Abstract: A filmstrip holding apparatus for supporting a filmstrip having image frames to be scanned with reduced transverse curl is disclosed. The filmstrip holding apparatus includes a base defining a channel, the channel including a bottom surface having an aperature and two opposed parallel sides to accomodate the filmstrip lengthwise past the aperture; and a clamp having two opposed elongated clamping members and a support frame extending between the clamping members to hold them in their opposed relationship.

Abstract: A film packet includes a clip (42); a carrier (54) received into and attached to the clip; a film sheet (56) attached to the carrier; and an envelope (12) including two side panels (14, 16), the two side panels being joined along substantially three edges (18, 22, 24) of each and substantially unjoined along fourth edges (30, 31) of each, the two side panels slidably receiving therebetween the carrier with the attached film sheet, the unjoined fourth edges being received into the clip, the clip overlaying the fourth edges, the clip urging the fourth edges against the carrier, the envelope further including at least one light lock seal (60) for preventing ingress of light when the envelope becomes axially or transversely displaced in the clip.

Abstract: An optical element having a light carrying medium through which light can propagate by total internal reflection. The light carrying medium has at least one surface. A layer is positioned adjacent the surface and is of a porous first material of sufficient porosity and with pores which are vacant or contain a second material having an index of refraction lower than that of the light carrying medium, such that the layer reduces total internal reflection in the light carrying medium less than would be reduced using a non-porous layer of the same dimensions of only the first material. A light integrator and scanner using such integrator are also provided.

Abstract: In an apparatus having a clock and a movable stage, a method of synchronizing the occurrence of the stage reaching a target velocity or target location with the clock signal, comprising:a) determining the clock period;b) before beginning movement of the movable stage, for a first relative time in the clock cycle, determining a calculated relative time of the target velocity or target location;c) if the calculated relative time differs from a predetermined second relative time in the clock cycle, then adding a delay commencing at the first relative time before beginning movement of the movable stage which moves the actual occurrence of the target velocity or target location to another relative time.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for loading and unloading a discrete film strip into or from a film guide track (566) extending between an unexposed film chamber (562) and an exposed film chamber (564) within a camera (426), the camera being of a type including an external housing (428, 478) having a movable closure (484) giving access to the film guide track and the film having opposing longitudinal edges. The apparatus may include a frame (320, 352); a device (324-334, 348-356) supported by the frame for defining a first pair of opposed guide slots (336, 338) for receiving the longitudinal edges as the film is driven into the camera; and a device (370, 372, 378) supported by the frame for guiding the film from or to the first guide slots into or from the film guide track.

Abstract: A thermal printer (10) is useful for printing onto a receiver sheet (22, 24, 26) having a leading edge and a trailing edge and includes an elongated rotatable platen (34); an elongated thermal print head (30) positioned parallel to the platen; a pathway (12, 14, 16) for receiving a receiver sheet in a printing direction from the platen, the platen being positioned for rotation in the printing direction with at least a portion of the platen in the pathway to engage a receiver sheet or a dye donor web (31); a supply roll (28) of dye donor web positioned upstream of the print head; a mechanism (76-112, 132-142) for moving the print head into the pathway opposite the portion of the platen to press the print head into engagement with the dye donor web, the dye donor web into engagement with the receiver sheet, and the receiver sheet into engagement with the platen; a mechanism (180-188) for rotating the platen in the printing direction to move either the dye donor web or both the dye donor web and the receiver she

Abstract: A method of restoring a color image comprised of one or more colorants and which image may have faded over time, which image is represented by an image signal. The method uses both a restoration model and provides a means which enable a user to readily interact with the restoration process to obtain a final restoration. In a second aspect, the restoration model is used in conjunction with a lightness distribution mapping to provide a high quality restoration. The restoration model is a function of a variable time, and is the inverse of a model representing the fade rate of at least one of the colorants as a function of at least a variable time (and preferably also as a function of the other colorants). An apparatus for performing the method is provided. A computer readable medium has computer readable code means which can execute the method in a suitable computer.

Abstract: A non-photographic strip includes a base layer similar in properties and characteristics to a base layer of a known photographic filmstrip and a magnetic recording layer over the base layer. A cartridge is sized and shaped to be received in a cartridge receiving chamber of a photographic camera. The cartridge contains the non-photographic strip which is sized and shaped to be moved within the camera from the cartridge. Preferably, the magnetic recording layer is opaque. The magnetic recording layer is used to transfer information to and/or from the camera.

Abstract: A method of improving uneven illumination in a photographic printer having an original image position and a light source to illuminate the original image position, and an exposure position at which a light sensitive element is positioned for exposure, wherein the exposure position may have an inherent non-uniform illumination absent the original image, the method comprising:inputting into a computer, data representative of illumination at multiple laterally spaced locations positioned in a direction from the light source to the exposure position;processing the data in the computer to form an illumination correction function with a visually indistinguishable resolution.The illumination correction function is typically applied to an original image signal so that when the original image is printed and positioned at the original image position, the inherent non-uniform illumination at the exposure position is reduced. This corrected original image is then typically printed on a support.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes means for recording an image of a scene and means for recording audio information. The camera further includes means for determining that a request has been made for the recording means to record an image and means for ascertaining whether or not audio information has already been recorded for the requested image recordation.

Abstract: A spectral filtration system comprising a non-imaging optic having entry and exit faces, the exit face being tilted relative to the entry face, and a filter positioned so as to receive light from, or transmit light to, a face of the non-imaging optic.

Abstract: A cassette (10) for photosensitive web material includes a hollow cassette housing (12) having a peripheral wall (16) with an outside surface; a first exit slit (42) extending through the peripheral wall to the outside surface; a device (20) within the housing for rotatably supporting a roll (22, 24) of the web material; a mechanism (32, 38) within the housing for engaging a leading end of a web material to drive the web material through the first exit slit, an external access (110, 112) to the driven member; a knife blade (92) movably mounted on the housing adjacent the first exit slit, the blade having a cutting edge (100) transverse to web material extended through the first exit slit, the blade being movable between a first position in which the first exit slit is open and a second position in which web material has been cut by the cutting edge and the first exit slit is closed by the blade to prevent entry of light into the housing through the first exit slit; and a feature (106, 108) formed in the blade

Abstract: A fixture (90) is disclosed for repositioning at least one mispositioned component (28, 78) mounted via at least one deformable connector (74,76) on and extended outward from a circuit board (20). The fixture includes a base (92); means (94-116, 126-134) supported by the base for simulating a mounting geometry for the circuit board in an apparatus (10) into which the circuit board is to be installed; and camming means (118-124) supported by the base for engaging the component to deform the connector and thereby reposition the component to a desired position for installation in the apparatus. When the circuit board is placed on the means for simulating, the component engages the camming means to deform the connector and reposition the component to the desired position. A corresponding method is disclosed.

Abstract: An adjustable iris diaphragm assembly (26) in a zoom lens system (16) of a photographic printer (10) is calibrated for each magnification setting by progressively adjusting the aperture opening until a predetermined light intensity is detected by a sensor (36) near a paper plane of the printer and then determining an output voltage of a feedback sensor (88) of the iris diaphragm assembly. A correlation is established among magnification settings of the printer, iris stop settings, and sensor output voltages to enable the printer to accurately set the iris for a desired exposure.

Abstract: A method of making more visible some characteristic to be included in a hard copy of a recorded image includes reading a variable visible characteristic within a predefined area of the recorded image to determine the visible composition of the variable characteristic. At least one stored variation of the variable characteristic is selected, based on the visible composition of the read variable characteristic, from a plurality of stored variations of the variable characteristic. The selected stored variation of the variable characteristic will have greater visibility within a predefined area of the hard copy, which corresponds to the predefined area of the recorded image, than the variable characteristic within the predefined area of the recorded image. The selected one or more characteristics are included in the predefined area of the hard copy.

Abstract: A detector (14) for regions of excess thickness in a moving web (12a) includes a first jaw member (120; 72, 82); a second jaw member (122; 68, 70); a frame (56; 120a, 122a) supporting the first and second jaw members with a gap (88; 138) there between through which a web can be transported, the gap having a width more narrow than a maximum desired thickness of a transported web; a support (52, 54; 116, 118; 160, 162; 164, 166) for the frame to allow the frame and the first and second jaw members to move when a web having a region of thickness in excess of the width of the gap engages the jaw members at the gap; and a sensor (96-100; 148-152) for detecting movement of the frame to indicate presence of a region of excess thickness at the gap. A web transport system embodying such a detector also is disclosed.

Abstract: A recording head apparatus includes a first rigid frame (80); a magnetic head (14) supported by the first frame; a head-to-medium backer device (18; 37) including a second rigid frame (24; 38) supporting an elastically deformable leaf spring (20; 40) for engaging a magnetic medium (16) to urge the medium into contact with the head; a carrier (100) supported on the first frame for movement toward or away from the head, the backer device being supported by the carrier; and a spring member (110) for biasing the carrier toward the head, the carrier and backer device being moveable away from the head against the bias of the spring member to permit the head to be cleaned without requiring disassembly of the apparatus.

Abstract: A photographic film cartridge manufactured with an expanded bar code signifying characteristics of the print or photo CD order to be made from the filmstrip image frames particular to the camera in which the filmstrip was exposed or a pre-paid promotion or the like and a photofinishing method and system for use therewith. Additional numbers added at the time of manufacture to the DX bar code on the film cartridge and film package carry information about a customer's photofinishing order to the photofinisher. The additional information is put can include promotions offered by the film manufacturer or can supply additional information about the order, such as exposure format (e.g. a panoramic single use camera, camera) or special printing requirements.

Abstract: A method of improving uneven illumination in a contact printer having an original image position and a light source to illuminate the original image position, which light source may illuminate the original image position non-uniformly, the method comprising: first forming a mask by exposing a photographic element to the light source and processing the element to form a negative image of the light source at a filtering position between the light source and the original image position; and positioning the mask at the filtering position. A second aspect of the method uses an electronic processor and gathered illumination data, to generate a mask.

Abstract: A distribution system and method which can be executed by such a system.