Abstract: A fluid-ejecting device with simplified connectivity is disclosed herein. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a common lead is provided such that a plurality of electrical contacts on a fluid-ejecting chip are connected to the common lead, which is located on a single-layer-flex circuit. Because a common lead is provided at an edge of the single-layer-flex circuit adjacent the fluid-ejecting chip, fewer signals need to be routed through the single-layer-flex circuit to such edge, thereby reducing the complexity of such circuit. Further, bond sites at the edge of the single-layer-flex circuit adjacent the fluid-ejecting device are arranged in a manner that minimizes the required length of wire bonds for connecting such contacts to the contacts on the fluid-ejecting chip.

Abstract: An intelligent power management system is particularly applicable to accessory devices that can be coupled to a basic device to provide the basic device with an enhanced feature. The accessory device includes a control processor and a power supply unit, wherein the power supply unit supplies electrical energy to the control processor in response to a control signal received from the basic device. The power supply unit includes a power management circuit that maintains the electrical energy supplied to the control processor during fluctuations of the control signal.

Abstract: A fluid-ejecting device with simplified connectivity is disclosed herein. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a common lead is provided such that a plurality of electrical contacts on a fluid-ejecting chip are connected to the common lead, which is located on a single-layer-flex circuit. Because a common lead is provided at an edge of the single-layer-flex circuit adjacent the fluid-ejecting chip, fewer signals need to be routed through the single-layer-flex circuit to such edge, thereby reducing the complexity of such circuit. Further, bond sites at the edge of the single-layer-flex circuit adjacent the fluid-ejecting device are arranged in a manner that minimizes the required length of wire bonds for connecting such contacts to the contacts on the fluid-ejecting chip.

Abstract: A color filter array for an image sensor which has a plurality of pixels is disclosed. The color filter array includes a plurality of color pixel kernels, with each kernel having the plurality of pixels arranged in the following pattern A C D B wherein: A and B are companion colors; and C and D are companion colors.

Abstract: A data transmission system and method is provided for furnishing data to respective drivers for a multicolor sparse array non-impact recording head that includes plural sets of recording elements for sequentially exposing a single pixel area on a recording medium. In one recording mode each recording element of a set of recording elements for recording one color is provided with the same color component exposure data to sequentially control enablement of the plural recording elements at the pixel area. In a second mode at least one of the recording elements of the set is disabled from recording at the pixel area whereas at least one other recording element of the set is enabled to record with a color component exposure at the pixel area.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has a support shoe with an at-least-partially cylindrical inner surface for receiving a recording media. A rotor is simultaneously rotatable about, and linearly translated along, a fixed axis; and a write head assembly is carried by the rotor to write on recording media received on the inner surface of the support shoe. A pair of disks, having arcuate outer peripheries, are supported within the support shoe for movement with the rotor along the fixed axis on opposed axial sides of the rotor. One of the disks leads the translation of the rotor along the fixed axis as the rotor moves in either axial direction during a write operation. The disks are rotationally fixed relative to the support shoe and have circular outer peripheries.

Abstract: An image head assembly comprising: a substrate with at least a pair of apertures formed in the substrate; an optical assembly having at least a pair of pins that mate with the apertures within the substrate, the pins to the optical assembly being fixedly secured to the apertures within the substrate; an image sensor located between the apertures covered by a cover glass above the image sensor on the optical assembly; interface means for providing an electrical connection between the substrate and the image sensor; a lens system mounted on top the cover glass; and a single element blur filter contained within the lens system. The assembly contains a single element blur filter such as a cross-pleated blur filter. The lens system is prevented from being a reverse telephoto lens system with use of a blur filter that does not require a large back focus and is instead a telephoto lens system.

Abstract: A patient identification x-ray cassette comprising: a cover having a window in the cover with predetermined transmission characteristics; a prompt emission stimulable phosphor coated substrate positioned essentially below the window having a phosphor that is selected to absorb at a first bandwidth and emit at a second bandwidth and the substrate is selected to transmit at least the first bandwidth; an image receiving element sensitive to electromagnetic radiation of the second bandwidth positioned at least below the window; and placing the phosphor coated substrate against the image receiving element. The phosphor is of the type that absorbs energy in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and emits energy in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The substrate upon which the coating is placed is relatively transparent to infrared wavelengths. The cassette allows for patient identification data to be written onto the x-ray film contained inside the cassette via an infrared source.

Abstract: A reliable, low cost system for generating precisely aligned pixel clock and index signals for a digital scanning or printing system is based on the use of a phase locked loop multiplier to generate a sampling clock precisely synchronized to the drum position encoder sensor output. The sample clock frequency is chosen to be a large, known multiple M of the pixel clock frequency. The pixel clock is chosen to be the sample clock divided by M, making it the proper frequency. Pixel clock phase is established by resetting, on the trailing edge of an index signal generated by a line start index sensor, a .div.M counter used in deriving the pixel clock from the sample clock. The rising edge of the pixel clock is then established to within .+-.(1/M) pixel clock periods of the trailing edge of the index signal.

Abstract: A reliable, low cost system for generating precisely aligned pixel clock and index signals for a digital scanning or printing system is based on a novel single channel encoder pattern detected with a single sensor. The signal output of the sensor representing the encoder pattern is processed with phase locked loop based circuit to generate pixel clock and index signals of known and guaranteed phase.

Abstract: A web (14) of material such as photographic film is supplied continuously from a stock roll (16) into an infeed vacuum box (24) from which the web passes into an intermittently operated perforator apparatus (30) through which the web is drawn intermittently by a high performance vacuum drum (32) which feeds the web into an outfeed vacuum box (34) from which the web passes continuously to a rewind stock roll (44) or to other intermittently operated processing apparatus. Various patterns of widely spaced perforations and leader/trailer sections may be provided in the stationary web, which moves at high web speeds and accelerations between operations of the perforator apparatus.

Abstract: A beam scanning galvanometer is disclosed which oscillates a mirror in a non-resonant mode. The moving parts of the galvanometer are made with as small a moment of inertia as possible because the mirror is oscillated in a non-resonant mode. The galvanometer uses two sets of crossed leaf-springs to support the mirror instead of bearings which are usually used in non-resonant galvanometers. Each of the sets of leaf-springs is formed of a single strip of cold rolled stainless steel. The springs are embedded in uniquely shaped cavities in a permanent magnet that supports the mirror at a distance very close to an axis of rotation of the mirror. The mirror is specially shaped with beveled edges so that its moment of inertia is low and so that it can oscillate in very close proximity to a driving current coil which surrounds the mirror supporting magnet. A magnetic position sensor is used to detect an angular position of the mirror during operation of the galvanometer.

Abstract: An improved method of, and electrical circuit for driving with precision and accuracy an electro-mechanical device such as a galvanometer is disclosed. The method precisely controls high speed linear scanning of the device in a forward scan segment of each cycle of operation, and further provides very fast re-set of the device without position overshoot during a re-trace segment of a cycle. The electrical circuit includes memory means for generating an electrical command waveform for controlling the device during each cycle of operation, and drive servo means for applying electrical power to the device. The servoing action of this circuit substantially eliminates any difference between an actual position of the device and the position directed by the command waveform during each forward scan segment of a cycle of operation, with the result that each forward scan segment is highly accurate and repeatable.

Abstract: A beam scanning galvanometer is disclosed which oscillates a mirror in a non-resonant mode. The moving parts of the galvanometer are made with as small a moment of inertia as possible because the mirror is oscillated in a non-resonant mode. The galvanometer uses two sets of crossed leaf-springs to support the mirror instead of bearings which are usually used in non-resonant galvanometers. Each of the sets of leaf-springs is formed of a single strip of cold rolled stainless steel. The springs are embedded in uniquely shaped cavities in a permanent magnet that supports the mirror at a distance very close to an axis of rotation of the mirror. The mirror is specially shaped with beveled edges so that its moment of inertia is low and so that it can oscillate in very close proximity to a driving current coil which surrounds the mirror supporting magnet. A magnetic position sensor is used to detect an angular position of the mirror during operation of the galvanometer.

Abstract: A beam scanning galvanometer is disclosed which oscillates a mirror in a non-resonant mode. The moving parts of the galvanometer are made with as small a moment of inertia as possible because the mirror is oscillated in a non-resonant mode. The galvanometer uses two sets of crossed leaf-springs to support the mirror instead of bearings which are usually used in non-resonant galvanometers. Each of the sets of leaf-springs is formed of a single strip of cold rolled stainless steel. The springs are embedded in uniquely shaped cavities in a permanent magnet that supports the mirror at a distance very close to an axis of rotation of the mirror. The mirror is specially shaped with beveled edges so that its moment of inertia is low and so that it can oscillate in very close proximity to a driving current coil which surrounds the mirror supporting magnet. A magnetic position sensor is used to detect as angular position of the mirror during operation of the galvanometer.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively reversing a magnetic bias field (e.g., to switch between recording and erasing modes in a magnetooptic recording system) includes a rod-shaped permanent magnet having its magnetic poles oriented along the cross-sectional dimension thereof. The rod is mounted for axial rotation within a concentrically arranged tube of electrically conductive material, and means are provided for biasing the rotational position of the magnet toward either of two nominal positions, 1/2.degree. apart. Upon being subjected to a torque, the magnet rotates toward either of its nominal positions, and oscillatory movement about such nominal positions is damped by eddy-current-produced magnetic forces in the conductive tube.

Abstract: In an optical recording system, automatic gain control circuitry is provided to maintain the gain of the focus (or tracking) servo system substantially constant and independent of intensity variations in the light beam used to detect focus (or tracking) error. According to a preferred embodiment, such circuitry comprises two cascaded stages, i.e., a switchable gain first stage for effecting coarse gain changes on command (e.g. when switching between write and read modes), and a non-linear feedback second stage for adjusting the coarsely trimmed output of the first stage to achieve overall constant focus (or tracking) error gain.

Abstract: A web spooling mechanism has a chuck that is coupled to a spool for rotating the spool to wind a length of web material onto the spool. Torque is transmitted from a drive shaft to the chuck through a spring coupled to the shaft and the chuck. A transducer measures the angular relationship between the shaft and the chuck throughout a range of relative angular positions therebetween. The transducer provides a signal indicative of that angular relationship, and the signal is transmitted to a controller that regulates the torque applied by the drive shaft. The position of the chuck relative to the drive shaft during web winding operation is a function of tension transients in the web. Since the system adjusts the torque of the drive shaft as a function of the angular relationship of the chuck and drive shaft, the system is effective to reduce tension transients in the web being wound onto the spool.

Abstract: A web cutter for use in high speed web transport machines has a roller with a hub, two flanges and three knives supported on the hub between the flanges. In one preferred embodiment the web rides on shoulders provided on the flanges. In another embodiment, the web rides on spacers that are held in position by spring biased conically tipped pilot pins. In a third embodiment the web rides on a slotted cylinder. In all embodiments the web is brought into engagement with one of the knives directly in response to excessive tension in the web.

Abstract: A transducer measures the angular relationship between a drive and a driven member throughout a range of relative angular positions therebetween. The transducer provides a signal indicative of that angular relationship, and the signal can be transmitted to a controller that regulates the torque applied by the drive shaft. The transducer can be used in a web spooling apparatus where the position of the driven member relative to the drive shaft during web winding operation is a function of tension transients in the web. The transducer enables the system to adjust the torque of the drive shaft as a function of the angular relationship of the driven member and drive shaft so that the system can reduce tension transients in the web being wound onto the spool.