Abstract: The present invention relates to powder-layer three-dimensional printers (2) having a discrete supply hopper (340) and a recoater (20). The discrete supply hopper (340) is configured to transfer a build powder to the recoater (20) in a manner that enhances the uniformity of build powder layers that are dispensed from the recoater (20). In some embodiments, at least one of the discrete supply hopper and the powder hopper of the recoater is adapted to selectively contact the other, seal against the other, and/or have one partially inserted inside the other so as to diminish or prevent powder pluming during the transfer of build powder from the discrete supply hopper to the recoater.

Abstract: A radio data reception system operates within a host processing system such as a personal computer and receives FM broadcast transmissions encoded with either RDS or MBS digital data modulated upon a subcarrier frequency. The radio data reception system operates in one of three modes to interpret the RDS or MBS digital data. A first mode of operation provides a user of the radio data reception system with complete FM stereo tuner functions displayed on a monitor. The radio data reception system receives and decodes RDS data transmissions in the FM stereo tuner mode and displays the RDS data on the monitor. In second and third modes of operation, the radio data reception system receives and processes MBS digital data. In the second mode of operation, the MBS data is used by the host processing system to monitor pages received by a user of the system.