Abstract: The invention is an expandable magnetron sputtering system that does not require an external vacuum chamber and has a valveless, continuously-open, straight through, air-to-air sputtering path. The system is based on connectable cathode modules and anode modules that each have an opposed pair of apertures. The modules themselves may beneficially serve as part of an integral vacuum chamber. Using vacuum-tight connectors, the modules are connected end-to-end with their apertures aligned to form the vacuum-tight sputtering path. Differential vacuum entries are provided on opposite sides of the sputtering path.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a credit card printer apparatus which includes inkless fingerprinting directly on a medium, such as a check or credit card slip. The printer can include a housing or bed having one or more replaceable cartridges with a pair of reservoir resilient foam cell pads having a semi-sealed surface. A platen roller is movable across the bed to both print the information from a credit card and to deposit fluid from the pads for a subsequent fingerprint development. Generally, the pads can be resiliently mounted to the bed to permit a pressure contact of the respective pads with the surface of the medium.