Abstract: In the method of fast-charging of a rechargeable battery, full-charge state is determined on the basis of a peak battery voltage or a decrease &Dgr;V in the battery voltage after the peak voltage. At the beginning of the fast-charge process, an initial battery voltage is measured. In case where the initial voltage is higher than a preselected voltage, the battery is fast-charged with a normal fast-charge current. In case where the initial voltage is lower than the preselected voltage, the battery is fast-charged with a restricted fast-charge current that is weaker than the fast-charge current.

Abstract: A facsimile machine is to be made for portable applications with the added features of being light weight, slender and compact in design. A single drive roller which is fixed is used in moving media for the scanning and printing functions without the reversal of the roller to accomplish these tasks individually at separate times or simultaneously. The slender profile of the present device with the base narrower than the height makes it very unstable in its upright operating mode. Arms pivoted at each end rotate and lock into an opened position thus providing a stable position for the device in which it is no longer vertically upright, but supported at an angle by the arms where print media can enter without difficulty and scanned documents can also be fed without obstruction by the print media roll. The arms lock into a closed position in which they follow the contours of the main body as an extension of the device without any noticeable protrusions.

Abstract: A power circuit for a device having a secondary battery receives commercial electric power supplied externally and supplies electric power to a target in the device and to the secondary battery. The power circuit includes a measuring circuit and a current control circuit. The measuring circuit measures power consumption of the target circuit in the device. The current control circuit controls a charging current to the secondary battery so that the power consumption and the charging current have a negative correlation based on a measurement result of the measuring circuit.

Abstract: A charging technique (200) charges a battery pack (102) by taking into account the additional internal circuit impedance of the battery pack. An optimum pack voltage value for the battery pack is calculated (208) based on the rated internal cell voltage as well as the charge current and the internal battery pack circuitry impedance. The battery pack can now be charged such that the internal battery cell voltage is maintained at the rated voltage throughout the charging process. The optimum pack voltage is also updated (220) to account for variations in the battery pack circuitry impedance over temperature (216, 218) as well as variations in charge current (222, 224) during the charging process.

Abstract: A cell evaluating method for evaluating characteristics of a secondary cell which can be repeatedly charged and which includes a step of detecting a cell voltage after a predetermined first charge operation for the cell is started, a step of, if the detected cell voltage is smaller than a reference voltage, proceeding to a second charge operation different from the predetermined first charge operation, and a step of evaluating a state of the cell. Moreover, the cell evaluating method includes a step of carrying out a first cell voltage detection after a first predetermined period of time has passed since a halt of the charge or discharge of a cell, a step of carrying out a second cell voltage detection after a second predetermined period of time has passed, and a step of evaluating, if the difference between the results of the first and second detections is not smaller than a predetermined value, that an internal short circuit occurs in the cell.

Abstract: An image forming machine comprising a host computer, a printer, a copying machine, and a document supply device for conveying a document printed by the printer to an automatic document feeder of the copying machine includes a data switching controller which is connected to the host computer via a parallel data transfer type interface to selectively transfer data transmitted from the host computer to the printer side and to the copying machine side. The host computer sequentially puts out to the data switching controller a copying machine control code comprising an identification code with a predetermined number of bytes, and control data with a predetermined number of bytes succeeding the identification code, and print data for the printer subsequent to the copying machine control code.

Abstract: When an image is formed on one surface of each sheet of printing paper, the controller provides controls so that image data for all pages is stored in the HDD, and the image data stored in the HDD is successively converted to actual images from the final page by the drum with the printed sheets discharged onto the discharged paper tray. When image are formed on duplex surfaces of each sheet of printing paper, the controller provides controls so that image data for only odd number pages is stored in the HDD, image data for odd number pages is successively converted by the drum to actual images in the regular order with the printed sheets stacked on the duplex tray, and the sheets stacked on the duplex tray are successively fed from the top one to the drum with the image data for odd number pages stored in the HDD converted to actual images by the drum in the reverse page order with the printed sheets discharged onto the discharged paper tray.

Abstract: Coated sheets or substrates such as paper, opaque MYLAR, TESLIN or the like are utilized in the creation of simulated, photographic-quality prints formed using non photographic imaging procedures such as xerography and ink jet. A first substrate which is transparent has a reverse reading black image formed thereon. Such an image may be formed using conventional monochromatic xerography. A second substrate is xerographically imaged for forming a uniform color image layer thereon. The foregoing results in a simulated color photographic-quality print which when viewed through the non-imaged side of the transparent substrate contains right reading reading images which exhibit color even though they are formed using black toner.

Abstract: A battery pack and a method of operating a battery system. The battery pack includes a rechargeable battery and a processor for monitoring the battery during charging and discharging. The processor receives data values representing the battery voltage, temperature and current, and the processor performs a series of calculations using those data values. The processor is part of a hybrid integrated circuit, which also includes an analog-to-digital converter, a ROM and a RAM. Preferably, the integrated circuit comprises a multitude of layers, upper layers of the circuit form the ROM, and lower layers of the circuit form the RAM.

Abstract: An electronic equipment having a rechargeable battery in combination with a power source adapter. A rechargeable battery is detachably mounted in the electronic equipment. The power source adapter is adapted for supplying power to the electronic equipment from outside, and includes a first battery loading unit for loading a rechargeable battery, a charging voltage generating unit for generating a charging voltage for charging both the loaded rechargeable battery and the rechargeable battery mounted in the electronic equipment, a switching unit for switching between supplying the charging voltage to the charging unit and supplying the charging voltage to the electronic equipment, a detection unit for detecting completion of charging of the rechargeable battery loaded on the power source adapter, and a switching control unit for controlling the switching of the switching unit responsive to the output of the detection unit.

Abstract: Digital machine readable full color specifications of full color source images are embedded in the printed hardcopy versions of those images; typically through the use of a self-clocking glyph code to minimize the visual impact of the embedded data. This color specification then can be recovered from a hardcopy version of the original source image, even if the hardcopy is monochromatic. Thus, a digital highlight color copier can use this color specification to index into a plurality of different full-color to highlight-color transformse to select the transform or transorms that are most appropriate for rendering a highlight color copy of the source image.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, an interlock switch is located on a first of two access doors of a printer. The second access door has an upwardly extending protuberance near its end. The switch is actuated for enabling the system by closing the second access door followed by closing the first access door. The protuberance on the second access door pushes upwardly on an arm of the switch as the first access door is closed, thus actuating the switch. This not only provides a reliable safety mechanism by insuring that the doors are properly closed, but eliminates the cost of a separate safety interlock switch for each access door.

Abstract: A power supply having a battery and a battery charger is disclosed which includes a discharge circuit for automatically measuring the battery charge without taking the battery out of service and without draining the battery below the minimum safe charge level necessary to operate a piece of equipment connected thereto. The discharge circuit automatically electrically isolates the battery from the charging circuit and measures the battery characteristics as the battery discharges across the equipment load. Once the battery charge is measured, the results are stored in non-volatile memory and the battery is automatically recharged.

Abstract: A unit that can be a tiny module within a battery pack includes a microprocessor operating through onboard sensors and read circuitry to monitor battery current, voltage and temperature and to develop fast charge termination control data. Various termination schemes are available including negative delta V, dT/dt, dV/dt, absolute temperature, absolute voltage, and override timer. The microprocessor also operates to develop state of charge, percentage of capacity charge and other status data, to store such data along with setup and calibration data, in an EEPROM, to report data to a host periodically or when polled to and to operate automatically or at a user's request to initially perform and update a calibration as to actual battery capacity. During times when the pack is idle, the unit automatically reverts to a low-power mode in which measuring circuitry is deenergized but during such times, it operates periodically to compensate for self-discharge as a function of temperature.

Abstract: A voltage modifying device for charging rechargeable batteries, such as nicad batteries, used for powering mobile radio telephones from a DC source, such as that provided in a vehicle. The device is connectable to a DC power source, a rechargeable battery and the power input of a telephone transceiver. Power from the DC power source is directed to the transceiver and the voltage modifying circuit modifies the supply voltage so as to provide a charging current to the rechargeable battery. The modifying circuit includes a charge pump for increasing the charging voltage in addition to circuitry arranged so as to charge and discharge said charge pump at substantially constant current so as to minimize telephone transceiver interference.

Abstract: The charging device for charging a plurality of rechargeable batteries according to the invention includes at least two sensors associated with each rechargeable battery for measuring a measurable parameter, e.g. voltage, temperature, etc, of the rechargeable battery associated therewith; switchable devices for electrically connecting one or more rechargeable batteries at a time for charging; a control device for selecting rechargeable batteries for charging in an order determined by measured values of the measurable parameters obtained from the sensors associated with each rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A process for reproducing an original color image on a printing device includes separating each pixel of the original image into a plurality of color components to obtain an image density value for each color component at each pixel. A number of printing elements are selected for each color component, the number of printing elements being more than one for at least one of the color components. The printing density values for each color component having more than one printing element are separated into at least two pixel groups, the first pixel group containing printing density values less than or equal to an assigned maximum printing density value achievable with a single printing element for that color component, and the second pixel group containing printing density values greater than said assigned maximum printing density value for that color component.