Abstract: In a thermal print head employing a line of print elements, temperature sensing is effected by means of an elongated temperature sensing device positioned in parallel with the line of elements and in heat-transfer proximity thereto. The sensor may be of thermo-resistive material and is coupled to a control circuit to effect energy control of drive pulses to the print elements.

Abstract: A method of, and an apparatus for, constructing a laminated rotor for use in high speed stepping motors or the like. The apparatus consists of a rotatable carousel having a plurality of rotatable work stations each of which is carried to a plurality of operating stations. Lamina are punched from sheet metal stock and brought back into the stock and held in a friction fit. Sheet stock is then advanced to a stacking station where a lamina is forced onto a rotor shaft. The shaft is rotated thereafter in order to uniformly distribute any local metalurgical or planarity inconsistencies in the sheet stock throughout the laminated structure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ribbon supply replacing technique for a printer or the like comprising a two ree coaxial ribbon cartridge (2) held stationary in the printer and having positioned adjacent thereto severing stations (40 and 42) for separating the cartridge with its exhausted ribbon supply from that ribbon remaining in the ribbon guide structure (6).

Abstract: A technique for displaying a representation of a full page on less than an entire CRT screen in a word processing system. The full page representation uses character indicators to enable the word processing system user to appreciate format and spatial relationships with regard to page boundaries. Within the miniature page the interlinear spacing chosen by the operator for the hard copy output is properly represented. Integral line spacing is achieved by displaying blank lines as appropriate. Non-integral line spacing such as half-line spacing is achieved advantageously through manipulating the particular character construct utilized. A character representation matrix is usually blank at the top and blank or non-blank in the bottom half. Reversing top and bottom halves removes one half-line of interlinear spacing.

Abstract: Multiple processes in an interrupt driven system are efficiently executed because each process has its own independently identified and addressable stack storage area including a process control block. Each process control block includes a link field for forming a distributed list of processes in dispatching priority order.

Abstract: A mechanism allowing nested resource locks among a plurality of related programs is provided by means of a lock counter which is incremented and decremented as programs LOCK and UNLOCK a resource but the resource is not released until a count is zero. A separate LOCK counter is provided for each resource in the system.

Abstract: Nickel and copper are plated over a thick anodic coating on an aluminum substrate as a step in the manufacture of printed circuit board substrates.

Abstract: A text processing system includes a first external storage area for text documents, an internal text storage buffer where, inter alia, edit operations are performed, and a third storage area in which text is formatted for display. The area for formatting text for display is related to the internal text storage buffer by a table containing pointers to the text storage area, one for each line to be displayed. The pointers are expressed relative to a single known address, that of the start of the line in the text storage buffer containing the point at which the edit operation is to occur.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed which allows the display of a representation of a full page of text on the comparatively small CRT screen of a word processing system. For each character comprising a page of text a single bit is stored in the display buffer. On output each bit is displayed in one of two configurations of a 2.times.4 character box. In this way format and spatial relationship of text to page size can be displayed while a particular line is entered or edited to enable an operator to have a better perspective on the developing result.

Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for displaying scrollable operating and scale lines simultaneously with an active miniature full page representation. Displayed on the operating line along with active characters is a cursor character. Displayed in the miniature full page are text indicators for representing accurately to the operator the format of the whole page of text. The miniature page is updateable upon keying. The position of the cursor within the miniature full page representation is indicated by blinking the associated character position and displaying peripheral arrows adjacent the outline of the miniature full page representation.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for and a method of printing complex characters using a high speed bidirectional on-the-fly printer. In accordance with the present method complex characters are printed in at least two steps. Once the first portion of a character has been printed and prior to the printing of the next character the carrier is turned around and again moved past the print position where the remaining portion of the first mentioned character is printed. This approach is termed "double turnaround".

Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for displaying on a relatively small CRT display, using less than the entire screen, a representation of a full page of text. The full page is represented using character indicators rather than recognizable characters. The full page representation is surrounded by an outline generated using the same character indicators as the formatted text representation rather than known graphic symbols. The outline is proportional to the ultimate hardcopy indicated by the user, and character indicators can be displayed right up to the page outlines.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of multi-wire nonimpact printheads provides precise inter-wire spacing accuracy and repeatability of manufacturing steps to enable mass production.A plurality of slats are molded, one alongside another on a cylindrical support shell, parallel to the shell axis. A helical thread is engraved on the slats along the axial length of the support shell. A continuous wire is wrapped in the thread and the portions of the wire on the slats are encapsulated. The support shell and wrapped wire is cut between adjacent slats to obtain a plurality of printhead blanks. Each blank is machined to smooth the exposed print wires. The resultant printheads may be used in page- width nonimpact printers.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for implementing a technique of shingling a stack (10) of cut sheets using fluid jets. Air (34), or other fluid under pressure, travels through a drum having exit holes arranged about its periphery. The passage of the air causes the drum (30) to self-propel. As each fluid jet contacts the uppermost sheets in the stack, a roll-wave is created. Continued rotation of the drum causes a fluid jet to describe a linear path relative to the stack surface.

Abstract: There is described a technique for use in a word processing system for displaying a representation of the full page of text on less than an entire CRT screen where the full page representation is proportional to the hard copy output which eventually results. Dynamic mode switching is employed which enables the output on a given line of the display of both full size characters and miniature character representations. Dynamic mode switching also provides control of the placement of the miniature page representation on the CRT screen.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus attachable to a printer for feeding and delivering envelopes. Storage means for fresh and printed envelopes which are disposed perpendicularly to the orientation of print direction. A reduction in overall size required in a mechanism for handling feed and delivery of both cut sheets and envelopes is achieved.

Abstract: A computer system having a CPU connected to I/O devices via a channel sets addresses into the I/O devices by the CPU. The I/O devices, for purposes of control, are grouped in types. To load device addresses or identifiers, the processor sends a type identifier to the I/O devices. The device having the highest ordered priority of the same type of device and which does not have an assigned identifier responds by inhibiting all lower ordered devices of its type. It is then loaded with its unique assigned identifier which results in the setting of a status latch therein. This setting allows the next lowest ordered device of the same type of devices to then be assigned and loaded with an identifier by the processor. This process continues until all I/O devices of the same type are loaded with identifiers. The process is then repeated for each other type of I/O devices in the system.

Abstract: In a high speed trail printer an improved electronic tab rack is provided. A method and apparatus are disclosed for decreasing the time required to determine the location of the next tab involving accessing a condensed tab rack. The condensed tab rack is set up when the tabs are entered and contains for each byte of the basic tab rack one bit indicating whether or not the associated tab rack byte specifies at least one tab stop position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved interface apparatus and technique for real time transfer of characters from a text processor to a magnetic card recorder. Characters retrieved from a buffer are subject to reformatting and other operations, the duration of which varies within two character output cycles. The disclosed technique permits time, in effect, to be borrowed from succeeding character cycles. A character is processed and loaded temporarily in a register. The parallel character is then transferred to a serializer register which outputs serial bits to a card writer control for recording on a magnetic card. At the same time this transfer, serialization, and output is occurring the processor is preparing the next character to be written. A character can be output in real time so long as the interval between it and the preceding character is less than two character output cycles in length.