Abstract: A face mask for a user having a face, a nose and a mouth, the face mask including a covering including a periphery, a top end, a bottom end, the covering configured to cover at least a portion of the nose of the user and at least a portion of the mouth of the user, wherein the covering is configured substantially according to the shape and size of the nose of the user and the mouth of the user; a first opening disposed at a first location of the covering; a second opening disposed at a second location of the covering; a first filter configured for covering the first opening; a second filter configured for covering the second opening; and a seal disposed on the periphery.

Abstract: An image producing device (10) including a digital camera an area image sensor (20) disposed at an image plane for receiving the image of a subject (21), and producing a digitized image thereof. A CPU (32a) is adapted to direct the output to a variety of storage mediums. A printer (30) is connected to the CPU (32a) for producing a hard copy (39) of the digital image as shown on an image display (38b). The integral digital camera adjustably; directable from 0° to 360° in a horizontal plane and selectively directed at a sheet display (54) or at a subject (21) for a portrait.

Abstract: A printer and method of generating hard copy comprising only one ejection step from either a thermal printing mechanism using one print head or a thermal printing mechanism using first and second thermal printing heads. The thermal printing mechanism with one printing head operates bilaterally. Alternatively, the thermal printing mechanism simultaneously operates dual thermal printing heads with only one ejection for release of a thermally sensitive hard copy output media.

Abstract: A multi-functional scanner and method of assembling same. In this regard, the invention provides a combination scanning, editing and display apparatus contained in a single housing. The scanner is configured as a flatbed scanner with a display screen mounted in a cover belonging to the scanner. The display screen is touch sensitive for editing images and electronically inputting text. The scanner has electronic input connections such as CD disk, CDR disk, DVD disk, floppy, electronic memory cards, and smart cards to display images directly from these devices or store images directly in memory. The scanner is capable of interrogating an output device (e.g., printer) that may be connected to the scanner for determining type of output device and format of output.

Abstract: Thermal printer with bi-directional print head movement and method thereof. The invention comprises a more time efficient thermal printing mechanism (100) including an assembly of one thermal print head (111) or a first thermal print head (11a) and a second thermal print head (11b). Either of the print heads being adapted with at least one universal bi-directional stepping motor (121) controlling the movement of the thermal printing head (111) or one universal bi-directional stepping motor (222) controlling the movement of the first thermal printing head (11a) and the second thermal printing head (11b). The invention also comprises a method of generating a hard copy (113) comprising only one ejection step from either the thermal printing mechanism (100) using one print head (111) or the thermal printing mechanism (200) using the first thermal printing head (11a) and the second thermal printing head (11b).

Abstract: Standard array, programmable image forming process. The process includes the steps of providing or forming a standardized array of pixel sites (16) on a surface of a substrate (12), each pixel site (16) including at least one color element (18, 20, 22) or colored sub-pixel at a predetermined location on the substrate (12), and providing or forming an opaque layer (24) over the pixel sites (16) obscuring the color elements (18,20,22) or sub-pixels thereof, the opaque layer (24) being changeable for rendering selected of the color elements (18,20,22) or sub-pixels visible for forming the image. The substrate (12) can include a paper material or a plastics film such as a transparent film, and the pixels sites (16) can be mass produced thereon by a suitable process, such as ink printing process, a thermal printing process, a laser printing process or the like.

Abstract: Thermal printer donor media element (10) with a single track of code including sequential code segments (30). The present donor media element (10) includes sequential color patches (12, 14, 16) which form multiple color groups (18) located along the length of the element (10), and the code segments (30) are arranged in corresponding repetitive groups located adjacent the color groups (18), the sequential code segments including fields of encoded data representative of at least donor media type, and color and location of successive ones of the color patches (12, 14, 16). Apparatus for detecting and reading the encoded data include a single sensor (38) and a processor (44) operable for accurately completing incomplete or incorrectly detected data.

Abstract: A protective arrangement (20, 30), method and scanner that prevent scratching of a scanning surface (11) of a scanner (15). The protective arrangement can be removably mounted on the scanning surface so as to limit or reduce access area to the scanning surface. Further, the protective arrangement is positioned on the scanning surface in a manner that permits placement of an image to be scanned, such as a document or object, between the scanning surface and the protective arrangement. The protective arrangement can be in the form of bands (20a, 20b) and/or a planar grid structure (30) which can be removably attached to a body of the scanner. The protective arrangement can also define at least one opening that permits manipulation of the image to be scanned to a desired position on the scanning surface, while the image to be scanned is located between the protective arrangement and the scanning surface.

Abstract: A combined electronic/silver-halide image capture system is capable of transmitting electronic image data using conventional cellular telephone transmission technology. The system includes a camera unit and a cellular telephone that can be electrically coupled to the camera unit. The camera unit has both a photographic film plane and an electronic image sensor. A mechanism is provided for directing scene light from a scene to be imaged to at least one of the photographic film plane and the electronic image sensor, wherein the electronic image sensor generates analog image signals in response to incident scene light. A processing unit receives the analog image signals generated by the electronic image sensor and generates digital image signals represented of the scene to be imaged. A memory unit is provided to selectively store the digital image signals generated by the processing unit.

Abstract: A photodetector that incorporates at least two photosensitive regions (separated by at least one physical gap) of a first semiconductor type with the at least two photosensitive regions being supported on a substrate and acting as first terminals of the photodetector is improved by; adding a second semiconductor type into the physical gap(s) abutting the at least two photosensitive regions. The second semiconductor region(s) form a barrier to the out diffusion between the at least two photosensitive regions of the first semiconductor type. Additionally, the second semiconductor type region acts as a second photodetector terminal. This improved geometry results in faster rise and fall times of the photodetector's output current by decreasing the 3-D spaces within the gap(s) between the at least two photosensitive regions which were not subjected to the presence of an E-field when unimproved photodetectors were biased into operation.

Abstract: An improved amplifier architecture for providing an output as a function of light sensed by a photodetector element where the amplifier has an input for receiving the current output from the photodetector element and an output for providing an output that is a clamped function of light sensed by the photodetector element. A feedback circuit is connected between the input and the output of the amplifier. A signal clamp connected to the output of the amplifier that clamps the output of the amplifier to a predetermined value. A summing node having first, second, and third inputs, and an output at which a signal that is a function of sensed light is provided. A first current path connected between the input to the amplifier and to a first input of the summing node for passing excess current from the input of the amplifier to the summing node when the output of the amplifier is at its clamped output.

Abstract: A camera that includes negative film and a CCD sensor for simultaneously capturing images chemically and electronically using a beam splitter. A liquid crystal display is used for viewing the captured images immediately after they are captured or for reviewing images stored in a removable memory for deletion or output. An adjustable lens and mirror which can route light from the source directly to the film when a high quality image is to be captured, so that the source light is not split between the film negative and the sensor. The images can be stored at various densities, such as 3.times.5 print or fax resolution, to match the intended output. The memory is organized into stack locations. Each stack location can store one or more images of varying densities allowing the camera to effectively use the memory. The storage status of each stack location is indicated by stack location partition flags. A full memory can also be removed and replaced.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated optical detection packaging assembly for mounting and aligning a focus and tracking photo detector array and front facet detectors to an optical read/write head. A flat elongated leadframe having a plurality of conductive fingers extending substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the leadframe and having conductive wing areas extending along the longitudinal axis to opposite ends of the leadframe provides a support for the mounting of the packaged components to the read/write head of a CD reader/writer. The conductive wing areas have alignment indicia for facilitating the aligning of a focus and tracking photo detector array, carried by the support, to the optical reader/writer. A ceramic substrate is attached to the leadframe and a focus and tracking photo detector array is attached to the ceramic substrate and to the conductive fingers of leadframe.

Abstract: Improved rise and fall times for the driving pulses used to drive the laser in a laser writer are achieved by incorporating the sources of the READ, WRITE, and BOOST pulses in one ASIC chip and by having the pulses driving only one laser current driver stage which is held on by a READ signal, but which can be turned on harder when a WRITE and/or BOOST signal is applied, thus the delay associated with turning on the laser current driver stage is eliminated permitting higher writing speeds.

Abstract: An integrated laser module is formed with a laser having an input for receiving power and an output for emitting light being positioned so as to pass through a thermally conductive lower module body such that laser emitted light passes from the lower module body, and the lower housing acts as a heat sink. An HFI shielding substrate assembly is positioned in the lower module body adjacent to the laser with the laser input passing through the shielding substrate. A laser driver circuit is connected to the input of the laser, and an injection circuit is connected to the input to the laser and EMI shielded from the driver circuit. A top module body is fixed to the lower module body to form an EMI shield package around all of the components.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor radiation detector structure is described in which a suction diode, formed by deposition of p+ on a substrate or epitaxial layer and subsequent up-diffusion during epitaxial layer deposition, surrounds the active area of the radiation detector. The suction diode removes the slow diffusion currents thereby reducing the settling time of the radiation detector to an acceptable level.

Abstract: An article of manufacture which has a substrate including electrical leads and bond pads electrically connected to the leads. Two or more integrated circuit semiconductor chips are supported on the substrate. Each of the chips includes a plurality of edges and a plurality of input/output (I/O) bond pads. A portion of the bond pads on each chip are located adjacent at least one edge of the respective chip. At least two separate sections of Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) tape electrically connect the I/O bond pads on each chip to the bond pads on the substrate. In a refinement of the invention, the sections of TAB tape each include a plurality of inner lead bond leads extending from a longitudinal (along the tape length) edge of the tape. Each inner lead bond is connectable to one of the I/O bond pads on the chips.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a conductive bump on a metal or other conductive surface or layer. A substrate is provided which includes the metal surface, a passivation layer next to the metal surface and an etch stop layer next to the passivation layer. The etch stop and passivation layers have a via therethrough which exposes a portion of the metal surface. At least one sacrificial layer is formed next to the etch stop layer. Each sacrificial layer has a via therethrough which has a larger diameter than, and which is essentially aligned with, the via in the layer located (i) next to the sacrificial layer and (ii) closer to the metal surface. The vias are filled with a conductive paste which is allowed to cure or harden. The sacrificial layer(s) is(are) removed to expose the bump.

Abstract: A large electrode bump is generated on a substrate such as a circuit board. A small electrode bump is then formed on the large bump. Preferably a barrier layer is deposited over the large bump prior to formation of the small bump. In this case the small bump is formed on the barrier layer over the large bump. In one embodiment, the small bump is formed by applying a sacrificial layer on the large bump. A window is created in the sacrificial layer. A spring may optionally be inserted in the window. The window is then filled with a conductive material. Finally, the sacrificial layer is removed to reveal the small bump. In another embodiment, a small bump is formed on a semiconductor die and a larger bump is formed on a substrate. The semiconductor die is mounted on the substrate such that the bump on the die contacts the larger bump.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductive electrode bump on a first side of a dielectric substrate. The electrode bump is located such that it is in electrical contact with one end of an electrically conductive via passing through the substrate. An electrically conductive test pad, located on a second side of the substrate, is in electrical contact with the opposite end of the via. The method includes the steps of (a)forming a layer of conductive material of generally uniform thickness onto the first side of the substrate, the layer being in a routing pattern for routing electrical signals along the first side; and (b)selectively reducing the thickness of the layer in locations defining the routing pattern to a greater extent than in the location of the bump to provide a bump, that extends from the first side at a height greater than the routing pattern.