Abstract: Systems for monitoring fluidics in reagent cartridges and related methods. An apparatus includes a system includes a reagent cartridge receptacle and a flow cell assembly. The apparatus includes a reagent cartridge receivable within the reagent cartridge receptacle and adapted to carry the flow cell assembly. The reagent cartridge includes a reagent reservoir fluidically coupled to the flow cell assembly. The apparatus includes a sensor module adapted to be positioned adjacent the reagent reservoir. The sensor module is adapted to generate a signal associated with a volume of reagent contained within the reagent reservoir.

Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for constructing and utilizing a cartridge having one or more active warming elements. A cartridge can include a housing, an active warming element, and a power source connector. The housing can define a chamber storing a volume of reagent therein. The active warming element can be embedded within the housing and positioned proximate to the chamber. The power source connector can be coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the active warming element embedded within the housing. The active warming element is to thaw the volume of reagent within the chamber responsive to providing electrical power to the power source connector.

Abstract: A droplet actuator device for conducting droplet operations is provided that comprises a substrate defines a device channel to conduct droplet operations. Electrodes are arranged proximate to the substrate. A drive circuit is connected to the electrodes. The drive circuit generates an electrode drive signal to drive the droplet operations based on a reference waveform. The electrode drive signal is partitioned into an AC modulated drive cycle formed of sub-cycles. The electrode drive signal switches, during the sub-cycle, between at least first and second states where a degree of modulation with respect to the reference waveform forms a balanced modulation pattern.

Abstract: A droplet actuator device for conducting droplet operations is provided that comprises a substrate defines a device channel to conduct droplet operations. Electrodes are arranged proximate to the substrate. A drive circuit is connected to the electrodes. The drive circuit generates an electrode drive signal to drive the droplet operations based on a reference waveform. The electrode drive signal is partitioned into an AC modulated drive cycle formed of sub-cycles. The electrode drive signal switches, during the sub-cycle, between at least first and second states where a degree of modulation with respect to the reference waveform forms a balanced modulation pattern.

Abstract: An electrode drive and sensing circuit and method are provided for a fluidics droplet actuator apparatus. The circuit comprises a droplet operations electrode. An electrowetting (EW) driver is connected to the droplet operations electrode by a signal path. The EW driver is to supply an electrowetting drive signal component to the droplet operations electrode. A capacitance measurement (CM) device is connected to the droplet operations electrode by the signal path. The CM device is to sense a sensing signal component indicative of at least one of a presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations electrode. A first coupling circuit is positioned between the EW driver and the droplet operations electrode along the signal path. A second coupling circuit is positioned between the CM device and the same droplet operations electrode along the signal path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for token authentication analyze token data over one or more read operations to compute a characteristic master signature for the token. This can be accomplished, for example by analyzing the token data statistically to compute a characteristic signature for the token. Similar techniques can be used to generate a subsequent signature that can be verified against the original characteristic signature to authenticate the token. For example, a signature can be generated on a per use basis and that signature verified against the characteristic signature to validate the token upon use.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting forged magnetic stripe data through relative variations in flux transition location are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for detecting forged magnetic stripe data. The method provides for reading a magnetic strip multiple times to obtain multiple signatures and then generating a signature mask and weight based on the multiple signatures. These signatures are then compared with a known authentic signature. Based on the comparison results, a forged magnetic stripe may be detected. Additional embodiments focus on variations in the placement of the flux data transitions on the magnetic slurry rather than on the noise inherent in the slurry.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting forged magnetic stripe data through relative variations in flux transition location are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for detecting forged magnetic stripe data. The method provides for reading a magnetic strip multiple times to obtain multiple signatures and then generating a signature mask and weight based on the multiple signatures. These signatures are then compared with a known authentic signature. Based on the comparison results, a forged magnetic stripe may be detected. Additional embodiments focus on variations in the placement of the flux data transitions on the magnetic slurry rather than on the noise inherent in the slurry.

Abstract: A signaling method for a pen driver circuit interface is embodied in a signal interface between a controller circuit and a pen driver circuit for a printer. At least one signal of the interface is omitted; and the pen driver circuit is modified to process a combination of signals including at least one of the signals on the signal interface to provide information pertaining to the at least one omitted signal. According to a preferred method, the combination of signals are processed when data is not being transferred via the signal interface to provide a pen firing control signal for the printer such as a warm enable signal or a fire enable signal.

Abstract: A signaling method for a pen driver circuit interface is embodied in a signal interface between a controller circuit and a pen driver circuit for a printer. At least one signal of the interface is omitted; and the pen driver circuit is modified to process a combination of signals including at least one of the signals on the signal interface to provide information pertaining to the at least one omitted signal. According to a preferred method, the combination of signals are processed when data is not being transferred via the signal interface to provide a pen firing control signal for the printer such as a warm enable signal or a fire enable signal.

Abstract: A signaling method for a pen driver circuit interface is embodied in a signal interface between a controller circuit and a pen driver circuit for a printer. At least one signal of the interface is omitted; and the pen driver circuit is modified to process a combination of signals including at least one of the signals on the signal interface to provide information pertaining to the at least one omitted signal. According to a preferred method, the combination of signals are processed when data is not being transferred via the signal interface to provide a pen firing control signal for the printer such as a warm enable signal or a fire enable signal.

Abstract: A displaceable print cartridge chute for an inkjet printer. The chute holding the print cartridges is displaceable from the carriage that sweeps the cartridges relative to the media during printing. The chute can be moved from a printing position engaged with the carriage to a service position adjacent a side of the printer so as to facilitate installation and removal of the cartridges through the side rather than the top of the printer. Because cartridges are serviced through the side, a printer incorporating the displaceable print cartridge chute can be stacked with other electronic equipment.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing machine, an ink drop positional error correction apparatus includes a position extrapolator that is responsive to conventional position encoder pulses and uses difference equations to predict future carriage positions by mapping a position profile of the traveling carriage to a polynomial equation of an arbitrary order for generating a series of nozzle firing subpulses that account for non constant carriage velocity. A fire pulse generator responsive to the subpulses further adjusts the firing time of the printing machine nozzles to correct for the carriage velocity induced ink drop positional errors for both non constant and constant carriage velocity conditions.

Abstract: A print cartridge latching mechanism for a displaceable print cartridge chute used in an inkjet printer. The chute holding the print cartridges is displaceable from the carriage that sweeps the cartridges relative to the media during printing. The chute can be moved from a printing position engaged with the carriage to a service position adjacent a side of the printer so as to facilitate installation and removal of the cartridges through the side rather than the top of the printer. The print cartridge latching mechanism is operable through an access opening in the side of the printer. The mechanism latches the chute to the carriage, aligns the print cartridges in proper position for printing, and maintains sufficient force to ensure good electrical connection between the printer control electronics and the printhead.

Abstract: A data compression system and method for compressing data of an input data stream having field widths for holding data values of a data set. Each field width is represented by a field value. The data compression system includes an adaptive processor having an encode module for encoding the input signal and dynamically changing the field widths at various positions in the data stream. This minimizes a storage space required to represent the entire data set. A decode module can be included for decoding the compressed format and producing an output signal having a lossless representation of the input signal.

Abstract: A printer architecture provides for significant reduction in overall printer height, allowing front panel of the printer to be used for print cartridge, paper jam, paper load, and print retrieval access. The input paper tray is placed above the output paper tray, behind the scanning print cartridges. The print bar is located adjacent the front panel, allowing the user to easily access paper jams and the print cartridges. This placement of the print bar also facilitates stacking the printer in a racked system or in a consumer entertainment system to perform these necessary functions without removal of the printer from the stack. The output tray is mounted for sliding motion, so that the user can access the printed output upon completion without having to leave an extended paper output during printing. The printing mechanism is located on a slide drawer to allow the user access to load the input tray.

Abstract: A multipass pseudo random masking system includes N number of sequenced pseudo random number generators each generating X number of randomly arranged individual pixel masking values to randomize the masking order of Z number of pixels in a given swath of image data to be printed by an n-pass print mode printer. A sequencer responsive to a print command initiates at least one n-pass printing sequence by the printer and includes an initializer that produces a seed value that is loaded into the individual N number of generators to initialize their sequencing at the same masking value so they produce the same repetitive sequence of X number of individual pixel masking values during each given swath of the printing sequence.

Abstract: Error diffusion apparatus processes and stores image data on a sub-column basis for pixels below and to the left of a current pixel along a common diagonal. Error data is diffused on a pixel by pixel basis relative to a next pixel right of the current pixel until the left most sub-column of pixels has a height corresponding to the height of the total number of nozzles in a single column of an inkjet printhead. In this manner, error diffusion is accomplished on the fly with buffer memory storage capacity being substantially reduced relative to other error diffusion processes.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring the refractive index of an optical film as it is being deposited on a substrate. The film is illuminated by a source of light at a wavelength that is outside and less than the reflectance band of the coating. If the refractive index of the film is initially matched to the refractive index of the substrate and has no abrupt changes in its gradient-index profile, reflectance from the surface of the film can be detected and measured. In the absence of interference fringing from internal reflections, surface reflectance of the interface of the film with the surrounding air or vacuum is closely related to the refractive index of the film at its surface. Thus, surface reflection is monitored to provide a control signal to the deposition apparatus to conform the refractive index of material being deposited to a predetermined refractive index profile specified for the desired optical film.