Abstract: A data enhancement circuit for a facsimile receiver is provided. The circuit includes positive and negative slope detectors as well as a signal threshold detector. Incoming signals above the signal threshold and having a positive slope are considered black. Incoming signals above the signal threshold but with a negative slope are considered white. Incoming signals below the threshold are always considered white. Incoming signals above the signal threshold and with a negative slope having a slope magnitude less than a predetermined slope magnitude are considered gray. The circuit of the present invention reacts to high speed data and provides enhancement for images in a gray scale.

Abstract: A device for forming and expelling a controlled quantity of liquid upon demand, such as an ink drop generating device, having a transducer deforming element for controlled deforming in response to an electrical signal, an orifice housing containing an orifice chamber which has an orifice opening at its front side and a relatively larger opening at its back side, the larger chamber opening being in direct communication with a liquid reservoir, the transducer deforming element and the orifice housing being closely positioned to provide direct interaction between the deforming element and the orifice chamber upon receipt of an electrical signal, the interaction causing generation of a liquid drop or other controlled quantity of liquid.

Abstract: A method for use in a facsimile system wherein a calling party unit has the capability of either transmitting a message to a called party unit or alternatively of directing an unattended called party unit to transmit a message to the calling party. The method allows the calling party to direct the called party unit to transmit rather than to receive. A communication link is first established between the calling party and the called party. Next, at least one of the plurality of the incoming information signals directed from the called party are detected by the calling party. In response, the calling party dispatches an outgoing master/slave indicator in the interval between incoming identification signals. In one embodiment an outgoing equipment identification signal is also dispatched in the intervals between the incoming identification signals and the steps of dispatching the master/slave indicator signal and dispatching the outgoing identification signals are repeated until a command signal is received.

Abstract: The scanning mechanism of facsimile transmitter and receiver units are synchronized by comparing the relative positions of each of the scanning mechanism at a particular time. A variation in the rate of the scanning motion for one of the scanning mechanisms is then initiated and this variation is continued until a predetermined time corresponding to a substantial degree of coincidence in the scanning position of each of the scanning mechanisms. The variation in the rate of the scanning motion is a substantially ramp-like function of time.

Abstract: A facsimile method and apparatus wherein the white level is set during prescanning in one direction from a first extremity to a second extremity of a document. Scanning then proceeds with the white level set in a second direction from the second extremity to the first extremity. The white level is set using variable gain amplifier means comprising a digital-to-analog converter and gain control means comprising a digital register which stores a binary word representing the whitest level sensed during prescanning in the first direction.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus with a sheet feeding capability to supply sheets of documents and/or copy paper to a rotatable scanning drum. Rollers advance these sheets on a sheet-by-sheet basis along the transport path which includes a plurality of sensors. The drum is positioned so as to receive the sheets prior to scanning and subsequently repositioned after scanning so as to permit these sheets to be removed from the drum.