Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a print head comprises a print head body defining an interior chamber and an orifice plate. The orifice plate has an outer surface and further defines a cleaning fluid orifice through the orifice plate for conducting a flow of a cleaning fluid through the cleaning fluid orifice and onto an outer surface of said orifice plate. The orifice plate also defines a drain orifice for conducting a flow of cleaning fluid from the surface to the interior chamber. A supply of pressurized cleaning fluid is disposed in said cavity and connected to the cleaning fluid passageway. During cleaning operations, the fluid flow system defines a flow of a cleaning fluid from the passageway and onto said outer surface. The drain orifice receives cleaning fluid from the outer surface and channels the cleaning fluid into the fluid return.

Abstract: A method is provided for recording metadata elements using a predetermined portion of a photographic filmstrip. The method comprising the steps of recording a primary data field including the entire set of data elements using a first share of the predetermined portion; and recording at least two secondary data fields on a second share of the predetermined portion; wherein at least one of the secondary data fields contains less than all of the metadata elements associated with an image.

Abstract: A continuous inkjet printer in which a continuous ink stream is deflected at the printhead nozzle bore without the need for charged deflection plates or tunnels. The printhead includes a primary ink delivery channel which delivers a primary flow of pressurized ink through an ink staging chamber to the nozzle bore to create an undeflected ink stream from the printhead. A secondary ink delivery channel adjacent to the primary channel is controlled by a thermally actuated valve to selectively create a lateral flow of pressurized ink into the primary flow thereby causing the emitted ink stream to deflect in a direction opposite to the direction from which the secondary ink stream impinges the primary ink stream in the ink staging chamber.

Abstract: In a photographic film digital image scanner, long term adverse effects on image scanning system response are compensated for by establishing an initial gain calibration profile in advance of commencing image scanning operation. A reference Dmin value is established at the same time, preferably from film Dmin regions associated with the bar code pattern located in the leader portion of the film. When image scanning operation is commenced, an updated Dmin value is established for the frame being scanned and the initial gain calibration profile is adjusted by multiplying the pixel-by-pixel values in the profile by the ratio of the reference Dmin over the up-dated frame-specific Dmin value. Preferably, the same image sensor photosites used to establish the reference Dmin value are used for establishing the frame-specific Dmin value and the readings are taken from Dmin regions of the film associated the bar code pattern adjacent the frame to be scanned.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera with a built-in flash, an external flash unit therefor and system in which the camera and external flash unit have mating mounting structures enabling the external flash unit to be mounted on the camera in manner that blocks direct flash emission from camera flash unit onto a subject being photographed and the flash emission device of the external flash unit is positioned farther away from the camera taking lens than the built-in flash thereby substantially eliminating red-eye effect on the subject being photographed. The external flash unit includes a flash re-directing channel which directs built-in flash emission generally upwards to provide indirect illumination of the photographed subject.

Abstract: An ink jet printer with cleaning mechanism, and method of assembling same. The printer comprises a print head having a surface thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices. The orifices are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels formed in the print head. A vacuum hood capable of sealingly surrounding at least one of the orifices has having a first passageway therethrough capable of being disposed in communication with the orifice for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel by way of the orifice. A solvent delivering wiper is connected to the hood and has a second passageway therethrough alignable with the surface. The second passageway delivers a liquid solvent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface. Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent while the wiper flushes contaminant from the surface. A vacuum canopy is connected to the wiper and has a third passageway therethrough alignable with the surface.

Abstract: An EL backlight device drive circuit useful with a camera LCD display. The backlight device is connected to the flash storage capacitor of the camera flash circuit for its energy source. Pulsing of the DC voltage from the storage capacitor is accomplished by a switching transistor coupled across the EL backlight device driven from a fixed duty cycle pulse source via an AC coupled pulse differentiating circuit. The AC coupled circuit reduces the On time duty cycle of the transistor relative to the pulse train duty thereby increasing the ON time duty cycle of the EL backlight device to increase its light output operating efficiency. With increased operating efficiency, a higher value coupling resistor is inserted between the EL backlight device and flash storage capacitor to thereby limit the AC current through the EL backlight device to a predetermined safety operating level.

Abstract: An ink jet printer with cleaning mechanism, and method of assembling same. The printer comprises a print head having a surface thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices. The orifices are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels formed in the print head. A vacuum hood capable of sealingly surrounding at least one of the orifices has having a first passageway therethrough capable of being disposed in communication with the orifice for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel by way of the orifice. A solvent delivering wiper is connected to the hood and has a second passageway therethrough alignable with the surface. The second passageway delivers a liquid solvent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface. Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent while the wiper flushes contaminant from the surface. A vacuum canopy is connected to the wiper and has a third passageway therethrough alignable with the surface.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having an ink jet head and defining a structure having a device including a structure defining a plurality of orifices for ejecting ink droplets includes defining an ink cleaning cavity spaced from the printing position for receiving cleaning fluid; a roller disposed in the cleaning cavity and partially submerged in the cleaning fluid and spaced from the structure is rotated so that the fluid coats the roller and is carried by surface tension around the roller; and the structure is brought into proximity with the cleaning roller so that the orifices are cleaned by the cleaning fluid carried on the roller and delivered through the cleaning cavity to the structure.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of inhibiting inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet and method of assembling same. The imaging apparatus comprises a print head transducer including a pair of sidewalls defining a chamber therebetween, the channel having the ink body disposed therein. The transducer is in fluid communication with the ink body for inducing a first pressure wave in the ink body in order to eject an ink droplet. A waveform generator is connected to the transducer for supplying voltage waveforms to the transducer, so that the transducer induces pressure waves in the ink body. However, the first pressure wave has a reflected portion formed by the first pressure wave reflecting from the sidewalls. The reflected portion is sufficient to otherwise inadvertently eject unintended satellite ink droplets. Thus, a sensor is in fluid communication with the ink body for sensing the reflected portion and is connected to the transducer for inducing a second pressure wave in the ink body.

Abstract: An illuminant head assembly for a photographic film image scanner includes a linear light source, preferably a linear array of spectrally distinct illuminant elements combined with a main body having an elongate light conducting channel aligned with the light source and having a light pipe in the light conducting channel, the light pipe having a light diffusion material dispersed therein. The illuminant head assembly in a preferred embodiment includes additional light sources at one or both ends of the linear array and the main body includes additional light channels aligned with the additional light sources, the additional light sources and channels serving as illuminant sources for scanning marginal regions of the photographic film in the film scanner.

Abstract: In a low cost film scanner, a CCD image sensor is precision aligned to a film plane scanning aperture and is mounted to the an intervening imaging housing assembly by means of a radiation (UV) curable adhesive of appropriate viscosity. With the sensor positioned within but in spaced apart relationship to a sensor housing segment of the housing assembly, the adhesive is injected through a mounting hole in a wall of the housing segment to adhere to the image sensor. An excess amount of the injected adhesive forms a cap over the mounting hole. The viscosity of the adhesive is such as the allow the adhesive to generally maintain its shape in the space between the sensor and the wall of the sensor housing segment. The spacing of the sensor from the sensor housing segment allows six degrees of freedom of movement of the sensor during the alignment operation after which the injected adhesive is curing in situ to form a sensor mount fastener with the sensor is precise alignment with the film plane aperture.

Abstract: An icon reader reads picture identification data from a data icon on an image print. This data is used to determine the location of a corresponding sound bite contained in a memory module and for playing the sound bite. The memory module contains sound bites recorded at the camera during picture taking. The icon reader includes a data reader module that optically scans the data icon from one location to read the picture identification data. The icon reader further includes a decoder for decoding the encoded picture identification data, and a data port for selective communication with the memory module. In one embodiment, the icon reader is structured to be a self-contained sound playback apparatus in which a sound IC card is docked to the data port and, in another embodiment, the icon reader is coupled with a wireless communication device for communicating the decoded picture identification data to a remote memory archive unit having built-in sound playback apparatus.

Abstract: A bar code reader particularly useful in a photographic film scanner of the type employing a light source and CCD array for sensing the bar code elements. Lateral location of the bar code pattern is established by analyzing the output of the CCD array within a bar code detection window to determine the location of a longitudinal edge transition of the line of clock elements in the bar code pattern and then to use clock and data element detection windows at spaced locations from the line of clock edge transition to read the encoded values of the bar code. In one embodiment, the line of transition between the clock and data elements is used as the line of longitudinal edge transition of the line of clock elements. In another embodiment, the longitudinal clock edge transition remote from the data elements and adjacent the central image frame region is used.

Abstract: A compact, low-cost photographic film scanner particularly adapted to scanning Advance Photo System (APS) film includes an imaging assembly having an elongated L-shaped housing with a photosensor, e.g. a CCD, mounted directly to one end of the housing, the other end having a scanning aperture and film rails integrally formed on the housing, the film rails defining a film plane over the scanning aperture. The housing comprises a two piece snap together configuration that provides support for the focusing lens as well the photosensor and film scan gate. Additionally, the housing includes support arms that receive and lock in place an LED illuminant head assembly. The imaging apparatus housing conveniently snap locks into place on the scanner chassis in an opening formed in the film drive path.

Abstract: A photofinishing system for automatically processing image and associated image data pursuant to customer output requests. The system includes an order manager operative to receive and control processing of the output requests and at least one source of image related data corresponding to the output request. An input interface receives the image related data from the source and converts the data to a digital data stream. A memory is included for storing the digital data stream. The system further includes a data parser disposed in communication with the memory to extract selected data streams according to the order manager and to reduce the data into respective image files having respective groups of data fields. An output module is responsive to the order manager and is operative to produce a photofinished output organized with respect to the data fields.