Abstract: Methods for enhancement of data obtained from scanning objects such as body tissue with ultrasonic wideband pulses to detect characteristics of the tissue and to identify the tissue. The methods include performing spectral analysis on selected time portions of signals obtained from ultrasonic scanning to derive spectral data which is representative of the received signal characteristics for spatial samples of a particular region of interest in the body. The characteristic values are selected to correlate with significant characteristics of the material. A display of the selected body region is generated, with the display characteristic for each of the spatial samples being selected in accordance with the derived spectral characteristic values. Examples of the spectral characteristic values include spectral amplitude, spectral slope, and spectral amplitude uncertainty.

Abstract: Electrical devices containing PTC conductive polymers which have been cross-linked in two steps, preferably by radiation. The conductive polymer is heat-treated above the temperature at which it begins to melt between the two cross-linking steps, and/or the cross-linking steps are such that a center section of the conductive polymer, intermediate the electrodes, is substantially more cross-linked than the conductive polymer adjacent the electrodes. The process is particularly useful for the preparation of circuit protection devices which are subject to high voltage faults.

Abstract: A recording device for thermal color recording of a medium having two color coupler layers on one side and another color coupler layer on the other side of a transparent support. The layer on the side with two layers and having the higher heat sensitivity is first thermally imaged and then optically fixed. Thereafter, the remaining layer on that side and the layer on the other side are thermally imaged.

Abstract: In a thermal recording apparatus using a plurality of thermal heads supported by a head supporting means including a head supporting mechanism and a head pressing mechanism. The head supporting means includes single supporting units provided for correspondingly respectively supporting the thermal heads. Each of the single supporting units has a pair of hook-shaped members fixed to corresponding one of the thermal heads at two places of the rear surface thereof, and has a head supporting member having a pair of side end portions corresponding to the pair of hook-shaped members and a plane portion formed between the pair of side end portions and fixed to a rotatable pillar-shaped member. The head supporting member is engaged at its side end portions with the respective hook-shaped members so as to be movable in the vertical and rotational directions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser scanning apparatus, which includes a drivingly rotatable subscanning drum and at least one nipping roller rotatable by the drum in pressing contact therewith and having an outer peripheral surface provided by an elastic member. The drum and the roller have their axes spaced at a constant distance from each other at all times for transporting a sheet when nipped therebetween, so that the sheet, while being transported, can be scanned with a laser beam in a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the sheet.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus adapted to record an image on a recording medium by transferring a heat-transferable ink from a transfer medium to the recording medium. The apparatus has a transfer medium having on one surface a layer of a heat-transferable electroconductive ink formed on a base sheet, a recording head for heating the transfer medium in accordance with an image signal, and an electrode disposed in physical contact with the ink surface of the transfer medium so as to form a path through which electric current is allowed to flow between said electrode and said transfer medium. Therefore, the apparatus prevents any path for electricity from being formed between the transfer medium and the recording head.

Abstract: A control system for a laser printer and other image recorders stores history data including the number of prints produced by a photoconductive element and occurrences of various kinds of failures, and displays the history data at suitable timings. The control system, therefore, displays data which may be referenced in the event of a failure of the image recorder.

Abstract: A facsimile machine provided with a proxy reception function is so structured to send the information regarding the paper size of recording paper currently in use prior to transmission of image information. With this structure, the image received in a proxy reception mode can be recorded on recording paper properly at all times.

Abstract: A switching mechanism actuated into first and second positions by application of current through appropriate respective electromagnets includes a switch structure which insures that current is cut off to the actuating electromagnet upon switching having taken place to a chosen state.

Abstract: A resistance welding pin for connecting insulation batts to ducts comprises a head having a shank and a sharpened tip remote from the head. The shank, adjacent the tip, includes an abutment against which a welding electrode may bear, the electrode being passed through an aperture or passage in the head.

Abstract: The process of molding thermal insulating blocks and electrical heating units with a mold having a horizontal filter screen in which a slurry containing a mass of inorganic fibers, water, and a binder is mixed to randomly orient the fibers and thereafter poured into the mold to divide the liquid component of the slurry into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the liquid component of the slurry being drained through the screen and the second portion remaining with the fibers, thereafter vibrating the screen and mold to drain a portion of the second portion of the liquid component of the slurry through the screen to produce a filter mat, thereafter drying the filter mat to remove the remaining liquid component of the slurry from the mat, and thereafter heating the filter mat to bond the fibers to each other. An electrical heating element may be mounted on the mold before the slurry is introduced into the mold.

Abstract: A protective switching apparatus with remote controlled opening and closing is provided including a tripping mechanism connected to an assembly comprising at least two fixed contacts and two mobile contacts and to a magnetic and/or thermal trip; a resetting member and an electromagnet having a movable element and to a member for driving a least one pseudo-fixed or mobile contact. The mobile contacts are carried by a bridge having a plane of symmetry X--X and the tripping mechanism extends in the vicinity of the plane of symmetry X--X. The electromagnet and the trip are housed in the case on each side of the tripping mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the plane of symmetry.

Abstract: In apparatus for thermally transferring ink from a ribbon, having backing and ink donor layers, to a letter, wherein the apparatus includes a frame, a thermal printhead, structure connected to the frame for controlling the printhead, and a roller, wherein the printhead is disposable in a non-printing position permitting a ribbon to be located between the printhead and roller and in a printing position in which the printhead is in engagement with the backing layer of a ribbon, and wherein the roller is adapted for rotation when in engagement with a letter fed between the roller and a ribbon, an improvement for urging a ribbon and letter into engagement with one another, the improvement comprising: the printhead controlling structure including structure for resiliently supporting the printhead for urging the ink donor layer of a ribbon into contact with a letter when the printhead is disposed in the printing position; and the roller including a body portion adapted to flex when engaging a letter for urging a le

Abstract: A thermal printhead for dissipating accumulated static electric charge. An electrically conducting outer layer is deposited over the surface of a thermal printhead that receives static charge from the passing print media or ribbon media. The layer, which can be a 100-angstrom-thick layer of chromium, is formed over a glass overglaze. If the surface overglaze is passivated, a 10-angstrom-thick activating primer layer is formed on the glass overglaze before the chromium layer is deposited. The conductive outer layer is connected to electrical ground to dissipate the static electric charge as it is generated.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus characterized in that current supply periods of time to light-emitting diodes constituting a light-emitting diode arrays are controlled corresponding to gradation levels while a constant current is being supplied to the light-emitting diodes, and in that the current supply period of time is adjusted at every gradation level corresponding to the variations in light intensity of the light-emitting diodes when the constant current is supplied to thereby correct for the variations in output light intensities of the light-emitting diodes.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording information with a light beam, having a beam deflector for deflecting the light beam in the direction of main scan by a sine wave oscillation. The deflection angle of the light beam from the beam deflector is amplified in the direction of the main scan by means of an afocal anamorphic optical system. This arrangement makes it possible to effect the main scan with the light beam which has been deflected by the light deflector while the angle of oscillation of the light deflector is within a smallest region.

Abstract: Image recording capable of controlling image recording condition in response to image contrast and sensitivity characteristics of a recording member includes a detector for detecting the surface condition of the recording member and control apparatus for determining image contrast from the output signals from the detector and controlling the image recording condition of a recording device in response to the image contrast thus determined.

Abstract: An ink storing device comprises a first storing portion storing one type of ink therein and a second storing portion having the interior thereof divided into a plurality of spaces and storing a plurality of types of inks therein.

Abstract: A method of heating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) using microwaves which is suitable for application in a process for producing PVC film or sheet. The microwave energy is applied to the PVC after the temperature of the PVC has been raised to the point that its intermolecular bonding force has weakened and molecular vibration occurs readily. As a result, uniform heating is obtained throughout the PVC with high energy utilization efficiency.

Abstract: In a video printer, a suffer memory for memorizing picture data corresponding to one line includes a memory addressed by a first address and a second address. And the video printer includes a memory write circuit having a first address generation circuit for generating a first address depending upon gradation of picture data on the basis of inputted picture data and for supplying said first address to the memory and a second address generation circuit for generating an address signal depending upon the number of printing dots of the thermal head and for supplying said address signal to the memory. The video printer also includes a memory read circuit for successively generating the second address for each of the first address and supplying the second address to the memory.