Abstract: A portable device that produces inconspicuous sounds for event notification is disclosed. One type of inconspicuous sound is a sound that the human body makes in response to an involuntary bodily function. For example, the portable device could produce the sound of a cough to alert the user of an event. Other types of inconspicuous sounds are sounds that are commonly heard in the environment. For example, when in a restaurant the sound of clinking glasses is a common sound.

Abstract: An autochanger has a plurality of media holding bays to hold media pieces. A light emitter and light receiver are placed within the autochanger to establish a light path adjacent the media holding bays. When the light path is disrupted an indication is provided that a media piece is dislodged from its media holding bay. The light emitter has a tube with a light source located adjacent an input end of the tube and a lens located adjacent an output end of the tube. The input end of the tube has a relatively small aperture to limit light passing into the tube and to the lens. The light emitter serves to provide pseudo-collimated light that illuminates a specific light receiver.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a capability for recovering memory by converting an existing digital photograph to a lower quality setting so that the photograph consumes less memory. The camera's user interface associates the conversion capability with the deletion of photographs. The original higher quality photograph may optionally be automatically deleted as part of the conversion process.

Abstract: A light emitter is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the light emitter comprises a tube, a first aperture, a second aperture, a lens, a base mechanism, and a light path. The tube has a first end and a second end. The first aperture is located proximate the tube first end and the second aperture is located proximate the tube second end. The lens is located within the tube. The base mechanism is attached to the tube first end and has a cavity formed therein. The light path extends between the cavity and the second aperture and passes through the first aperture and through the lens.

Abstract: A scanner is provided with a variable aperture lens system. High resolution scans use a relatively small aperture size, and scanning speed is relatively slow. Low resolution scans use a relatively large aperture size, and scanning speed is increased. Fast scans are limited to lower sampling rates, which in turn permit more optical blurring relative to high sampling rates. Accordingly, the incremental cost of the larger aperture is minimized by permitting the lens aberrations specifications to be relaxed at larger apertures. Preferably, an electronic variable aperture is provided, for example, by use of electronically controlled polarization plates or by use of electrochromic substances.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that coordinates the printing of a page of photos that match the layout of a pre-existing matte. The matte layout can be created from a physical matte. When creating an electronic layout or template from a physical matte, a digital image of the matte and a reference target is created. The template can then be created by using the relationship in the digital image between the image of the reference target and the image of the physical matte.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for distributing and presenting preferred data from a host server to a display device located at a predetermined remote premise through a communications network. The method involves identifying a user preference, providing at least one data feed containing information related to the user preference, selecting preferred data from the data feed corresponding to the user preference, pre-loading information that matches the preferred data from the host server to the display device, and presenting the preferred data through the display device.

Abstract: A scanner is provided with a variable aperture lens system. High resolution scans use a relatively small aperture size, and scanning speed is relatively slow. Low resolution scans use a relatively large aperture size, and scanning speed is increased. Fast scans are limited to lower sampling rates, which in turn permit more optical blurring relative to high sampling rates. Accordingly, the incremental cost of the larger aperture is minimized by permitting the lens aberrations specifications to be relaxed at larger apertures. Preferably, an electronic variable aperture is provided, for example, by use of electronically controlled polarization plates or by use of electrochromic substances.

Abstract: An image scanner has a moveable photosensor array that can be moved in two dimensions in a plane. Two dimensional movement is provided using a single motor.

Abstract: A motion control system comprises both a stepper motor and a DC motor. The motors are coupled, and may be operated independently or in concert for various scan types. The stepper motor may be used as an encoder for measuring the position of the mechanism.

Abstract: A method removes distortion induced by camera tilt from a digital representation of a photograph taken with a rotational or swing-lens panoramic camera.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing image files over time are disclosed. A method for managing digital data storage over time in a computer based data storage system includes, acquiring an image from a client, associating a representation of the image with the client, storing the representation in a first image file format, receiving a client request for delivery of the image in a preferred image file format, determining if the first image file format is compatible with the preferred image file format, translating the representation from the first image file format to the preferred file format when the first image file format is incompatible with the preferred file format, and delivering the image as desired. The method may be implemented by a data storage system having a primary data storage device, a computing device including an operable data manager, a network interface, and a secondary data storage device.

Abstract: An illumination system for illuminating a scan region on an object may comprise a hollow reflector having an interior reflective surface and an exit aperture. A light source positioned within the hollow reflector produces a plurality of light rays, some of which are reflected by the interior reflective surface of the hollow reflector before passing through the exit aperture. First and second reflectors positioned adjacent respective first and second sides of the exit aperture of the hollow reflector at least partially collimate light passing through the exit aperture of the hollow reflector to form a collimated beam.

Abstract: A toner resupply roller in a laser printer has ribs that are not parallel to the rotational axis of the roller. The ribs form a tilted, helical, herringbone, or other pattern on the roller. The nonparallel ribs may serve to reduce vibrations introduced into the printer mechanism, and to distribute toner in such a way as to reduce banding in printed materials.

Abstract: The present invention creates a thumbnail representation from a received digital representation of a photograph and associates retrieval information with said thumbnail representation. Also, the present invention associates a label identifier with said photograph. The label identifier is printed to facilitate retrieval of photographs stored in a storage structure.

Abstract: By scanning both sides of a photographic print, data from the back of the print may be associated with the image. If the backside data includes text, optical character recognition (OCR) techniques optionally may be used to convert the image of the back of the photo into text that may be included in a database or other data structure allowing the text to be associated with the photographic image. This allows the user to quickly and easily search a large database of images for either a specific image or a group of images according to some set of search criteria.

Abstract: A cartridge access device in a cartridge storage system is designed to retrieve a cartridge from a storage device and to transfer the cartridge to another location within the system. Once the cartridge is no longer needed in the new location, the cartridge access device retrieves the cartridge and returns the cartridge to the storage device. A computer system preferably communicates wireless control signals with a control system on the cartridge access device. The control system utilizes these control signals to determine which cartridges should be manipulated by the cartridge access device. Control signals transmitted to the cartridge access device are reflected off of a conical device and received by a communications device associated with the cartridge access device. Likewise, signals transmitted from the cartridge access device are reflected off of the conical device and into the other communications device.

Abstract: A multiple resolution scanner device for scanning an object may comprise a first optical wave guide bundle having a light input end, a light output end, and a first reduction ratio associated therewith. The light input end of the first optical wave guide bundle is arranged to receive image light from the object being scanned. A second optical wave guide bundle having a light input end and a light output end has a second reduction ratio associated therewith that is different than the first reduction ratio associated with the first optical wave guide bundle. The light input end of the second optical wave guide bundle is arranged to receive image light from the object being scanned. A detector positioned adjacent the light output ends of the first and second optical wave guide bundles receives image light from the light output ends and produces an image data signal related to image light received from the light output ends.

Abstract: An image processing method for converting an input matrix into an output matrix including steps of calculating an increment value and a target value based upon the resolution of the input matrix and the resolution of the output matrix. As each picture element of the input matrix is received the increment value is added to the value of a counter. When the value of the counter is greater than the target value, the received picture element is placed into the output matrix and the target value is subtracted from the value of the counter.

Abstract: A completely passive adapter for scanning transparent images in a reflective scanner. Mirrors are used to capture light from a lamp that is internal to the scanner and to reflect that light thought a transparent image along the light path required by internal scanner optics. For larger images, a lens is added to capture additional light. Different embodiments of the adapter accommodate variation in angles of optical paths and offset between the light source path and the light detection path. Embodiments are provided having two tilted mirrors, two mirrors plus an optical wedge, four mirrors, and seven mirrors. An optional graduated density optical filter may be added to compensate for nonuniform illumination.