Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided. At least one clamping finger of a movable tray of a compact disc printer pushes against an outer periphery of a compact disc disposed on a surface of the tray to clamp the compact disc between the clamping finger and a pair of studs that protrude from the surface of the tray and engage a periphery of a hole passing through a center of the compact disc. A carriage of the printer for moving an ink jet cartridge attached thereto across the compact disc to deposit an image on the compact disc may include a sensor. The sensor can be used to determine the presence of a compact disc on the tray, whether the compact disc is clamped to the tray, and a dimension of the compact disc, and to perform a calibration method.

Abstract: A multi function recorder and printer feeds discs to be processed through a gravity feed system reducing idle time of a recorder. A drive mounting system allows easy replacement and upgrade of drives without recalibration of the system. A passive picker moves discs between components.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system for real-time monitoring, validation, optimization and predictive fault analysis in a process control system. The invention monitors process operations by continuously analyzing sensor measurements and providing predictive alarms using models of normal process operation and statistical parameters corresponding to normal process data, and generating secondary residual process models. The invention allows for the creation of a fault analyzer directly from linearly independent models of normal process operation, and provides for automatic generation from such process models of linearly dependent process models. Fuzzy logic is used in various fault situations to compute certainty factors to identify faults and/or validate underlying assumptions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided. At least one clamping finger of a movable tray of a compact disc printer pushes against an outer periphery of a compact disc disposed on a surface of the tray to clamp the compact disc between the clamping finger and a pair of studs that protrude from the surface of the tray and engage a periphery of a hole passing through a center of the compact disc. A carriage of the printer for moving an ink jet cartridge attached thereto across the compact disc to deposit an image on the compact disc may include a sensor. The sensor can be used to determine the presence of a compact disc on the tray, whether the compact disc is clamped to the tray, and a dimension of the compact disc, and to perform a calibration method.

Abstract: A communication device (100) receives a first portion of an information packet via a primary communication resource (102). During a time period otherwise allocated for receiving a second portion of the information packet, the communication device (100) determines the signal quality of one or more other communication resources. The communication device then requests retransmission of the second portion of the information packet.

Abstract: A method utilizes a training monitoring algorithm to control when full training of a transmitter of a shared communication system that utilizes dynamic channel allocation occurs. Full training of the transmitter occurs during an initial transmission slot of a training interval that is used to request allocation of fixed communication resources of the communication system or when operating conditions of the transmitter, such as power and frequency, change. The duration of the training interval is dynamically controlled by manipulation of full-power and cut-back power training interval counters.