Abstract: A video communication system and method for operating a video communication system are provided. The video communication system has a video communication device, having an image display device and at least one image capture device, wherein the at least one image capture device acquires video images of a local environment and an individual therein, according to defined video capture settings, an audio system having an audio emission device and an audio capture device; and a computer operable to interact with a contextual interface, a privacy interface, an image processor, and a communication controller to enable a communication event including at least one video scene in which outgoing video images are sent to a remote site.

Abstract: A system and method for an adaptable print driver that adapts its behavior to make use of multiple processors when they are available on the host computer. In particular, during installation or initialization of the print driver, the driver will query the operating system for the number and type of processors present. If the print driver detects that multiple processors are present, it will operate in a way that makes explicit use of the multiple processors.

Abstract: Printers are provided. In one aspect, a printer has a printer controller cooperating with a print engine, receiver transport system, overlap positioning system, and fuser to cause a first toner image to be formed on the first side of the first receiver with toner at least in an overlap area proximate to a first edge of the first receiver; to overlap the first edge of the first receiver with a second edge of the second receiver having a second thickness at a second end and to fuse the overlapped first receiver and second receiver to cause the toner in the overlap area to bond the first receiver to the second receiver. The first toner image includes an edge concealment toner pattern positioned confronting the second edge with the edge concealment toner pattern having toner that reduces the visual impact of image artifacts created by the overlapping second edge.

Abstract: Video communication systems and methods for operating the same are provided with the method determining privacy settings for a video communication event; establishing a video communication link with a video communication system at a remote site; capturing video images of a field of view of at least one image capture device; determining a video context based at least in part upon a determined contextual classification for the communication event; analyzing the captured video images to identify privacy sensitive areas in the captured video images, using a scene analysis algorithm which examines a content of the video images and image context characteristics of the video images based upon the determined privacy settings; modifying the image characteristics in identified privacy sensitive image areas of captured video images, to control the image and image context characteristics to an extent consistent with the determined privacy settings; and transmitting the modified video images.

Abstract: Video communication systems and methods for communicating between an individual in a local environment, and a remote viewer in a remote environment are provided. The system has an image display device; at least one image capture device which acquires video images for fields of view of a local environment, and any individuals therein; an audio system having an audio emission device and an audio capture device; a computer, which includes a contextual interface having a gaze adapting process, and image processor; and a communication controller which transmits and receives video images of the local environment and the remote environment, and data regarding video scene characteristics thereof across a network between the local environment and the remote environment; wherein the gaze adapting process identifies video scene characteristics of the local environment indicative of eye gaze image capture and altering the video images when the characteristics are indicative.

Abstract: Video communication devices and methods are provided. The device has an image display device; a first image capture device that acquires video images depicting a wide field of view within the local environment; a second image capture device that acquires video images depicting a narrow field of view within the wide field of view; a communication system that is adapted to use a communication network to transmit outgoing video images; and a computer causing the capture of video images during a communication event, and further being adapted to identify a video context for the communication event; wherein said computer uses a scene analysis algorithm to examine concurrent video images from the image capture device based upon the identified video context to determine the extent to which video images from the first image capture device and the second image capture device are to be incorporated into the outgoing video images.

Abstract: Printed articles are provided. In one aspect a printed article has a first toner image with a first toner particles having a median volume weighted diameter between about 3 um and 9 um and having a first charge-to-mass ratio, a second toner image with second toner particles having a median volume weighted diameter greater than about 20 um and having a charge-to-mass ratio that is between ? to ½ of the first charge-to-mass ratio times the ratio of the volume weighted average diameter of the first toner to the volume weighted average diameter of the second toner, and a receiver on which the first toner image and the second toner image are formed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading and configuring an imaging device driver to facilitate turnkey remote access via the internet to the complete and explicit feature set and capabilities provided by a specific, user selected, retail imaging kiosk or digital photofinishing system.

Abstract: A system for generating an image enhanced output product and method for operating the same are provided. An image enhanceable product is identified having a tangible surface and a printing map is defined that defines a plurality of window areas in which images are to be printed on the tangible surface. A desired visual impact characteristic is determined based upon the appearance of the image enhanceable product and the printing map and a selection of a plurality of digital images are received. An image processing method is selected method based upon the determined visual impact characteristic and at least one of the digital images is automatically processed in accordance with the selected image processing method. At least some of the digital images, including the automatically processed image, are provided on the tangible surface according to the printing map.

Abstract: A printer and method for operating a printer are provided that prints using a receiver medium having a rolled portion with an outermost layer from which an unrolled portion extends to a print engine. The method comprises: sensing a condition indicating the receiver medium may have been contacted by other than a component of the printer or by a donor material applied by the print engine; measuring an aspect of the receiver medium indicative of the circumferential length of the outermost layer; determining a circumferential length of the receiver medium based upon the measured aspect of the rolled portion of the receiver medium; determining an exclusion length of the receiver medium based upon the determined circumferential length and a travel distance that is a representation of a length of the unrolled portion between the rolled portion and the print engine; and automatically advancing the receiver medium by the exclusion length.

Abstract: A thermal printer cartridge is provided. The thermal printer cartridge comprising: a supply housing having a drive end and a non-drive end; a take-up housing having a drive end and a non-drive end; a stiffening linkage joining the non-drive end of the supply housing to the non-drive end of the take-up housing, the stiffening linkage being capable of elastic deflection to absorb a portion of the energy from an impact load; an elastically deformable linkage joining the drive ends, the resilient linkage being adapted to elastically deflect following a first deflection pattern and to absorb another portion of an amount of energy from a impact load; and a damping linkage joining the drive ends, the damping linkage being adapted to elastically deflect following a second deflection pattern that is different than the first deflection pattern and to absorb still another portion of an amount of energy from the impact load.

Abstract: An electronic current control circuit is provided. This electronic circuit comprises a power-supply, an H-Bridge module connected to a load, and a current sensor connected between the H-Bridge module and the power-supply and adapted to sense load current characteristics. A computerized controller is connected to the current sensor and the H-Bridge module, includes at least a module for operating load current analysis algorithm for analyzing the load current characteristics to determine current control parameters that provide over-current protection and load current control. A load current control module controls the H-Bridge module based upon the current control parameters.

Abstract: A method for operating an input-cell comprises: receiving a sensor input signal, a digital-bias first control input and a second control input and, using a first resistor network to apply an analog pull-up bias to the sensor input signal when the bias of the first control input is in a first digital state. To provide a path for at least a portion of the first resistor network to a ground to cause the first resistor network to apply a pull-down bias to the sensor input signal when the bias of the first control input is in a second digital state. Receiving a voltage reference and an input waveform signal; using a second resistor network to apply to the input waveform signal to a comparator when the bias of the second control input is in a first digital state and, to apply a biased and attenuated input waveform signal to the comparator when the bias of the second control input is in a second digital state.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided with a supply housing having at least one exterior surface defining a supply area adapted to receive a donor ribbon of predetermined width and a take-up housing having a main wall that defines a take-up area for receiving donor ribbon of predetermined width. A take-up projection on the take-up housing and the main wall jointly define a take-up window therebetween through which donor ribbon passes into the take-up area. The take-up projection includes at least one tensioning feature so as to pre-load the take-up projection such that the take-up projection is inhibited from warping toward towards the main wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing defects in a digital image include defining a defect map, having defect and non-defect entries, as a defect bounded by an expanded defect region and an outer analysis region of a different defect map values. By choosing suitable values and performing a bitwise logical OR operation on the entries the processing of the defect map is made more efficient.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a printer is provided for use with a display device having images stored in a memory therein, a display device controller, and an image display for displaying the stored images. The printer has an external structure housing a print engine and receiver medium transport adapted to cooperate to cause donor materials to be transferred to a receiver medium in an imagewise fashion; a display device interface being adapted to receive the display device and to position the display device so that a display device electrical connector can form an electrical connection with the electrical interface; and a printer processor adapted to transmit signals to the display device controller influencing what is presented on the image display; wherein the display device interface is adjustably mounted to the external structure.

Abstract: A receiver medium transport system for a thermal printer, a method for operating a receiver medium transport system and a thermal printer are provided that enable the recording of at least a portion of a second superimposed image on a second receiver medium during the recording of a first superimposed image on a first receiver medium.

Abstract: A camera has a body and an electronic capture unit mounted in the body. The electronic capture unit selectively captures and stores a scene image as a representational electronic image having a first array of pixels. A control system is mounted in the body. The control system provides a remapped electronic image having a second array of pixels. A memory unit is disposed in the body. The memory unit stores a data-set defining an non-uniform mapping between a plurality of primary input coordinates mappable on said first array of pixels and plurality of primary output coordinates mappable on said second array of pixels. The control system uses the data-set to remap the pixels of the input electronic image to provide the remapped electronic image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for assembling a structure on a support having a pattern of binding sites. In accordance with the method, a first fluid is provided on the surface of the support with the first fluid being of a type that that increases viscosity when heated, the first fluid having first micro-components suspended therein each adapted to engage the binding sites. The first fluid proximate to selected binding sites is heated to increase the viscosity of the responsive fluid proximate to the selected binding sites so that the first micro-components suspended in the first fluid are inhibited from engaging the selected binding sites.

Abstract: An adapter is provided for use with a supply spool having first and second spool ends the spool having web media thereon. The adapter has a body having first and second body ends with each of the first and second body ends having shaped linkages to join to one of the first and second supply ends and with each body end further shaped to join to a printer receptacle when not joined to a spool end; and a data source. The body shaped to position the data source relative to the first body end so that when the first body end is joined to a first spool end, the data source is positioned to provide the machine readable data so that the machine readable data can be read by a reader in a printer that is adapted to accept a supply spool having web media that is axially located asymmetrically.