Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the routing of operating cables from a computer or terminal. The apparatus includes a terminal and a cable block. The terminal has a mounting wall and a receiver for detachably securing the cable block thereto. The cable block has a U-shaped housing having an open side which faces the mounting wall and it also has internal dividers to provide open compartments to receive the cables. The U-shaped housing has resilient tangs thereon which cooperate with corresponding tangs on the terminal to detachably secure the cable block to the housing with the cables being routed between the compartments and the mounting wall.

Abstract: In a local area network station (12) for a wireless LAN, a threshold level circuit (62) includes a register (134) which stores a threshold value. The station receiver (42) monitors the transmission channel and provides a receive level signal indicative of the signal level received. Transmission of a data frame by the station transmitter (46) is permitted or deferred according as the receive level signal value is below or above the threshold level, regardless of whether or not the received signal derives from a transmission by a station in the receiving station's own LAN. The threshold is dynamically updated whenever the station (12) receives a data frame from its own LAN. An improved utilization of the wireless transmission channel is achieved.

Abstract: An imager for imaging a document moving in a document track in a table top document processing machine. The imager includes a housing which is made of several portions which are designed to be assembled quickly with a minimum of fasteners. A first line of green LEDs and a second line of red LEDs are located in the housing to illuminate a scanning line from which image data about the document is obtained by an optical system including a CCDs. The imager is also designed so that the same imager can be used on either side of the document track to image the front or back of the document. When two such imagers are used, a white reference member (for calibrating the imager to ensure repeatable and uniform data) located in one of the imagers is used by the other imager.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing the presence of a document moved to a printing station in a printer and for detecting skewness (if any) of the document at the printing station. A first light-detector pair and a second light-detector pair are used, with the sensitivity of each of the detectors in the light-detector pairs being adjusted each time the printer is turned on. A controller and a stored program are used to adjust the sensitivity of the detector along with a resistor network providing steps of resistance. The particular resistance step to which a detector is adjusted also gives a measure of the useful life left for the detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding documents from a stack of documents, in single file, into a document track, with the apparatus employing an endless belt. The endless belt is mounted on a drive roller and an idler roller to provide a linear portion of the belt which is parallel to the first document to be fed from the stack. The apparatus also includes a retard mechanism which includes a first portion to engage the documents in the stack and also includes a second portion which is parallel to the linear portion of the endless belt and is biased towards the linear portion by a tension spring. The endless belt is made of a material which is designed to wear instead of "glazing" which provides for a positive feed. The endless belt and the retard member are designed to be replaced by an operator of the terminal in which the apparatus is located so as to avoid a service call by a maintenance person.

Abstract: A high speed apparatus for pocketing documents in a pocket. A document to be pocketed is diverted from a document track towards a cupping apparatus by a pocket selector. The cupping apparatus includes an initial cupping rib and first, second, and third drive rollers, with a metal pinch roller being positioned opposite the second drive roller to cup a document to be pocketed. The leading edge of the cupped document encounters a document spring to create a "travelling wave" which functions to push the trailing edges of documents already pocketed away from an entry point to the pocket to enable the document to be pocketed to enter the pocket without collision and to enter in the right order. The document spring has a rectangular opening in each end thereof to enable the end to be secured to a rectangular boss located on a guide member within the apparatus to provide a quick change construction.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding documents from a stack of documents, in single file, into a document track, with the apparatus employing an endless belt. The endless belt is mounted on a drive roller and an idler roller to provide a linear portion of the belt which is parallel to the first document to be fed from the stack. The apparatus also includes a retard mechanism which includes a first portion to engage the documents in the stack and also includes a second portion which is parallel to the linear portion of the endless belt and is biased towards the linear portion by a tension spring. The endless belt is made of a material which is designed to wear instead of "glazing" which provides for a positive feed. The endless belt and the retard member are designed to be replaced by an operator of the terminal in which the apparatus is located so as to avoid a service call by a maintenance person.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing the presence of a document moved to a printing station in a printer and for detecting skewness (if any) of the document at the printing station. A first light-detector pair and a second light-detector pair are used, with the sensitivity of each of the detectors in the light-detector pairs being adjusted each time the printer is turned on. A controller and a stored program are used to adjust the sensitivity of the detector along with a resistor network providing steps of resistance. The particular resistance step to which a detector is adjusted also gives a measure of the useful life left for the detector.

Abstract: A local area network station (12) includes a transceiver (20) adapted to transmit and receive signals using electromagnetic radiation on a wireless communication link. The station (12) utilizes a CSMA/CD communications controller (22) in a CSMA/CA (collison avoidance) technique wherein deferred data frames are transmitted after a random number of backoff slots periods. A plurality of antennas (14, 16) is employed, with the antenna having the best receive conditions being selected for reception of a data frame. The antennas having a slotting control (200) which is synchronized with the backoff slotting to provide a short carrier detect time and hence high throughpout.

Abstract: A method and circuit for quickly starting a negative switching voltage regulator to reach a certain level of negative voltage. A regulator chip is used in the circuit, with the circuit having an output terminal from which the negative voltage is obtained. The chip has a start pin thereon and also has an internal transistor which switches on and off to provide an increasing negative voltage at the output terminal. In response to a Start signal at the start pin, a start up circuit is used to provide a forcing current at the output terminal via a second source of negative voltage. When the increasing negative voltage at the output terminal reaches the voltage level of the second source, the start up circuit is turned off.

Abstract: A depository apparatus includes a common entry slot (14) for receiving both envelopes and single sheets, such as checks and a thickness sensor (216) for providing an output indicative of whether a deposit item is an envelope or a sheet. Transport apparatus (38) transports deposit items along a common feed path to a printer (42) for printing data on envelopes and sheets, and to a read head (40) for reading data from sheets. A sheet alignment mechanism is included in the common feed path and is operable to bring about alignment of a sheet relative to the read head (40) by moving the sheet into engagement with a reference member (170). Operation of the transport apparatus (38) is interrupted during operation of the alignment mechanism. Envelopes are fed directly into a first container (146). After reading of data from a sheet, operation of the transport apparatus (38) is reversed to feed the sheet into a selected one of two additional containers (138, 140).

Abstract: A local area network (10) utilizes a wireless transmission link and has network stations (12) each having two differently polarized antennas (14, 16). Data transmission utilizes a spread spectrum code and in the receiver, correlator outputs are utilized in an integrator and registers circuit (54) to provide correlator output sample values integrated over a plurality of symbol intervals. These values are stored in registers (156) the contents of which are utilized to determine a peak value and a total value which are applied to a spike quality determination circuit (78) including a look-up table (200). The resultant spike quality output value represents the quality of the received signal and is utilized for carrier detection and for antenna selection.

Abstract: A local area network station for receiving data symbols encoded in a spread spectrum code and transmitted over a wireless channel includes in-phase and quadrature correlators (42, 44) the output signals of which are used to address a look-up table (50) for conversion to amplitude and phase sample signals. Corresponding amplitude sample signals are integrated and stored in a plurality of registers (96) and for each symbol, the register (96) storing the maximum value is ascertained to identify the associated sample number, which is stored in a sample number register (160). This sample number is utilized to determine the time of a symbol clock signal (RXCLK) used for clocking the received data.

Abstract: An apparatus for isolating a stepper motor from an associated mounting frame, with the motor having a circular locating step on a mounting face. An insert is used to increase the height of the locating step, to enable an isolation member to be positioned on the locating step, and yet provide a second locating step to be used in locating and isolating the motor relative to the frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing MICR characters having positive peak values, negative peak values, and substantially zero values occurring at predetermined clock positions along the associated waveform. A first count derived from the speed of the MICR characters moving past the associated reader is used for deriving nominal clock pulses for clocking the peak and zero values into storage registers associated with the apparatus. The occurrences of positive and negative peak values are used to adjust the first count depending upon whether the MICR characters are moving faster or slower than a nominal rate, with the adjustment being used to provide an adjusted count which is used for determining subsequent clock pulses.

Abstract: An optical reader head with a video compensation circuit for use in high speed document reading. The reader head utilizes small focussed bulbs to illuminate the scanning line, with the head being comprised of first and second body sections housing a lens which focusses the light reflected from a document at the scanning line to a light array comprised of 256 sensors. Light from four adjacent sensors along the scanning line is integrated to produce a composite pixel which becomes one of 64 such composite pixels for a scanning line of data permitting the use of low wattage bulbs and also eliminating the possibility of burning a jammed document. A peak comparison EPROM is used for adjusting document background levels, for example, for use in thresholding the pixel data.

Abstract: A currency note picking apparatus includes pick mechanisms for picking notes from stacks of notes held in associated currency cassettes. Each pick mechanism includes pivotally mounted pick arms connectable via an electrically operated valve to a diaphragm pump which generates, continuously, a reduced pressure. During a relevant pivotal movement, the pick arms of a selected pick mechanism pick part of an end note out of the associated cassette by applying a suction force to this note. A timing disc rotates in synchronism with the pivotal movement of the pick arms, and an associated optical sensor generates timing signals which are indicative of the position of the pick arms relative to the cassette. The timing signals control the operation of the respective valve so as to enable the pump to communicate with the pick arms during the relevant pivotal movement thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a print head which is used in conjunction with a floating platen. The print head is mounted on a carriage which has a forms compensation member secured to it to contact the top surface of a document to be printed upon. The forms compensation member causes the print surface of the platen to tilt somewhat causing ink smears or uneven printing by the print head. A stabilizer is used to offset the tilting caused by the forms compensation member to thereby maintain the printing surface of the platen in parallel relationship with print face of the print head, which in the embodiment described, is a wire matrix printer. The stabilizer includes first and second leaf springs which are secured to the platen and cooperate with a channel in which the platen is mounted.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an automatic back-up primary terminal for a cluster of secondary terminals. The primary terminal and the back-up primary terminal are coupled over a communications network to the secondary terminals so that data from the secondary terminals is received simultaneously at both the primary and back-up primary terminals. Either the primary or the back-up primary terminal can function as the active provider of services to the secondary terminals. When either one of the primary terminals becomes inoperative, control is automatically switched to the other one which becomes the active provider of the services. The primary terminal which is the active provider of services keeps a log file (on a disc file) of special data which is to be "backed up" or transferred to the other primary terminal when that other primary terminal becomes operative again. The special data, in the embodiment described, related to price look-up and inventory totals associated with retail terminals.