Abstract: A control system for collectively supervising a plurality of copiers or similar image forming apparatuses connected to a control device by communication lines with or without the intermediary of communication control units. To down-load data relating to image formation, the control device determines whether or not a copier of interest is in an inoperative state and, if it is in an inoperative state, automatically sends the data to the copier via a telephone line, an exchange, and a communication control unit. This data is written to storing means built in the copier. To up-load data relating to image formation, the control device causes each copier to automatically send the data stored in the storing means and stores the data in memory means. Up-loading is effected at an optimal time other than the time when the copier is performing an automatic adjustment, is in use, or is quite likely to be used.

Abstract: This invention relates to treating agents, glass fiber substrates treated with such agents, and the use of such treated glass fiber substrates in molded, glass fiber reinforced resins that are suited to copper clad laminates, composite base materials, printed wiring boards such as mass lamination boards, and, in particular, multilayer printed wiring boards.

Abstract: A control system for collectively supervising a plurality of copiers or similar image forming apparatuses connected to a control device by communication lines with or without the intermediary of communication control units. To down-load data relating to image formation, the control device determines whether or not a copier of interest is an inoperative state and, if it is in an inoperative state, automatically sends the data to the copier via a telephone line, an exchange, and a communication control unit. This data is written to storing means built in the copier. To up-load data relating to image formation, the control device causes each copier to automatically send the data stored in the storing means thereof and stores the data in memory means thereof. Up-loading is effected at an optimal time other than the time when the copier is performing an automatic adjustment, in use, or quite likely to be used.

Abstract: A protective circuit for a phase lock loop ensures that the VCO does not initiate a runaway condition when outputting a signal having a frequency higher than the feedback divider can respond to. During normal phase lock operation, a counter keeps track of the PLL input signal and is reset by the feedback divider. In the runaway condition the counter is not reset and triggers a control signal to the VCO. A second counter can be used to keep track of the feedback divider output and to reset the first counter. When the first counter far outruns the second counter the control signal is triggered.

Abstract: Highly elastic heat-bonding conjugated fibers capable of providing a fiber structure having excellent recovery form compression and compression durability and a high level of air permeability comprise a thermoplastic elastomer component and a crystalline nonelastic polyester component having a higher melting point than that of the elastomer as constituent components thereof and can be provided by arranging the elastomer component in a crescent shape in the circular fiber cross section of the bonding conjugated fibers and specifying the geometrical dimensions (a shape occupied by each of the two components constituting the heat-bonding conjugated fibers) therein.

Abstract: A switched capacitor, integrated circuit employing at least one non-linear capacitor charged and discharged in response to a reference frequency includes a first conductive device for charging the non-linear capacitor to the supply voltage in response to one polarity of the reference frequency, and a second conductive device for discharging the non-linear capacitor in response to the opposite polarity of the reference frequency to a voltage level opposite that of the voltage source minus the threshold voltage of a third conductive device in the discharge path. Preferably, a pair of non-linear capacitors are employed, each being charged on alternate half cycles of the reference frequency, and the non-linear capacitors are accumulator capacitors. The circuit also include means for rapidly initiating the charging and discharging of said capacitors and for precluding changes in the state of charge or discharge thereof due to parasitic diodes in the circuit.

Abstract: Calibration systems and techniques for analog phase-lock loops (PLLs) providing the capability to dynamically maintain a constant damping factor. Damping factor is calibrated by automatically setting a reference bias current I.sub.r to the PLL's charge pump such that the charge current I.sub.c output therefrom maintains the desired PLL damping characteristic. The technique presented involves selecting a known first frequency F.sub.1 and allowing the PLL circuit to reach steady state, after which a known second frequency F.sub.2 is applied and the PLL circuit is monitored to determine whether steady state at this second frequency F.sub.2 is accomplished within a predetermined target time T.sub.x, which corresponds to the desired damping factor. The determination of whether lock occurs within the target time T.sub.x is then employed to automatically setting the reference current I.sub.r.

Abstract: According to the preferred embodiment, a self-biased phase-locked loop is provided that overcomes the limitations of the prior art bias methods and apparatus. In general, a self-biased current controlled semiconductor device, typically a current controlled oscillator, is self biased by the use of a first feedback path, typically provided by a phase-locked loop, where the feedback path provides a control current for controlling the current controlled device. A second feedback path, typically a pair current mirrors, serves as a bias loop having unity gain. The bias loop provides a bias current that is responsive to the control current. This device has the advantage of being self biasing, thus no other biasing circuitry is required.

Abstract: An apparatus for circulating documents among a number of computer terminals in an office. The apparatus includes a device for reading images which are then stored. The image may then be read out from the storage. A controller controls the storage of the image and the reading of the image from storage. The apparatus also includes a device for forming a network system with a number of terminals so that the various terminals can read images from storage. The apparatus will automatically delete data from the storage under various conditions.

Abstract: Calibration systems and techniques for analog phase-lock loops (PLLs) providing the capability to dynamically maintain a constant damping factor. Damping factor is calibrated by automatically setting a reference bias current I.sub.r to the PLL's charge pump such that the charge current I.sub.c output therefrom maintains the desired PLL damping characteristic. The technique presented involves selecting a known first frequency F.sub.1 and allowing the PLL circuit to reach steady state, after which a known second frequency F.sub.2 is applied and the PLL circuit is monitored to determine whether steady state at this second frequency F.sub.2 is accomplished within a predetermined target time T.sub.x, which corresponds to the desired damping factor. The determination of whether lock occurs within the target time T.sub.x is then employed to automatically set the reference current I.sub.r.

Abstract: A control system for collectively supervising a plurality of copiers or similar image forming apparatuses connected to a control device by communication lines with or without the intermediary of communication control units. To down-load data relating to image formation, the control device determines whether or not a copier of interest is an inoperative state and, if it is in an inoperative state, automatically sends the data to the copier via a telephone line, an exchange, and a communication control unit. This data is written to a storage device built in the copier. To up-load data relating to image formation, the control device causes each copier to automatically send the data stored in the storing device thereof and stores the data in a memory thereof. Up-loading is effected at an optimal time other than the time when the copier is performing an automatic adjustment, in use, or quite likely to be used.

Abstract: A control system for collectively supervising a plurality of copiers or similar image forming apparatuses connected to a control device by communication lines with or without the intermediary of communication control units. To down-load data relating to image formation, the control device determines whether or not a copier of interest is an inoperative state and, if it is in an inoperative state, automatically sends the data to the copier via a telephone line, an exchange, and a communication control unit. This data is written to a storage device built in the copier. To up-load data relating to image formation, the control device causes each copier to automatically send the data stored in the storing device thereof and stores the data in a memory thereof. Up-loading is effected at an optimal time other than the time when the copier is performing an automatic adjustment, in use, or quite likely to be used.

Abstract: A control system for collectively supervising a plurality of copiers or similar image forming apparatuses connected to a control device by communication lines with or without the intermediary of communication control units. To down-load data relating to image formation, the control device determines whether or not a copier of interest is an inoperative state and, if it is in an inoperative state, automatically sends the the copier via a telephone line, an exchange, and a communication control unit. This data is written to a storing device built in the copier. To up-load data relating to image formation, the control device causes each copier automatically send the data stored in the storing device thereof and stores the data in a memory thereof. Up-loading is effected at an optimal time other than the time when the copier is performing an automatic adjustment, in use, or quite likely to be used.

Abstract: A ring oscillator circuit which provides an output signal having a substantially constant, fifty (50%) percent duty cycle. The circuit includes a plurality of cascaded inverting stages, each of which has an input circuit for detecting an output voltage of a preceding inverting stage. One inverting stage provides a voltage to an output node. A clamping circuit, coupled to the output node, provides current to the output node whenever the instantaneous voltage output at the output node departs from a threshold voltage of a subsequent logic circuit. The current is such as to clamp the average voltage output to the threshold voltage. The plurality of cascaded inverting stages is coupled to power supply voltage across capacitor configured transistors. The ring oscillator circuit can be employed within a voltage controlled oscillator.

Abstract: A composite image forming apparatus includes a scanning part for obtaining image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction, a character generating part for generating character data indicating either a character or a numeric character, an image composition part for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data with the image data of the scanned document, an image forming part for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document, and a character setting control part for changing the respective character data each time a composite image is formed to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies.

Abstract: A polyester block copolymer having an inherent viscosity of at least 0.6, which comprises (A) 30 to 90% by weight of polyester segments comprising a benzenedicarboxylic acid as the main acid component and a diol having 5 to 12 carbon atoms between the hydroxyl groups as the main glycol component and (B) 70 to 10% by weight of polyester segments comprising an aromatic dicarboxylic acid as the main acid component and ethylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol or 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol as the main glycol component, wherein (i) when a polyester having an inherent viscosity of at least 0.6 is formed by polycondensation of the components constituting the polyester segments (A), the melting point of the obtained polyester is lower than 50.degree. C. or the obtained polyester is amorphous, and (ii) when a polyester having an inherent viscosity of at least 0.

Abstract: Calibration systems and techniques for phase-locked loops (PLLs) provide precise setting of the center frequency and/or uniform voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) gain characteristics. Center frequency is calibrated by imposing a selected center frequency at the output of the PLL and driving the control voltage V.sub.c across the PLL's filter to a predefined, steady state voltage indicative of PLL circuit calibration. The approach can be employed to calibrate any imposed VCO frequency output. VCO gain calibration is accomplished by employing the center frequency calibration technique only with a low frequency point imposed on the VCO output. A high frequency point on the transfer function is calibrated by applying a known voltage across the filter and driving the VCO output to a corresponding calibration frequency. Once a low frequency point and a high frequency point are calibrated, the slope of the VCO transfer function is defined. Various integrated PLL/calibration system embodiments are presented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanner for scanning a plurality of document so that n images corresponding to the documents are obtained, n being an integer greater than 2, an image generating means for successively generating m number images different from each other, m being an integer greater than 2, an image composition circuit for combining an i-th image (i=1, 2 , . . . , and n) obtained by the scanner and a j-th number image (j=1, 2 , . . . , and m) with each other so as to output a composite image I.sub.ij, a printing mechanism for printing the composite image I.sub.ij on a recording sheet, and an output unit for outputting the recording sheet having the composite image I.sub.ij formed thereon.

Abstract: A container filling apparatus makes it possible to discharge liquid stagnating within a filling valve. The filling valve is lowered towards a container being conveyed. Then a liquid passageway gating section is opened by pressing a bell-shaped member of the filling valve against the container, and liquid thus fills the container. The net amount of the contents to fill the container can be adjusted by vertically moving at least one of a filler liquid tank and a stopper member which limits the lower position of an intermediate spring bracket supporting a second elastic body for biasing a valve body upwardly with respect to a loading table on which the containers are supported. In addition, it is possible to open the liquid passageway gating section by lowering the filling valve with an external force. Therefore, liquid stagnating in the passageway of the filling valve can be discharged.

Abstract: This present invention is characterized in that a titanium material on an .alpha. or (.alpha.+.beta.) titanium alloy material hydrogenated in an amount of 0.02 to 2% by weight of hydrogen is heated to a temperature above the .beta. transformation point and below 1100.degree. C., is hot worked in that temperature range at a reduction of 30% or more, the hot working is terminated in a .beta. single phase temperature region, and cooling to 400.degree. C. or less, and annealing in vacuum are then carried out, whereby titanium and titanium alloy materials having a fine acicular microstructure are obtained.