Abstract: An apparatus and method for a digital copying machine which provides an image scanner part for reading an original image to reproduce image data of the original image, a laser printer part for printing an image according to given image data, a removable memory card, and a reader/writer of the memory card is provided. For offline print, the image data of a document prepared in an external computer and output control data are stored into the memory card. By installing this memory card in the digital copying machine, the digital copying machine prints the image data read out from the memory card offline in a desired output form. For offline image input, read control data obtained by using an image scanner such as a read gradation level, a read size, density, and the degree of edge enhancement is stored in the removable memory card using software executed in an external computer.

Abstract: A battery charging method in an environment of variable temperatures provides for a temperature correction to determine an onset of an overcharge phase which is detected by a discernible thermal energy output of a charging battery. The method comprises a precursory operation of determining time period required for effecting a temperature change in the battery in response to a temperature change of an ambient space about the battery. The temperature of the battery is then monitored throughout the charging process by measuring the temperature of the battery at timed, predetermined intervals. Over the same timed intervals the temperature of the ambience is measured. A measured difference in the temperature of the ambience with respect to a prior temperature of the ambience is applied to a measured temperature of the battery as modified by a predetermined time delay factor.