Abstract: An intelligent, portable printer is provided having a controller and a printing mechanism. The controller includes a microprocessor which communicates with a terminal, which may be remote from the printer and may include or be a host computer, via cable, radio, or optical interfaces. The terminal supplies application programs and data representing commands and information to be printed. In one embodiment, the controller of the printer can operate the printer mechanism in accordance with received data when the data is preceded by a command addressing the product-type predefined for the printer. In another embodiment, the controller operates responsive to a wake-up signal from the terminal for automatically turning on the printer from a low powered state.

Abstract: A recoil pad for universal attachment to firearm stocks of varied size. The recoil pad is a boot, formed of resilient foam material, having a base wall for engagement with the butt of a firearm stock. A retaining sleeve extends from the base wall for engagement with the periphery of a firearm stock. The retaining sleeve has an opening which defines an integral strap portion in the retaining sleeve spaced from the base wall. The integral strap portion may be stretched to accommodate and snugly retain firearm stocks of varied size.

Abstract: An electronic thermostat having high and low voltage control capability and varied functional capabilities. The thermostat is particularly suited for use with fan coil heating and cooling units. Specifically the thermostat uses relays to actuate external devices such as heating and cooling equipment, fans and dampers. The use of relays permits control voltages for these external devices to be different (e.g. 24 VAC, 208-230 VAC or 277 VAC).

Abstract: Power may be conserved and battery life may be extended in a microprocessor controlled device by providing two microprocessors, one of which is a low power, low performance low speed processor for performing background tasks, the other of which is a high power, high performance, high speed processor for performing computationally intensive foreground tasks. The low speed processor activates the high speed processor when a high performance task is to be performed. When activating the high performance processor, the low performance processor also controls the device's power supply to provide high voltage to the high speed processor. The high speed processor may run at variable clock speeds, with power consumption of the processor increasing with increasing speed. The high speed processor selects its own clock speed based upon the task to be performed, by including a clock speed in each software subroutine which controls a task.

Abstract: A method and tool is provided for deciphering electronic codes and recreating lost or missing vehicle ignition keys for vehicle ignition systems in which an ignition key is employed which has a diode containing one of a plurality of possible electronic codes which must be sensed to operate the vehicle. Once the mechanical key code is determined for the cuts on the key by removal of the ignition lock portion, a key blank without cuts but containing a diode having one of the possible electronic codes is inserted into the lock portion, and a tool is inserted into the steering column which has been opened by the removal of the lock portion to move the rack gear to operate the ignition switching assembly to the start position. If the diode code on the key blank is the correct code, the engine will start. If it is the incorrect code, a different key blank containing a diode having another one of the possible codes is inserted in the lock portion, and the foregoing procedure is repeated until the engine starts.

Abstract: A high density memory module in which memory chips are mounted in an array of rows and columns on a printed circuit board. The circuit board includes groups of serpentine parallel conductors which extend along adjacent columns for connecting corresponding power, ground, control, address and data pins between the adjacent columns to one another. Adjacent groups of serpentine parallel conductors are nested within one another. According to the invention, high density packaging is provided for large chip arrays, using a minimum number to vias to interior board layers, and minimum interchip spacing.

Abstract: A keyboard having a series of parallel bars capable of mechanical displacement by downward thrust under the pressure of the user's fingers, and a luminous display system in which a tactile electric control screen forms the top of the bars. Circuits are used for producing control orders from at least bar data and key data, with the bar data being selected according to the bars depressed. Specific key functions are assigned electronically to screen zones disposed at intervals along each bar, and a controller provides the display system with a visual representation related to each key function in the corresponding screen zone.