Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system stores containers, typically containing biological or chemical samples, at ultra-low temperatures, i.e., from about ?50° C. to about ?90° C., preferably about ?80° C. under normal operating conditions. Dry gas air flows are used to reduce moisture and the consequential frost within the freezer compartment. A custom insulated door is provided with an access module and a tube picking compartment as well as servo motors for controlling a robot within the ultra-low temperature freezer compartment. The robot automatically places sample storage containers in stationary storage racks within the freezer compartment. Magnetic couplings are used to transmit mechanical power from outside of the freezer compartment to the robot inside of the freezer compartment. The robot has a simplified mechanical configuration. The custom door can be readily attached to standard freezer bodies.

Abstract: A method of supplying photofinishing services includes the steps of supplying a memory device for a digital camera to a photographer; the photographer taking and storing a plurality of digital images on the memory device; the photographer delivering the memory device containing the digital images to a photofinisher; the photofinisher producing prints of the digital images and returning the prints to the photographer; and the photofinisher erasing the digital images from the memory device and supplying the memory device to another photographer to repeat the steps of taking images and delivering the memory device to the photofinisher.

Abstract: A thermal printer and method for operating a thermal printer are provided. The thermal printer has a receiver medium path leading past a print nip between a print head and platen. A processor causes an urge roller to move the receiver medium in the forward direction until a trailing edge of the receiver medium is moved to a point where reverse movement of the receiver medium causes the receiver medium to located against a stop surface. The processor then enables the receiver medium to travel in the reverse direction to engage the stop surface wherein the receiver medium path guides the receiver medium along a path of known length from the stop surface to a print line at the print nip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically forwarding digital images to a service provider. The apparatus includes a reading device for reading said digital images from a removable digital storage medium and a communication device for automatically forwarding said digital image data over a network to said service provider when a predetermined criteria is met. The service provider may send transmission to the communication device so as to activate the apparatus for transmitting digital images. The apparatus has a unique ID known by the service provider which can be used to identify the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for providing human visible, detectable and/or readable information on an image side of a print. The human visible, detectable and/or readable information is provided in a manner that is not obtrusive, and positioned in such a way that it is unlikely to obscure any important details of the image. In the system and method of the invention, image pixel data is modified in accordance with predetermined parameters to create a slight variation from the original image pixels. The results is an obtrusive addition of text or information to an image which is provided on a print without disrupting the aesthetic appreciation of the image and which blends in with the image.

Abstract: A method and system of placing information on a photosensitive film having a magnetic layer provides for the storage of image data on the magnetic layer of the film in a manner which permits the image data to be easily recalled and displayed on a monitor. The system and method can utilize an enabled Advance Photo System camera which is capable of reading digital data magnetically encoded on film. The information can be compressed and written onto the film at the time of film processing. The enabled Advanced Photo System camera reads this information and is connectable to a host computer for permitting the transfer of the information from the camera to the computer. At the computer, the digital image data can be decompressed and viewed by a user for downstream manipulation of the images.

Abstract: A film leader comprising a main leader portion having a pair of parallel straight edges between which the main leader portion has a constant width, an extreme end portion extending from the main leader portion and having a pair of longitudinal edges between which the extreme end portion only has a width that is smaller than the width of the main leader portion; and a weakened fold-line, is characterized in that the weakened fold-line completely divides the main leader portion and the extreme end portion and is uniformly inclined from one of the parallel straight edges of the main leader portion to the other parallel straight edge of the main leader portion to thus form a forward-most inclined straight edge of the main leader portion when the extreme end portion is folded totally onto the main leader portion along the fold-line.

Abstract: A digital image processor that establishes a boundary level of acceptable hardcopy print quality level based on selected image print size and printing magnification and provides a warning to the user prior to generation of the hardcopy print that alerts the user when the determined print image quality will be unsatisfactory.

Abstract: A rental camera is to be used by a customer for picture-taking and is intended to be returned to a lender to unload exposed film and replace with fresh film. The rental camera comprises a camera body having an exterior-to-interior through-hole; and operable means supported within the camera body for movement between a first position for deterring unloading exposed film and replacing with fresh film and a second position for not deterring unloading exposed film and replacing with fresh film, and having an engageable portion accessible via the through-hole when the operable means is in the first position for an auxiliary key to engage to move the operable means to the second position when the auxiliary key is rotated.

Abstract: A rental camera is to be used by a customer for picture-taking and is intended to be returned to a lender to unload exposed film and replace with fresh film.

Abstract: A single-use camera comprises a light-tight film casing and a film cassette located inside the casing. The film cassette includes a rotatable film spool with an end portion engageable to rotate the spool, and an active light lock with an end portion engageable to rotate the light lock open to permit film movement out of and into the cassette interior and closed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior. The casing has separate weakened areas covering the end portion of the spool and the end portion of the light lock which can be entirely pierced to make respective perforations in the casing to permit individual access to the end portions to engage them for rotating the spool and for rotating the light lock closed and, simultaneously, to destroy the casing to prevent it from being reused.

Abstract: A method of operating a photographic camera to record data in correspondence with a picture frame includes activating a flash to provide illumination for exposing the picture frame onto a photographic film. Sensing is performed to determine if light generated by the flash is reflected from a subject in the picture frame. Data is recorded in association with the picture frame indicating if reflected light is sensed. In accordance with a method of operating a photographic printer to print a negative frame, the reflected flash illumination data associated with the negative frame is read. An appropriate exposure for the negative frame is selected based at least in part on the presence or absence of the sensed reflected flash illumination.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for detecting rotor position for improved motor start-up. The apparatus detects a target equilibrium position of the rotor using a fixed gain amplifier, window comparator and slope detector circuitry. The window comparator circuitry qualifies the peaks of the back EMF signal. Slope detector circuitry pinpoints the peak of the back EMF signal qualified by the window comparator. The technique utilizes the steps of energizing the phase windings of said motor, detecting the target equilibrium position, and then accelerating the motor through a commutation process.

Abstract: When a rotary-actuator voice coil type disk drive is powered down the actuator arm is moved to a parking position against an I.D. stop by a disk spindle motor back EMF, resulting from the spinning down of the spindle motor. Current is applied by the back EMF through a delay circuit to a latch arm voice coil on one end of a latch arm and forming part of a magnetic circuit including a drive permanent magnet on a ferrous base plate and a ferrous upper plate. Resultant movement of the latch arm overcomes a spring bias of a torsion spring extending between the base plate and pivoted latch arm normally keeping the latch arm in an unlatched position. A latch permanent magnet extends from the other end of the latch arm and is brought into spaced proximity, but not contact, with a ferrous member extending from the actuator arm so that the magnetic force therebetween holds the actuator arm against the I.D. stop in latched position to withstand high shock loadings.

Abstract: A hard disk drive for a computer system including a head disk assembly with a disk platter of approximately one-and-eight-tenths-inch in diameter capable of storing more than forty megabytes. In an embodiment, data tracks on each data surface of the platter are spaced at approximately 2,558 tracks per inch and each data track has approximately 36,000 flux changes per inch. An actuator positions a pair of read/write heads on each platter surface using a voice coil motor to position the heads over a cylinder. A magnetic actuator latch attaches to another magnet on the actuator and locks the heads in a parked position at the innermost diameter of the platter. A spindle motor rotates the platter at approximately 5,400 revolutions per minute. A base plate, with a gasketed surface and a raised lip, hermetically seals with a cover to the base plate such that the platter, the actuator, the actuator latch, and the spindle motor are all contained within. The cover carries a breather filter and recirculating air filter.

Abstract: A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a photographic film strip. Information exchange between various users of the film such as, for example, the film manufacturer, the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher, is facilitated by plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film that begin and end within individual frames. Each track is dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of parameters relating to the corresponding frame, for easy access by a particular one of the various users. Each user has the capability to read and/or write information in self-identifying data fields in the corresponding tracks.

Abstract: A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a photographic film strip. Information exchange between various users of the film such as, for example, the film manufacturer, the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher, is facilitated by plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film that begin and end within individual frames. Each track is dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of parameters relating to the corresponding frame, for easy access by a particular one of the various users. Each user has the capability to read and/or write informaton in self-identifying data fields in the corresponding tracks.

Abstract: A photographic camera to be used with a film cassette having a locking member movable between respective locking and non-locking positions for arresting and releasing a film exposure status indicator in any one of several exposure status positions, is characterized in that a loading chamber is configured to receive the film cassette with the indicator in at least one of its exposure status positions and actuation means is located in the loading chamber for moving the locking member from its locking position to its non-locking position responsive to insertion of the cassette into the loading chamber and for moving the locking member from the non-locking position to the locking position responsive to removal of the cassette from the loading chamber.

Abstract: A film cassette comprises a spool supported within a lighttight shell for rotation to thrust a filmstrip coiled about the spool to the exterior of the shell whether the filmstrip is unexposed or is only partly exposed, and a film exposure status indicator secured to the spool for rotation from an unexposed position to respective partly exposed and fully exposed position for providing visible indications that the filmstrip is only partly exposed or is substantially exposed. The spool has three spaced detents arranged at separate radial locations for respective engagement to lock the indicator in its unexposed, partly exposed and fully exposed positions. The shell has a radial slot in which a locking member is movable between a locking position for individually engaging any one of the detents and a non-locking position for disengaging any one of the detents.

Abstract: A series scene indication is magnetically recorded adjacent appropriate frames in a strip of film by an autowind camera whenever it is in rapidfire mode. The camera includes a magnetic head positioned to record data in a magnetic layer of the film strip as the strip is transported by a take-up reel, and a processor which intelligently senses when the camera is in a rapidfire mode and instructs recording electronics to energize the magnetic head in order to record the series scene indication on the film strip.