Abstract: A simplified pressure sealing apparatus for acting on business forms having pressure activated cohesive to seal the cohesive has only two or three pressure-seal rollers for effecting proper sealing. The pressure seal rollers may receive a folded business form substantially immediately from the output of a folder, or one of the pressure-seal rollers may function to both assist in folding the form, and then pressure sealing it. The form may be held in a flip plate above the nip between first and second pressure-seal rollers, or a separate set of idler nip wheels may hold the form in position once it has passed completely through the sealing nip. In either case the form may pass completely through the sealing nip yet be moved through the sealing nip in the opposite direction, and then diverted to a stack.

Abstract: A simplified pressure sealing apparatus for acting on business forms having pressure activated cohesive to seal the cohesive has only two or three pressure-seal rollers for effecting proper sealing. The pressure seal rollers may receive a folded business form substantially immediately from the output of a folder, or one of the pressure-seal rollers may function to both assist in folding the form, and then pressure sealing it. The form may be held in a flip plate above the nip between first and second pressure-seal rollers, or a separate set of idler nip wheels may hold the form in position once it has passed completely through the sealing nip. In either case the form may pass completely through the sealing nip yet be moved through the sealing nip in the opposite direction, and then diverted to a stack.

Abstract: A simplified pressure sealing apparatus for acting on business forms having pressure activated cohesive to seal the cohesive has only two or three pressure-seal rollers for effecting proper sealing. The pressure seal rollers may receive a folded business form substantially immediately from the output of a folder, or one of the pressure-seal rollers may function to both assist in folding the form, and then pressure sealing it. The form may be held in a flip plate above the nip between first and second pressure-seal rollers, or a separate set of idler nip wheels may hold the form in position once it has passed completely through the sealing nip. In either case the form may pass completely through the sealing nip yet be moved through the sealing nip in the opposite direction, and then diverted to a stack.

Abstract: A simplified pressure sealing apparatus for acting on business forms having pressure activated cohesive to seal the cohesive has only two or three pressure-seal rollers for effecting proper sealing. The pressure seal rollers may receive a folded business form substantially immediately from the output of a folder, or one of the pressure-seal rollers may function to both assist in folding the form, and then pressure sealing it. The form may be held in a flip plate above the nip between first and second pressure-seal rollers, or a separate set of idler nip wheels may hold the form in position once it has passed completely through the sealing nip. In either case the form may pass completely through the sealing nip yet be moved through the sealing nip in the opposite direction, and then diverted to a stack.

Abstract: A motor control system provides a low-cost method of phase-locking a motor to an input timing signal. Timer circuits 502, 506 measure the period of a timing signal and the relative phase between the timing signal and a motor rotor. A frequency command generator circuit 520 outputs a motor speed command based on the period of the timing signal and the relative phase of the timing signal compared to the motor rotor. The motor speed command controls the output of a motor driver circuit which drives the motor rotor speed synchronously with the input timing signal. The rotor speed is gradually altered to adjust the relative phase between the input timing signal and the motor rotor. This results in a small frequency-lock error being used to maintain a predetermined phase relationship between the timing signal and the motor rotor.

Abstract: A waterproof urinal mat which contains humorous or informational messages printed or coated over with thermochromic inks. The mat is formed to fit in a urinal, such that included text and artwork printed onto the mat with temperature sensitive, thermochromic inks display multiple images at an ambient temperature and upon being contacted with urine or flush water. In alternative arrangements, thermochromic inks of selected activation temperatures are variously printed onto the substrate in relation to an opaque image before coating the substrate with a waterproof covering or laminate. Two or more images are thereby visible upon contacting the mat with urine and flush water. Apertures and protrusions at the mat prevent splashing and direct liquid flow relative to the images.

Abstract: A method and structure for a display system having multiple spatial light modulators (SLMs) (16), each of which contributes an image of one color that is perceived by the viewer as a combined image. The SLMs (16) have more rows and columns of pixel elements (42) than rows or columns of pixel data to be displayed. A window of "active" pixel elements (42) can be shifted up and down or right and left by selecting which pixel elements (42) are to receive data. The addressing circuit (31, 31a, 35, 35a) of each SLM 16 can be controlled so as to accomplish this shifting.

Abstract: A method of adjusting color temperature of images displayed by a display system (10) whose images are based on sequential pixel data and are filtered with a color wheel (15, 15', 15"). The relative display times for each color are adjusted to result in a corresponding adjustment of color temperature. In a first embodiment (FIG. 2), the size of the color wheel's segments are changed as well as the display times for data corresponding to each segment. In a second embodiment (FIG. 3), the display times for data corresponding to one or more segments are decreased with a black display time to fill in the difference.

Abstract: A SLM-based projection display system (10) samples and processes video data for delivery to a spatial light modulator (SLM) (13c), and uses a color wheel (14a) to color the SLM-generated images. A frame memory (13b) provides data to the SLM (13c) and is managed so that, if the phase of the incoming video signal changes, a desired phase relationship between the color wheel position and the data available to the SLM (13c) can be maintained. Also, a motor control unit (15a) uses a horizontal sync signal to generate a drive signal for the color wheel motor (16a), which limits the transient time during phase-changing events, and which provides a means for adjusting the phase of the drive signal.

Abstract: A capillary and capillary retaining system including a capillary assembly having first and second end holders. The first and second end holders are adapted to be received by first and second retainers. The first end holder may include protruding portions and the first end retainer includes clips or clamps to engage the protruding portions. The second end holder may include opposite recesses and the second retainer is adapted to receive optical cables that are received within the recesses to retain the second end holder. The second retainer can further include a lever on the retainer body to pry the second holder out of the second retainer. Locks or clips retained by the second end retainer cooperate with grooves in the optical cables to retain the optical cables.

Abstract: A graphics data unit (17) for a digital television receiver (10) that uses a spatial light modulator (16). The graphics data unit (17) has a graphics processor (22), which offloads graphics processing tasks, such as for closed captioning and on-screen display, from a main processor (14). The graphics data unit (17) also has a character memory (24), which stores fonts for closed caption and on-screen display characters. A read-only memory (22a) stores graphics primitives. The character fonts and the graphics primitives may be adapted to compensate for staggered pixel layouts of the spatial light modulator (16).

Abstract: A digital television system (10) is provided. System (10) may receive a video signal at composite video interface and separation circuit (16). The video signal is separated into separate video signals by composite video interface and separation circuit (16). The separate video signals are converted to digital video signals in analog to digital converter circuit (18). Line slicer (14) divides each line of digital video signal into a plurality of channels such that each channel may be processed in parallel by channel signal processors (22a) through (22d). Each channel signal processor (22a) through (22d) may provide two lines of output for each line of video input. The processed digital video signals may be formatted for displays (26a) through (26c) in formatters (24a) through (24c).

Abstract: A system (14') for processing pixel video data having a selectable number of bits is provided. The system (14') comprises first, second and third video processors (20), (22) and (24). The first video processor (20) receives and processes pixel data of a luminance video signal. The second video processor (22) may receive and process pixel data of a chrominance video signal and may generate one of first, second and third video signal outputs. The third video processor (24) may process the chrominance video signal and may also generate at least two of the output video signals.

Abstract: A system (30) for packing data into a video processor is provided. System (30) comprises demultiplexer (32), first and second first in-first out buffer memories (34) and (36), and multiplexer (38). Demultiplexer (32) divides a field of video data into first and second parts (42) and (44). First and second parts (42) and (44) are stored in first first in-first out buffer memories (34) and (36), respectively. Multiplexer (38) combines one line from first first in-first out buffer memory (34) with one line from second first in-first out buffer memory (36) to form a single line for processing.

Abstract: A film-to-video format detector (24) for a digital television receiver (10). The detector (24) receives pixel data from a current field and a second preceding field. It determines a set of pixel difference values, sums them to obtain a field difference value, and compares the field difference value to a threshold. These steps are repeated to obtain a series of field difference indicators. This series is analyzed to determine whether it has a pattern corresponding to a film-to-video format.

Abstract: A SLM-based projection display system (10) samples and processes video data for delivery to a spatial light modulator (SLM) (13c), and uses a color wheel (14a) to color the SLM-generated images. A frame memory (13b) provides data to the SLM (13c) and is managed so that, if the phase of the incoming video signal changes, a desired phase relationship between the color wheel position and the data available to the SLM (13c) can be maintained. Also, a motor control unit (15a) uses a horizontal sync signal to generate a drive signal for the color wheel motor (16a), which limits the transient time during phase-changing events, and which provides a means for adjusting the phase of the drive signal.

Abstract: A rotatable turntable for vortexing reactants comprises a vortexing plate which is rotatable. The motor drives for vortexing and rotation are stationary such that simple mechanical and electrical connection relative to the peripheral supports and to the vortexing plate can be achieved. A vortexing work station located in alignment with the turntable operates in synchronism with the turntable. Reactants at any radial reactant station on the vortexing plate can be withdrawn from and located onto the turntable at any radial location when the turntable stops rotation. The radial position of the turntable in relation to the outside vortexing and non-vortexing periphery remains relatively aligned.

Abstract: A reagent storage and delivery apparatus comprises a reagent cartridge having a plurality of fluidic chambers and includes a flange means for receiving a label to define a code indicating information concerning the contents of the cartridge. Preferably, a binary code is defined through use of windows formed in an extending portion of the cartridge which cooperate with a formed portion of the label applied to the cartridge. The binary code is optically read and translated to a digital information signal for instructional use with an analytical instrument.

Abstract: A temperature control apparatus for controlling the temperature of a plurality of cuvettes consisting of an annular sealed chamber containing a refrigerant, means fixed to the sealed chamber for receiving the sample cuvettes, a heater in thermal contact with the sealed chamber, and a temperature sensor in thermal contact with the sealed chamber. The sealed chamber may include a plurality of thermally conductive posts fixed to the chamber, the spacing between adjacent ones of the posts being adapted to receive the sample cuvettes.

Abstract: A method of operating a clinical analyzer wherein the analyzer includes a plurality of reaction locations divided into two groups. Predetermined operations are performed on the first and second groups during corresponding processing cycles. A process that is common to both cycles is performed simultaneously for reaction locations in the first and second groups during only one of the cycles. The other of the cycles can thus accommodate operations unique to particular tests that would not otherwise be available on the analyzer. The common process may be washing of adjacent reaction locations included in the first and second groups.