Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided which include providing a rotatable roller with a cylindrical surface adapted to wrap the donor element on the surface. A donor element is secured to the roller and a first portion of the donor element is wrapped onto the cylindrical surface while applying tension to the media. The tension is then decreased to alter a region of contact between the first portion of the donor element and the cylindrical surface. An additional portion of the donor element is then wrapped onto the cylindrical surface. The donor element is then transferred from the roller to a substrate.

Abstract: Methods are provided to image patterns on a media. A pitch of a repeating pattern of sub-regions is determined and an imaging head is operated which has an array of individually addressable channels to direct imaging beams to form an image swath on the media. The individually addressable channels are controlled to image the repeating pattern of features and the pitch of the repeating pattern of features is adjusted to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating patterns of sub-regions.

Abstract: A method is provided to manufacture displays such as, for example, reflective displays, electrophoretic displays or liquid crystal displays. In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for aligning a patterned layer of color filter elements with a display assembly. The method includes activating a first set of addressable pixel elements to change an activation state of each pixel element in the first set of the pixel elements. A required alignment of the patterned layer of color filter elements with the display assembly can be determined based at least on the activated first or a second set of the pixel elements. The patterned layer of color filter elements is aligned with the display assembly according to the required alignment.

Abstract: A method for forming an image on media is provided which includes controlling an imaging head to emit radiation beams to form the image while scanning over the media along a scan direction. The image can include a feature that has an edge portion that extends in a direction that is skewed by a skew angle with respect to the scan direction. Each radiation beam can be controllable to vary a size of a pixel formed on the media by the radiation beam. Each pixel has a first size along a first direction and a second size along a second direction that intersects the first direction. In one embodiment, the second size is different than the first size and is determined based at least on the skew angle and the first size.

Abstract: A rotatable roller is provided which includes a first end and a second end and a surface adapted to wrap a portion of the media thereupon. A carriage conveys the roller along a path. The roller is moved by first and second drives. The first and second drives can be differentially operated to reorient the roller with respect to a direction along the path. The first drive and the second drive can be operated, differentially or non-differentially, to move the carriage along the path. The reoriented roller can be rotated about its axis while conveying the media to wrap the portion of the media onto the surface. The portion of the media can be sized to wrap over the surface of the reoriented roller without overlapping itself. The first drive and the second drive can be operated non-differentially to convey the reoriented roller along a portion of the path.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming an image on a media while the media is moved relative to an imaging head. The media can include a pattern of registration sub-regions, such as a matrix. The image can include one or more patterns of features, such as color features for a color filter which can be registered with the pattern of registration sub-regions. The images can be formed by a laser-induced thermal transfer process. The method can include the steps of operating an imaging head to emit imaging beams. A first portion of the image is formed while scanning a first group of imaging beams in a first direction over the media at a first scanning speed and a second portion of the image is formed while scanning a second group of the imaging beams in a second, opposite direction over the media at a second, different scanning speed.

Abstract: Methods are provided for imaging patterns on a media. The steps of the method include operating a first imaging head with individually addressable channels to direct imaging beams to form a first image on the media while scanning over the media along a scan path. A second imaging head with individually addressable channels is operated, either at the same time or a different time, to direct imaging beams to form a second image on the media while scanning over the media along a second scan path. It is possible that the first scan path may or may not be parallel to the second scan path, and that the first image may or may not be aligned with the second image. The first image may or may not be skewed with respect to the second image.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming an image of a pattern of features on media which includes determining a pitch of the features along first and second directions and determining a first size of a first pixel based at least on the pitch of the features along the first direction. A second size of a second pixel is determined based at least on the pitch of the features along the second direction. An offset is determined along the scan direction between a first and second scan-line of pixels, based at least on the skew angle and the first size. The imaging head is controlled to form the first pixel comprising the determined first size and the second pixel comprising the determined second size. The imaging head is controlled to form the first scan-line and the second scan-line, offset from one another by the determined offset.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes operating a first multi-channel imaging head to direct imaging beams along a scan path to transfer a first non-contiguous feature and a second non-contiguous feature from a donor element to the receiver element by a thermal transfer process. The first and second non-contiguous features are spatially separated from one another at least in a sub-scan direction. The method also includes operating a second multi-channel imaging head to direct imaging beams to direct imaging beams to transfer a third non-contiguous feature from the donor element to the receiver element by the thermal transfer process. The third non-contiguous feature is between the first and second non-contiguous features and is spatially separated from each of the first and second non-contiguous features at least in the sub-scan direction.

Abstract: Methods for imaging patterns of features by thermal transfer involve controlling intensities of a plurality of beams. The intensities of beams that image edge portions of a feature may be set to be different from the intensities of beams that image interior portions of the feature. Beams that image home and away edges of a feature may be controlled to have different intensities. Apparatus for imaging patterns of features may comprise a controller configured to maintain intensity information for channels of a multi-channel imaging head. The controller uses the intensity information to set intensities of those channels that correspond to edge portions of features being imaged in a current swath of the imaging head.

Abstract: A fluid droplet characterizing apparatus and method includes a pressurized source of a non-conductive fluid in fluid communication with a nozzle channel and a characterization electrode. The pressurized source is operable to form a jet of the non-conductive fluid through the nozzle channel. At least one portion of the characterization electrode is electrically conductive and contactable with first portion and thereafter a second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet. The at least one electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode is operable to transfer a first electrical charge to a region of the first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet and transfer a second electrical charge to a region of the second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet.

Abstract: A pattern of non-contiguous features that can be imaged in one pass of a multi-channel imaging head is divided into sets of the non-contiguous features. Each set of the non-contiguous features is imaged separately during a single scan of the multi-channel imaging head. The pattern can be completely imaged after all of the sets have been separately imaged. The non-contiguous features of one set may be interleaved with the non-contiguous features of another one of the sets.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for removing donor sheets from substrates. A take-up roller contacts the donor element at or near an edge thereof and a peel roller contacts the donor element at a location spaced apart from the edge. A securing mechanism secures the edge of the donor element to the take-up roller which is then moved away from the substrate. While maintaining the peel roller in contact with the donor element, the take-up roller is rotated to take up the donor element while the peel roller and take-up roller are both simultaneously moved in a direction tangential to the substrate. In this manner, the donor element is peeled from the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming fluid droplets includes a nozzle channel, a pressurized source of a non-conductive fluid in fluid communication with the nozzle channel, and a stimulation electrode. The pressurized source is operable to form a jet of the non-conductive fluid through the nozzle channel. At least one portion of the stimulation electrode is electrically conductive and contactable with a portion of the non-conductive fluid jet. The at least one electrically conductive and contactable portion of the stimulation electrode is operable to transfer an electrical charge to a region of the portion of the non-conductive fluid jet with the electrical charge stimulating the non-conductive fluid jet to form a non-conductive fluid droplet.

Abstract: A method is provided to manufacture displays such as, for example, reflective displays, electrophoretic displays or liquid crystal displays. In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for aligning a patterned layer of color filter elements with a display assembly. The method includes activating a first set of addressable pixel elements to change an activation state of each pixel element in the first set of the pixel elements. A required alignment of the patterned layer of color filter elements with the display assembly can be determined based at least on the activated first or a second set of the pixel elements. The patterned layer of color filter elements is aligned with the display assembly according to the required alignment.

Abstract: In the field of imaging systems where multi-channel imaging heads are used, there is a possible problem of formation of artifacts in the product material such as pinholes, banding, edge discontinuities due to variation in beam intensity of the individual channels. The visual observation of these artifacts can be minimised by using a plurality of multi-channel heads and having their scan paths interconnected. The visually observable variations in the image caused by uneven characteristics of the first multi-channel head are minimised by using a second multi-channel head and imaging the patterns using an imaging scan path which combines output from both of the imaging heads.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a media is able to accommodate, in an imaging position, a drum for loading flat sheets of media or a mandrel for loading sleeve media. The apparatus includes a storage position for locating the drum or mandrel when not in use and provides mechanisms for safe transport of the drum or mandrel between the storage and imaging positions.

Abstract: An imaging system is equipped with two or more exposure heads that are each able to image either a separate media sheet or a portion of a single media sheet loaded on a media carrier. The imaging time for any combination of media sheets is minimized by providing for the adjustment of the spacing between the dual exposure heads whenever the media configuration changes. In imaging a unitary image using two exposure heads to each image a sub-image, any discontinuity between the end of the first sub-image and the start of the next sub-image is reduced by changing the traversing speed of one of the exposure heads by a fractional amount.

Abstract: A system and methods for remotely viewing a dynamically generated page layout is described. The page layout can represent a reader ordering of pages defined as part of a print production job. Alternatively, the page layout can represent an arrangement of pages based on information defined as part of a print production job.

Abstract: An authentication system uses the unique distribution of an invisible taggant as a “signature” to identify an item. The verification is error tolerant. The taggant is made visible to a camera by special illumination. Inert taggants, with no optical activity, can be made visible by their thermal properties.