Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a device including a self-selecting bus decoder. In some embodiments, the device may be coupled to a microcontroller, and the self-selecting bus decoder may determine a response of the peripheral device to requests from the microcontroller. In another embodiment, the device may include a bus translator and a self-selecting bus decoder. The bus translator may be configured to translate between signals from a selected one of a plurality of different types of buses. A microcontroller may be coupled to a selected one of the plurality of different types of buses of the bus translator.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a device including a bus translator. In some embodiments, the device also includes a core module and a core bus coupled to the core module. The bus translator may be coupled to the core module via the core bus, and the bus translator may be configured to translate between signals from a selected one of a plurality of different types of buses and signals on the core bus.

Abstract: A printer which is configured to automatically transmit data, such as critical and non-critical printer data, and route that data through at least one of a plurality of communication channels and services, such as via e-mail or mobile wireless equipment (e.g. an Internet-ready pager, a Personal Communications Service (PCS) phone or a wireless Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)). Preferably, the printer is configured such that it can be programmed and controlled from a remote location. Preferably, the printer is configured such that new label formats can be added from a remote location, and label formats stored in the printer can be viewed and modified from a remote location. Preferably, the printer is also configured such that barcode rendering algorithms can be downloaded to the printer from a remote location, and such that printer settings can be viewed and modified from a remote location, and thereafter can be downloaded to the printer and/or to other printers in a network to facilitate cloning.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of quenching heated coke in a coke drum. Quench water is fed into the coke drum to cool the coke, and the stress in the coke drum wall is monitored during the quenching. The rate of feeding the quench water into the coke drum is regulated to prevent the stress in the coke drum wall from exceeding a predetermined limit. The stress is monitored by measuring either the longitudinal thermal gradient or the rates of change in the drum wall temperature over time.