Abstract: A shaped electrical conductor (610, 630) includes a first sheet of metal (319) with a first and second thermoplastic adhesive pattern (311, 312). The second pattern is justified with the first pattern. The first sheet is etched to remove metal not covered by the thermoplastic adhesive patterns so that no metal bridges remain between disconnected coated portions. A second sheet of metal (339) has a third and fourth thermoplastic adhesive pattern (333, 334) on a second surface and the fourth pattern is justified with the third pattern. The second sheet is etched to remove metal not covered by the thermoplastic adhesive patterns so that no metal bridges remain between disconnected coated portions. First and second contact regions (315, 335) in the second and third adhesive patterns are in electrical contact.

Abstract: A device for producing a three-dimensional structure from a receiver includes a deposition unit that deposits toner on the receiver. That unit is controlled by a controller to produce a toner pattern on the receiver. A fusing device includes first and second rotatable members having respective, different compliances and a mount that selectively retains the members with respect to each other to form a fusing nip and permits adjustment of respective forces between the members at each end. A directing unit entrains the receiver around the second member so that the receiver passes through the fusing nip. A softening device softens the toner of the toner pattern so that as the second member rotates through successive revolutions, corresponding layer areas of the receiver are defined and the softened toner in each layer area adheres to the second surface of the receiver in an adjacent layer area.

Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensional structure includes depositing a first pattern of thermoplastic toner particles onto a first surface of a receiver to form a plurality of spaced-apart stacks of toner particles that extend above the first surface of the receiver. The receiver is bent so that non-overlapping first and second portions of the receiver are defined. At least part of a surface of the receiver in the second portion is brought into contact with the deposited stacks of toner particles. The toner particles are fused to bind the second portion to the first portion and provide a selected spacing between the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A structural laminate having a selected resistance to a first stress applied in a selected first stress direction relative to the laminate is formed from first and second sheets. A selected volume of toner is deposited on the first sheet to form a deposited toner pattern, the deposited toner pattern being disposed over a selected first surface area of the first sheet and extending normal to the first sheet by a selected first height. The second sheet, or toner thereon, is brought into contact with the deposited toner pattern. The deposited toner pattern is fixed to produce a fixed toner pattern that adheres the second sheet to the first sheet, in that way forming the laminate. The fixed toner pattern includes one or more first contiguous regions of toner extending in a direction within about 45° of the stress direction, so that the contiguous regions resist the applied stress.

Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensional structure includes depositing a first pattern of toner onto a receiver to form spaced-apart stacks of toner particles that extend above the receiver. The receiver is bent and part of it is brought into contact with the deposited toner. The toner is fused to bind two portions of the receiver together with a selected spacing between them. Fusing includes progressively wrapping the receiver around a rotatable support starting at an entry point defined with respect to the support while softening the toner at the entry point. More toner is then deposited on the first surface, at least part of a surface of the receiver in a fourth portion of the receiver is brought into contact with the toner, and the toner is fused. This is repeated to form the three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: A device for producing a three-dimensional structure from a receiver includes a deposition unit that deposits toner on the receiver. That unit is controlled by a controller to produce a toner pattern on the receiver. A fusing device includes first and second rotatable members having respective, different compliances and a mount that selectively retains the members with respect to each other to form a fusing nip and permits adjustment of respective forces between the members at each end. A directing unit entrains the receiver around the second member so that the receiver passes through the fusing nip. A softening device softens the toner of the toner pattern so that as the second member rotates through successive revolutions, corresponding layer areas of the receiver are defined and the softened toner in each layer area adheres to the second surface of the receiver in an adjacent layer area.

Abstract: A device for producing a three-dimensional structure from a receiver includes a deposition unit that deposits toner on two surfaces of the receiver. That unit is controlled by a controller to produce a toner pattern on the first surface of the receiver. A softening device softens the toner. An automatic z-fold system makes a z-folded stack of separate portions of a length of the receiver, each portion being joined to at least one other portion in the z-folded stack by at least one of the z-folds. The z-fold system brings two separate portions of the same surface of the receiver into contact, at least one portion carrying softened toner.

Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensional structure includes depositing a first pattern of thermoplastic toner particles onto a first surface of a receiver to form a plurality of spaced-apart stacks of toner particles that extend above the first surface of the receiver. The receiver is bent so that non-overlapping first and second portions of the receiver are defined. At least part of a surface of the receiver in the second portion is brought into contact with the deposited stacks of toner particles. The toner particles are fused to bind the second portion to the first portion and provide a selected spacing between the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A method of making a shaped electrical conductor (610, 630) includes providing a first sheet of metal (319) and applying a first and second thermoplastic adhesive pattern (311, 312) to a first and a second surface thereof. The second pattern is are fully justified with the applied first pattern. The first sheet is etched to remove metal not covered by the patterns so that no metal bridges remain between disconnected coated portions. A second sheet of metal (339) is provided and a third and fourth thermoplastic adhesive pattern (333, 334) is applied to a first and second surface thereof. The third and fourth patterns are fully justified. The second sheet is etched as for the first sheet. Contact regions (315, 335) in the second and third patterns are joined to form electrical contact between the first and second sheets.

Abstract: A structural laminate is formed of first and second sheets. A toner pattern with a thickness is deposited on the first sheet. The second sheet, or toner thereon, is brought into contact with the deposited toner. The deposited toner is fixed to hold the sheets together. The volume of toner after fixing is substantially equal to the selected volume. The fixed toner pattern covers more surface area of the sheet than the deposited toner pattern. The fixed toner pattern does not stand as far off the first sheet as the deposited toner pattern. The structural laminate has a bending moment in a structural area including at least some of the surface area covered by the fixed toner higher than the bending moment of either the first or the second sheet in the structural area.

Abstract: A structural element is formed. A 3D aim toner pattern is received. Using a processor, the 3D pattern is automatically sliced into a plurality of 2D aim toner patterns and corresponding thicknesses. A sheet is received. Toner corresponding to a selected one of the 2D aim toner patterns is deposited on the received sheet. The deposited toner is fixed to have substantially the thickness corresponding to the selected one of the 2D aim toner patterns. The receiving through fixing steps are repeated until each of the 2D aim toner patterns has been deposited onto a sheet. The sheets are fixed the together to form the structural element having toner corresponding to the 3D pattern.

Abstract: A structural laminate having a selected resistance to a first stress applied in a selected first stress direction relative to the laminate is formed from first and second sheets. A selected volume of toner is deposited on the first sheet to form a deposited toner pattern, the deposited toner pattern being disposed over a selected first surface area of the first sheet and extending normal to the first sheet by a selected first height. The second sheet, or toner thereon, is brought into contact with the deposited toner pattern. The deposited toner pattern is fixed to produce a fixed toner pattern that adheres the second sheet to the first sheet, in that way forming the laminate. The fixed toner pattern includes one or more first contiguous regions of toner extending in a direction within about 45° of the stress direction, so that the contiguous regions resist the applied stress.

Abstract: A shaped electrical conductor (610, 630) includes a first sheet of metal (319) with a first and second thermoplastic adhesive pattern (311, 312). The second pattern is justified with the first pattern. The first sheet is etched to remove metal not covered by the thermoplastic adhesive patterns so that no metal bridges remain between disconnected coated portions. A second sheet of metal (339) has a third and fourth thermoplastic adhesive pattern (333, 334) on a second surface and the fourth pattern is justified with the third pattern. The second sheet is etched to remove metal not covered by the thermoplastic adhesive patterns so that no metal bridges remain between disconnected coated portions. First and second contact regions (315, 335) in the second and third adhesive patterns are in electrical contact.

Abstract: A method of making a shaped electrical conductor (610, 630) includes providing a first sheet of metal (319) and applying a first and second thermoplastic adhesive pattern (311, 312) to a first and a second surface thereof. The second pattern is are fully justified with the applied first pattern. The first sheet is etched to remove metal not covered by the patterns so that no metal bridges remain between disconnected coated portions. A second sheet of metal (339) is provided and a third and fourth thermoplastic adhesive pattern (333, 334) is applied to a first and second surface thereof. The third and fourth patterns are fully justified. The second sheet is etched as for the first sheet. Contact regions (315, 335) in the second and third patterns are joined to form electrical contact between the first and second sheets.

Abstract: Methods and a system for providing an image enhanced product are provided. One method includes identifying a framing system having a holding area with positioning features that hold a masking surface that generally blocks the passage of light through the masking surface except in a plurality of window areas; determining an arrangement of a plurality of overlapping receiver mediums to provide a plurality of image receiving areas in correspondence with one of the of the window areas when a reference edge of each of the receiver mediums is located using an associated one of the positioning features; and printing images in the image receiving areas of the plurality of receiver medium sheets according to the determined arrangement; wherein said determining is performed in a manner that causes any overlapping edge between two receiver mediums to be positioned outside any of the window areas, and causes at least portions of selected images to be positioned within the window areas.

Abstract: A digital picture frame includes a display on which images are displayed; a detachable and re-attachable apparatus that includes: (i) a mounting base; (ii) a transparent overlay mounted in the mounting base; wherein the overlay spans the display and includes a first side that receives pressure from a user for indicating a mode preference and a second side opposite the first side; (iii) a plurality of activation mechanisms each of which activates a mode preference and are adjacent the second side of the transparent overlay; wherein a particular activation mechanism is activated when user pressure is received within a predetermined spatial relationship to the particular activation mechanism; and (iv) an attachment mechanism that permits the apparatus to be attached and detached from the display.

Abstract: A display device includes a plurality of Y display slices, each display slice having electronic structures, which include a one-dimensional array of X adjacent pixels that emit light from a face edge of the display slice in response to electrical power. The display slices are assembled in a layered arrangement to form an emissive face. Also included are control electrodes, power electrodes, data electrodes, and a connection structure for each display slice. Each connection structure connects at least (a) each of a plurality of groups of the corresponding display slice's pixels to a separate one of the control electrodes, (b) one or more of the power electrodes to at least one of the corresponding display slice's electronic structures, and (c) one or more of the data electrodes to at least one of the corresponding display slice's electronic structures.

Abstract: An electronic plan-o-gram system and method for determining plan-o-gram data are provided. In accordance with the method, identifiers associated with each of more than one product located in at least one storage area in a storage facility are sensed and a product type and product location of each product is determined based upon the sensed identifiers. A configuration of the at least one storage area in the storage facility and a location of each product in the storage facility is determined based upon the configuration and the determined product locations. A plan-o-gram data is stored indicating the location of products in the storage facility.

Abstract: Methods and a system for providing an image enhanced product are provided. One method includes identifying a framing system having a holding area with positioning features that hold a masking surface that generally blocks the passage of light through the masking surface except in a plurality of window areas; determining an arrangement of a plurality of overlapping receiver mediums to provide a plurality of image receiving areas in correspondence with one of the of the window areas when a reference edge of each of the receiver mediums is located using an associated one of the positioning features; and printing images in the image receiving areas of the plurality of receiver medium sheets according to the determined arrangement; wherein said determining is performed in a manner that causes any overlapping edge between two receiver mediums to be positioned outside any of the window areas, and causes at least portions of selected images to be positioned within the window areas.

Abstract: Image capture methods and devices are provided. The image capture device including: an image capture system; an audio capture system; a user input system having a manual mode selection input, said user input system generating a mode selection signal indicating a setting of the mode selection input from among a plurality of settings; and a controller adapted to cause the image capture unit to capture at least one image and further adapted to cause the audio capture system to capture an audio signal within an audio capture time frame beginning at a start time and ending at an end time with said controller further adapted to associate the captured image with the electronic audio signal; wherein said controller determines at least one of the start time and the end time determined based upon the mode selection.