Abstract: The invention uses a standard processor to execute an application program. As the instructions of the application program are executed in sequence, a program counter is incremented to contain an address indicator of the next instruction to be executed. The address indicator from the program counter is also fed to a function lookup unit where it is matched to the contents of a tag field. If there is no match, control returns to the processor which continues its normal sequence of operations and performs the function. If there is a match, function indicator identifiers from the function lookup table are fed to a reconfigurable combinational array which has logic functions. The function indicator identifiers select the logic function to be performed. The result of the performed function including the new program counter is then fed back to the processor. The processor then continues its normal operations.

Abstract: The invention is a method for creating a self-authenticating value document at a senders location and for verifying it at a receivers location. At the senders location a document is created having a machine readable data field, a taggant containing extractable first tag data, and a storage medium with clear text data and the first tag data extracted from said taggant written on it. The clear text, first tag data and data from a machine readable data field collectively make up a document message. The document message is hashed with a hashing algorithm to create a first message digest. The first message digest is digitally signed with a private key to create a digital signature which is written on the storage medium in addition with the clear text data, and the first tag data.

Abstract: A document jogger jogs unit records such as checks and like value documents. The jogger has a bin for receiving the documents, and a vibrator coupled to the bin to vibrate it. A liner is adapted to be removably attached to the bin. The liner has an impact absorbing flexible material attached to the liner to absorb the shock of the documents as the bin is vibrated. A thin abrasion resistant, low friction layer covers the flexible material to prevent documents from damaging the flexible material and allows the documents to slide easily. The thin abrasion resistant, low friction layer is also soft enough to permit the flexible material to absorb the shock of said documents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are used to provide quality assurance for the electronic transfer of document image files, for example, between banks. The documents may be, in the case of a bank, negotiable instruments, checks, deposit slips or other transactional documents. The document image file contains an image tag file and associated image data file. An image tag file contains first quality assurance data. An image data file contains second quality assurance data. The quality assurance data may be a MICR line from the document. A first reader extracts the first quality assurance data from the image tag file. A second reader reads the second quality assurance data from the image data file. A comparator receives the first and second sets of quality assurance data from the first and second readers and compares the first and second sets of quality assurance data to find correspondence between the data.

Abstract: A document-endorse arrangement has a document transport mechanism wherein documents are advanced down a track past one or more print stations where a jet-print nozzle array projects an ink stream to the document. One or more angled air streams arise from the track. Each air stream is directed downstream of the track at an acute angle of approximately 20 degrees with respect to the track. At least one of the airstreams is upstream of the nozzles and is adapted to pneumatically float each document past the nozzles so as to maintain a prescribed gap between the document and both the track and nozzles. This inhibits contamination of the nozzle from surplus ink and dust.

Abstract: A document feed arrangement has a nip between a feeder and a separator where documents in a stack are urged, singly into the nip and advanced therebeyond by the feeder. A continuously rotating nudger urges the documents into the nip. The nudger has an open space separation from the nip and feeder. In addition, the nudger is disposed adjacent the end document in the stack and arranged to periodically thrust the end document across the separation into the nip. As soon as the end document leaves the nudger it immediately contacts the next-to-the-end document in the stack and begins to thrust it forward. The feeder surface is defined by a large radius at the point of the nip so that the surface of the feeder bends away from the nip. The feeder advances the end document from the stack through the nip without simultaneously advancing a second document. The separator surface is defined by a smaller radius than the feeder for restraining the remaining documents of the stack.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor assembly has a magnet, a semiconductor sensor and a metal leadframe encapsulated in a plastic package to form a semiconductor integrated circuit. A metal leadframe has a die attach pad on which the sensor is secured and an assembly having one or more projections for securing the magnet in close proximity to the sensor. The leadframe is made from a metal having sufficient spring tension so that the assembly having the projections will secure the magnet. The sensor is adjacent to a ferromagnetic object and will detect a change in magnetic field caused by the ferromagnetic object. Only a thin layer of the plastic package covers the sensor thus reducing the distance between the sensor and the ferromagnetic object but still maintaining an air gap between the plastic package and the ferromagnetic object sufficient to allow passage of the ferromagnetic object.

Abstract: A method for identifying image data bits, especially where the image data is to be reliably co-identified with collateral document has been disclosed. Such “identification-bits” should be carried with the image data through various stages of processing, so the image's identity can be maintained at each processing station, and can be transferred to a downstream processing station. A salient object hereof is to identify image data; especially with “sync bits”.

Abstract: A card is provided for cleaning a document track of a document handling system, and methods for making and using the same. The card includes a planar body formed of a resilient material, such as a fibrous or polymeric material. The body includes a plurality of tabs, with each one of the tabs being pivotable relative to the body between an extended position and a collapsed position. In the extended position, the tab projects angularly from the body, while in the collapsed position, the tab is substantially co-planar with the body. The tabs are biased to the extended position, such as by creasing the material forming the body. The biased tabs extend across the document track, and sweep debris along the document track.

Abstract: A machine for processing documents has a document feeder adapted to selectively adjust document feed rate and interdocument separation. The document feeder has a feeder surface for feeding documents into the machine. There is a nip between the feeder surface and a separator surface. The end document of a stack is urged, singly into the nip and advanced therebeyond by the feeder surface. The separator surface restrains the remaining documents of the stack. A control adjusts the speed of the separator surface to be continuously variable and independent of the speed of said feeder surface, with the separator surface speed adjusted to optimize the document feed rate, optimize interdocument separation, and minimize damage to the documents being fed into the machine.

Abstract: A method is provided for responding to a computer system call requesting creation of such new process in a multicomputer system which includes multiple sites, each site including a local processor and local memory, and wherein the multicomputer system includes a distributed process directory which is distributed across multiple sites such that different site memories include different fragments of the process directory and such that the distributed process directory includes a multiplicity of slots, the method comprising the steps of: creating the new process on a respective site; providing in memory of at least one site a designation of sites for which respective process directory fragments include at least one unallocated slot; selecting a respective site from the designation; and referencing a respective process identification corresponding to the new process in a slot in a respective process directory fragment on the selected site.

Abstract: A sheet transport array for advancing sheets along a track at a desired speed past a process station. A sheet speed measuring device is coupled to the process station. A drive roller assembly includes at least a drive roller and a drive idler, with the drive roller driving the advancing sheet at the desired speed toward the process station. A second roller assembly includes at least a second roller and a second idler, with the second idler moving at the speed of the advancing sheet. A floating roller assembly includes at least a floating roller and a floating idler. The floating idler is coupled to the second idler to move at the same speed as the second idler and the advancing sheet. The floating roller and the floating idler define a pinch point with a pinch force such that the floating roller and the floating idler move at the same speed.

Abstract: An emulator is used to debug software operating on a target micro-controller in a target circuit environment. The emulator contains a field programmable gate array that is programmed to contain an emulated target micro-controller and an emulated monitoring circuit which monitors the operations of the micro-controller. The emulated target micro-controller receives signals from the target circuit environment. The signals from the target circuit environment are communicated to the emulated target micro-controller by one or more channels, such as a data channel and a timing channel. The number of channels is limited so that signals from the target environment do not degrade the performance of the emulator. A host computer contains a software debug program which works with the emulated monitoring circuit to monitor the emulated micro-controller.

Abstract: An FeRAM array replaces ROM, PROM, EPROM, and/or EEPROM in a programmable controlling device and thus provides non-volatile memory cells for code stores, data stores, registers (including peripheral registers), state machines and microcode (if included) in the device. The programmable controlling device contains a processor and non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells as well as a ferroelectric memory array. The array has a code store that holds a program to control the processor, a data store that stores temporary data from the processor, and one or more registers that hold data being manipulated by the processor. The code store, data store and registers are memory mapped onto the non-volatile ferroelectric memory array. The state machines and peripheral registers are made of ferroelectric memory cells. The programmable controlling device may also include microcode that cooperates with the processor to change the function of the processor.

Abstract: The invention includes apparatus for controlling a high speed memory unit M that is written to on every cycle and read from on every cycle except during receipt of write commands. The apparatus includes a timing coordinator with bi-stable storage means that store and present certain signals to the memory in conjunction with clock signals so as to be immediately usable by the memory, and so that the memory can responsively output data to a user. The signals include commands R/W to Read or Write, Address signals and Data signals.

Abstract: This invention is a sheet processing array having an imaging station, an in-site, an exit-site and a transport array connecting all of them. The transport array is adapted to advance sheets from the in-site, past the imaging station for imaging the first face of the sheet and to advance it to a reversing transport section. This section has a series of rollers arrayed in a loop which continually rotate in one direction and are adapted to provide non-stop forward movement that turns the sheet over and returns it to present its opposite face to the imaging station for imaging. The sheet is then advanced to the exit-site.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor assembly has a magnet, a semiconductor sensor and a metal leadframe encapsulated in a plastic package to form a semiconductor integrated circuit. A metal leadframe has a die attach pad on which the sensor is secured and an assembly having one or more projections for securing the magnet in close proximity to the sensor. The leadframe is made from a metal having sufficient spring tension so that the assembly having the projections will secure the magnet. The sensor is adjacent to a ferromagnetic object and will detect a change in magnetic field caused by the ferromagnetic object. Only a thin layer of the plastic package covers the sensor thus reducing the distance between the sensor and the ferromagnetic object but still maintaining an air gap between the plastic package and the ferromagnetic object sufficient to allow passage of the ferromagnetic object.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a lead frame assembly having a die attach pad with a die secured by a die bonding material. A portion of the die bonding material may flow out from between the die and the die attach pad to form a squash out layer. A raised bond pad is at least partially in the squash out layer area and extends upward from said die attach pad sufficient to be above the squash out layer. A bond wire has one end secured to a ground terminal on the die and the other end to the raised bond pad. The whole structure is encapsulated in a plastic package.

Abstract: A real time graphic processor is disclosed which processes graphic cell specifications on a scan line-by-line basis to generate pixel data. The pixel data from each cell specification is assembled to form a completed scan line of pixel data which is used to modulate a printing element, such as a laser diode. The invented graphic processor contains a special purpose cell specification processor which, in addition to generating the pixel data, modifies the cell specification by substituting new horizontal location and cell height indicator values. The modified graphic cell specification is then recirculated to the cell specification processor memory for processing the next scan line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a processor and method for the real time generation of linear arrays of pixel data. The generated pixel data is used to modulate a laser diode as it scans across a printing medium, thereby producing printed font and logo characters.In accordance with the present invention, the real time processor receives a series of cell specifications on a scan line-by-scan line basis, the cell specifications identifying the font type and placement information. The real-time processor uses this information to access from its font memory a linear array of pixel data corresponding to the identified font type. The accessed pixel data is used to modulate the laser diode as it scans the printing medium line-by-line. Thus, as the laser diode is modulated by the pixel's "ones" and "zeros", it is pulsed "off" and "on", thereby generating pixel dots on the print medium itself or on a photosensitive drum which subsequently prints an image on a page through an electrostatic process.