Abstract: A thermal processor including a rotatable hollow drum including a drum core having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a radiant heater positioned within an interior of the drum and configured to provide radiant energy to heat the drum, wherein at least one radiant energy absorption characteristic of the interior of the drum varies across its longitudinal width Wd so that selected areas of the interior of the drum absorb more radiant energy than other areas of the interior of the drum so as to compensate for non-uniform heat loss from the drum and to provide the exterior surface of the drum core at a desired temperature which is substantially uniform across the longitudinal width of the drum core.

Abstract: A touch panel module including a flexible transparent substrate, a transparent conductive film disposed on a first surface of the flexible transparent substrate, a conductive paste disposed on a first portion of the transparent conductive film, an optically clear adhesive disposed on a first and second portion of the conductive paste and a second portion of the transparent conductive film, and a cover lens disposed on the optically clear adhesive, where a third portion of the transparent conductive film and a third portion of the conductive paste are not covered by the optically clear adhesive. A touch panel including such a touch panel module, where the touch panel does not include an anisotropic conductive film.

Abstract: Methods of patterning metal nanowire containing transparent conductive films using laser diodes, where the films comprise a radiation absorbing substance, such as an infrared absorbing substance or an ultraviolet absorbing substance. The use of laser diodes can decrease the time and costs associated with patterning transparent conductive films comprising nanowires, such as silver nanowires.

Abstract: A thermal processor including a rotatable hollow drum including a drum core having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a radiant heater positioned within an interior of the drum and configured to provide radiant energy to heat the drum, wherein at least one radiant energy absorption characteristic of the interior of the drum varies across its longitudinal width Wd so that selected areas of the interior of the drum absorb more radiant energy than other areas of the interior of the drum so as to compensate for non-uniform heat loss from the drum and to provide the exterior surface of the drum core at a desired temperature which is substantially uniform across the longitudinal width of the drum core.

Abstract: A thermal processor including a rotatable hollow drum including a drum core having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a radiant heater positioned within an interior of the drum and configured to provide radiant energy to heat the drum, wherein at least one radiant energy absorption characteristic of the interior of the drum varies across its longitudinal width Wd so that selected areas of the interior of the drum absorb more radiant energy than other areas of the interior of the drum so as to compensate for non-uniform heat loss from the drum and to provide the exterior surface of the drum core at a desired temperature which is substantially uniform across the longitudinal width of the drum core.

Abstract: A thermal processor including a rotatable hollow drum including a drum core having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a radiant heater positioned within an interior of the drum and configured to provide radiant energy to heat the drum, wherein at least one radiant energy absorption characteristic of the interior of the drum varies across its longitudinal width Wd so that selected areas of the interior of the drum absorb more radiant energy than other areas of the interior of the drum so as to compensate for non-uniform heat loss from the drum and to provide the exterior surface of the drum core at a desired temperature which is substantially uniform across the longitudinal width of the drum core.

Abstract: A photothermographic material having a Dmin and Dmax optical density. The material includes a support having hereon one or more thermally-developable imaging layers which are developable to produce an image when the photothermographic material is thermally processed; and an area disposed along a length of at least one edge of the photothermographic material, wherein the area has an optical density less than the Dmax and greater than the Dmin of the photothermographic material.

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed in which an image is generated on a line-by-line basis with a printhead that is comprised of a plurality of individually activated resistor elements along its length. Uniformity of image intensity is achieved by carefully controlling an ambient temperature of the printing head. This control of ambient temperature is achieved with a cooling fin that is thermally coupled to the printhead. A duct surrounds the cooling fin and air is blown through the duct to transfer heat from the cooling fin. The shapes of the cooling fin and the duct are such that the printhead is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature along its length. A unit cross-sectional area of the duct and a unit surface area of the cooling fin vary along the length of the printhead in a accordance with the expression: Q=unit surface area of cooling fin/unit cross-sectional area of duct=k/L.sup.n, where k is a constant, L is a distance along the length of the printhead an n is a positive exponential power.

Abstract: A continuous tone thermal printing apparatus of the type having a printing station and a receiver drive station. The drive station repeatedly advances receiver back and forth through the printing station in conjunction with the advance of successive thermal transfer donor dye colors on a carrier web through the printing station to successively print the overlying different color image separations. The drive station preferably comprises a motor driven capstan roller mounted to bear against one surface of the receiver and a pinch roller mounted to bear and exert pressure against the other surface of the receiver and to press the receiver against the capstan roller and define a nip therebetween.