Abstract: A document data input system for a scanner capable of storing scanner data to another buffer memory of a microprocessor when applying the scanned data to a host computer. The document data input system comprises a host computer for storing scanned data to its internal hard disk, a scanner for scanning the document data, a scanner interface unit for interfacing between the host computer and the scanner, a microprocessor associated with a global memory and a local memory, and an interface unit for latching the data from the scanner interface unit and applying the data to the microprocessor, and applying a completion signal to the scanner interface unit when the data input to the microprocessor is completed.

Abstract: Method and device which is to be used for the implementation thereof for transforming a liquid flow into a gas flow, whereby the liquid flow is led into a space in which the liquid evaporates and the vapour which thus arises is carried off mixed with a carrier gas. By ensuring that the carrier gas flow is passed directly past the liquid inlet port, whereby a complete mixing of both is achieved, and by keeping the way to the evaporation space short, a stabile and continuous gas flow is obtained. The provisions for mixing and evaporation are integrated in the device.

Abstract: A continuous molded electronic component assembly process in which a continuous line of components are supplied on reels for assembly and insertion. The supply reels of electronic components are made by an injection molding process, reeled and supplied to assembly and insertion machines. The assembly and insertion machines provide the means for removing, assembling and inserting the electronic components. Examples of the process, but not limited to, are shunts, wire end terminals and pilot posts.

Abstract: A sonic sinker connected to a fish line of a fishing tackle in order to positively and selectively fish up black bass. The sonic sinker comprises a sinker main body formed of free cutting brass. An air chamber maintaining a water-tight seal is formed inside the sinker main body. A pipe-shaped section is provided within the air chamber and extending vertically to across the air chamber. A ring-shaped member is movably disposed with the air chamber and located around the pipe-shaped section so as to be vertically and laterally movable. The ring-shaped member is formed of free cutting brass and strikable against the inner wall of the sinker main body upon vibration of the sinker main body, thereby generating melodious sound to be emitted outside of the sinker main body.

Abstract: A magnetic structure is provided having a pair of spaced apart magnetized elements having surfaces in a common plane that defines a wall of a cavity. The space between the first and second magnetized elements is formed with at least one slit extending perpendicularly to the common plane. In order to compensate for field distortion in the cavity, a magnetized element is provided in at least one of the slits, the material in the slit having a remanence that is different from the remanences of the spaced apart magnetized elements that define the structure. In modifications of the invention, the field distortion is compensated by including at least one component in the cavity that has a high magnetic permeability. This component, has a variable thickness. It may be formed of a single component, or of a plurality of plates. In a still further embodiment, for a yokeless magnetic structure, field distortion compensation is effected by positioning magnetized elements outside of the magnetic structure.

Abstract: In a digitizer and method for laying out and using the tablet of the digitizer, wherein the tablet provides unambiguous binary code outputs. The digitizer may employe a cordless transducer and signal processing circuitry providing relative phase detection for determining coarse location of the transducer. An unambiguous binary code output is obtained with a grid layout which generates a set of unique binary codes, none of which is the the same or the binary inverse of any other member of the set.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to control the velocity and spacing of a spaced feed of objects, includes a member rotatable about an axis and having at least one receptacle, the objects being fed into the apparatus in spaced succession so that they are captured in the receptacle and so that they acquire the circular motion of the member. The receptacle has means for releasing the objects so that they are projected with a predetermined velocity and with a predetermined frequency. The phase relationship of a rotatable feeder and the rotatable member is controlled by generating a signal representative of the phase difference of the rotatable members, filtering the signal for maintaining loop stability and controlling the drive means of the rotatable member using the signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying documents and classes of documents. The documents are provided with distinctive logotypes which are preferably at the top of each document. The coding of the logotypes is by the use of distinctive angular alignments in the logotype. The logotype is scanned at different angles in order to determine angular "signatures" for comparison with a predetermined power distribution.

Abstract: A reactive ionized cluster beam deposition method according to this invention is embodied by utilizing two vacuum subregions partitioned by a partition wall formed with an opening. A closed heating crucible and an ionization accelerating unit are disposed in one vacuum subregion partitioned by the partition wall. A substrate is also disposed in the other vacuum subregion, and at the same time a reactive gas is introduced thereinto. Degrees of vacuums in the two vacuum subregions partitioned by the partition wall are equal to or different from each other. Particularly, a gas concentration in the latter vacuum subregion is enhanced. Then, the ionized cluster beams formed in the former vacuum subregion are introduced into the latter vacuum subregion via the opening of the partition wall and react to the reactive gas within the latter vacuum subregion. The ionized cluster beams reacting to the reactive gas impinge on the substrate, thereby forming the deposited film on the substrate surface.

Abstract: A high field strength permanent magnet has a plurality of layers, with at least two of the layers being formed of materials of different remanence. The remanence of the material of each layer is no greater than that of the layers thereunder, and is preferably less than the remanence of all underlying layers.The inner layer may be formed of a magnetic structure in which all or part of a basic yoke has been replaced by a shunt of active material. Such a shunt may alternatively be employed in a single layer magnetic structure.

Abstract: A QW diode laser generating orthogonally polarized multiple beams. The device incorporates quantum well active regions capable of, transitions to heavy hole and light hole band edges. The heavy hole transition provides TE-mode gain, while the light hole band provides mostly TM-mode gain. By controlling the compositions and thicknesses of the active regions, both modes can be obtained in a monolithic structure. In addition, the resulting laser polarization will be very sensitive to the threshold carrier density. With an intracavity loss modulator in such a structure, the polarization can also be controlled. Other ways of causing side-by-side lasers to operate, respectively, in their TE or TM modes are also described.

Abstract: Method for recovering cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe) from batteries containing the steps of: (a) reducing the size of the batteries to small pieces and separating the pieces into a coarse fraction and a fine fraction with the coarse fraction further separated into a magnetic and a non-magnetic fraction; (b) leaching out the fraction at approximately 90.degree. C.; (c) removing the Cd; (d) stripping the extractant and separating metallic Cd therefrom; (e) converting Fe-ions into (solid) Fe hydroxide and filtering; (f) recovering Ni from the filtrate.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a method and apparatus for counteracting the effects of a localized drag on a sheet medium as it is being moved by a drive system, for example, in a printer or plotter to prevent misregistration of the sheet medium with the X-axis drive system as the sheet medium is moved past the print or plot head which creates a drag thereon. The sheet medium is stiffened in the region thereof which is contacted by the print or plot head by bending the sheet medium in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the sheet medium. The bend may be provided by a curved guide located between the print or plot head and the X-axis drive system. Friction is reduced between the sheet medium and the curved guide by mounting the curved guide, e.g., one or more rollers, to rotate freely under the action of the sheet medium moving thereover, or by pneumatically supporting the sheet medium above the curved guide as the sheet medium is moved thereover.

Abstract: A computer-controlled graphics display system providing improved means for selecting objects for joint action. The invention helps the user of a graphical user interface more easily select a group of objects that are meaningfully related to each other. Objects are usually created serially in time by a user, but they are typically selected by spatial grouping in graphical user interfaces. The invention shows that such a spatial grouping can be refined by considering the temporal grouping of objects. Algorithms are proposed which combine both spatial and temporal grouping to produce the most appropriate grouping of objects, i.e., groupings that most likely conform to the user's intentions.

Abstract: A thin, flexible tubular membrane provides a heat containment tube for inserting into and inflation within an underground conduit to be repaired. Folded rigid thermoplastic pipe is inserted into the tube while not and flexible. The tubular membrane is pressurized to exclude unwanted fluids from within the existing conduit. Hot steam is injected into the tube to heat the pipe full-length externally and internally until flexible. The pipe is then rounded and expanded against the walls of the conduit with the tube therebetween. The rounding and expanding of the pipe is carried out progressively by moving a plug through the pipe and by injecting hot steam under pressure behind the plug.

Abstract: An overlap apparatus for a digital TV includes an overlap control unit for controlling the overlap operation of the apparatus by the selection of the user. An overlap processing unit gradually increases the level of an input video signal and gradually decreases the level of a feedback video signal in an overlap mode control of the overlap control unit, to generate an overlapped video signal. An overflow limiting unit limits the overflow characteristic of the output signal from the overlap processing unit. An overlap video storing unit stores the output signal from the overflow limiting unit in a normal mode control of the overlap control unit and outputs the signal stored therein as the feedback video signal to the overlap processing unit in the overlap mode control of the overlap control unit. A D/A converter converts the output signal from the overflow limiting unit into an analog signal.

Abstract: A QW diode laser whose polarization can be switched. In one embodiment, the device incorporates a tensile strained quantum well active region, whose thickness is adjusted so that the heavy hole and light hole band edges are of the same energy. Since the heavy hole transition provides TE-mode gain, while the light hole band provides mostly TM-mode gain, the resulting laser polarization will be very sensitive to the threshold carrier density. With an intracavity loss modulator in such a structure, the polarization could be switched. Other switching techniques are also described.