Abstract: A photodetector that incorporates at least two photosensitive regions (separated by at least one physical gap) of a first semiconductor type with the at least two photosensitive regions being supported on a substrate and acting as first terminals of the photodetector is improved by; adding a second semiconductor type into the physical gap(s) abutting the at least two photosensitive regions. The second semiconductor region(s) form a barrier to the out diffusion between the at least two photosensitive regions of the first semiconductor type. Additionally, the second semiconductor type region acts as a second photodetector terminal. This improved geometry results in faster rise and fall times of the photodetector's output current by decreasing the 3-D spaces within the gap(s) between the at least two photosensitive regions which were not subjected to the presence of an E-field when unimproved photodetectors were biased into operation.

Abstract: A media for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document utilizing one or more microdots that are embedded in the color-reversal document for providing a non-visual, but machine detectable signal. By detecting the presence of one or more microdots in the color-reversal document, a copy machine is controllably prevented from copying the color-reversal document.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a geometric graphic image of an object to be rendered as a depth image is created. The viewpoint of the viewer of the depth image is determined by the user. Once the viewpoint is determined the number of views is automatically determined along with the spacing between or positions of the views. The system adjusts the aspect ratio of each view and rotates the object prior to rendering. The rendered views are then stored as electronic interleaved images which are used to produce a depth image, such as a lenticular print.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an image sensor having an array of pixel sensor sites, and an area light source having a corresponding array of pixel emission sites, comprising the steps of:a. measuring the output of the light source in a first region with a radiometer to generate an absolute measured light value;b. identifying a first region of the image sensor corresponding to the first region of the light source;c. successively positioning, reading out, and stepping the image sensor with respect to the light source to create a first file of pixel values representing one pixel in the first region of the sensor that has read every pixel in the first region of the source, and a second file of pixel values representing one pixel in the source that has been read by every pixel in the first region of the sensor;d. calibrating each pixel in the first region of the light source using the absolute measured light value and the pixel values in the first file;e.

Abstract: A short focal length image sensor comprising:a color photosensor array comprised of sets of three photosensors with red, green, and blue, filters positioned over respective photosensors in each set;a lenslet array corresponding in the number of lenslets to the number of sets of photosensors in said color photosensor array, wherein each lenslet is formed with a first convex, spherical surface having diffractive means incorporated thereon and a second surface which is aspheric, substantially opposite said first surface with the size of said lenslet array being greater than the size of said photosensor array by an amount that allows the local optical axis of each lenslet at the largest field angle to image incident light onto the set of photosensors associated with the image sensors largest field angle; andan array of aperture stops combined with an array of field stops wherein the number of field and aperture stops corresponds to the number of lenslets and wherein each field and aperture stop is aligned to the

Abstract: A system and associated method for restricting the copying of an image document that contains an image of arbitrary and undetermined character that is formed in or on a document medium having a predetermined pattern of microdots. One embodiment of the system includes a copy machine and associated software that scans for the presence of microdots in an image document and if present prevents the copy machine from making a copy. The microdots are of such a size that they are not visible to the unaided eye, but when machine scanned their presence is sensed.

Abstract: An Indicator device for use with a web of material having perforations therein of a first pitch along an edge incorporates a wheel having a plurality of teeth that have a pitch that is less than the pitch of the perforations in the web of material. A spring urges the wheel into contact with the web of material such that at least one tooth on the wheel engages a perforation on the web of material. As the web and the wheel move relative to each other when a tooth is aligned with a perforation, the movement of the web of material then rotates the wheel until the tooth disengages with the aligned perforation. When a tooth is not aligned with a perforation on the web, the wheel and its teeth slide on the web of material until a tooth is aligned with a perforation. The diameter of the wheel and the associated teeth translating into the pitch between the teeth can thus be much smaller than a wheel with teeth having the same pitch as the perforations on the web material.

Abstract: A flexible web guiding apparatus including; a turnaround roller; a pinch roller positioned in driving engagement with said turnaround roller and defining a nip therebetween; and a web guide for accurately directing an end of the web into the nip defined by the turnaround roller and the pinch roller to cause the web to move between the pinch roller and the turnaround roller without stubbing against either roller. The accuracy of the web guide is achieved by wear plates that are affixed to the web guide and spaced apart to permit the web to move therebetween. The wear plates are maintained in friction contact with the turnaround roller for controllably maintaining the spacing between the web guide and the turnaround roller.

Abstract: An improved amplifier architecture for providing an output as a function of light sensed by a photodetector element where the amplifier has an input for receiving the current output from the photodetector element and an output for providing an output that is a clamped function of light sensed by the photodetector element. A feedback circuit is connected between the input and the output of the amplifier. A signal clamp connected to the output of the amplifier that clamps the output of the amplifier to a predetermined value. A summing node having first, second, and third inputs, and an output at which a signal that is a function of sensed light is provided. A first current path connected between the input to the amplifier and to a first input of the summing node for passing excess current from the input of the amplifier to the summing node when the output of the amplifier is at its clamped output.

Abstract: A disk shaped passive magnetic damper incorporating a damper vane having spaced apart vertical and horizontal portions forming a castellated shape. Permanent magnets are positioned between the vertical portions of the damper vane for providing magnetic fields that interact with the vertical and horizontal portions of the damper vane. A keeper portion extends from one end of each magnet to a position over one adjacent horizontal vane member.

Abstract: The disclosed method for compressing an image to be stored on a transaction card at one of a plurality of quality levels performs the steps of: a. providing a number of compression codebooks each corresponding to a quality level of the to be compressed image data; b. determining the quality level of the compressed image to be stored on the transaction card; c. determining the compression codebook that best corresponds to the determined quality level of step b; and d. compressing the image with the determined compression codebook. A decompression system is disclosed for processing, the transaction cards having the compressed image data stored thereon at one of a plurality of quality levels by, determining the maximum quality level common to the transaction card and the decompression system; and decompressing the compressed image data at the above maximum quality level. At each quality level of compression/decompression that represented image is of equal size.

Abstract: A lenticular device comprising: a sheet of lenticular material; and a printing on a viewing surface of the lenticular material with said printing representing a number of consecutive still images and a number of motion images.

Abstract: A functionally gradient permanent magnet is formed as a slab of alloy comprised of a rare earth-transition metal-boron, and areas of a diffused transition metal positioned at points along the length of at least one surface of the slab of alloy.

Abstract: A password protected camera system, comprising a camera incorporating, means for receiving user entered passwords for controlling access to the camera's features and to the film cartridge is disclosed. The camera incorporates circuitry for writing and reading password data to and from the camera film to control access to the film when it is in the camera and when it is removed from the camera. Different levels of access are provided either by multiple passwords, one for each level, or by single passwords, where multilevel access is granted with one password while another password may limit access to just one level.

Abstract: A process for forming a ceramic coated element formed by first encapsulating the element within a sacrificial material and then encapsulating the element and the sacrificial material with an unsintered ceramic material. The resultant combination of materials and elements is then controllably heated to a temperature that burns the sacrificial material prior to the curing of the ceramic material so as to permit the permeation of the burned sacrificial material through the ceramic material. As the ceramic material is sintered it shrinks around the encapsulated element to form the ceramic coated element. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the coated element is a magnet or magnetizable material that is magnetized to a preferred axis of magnetization during the cooling phase of the process.

Abstract: A generalized grain ruler incorporating a plurality of uniform patches representing a range of granularities, each patch being a perceptually distinct representation of graininess spaced at perceptually uniform intervals and recorded in an increasing sequence of graininess. A method for producing a generalized grain ruler for the measurement, by comparison of, grain in a reference imaging system generated image, comprising, the steps of:a) generating a set of random numbers for each image component;b) filtering each set of random numbers to alter the Wiener spectrum to result in a filtered set of random numbers that look as if they were generated by the reference photographic system; andc) delivering the filtered set of random numbers to an output device that renders them into an image which is the generalized grain ruler.

Abstract: An autofocus module generates a beam of light that is divergent in the horizontal direction and collimated in the vertical direction. The beam is formed using a laser diode and a diffractively achromatized toroidal lens. A pair of receiver lenses which have focal lengths that are longer and shorter than the distance to a photodetector plane are positioned to receive the beam reflecting from an object. A pair of photodetectors, positioned at the photodetector plane, each providing an output signal that is indicative of the amount of light received by a associated receiving lens. The difference in the output signals is a function of the distance of the object from the detector plane and may be used to drive a camera lens to a desired focus position or to provide an indication of the object from the module.

Abstract: In one embodiment a diffractive element, having at least one surface formed as a plurality of blazed diffractive features that are curved and decentered to focus and chromatically disperse incident light into Red Green and Blue spots. An array of the diffractive elements is disclosed for separating incident light from a color image to form Red, Green, and Blue, separations of the image without the use of filters.

Abstract: A short focal length image sensor is formed with an array of photosensor sites and a lenslet array. The lenslet array is comprised of a number of abutting lenslets corresponding in number to the number of photosensor sites. Each lenslet has its optical axis decentered as a function of its radial position in the lenslet array so that each lenslet views a different segment of a total field of view. A field limiting baffle, comprised of one or more separated aperture plates, is included with the center of the apertures in each aperture plate being positioned to lie along the optical axis of a respective lenslet.

Abstract: Micro-electromechanical ceramic parts are formed using green ceramic and a sacrificial material that has a higher melting temperature than the sintering temperature of the green ceramic to form electrical trace paths. After the sintering of the ceramic part the sacrificial material is removed by etching or by elevating the temperature of the part above the melting temperature of the sacrificial material. The void left by the removal of the sacrificial material is then filled with a molten metal which when cooled forms the electrical trace for the fabricated part.