Abstract: A method of imaging printing plates uses a single imaging device having at least one laser delivering, in an imagewise manner, pulsed electromagnetic energy of pulse duration not greater than 1×10?6 seconds. Such an imaging method permits the imaging of a plurality of types of printing plates irrespective of any sensitised imaging chemistry contained in their coatings.

Abstract: A method of preparing a printing form precursor for printing, or a printed circuit board precursor or a semiconductor precursor, the method comprising the step of applying electromagnetic radiation having a pulse duration of not greater than 1×10?6 seconds, in an imagewise manner, to an imagable surface of the precursor. The imaging process may cause ablation of the coating of the precursor or permit its development in a developer. In each case the imaging radiation needs not be tuned to imaging chemistry (if any) present in the coating. Alternatively the imaging process may induce a change of hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity, or other change of state, of an uncoated substrate.

Abstract: A method of preparing a printing form precursor for printing, or a printed circuit board precursor or a semiconductor precursor, the method comprising the step of applying electromagnetic radiation having a pulse duration of not greater than 1×10?6 seconds, in an imagewise manner, to an imagable surface of the precursor. The imaging process may cause ablation of the coating of the precursor or permit its development in a developer. In each case the imaging radiation needs not be tuned to imaging chemistry (if any) present in the coating. Alternatively the imaging process may induce a change of hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity, or other change of state, of an uncoated substrate.

Abstract: A method of preparing a printing form precursor for printing, or a printed circuit board precursor or a semiconductor precursor, the method comprising the step of applying electromagnetic radiation having a pulse duration of not greater than 1×10?6 seconds, in an imagewise manner, to an imagable surface of the precursor. The imaging process may cause ablation of the coating of the precursor or permit its development in a developer. In each case the imaging radiation needs not be tuned to imaging chemistry (if any) present in the coating. Alternatively the imaging process may induce a change of hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity, or other change of state, of an uncoated substrate.

Abstract: A printing form precursor comprises a printing surface which comprises an inorganic metal compound, the printing surface being hydrophobic and capable of being made hydrophilic by energy but capable of becoming hydrophobic again, for reuse, if desired. An associated method of printing includes steps of subjecting the printing surface imagewise to energy so as to locally increase its hydrophilicity sufficient to make the surface differentiated in its acceptance of an oleophilic a printing ink; applying the ink to the printing surface and printing from the printing surface; causing or allowing the printing surface to undergo a reduction in hydrophilicity sufficient again to make the printing surface uniform in its acceptance of a printing ink; and, if wished, repeating these steps on multiple occasions. Thus the invention achieves the goal of providing a printing form precursor which does not need a chemical developer, and which can be used multiple times, to print different images.

Abstract: A method of imaging printing plates uses a single imaging device having at least one laser delivering, in an imagewise manner, pulsed electromagnetic energy of pulse duration not greater than 1×10?6 seconds. Such an imaging method permits the imaging of a plurality of types of printing plates irrespective of any sensitised imaging chemistry contained in their coatings.

Abstract: A printing form precursor comprises a printing surface which comprises an anodic layer which is hydrophobic and capable of being made hydrophilic by fast laser pulses but capable of becoming hydrophobic again, preferably for re-use, if desired. These changes are influenced by thickness of the anodic layer, and by alloying elements in the anodic layer. Benefit is gained also from using a darkly coloured anodic layer and by permitting the change from hydrophilic to hydrophobic to take place in a carbonaceous or siliceous atmosphere. By such means the invention achieves the goal of providing a printing form precursor which does not need a chemical developer, and which can be used multiple times, to print different images.

Abstract: A printing form precursor comprises a printing surface which comprises an inorganic metal compound, the printing surface being hydrophobic and capable of being made hydrophilic by energy but capable of becoming hydrophobic again, for reuse, if desired. An associated method of printing includes steps of subjecting the printing surface imagewise to energy so as to locally increase its hydrophilicity sufficient to make the surface differentiated in its acceptance of an oxophilic a printing ink; applying the ink to the printing surface and printing from the printing surface; causing or allowing the printing surface to undergo a reduction in hydrophilicity sufficient again to make the printing surface uniform in its acceptance of a printing ink; and,if wished, repeating these steps on multiple occasions. Thus the invention achieves the goal of providing a printing form precursor which does not need a chemical developer, and which can be used multiple times, to print different images.

Abstract: A method of preparing a printing form precursor for printing, or a printed circuit board precursor or a semiconductor precursor, the method comprising the step of applying electromagnetic radiation having a pulse duration of not greater than 1×10?6 seconds, in an imagewise manner, to an imagable surface of the precursor. The imaging process may cause ablation of the coating of the precursor or permit its development in a developer. In each case the imaging radiation needs not be tuned to imaging chemistry (if any) present in the coating. Alternatively the imaging process may induce a change of hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity, or other change of state, of an uncoated substrate.

Abstract: A NT2 (Network Termination type 2) unit comprises a terminal and control unit and an arbitrary number of identical switching units (39) which are interconnected in a loop configuration by means of two connecting lines (123, 124). Similar to an NT1 (Network Termination type 1) unit, each of the switching units (39) comprises two mutually opposed transmitting paths (23, 24) for ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) cells as well as two input/output circuits (22.1, 22.2) to which the connecting lines (123, 124) are connected. The switching unit (39) further comprises a third input/output circuit (22.3) allowing the connection of terminal equipment. Finally, the switch unit (39) is provided with an extractor (31) and an inserter (32) which are inserted in the transmitting paths (23, 24) and are connected to the third input/output circuit (22.3) via connecting lines (35.1, 35.2).

Abstract: A method for shortening a distributed queue, the distributed queue being formed by the first node and the second node which communicate using packets transmitted and received over first and second buses, the first and second nodes having first and second distributed queue images, respectively, which form first and second portions of the distributed queue, respectively, the packets travelling over the first bus having a request mode and a non-request mode and the packets travelling over the second bus having an empty mode and a full mode, the first node creating packets in the empty mode in the non-request mode; the first node has an information queuing state which changes a first packet originally in the non-request mode into the request mode and transmits the first packet over the first bus and adds first information to be sent to the first distributed queue, the first node transmitting information stored in the first distributed queue when second packet in the empty mode and a third packet is the non-reques

Abstract: Every subscriber node connected to an optical fiber comprises an access unit with a directional coupler which is controlled via an output amplifier, an optoelectric converter being connected subsequent to the directional coupler. Packets run on the fiber. The first bit of the packets indicates whether it is an empty packet (shown by "light" or "bright") or a data packet (shown by "no light" or "dark"). As soon as the node has prepared data for transmission in a buffer storage, a test is effected at each arriving packet as to whether or not it is an empty packet. For this purpose, the light of every first bit is guided to a L/I detector which carries out this test in a "flying" manner, while a no-light bit passes on to the outgoing fiber. If the L/I bit indicates a data packet, the control immediately switches the directional coupler to pass, so that the packet passes the node so as to be unchanged.