Abstract: The microbial life and color life of fresh meat products are extended by placing fresh meat in a tray, sealing the fresh meat in the tray in an atmosphere that excludes oxygen and contains carbon monoxide, and applying ionizing radiation to the tray containing the fresh meat. The color life of the fresh meat in the tray may be controlled (such as to be equal to or less than the microbial life) by employing a permeable element and an impermeable element to seal the fresh meat in the tray. The impermeable element is removed at a time after ionizing radiation has been applied, so that the atmosphere that excludes oxygen and contains carbon monoxide is exchanged for ambient atmosphere, resulting in predictable limiting of color life of the fresh meat.

Abstract: EMI radiation in an integrated circuit device package (10) is reduced or eliminated by the introduction of a magnetic material into the encapsulating medium (14). The permeance of the magnetic encapsulating medium (14) affects the inherent series inductance of the lead frame conductors (16) to thereby reduce electromagnetic interference. Ferrite microbeads (30) are formed around the lead frame conductors (16) to contain the magnetic flux (32) generated by an electrical current signal and to attenuate the effects of mutual inductance.

Abstract: Modular, portable data collection terminals are disclosed for use in mixed wireless and hard-wired RF communication networks, wherein various radio transmitter modules and associated antennas may be selectively added to a base terminal unit to solve networking problems associated with specific types of business environments. Modularity exists in both the hardware (splitting data collection and processing control circuitry from radio transceiver control circuitry) and software (splitting transceiver specific, lower level communication protocol from generic, higher level communication protocol). The control circuitry, including associated microprocessors devices, interact to selectively activate communication circuits to perform necessary communication or data processing functions and enter and remain in a power-saving dormant state during other times. To support such dormant or “sleeping” states, a series of communication protocols provide for channel access to the communication network.

Abstract: Portable measuring devices which communicate by low power transceivers through a communication controller with a printer device collect weight and size data on articles to be shipped. The collected weight and size data are combined with origin and destination data, and labels are printed bearing pertinent shipping and routing information in machine readable format. The labels are attached to the articles to be shipped and accompany the articles to their respective destinations. At transfer points the labels are read by scanner devices which also communicate by low power transceiver links with the communication controller. The wireless linking of the scanner devices promotes human safety by the absence of cords which could cause entanglement of an operator in mechanized conveying equipment. The communication controllers at each stage of the shipping process have the capability of transferring received and updated status information on the shipped articles to a central data station.

Abstract: Portable measuring devices which communicate by low power transceivers through a communication controller with a printer device collect weight and size data on articles to be shipped. The collected weight and size data are combined with origin and destination data, and labels are printed bearing pertinent shipping and routing information in machine readable format. The labels are attached to the articles to be shipped and accompany the articles to their respective destinations. At transfer points the labels are read by scanner devices which also communicate by low power transceiver links with the communication controller. The wireless linking of the scanner devices promotes human safety by the absence of cords which could cause entanglement of an operator in mechanized conveying equipment. The communication controllers at each stage of the shipping process have the capability of transferring received and updated status information on the shipped articles to a central data station.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held data terminal of modular structure includes a base module with a keyboard and a display screen. A data and communications module may be selected from a number of different data and communications modules, each having different types of data communications transceivers, or including in addition data collection devices, such as shelf label readers or bar code readers. The base module includes a microprocessor-controlled data communications and control interface having a predetermined protocol. To adapt the various types of data and communications modules for selection of any one thereof to become attached to the base module and function therewith, each of the data and communications modules includes a microprocessor operable to function as an emulator to interact with the microprocessor of the base module and communicate with the microprocessor of the base module in accordance with the protocol of the data communications and control interface of the base module.

Abstract: Articles are irradiated by positioning an article to be irradiated in a processing area, controlling an atmosphere in the processing area to exclude oxygen, and applying radiation to the article in the processing area. In one embodiment, the article is positioned in the processing area by conveying the article on a top surface of a product conveyor in the processing area. One exemplary article for irradiation is a tray of fresh ground meat. The tray of fresh ground meat that is positioned in the processing area for irradiation may itself exclude oxygen as well.

Abstract: A data capture system includes a data collection terminal and a wireless communications module comprising a transceiver arranged to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from a remote station in the data capture system. At least one flat antenna embedded within the communications module, and a pair of flat antennas may be included. A connector is arranged to removably couple the communications module with the data collection terminal and to transmit signals. A microprocessor is coupled with the connector and is arranged to standardize the logic levels and the format of the signals transmitted over the connector such that the data collection terminal may be engaged by the communications module through the connector without adjustment of the communications module.