Abstract: A method for generating character pattern data includes steps of providing contour information of a character having m.sub.1 .times.m.sub.2 coordinate values in a coordinate space; and making and outputting gradated character pattern data of l.sub.1 .times.l.sub.2 picture elements for an output device having n gradiations per picture element (where m.sub.1, m.sub.2, l.sub.1, l.sub.2, and n are positive integers). In an image making method, picture subelements provided by dividing an original picture element are set as a scanning unit and an image is made by scanning conversion using the picture element having a gradation to perform a coloring operation with respect to the interior of a two-dimensional contour line.

Abstract: A call selective receiver body includes a built-in rechargeable small battery and a small vibrator, and a belt clip for receiving the receiver body includes a built-in dry battery having an electric capacity significantly greater than that of the small battery in the receiver body and a relatively large built-in vibrator. When the receiver body is put into the belt clip, a vibrator control signal output terminal of the receiver body is connected with a vibrator control signal input terminal of the belt clip, and electric power input terminals of the receiving body are connected with electric power output terminals of the belt clip, whereby the electric power source for the receiver is switched from the smaller battery in the receiver body to the greater battery in the belt clip; the rechargeable small battery in the receiver body starts being recharged; and the vibrator in the belt clip is made in action.

Abstract: In a vehicle-mounted charging apparatus for a portable telephone set comprising a portable telephone set and a vehicle-mounted charger in combination, a constant voltage charging control microcomputer in the charger receives information on a voltage of a battery pack and information on the on/off state of power supply to the telephone set and performs charging control so that rapid charging is performed within an appropriate charging temperature range, while trickle charging is performed outside the appropriate charging temperature range, on the basis of information on the temperatures in the battery pack detected by a temperature sensor 15 provided in the battery pack. When trickle charging should be performed, a charging-special microcomputer is switched to a trickle charging mode. In this state, when the telephone set is supplied with power from the battery pack and the voltage of the battery pack is low, a constant voltage source in the charger is operated to supply power to the telephone set.

Abstract: An image area dicriminating device for a digital copier, facsimile machine, scanner or similar imaging equipment. The device determines whether areas constituting an input image each has undergone dot processing or not automatically.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a detection part for detecting an inclination of an outline from an image data stored in a memory, a dot counting part responsive to the detected inclination of the outline from the detection part for calculating selectively the number of successive dots aligned along a horizontal line and ending with a change of one dot in a vertical direction or the number of successive dots aligned along a vertical line and ending with a change of one dot in a horizontal direction and for supplying a counted number of successive dots, and a correction part for generating a plurality of correction dots which are arranged along a new horizontal line vertically changed by one dot from the horizontal line or a new vertical line horizontally changed by one dot from the vertical line on the basis of the counted number from the dot counting part and for supplying the plurality of correction dots to an output memory so as to produce a visually smooth outline in the output memory.

Abstract: A binarization method obtains an optimum threshold value for binarization which is used when converting a multi-level image data which describes an input image into a black-and-white bi-level image data. The binarization method includes the steps of counting a first number of black picture elements by varying a threshold value from a darkest tone level to a lightest tone level, counting a second number of picture elements having a tone level other than the lightest tone level, obtaining a percentage of the first number with respect to the second number for each of the varied threshold values so as to normalize a density of the input image, and determining the optimum threshold value for binarization based on the percentage which is obtained for each of the varied threshold values.

Abstract: Cells and the like, such as granular cells, granular microorganisms and gel beads which embrace cells or microorganisms, are arranged on a support member in a single layer. A detector detects each optical property of the cells and the like, and detectors detect each position of the cells and the like with respect to the structure. Data obtained by the detectors are stored in a memory device. According to the stored data, a controll device moves a pickup member relatively in the three dimensional directions with respect to the support member. The pickup member picks up any of the cells and the like which has a specific optical property via an adhesive. Each of the specific cells and the like which adheres to the pickup member is releasable from the pickup member.

Abstract: Charging equipment includes a portable apparatus charging portion for receiving a portable apparatus containing a cell pack to be charged, and a simple cell pack charging portion for receiving a simple cell pack separated from the portable apparatus and charging the same. The charging equipment is able to charge not only a portable charging apparatus containing a cell pack, but also a simple separable cell pack.

Abstract: After sampling a voice signal by a microphone (31), a voice interval is detected by a voice interval detector (32). Then, the voice signal is processed by a frequency analyzer (33) having a predetermined number of channels at a predetermined time interval, whereby a corresponding portion of the voice signal is quantized at each channel. Then, quantized data obtained from these channels are binary converted (34) to thereby form a frame comprised of a series of binary data. Each data of this frame corresponds to one of the channels, and preferably it is set to be an integral multiple of a computer calculation unit (e.g., 4 bits, 8 bits, etc.). When forming a combination frame by superimposing two or more of such frames, the combination frame is divided into layers, whereby it is so structured that each bit is represented by a binary number in each layer.

Abstract: A sparger container comprises a pair of opposed end walls, a pair of opposed side walls, and a closed floor. The closed floor has an open-topped, longitudinally-extending channel and two generally planar sides slanting upwardly from the top edges of the channel to the side walls. A sparger system is provided immediately above the floor and includes a generally rectangular network of pipes disposed along the inner perimeter of the side and end walls, and at least one inlet providing fluid communication between a source of pressurized fluid and the pipes. The sparger system can also include a pipe positioned above the channel. Each of the pipes is provided with a plurality of holes therethrough, which are evenly-spaced circumferentially and are positioned at spaced intervals along the lengths of the pipes. An outlet for the container is positioned at one end of the channel and extends through one of the end walls.

Abstract: This invention relates to a continuously tunable external cavity light source and a process for adjusting the source. The source includes a laser, a diffraction grating placed on the laser's axis that together with the laser forms an external cavity, and an arm rigidly connected to the diffraction grating and having a mobile end permanently in contact with a slide plane perpendicular to the laser's optical axis. The source is tuned by shifting the diffraction grating. Fine adjustment of the slide plane is achieved by simultaneously rotating the grating and measuring the emissive power of the source as a function of the grating rotation. The number of jumps of the emissive power is counted with respect to the current injected, fine adjustment means are used in accordance with result of the count, and the counting and fine adjustment steps are repeated until the result of the count is zero.

Abstract: A stackable, nestable, multi-level tray or basket useful for storing and transporting baked goods is provided which includes a floor and a pair of upstanding side walls configured for stacking identical trays as well as allowing the stacking of a tray with smaller, overall dimensions. The structure enables identical trays to slide on to each other in stacked or nested configurations. A multi-level tray includes sidewalls with a plurality of upright stacking posts extending from the floor to a vertical strip of material. Each stacking post flares out at its top end to a cantilevered, extending flat portion. Trays of smaller overall dimensions than the disclosed tray can be advantageously stacked on these extending flat portions.

Abstract: Plastic substrates, such as but not limited to phenolic cellulosic composites such as those used in conventional toilet seats, are heated at a temperature and for a time sufficient to degas the substrate, and are then coated with a powder, and heated to cure the powder coating. In a preferred embodiment, a water-based electrically conductive coating is first applied to a phenolic cellulosic composite, and cured while the substrate is heated to degas the substrate sufficiently, such that a subsequently applied powder coating will not suffer from popping during curing. In a preferred embodiment, it is not necessary for the part to be at a temperature at or above the cure temperature of the coating during application of the powder coating in order to avoid popping, provided the substrate has been sufficiently degassed.

Abstract: A 3-dimensional (3-D) Computer Aided Design (CAD) System generates a fillet surface which smoothly connects two surfaces to each other. This is accomplished by sliding a circle on a normal plane of a user-designated spine curve which is in contact with two surfaces. Then, the fillet surface is approximated by Gregory patches which are generated from trajectories of two tangent points between the circle and the two surfaces. The fillet surface thus expressed by the Gregory patches is easily and efficiently processed in computers such as those in 3D CAD systems. Because the fillet surface is generated along the spine curve, various fillet surfaces, including that generated by the conventional rolling-ball blending method, can be generated to satisfy various needs of designers of 3-D CAD Systems.

Abstract: A strainer basket is integrally connected to a rectangular frame that is integrally connected to an elongated handle. At the end of the handle opposite from the frame, the handle broadens into a grip and then narrows and terminates in a small hook; the small hook is designed for removing the covers of skimmer wells in swimming pools. An elongated flange projects from the rectangular frame on the frame side opposite to the handle, and forms an elongated hook that is useful for grasping skimmer basket handles; thus, the tool permits removal and cleaning of skimmer baskets from pool skimmer wells without the user having to bend over and risk contact of their hands with pool scum, dead leaves, and the occasional live snake or other undesirable live or deceased animals encountered during the cleaning of pool skimmers.

Abstract: Equipment for welding pipe elements of a melt-weldable plastic material comprises a heatable metal plate and first and second heat-conductive elements attached respectively to first and second opposed faces of the plate. The first element has a concave melting surface of elliptical cross-section which is complementary in shape to that of the circumference of a manifold pipe to be heat-welded. The melting surface is raised and has a reduced wall thickness along its minor axis and is depressed and has an increased thickness along its major axis. A pipe fitting for use with the welding tool has a welding end which is substantially identical in configuration to that of the melting surface of the first element. The second element is complementary in shape to the end of the pipe fitting for melting the welding end of the pipe fitting.

Abstract: Hydrophilic glass fibers are formed by coating glass fibers with a blend of an amine-aldehyde with an acrylic. Evaporative cooler pads are produced by coating glass fibers with a blend of an acrylic and an amine-aldehyde during hot melt spinning of the glass fibers into a web, followed by drawing the web to expand the web or mat into a porous pad, and curing the pad to produce a dimensionally stable, hydrophilic, porous, glass fiber pad. Preferably, the glass fibers are coated with a binding/hydrophilic coating formed of a blend of a urea-formaldehyde with an acrylic. A method for cooling air using the hydrophilic, porous, glass fiber pads, and an improved evaporative cooler utilizing hydrophilic, porous, glass fiber pads is disclosed.

Abstract: A power driven workpiece infeed conveyor supports a honeycomb-stone-honeycomb laminate on edge for feeding to an elevator conveyor in a work station. A fixed rear vertical panel of vacuum pads and a forward movable vertical panel of vacuum pads are separated by a space into which the workpiece is lifted by the elevator conveyor. The forward movable panel is moved rearwardly to cause the vacuum pad panels to engage front and rear surfaces of the workpiece and a source of vacuum is connected to the vacuum pads. The elevator conveyor is then lowered so that the workpiece is supported solely by the vacuum pads. A driven horizontal cutter wire flight then moves downwardly through the entire vertical dimension of the stone slab center portion of the workpiece to cut the workpiece into two stone-honeycomb panels.