Abstract: An intelligent controller of a peripheral device such as a disk drive which stores utility algorithms. In a first embodiment, the utility algorithms are transferred from the peripheral device to a host computer in order to eliminate the need to have utility software pre-loaded into the computer. In a second embodiment, the algorithm stored within the peripheral device is executed by processing circuitry within the peripheral device in order to free the host computer to perform other tasks as the utility is being executed by the peripheral device. Exemplary utilities which may be executed by the peripheral device include data compression, data format conversion, automatic disk error correction, back-up of the disk's file allocation table or other vital disk or file information into a secondary file allocation table within the peripheral device, automatic file back-up or any other desired utility.

Abstract: An intelligent controller of a peripheral device such as a disk drive which stores utility algorithms. In a first embodiment, the utility algorithms are transferred from the peripheral device to a host computer in order to eliminate the need to have utility software pre-loaded into the computer. In a second embodiment, the algorithm stored within the peripheral device is executed by processing circuitry within the peripheral device in order to free the host computer to perform other tasks as the utility is being executed by the peripheral device. Exemplary utilities which may be executed by the peripheral device include data compression, data format conversion, automatic disk error correction, back-up of the disk's file allocation table or other vital disk or file information into a secondary file allocation table within the peripheral device, automatic file back-up or any other desired utility.

Abstract: Metal sheets having a layer of a cured polyvinylidene fluoride paint on the metal surface and a layer of a cured fluorinated ethylene vinyl ether paint on the polyvinylidene fluoride paint exhibit excellent weathering properties, have a gloss of 25 to 80%, and may be bent to a sharp angle without cracking of the coating. Such sheets are particularly useful in the preparation of metal-resin composite laminates, because they do not experience thermal blocking during the lamination step.

Abstract: Forming an area of good electrical contact on a photoconductor drum, having a non-conductive layer, by means of a laser beam leads to a reduction in the loss rate in the manufacturing process. The area of electrical contact is introduced without the use of caustic or corrosive chemicals and without the production of waste products, such as metal powder or spend chemicals. The drums produced by the process are free of scratches which arise from other methods, free of chemical residues in the area of electrical contact, and have an area of electrical contact which is even and smooth.