Abstract: Standard ASCII coded text is divided into alpha, numeric, and punctuation tokens. Each token is converted to a string of four-bit nibbles. One nibble is coded to identify the type of token. Additional nibbles are coded to identify the location, if any, of a corresponding alpha or punctuation token in a global dictionary. If no corresponding alpha token is in the dictionary, an alpha token is divided into prefixed, suffixes, and a stem. The location of any prefixes in a table of prefixes, suffixes in a table of suffixes, and the number, and location of corresponding individual characters in a table, of the remaining stem are then coded and stored as part of the string of four-bit nibbles for the alpha tokens. Numeric tokens are stored as a string of four-bit nibbles in which the first nibble identifies the type of token, the next nibble the length, followed by a nibble for each of the digits.

Abstract: A display panel comprising a matrix of D.C. scan cells arrayed in rows and columns and a matrix of A.C. display cells arrayed in rows and columns, each scan cell being in operative relation with at least one display cell. The panel also includes a sustainer electrode associated with the display cells and operated by means of specially shaped sustaining signals to select and turn on desired display cells as the columns of scan cells are energized in turn. Disclosed are various routines for oprating the sustainer electrode to achieve dimming in the panel and for maintaining proper display of a message in the panel.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the base drive of switching transistor in a power supply wherein the switching transistor is coupled to the primary winding of a transformer linking the primary and secondary circuits of the power supply. Optimum operation of the switching transistor implies a desired level of saturation thereof. Base drive for the switching transistor is provided by a second conducting transistor. An excess of current flowing in the switching transistor is sensed, thereby effecting a reduction in the current flow in the second transistor. The latter condition causes a diminution in the base drive of the switching transistor and a return to its desired level of saturation.

Abstract: A controller for communication between the auxiliary processor and a cache mechanism in the system interface which communication is to be carried on independently of main memory accesses required to update the cache mechanism in an overlapped manner.

Abstract: Conditionally self-copying stationery is provided wherein a carbon copy of handwritten material can be made dependently upon the attitude of insertion of a copy sheet. The copy sheet has a carbon back coating on one face thereof and each of the writing sheets in a pad has a carbon front coating on the upper surface thereof. Dependently upon whether the copy sheet is inserted such that its carbon back coating makes contact with a carbon front coating or not, so a carbon copy is selectably made or not made. The copy sheet is the conventional writing guide found in writing pads, and is printed on both sides with writing guidelines.

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: An optical data storage system is contemplated, employing improved optical disk media, these characterized by multiple layers, including various under layers, an optical absorber layer, and overcoating layers, such as a "soft pad" layer (e.g., a fluoropolymer) overlaid with a "Hard" layer (e.g., a radiation-cured acrylic) as an outer protective overcoat. Taught are "Spiral" coating techniques (FIG. 3) specified for applying the "Hard" layer and preferably involving: applying the coating mix as arcuate "bead segments" about the disk center, these being formulated and applied to properly "set-up" and quickly "level" (e.g., close enough to one another and "self-leveling").

Abstract: Disclosed is a bidding method for regenerating a lost write token in a token controlled loop communications network. In response to a station on the loop detecting the loss of the write token, the station will generate a unique recovery token specifying as the destination address that station's individual address and transmit the generated recovery token onto the loop. Stations receiving the recovery token will examine the recovery token's destination address and based on a bidding method, will either pass the recovery token on unaltered or substitute the receiving station's individual address if the recovery token's destination address is not equal to the receiving station's individual address. When a receiving station's individual address matches that specified in the recovery token, that station wins the bid and generates a new write token.The method disclosed can also be used to generate a write token when the network is initialized.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an antenna which may be collapsed and stored in a compact configuration and readily released from storage to assume a deployed operative state. More specifically, the antenna is a wire member comprised of a straight section and an integral transverse helical spring section. The antenna lends itself to storage about the axis of a right circular cylinder while permitting full deployment parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latter. This arrangement permits the storage of potential energies of torsion and bending respectively in the helical spring and straight portions of the antenna, and permits continuous motion in these planes to effect antenna erection and deployment.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet feeder for supplying single sheets of paper to a printer's paper feeding mechanism. The sheet feeder is pivotably mounted so that the paper supply is maintained in contact with a fixed position feed roller. The feed roller is actuated when a sheet of paper is to be fed into the printing mechanism. The sheet feeder's pivot point is chosen to provide constant feed pressure to the paper supply regardless of the size of the remaining paper supply.

Abstract: A composition for a dielectric ink used in a screening process including a lead-free glass frit binder, silica, and a vehicle. The dielectric composition is particularly suited for use in gas plasma display panels.

Abstract: In a point-of-sale terminal wherein continuous stationery is fed from a fanfold stack by friction drive to be printed, a receipt portion removed, and the residual continuous record stored in a record, fanfold stack, the stationery comprises a base ply having a removable ply affixed thereon by a pair of glue lines outboard of a pair of longitudinal perforated lines for removing an edge strip having sprocket hole lines and inboard of the sprocket holes. Transverse separation lines are provided near the folds in the base ply. The separation lines can be perforated lines, cut right through, or chemically weakened in the removable ply. The second illustrated embodiment of the invention discloses a second transverse separation line spaced away from the first transverse separation line and the part of the removable ply intermediate therebetween affixed to the base ply to prevent the tearing of one receipt from initiating the tearing of a receipt in a following transaction record.

Abstract: A positioning system, suitable for positioning a head adjacently to data tracks on a rotating magnetic data storage disc and employing a polyphase optical position detente transducer, overcomes positioning inaccuracies associated with the relative spacing between the polyphase position indicating signals by measuring the span of all the phases in terms of demand to produce head movement applied to a D/A convertor, calculating the ideal stopping positions, and applying the inverse error demand through the convertor when positioning the head.

Abstract: A dual set of memory control circuit cards, one of which services a master processor and one of which serves a slave processor in a data communication Network Support Processor. Each memory control circuit card provides a local memory for each of said processors and further provides access logic circuitry for developing addresses to access an external shared memory means. Control flags and interrupt signals regulate any conflict in operation between the two memory control circuit card units when accessing the commonly shared memory.

Abstract: A fastener for temporarily holding a SIP in place as it is soldered into a printed circuit board comprises a planar piece of unsolderable material having a body with a slot which is adapted to slip over and hold the SIP; the planar piece of material also has a leg which extends from the body; and the leg has an end section which is parallel to the slot and is adapted to press fit into an unplated anchor hole that goes perpendicular through the board to orient the slot and SIP perpendicular to the board.

Abstract: A disc drive arrangement including RW head actuator driven by an improved voice coil motor, having ceramic back-magnets which are subdivided to give improved magnetic characteristics and operation (increased working flux and an increase in efficiency and effective power acceleration for given current--e.g., thus decreasing "access time").

Abstract: In a continuous printing plant a timer unit is provided with indication whenever a first control is operated to supply power to the printing plant and whenever a second control is operated to inch a new batch of paper into the printer. The timer unit commences a first timing operation of a first predetermined period whenever indication is received from the first or second controls and switches off power to the entire printer if no reset signal is received within the first predetermined period. A sensor detects the movement of a printed paper web between the printer and a set of takeup rollers and indicates the movement to the timer unit. The timer unit initiates a second timing operation whenever it receives indication from the sensor and switches off power to the takeup rollers if indication is not received from the sensor or from the first and second controls within a second predetermined period, thereby independently switching off the takeup rollers in the event of a failure in the printer.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously transmitting both isochronous and nonisochronous data on a local area network includes the steps of: circulating around the network, a first unique signal pattern and at least one occurrence of a second unique signal pattern with a constant time interval between each unique signal pattern and the next one; writing nonisochronous data onto the network from any station and subsequently removing the same in response to a counter that is synchronized to the first unique signal pattern; and simultaneously, writing isochronous data onto the network from any station in response to a counter that is synchronized to each occurrence of the first and second signal patterns.

Abstract: In a digital computing system having multiple controllers, multiple memories and multiple memory interfaces, wherein each controller periodically requests access to a memory, an arbitrator device in the memory interfaces is disclosed, which includes circuitry for granting poll requests of the controllers in a prescribed manner of protocol. The arbitrator of this invention includes an input gating structure, a priority encoder, a poll request register and a grant register. During an arbitration cycle, upon reception of one or more active poll signals from the bus controllers, the respective grant signal of the highest priority active poll is immediately returned to the controller. All non-granted poll inputs are disabled so as to lock out any subsequent poll signals. This provides the granted controller exclusive use and control of the data bus between the controller and the memory interface.