Abstract: When receiving input scan lines from a conventional scanner, a system of the present invention simultaneously provides a sequence of pixels for display and a second sequence of pixels for storage, for example on a hard disk. A pixel for display has an intensity resolution greater than a pixel of the input scan line. The intensities of scan line pixels in a 16 by 16 matrix are accumulated for incrementally revising the intensity of the pixel to display. An incremental intensity is identified by a table indexing technique. The second sequence is the result of performing a data compression method on two sets of transitions. Each set is derived from an input scan line by noting the run length between changes in intensity. Intensities in one embodiment have single bit resolution. A subset of transitions is identified by a table indexing technique. Disk writes are delayed until a buffer has exceeded a limit value.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes one or more rechargeable cells and means for providing information to control charging. Information is provided in a form for being read or sensed by mechanical, optical, electromagnetic, or electronic techniques including combinations of these techniques. The information may indicate battery performance history, present state of the battery, and parameters for how it may be charged. As to performance history, the information may include, for the battery or a cell of the battery, indicia describing: one or more previous charging or discharging processes, of the last charging process, of the last discharging process, of the time period lapsed since the last charging or discharging process. The information may include indicia of the present charge state and condition of the battery or its individual cells.

Abstract: Application of a release agent onto the interior surfaces of a commercial bakery trough is accomplished by a system for dispensing a gel having two spray head assemblies. While the trough is stationary, each head in turn descends into the trough and propels the release agent onto a portion of the interior surfaces including side walls, an end wall, and the bottom wall of the trough. Each head includes a disc that spins to distribute the release agent. An edge on the disc defines a predetermined spray pattern. Waste of release agent due to overspray is minimized by controlling a release agent valve in the head, controlling disc rotation, and monitoring position of the head in the trough.

Abstract: A method of charging rechargeable batteries with a switch mode power supply, the method comprising determining one or more battery charging parameters, and controlling the power output of the switch mode power supply by digitally generating a gate signal for controlling opening periods and closing periods of a switching means of the switch mode power supply, each of the durations of the opening periods and the closing periods of the switching means, respectively, being determined in response to the determined one or more battery charging parameters and one or more charging process reference values. In particular, a method is proposed of controlling the duty cycle of a switch in the switch mode power supply during charging of the battery based on determinations of one or more characteristic charging parameters of the charging process and comparisons of determined parameter values with desired parameter values.

Abstract: The throttle of an engine in an engine driven generator system operating subject to a wide and rapidly variable load, as in supplying current to a welder, is operated such that control signals are sent to a throttle actuator for adjusting the engine throttle position in response to load changes. The throttle actuator may be a solenoid pulling against a spring in accordance with the average current through the solenoid coil. In this embodiment, the processor causes pulse width modulated signals to be applied across the solenoid coil with throttle position changes being reflected in changes to the width of the pulses, such changes in the pulse width being delayed for at least the predetermined time since the last preceding adjustment to the throttle.