Abstract: A material development tool includes a first plate and a second plate. The first plate has an indentation of a predetermined depth. The second plate having an opening for receiving build material when placed on the first plate and is removable from the first plate. A recoater is used to move and spread the build material within the indentation of the first plate.

Abstract: A liquid propelling component includes a liquid channel, a circuit block. The circuit block includes a first conductor disposed in the liquid channel to be in contact with liquid in the channel and a second conductor insulated from liquid in the channel. The liquid propelling component further includes a memory storing a digital code that corresponds to an analog value of the second conductor under a predefined charge.

Abstract: A liquid propelling component includes a liquid channel, a circuit block. The circuit block includes a first conductor disposed in the liquid channel to be in contact with liquid in the channel and a second conductor insulated from liquid in the channel. The liquid propelling component further includes a memory storing a digital code that corresponds to an analogue value of the second conductor under a predefined charge.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods are disclosed relating to an identifying sensor that interprets a first identifier and a printing device that prints a second distinct image based upon the first identifier.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods are disclosed relating to an identifying sensor that interprets a first identifier and a printing device that prints a second distinct image based upon the first identifier.

Abstract: This invention includes an optical characterization method capable of determining various characteristics of samples that preferably include naturally-occurring color deviations. In the preferred embodiment, this method is used in connection with food products and, particularly, potato products such as french fried potatoes. The method of this invention overcomes such disadvantages by generating from the RGB pixel values a sample-based color space that corresponds to the naturally-occurring color deviations of the samples. Preferably, the method includes generating HSI pixel values that correspond to the RGB pixel values and are defined with respect to an HSI color space having hue, saturation, and intensity coordinates. The sample-based representation of the color characteristics of the samples is determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis. As a result, color grades for the samples can be assigned according to the distribution of pixels within the sample-based representation.