Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a battery conditioning system monitors battery conditioning and includes a memory for storing data based thereon; for example, data may be stored representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle. With a microprocessor monitoring battery operation of a portable unit, a measure of remaining battery capacity can be calculated and displayed. Where the microprocessor and battery conditioning system memory are permanently secured to the battery so as to receive operating power therefrom during storage and handling, the performance of a given battery in actual use can be accurately judged since the battery system can itself maintain a count of accumulated hours of use and other relevant parameters. In the case of a non-portable conditioning system, two-way communication may be established with a memory associated with the portable unit so that the portable unit can transmit to the conditioning system information concerning battery parameters (e.g.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a battery conditioning system monitors battery conditioning and includes a memory for storing data based thereon; for example, data may be stored representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle. With a microprocessor monitoring battery operation of a portable unit, a measure of remaining battery capacity can be calculated and displayed. Where the microprocessor and battery conditioning system memory are permanently secured to the battery so as to receive operating power therefrom during storage and handling, the performance of a given battery in actual use can be accurately judged since the battery system can itself maintain a count of accumulated hours of use and other relevant parameters. In the case of a non-portable conditioning system, two-way communication may be established with a memory associated with the portable unit so that the portable unit can transmit to the conditioning system information concerning battery parameters (e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that provides an efficient way to deposit a charge to a target battery using a small, light-weight, and disposable energy source capable of delivering a high-current and over-voltage which is substantially greater than the voltage of the target battery. The most common application for which the present invention is directed is an automobile battery. The target battery is a secondary battery which has plates submerged in an electrolytic solution. As the target battery discharges, a passivation substance forms on the plates of the target battery. To deposit a charge from the present invention energy source to the target battery, the energy source is electrically connected to the target battery. The energy source has an over-voltage, which is substantially greater than the voltage of the target battery.

Abstract: A food treatment cabinet having a frame/housing defining a food treatment space. First structure is provided for at least one of heating, cooling, and adding moisture to air within the food treatment space. The frame/housing has a first wall with a first opening therethrough to selectively permit introduction of food into the food treatment space and withdrawal of food from the food treatment space. A first fin projects away from the first wall above at least part of the first opening to inhibit heat transfer between the food treatment space and the atmosphere externally of the food treatment space.

Abstract: A battery charger including a battery temperature monitoring device. The battery temperature monitoring device includes a first thermistor bonded to one of the terminals of the battery charger to provide a temperature signal of the temperature of the terminal, and a second thermistor positioned within the battery charger to provide a temperature signal of the ambient temperature. The temperature signals from both the first and second thermistors are applied to a temperature monitoring circuit that compares the temperature signals to a known discharge rate of an RC circuit. A microprocessor receives output signals from the temperature monitoring circuit and, using an algorithm, determines the actual temperature of the battery.

Abstract: A laser thermal system that uses a dye donor produces a desired relationship of exposure to density by modifying the input current waveform supplied to the exposure source. The modification is a combination of amplitude modulation and pulse width modulation in an imagewise fashion. The efficiency and the speed of image formation is increased by bringing the dye donor temperature near the threshold of dye transfer using a segment of the total current waveform for a very short duration.

Abstract: A power supply device includes a secondary battery and a charger, and can further utilize an external D.C. power supply. A switch is interposed between a negative electrode of the secondary battery and the ground. This switch is turned OFF when the external D.C. power supply is connected to the power supply device, and is turned ON when the external D.C. power supply is removed from the power supply device. The charger controls the charge of the secondary battery from the external D.C. power supply by regulating the potential of the negative electrode of the battery. A contact remains OFF while the external D.C. power supply is connected to the power supply device. In consequence, a current does not directly flow from the external D.C. power supply to the secondary battery. Therefore, a back-flow prevention diode, which otherwise results in power consumption, need not be disposed between the secondary battery and the load.

Abstract: A removable ink cartridge and cartridge connection system suitable for use with printing systems requiring pressurized ink. The ink cartridge consists of a rigid box containing vessels of ink which include at least one flexible surface. For a monochrome ink cartridge, one ink vessel is sufficient. For a full color `process` printer, four ink vessels are used. These vessels contain cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink, respectively. The ink cartridge uses a single pressurizing system to provide pressure to all four of the ink colors. This is achieved by pressurizing the fluid surrounding the ink vessels inside the ink cartridge.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having bubble purging arrangement for discharging bubbles mixed in the ink out of a print head. The print head has a main tank for storing ink, a sub tank for collecting and storing ink, and a manifold fluidly connecting the main tank and the sub tank. The manifold is in fluid communication with the nozzles for supplying ink from the main tank to the nozzles. Three kind of purging modes are provided in accordance with purging position of the print head. Pressurizing pump is selectively connected to the main tank or sub tank or both main tank and the sub tank through a valve arrangement. If the pump is fluidly connected to the main tank only, the ink in the main flows into the sub tank. If the pump is fluidly connected to the sub tank only, the ink in the sub tank flows back into the main tank. By alternating the fluid connection, bubbles mixed in the ink is gradually concentrated at an upper portion of the manifold.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for compensating printing heads which operate in thermal drop on demand printing modes for the effects of thermal lag includes a counter which provides a number representing the amount of elapsed time during a heater energizing pulse as a proportion of the entire pulse duration. The output of the counter is connected to a device which determines the power supply voltage required at the said elapsed time. This result is used to control a programmable power supply which is connected to the heater power supply of the print head. The device is preferably a lookup table stored in digital memory, containing a pulse waveform calculated using iterated transient finite element analysis of the thermal state of the nozzle during simulated operation.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery, arranged in such a manner that the terminal voltage of the battery being charged is measured and then correlated with remaining charging time and usable time of the battery being charged. The remaining charging time and usable time of the battery being charged is stored in memory and then outputted for display to the operator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for charging a secondary battery and a charger by which it can be prevented that a secondary battery is charged at very high or low temperature, and that the secondary battery is charged for a long time. Therefore, the secondary battery is prevented from being damaged, so that the lifetime can be prolonged. In this method, a generally constant current is supplied from a charging means to the secondary battery. The constant-current charging is stopped when voltage of the secondary battery has reached a peak value after passage of a predetermined time period from start of the supplying of the first current; temperature of the secondary battery has been out of a predetermined range; or a predetermined time period has passed since start of the supplying of the first current.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery arranged in such a manner that the interterminal voltage of the battery, which is being charged, is measured so that the charging status of the battery is detected in accordance with the measured interterminal voltage of the battery which is being charged and the charging/discharging characteristics with respect to the interterminal voltage of the battery. As a result, the charging status of the battery can accurately be detected.

Abstract: In a battery charger in which an output voltage and an output current from the battery charger are compared with a reference voltage, respectively, and an error voltage is fed back, so that, in an initial charging period, constant-current charging is performed and, after a battery voltage reaches a constant value, constant-voltage charging is performed, an adder 11 for adding a voltage Vg which is proportional to a charging current of a battery 9, to the reference voltage Vr which is to be compared with the output voltage of the battery charger 20 is disposed, and the output voltage V of the battery charger 20 is controlled while feeding back an error voltage obtained as a result of a comparison of the added value output from the adder 11 with the output voltage V of the battery charger 20.

Abstract: In an exemplary fast charging system, a hand-held computerized terminal with rechargeable batteries therein may be bodily inserted into a charger receptacle. The terminal may have volatile memory and other components requiring load current during charging. The system may automatically identify battery type and progressively increase charging current while monitoring for an increase in battery terminal voltage to ascertain the level of load current. The battery temperature may be brought into a relationship to surrounding temperature such that by applying a suitable overcharge current value and observing any resultant temperature increase, the level of remaining battery charge can be determined. For example, if the battery is found to be relatively fully discharged, a relatively high fast-charge rate may be safely applied while monitoring battery temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a battery has a power supply terminal, a controllable power control switch coupled to said power supply terminal, a charging circuit having a charging terminal for connection to a terminal of the battery, and means for opening and closing the power control switch if a battery is disconnected or connected to the charging terminal, respectively. The means for opening and closing the power control switch may include an analog circuit, a digital circuit, a hybrid analog/digital circuit or a mechanical switch. A method of controlling a power control switch of a battery charging system is disclosed, comprising the steps of generating a reference voltage level, sensing the voltage level at the charging terminal, comparing the voltage level at the charging terminal to the reference voltage, and controlling the power control switch in response to the comparison of the reference voltage level and the voltage level at the charging terminal.

Abstract: A virtual-drum capstan-driven device for outputting images from electronic files onto paper, film or plate material has increased output speed and reduced cost compared to an internal drum device. A capstan drive moves web type image recording media through a curved media platen having an upper curved surface and a lower curved surface which form the media into a virtual drum. The optical system has a rotating reflective spinner at the center of curvature of the virtual drum to scan modulated image date across media while being continuously driven. A tensioning mechanism maintains the media in a taught configuration and works in cooperation with the capstan drive to accurately control the motion of the media during imaging.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a resistive circuit. The resistive circuit includes a plurality of resistor networks disposed on a substrate. The resistor networks also includes a plurality of resistive circuit elements. The resistor networks further includes a plurality of termination contacts each connected to one of the resistive circuit elements. Each of the termination contacts is disposed on an edge of the substrate and each of the termination contacts is separated from a next termination contact by an edge trench disposed on the edge of the substrate whereby a distance across the edge trench defining a pitch between the termination contacts.

Abstract: A charging apparatus having a power supply circuit that provides a DC output current via a sense resistor. A current detector amplifies, detects and provides a voltage across the sense resistor. A controller designates the output of the current detector as a determination signal when the DC output current is equal to a preset voltage. Responsive to the determination signal, the controller generates a control signal in order to control the DC output current of the power supply circuit. More particularly, the current detector includes a first differential amplifier that amplifies and output the voltage across the sense resistor, a second differential amplifier amplifies and supplies a differential voltage between the output of the first differential amplifier and a predetermined first reference voltage, and a first output circuit responsive to the output of the second differential amplifier delivers the determination signal.

Abstract: A charging station system of electric vehicles having a building which contains the charging equipment and may provide other auxiliary services. The system includes a T-bar which extends from the building to provide charging stalls or locations spaced along the T-bar. The building is modular and incorporates a standard ISO type configuration for ease and convenience of installation and transportation.