Abstract: A cost-effective motion control system communication architecture is provided that supports a centralized control node, distributed control nodes, and smart I/O peripheral control nodes. Networks designed using this architecture, which employs a serial bus, may be readily modified or expanded. The architecture supports both real-time highly periodic communications and event-driven peer-to-peer communications.

Abstract: A cost-effective motion control system communication architecture is provided that supports a centralized control node, distributed control nodes, and smart I/O peripheral control nodes. Networks designed using this architecture, which employs a serial bus, may be readily modified or expanded. The architecture supports both real-time highly periodic communications and event-driven peer-to-peer communications.

Abstract: A cost-effective motion control system communication architecture is provided that supports a centralized control node, distributed control nodes, and smart I/O peripheral control nodes. Networks designed using this architecture, which employs a serial bus, may be readily modified or expanded. The architecture supports both real-time highly periodic communications and event-driven peer-to-peer communications.

Abstract: A universal electrical bus connector is disclosed which is multi-functional in serving to connect a power and communications bus passing through the connector to a printed circuit board module to permit tapping into selected wires of the bus for utilization in the module, to connect separate power and communications buses together at any location to extend the bus within a machine harness, and to connect separate power and communications buses together at a printed circuit board module both to extend the bus and permit tapping into selected wires of the extended bus for utilization in the module. The connector includes essentially a housing having a plurality of electrical contact devices which connect between individual wires of a bus and contact areas formed on the surface of the printed circuit board module.

Abstract: A monitoring system for verifying that an input signal is toggling at a minimum frequency includes an edge detector to provide an output signal in response to a transition in the state of an input signal. The output signal is used to reset a resettable clock. In the event that the output signal is not received during a first reset period a first signal is generated and if there is no output within a second succeeding reset period, a second signal is generated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for controlling the amount of print material supplied to an electronic printer and, more specifically, for controlling the amount of ink or toner supplied to the sump of an ink jet printer or a photoelectrostatic copier that is used as a printer, respectively. The supply of print material is controlled by a determination of the amount of material that would be required to print a given text. This determination is based upon a knowledge of how much print material is required for various characters and the make-up of characters in the text.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus is described wherein an array of ink jet heads of the impulse jet type is compled to print sheets such as envelopes traveling past the heads. The ink jet heads are spaced along the travel path of the sheets and laterally staggered to print different image lines. The apparatus includes a microprocessor and controllers which are associated with individual heads. The controllers include buffers which are loaded with image signals derived from a font memory in correspondence with data to be printed. Presettable delay networks are used in the controllers to precisely determine when an ink jet head is to be printed in relationship with the detection of sheets at a particular distance relative to the heads. The ink jets heads are operated in timed relationship with each other and in synchronism with the traveling sheets while their associated buffers are reloaded at the proper times for a continual printing of different information such as addresses on envelopes.