Abstract: A band cutter for removing bands or rings from tubing joints such as those on and associated with plumbing fittings, in particular where the band or ring has been used to secure plastic plumbing pipe or tubing over a fitting. The band cutter includes a main tool body defining an upper portion and a lower portion, a fixed jaw situated on the upper portion of main tool body, a moveable lower jaw independently slideably attachable to the main tool body and situated below the fixed jaw and above the lower portion.

Abstract: A band cutter for removing bands or rings from tubing joints such as those on and associated with plumbing fittings, in particular where the band or ring has been used to secure plastic plumbing pipe or tubing over a fitting. The band cutter includes a main tool body defining an upper portion and a lower portion, a fixed jaw situated on the upper portion of main tool body, a moveable lower jaw independently slideably attachable to the main tool body and situated below the fixed jaw and above the lower portion. The band cutter includes a moving means adapted to move the lower jaw toward and away from the fixed jaw, and a cutting blade situated within and extending downwardly and outwardly from the fixed jaw in a direction toward the lower jaw. The band cutter is adapted to clamp the band of the banded fitting between the jaws as the lower jaw is moved by the moving means toward the fixed jaw so that as the fitting and band is moved toward the fixed jaw the band is pressed against the blade.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating images, compressing image data, decompressing image data, and processing the decompressed image data so that it can be used by a rendering circuit of a device, e.g., a set top box, are described. Images are generated in the native format used by the rendering circuit of the device which will ultimately control the display of the image avoiding the need to perform processing associated with converting color component information from one format to another. Uncompressed image data is arranged in a file with color component values being grouped separately from alpha values to facilitate compression by a standard file compression technique. The file is compressed using a conventional file compression operation. The compressed image file is decompressed when needed and the alpha data and color component data is reorganized so that the color component values and alpha value(s) corresponding to individual pixels are grouped together.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating images, compressing image data, decompressing image data, and processing the decompressed image data so that it can be used by a rendering circuit of a device, e.g., a set top box, are described. Images are generated in the native format used by the rendering circuit of the device which will ultimately control the display of the image avoiding the need to perform processing associated with converting color component information from one format to another. Uncompressed image data is arranged in a file with color component values being grouped separately from alpha values to facilitate compression by a standard file compression technique. The file is compressed using a conventional file compression operation. The compressed image file is decompressed when needed and the alpha data and color component data is reorganized so that the color component values and alpha value(s) corresponding to individual pixels are grouped together.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating images, compressing image data, decompressing image data, and processing the decompressed image data so that it can be used by a rendering circuit of a device, e.g., a set top box, are described. Images are generated in the native format used by the rendering circuit of the device which will ultimately control the display of the image avoiding the need to perform processing associated with converting color component information from one format to another. Uncompressed image data is arranged in a file with color component values being grouped separately from alpha values to facilitate compression by a standard file compression technique. The file is compressed using a conventional file compression operation. The compressed image file is decompressed when needed and the alpha data and color component data is reorganized so that the color component values and alpha value(s) corresponding to individual pixels are grouped together.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating images, compressing image data, decompressing image data, and processing the decompressed image data so that it can be used by a rendering circuit of a device, e.g., a set top box, are described. Images are generated in the native format used by the rendering circuit of the device which will ultimately control the display of the image avoiding the need to perform processing associated with converting color component information from one format to another. Uncompressed image data is arranged in a file with color component values being grouped separately from alpha values to facilitate compression by a standard file compression technique. The file is compressed using a conventional file compression operation. The compressed image file is decompressed when needed and the alpha data and color component data is reorganized so that the color component values and alpha value(s) corresponding to individual pixels are grouped together.