Combined With External Recorder Operating Means Patents (Class 346/33R)
  • Patent number: 5963223
    Abstract: A recording apparatus capable of automatically re-writing recording data includes a recording head for recording images on a recording medium in accordance with recording data; a memory for storing recording data to be supplied to the recording head; an address generating device which generates, with respect to the memory, addresses synchronized with recording performed by the recording head and which reads out the recording data stored in the memory; and a data writing device for writing predetermined data in the memory on the basis of the addresses which have been generated by the address generating device and from which the recording data has been read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Tateyama, Yuichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5842397
    Abstract: A punching transport apparatus attached to an end surface a cylindrical inner surface drum includes two transport units which are connected with a pulse motor, two belts, and two pulleys so as to be able to move in synchronism to each other. The two transport units are linked to two punching units through linkage blocks. Transport carriers of the transport units are threadingly engaged with ball screws which are linked to the pulleys so that the transport carriers are loosely fitted to guide rails. Receiving an input signal which is entered in accordance with a plate edge distance which is determined by the specifications of a printer, a controller drives the pulse motor under the control of a pulse count. As a result, from an origin position which is determined in accordance with a condition which is detected by an origin sensor, the two transport units and the two punching units move in a central axis direction X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shimizu, Hiroshi Nomoto
  • Patent number: 5754192
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus compares the memory size for storing image data corresponding to an image to be recorded with a recording sheet size designated by a recording sheet size designation command included in printing data output from an external apparatus. If the recording sheet size exceeds the memory size, the apparatus forms image data in a resolution lower than a normal resolution and stores the data in the memory. On printing the image in accordance with the stored image data, the apparatus multiplies the data in the memory and records the image in the initial resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Sugaya
  • Patent number: 5709139
    Abstract: A photosensitive material is mounted onto an inner surface of a cylindrical inner surface drum. An input signal which provides the size of the photosensitive material is supplied to a controller. As the controller drives a pulse motor under the control of a control signal, a moving part with which punching units are connected is moved in a circumferential direction of the drum by means of the pulse motor and positioned at the desired positions for punching. Then only two punching units, determined by the controller in accordance with the size of the photosensitive material, are driven to punch holes in the photosensitive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shimizu, Touru Kawata, Hiroshi Nomoto
  • Patent number: 5262872
    Abstract: An image recording system includes a host computer and a recording apparatus. The host computer generates image data to be recorded as an image. The recording apparatus includes a recording head, an image data generator, an error detector, and a selector. The error detector checks the condition of the recording apparatus to detect any errors. The selector switches between an on-line mode and an off-line mode of the recording system. In the on-line mode, the recording head is capable of recording the image on the recording medium in response to the image data supplied from the host computer. In the off-line mode, the recording means is capable of recording the predetermined image on the recording medium in response to the predetermined image data supplied from the predetermined image data generator. The selector switches to the on-line mode when the error detector does not detect an error and switches to the off-line mode when the error detector does detect an error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Yoshimura, Tetsuo Suzuki, Makoto Takemura
  • Patent number: 5155499
    Abstract: A print head, formed with spaced linear subheads of jet nozzles, prints all of the lines or image element rows on a print medium such as a sheet of paper by scanning along the face of the sheet. The head is advanced between scans by an equivalent number of lines generally equal to the number of nozzles in the head, whereby all print lines are addressed only once. Apparatus for printing includes the use of pointers in registers to keep track of head structure and location on a print medium for calculating print addresses. A partial page memory is used which wraps around to the beginning from the end. An edge sequence control logic circuit modifies the print data so that nozzles not over the image area do not print. A positive printer carriage position encoder uses an index marker located in the middle of a strip of incremental markers. Sensing of the index marker resets an up/down counter with a value that gives a positive value for all count conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, Richard A. Springer
  • Patent number: 5155693
    Abstract: A method of creating a self-documenting logfile which records the status and operation of a substantially computer-controlled device. The method comprises the steps of accepting input commands from a user for controlling the device status and operation; monitoring the device characteristics; detecting deviations in the device status, user inputs, and procedural steps in the device's operation; writing these detected events to the logfile with the date and time of which the detected event occurred; and retrieving the logfile upon user demands for review of the logfile. In order to comply with good laboratory practices (GLP), the method additionally comprises steps for verifying the user input commands by determining the acceptability of the input commands, detecting inadvertent alteration to the logfile and testing the validity of the logfile for invalid data. Steps for providing an enciphering key within the event lines which comprise the logfile in order to detect tampering are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Lee H. Altmayer, Christopher M. Wurm
  • Patent number: 5122814
    Abstract: Liquid droplets are formed by instantaneous state change by thermal energy of a liquid filled in a thermal chamber, said droplets being deposited onto a recording member to achieve recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Endo, Yasushi Sato, Seiji Saito, Takashi Nakagiri, Shigeru Ohno
  • Patent number: 5119109
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and system are described wherein dot matrix characters are formed by an array of ink spray nozzles within a marker head assembly upon the inside surface of a pipe or other curved surface. The marker head is moved by a traversing arrangement including a carriage in a manner wherein full character pixels are formed during movement of the marker head along locii parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pipe being marked. This achieves full messages marking with a minimized number of required marker head movements along the inside surface. An indexing mechanism engages the outer surface of the pipe to index it from one marking locus to a next. A translational mechanism moves the marker head traversing mechanism from off-line to on-line positions at the production path during the course of operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Telesis Controls Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Robertson
  • Patent number: 5079715
    Abstract: An electronic remote data recorder records pulses representing usage of a commodity such as, for example, water, gas or electricity from a plurality of consumers. The data from each consumer is stored in a respective data storage device. Each data storage device is associated with an interval data directory which stores the times at which significant events, affecting the data in the data storage device occurred. Thus, the data in the data storage device is compact, without requiring a contemporaneous time code for each data item. Data integrity is retained over a period of power outage in a non-volatile storage device. Initial, post-installation programming is enabled by comparing the data pattern in the non-volatile storage device with a predefined data pattern that is expected to exist once the apparatus has been programmed. A write-protect switch prevents programming during an incoming call after the initial programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Inventors: Krishnan Venkataraman, Richard A. Balch
  • Patent number: 5058044
    Abstract: A system for automatically identifying vehicles, assimilating data from an identified vehicle, correlating the data with predetermined data and providing a statement of account indicative of a transaction involving the vehicle. The system also provides a service record of the vehicle for use in connection with the transaction. For example, in a car rental environment, the service report is utilized by an attendant to determine if such service items as refilling the fuel tank are necessary. Primarily, data for the service record is provided by sensors located on-board the vehicle. The sensor data may be supplemented by data inputted via a keyboard located on-board the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Auto I.D. Inc.
    Inventors: Stedman J. Stewart, Charles A. Barbour, Jr., Howard E. Breeden
  • Patent number: 5046007
    Abstract: The invention includes a device for collecting travel-related data for a motor vehicle. The usage data includes such data as a start time and date of a trip, a beginning odometer reading, a category code indicating the purpose of the trip, a sub-category code further indicating the purpose of a trip, and maintenance information for the vehicle. Data collection begins when the ignition system of the vehicle is activated. The invention includes means for downloading the collected data to an external device, such as a microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Accutek Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn F. McCrery, Thomas A. Seim
  • Patent number: 5038299
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a program memory having a parallel transfer program and a serial transfer program, a connector on the electronic apparatus to which a parallel transfer interface or a serial transfer interface is detachably connected, and a judging unit for judging the kind of the printer interface connected to the connector. A program suitable for the kind of the printer interface judged by the judge unit is called from the program memory by means of a program selecting unit. This enables the electronic apparatus to be connected for use with a parallel transfer printer and a serial transfer printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Maeda
  • Patent number: 5016026
    Abstract: A thimble (10) for the eye (4) of a rope (2) is provided with a sleeve (40) which receives the pin (32) of a shackle (30) and a bar (42) which attaches this sleeve to the inside wall of the thimble. The load in this beam is measured and recorded by means of a mechanical strain recording device (50) in which a scribe (56) on an arm (54) marks on a recording surface (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Inventor: John F. Flory
  • Patent number: 5006864
    Abstract: An information read-out and recording apparatus includes an optical information read-out device for converting optical information into electrical information signals. A serial-input/parallel-output shift register stores information signals from the optical information read-out device and a latch circuit stores information from the shift register for supply to a recording device. The recording device records on a recording medium in accordance with the output of the latch circuit, which parallelly stores the contents of the shift register after a predetermined number of bits of information have been serially stored in the shift register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ayata, Yoshiaki Shirato, Yasushi Takatori, Mitsuaki Seki
  • Patent number: 4996649
    Abstract: An image processor including a memory for storing bit images of a graphic pattern or a character, a receiver for receiving information regarding an image to be outputted from an external apparatus, and an image writer for writing bit images on the memory in accordance with the received information. A timer is provided and starts to clock when the image writer begins to write bit images. A control circuit is also provided for forcibly stopping the operation of the image writer if the imaging operation by the image writer has not yet been completed upon the timer reaching or exceeding a predetermined period. The predetermined time period is determined in accordance with the bit images being a graphic pattern or a character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Kamei, Yoshikazu Ikenoue
  • Patent number: 4989163
    Abstract: A photo printer system comprises a magnetic storage for storing a print data sent from a host computer, a bit map memory for storing a print dot data, and a printer engine for printing the contents of the bit map memory. The system includes a program which operates on the magnetic storage to serve as an external storage for the host computer and on the bit map memory to serve as a cache memory in response to a data read/write command issued by the host computer, and a CPU which controls the execution of the program. At least in a non-print process mode, the system forms a data path so that the host computer can access to the bit map memory and magnetic storage so as to have a bidirectional data read/write operation. In another mode, the system forms a data path so that image data picked up with an image scanner is saved directly in the bit map memory and the image data is sent to the host computer by request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Kawamata, Syoichi Ito, Katsufumi Takagishi
  • Patent number: 4978971
    Abstract: Print heads are formed with spaced subheads having nozzles such that all of the lines or pixel rows on a print medium such as a sheet of paper are printed by scanning of the print head along the face of the sheet. The head structures include three subheads, each having nozzles for printing one or more adjacent lines with the subheads being spaced the same number of lines apart as the number of lines each prints; and three subheads spaced the equivalent of seven lines apart, each subhead having three nozzles spaced at the equivalent of alternate lines. The heads are advanced between scans by an equivalent number of lines generally equal to the number of nozzles in the head, whereby all print lines are addressed only once. Apparatus for printing includes the use of pointers in registers to keep track of head structure and location on a print medium for calculating print addresses. A partial page memory is used which wraps around to the beginning from the end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, Richard A. Springer
  • Patent number: 4975859
    Abstract: A photo printer such as a laser printer incorporates a bit map memory having a large memory capacity. When the printer is connected to a host computer, a dot pattern corresponding to a bit pattern formed in accordance with the contents of the bit map memory is printed on a sheet in a normal mode. If a special command is transmitted from the host computer to the printer, a data file used by the host computer is temporarily stored in the bit map memory. If another special command is transmitted from the host computer, the data file stored in the bit map memory is transmitted to the host computer. That is, the bit map memory in the printer is used as the memory for temporarily storing the files of the host computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsufumi Takagishi, Syoichi Ito
  • Patent number: 4975858
    Abstract: A controller for a printer for printing data received from an external data processor. The controller comprises a first memory for storing the received data, an analyzer for analyzing the data stored in the first memory, and a second memory for storing the data analyzed by the analyzer. In the controller, the data stored in the first memory corresponding to the data stored in the second memory is reanalyzed by the analyzer in accordance with alteration of a format data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ikenoue, Ikunori Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 4891769
    Abstract: A printer which receives data and commands which are transferred from a data processing apparatus serving as an external apparatus such as a host computer and prints the data. This printer includes a setting circuit to set information regarding the printing; this setting circuit having a first mode in which the information regarding the printing can be designated irrespective of the information from the external apparatus and a second mode in which the information regarding the printing is designated on the basis of the information from the external apparatus. A deciding circuit to decide whether the information regarding the printing has been set to predetermined information by the setting circuit or not and a control unit for controlling the printer in a manner such that the priority is given to the first mode when the information regarding the printing has been set to information other than the predetermined information on the basis of the decision of the deciding means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigemitsu Tasaki
  • Patent number: 4875167
    Abstract: An odometer data computing apparatus includes an odometer data computer device and a printer. The computer device includes a keypad, liquid crystal display, microcomputer electronics and continuous memory to record beginning and end of trip time, dates, and odometer readings, to separate pleasure trip mileage, from business mileage, to compute the business mileage for each trip up to sixty business trips at a given time, to accumulate the total business trip mileage for the year, to end the yearly record promptly at the end of the year by indicating a need to print out the trip information for the year, to store the total mileage for the previous year, and to continue the trip recording for the next year. Trip information, including total mileage information for the previous year, may be printed out at any time during the current year. Also, trip information for each trip currently in memory may be printed out at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Mileage Validator, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Price, John F. Brady, III
  • Patent number: 4847785
    Abstract: A system for the interactive control of a display such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or the like, produces a visual representation of at least one variable in the form of a trend or bar graph. The system includes a personal computer having a cursor control and a display. The system operator can select a variable for display, and then select a location within which the visual representation of the variable is to appear and a range of the variable which is to be displayed within the selected region. The system responds to the operator's selections for producing a visual representation in the form of a trend or bar graph of the selected variable within the selected range at the operator-selected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventor: L. Keith Stephens
  • Patent number: 4837709
    Abstract: A recording apparatus capable of recording a graphical representation such as a bar graph, broken-line graph and a pie charat, and a succession of explanatory characters accompanying the graphical representation, such that the explanatory characters are recorded selectively in a first and a second direction. The apparatus includes an input device through which the explanatory characters are entered, a recording mechanism for recording the graphical representation and the explanatory characters on a recording medium and a device for selecting the first direction if a length of the succession of explanatory characters is equal to or smaller than a reference value, and selecting the second direction if the length is larger than the reference value. The second direction is determined so as to assure a sufficient space for recording the succession of characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4835544
    Abstract: In a high volume printing and packaging operation, stationery is fed by document feeder 10 to a laser printer 14. The printer prints both text and discrete identification code on the page both text and code being supplied from a system controller 16. The document is then folded by folder 22 and the code read. Enclosures are added as dictated by the code and the code read again prior to insertion in an envelope by inserter 24. A correct code verification causes an ink-jet printer 26 to print the name and address on the envelope. The marking code comprises a series of small marks normally unnoticeable to the normal observer and each representing a digit, whose value depends on the position of the mark on a notional circle whose center is a fixed distance from a pair of reference marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Laser Impressions (Stockport) Limited
    Inventor: Charles B. Winterburn
  • Patent number: 4829386
    Abstract: A video image apparatus which records an image corresponding to a video signal including synchronizing signals is disclosed. The apparatus includes a detector for detecting a lack of synchronizing signals and a controller responsive to the detector for inhibiting the record operation in order to cope satisfactorily with interruption of the input video signal. Preferably, the apparatus further includes a restart unit for restarting the recording operation from the position where the recording operation has stopped after the input video signal has been restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Takei, Makoto Takayama
  • Patent number: 4794403
    Abstract: A calligraphic writing system of the type including an x-y plotter, a writing pen and a digital computer that controls the movement of the pen relative to the writing bed of the plotter. The system self-aligns the writing pen and items on the bed being written, and permits a number of items to be correctly positioned on the writing bed and to be written during a single cycle. The pen draws positioning marks on the writing bed, thereby insuring that the item(s) to be written on and the pen are properly aligned relative to each other. In embodiments in which a plurality of items (all of which may or may not be the same) may be written in one cycle, the computer determines how many sets can be placed on the writing bed at once, and draws positioning marks for each item of each complete set that will so fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Sieber, Joseph S. Sieber
  • Patent number: 4793577
    Abstract: The position of an event, such as emergency braking, of a railroad vehicle enroute on a track mapped on a chart is accurately recorded by continually sensing the degree and direction of track curvature, and recording the track curvature and event data for later display. Speed is also recorded as a function of time to provide a scale as an aid to interpolation of a recorded event position between recorded curves. The event position thus recorded and identified by nearby curves in the track is accurate to within a small fraction of a mile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Inventors: Robert J. Austill, Joseph M. Lambert
  • Patent number: 4769648
    Abstract: A dot printer comprises a printing head, a memory, a first MPU for storing the dot-image data, corresponding to the input printing data, in the memory, and a second MPU for reading out the dot-image data from the memory, and supplying this data to the printing head, and for driving the printing head so as to effect a printing operation on the basis of the readout dot-image data. The dot printer additionally has first and second buffers, and its memory is connected to the first and second MPUs, via the first and second buffers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuichi Kishino, Naoki Miyazaki, Kazuhiko Hiramatsu, Yasufumi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 4761658
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring experimental quantities utilizes a self-contained ink jet impactless timing device including an ink jet head employing a timing circuit to provide a precisely timed ink dot stream. In utilizing the present invention, relative movement is initiated between the ink jet device in indicia receiving medium, generally ticker-tape paper, producing a dot pattern on the indicia receiving medium. The dot pattern, so produced, can be reviewed to obtain the experimental results. The invention can be utilized in various ways to measure the acceleration due to gravity, velocities, momentum, linear acceleration, period of a pendulum, motion of a spring, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Georgis
  • Patent number: 4760406
    Abstract: A printer interface circuit is provided in a host system so as to allow a printer having its own clock signal for its printing operation to be directly connected to the host system. In the present invention, data to be printed is first stored in a data latch as supplied in association with the clock signal of the host system, and then the data stored in the data latch is transferred to the printer in association with the printer. Thus, even if use is made of a laser printer, which has its own clock signal, it can be directly connected to a host system, such as a personal computer. In the preferred embodiment, the printer interface circuit modifies the frequency of the clock signal of the printer and the data is transferred to the printer at this modified frequency, so that the data may be expanded when printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sato, Noboru Murayama, Hiroshi Shimura
  • Patent number: 4757454
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for recording operation data of a machine, wherein a program for converting signals stored through a sensor or measuring means into operation data in conformity with the increase or alteration of the sensor or measuring means due to the operation status of the machine or to the type of the component of the machine is preliminarily stored in one or separate card-type external memory or other transportable external memory. The terminal of the system is designed to allow an connection of various kinds of the sensor or measuring means. Accordingly, it is possible to conduct processing and recording of various kinds of operation data by exchanging the external memory stored with a prescribed operation data-processing program, or by changing the writing of the program. It is also possible to record operation data in the external memory stored with the operation data-processing program after the program is read out to simplify the operation of an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignees: Caterpillar Mitsubishi Limited, Mitsubishi Jukogyo, K.K.
    Inventors: Tsuneo Hisatake, Tadashi Atono, Izuru Morita, Shoji Tozawa, Masao Fujiwara, Yoshinobu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4755832
    Abstract: A device for installation in a motor vehicle for recording distances traveled on business or non-business journeys comprises an input from the vehicle indicative of the distance traveled by the vehicle and manually operable keys for inputting into the device the purpose of the journey. The distance traveled and the purpose can be recorded for later printing on a paper supply contained within the device. A clock also records the time and date of the journey. Gas purchases can be recorded. A decimal keyboard can be used to require the introduction of an identification code before the device can be operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Carolyn Gelhorn
    Inventors: Michael P. Gulas, Carolyn Gelhorn
  • Patent number: 4745564
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and recording accelerations or other physical quantities experienced by easily damaged items of commerce such as fruit and electronic computers. A triaxial accelerometer or other suitable sensor produces signals which are sampled by a microprocessor operating according to a program stored in a read-only memory. When the sampled accelerations or other physical quantities exceed a predetermined threshold, samples are stored in a random access memory, along with their times of occurrence. The apparatus provides a serial port for reading out the recorded acceleration data. The data may then be subjected to further processing externally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Board of Trustees Operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Bernard R. Tennes, Galen K. Brown, Joseph R. Clemens, Henry A. Affeldt, Siamak Siyami, Brian A. Klug, Hans R. Zapp
  • Patent number: 4736208
    Abstract: A device for measuring the contour of a surface along a scanning line. The device includes an electro-mechanical transducer with a scanner arm on whose free end there is a sensing tip. The other end of the arm is connected, via a pivot bearing whose axis of rotation is parallel to the surface to be scanned and vertical to the scanning line, with an advance mechanism. The advance mechanism moves the pivot bearing along the scanning line. The transducer emits, corresponding to excursions of the sensing tip transverse to the scanning line, a measurement signal that is fed into a recording device. The recording device records the electrical signal on the basis of distance or time. A control device is provided into which the electrical measurement signal is fed. On the basis of the magnitude of the electrical measurement signal, the control device produces an advance or a lag of the advance mechanism or of the time axis of the recording device relative to the advance of the advance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Hommelwerke GmbH
    Inventor: Jorg Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4734707
    Abstract: A recording apparatus capable of recording characters and graphical representations, having a display which is adapted to display a special symbol together with the characters, so that the special symbol indicate the position of a graphical representation to be recorded before or after a written description or between written descriptions. The apparatus may have a display which has at least one indicator area adapted to effect selective display of each one of numerical values of plural groups of numerical data in a memory, which are recorded in a graphical or tabular form. The desired one of the numerical values of the desired one of the numerical data groups is dsiplayed by designating corresponding one of blocks of a hypothetical table defined by rows and columns. When one block of the hypothetical table is designated while the numerical value corresponding to another block adjacent to that one block is displayed, the numerical value corresponding to the designated block is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4733248
    Abstract: A recording apparatus capable of recording a graph according to graphic pattern data representative of a pattern of the graph, and graph data representative of values to be presented in the graph. The apparatus includes a control device for effecting and controlling relative movements between recording instrument and medium, a setting device for determining a maximum X-axis recordable range and a maximum Y-axis recordable range, a checking device for judging if an X-axis plotting range and a Y-axis plotting range which are necessary to record the graph exceed the X-axis and Y-axis recordable ranges, respectively, and an indicator for indicating the axis along which a plotting area defined by the X-axis and Y-axis plotting ranges extends beyond a maximum recordable area defined by the maximum recordable ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Hibino
  • Patent number: 4728964
    Abstract: A recording apparatus having character keys, and selector keys for selecting one of a plurality of recording modes for each of at least two recording conditions selected from a plurality of conditions such as a recording direction, a character size, a recording color, and a line spacing. The apparatus includes a primary indicator, responsive to an operation of one or more of the selector keys to change at least one of the at least two recording conditions from one recording mode to another, for displaying a single special symbol to indicate the change of the at least one recording condition, without specifying the changed recording condition or conditions and the newly selected recording mode or modes of the changed condition or conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4720799
    Abstract: An apparatus records fluid level movement using a potentiometer that is rotated by a tape attached to a float and a counterweight. The output from the potentiometer is recorded by a microprocessor which is presettable for desired time intervals. Static friction in the moving parts causes small fluid displacement to go unrecorded until they accumulate to produce a larger rotation of the potentiometer, resulting in inaccurate data recording termed "staircasing." To overcome staircasing, before a reading is taken, an impactor made up of a solenoid with a spring-loaded core impacts the tape with sufficient magnitude such that the resultant movement and oscillation of the tape will overcome the static friction, resulting in a smooth, accurate data record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Inventors: Stanley D. Woithe, Peter J. Dillon
  • Patent number: 4701757
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a plurality of subprocess means, for example adjustment drives for ink zone adjusting screws in a plurality of modes of operation. The control system includes an input device, a start device and a number of control subsystems arranged in groups and connected to respective selection systems. The latter are in turn connected to a main control selection circuit which is in connection with the start device. Each group of the control subsystems and each group of the control selection circuits are connected via a first control code bus and a second control code bus, respectively, to the main control selection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Veb Kombinat Polygraph "Werner Lamberz" Leipzig
    Inventors: Helmut Schuck, Karl-Heinz Foerster, Monika Kuehn, Klaus Schanze
  • Patent number: 4694354
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing trimming instructions, includes a first means deriving a video signal representative of a photograph image on negative or positive film, a display unit which reproduces a positive video image on a display monitor screen, a second means for accepting trimming data input including data defining the size and shape of a trimming frame on the display monitor screen and data defining the position of the trimming frame on the reproduced video image, third means for storing video signal data and trimming data, and a printer for printing a positive image including the trimming frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Shinsuke Fukehara
  • Patent number: 4688038
    Abstract: A device for allowing the remote-reading of a utility meter having circular dials. The device includes an array of phototransistors for each circular dial of the utility meter. The face of the dial is illuminated selectively, when the reading of the dial is desired, by a light-emitting-diode at the center of the array of phototransistors. The phototransistor which is shaded by the pointer of the dial, which transistor indicates the highest value of the reading for thoses transistors shaded by the pointer, developes a signal indicative of that reading, which is outputted to a logic circuit for the development of the signal into a usable form for generating the value at a remote display device mounted on the outside of the building. Alternatively, the output from the logic circuit may be sent over a telephone transmission line to a remote computer-center for storage and retrieval, for billing customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignees: Milton S. Gerstein, Marvin Benn
    Inventor: Victor Giammarese
  • Patent number: 4686540
    Abstract: A compact plotter is disclosed, having a small area in which a plurality of print heads (10) are laterally scanned to print impressions on the paper (14), and the paper (14) is incrementally advanced by an indexer (42) past the print heads (10). A paper travel encoder (36) measures the paper advancement. A computer 22 and a processor 26 are provided to coordinate the printing of pattern data stored in a data base (24) both with the movement of the print heads (10) and the advancement of the paper (14). The computer (22) allocates data from the data base (24) to be printed according to the amount of paper advancement. If the paper (14) is advanced more than a predefined amount, more data is allocated for printing than is actually printed. If the paper (14) is advanced less than the predefined amount, less data is allocated to be printed than is actually printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Microdynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Elmer N. Leslie, Stephen S. Treadwell, III, Thomas J. DiFloria, Larry D. Propst, Richard T. Kushmaul, Paul A. Abney, Kenneth Stevenson, C. Kenneth Thomaston
  • Patent number: 4682182
    Abstract: A marking device comprises a movable arm having a working end carrying a marking tool, such as a marking head. A controller is associated with the movable arm and so programmed as to axially move the marking tool to a desired axial position opposing the inner or outer surface of the pipe and to circumferentially move the marking tool along the surface while applying a preset mark to the corresponding surface of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Oyama, Yutaka Funyu, Kazuyuki Sakurada
  • Patent number: 4668963
    Abstract: A pen recorder for writing characters and graphic patterns with recording pens on a sheet of recording paper by moving the recording pens in an X-axis direction and moving the sheet of recording paper in a Y-axis direction. When a desired key on a keyboard is depressed, the recording pens and the sheet of recording paper are moved to write a character corresponding to the depressed key on the sheet of recording paper. The size of the character can relatively freely be selected by operation switches for selecting horizontal and vertical character sizes. The pen recorder is automatically controlled for the same operability when the character size is changed in any of horizontal and vertical directions. Where the character size is changed horizontally, an alarm is issued prior to the completion of recording in a recording position a prescribed number of characters prior to a preset right margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Tanabe, Masatoshi Hirota
  • Patent number: 4644367
    Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording graphs or other graphical representations, with relative movements between a writing instrument on a carriage which is moved by a carriage drive unit, and a sheet of paper which is fed by a paper feed unit in opposite directions perpendicular to the line of movements of the carriage. The writing instrument is moved between a recording position, and a non-recording position in which the writing instrument is spaced away from the paper. The apparatus comprises a controller for activating the paper feed unit and carriage drive unit to effect relative non-recording movements of the writing instrument and the paper with the writing instrument held in the non-recording position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Onoda, Kenji Mizuno
  • Patent number: 4642779
    Abstract: A writing-plotting apparatus with a keyboard capable of writing characters in a writing mode, and plotting graphs in a plotting mode, comprising a carriage carrying a writing instrument such a ball-point pen movable toward and away from a sheet of paper, a first memory for storing character pattern data representative of characters, a second memory for storing graphic pattern data representative of patterns of graphs, and a control device which, in the writing mode, reads out from the first memory the character pattern data corresponding to the operated character keys, and in the plotting mode, reads out from the second memory the graphic pattern data. The control device is responsive to the read-out character or graphic pattern data to control the operations of drives for feeding the paper along one axis, and reciprocating the carriage along another axis perpendicular to the one axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Sawada
  • Patent number: 4627748
    Abstract: A recording apparatus for writing characters in a writing mode and plotting graphs in a plotting mode, with a writing instrument supported on a reciprocating carriage, based on input data through a keyboard which is operable in a first mode in which at least numerals are keyed in, and in a second mode in which letters and symbols are keyed in. The apparatus comprises a control device for controlling a paper feeding device and the carriage, to write in the writing mode the characters which are keyed in through corresponding character keys with the keyboard placed selectively in the first mode or in the second mode, and to plot the graphs in the plotting mode based on the operations of the keys with the keyboard placed in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Mizuno, Ryoichi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4613873
    Abstract: A printer comprising a printing mechanism, a control circuit which controls said printing mechanism and a power supply including battery, wherein said power supply provides the first stabilized power source circuit which converts an output voltage of said battery to the predetermined first supply voltage and then supplies it to said printing mechanism and the second stabilized power source circuit which converts an output voltage of said battery to the second supply voltage which is lower than said first supply voltage and then supplies it to said control circuit, and moreover a detecting circuit, which is composed of a transistor and resistors and detects that difference between the supply voltages of said first stabilized power source circuit and second stabilized power source circuit has reached a value lower than the predetermined threshold value, is also provided, and moreover the printing operation is controlled on the basis of an output signal of the detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadao Tamukai
  • Patent number: 4608575
    Abstract: A computer controlled ink jet printing system for printing messages in dot matrix format on objects such as cartons or the like as they move along conveyor lines past printing stations, and which includes one or more print head controls. The system further includes a plurality of print heads, at least one per print station, for discharging ink onto the objects as they move therepast in accordance with a programmed message. Each print head control is capable of controlling print heads at a plurality of stations with the print heads at one station controlled independently of those of another station to print programmed messages at their respective stations. A main controller is linked to each print head control and includes a programmable microprocessor whereby messages may be selected at the main controller for printing by each print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Printos Marsh Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene L. Morgan