Abstract: A printed medium collector comprises a guide surface downwardly inclined from an intake edge toward a drop off edge. A printed medium passes from the intake edge and over the drop off edge and travels away from the guide surface within a range of trajectories. A printed medium storage area receives any printed medium with a leading edge moving within the range of trajectories. The printed medium storage area has a support surface and a stop to block lateral travel of the printed mediums so that such printed mediums are stored to form a stack. The support surface and stop are positioned such that the leading edge of a printed medium that follows the range of trajectories will laterally travel past the trailing edge of each of the printed mediums in the stack before the leading edge passes downward of the trailing edge.

Abstract: A configurable electronic controller system used for signal acquisition of input sensors and control of output loads, connected respectively to the configurable controller, can be re-configured to perform diagnostics on same input sensors and output loads. The diagnostic results provide information on the viability of the tested input sensors and output loads as well as the existence of shorts between input signal lines, while still connected to the sensors.

Abstract: A camera that is adapted to present a preview image is provided. The camera has a trigger adapted to generate a trigger pulse and an image capture system for capturing images of a scene. A viewer is adapted to present one image to a first viewing area and another image to a second viewing area. A controller is adapted to receive a first trigger pulse and to cause the image capture system to capture a first image of the scene in response to the first trigger pulse. The controller is also adapted to receive a second trigger pulse and to cause the image capture system to capture a second image of the scene in response to the second trigger pulse and to cause the viewer to simultaneously present the first image to the first viewing area and to present the second image to the second viewing area. An observer positioned with a first eye in the first viewing area and a second eye in the second viewing area can detect parallax differences between the first image and the second image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for printing an image on a receiver medium are provided. In accordance with the method, digital image data representing an image to be printed is received and, a print engine is used to print an image on the receiver medium based upon the digital image data and initial printing settings. A press sheet image is captured of the image printed on the receiver medium and, the press sheet image is automatically compared to the digital image data to detect differences. Selected types of differences can be identified or can be addressed by adapting the press sheet image or adjusting digital image data prior to comparison.

Abstract: A system and method for acquisition and conditioning of a signal received from a light sensor generating an input signal in proportion to a sensed amount of light, the system utilizing an operational amplifier with first and second feedback loops to render the output signal of a control circuit, part of the second feedback loop, in proportional relationship to the input signal across the range of output signals from the light sensor.

Abstract: A method for operating more than one thermal printer adapted to print images by transferring donor material from patches of donor material from a donor ribbon onto a receiver medium, each printer being operable to print images in a manner that exhausts a full donor patch or a fractional donor patch during printing. In accordance with the method, a print order is received and it is determined whether a fractional donor patch set is available for printing at each printer. Portions of the print order are directed to the printers in a pattern that minimizes the number of printers having donor ribbon with a fractional donor patch set available after the printing order has been executed.

Abstract: A thermal printer and method for operating a thermal printer are provided. The thermal printer has a receiver medium path leading past a print nip between a print head and platen. A processor causes an urge roller to move the receiver medium in the forward direction until a trailing edge of the receiver medium is moved to a point where reverse movement of the receiver medium causes the receiver medium to located against a stop surface. The processor then enables the receiver medium to travel in the reverse direction to engage the stop surface wherein the receiver medium path guides the receiver medium along a path of known length from the stop surface to a print line at the print nip.

Abstract: A method for forming a medium is provided. In accordance with the method a base layer is provided. A material layer is formed on the base layer. The material layer has void. A transponder having a memory is positioned in the void. A medium is also provided. The medium has a base layer and a material layer having a void. A transponder having a memory is positioned in the void.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a camera is provided. The camera has a photosensitive element; a light blocking expansion structure combined with the photosensitive element to form a light tight chamber there between. The light blocking expansion structure has an aperture to focus light from a scene to form an image on the photosensitive element; the light blocking expansion structure is adapted to automatically expand from an initial position to an extended position, with expansion of the expansion structure position in the aperture relative to the photosensitive element. Expansion of the expansion structure drives a shutter system to start and end an exposure of the photosensitive element to light from the scene. A trigger system is manually operable so as to initiate expansion of the expansion structure from the initial position.

Abstract: A thermal dye transfer printer reduces print time by printing sequential color section from a donor web onto a receiver sheet while the donor web and receiver sheet travel in forward or reverse directions relative to a printer head. A first colored image is formed on the receiver by printing as the donor web and the receiver sheet transit the printer head in a first direction. The donor web is indexed to bring the trailing edge of a second color section in registration with the trailing edge of the first colored printed image on the receiver web portion. Then the image receiver web transits the printer head in the opposite direction and the second color is printed on the receiver sheet in combination with the receiver sheet. The steps are repeated for all color patches.

Abstract: A system wherein already-existing computing and memory resources in an electronic camera are used to process an image for printing. Rather than duplicating, in printers, computing and memory resources that are already in digital cameras, significant computing and memory resources need exist only in the camera. A digital camera can support many different printers, each with its own set of parameters such as for example print size, pixel size, colorimetry, sensitometry, and artifacts compensation. Printer parameters are uploaded from the printer to the camera to provide a basis for image processing specific to the associated printer; whereby compensation may be done for variations in the printer characteristics which may occur as a result of printer manufacturing variations, and further so that compensation may be done for different media types which may be installed in the printer.

Abstract: In an illumination system the radiation from one or more laser arrays is directed into a light pipe. The light pipe mixes the individual radiation contributions from the laser arrays and forms a uniform illumination line. The pointing direction of each of the laser arrays is monitored and controlled to preserve the brightness of the composite illumination line.

Abstract: A viewing device and method are provided for use with an image transparency having an associated tracking memory. The viewing device has a display adapted to present at least two illumination patterns, a reader device for obtaining data stored in a tracking memory of an image transparency positioned proximate to the display surface, and a control processing unit. The control processing unit is adapted to receive the obtained data and to generate more than one illumination pattern with a first of the illumination patterns formed for passing through the transparency and second of the illumination patterns formed for viewing on the display without passing through the transparency, wherein the appearance of at least one of the illumination patterns is determined based upon the data obtained from the tracking memory.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a camera for use with a power supply is provided. The camera has a voltage detecting circuit adapted to detect a voltage level at the power source and to generate a voltage level signal. An image capture system is also provided and performs a set of image capture operations. A controller receives the voltage level signal and prevents the image capture system from capturing an image when the voltage level signal indicates that there is insufficient power available in the power supply to perform all of operation in the set of image capture operations.

Abstract: Beam shapers, imaging heads formed using such beam shapers and methods are provided that are adapted to shape a light beam for use in imaging. In accordance with one method described herein a light beam is received and the light beam is reflectively scrambled to form generally homogenous light having a non-circular shape. The homogenous light is delivered to a circular core multimode light path that shapes the light beam so that light exiting the circular core multimode light path comprises circular shaped homogenous light.

Abstract: A viewing device is provided for viewing at least one image transparency having an associated tracking memory. The viewing device comprises an illumination device having at least one viewing surface adapted to present at least one illumination pattern, at least one radio frequency read write device for obtaining electronic data stored in an associated tracking memory of an image transparency positioned proximate to the viewing surface and at least one display device for viewing at least one electronic image related to said at least one image transparency. A control processing unit is adapted to receive said obtained data from said associated tracking memory and to use the obtained data for forming the at least one electronic image.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a proofing head apparatus and a proofing printer for generating a proof. The proofing head assembly comprises a color light analyzer and a color printhead joined by a housing to align the color light analyzer and to direct both the printhead and the color light analyzer at a media. In certain embodiments a controller is provided to drive the color light analyzer to make color measurements of an image and to instruct the printhead to render images on a receiver media. The controller can adjust the colors printed by the printhead so that an image printed by the printhead will match the appearance of the same image as printed by another printer. The proofing printer assembly of the present invention incorporates the proofing head with a media advance and translation mechanism.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for using a display having a predetermined display resolution to show out of focus areas in an archival image having a greater resolution than the predetermined display resolution. In this method, a verification image sized for presentation on the display, is provided. Portions of the archival image that are out of focus are identified. The verification image is blurred so that portions of the verification image that correspond to out of focus portions of the archival image appear out of focus when the verification image is presented on the display. In another aspect a camera system is provided having a source of an archival image with a predetermined resolution and a verification display having an image display resolution that is lower than the predetermined resolution of the archival image.

Abstract: A method for forming a medium having a substrate is formed have a patterned surface with a channel pattern and a transponder having a memory is provided in the channel pattern. A conductive material is deposited in the channel pattern with the conductive material operatively associated with the transponder.

Abstract: A camera flash circuit employing a piezoelectric transformer in the flash trigger circuit, the piezoelectric transformer having input terminals coupled to the main flash voltage storage capacitor and an output terminal coupled to the flash trigger terminal on the flash tube. When the camera flash trigger switch is closed, the input terminals of the piezoelectric transformer are driven directly from the charge voltage stored on the flash storage capacitor to generate the necessary high voltage pulse at the flash tube trigger terminal to initiate firing of the flash tube.