Abstract: Disclosed is a Mini Probe Positioning Actuator which is low in cost and mass, capable of high accelerations, relatively long stroke and compact packaging. The probe positioning actuator is composed of a pair of substantially parallel cantilevered beams, each beam being comprised of flexible, signal carrying cable formed of a polyimide composition which allows for the probe tip to be suspended from and form part of the armature of the actuator. The armature also includes a pair of oppositely wound coils intermediate the beams, which coils coact electromagnetically with a pair of spaced apart but fixedly positioned (relative to the coils/armature) magnets forming a motor for effecting armature and thus probe tip movement. The light mass of the coils and armature and the dual functional purpose of the suspension beams serves to make the probe actuator highly accurate and sensitive while allowing for reliable operation.

Abstract: A light apparatus adapter for attachment to a sports shoe. The apparatus includes a toe shoe form (10) adapted for substantial circumlocution of the upper portion of a toe of a shoe intended for sport use, e.g. skating, hiking, walking etc. The toe shoe form (10) is comprised of a relatively hard, but somewhat flexible plastic shell dimensioned for spaced apart, overlapping and superimposed relation with respect to the upper toe portion of a shoe. At least along the interior marginal and laterally extending edges (14) of the toe shoe form is attached resilient and compressible polyeurathane foam, the interior width ("w") of the opening intermediate or between the interior lateral edges with the resilient and compressible polyeurathane foam in place being less than the width of the toe of the shoe for which the toe shoe form (10) is intended to thereby compress the foam against the toe of the shoe, when in place, inhibiting displacement of the toe shoe form.

Abstract: A computer and printer system in which communication between the computer and printer can be carried out in either a bidirectional mode or a unidirectional mode. As disclosed, the computer operates in a single-threaded multi-tasking environment in which a printer control utility application runs to facilitate bidirectional communication with an attached printer. The application program maintains the computer parallel port in a bidirectional communication and printing mode, but is capable of taking the parallel port out of this mode in order to perform unidirectional printing, either from another application operating in the multi-tasking environment or from a DOS session running in the environment. The printer control utility prevents the mixing of unidirectional and bidirectional print jobs through the parallel port.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Probe Positioning Actuator which is low in cost and mass, capable of high accelerations, relatively long stroke and compact packaging, as well as high in efficiency. The actuator assembly comprises a frame, and at least one pair of spaced apart, laterally extending, conductor carrying, flexible beams attached to the frame. A non-magnetic armature, substantially U-shaped in cross section, is attached adjacent or approximate the extended terminal ends of the beams, and a probe is attached to the base of the "U" of the armature for contacting selected points in the electrical circuit associated with the device being tested. The heart of the actuator includes a coil mounted on the upstanding legs of the U-shaped armature and arranged so that the axis of the coil is perpendicular to the base of the armature but substantially parallel to the probe tip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for pagemap memory representation in RISC controlled printers. The technique disclosed optimizes pagemaps in memory to minimize losses in processor efficiency of processors having data caches, TLB's and virtual memory, due to unavailability of desired data in first the data cache, then the random access memory. The technique is particularly applicable to RISC processors having a plurality of table lookaside buffers, each containing the address of a frame or page of memory, each frame comprising a finite number of bytes of data. This is accomplished by dividing the pagemap into one dimensional array of swaths of scans, each swath containing a two dimensional array of words in column major order. Each of said swaths having a height measured in scans which is a function of frame size, data cache line size and set associativity of the data cache, but which is an integral multiple of the number of words in a data cache line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Probe Positioning Actuator which is low in cost and mass, capable of high accelerations, relatively long stroke and compact packaging, as well as high in efficiency. The actuator assembly comprises a frame, and at least one pair of spaced apart, laterally extending, conductor carrying, flexible beams attached to the frame. A non-magnetic armature, substantially U-shaped in cross section, is attached adjacent or approximate the extended terminal ends of the beams, and a probe is attached to the base of the "U" of the armature for contacting selected points in the electrical circuit associated with the device being tested. The heart of the actuator includes a coil mounted on the upstanding legs of the U-shaped armature and arranged so that the axis of the coil is perpendicular to the base of the armature but substantially parallel to the probe tip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a DC parameter motor tester based on current time response, which tester does not require coupling of the motor (14) to some mechanical device or measuring other noise sensitive parameters taken from only a few discrete data points. As is disclosed, the steady state speed of the motor is determined from the frequency composition of the commutation noise and ripple in the steady state current by performing a fast fourier transform on the steady state current to determine its power-spectral-density which shows the frequency composition of the steady state current waveform by giving the power in the waveform at each frequency. The frequency at which the most power exists is divided by the number or twice the number, depending upon the construction of the motor, of commutation segments in the motor to determine the motor's frequency of rotation or velocity at measured power input.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for proportional ribbon (23) tracking on a printer (20), the printer (20) including a carrier (30) upon which implements of printing, for example the printwheel (25), ribbon (23) and hammer (28) are all mounted for translation opposite a platen (21). Ribbon lift mechanism is provided for effecting elevation of a ribbon (23) to multiple predetermined positions or tracks (1-10) (FIG. 3B) intermediate a printwheel (25) and a platen (21) so that indicia or character may be printed on print receiving medium (22) held thereby. In essence, an input means (11) receives a character to be printed. The microprocessor (13), in conjunction with the ROM (15), characterizes the character in accordance with a predetermined plurality of characteristics. In accordance with ribbon lift and feed algorithms, a particular characteristic of the character to be printed is added to a position on the ribbon upon which at least one prior character has been printed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drive for a ribbon disc (20) for a printer (10), the printer (10) including a printwheel (12) mounted for rotation on the shaft (15) of a printwheel driver (16) and intermediate a print hammer (18) and print receiving means (40). The printwheel driver (16) is connected to the printwheel (12) for effecting rotation thereto to position predetermined petals (14) of the printwheel (12) opposite the hammer (18). A ribbon disc (20) is interposed intermediate the printwheel (12) and the print receiving means (40) and clutch means (31), in one embodiment, is connected to the shaft (15) for coupling and uncoupling the ribbon disc (20) to and from the printwheel driver (16) dependent upon the direction of rotation of the printwheel (12).

Abstract: In a machine (10) such as electronic typewriters having a functional package (30) which contain electronic components (31) and (21) respectively, an interlock (13a, 40, 50) inhibits the plugging in and removal of the functional package (30) without removing the plug end (13a) of a line cord (13) from the receptacle (14) on the machine (10). In the receptacle (14) associated with the plug end (13a) of the line cord is the distal end portion (41) of a biased bellcrank (40). The functional package contains a locking bar (50) which extends horizontally of the package (30). Upon insertion of the power cord plug end (13a) into the housed receptacle (14) the bellcrank (40) is caused to rotate engaging the lock bar (50) by passing through an opening (36a) on one side (37a) of the functional package (30).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical encoder structure which is easily attached to a motor case and shaft in either the factory or field, and which automatically achieves, by its construction, both axial and radial alignment. This is achieved by first securing to a housing by a novel latch, a mounting plate which is spaced a predetermined distance from the housing. A rotatable encoder disc, having a conically shaped hub is placed in an aperture in the housing, the conically shaped hub serving to self center the disc radially relative to the housing. The assembly is pushed onto the motor shaft, and the disc is secured to the shaft. The plate is then attached to the motor case and the housing rotated. This moves the housing into an abutting relationship with the plate and spaces the housing a predetermined distance from the disc. Thus the disc is both axially and radially positioned, no instruments being required to accurately position the housing with respect to the disc or motor.

Abstract: A circuit (30) for regulating the current level in a pulse width modulated stepper motor drive (10), the circuit (30) comprising a clock (26) for providing a signal output at a preset and predetermined frequency and duty cycle. A power supply (Vs) supplies current for energizing the windings (A-D) of a stepping motor, the circuit (30) chopping the current and controlling the chop duty cycle to maintain a predetermined current in stepping motor windings (A-D), the chop frequency being directly related to said clock frequency. The circuit (30) senses the current flowing through the windings (A-D) of the motor, and compares, in a differential amplifier (32), the sensed current to a predetermined current level (Vref).

Abstract: Disclosed is a fastener assembly (10) and fastener (20) in which a post (11) includes a pair of recesses (14a,14b) for mating engagement with a pair of inwardly extending projections (32a,32b,42a,42b) on a nut-like fastener (20). The structure of the coating assembly (10) allows for sliding relative movement between the nut-like fastener (20) and the post (11) when the nut (20) and post (11) are in a first orientation, and when reoriented permits the harder projections (42a,42b,32a,32b) to cut into the post and thereby inhibit disengagement of the nut (20) from the post (11) until the first reorientation is reobtained.

Abstract: A printwheel 20 for a daisy wheel printer 10, the printwheel 20 including a hub portion 23 and a plurality of radially extending, deflectable petals 21 projecting therefrom. The petals include a pad or tip 24 thereon with print forming indicia on one surface 24a thereof and a striking surface on the opposite surface 24b thereof adapted to be struck by a print hammer 30 to move the indicia against paper 16 or other print receiving medium. The striking surface 24b comprises first and second, axially projecting inclined surfaces 25, 26, each of the inclined surfaces being disposed, with respect to the other, to subtend an angle `AN` therebetween in plan.

Abstract: A method for quickly testing stepping motors (10). The motor phases (.PHI.A-.PHI.C) are connected in series, and a constant current is applied to the phases. The rotor (12) of the motor (10) under test is rotated unidirectionally at a constant speed, and the voltage drop across each phase is measured and converted into back EMF. The back EMF is then analyzed to determine a characteristic of the motor (10), for example stepping accuracy of each of the phases, or related torque information, and the result of the analysis is then compared with a predetermined motor parameter to provide comparison data or a signal of a pass or fail condition based upon the comparison.

Abstract: A ribbon lift and feed mechanism for a typewriter/printer (10) in which the print ribbon cartridge (15) has deflectable arms (16a, 16b) for placing the ribbon (13) in a position confronting the platen (11) of the typewriter (10). On the platform (40), supporting the ribbon cartridge (15), is a shuttle (50) which is remotely oscillated as by a drive motor (90) on the frame (12) of the typewriter (10). Translation of the shuttle (50) and the cam (66) associated with the shuttle (50) effects movement of cam follower (66a) engageable with the cam (66), causing the deflectable arms (16a, 16b) of the cartridge (15) to oscillate between a rest and elevated position to place different portions of the print ribbon (13) intermediate the type element (23) and the platen (11). The shuttle (50) also carries ribbon feed drive means (85) which cause an incremental feed of the ribbon (13) after the ribbon has been struck at multiple elevated positions.