presence of a pair of read heads, located one on either side of the write head, to precisely determine the boundary between the inter-block gap and the data blocks adjoinin... | 09/12/2000 |
| 6068436 | Pass thru mechanism for transferring media cartridges between automated cartridge library systems The pass thru mechanism for automated cartridge library systems serves to interconnect two juxtaposed operationally independent automated cartridge library systems and provides a simple apparatus that makes use of gravity to obviate the need for complex m... | 05/30/2000 |
| 6044435 | Method for determining allocatability of tape drives to serve requests to store information The present invention is a method for testing if modifications made to the lists of tape drives available to serve requests in a modified request queue allow n different tape drives to be assigned to n requests. The three embodiments of the present invent... | 03/28/2000 |
| 6038092 | System for reading data from a distorted magnetic tape media A characteristic of helical scan tracks is that a distortion that occurs in the written data tracks is not uniform over the entire length of the track. Therefore, segments of the helical scan track can be read even though the entirety of the helical scan ... | 03/14/2000 |
| 6011669 | Pass thru mechanism for transferring magnetic tape cartridges between automated cartridge library systems The pass thru mechanism serves to interconnect two juxtaposed automated cartridge library systems and provides an apparatus to obviate the need for complex alignment compensation mechanisms or precise alignment between the juxtaposed automated cartridge l... | 01/04/2000 |
| 5995320 | Horizontally oriented autoloader for data storage cartridges The horizontally oriented autoloader for data storage cartridges orients the data storage cartridges in a horizontally oriented loading bin, and occupies a vertical space consistent with the vertical dimensions of the associated cartridge drive. These fea... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5991117 | Break away lever for a tape drive handle A system prevents an excessive force from being applied to a handle of a tape drive. The system provides a base coupled to the handle of the tape drive. A lever assembly engages the base to move the handle when a force equal to the force required to move ... | 11/23/1999 |
| 5939799 | Uninterruptible power supply with an automatic transfer switch Power is supplied to a load from either a first power source or a second power source. A transfer switch determines which of the power sources provides the power to the load. A switch control detects a loss in the power provided by a first power source an... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5915264 | System for providing write notification during data set copy The write notification during copy system functions to enable the data processor to manage the data file copy function of a disk data storage subsystem in a manner that minimizes the expenditure of data processor resources. This is accomplished by the wri... | 06/22/1999 |
| 5876614 | Method of wet etching aluminum oxide to minimize undercutting The method of wet etching an aluminum oxide substrate deposits a thin layer of titanium film or chromium film on the aluminum oxide surface prior to the application of the photo-resist coating to form a barrier between the aluminum oxide and the photo-res... | 03/02/1999 |
| 5850328 | Media for recording data on two sides of a magnetic tape having angularly displaced orientations The two sided magnetic recording tape consists of a standard film substrate to which a coating of magnetic recording materials is applied, on both sides thereof. In order to reduce the effect of magnetic print through and contact recording, the particles ... | 12/15/1998 |
| 5836735 | Robot powered pass thru port for automated cartridge library A pass thru port, for use in an automated cartridge library, is capable of transferring a cartridge from one module of the automated cartridge library to another module of the automated cartridge library without the use of motors or other powered devices.... | 11/17/1998 |
| 5816519 | Automatic tape guide arm with three dimensional range of motion and method of operating the same A tape threading apparatus (20) includes a tape guide arm (22) having a spring-biased elbow (32). The arm (22) is coupled for rotation with a rotatable shaft (24). The shaft is provided with a barrel cam (76, 92) for a third dimension of movement. A drive... | 10/06/1998 |
| 5734540 | Tape reel and cartridge having protective flange rings A tape cartridge and reel for storing magnetic tape wound on the reel such that damage to the edges of the magnetic tape is significantly reduced. A protective ring is formed in the reel or in the tape cartridge such that shock-induced energy is transmitt... | 03/31/1998 |
| 5701460 | Intelligent joining system for a relational database A system for generating a structured query language query to extract data from a database wherein the database includes a schema defined by a plurality of record sources and a plurality of relationships therebetween. The system includes selecting a field ... | 12/23/1997 |
| 5541870 | Ferroelectric memory and non-volatile memory cell for same A non-volatile integrated circuit memory in which the memory cell includes a first transistor gate overlying a first channel region, a ferroelectric material overlying a second channel region, and a second transistor gate overlying a third channel region.... | 07/30/1996 |
| 5539330 | Interconnect bus system for use with self-configuring electronic circuit modules An interconnect bus system that includes an interconnect bus having a plurality of interconnect bus conductors, a reference circuit for placing a reference signal on certain of the interconnect bus conductors, and at least one electronic circuit module ha... | 07/23/1996 |
| 5537585 | Data storage management for network interconnected processors The data storage system is connected to a local area network and includes a storage server that on a demand basis and/or on a periodically scheduled basis audits the activity on each volume of each data storage device that is connected to the network. Low... | 07/16/1996 |
| 5536502 | Skin-tear medicament and method of use A low-sensitizing medicament for use in treating skin-tear injuries includes an emulsified water and hydrocarbon carrier portion, an emollient portion, a hydroxyquinoline antimicrobial portion, a mild keratolytic portion, and a paraben preservative portio... | 07/16/1996 |
| 5534941 | System for dynamic real-time television channel expansion A system is provided by which a single active video signal, along with a plurality of audio and data streams can be made to represent a number of different screens of information at a cable TV set. The system uses essentially only the bandwidth of a singl... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5534145 | Compact water filtration pump A portable, manually-operated water filtration pump for purifying water. The pump includes an inexpensive, disposable filter cartridge which can be easily changed when the filter elements are no longer effective. The pump uses a lever to actuate a double-... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5533124 | Electronic trading card system Computer implemented trading cards are disclosed. Trading card software is stored on a removable medium in a copy protected form. The trading card software includes trading card data and an executable computer program. Each removable medium contains tradi... | 07/02/1996 |
| 5529314 | Pump shaft lubricated bearing fluid seal assembly A fluid pumping system includes a housing that defines a fluid chamber having a wall with an aperture therethrough to communicate the fluid chamber with an outside area. A shaft extends through the aperture, and is mounted for axial rotation. The shaft ca... | 06/25/1996 |
| 5529277 | Suspension system having two degrees of rotational freedom A system is described which utilizes two perpendicular four-bar linkages coupled by a common plate to provide a translational-free flexible suspension having two rotational degrees of freedom about a desired point. One of the four-bar linkages is secured ... | 06/25/1996 |
| 5526198 | Method and apparatus for administering video data on magnetic tape media using a data record format to store video frames The video-to-data converter buffers and converts the video data received from a camera or a conventional video tape drive into a data record format that is compatible with a computer data tape drive subsystem and its media, such as a 3480-type magnetic ta... | 06/11/1996 |
| 5523964 | Ferroelectric non-volatile memory unit An integrated circuit non-volatile, non-destructive read-out memory unit includes a ferroelectric capacitor having first and second electrodes, a capacitance Cf, and an area Af, and a transistor having a gate, a source and a drain forming a gate capacitor... | 06/04/1996 |
| 5519234 | Ferroelectric dielectric memory cell can switch at least giga cycles and has low fatigue - has high dielectric constant and low leakage current An integrated circuit includes a layered superlattice material having the formula A1w1+a1 A2w2+a2 . . . Ajwj+aj S1x1+s1 S2x2+s2 . . . Skxk | 05/21/1996 |
| 5516363 | Specially doped precursor solutions for use in methods of producing doped ABO3 -type average perovskite thin-film capacitors Metal doping agents are introduced into metal polyoxyalkylated liquid precursor solutions for use in processes for forming thin-layer capacitors (10) to be used in integrated circuits such as DRAMS and the like. The dopants serve to reduce capacitor leaka... | 05/14/1996 |
| 5514822 | Precursors and processes for making metal oxides A first metal, an alcohol, and a carboxylic acid are reacted to form a metal alkoxycarboxylate which is then reacted with an alkoxide and/or a carboxylate of a second metal to form a precursor. Alternatively, a metal carboxylate and a metal alkoxide are c... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5513947 | Tractor mechanism for robotic magnetic tape cartridge handling system This apparatus comprises a mechanically simple and lightweight tractor mechanism for use with a robotic object handling system to retrieve objects from a plurality of object storage locations. A finger gripper mechanism is used to grasp an object with a p... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5508954 | Method and apparatus for reduced fatigue in ferroelectric memory A method and apparatus for programming ferroelectric memory cells which reduces polarizability fatigue effects of switching polarization of the ferroelectric devices associated with the memory cells such as ferroelectric capacitors and transistors. Altera... | 04/16/1996 |
| 5508226 | Low temperature process for fabricating layered superlattice materialsand making electronic devices including same A liquid precursor containing a metal is applied to a first electrode, RTP baked at a temperature of 700° C., and annealed at the same temperature for from 3 to 5 hours to form a layered superlattice material. A second electrode is formed to form a capac... | 04/16/1996 |
| 5504993 | Method of fabricating a printed circuit board power core using powdered ceramic materials in organic binders A method of fabricating a printed circuit board power core is disclosed wherein ceramic particles that have a diameter that is approximately equal to the desired dielectric thickness are combined with dielectric powders that have a relatively very small s... | 04/09/1996 |
| 5504362 | Electrostatic discharge protection device A thick-oxide ESD transistor for a BiCMOS integrated circuit has its source/drain contacts formed of the BiCMOS base or emitter polysilicon and its source/drain formed by an outdiffusion of the respective polysilicon contact. In one embodiment the BiCMOS ... | 04/02/1996 |
| 5497666 | Increased sensitivity coriolis effect flowmeter using nodal-proximate sensors An increased sensitivity Coriolis flowmeter having one or more drivers oscillates a flow tube, or tubes, at pre-determined frequencies thereby producing active and/or static nodes at points along the flowtube(s). The increased sensitivity of the present f... | 03/12/1996 |
| 5490239 | Virtual reality imaging system The virtual reality imaging system takes a multidimensional space that contains real world objects and phenomena, be they static or dynamic in nature, and enables a user to define a point and/or a path through this multidimensional space. The apparatus th... | 02/06/1996 |
| 5489767 | Media labeling system for data storage elements having a common form factor The media labeling system makes use of human-readable and machine-readable label indicia to automatically identify of the media type contained within each of a plurality of data storage elements that have a substantially uniform external form factor. The ... | 02/06/1996 |
