Abstract: A computer implemented, graph based method for determining the orientation of objects which can assume a plurality of orientations relative to a default orientation, including being rotated 90.degree. clockwise, mirrored about an X axis, or mirrored about a Y axis, where the X axis and the Y axis are orthogonal to each other, and having a plurality of orientation constraints, including a fixed orientation constraint which requires an object to have one of eight predefined orientations, a same orientation constraint which requires that every object in a set of two or more objects must have the same orientation, a mirrored orientation constraint, which requires that a pair of objects have a mirrored orientation about the X axis or the Y axis, and a same or mirrored orientation constraint, which requires that every object in a set of two or more objects must have either the same orientation or the mirrored orientation.

Abstract: A redundant array of inexpensive tape (RAIT) drives wherein a master tape unit controls a plurality of slave tape units by monitoring their servo and buffer status and sending sync commands, all via data appended to user data sent over a peripheral interface bus interconnecting the master tape unit, the slave tape units, and the host computer. The master tape unit allocates user data received from the host computer between the master tape unit and the slave tape units and controls the slave tape units so that the same length of tape media is processed by the master tape unit and each slave tape unit within the same predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A wireless headset system for use with, e.g. mobile phones, and which incorporates a wireless headset which communicates with a base station via magnetic inductive coupling or radio frequency signals to dial and send or receive calls via a conventional phone, e.g. a mobile phone, attached to the base station. In one embodiment, the mobile phone is carried in the base station which is worn by the user.

Abstract: An ink ribbon assembly is disclosed which includes an ink ribbon, a support for the ink ribbon and data retention means associated with the support. The support, for example, may be a supply spool, a take-up spool, and a rotatable ring. The data retention means may be a nonvolatile memory. Data indicating the ink ribbon characteristics is stored in the memory. Such data may relate to data correcting production variations of ink, the type of ink on the ribbon, and the amount of ribbon left. The ink ribbon assembly is used with a printer device which reads the data from the data retention means, corrects the image printing information in accordance with the read correction data and performs the printing in accordance with the corrected image printing information.

Abstract: To be capable of obtaining diffuse light with a sufficient amount of light, which is not susceptible to the influence of scratches of a film along the length direction, and to be capable of constructing the apparatus in a small size and at a low cost, a digital audio signal S track or P track is formed on the side of the film furtherest to the left of the left perforations or to the right of right perforations of a movie film, respectively. Light from an LED 51 is diffused by an elliptical diffuser 52, the diffusion angle of which is greater along the width direction of the film than along the length direction thereof, and is radiated onto the P track (or the S track). Then, the transmitted light which has passed through the P track (or the S track) is converged onto a line sensor 43A as a result of passing through a lens 42A, and the light is photoelectrically converted by the line sensor 43A, thereby reproducing digital sound.

Abstract: A printer device, and method, is disclosed which is used in conjunction with an ink ribbon assembly. The ink ribbon assembly includes an ink ribbon and a support. A storage device is integrated with the support. Data relating to the ink ribbon characteristics is stored in the storage device. The printer reads the data in the storage device and modifies the supplied print information ascending to the data stored in the ink ribbon assembly. Ink ribbon characteristic data can include production variance, ribbon type, and remaining ribbon data.

Abstract: An apparatus and the method of its operation for rapid prototyping of a three-dimensional object which includes a radiant energy source of a wide beam of radiant energy of suitable intensity and wavelength for curing a layer of photo-curable resin contained in an open vat, a spatial light modulator (SLM) having an array of pixel elements which are individually digitally controllable by a computer, for modulating the radiant energy beam projected from the radiant energy source on a pixel by pixel basis, to form a series of time sequential images of the cross-sectional laminae of the object, an optical system for focusing each image formed by the SLM, one at a time, onto successive layers of photo-curable resin for predetermined exposure times to thereby form stacked laminae of cured resin, each lamina of cured resin being in the shape of a different one of the cross-sectional laminae, and a piston support for lowering each lamina of cured resin after it is formed by the SLM and for depositing a layer of resin

Abstract: A movie film image projecting device wherein a movie film is intermittently stopped in a manner synchronized with rotation of a sprocket by means of travel-synchronizing holes which have been formed longitudinally with respect to the movie film and a light from a light source is projected on a stated region of the movie film at a stopped base position. Detectors for detecting at a plurality of locations the displacement of the film from the base position at the time the movie film has stopped, on the basis of the travel-synchronizing holes, output a different position detection signal corresponding to the deviation of the film from the base position at each of the plurality of locations. An abnormality judging circuit supplied with the position detection signals determines whether or not the position detection signals are abnormal and outputs an abnormality detection signal for each of the position detection signals which is determined to be abnormal.

Abstract: Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) are routinely used to provide visual interfaces between applications and users. Typically, a GUI displays on a screen a menu containing a plurality of menu items. A new menu may be invoked by selecting one of the menu items from the screen. Unfortunately, available GUIs do not provide satisfactory continuity in the transition from a current menu to a subsequent menu. To overcome the shortcomings of the available art, an improved GUI provides an animation in the transition from a current menu to a subsequent menu. Specifically, after a menu item has been selected from a display screen, the selected menu item is continuously moved to the top position of the display screen, while the menu selection is being processed. In the meantime, the subsequent menu items resulting from the menu selection are continuously moved into the display screen.

Abstract: To adapt to the relative small sizes of portable electronic devices, two battery output terminals of rechargeable batteries are frequently deployed in a close vicinity to each other. Consequently, rechargeable batteries are prone to cause output terminals short. To prevent such output terminals from shorting, a switching circuit and an activating signal generating circuit are deployed between a rechargeable battery and a pair of voltage output terminals. In response to an activating signal generated by the activating signal generating circuit, the switching circuit connects the rechargeable battery to the voltage output terminals. In absence of an activating signal, the switching circuit disconnects the rechargeable battery from the voltage output terminals, so that a short of the output terminals will not occur to the rechargeable battery even if the voltage output terminals are directly connected with each other.