Abstract: Some embodiments provide a microdisplay integrated circuit (IC), a substantially transparent protective cover coupled to the microdisplay IC, and a base coupled to the microdisplay IC. Thermal expansion characteristics of the base may be substantially similar to thermal expansion characteristics of the protective cover. According to some embodiments, at least one set of imaging elements is fabricated on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a base is affixed to a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate to generate substantially negligible mechanical stress between the semiconductor substrate and the base.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a microdisplay integrated circuit (IC), a substantially transparent protective cover coupled to the microdisplay IC, and a base coupled to the microdisplay IC. Thermal expansion characteristics of the base may be substantially similar to thermal expansion characteristics of the protective cover. According to some embodiments, at least one set of imaging elements is fabricated on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a base is affixed to a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate to generate substantially negligible mechanical stress between the semiconductor substrate and the base.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a microdisplay integrated circuit (IC), a substantially transparent protective cover coupled to the microdisplay IC, and a base coupled to the microdisplay IC. Thermal expansion characteristics of the base may be substantially similar to thermal expansion characteristics of the protective cover. According to some embodiments, at least one set of imaging elements is fabricated on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a base is affixed to a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate to generate substantially negligible mechanical stress between the semiconductor substrate and the base.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a microdisplay integrated circuit (IC), a substantially transparent protective cover coupled to the microdisplay IC, and a base coupled to the microdisplay IC. Thermal expansion characteristics of the base may be substantially similar to thermal expansion characteristics of the protective cover. According to some embodiments, at least one set of imaging elements is fabricated on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a base is affixed to a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate to generate substantially negligible mechanical stress between the semiconductor substrate and the base.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a microdisplay integrated circuit (IC), a substantially transparent protective cover coupled to the microdisplay IC, and a base coupled to the microdisplay IC. Thermal expansion characteristics of the base may be substantially similar to thermal expansion characteristics of the protective cover. According to some embodiments, at least one set of imaging elements is fabricated on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a base is affixed to a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate to generate substantially negligible mechanical stress between the semiconductor substrate and the base.

Abstract: A plurality of different materials which are required for use in a process and which are to be kept separate up to a predetermined stage in the process are supplied with each different material being encapsulated within a plurality of discrete shells, the shells serving to keep the different materials separate from each other. The shells for the different materials are distinguishable from each other so as to permit subsequent sorting of the shells into batches of shells all containing the same material.

Abstract: It is known to use the leading edge of a film strip to guide the strip through processing apparatus. However, this leading edge may be damaged as the film is loaded into and unloaded out of a camera. Described herein is a film unloading device in which a curved guillotine blade (240) is used to provide a newly cut leading edge by which a film strip can be guided through processing apparatus. The guillotine blade (240) is reciprocated between a rest and an operative position by a motor which operates in one direction only. The blade (240) is mounted on a rotating drum (250) by means of a crank pin (258), the drum being rotated through 180.degree., in the direction indicated by arrow 252, to move the blade (240) from its rest to its operative position and then through a further 180.degree. to move the blade (240) back to its rest position.

Abstract: A plurality of different materials which are required for use in a process and which are to be kept separate up to a predetermined stage in the process are supplied with each different material being encapsulated within a plurality of discrete shells, the shells serving to keep the different materials separate from each other. The shells for the different materials are distinguishable from each other so as to permit subsequent sorting of the shells into batches of shells all containing the same material.

Abstract: A photographic film processor comprises six juxtaposed processing tanks, a rack mechanism in each tank operable to circulate the film within processing solution in the respective tank for a certain time. A switch mechanism operable to direct the film from being circulated at the end of that certain time and to direct it to a transfer mechanism by which it is passed to the rack mechanism of the next tank for circulation in that tank. The penultimate tank is a washing tank and there is a transfer mechanism for transferring the film from that washing tank to a dryer which is the last processing station. The film is driven for circulation within and for transfer from one to the next of the six tanks by a first motor which drives a common shaft. A clutch couples or decouples the common shaft to a shorter coaxial shaft by which the film is circulated within the washing tank.

Abstract: Described herein is a portable film processing arrangement which is housed in a case-like receptacle comprising a base portion and a lid portion. Base portion 10 houses a plurality of processing units 30 which accommodate spiral holders onto which film to be processed can be wound automatically. Lid portion 14 houses a plurality of containers 18,19,20 which contain processing chemicals for processing the film. The chemicals are fed to the processing units 30 from the containers 18,19,20 as required by valves which are controlled by an on-board computer in a control section 45 located in the base portion 10 between the processing units 30.

Abstract: In some types of processing apparatus, there is a minimum length of film strip which can be processed. To overcome this problem, several film strips may be spliced together to provide the desired length and/or a leader attached to the leading edge of the film strip to guide it through the apparatus for processing. Described herein is a loading device which removes the need for splicing and attachment of leaders to the film strip prior to processing. The device allows a film to be automatically removed from its cassette and loaded into processing apparatus and comprises a housing in which a cassette unloading station (12), a film delivery station (14) connected to processing apparatus, a storage station (16), a film length measuring station (18), a direct film loading station (22), and a cutting station (24) are arranged. Pairs of transport rollers (26, 28) and (30, 32) are provided to transport the film through the device.

Abstract: It is well known to use a transport belt to transport material being processed through photographic processing apparatus. In some arrangements, water is used to hold photographic material against the belt using surface tension. However, other means are needed to apply processing solution to the sensitized surface of the material being processed. Described herein is an arrangement in which the transport belt (10) is used to both transport the material (32,34) through the apparatus and to apply processing solution (18) to the sensitized surface.

Abstract: It is known to use infra-red densitometry to measure the variations in the optical density of photographic material. In photographic processing apparatus, it is important that the photographic material is transferred from one part of the apparatus to another at precisely the correct time to prevent damage to the material. Described herein is a method and apparatus for controlling the transfer or switching of photographic material from one processing tank to another of photographic processing apparatus during processing of the material. A threshold detector (30) is used to produce an output signal (40) indicative of a change in infra-red density of the photographic material. The output signal (40) is then used to control the transfer or switching of the material from one processing tank to another.

Abstract: A method for making a photographic silver halide developer composition, preferably immediately before use, by electrolysing an aqueous medium containing a developing agent precursor composition which forms or releases a silver halide developing agent at an electrode upon electrolysis.

Abstract: It is well-known to use grooves to guide photographic material through processing apparatus. However, there is a tendency for debris to accumulate in the bottom of the grooves. Furthermore, the machining operation needed to form such grooves is complicated in particular where bends and changes in direction are required. Described herein is a guiding arrangement in which pairs of parallel plates (20, 22, 24, 26) are used to define a gap (30) through which material (40) is transported. The arrangement comprises an upper plate pair (20, 22) which is arranged to be offset with respect to a lower plate pair (24, 26), the plates in each pair being parallel to one another.

Abstract: In some types of processing apparatus, there is a minimum length of film strip which can be processed. To overcome this problem, several film strips may be spliced together to provide the desired length and/or a leader attached to the leading edge of the film strip to guide it through the apparatus for processing. Described herein is a loading device (10) for photographic processing apparatus which allows a length of film (102) to be unloaded from its cassette (100) in a film unloading station, its length checked at a film length checking station (18), and passed to a storage station (16) prior to being directed to the processing apparatus. Any length of film not exceeding the minimum length requirement for the processing apparatus can be removed from the storage station thereby avoiding film jams because the film is too short to pass from one transport station to another in the processing apparatus.

Abstract: Described herein is a film extraction unit for use in a loading device for photographic processing apparatus. The unit comprises an unloading station (12) into which a film cassette (100) is positioned with the film leader extending therefrom to lie between rollers (26, 28). Roller (26) is a pinch roller which engages with drive roller (28) to transport the film out of its cassette. Drive roller (28) is driven by a motor via a clutch arrangement so that once all the film (102) has been extracted from the cassette (100), the clutch will slip allowing the motor to continue to rotate whilst the drive roller (28) becomes stationary, thereby preventing damage to the film (102).

Abstract: Scanners for use in photofinishing operations are well-known. However, many known devices suffer from the problem of being bulky and/or having a limited range of functions. Described herein is a scanner (10) formed by a bundle of optical fibres which enables information on a film (12) to be determined. The bundle of optical fibres is divided into two sets, one which scans the film (12) through slit 1 for information relating to frame (20), and a second set which scans the film (12) through slits (2, 3, 4, 5) for other information such as DX codes (24), frame numbers or sprocket holes (26) contained in the edge (22) of the film (12). Information from the film (12) is passed to a computer (30) via an interface (28) and the information derived is used to actuate means (32).

Abstract: The critical time in photographic processing apparatus is the time from when the first part of photographic material enters the apparatus to when the last part leaves the apparatus. During this time there are periods of time in which no processing takes place, for example, as the material is passed from one stage to the next. Described herein is a processing unit which minimizes the periods of time during which no processing is taking place. The unit comprises a processing tank (6) having processing solution (4) retained therein. Material (S) is fed into the tank (6) along a path (2), and around a looped path (8) until reaches a point (10) at which the material (S) can be deflected out of the tank (6), along path (14) and into a further processing tank (16), or can be deflected along path (12) so that further processing can take place in tank (6) prior to being passed on to the next stage.