Abstract: The present invention is directed to an identification card printer that can be used with a card cartridge that protects a stack of cards stored therein from environmental contamination and establishes a card transport plane, from which other components of the identification card printer can be aligned, independent of the card cartridge. The identification card printer includes a cartridge receiver adapted to receive the card cartridge and a card transport mechanism. The card transport mechanism includes a pair of feed rollers, portions of which extend to the cartridge receiver and define the card transport plane.

Abstract: A printer for printing on a substrate includes an input configured to receive data, a print mechanism configured to print an image on the substrate, and a controller coupled to the input and the print mechanism configured to actuate the print mechanism in response to the input. The controller includes a microprocessor and memory containing a multi-threaded operating system and programming instructions for the microprocessor. The memory implements a plurality of stacks, each stack related to a thread. The programming instructions include a plurality of separate programs and the operating system executes each program as a separate thread and stores information related to each thread on a respective stack in the memory.

Abstract: An identification card printer includes a communications bus, first and second card processing devices, and first and second controllers. The first and second controllers are coupled to the communications bus and are each identified by a unique address. The first and second controllers are adapted to control the first and second card processing devices, respectively, in response to command signals received over the communications bus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a carrier for use with a printer that can support irregularly shaped substrates having a top surface. The carrier includes first and second planar members. The first planar member has top and bottom surfaces, a thickness, and an inner edge that conforms to an irregularly shaped outer edge of a substrate. The second planar member has a top surface that is coupled to the bottom surface of the first planar member. A recess, defined by the inner edge of the first planar member and the top surface of the second planar member, is adapted to receive the substrate such that top surfaces of the substrate and the first planar member are coplanar.

Abstract: A ribbon for a thermal printer has a series of frames of different colors in a sequence that are correlated to the position of cards to be printed. The ribbon has indexing marks for each frame and also indicators for each repeating sequence of frames. The index marks are arranged in a line across the ribbon and the marks can be coded to individually indicate the color or other characteristic of the frame associated with the line of index mark. This information is received by a controller to control various printer functions.

Abstract: A card supply for use with an identification card printing system includes a card hopper and a supply circuit. The card hopper contains a stack of cards. The supply circuit is mounted to the card hopper that includes a memory containing supply information relating to parameters of the card supply.

Abstract: A printer for printing onto a substrate includes a substrate feed mechanism configured to secure the substrate during printing and a print mechanism configured to print on the substrate. A transceiver is configured to transfer power through a non-physical link to a radio frequency (RF) circuit carried on a printer supply to thereby power the RF circuit. The transceiver also responsively receives printer supply data through a non-physical link from the RF circuit.

Abstract: A ribbon for a thermal printer has a series of frames of different colors in a sequence that are correlated to the position of cards to be printed. The ribbon has indexing marks for each frame and also indicators for each repeating sequence of frames. The index marks are arranged in a line across the ribbon and the marks can be coded to individually indicate the color or other characteristic of the frame associated with the line of index mark. This information is received by a controller to control various printer functions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an identification card personalization device used to create identification cards. The identification card personalization device includes a network adapter that is connectable to a network and either a print mechanism for printing onto a card, a laminating mechanism for laminating a printed card, or both printing and laminating mechanisms. In one aspect of the invention, the identification card personalization device includes a web server for serving data over the network. In another aspect of the invention, the identification card personalization device includes a web client for subscribing tc data on the network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for diagnosing rotating equipment commonly used in the factory and process control industry are provided. The apparatus and method are intended for use in assisting a maintenance engineer in the diagnosis of turbines, compressors, fans, blowers and pumps. The preferred embodiments are an apparatus and method for diagnosing pumps, with a focus on centrifugal pumps. The apparatus and method are based on the comparison of the current pump signature curves resulting from the acquisition of process variables from sensors monitoring the current condition of the pump and the original or previous pump performance curve from prior monitoring or knowledge of the pump geometry, installation effects and properties of the pumped process liquid. The diagnostic apparatus and method can be applied to any rotating machine, but the apparatus and method for pumps are described herein.

Abstract: A ribbon for a thermal printer has a series of frames of different colors in a sequence that are correlated to the position of cards to be printed. The ribbon has indexing marks for each frame and also indicators for each repeating sequence of frames. The index marks are arranged in a line across the ribbon and the marks can be coded to individually indicate the color or other characteristic of the frame associated with the line of index mark. This information is received by a controller to control various printer functions.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a system and method for monitoring and control of processes and machines.

Abstract: An ink jet card printer is disclosed that includes an ink jet printhead and a transport mechanism. The ink jet printhead is adapted to print on portions of a surface of a card that are presented in a print position along a print path. The transport mechanism includes at least one cantilevering mechanism that is positioned to a side of the print position along the print path. The cantilevering mechanism is adapted to unobstructively present the surface of the card to the printhead in the print position.

Abstract: An identification card laminator for laminating a protective layer to an identification card substrate, includes a substrate positioner configured to secure the substrate during lamination, a protective layer positioner configured to position the protective layer on the substrate during lamination and a heat source proximate the film positioner configured to heat the protective layer in response to a control signal. A temperature sensor proximate the protective layer positioner is configured to provide a temperature output related to a temperature of the film and the heat source. A controller coupled to the heat source is configured to provide the control signal to the heat source as a function of the temperature signal, the control signal having at least two values.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for diagnosing rotating equipment commonly used in the factory and process control industry are provided. The apparatus and method are intended for use in assisting a maintenance engineer in the diagnosis of turbines, compressors, fans, blowers and pumps. The preferred embodiments are an apparatus and method for diagnosing pumps, with a focus on centrifugal pumps. The apparatus and method are based on the comparison of the current pump signature curves resulting from the acquisition of process variables from sensors monitoring the current condition of the pump and the original or previous pump performance curve from prior monitoring or knowledge of the pump geometry, installation effects and properties of the pumped process liquid. The diagnostic apparatus and method can be applied to any rotating machine, but the apparatus and method for pumps are described herein.

Abstract: A circuit for compensating variables in a measurement transmitter. Within the transmitter, a sensor senses a primary process variable such as differential pressure and a converter digitizes the sensed process variable. The sensor senses pressures within a span of pressures values. A memory inside the transmitter stores at least two membership functions, each membership function having a non-zero value over a predetermined region of the process variable span and a substantially zero value over the remainder of the span. The memory also stores a set of compensation formulas, each formula corresponding to a membership function. A selection circuit in the transmitter selects those membership functions which have a non-zero value at the digitized process variable and a correction circuit provides at least one correction value, each correction value calculated from a compensation formula corresponding to a selected membership function.

Abstract: Transmitter in a process control system includes a resistance sensor sensing a process variable and providing a sensor output. Sensor monitoring circuitry coupled to the sensor provides a secondary signal related to the sensor. Analog-to-digital conversion circuitry coupled to the sensor output and the sensor monitoring circuitry provides a digitized sensor output and a digitized secondary signal. Output circuitry coupled to a process control loop transmits a residual life estimate related to residual life of the sensor. A memory stores a set of expected results related to the secondary signal and to the sensor. Diagnostic circuitry provides the residual life estimate as a function of the expected results stored in the memory, the digitized sensor output and the digitized secondary signal.

Abstract: A transmitter in a process control loop includes a sensor for sensing a process variable. An analog-to-digital converter coupled to the sensor provides a digitized process variable at various sample times. An interface couples the transmitter to the control loop and is used for communicating information and receiving power over the control loop. The transmitter includes a clock and a memory. A microprocessor coupled to the clock and the memory stores digitized process variables and clock information in the memory. The storage is such that the sample time of a stored digitized process variable can be determined.

Abstract: A temperature transmitter and a process control system includes a sensor input for coupling to a temperature sensor having a temperature dependent resistance. The resistance measuring circuitry couples to the sensor input and provides a resistance output related to resistance of the temperature dependent resistance. Analog to digital conversion circuitry couples to the sensor input and provides a digital output related to AC signals across the sensor input. Digital signal processing circuitry isolates a Johnson noise component of the AC signals and provides a digitized Johnson noise output. Temperature measurement circuitry provides a calibrated temperature output based upon the resistance output and the digitized Johnson noise output. Output circuitry transmits the calibrated temperature output over the process control loop.

Abstract: A circuit for compensating variables in a measurement transmitter. Within the transmitter, a sensor senses a primary process variable such as differential pressure and a converter digitizes the sensed process variable. The sensor senses pressures within a span of pressures values. A memory inside the transmitter stores at least two membership functions, each membership function having a non-zero value over a predetermined region of the process variable span and a substantially zero value over the remainder of the span. The memory also stores a set of compensation formulas, each formula corresponding to a membership function. A selection circuit in the transmitter selects those membership functions which have a non-zero value at the digitized process variable and a correction circuit provides at least one correction value, each correction value calculated from a compensation formula corresponding to a selected membership function.