Abstract: A printhead firing control system for an inkjet printer includes a printhead mounted for movement across a paper path and an encoder for producing a digital output signal indicative of movement of the printhead. A filter circuit is connected to receive the digital output signal for filtering the digital output signal to remove frequency variations which meet at least one predetermined parameter, thereby providing a filtered digital signal. A fire-pulse generation circuit receives the filtered digital signal from the filter circuit and produces printhead heater resistor drive pulses based at least in part upon the filtered digital signal. This arrangement provides for improved printing accuracy by eliminating frequency changes in the digital encoder signal which may erroneously be caused by mechanical vibrations or other noise within the printer. An improved digitally controlled oscillator construction is also described.

Abstract: A method for reducing cyclic print errors. Applicants discovered that the cause of certain cyclic print errors was inconsistent (i.e., unequal) line spacing on the linear encoder strip used by the printer to track the position of the print head. Such inconsistent line spacing was caused by the inability of the device which makes/prints linear encoder strips to consistently match the ideal consistent line spacing desired and expected by the printer. Applicants found that such cyclic print errors were eliminated by choosing, obtaining, and installing a linear encoder strip having a consistent line spacing within the resolution capabilities of the device and, in one example, closest to the ideal consistent line spacing.

Abstract: Improvements are disclosed in apparatus and techniques for activating an implantable medical device, such as a neurostimulator adapted to treat and control a disorder of a patient where the disorder is susceptible to relief in response to predetermined modulation of the electrical activity of a selected nerve or group of nerves of the patient. The neurostimulator includes a stimulus generator responsive, when activated, to generate a programmable electrical waveform, and an electrode array electrically connected to the stimulus generator for delivering the waveform to a selected nerve of the patient, such as the vagus nerve. The neurostimulator is also adapted to be programmed to provide the waveform with parameter values selected to stimulate the selected nerve to produce the predetermined modulation of the nerve's electrical activity.