Abstract: A magnetic brush development roller assembly for an electrographic printer includes a cylindrical multipole magnet mounted for rotation about a cylindrical axis; and a conductive non-magnetic stationary shell surrounding the multipole magnet. The shell defines an axial slot for receiving an imaging head, and has a region of reduced conductance extending substantially around the circumference of the shell, whereby eddy currents generated by rotation of the magnet within the shell and hence resistive heating and drag on the magnet are reduced.

Abstract: A photographic camera uses photographic film of the type having a magnetic recording layer. The camera includes a piezoelectric film drive for advancing the film in the camera in periodic steps; and a magnetic recording subsystem for writing information on the magnetic recording layer of the film during film advance, the magnetic recording subsystem being synchronized with the periodic steps of the piezoelectric film drive.

Abstract: According to a precision assembly technique, a first subassembly is precisely aligned relative to a plurality of alignment features in an alignment fixture and at least three non-coplanar flexures having complementary alignment features are located with respect to corresponding alignment features on the alignment fixture and mechanically attached to the first subassembly. The first subassembly with the attached flexure sheets is removed from the alignment fixture and located with respect to a second subassembly having a plurality of alignment features identical to the alignment features in the alignment fixture using the alignment features on the second subassembly and the complementary alignment features on the flexure sheets to precisely align the first subassembly with the complementary alignment features on the second subassembly. The flexure sheets are then mechanically attached to the second subassembly, whereby the first and second subassemblies are aligned and rigidly connected to one another.

Abstract: A method for encoding color image data of the type having multiple color planes for a printer that prints the color planes in a given sequence includes the steps of: compressing the image data in the last color plane in the printing sequence and storing the resulting compressed data; using information relating to the image data in the previous color plane(s) to predict the image data in the next color plane to be printed; forming difference image data between the image data in the next color plane to be printed and the predicted image data for that color plane; and compressing the difference image data and storing the resulting compressed data. These steps are repeated until the image data for all of the color planes have been compressed and stored.

Abstract: A method of making stepper motor includes: providing a permanent magnet rotor carried by an output shaft; forming a bobbin having an alignment feature, a bearing opening for supporting the shaft, and a passage for receiving the permanent magnet rotor; forming a magnetically soft stator-yoke located around the inside of the passage; winding a coil of electrically conducting wire around the bobbin; and providing a motor housing for receiving the bobbin and where the motor housing has a corresponding alignment feature to align the bobbin with the housing.

Abstract: A laser printer of the type having predeflector components and postdeflector components is assembled by aligning the predeflector components on a bar and aligning the bar with a printer frame assembly having the postdeflector components in an alignment fixture. After the bar and printer frame have been aligned in the fixture, they are mechanically attached using flexures between the bar and the printer frame such that the bar and printer frame are constrained from moving relative to each other. Finally, the assembled components are removed from the alignment fixture.

Abstract: A method for halftoning a digital image having an x,y array of pixels each having an associated input pixel value, includes the steps of providing a memory containing a dither bitmap for each input pixel value of the digital image where the dither bitmaps are partially correlated; selecting a dither bitmap corresponding to the input pixel value for a pixel in said digital image; modularly addressing the selected dither bitmap with the location of said pixel to obtain an output halftone image value; and repeating steps for each pixel in the digital image.

Abstract: A hybrid camera includes a pair of imaging systems for capturing images on contained photographic film and an electronic imager, respectively, the film having a magnetic layer. An exterior imaging display allows the user to review the captured image and an input device allows the user to selectively input album related data onto the magnetic layer of the film. The album-related data allows the photo finisher to automatically produce the images in an album-like format. The camera also allows annotated text corresponding to the image to be selectively added to an album print.

Abstract: A optical fiber alignment device with a collimating lens, includes a ferrule for receiving the optical fiber; a ball having an axial hole for receiving the ferrule; a housing having a socket in one end for receiving the ball; and a lens barrel in the opposite end for receiving a lens sleeve. A compression ring for urging the ball into the socket is forced by a first spring located to apply a compression force to the compression ring by an end cap. A channel in the housing allows for the introduction of a bonding agent to bond the ball in the socket to maintain a desired position after adjustment. A lens fixed in a lens sleeve is located in the lens tube at a position to collimate light exiting from the optical fiber. A second spring located between the lens sleeve and the lens barrel urges the lens sleeve out of the barrel and a channel in the housing is provided for introducing a bonding agent to bond the lens sleeve in the lens barrel to maintain the desired position.

Abstract: A system method for digital image capture and transmission includes an image fulfillment server, having a transceiver for sending and receiving channel assessment signals and receiving a digital image file and a memory for storing the received digital image file.

Abstract: A photographic system includes photographic film having a photographic image and digital information stored on a magnetic storage media on the film related to the processing of a digital image to be generated by scanning the film; a scanner for scanning the photographic film to produce a digital image; means for reading the digital information on the magnetic storage media; and a computer having an application program for processing the digital image according to the digital information.

Abstract: An electrographic printing apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium, includes: a) a magnetic brush having a rotatable magnetic core and a stationary outer cylindrical shell; b) an addressable array of transfer electrodes on the outer shell, the array including a plurality of parallel strips of high magnetic permeability, electrically conductive material arranged circumferentially around the shell and disposed under an electrically insulating layer, the insulating layer defining printing gaps over the strips; c) a receiver electrode arranged in spaced relation to the array of transfer electrodes to define a recording region through which a receiver can be moved; d) a developer supply for supplying developer powder having an electrically conductive, magnetic carrier and a first colored toner to the magnetic brush, and e) an electronic circuit adapted to selectively apply voltage pulses to the transfer electrodes to cause the toner to transfer from the developer powder to the receiver in an imag

Abstract: A method of making a mask representing a photographic subject includes the steps of: simultaneously capturing a front and two side face views of the subject using a single camera and a pair of mirrors, one mirror on each side of the subject's head; forming a digital image of the captured front and side views; digitally processing the digital image by mirroring the two side views and blending the two side views with the front view to form a blended image; and transferring the blended image to a head sock.

Abstract: A method of hiding a first image in a second image to produce a combined image includes the steps of: a) modifying the first image according to the content of the second image, so that when the modified first image is added to the second image to produce the combined image, no visible differences will exist between the second image and the combined image; and b) adding the modified first image to the second image to produce the combined image.

Abstract: Apparatus for calibrating a linear image sensor, includes a fluorescent light source, at least as long as the image sensor; a fixture for holding the light source parallel to the image sensor and displaced from the image sensor by a fraction of the length of the image sensor; and a light level controller for producing a plurality of light levels from the lamp.

Abstract: A still picture camera for capturing images when film is alternately advanced from any one of three film cassettes into a common film gate for a controlled exposure by light passing through an objective lens and shutter, the camera comprising a camera body, an objective lens for forming an image, a shutter for controlled admission of light, a film gate for defining the area of exposure of one frame of photographic film, three film cassette chambers mounted in a rotating turret each accepting a film cassette, a turret rotation mechanism, a film advancement mechanism, and one film spooling chamber for alternately receiving film from any film cassette.

Abstract: A combined electronic/silver-halide image capture system is capable of transmitting electronic image data using conventional cellular telephone transmission technology. The system includes a camera unit and a cellular telephone that can be electrically coupled to the camera unit. The camera unit has both a photographic film plane and an electronic image sensor. A mechanism is provided for directing scene light from a scene to be imaged to at least one of the photographic film plane and the electronic image sensor, wherein the electronic image sensor generates analog image signals in response to incident scene light. A processing unit receives the analog image signals generated by the electronic image sensor and generates digital image signals represented of the scene to be imaged. A memory unit is provided to selectively store the digital image signals generated by the processing unit.

Abstract: Electrographic printing apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium, includes: a magnetic brush having a rotatable magnetic core and a stationary outer shell; a developer supply for supplying a magnetic developer powder including toner to the magnetic brush. A print head on the outer shell forms a plurality of parallel lines of developer. Toner is selectively transferred from a plurality of electrodes within each line to a receiver. A receiver electrode is arranged in spaced relation to the print head to define a recording region through which the receiver can be moved.

Abstract: A still picture camera for capturing images when film is alternately advanced from either of two film cassettes into a common film gate for a controlled exposure by light passing through an objective lens and shutter, the camera comprising a camera body, an objective lens for forming an image, a shutter for controlled admission of light, a film gate for defining the area of exposure of one frame of photographic film, two film cassette chambers each accepting a film cassette, a film drive mechanism, and one film spooling chamber for alternately receiving film from either film cassette.

Abstract: A method of removing columnar streaks from a digital image of the type in which it is assumed that pixels in a predetermined region near a given pixel are strongly related to each other and employing gain and offset values to compute streak removal information, a test is performed for a strong relation between the pixels in a predetermined region near a given pixel and streak removal information is computed only if such a strong relationship exists, whereby image content that does not extend the full length of the image in the column direction will not be interpreted as a streak.