Abstract: Disclosed are Power Encoder means for imprinting MICR characters on checks, with optical check-sensing means disposed along a check-transport path, including optical skew-sensor means.

Abstract: A disk drive actuator includes automatic eddy-current braking capability, enhanced by simple modifications of coil-mount structure, such as a split damping ring and spaced-rib array to produce intentional eddy current drag at unacceptably high actuation speeds, e.g., above 75 ips.

Abstract: Technique of integrating cooperating optical-thermal components by providing a single casting for mounting, and positioning them under the working platform of an operating structure, with the casting adapted to be simply, removably coupled to this platform, and arranged to thereby thermally-optically isolate these components from interference with or by this operating structure.

Abstract: A processor is disclosed having two levels of subinstructions, with the processor data bus being selectable as either a 16 bit or 32 bit wide bus under nanoprogram control.

Abstract: "Anti-wander" web-transport arrangements wherein web-means are intermittently advanced, while being monitored for misalignment along the transport-path, and also being automatically urged back into proper alignment along this path. Preferably, this is done with left and right roll means, one of which is selectively urged more tightly against the web to impart superior advance-thrust and so urge the web back into proper alignment.

Abstract: A fast BCD/Binary Adder in which provision is made for selectively performing either binary or BCD arithmetic operations using an approach in which, for BCD addition, an appropriate correction value is always caused to be added to one of the input operands and an appropriate correction value conditionally subtracted from the result where required to give a proper BCD result. High speed operation is achieved by merging the binary input logic with the correction logic so as to provide for addition of the correction value concurrently with the addition of the input operands in a manner which automatically takes into account any inter-bit carries that may be produced by the correction value. In addition, provision is made for concurrently producing conditional sums (one assuming the presence of an input carry and the other assuming the absence of a carry) in parallel with the performance of look-ahead carry operations.

Abstract: A connector is disclosed for coupling pins on a printed circuit board to respective mating pins on a gate-array or like plug-in device; the connector is characterized by "floating ring" engagers based within, and adapted to resiliently couple a pair of such mating pins.

Abstract: A linear actuator for reciprocating a read/write head mechanism relative to a magnetic disk storage system, including a second, supplemental solenoid coil and associated magnet pole in addition to the usual arrangement, by way of improving linearity and efficiency. A low reluctance end cap connects the magnet poles to a central coke.

Abstract: A real time graphic processor is disclosed which processes graphic cell specifications on a scan line-by-line basis to generate pixel data. The pixel data from each cell specification is assembled to form a completed scan line of pixel data which is used to modulate a printing element, such as a laser diode. The invented graphic processor contains a special purpose cell specification processor which, in addition to generating the pixel data, modifies the cell specification by substituting new horizontal location and cell height indicator values. The modified graphic cell specification is then recirculated to the cell specification processor memory for processing the next scan line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a processor and method for the real time generation of linear arrays of pixel data. The generated pixel data is used to modulate a laser diode as it scans across a printing medium, thereby producing printed font and logo characters.In accordance with the present invention, the real time processor receives a series of cell specifications on a scan line-by-scan line basis, the cell specifications identifying the font type and placement information. The real-time processor uses this information to access from its font memory a linear array of pixel data corresponding to the identified font type. The accessed pixel data is used to modulate the laser diode as it scans the printing medium line-by-line. Thus, as the laser diode is modulated by the pixel's "ones" and "zeros", it is pulsed "off" and "on", thereby generating pixel dots on the print medium itself or on a photosensitive drum which subsequently prints an image on a page through an electrostatic process.

Abstract: In a continuous printing plant a timer unit is provided with indication whenever a first control is operated to supply power to the printing plant and whenever a second control is operated to inch a new batch of paper into the printer. The timer unit commences a first timing operation of a first predetermined period whenever indication is received from the first or second controls and switches off power to the entire printer if no reset signal is received within the first predetermined period. A sensor detects the movement of a printed paper web between the printer and a set of takeup rollers and indicates the movement to the timer unit. The timer unit initiates a second timing operation whenever it receives indication from the sensor and switches off power to the takeup rollers if indication is not received from the sensor or from the first and second controls within a second predetermined period, thereby independently switching off the takeup rollers in the event of a failure in the printer.

Abstract: A microcontroller for controlling a digital device which controller is formed of a plurality of control stores each of which is provided with a register counter to address different locations within corresponding control store. Each control store is accessed each clock cycle and an instruction register is provided to receive one of the fetched microinstructions from the selected control store. In this manner, a microinstruction is presented to the instruction register each clock cycle even though the previous microinstruction was a conditional branch, a jump to subroutine or a return to subroutine instruction. In order to accommodate jump to subroutine and corresponding return from subroutine instructions, the respective address of the return subroutine is stored in a push-down stack for presentation to a selected one of the above-referred-to register counters in an order the reverse of the order in which those addresses were placed on the top of the stack.

Abstract: In a rotating disc information storage system, a cover is designed to induct laminary airflow at the disc surface and to reduce the impurity level of the disc atmosphere. The laminar airflow results from the shape of the cover which closely conforms to the contours of the disc and its drive spindle and is closely spaced thereto. The impurity level is reduced by the spiral airflow produced by disc rotation being provided to a divergent filter duct and filter to capture airborn particles. The divergent filter duct and opening to the duct are formed between the cover and a wall around the periphery of the disc. The position of the wall is mechanically adjustable to control the spiral airflow into the filter duct. Air is filtered and returned to the disc storage system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the lowcost assembly of precision optical devices utilizing single or multiple bounces. The apparatus makes use of a precision machined alignment platform to support optical mirrors in precise alignment. A low cost holding structure is clamped over the alignment platform to position one of a plurality of connected sections adjacent to the back of each mirror. An adhesive is injected through holes provided in the holding structure adjacent to the back of each mirror. The adhesive bridges each mirror to the holding structure in a position corresponding exactly to the position of the mirrors on the alignment platform, thereby eliminating any need to adjust the mirrors for correct alignment.

Abstract: In a display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope containing at least two arrays of electrodes defining gas-filled cells, at least one array of electrodes is insulated from the gas and comprises A.C. electrodes. If the panel is turned off for any length of time with display information contained therein, the information can be re-displayed by applying special pulses during a re-ignition period and then applying normal sustaining pulses during the normal display period.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved electrostatic ink jet printing system which provides a potential barrier to block static charges built up on a recording medium from influencing the electric field which draws a liquid imaging material from an ink jet nozzle to the recording medium. The system's ink jet nozzle is supplied with a liquid imaging material at a hydrostatic pressure such that a meniscus of the imaging material forms at the tip of the ink jet nozzle. A conductive platen is positioned in front of the exit oriface of the ink jet nozzle and the recording medium is interposed between the conductive platen and the tip of the ink jet nozzle. A potential difference is applied between the platen and the ink jet nozzle in order to generate the electric field. The potential barrier is effected by providing a conductive plate having an aperture between the recording member and the ink jet nozzle, the platen and plate maintained at an identical potential level.

Abstract: Disclosed is an energy detection circuit for use in a facsimile system autodialer/controller. The circuit monitors a telephone line and nulls out transmit tones leaving only receive signals. The analog receive signals are processed to produce a digital signal indicating the on-off times of receive energy on the telephone line. The energy on-off times may then be evaluated by a microprocessor included in the facsimile system autodialer/controller to determine whether a dial tone, busy signal or ring back is being received.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a programmable unit employing plural levels of sub-instruction sets in addition to conventional instruction sets. The conventional level of instruction sets is employed to specify computational routines and other processing algorithms to be carried out by the unit. Each instruction in a conventional set is implemented in the unit by a sequence of first level sub-instructions which specify the various operations to be carried out within the unit which operations are comprised within the specific routine. In turn, the various first level sub-instructions are implemented by second level sub-instructions which specify the various control signals required to set the various gates as required for the particular unit operation to be carried out. With this hierarchy of sub-instruction sets, first level sub-instruction sets may be interchanged dynamically during the operation of the unit to dynamically change the processing capability of the unit.

Abstract: A method of allocating available bandwidth between stations configured in a write token controlled loop communications network. When a station desires to reserve additional bandwidth to itself, it captures the write token and transmits a bandwidth allocation token which includes a field indicating the originating station's amount of currently reserved bandwidth. Each station on the loop adds to the field the amount of its currently reserved bandwidth. When the allocation token arrives back at the originating station, the write token is regenerated and transmitted. If the total amount of currently reserved bandwidth indicated in the allocation token plus the desired additional bandwidth sought to be reserved is less than the allocatable bandwidth, then the reservation is granted. The additional bandwidth desired is then added to the total reserved by the originating station.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an insulated electrical contact pin for use in making wiring changes in an interconnection medium such as a printed circuit board or backplane. More specifically, the present pin replaces the original compliant press-fit type pin mounted in a plated-through hole on the board. The pin is formed in two sections--one section having a threaded extremity, and the other, a tapped bore to receive the former. The pin is mounted in a plated-through hole on the printed wiring board by screwing the two sections together. Portions of the pin sections are electrically insulated from the wiring traces situated on or below the board surface. The present contact pin is versatile, easy to install and tolerance-free with respect to the dimensions of the plated-through hole in which it is mounted.