Abstract: A thermal transfer color printer (100) utilizes a single print head (102) positioned outside a carousel (104) of monochrome ink ribbons (106) each stretched between a pair of spaced-apart spools (108, 110) mounted around the periphery of the carousel. A spool spacing (112) provides sufficient clearance for the thermal print head to be positioned between to spools to contact the ribbon. A media drum (116) is positioned coaxially within the carousel. The carousel has a media opening (122) through which a print medium (118) enters and exits a medium clamp (144) attached to the media drum. To print a particular color, the carousel is rotated such that the media opening is adjacent to a media supply, and a print medium is guided from the media supply into the medium clamp. The media drum is rotated to close the medium clamp and position a leading edge (138) of the print medium adjacent to the print head.

Abstract: A rotating print medium retaining clamp is disclosed which securely clamps the print medium or printed image final receiving surface to prevent horizontal or X-axis misregistration while drawing the print medium in a generally circular path through the nip between the platen and the print head. Only the retaining clamp assembly rotates while the support guide remains stationary. The support guide has space for a printing platen to be positioned along the print medium guide path.

Abstract: An electrical connection between two semiconductor devices employs a coplanar microstrap waveguide comprising a plurality of thin straps of conductive metal embedded in a polyimide substrate and dimensioned to exhibit the properties of a coplanar waveguide. The waveguide structure provides the proper impedance matching between the two devices and enables them to handle signals having frequencies in the gigahertz range.