Abstract: A rebreather apparatus includes at least one pressurized container of oxygen, at least one pressurized container of a diluting gas, and at least one valve to supply the oxygen and diluting gas to a rebreathing loop. The valve is controlled by a signal from at least one oxygen sensor, wherein the oxygen and diluting gas combine to form a breathing gas that is circulated by the rebreathing loop. At least one container of calibrating gas stores the calibrating gas at ambient pressure and temperature. At least one valve is connected to the at least one oxygen sensor presenting the calibrating gas to the oxygen sensor during calibration of the oxygen sensor and presenting the breathing gas to the oxygen sensor at all other times.

Abstract: A sports mask is disclosed that includes either: a snorkel and a SCUBA unit; a color underwater camera; a 3D color underwater camera; an augmented reality display projected onto the lens; a co-axial breathing hose-to-scuba unit; computerized underwater navigation; non-GPS computerized underwater navigation; a computerized navigation system that combines visual edge recognition and inertia navigation; an optical transponder; or RF communications.

Abstract: A highly automated, fully-closed circuit rebreather and methods for operating the device by users with limited training and limited skill development are disclosed. Advanced sensors, electronics, software, assembly methods, and disposable cartridges dramatically reduce the skills required for assembly, operation, and maintenance of the unit. The use of the rebreather apparatus is primarily for recreational diving applications, but may be used for additional applications where the presence of breathable air may be absent or limited, such as hazardous duty applications, high altitude applications, no-atmosphere or low-atmosphere applications, and the like.

Abstract: A rebreather apparatus includes at least one pressurized container of oxygen, at least one pressurized container of a diluting gas, and at least one valve to supply the oxygen and diluting gas to a rebreathing loop. The valve is controlled by a signal from at least one oxygen sensor, wherein the oxygen and diluting gas combine to form a breathing gas that is circulated by the rebreathing loop. At least one container of calibrating gas stores the calibrating gas at ambient pressure and temperature. At least one valve is connected to the at least one oxygen sensor presenting the calibrating gas to the oxygen sensor during calibration of the oxygen sensor and presenting the breathing gas to the oxygen sensor at all other times.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a plurality of bitmaps suitable for high-speed printing includes the steps of: (a) providing a page description code specification that defines a data area and at least one graphical attribute associated with the data area, where the graphical attribute defines the appearance of at least a portion of data associated with the data area; (b) interpreting the page description code specification, and during this interpretation, identifying the data area defined by the page description code specification; (c) storing the graphical attribute associated with the data area upon identification of the data area in step (b); (d) retrieving an object bitmap; (e) applying the stored graphical attribute to the object bitmap to generate a bitmap suitable for high-speed printing; and (g) repeating steps (d) and (e) to create a plurality of bitmaps suitable for high-speed printing such that the stored graphical attribute is applied repeatedly in the generation of the plurality of t

Abstract: A method for generating a page description language specification for a variable-enabled print job, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a merge file including a plurality of variable data items; and (b) operating a graphics application program to generate a page description language specification representing a print job to be printed; the operating step including the steps of: (i) displaying a representation of an image of the print job on a workstation associated with the graphics application program; (ii) creating, using the graphics application program, a data area of the print job; (iii) designating, using the graphics application program, the data area as a variable data area to be merged with bitmap representations of the variable data items in the merge file; and (iv) generating by the graphics application at least one instruction in the page description language specification defining the data area, and at least one tag in the page description language specification designating the data area as a

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a bitmap suitable for high-speed variable printing, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a page description language file, the page description language file defining at least one variable data area and at least one static data area; (b) interpreting the page description language file, and during the interpreting step: (i) generating a static bitmap of the static data area, (ii) identifying the variable data area, and (iii) responsive to the identification of the variable data area, not adding a bitmap of the variable data area to the static bitmap; and (c) saving the static bitmap, whereby the saved static bitmap is used repeatedly in the generation of a plurality of documents, each of which contain the static bitmap and a variable data bitmap.

Abstract: Improvements to a method for flowing variable data, such as text data, image data, bar code data, and the like, into a path of a template defined by a PDL specification in a high-speed printing operation.

Abstract: A method for flowing data, such as text data, into an arbitrary path defined by a page description language specification (“PDL specification”) generally comprises the steps of: identifying a path defined in the PDL specification as a datawrapping path; associating a data block with the data-wrapping path; and generating a bitmap representation of the data block according to the path boundary and according to a predefined flow rule. Preferably, the identifying step includes the steps of associating a graphics state with the path and storing the graphics state in memory, and the generating step includes the step of applying the stored graphics state to the data block. Therefore, the generating step can be repeated for multiple data blocks to generate multiple bit map representations. The text wrapping path is preferably identified in the PDL specification by an attribute string associated with the path.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a plurality of bit maps suitable for high-speed printing includes the steps of: (a) providing a page description code specification, where the page description code specification defines at least one data area, and the page description code further defines a graphics state corresponding to the data area, where the graphics state including at least one attribute which controls the appearance of data in the data area; (b) interpreting the page description code specification, and during the interpretation step, identifying the data area defined by the page description code specification; (c) upon the identification of the variable data area in step (b), applying the graphics state corresponding to the data area to a set of alphanumeric characters so as to generate a plurality of character bit maps; (d) storing the plurality of character bit maps; (e) retrieving a variable data item from a plurality of variable data items; (f) associating the variable data item with th

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a bitmap suitable for high-speed variable printing, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a page description language file, the page description language file defining at least one variable data area and at least one static data area; (b) interpreting the page description language file, and during the interpreting step: (i) generating a static bitmap of the static data area, (ii) identifying the variable data area, and (iii) responsive to the identification of the variable data area, not adding a bitmap of the variable data area to the static bitmap; and (c) saving the static bitmap, whereby the saved static bitmap is used repeatedly in the generation of a plurality of documents, each of which contain the static bitmap and a variable data bitmap.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a bitmap suitable for high-speed variable printing, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a page description language file, the page description language file defining at least one variable data area and at least one static data area; (b) interpreting the page description language file, and during the interpreting step: (i) generating a static bitmap of the static data area, (ii) identifying the variable data area, and (iii) responsive to the identification of the variable data area, not adding a bitmap of the variable data area to the static bitmap; and (c) saving the static bitmap, whereby the saved static bitmap is used repeatedly in the generation of a plurality of documents, each of which contain the static bitmap and a variable data bitmap.

Abstract: A computerized method for controlling the density of pixels deposited by a print engine includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a two-dimensional pixel map of an image to be printed; (b) comparing a value of a first pixel element in the pixel map with values of pixel elements adjacent to the first pixel element in the pixel map; (c) changing the value of the first pixel element responsive to a determination, in the comparing step, that a predetermined number of pixel elements adjacent to the first pixel element have the same value as the first pixel element; and (d) dispatching the pixel map to a print engine. The comparing step (b) includes the steps of assigning like-value pixel elements immediately adjacent to the first pixel element a first weight, assigning like-value pixel elements diagonally adjacent to the first pixel element a second weight, different than the first weight, adding the assigned weights together to produce a total weight, and testing the weight against a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a plurality of bit maps suitable for high-speed printing includes the steps of: (a) providing a page description code specification, where the page description code specification defines at least one data area (b) providing a text file, where the text file includes a plurality of data items and the plurality of data items are associated with a field name; (c) monitoring the page description code specification, and during the monitoring step, identifying character strings that match a field name found in the text file; and (d) responding to a positive identification of a character string that matches a field name, where the response includes linking the data area containing the character string in the page description code specification with the plurality of data items in the text file associated with the field name.

Abstract: A method for flowing data, such as text data, into an arbitrary path defined by a page description language specification (“PDL specification”) generally comprises the steps of: identifying a path defined in the PDL specification as a datawrapping path; associating a data block with the data-wrapping path; and generating a bitmap representation of the data block according to the path boundary and according to a predefined flow rule. Preferably, the identifying step includes the steps of associating a graphics state with the path and storing the graphics state in memory, and the generating step includes the step of applying the stored graphics state to the data block. Therefore, the generating step can be repeated for multiple data blocks to generate multiple bit map representations. The text wrapping path is preferably identified in the PDL specification by an attribute string associated with the path.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for simultaneously controlling a plurality of print engines connected together (in series, in parallel or otherwise) that facilitates electronic stitching between the print engines. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for synchronizing the pixel deposition frequencies and the drive mechanisms between the various inter-connected print engines so as to eliminate synchronization between the print engines.

Abstract: A method for flowing data, such as text data, into an arbitrary path defined by a page description language specification (“PDL specification”) generally comprises the steps of: identifying a path defined in the PDL specification as a datawrapping path; associating a data block with the datawrapping path; and generating a bitmap representation of the data block according to the path boundary and according to a predefined flow rule. Preferably, the identifying step includes the steps of associating a graphics state with the path and storing the graphics state in memory, and the generating step includes the step of applying the stored graphics state to the data block. Therefore, the generating step can be repeated for multiple data blocks to generate multiple bit map representations. The text wrapping path is preferably identified in the PDL specification by an attribute string associated with the path.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a plurality of bit maps suitable for high-speed printing includes the steps of: (a) providing a page description code specification, where the page description code specification defines at least one data area, and the page description code further defines a graphics state corresponding to the data area, where the graphics state including at least one attribute which controls the appearance of data in the data area; (b) interpreting the page description code specification, and during the interpretation step, identifying the data area defined by the page description code specification; (c) upon the identification of the variable data area in step (b), applying the graphics state corresponding to the data area to a set of alphanumeric characters so as to generate a plurality of character bit maps; (d) storing the plurality of character bit maps; (e) retrieving a variable data item from a plurality of variable data items; (f) associating the variable data item with th