Abstract: A microshutter array has a frame having a light transmissive portion. Linear microshutter elements extend across the light transmissive portion and in parallel to each other. Each microshutter element has a flat blade extended in a length direction and first and second torsion arms extending outwards from each side of the blade in the length direction, the blade extending across the light transmissive portion. A control circuit provides a separately-controlled and independent voltage that is applied to each of the linear microshutter elements. A controller sets the respective voltages applied to each of the linear microshutter elements.

Abstract: A microshutter array has a frame having a light transmissive portion. Linear microshutter elements extend across the light transmissive portion and in parallel to each other. Each microshutter element has a flat blade extended in a length direction and first and second torsion arms extending outwards from each side of the blade in the length direction, the blade extending across the light transmissive portion. There is at least one electrode associated with each linear microshutter element and extended in the length direction parallel to the microshutter element.

Abstract: A microshutter array has a frame having a light transmissive portion. Linear microshutter elements extend across the light transmissive portion and in parallel to each other. Each microshutter element has a flat blade extended in a length direction and first and second torsion arms extending outwards from each side of the blade in the length direction, the blade extending across the light transmissive portion. A control circuit provides a separately-controlled and independent voltage that is applied to each of the linear microshutter elements. A controller sets the respective voltages applied to each of the linear microshutter elements.

Abstract: A microshutter array has a frame having a light transmissive portion. Linear microshutter elements extend across the light transmissive portion and in parallel to each other. Each microshutter element has a flat blade extended in a length direction and first and second torsion arms extending outwards from each side of the blade in the length direction, the blade extending across the light transmissive portion. There is at least one electrode associated with each linear microshutter element and extended in the length direction parallel to the microshutter element.

Abstract: A microshutter array has a frame having a light transmissive portion. Linear microshutter elements extend across the light transmissive portion and in parallel to each other. Each microshutter element has a flat blade extended in a length direction and first and second torsion arms extending outwards from each side of the blade in the length direction, the blade extending across the light transmissive portion. There is at least one electrode associated with each linear microshutter element and extended in the length direction parallel to the microshutter element.

Abstract: A microshutter array has a frame having a light transmissive portion. Linear microshutter elements extend across the light transmissive portion and in parallel to each other. Each microshutter element has a flat blade extended in a length direction and first and second torsion arms extending outwards from each side of the blade in the length direction, the blade extending across the light transmissive portion. There is at least one electrode associated with each linear microshutter element and extended in the length direction parallel to the microshutter element.

Abstract: An implantable diaphragm pump for use in medical applications comprising a housing having a pump cap, a valve plate, a diaphragm, and a base plate, wherein the pump cap and the valve plate are separated by the diaphragm, and the valve plate and lower surface of the diaphragm serve to form a pump chamber. A permanent magnet is attached to the pump cap within the diaphragm chamber wherein the lower surface of the permanent magnet is adjacent to the upper surface of the diaphragm. The diaphragm having a coil and a corrugated outer periphery, wherein when electrical current flows in a first direction through the coil, the diaphragm engages the lower surface of the permanent magnet, and when electrical current flows in a direction opposite the first direction, said diaphragm engages the upper surface of the valve plate.

Abstract: A magnetically biased electromagnetic shuttering device for controlling the shutter blades of a camera. The device includes a yoke having a core and a coil, the coil being capable of receiving current which produces a first magnetic field existing inside and outside the core. A movable magnet is coupled to the shutter blades, has a second magnetic field and is positioned adjacent to the core so that the second magnetic field interacts with the first magnetic field. A magnet, separate from the yoke, produces a third magnetic field and is positioned adjacent to the movable magnet in order to influence the motion of the movable magnet and to provide controllable detents for the movable magnet.

Abstract: Audio and image data are recorded on a receiver by capturing audio information and converting it to digital signals; capturing an electronic image which corresponds to the captured audio information; recording the audio information on the receiver by applying a nonvisible ink to the receiver; and recording the electronic image by applying visible ink to the receiver.

Abstract: A non-photographic strip includes a base layer similar in properties and characteristics to a base layer of a known photographic filmstrip and a magnetic recording layer over the base layer. A cartridge is sized and shaped to be received in a cartridge receiving chamber of a photographic camera. The cartridge contains the non-photographic strip which is sized and shaped to be moved within the camera from the cartridge. Preferably, the magnetic recording layer is opaque. The magnetic recording layer is used to transfer information to and/or from the camera.

Abstract: A device for controlling a stepper motor that drives a plurality of shutter blades. The movement and position of the movement of the rotor of the stepper motor is monitored to determine when the next step of the stepper motor should be stepped so that the rotation of the rotor will be known to cause the shutter blades to form the correct aperture size. The device may also be used to drive an automatic focusing mechanism and/or zoom.

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 non-photographic strip includes a base layer similar in properties and characteristics to a base layer of a known photographic filmstrip and a magnetic recording layer over the base layer. A cartridge is sized and shaped to be received in a cartridge receiving chamber of a photographic camera. The cartridge contains the non-photographic strip which is sized and shaped to be moved within the camera from the cartridge. Preferably, the magnetic recording layer is opaque. The magnetic recording layer is used to transfer information to and/or from the camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording on magnetic media which comprises a magnetic wheel made from a magnetic material, that is essentially an isotropic material such as NdFeB (neodymium iron boron) material having an energy product on the order of 7.1 MGOe. The magnetic wheel is operatively connected to a drive motor by juxtapositioning a magnetization write head having a gap that produces the desired flux pattern in response to the electrical input to a coil within the head, encoded magnetic information is placed on the wheel. The magnetized wheel can than be used to record encoded data upon preselected media, such as metered paper for a thermal printer.

Abstract: A method is provided for a customer to provide a message, design or other visible information to be printed upon prints during processing of photographic film supplied by the customer. The process involves scanning an annotated surface containing the visible information, creating a reproducible file containing the visible information and printing the visible information from the file onto a photographic print during the photofinishing processing. The customer information may be directly written or otherwise connected with a photofinishing envelope in which the film is forwarded to the photofinisher. The envelopes or messages may be scanned and the envelopes saved for return to the customer with the finished prints and negatives. If the envelopes are scanned at the time of removing the film, the reproducible file may be electronically stored and retrieved during printing of the photographic prints on which the information is to be printed. Various alternative steps in the process are disclosed.

Abstract: A cartridge (10) of web material includes a hollow cartridge body (14) having an exit slit (26); a strip or sheet (12) of web material enclosed in the cartridge body to be withdrawn from or inserted into the cartridge body via the exit slit; at least one magnetic member (38, 40; 130; 172-178; 240; 290,292) carried on the strip or sheet; and a magnetically actuated visual indicator (36) mounted on the cartridge body adjacent the exit slit to be actuated by the magnetic member when the strip or sheet is withdrawn from or inserted into the cartridge body.

Abstract: A filmstrip which has a substantially transparent magnetic layer is loaded into a camera. Successive sections of the filmstrip are moved inside the camera to locate corresponding sections of the magnetic layer adjacent an inside face of a magnetic-film-write-on portion of the camera. A hand held stylus is manually moved on an outside face of the magnetic-film-write-on portion, opposite the inside face, to record hand-generated information magnetically on the magnetic layer.

Abstract: A password protected camera system, comprising a camera incorporating, means for receiving user entered passwords for controlling access to the camera's features and to the film cartridge is disclosed. The camera incorporates circuitry for writing and reading password data to and from the camera film to control access to the film when it is in the camera and when it is removed from the camera. Different levels of access are provided either by multiple passwords, one for each level, or by single passwords, where multilevel access is granted with one password while another password may limit access to just one level.

Abstract: A very high field micro roller magnetic recorder of 20 poles having an outside diameter of 0,130" is disclosed, as is the method for making such a micro roller magnetic recorder. The phrase, "very high field", as applied to the micro roller recorder of the present invention is defined as a surface field intensity of at least 1000 Oe. Rather than mounting discrete magnets around the periphery of a non magnetic drum in fabricating a magnetic roller recorder, the present invention teaches use of a magnetizable cylinder of high energy magnetic material, such as NdFeB, magnetized to saturation in a pattern of circumferentially located poles by use of a fixture fabricated as follows. A solid conducive cylinder is slotted in the axial direction to generate a serpentine conductive pattern to which lead wires are connected. The cylinder is potted in epoxy, and the center bored out to accept the small diameter high magnetic energy roller to be magnetized.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator with position sensor includes a core made of a soft magnetic material, a permanent magnet located adjacent the core for providing a magnetic field in the core and an electrically conductive drive coil wrapped about a first portion of the core. The drive coil is supported such that the drive coil can move along the first portion of the core. An electrically conductive sense coil is wrapped about a second portion of the core and fixed relative to the core such that there is substantially no relative movement between the sense coil and the core. When an electrical current is passed through the drive coil, the drive coil moves along the first portion of the core and an electrical current is induced in the sense coil which indicates the position of the drive coil relative to the first portion of the core.