Abstract: An electronic imaging system and method are provided that include an image capturing component, such as a digital camera, an image rendering component, such as a printer, digital projector, video screen, etc., each of which requires an intelligence circuit for operation, and an intelligence module detachably connectable to either of the imaging components for providing the required control circuit. The intelligence module includes a microprocessor and memory, and each of the image capturing and rendering components of the system includes a memory for storing operating instructions. The intelligence module downloads the operating instructions of the particular imaging component it is connected to in order to operate the same. The use of a single control module to operate a broad spectrum of digital imaging components advantageously simplifies the circuitry of the components, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances reliability by minimizing processing steps and circuit interfaces.

Abstract: A simplified electronic camera and printer imaging system is provided that includes a single intelligence circuit preferably in the form of a PC card that is detachably connectable to either the camera or the printer for converting a data stream generated by the imaging sensor of the camera into stored data when connected to the camera, and converting the stored data into printer instructions, and relaying the printer instructions to the printhead when connected to the printer. The use of a single intelligence circuit to operate both a digital camera and printer advantageously simplifies the structure of the system, reduces costs, and enhances reliability by minimizing processing steps and circuit interfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the PC card containing the intelligence circuit includes a liquid crystal display and manual controls for displaying stored or real time images, capturing or erasing images, scrolling through stored images, and commanding a printer to render the images in hard copy form.

Abstract: An electronic imaging system and method are provided that include an image capturing component, such as a digital camera, an image rendering component, such as a printer, digital projector, video screen, etc., each of which requires an intelligence circuit for operation, and an intelligence module detachably connectable to either of the imaging components for providing the required control circuit. The intelligence module includes a microprocessor and memory, and each of the image capturing and rendering components of the system includes a memory for storing operating instructions. The intelligence module downloads the operating instructions of the particular imaging component it is connected to in order to operate the same. The use of a single control module to operate a broad spectrum of digital imaging components advantageously simplifies the circuitry of the components, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances reliability by minimizing processing steps and circuit interfaces.

Abstract: An electronic imaging system and method are provided that include an image capturing component, such as a digital camera, an image rendering component, such as a printer, digital projector, video screen, etc., each of which requires an intelligence circuit for operation, and an intelligence module detachably connectable to either of the imaging components for providing the required control circuit. The intelligence module includes a microprocessor and memory, and each of the image capturing and rendering components of the system includes a memory for storing operating instructions. The intelligence module downloads the operating instructions of the particular imaging component it is connected to in order to operate the same. The use of a single control module to operate a broad spectrum of digital imaging components advantageously simplifies the circuitry of the components, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances reliability by minimizing processing steps and circuit interfaces.

Abstract: A simplified electronic camera and printer imaging system is provided that includes a single intelligence circuit preferably in the form of a PC card that is detachably connectable to either the camera or the printer for converting a data stream generated by the imaging sensor of the camera into stored data when connected to the camera, and converting the stored data into printer instructions, and relaying the printer instructions to the printhead when connected to the printer. The use of a single intelligence circuit to operate both a digital camera and printer advantageously simplifies the structure of the system, reduces costs, and enhances reliability by minimizing processing steps and circuit interfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the PC card containing the intelligence circuit includes a liquid crystal display and manual controls for displaying stored or real time images, capturing or erasing images, scrolling through stored images, and commanding a printer to render the images in hard copy form.

Abstract: A method of printing a fluorescent image superimposed on a color image. An image source captures an image and converts the image to an image file that is transferred to a controller. The controller controls operation of a print head that prints a plurality of monochrome images forming a color image when the monochrome images are superimposed in registration one upon the other. In the case of a thermal dye printer, the plurality of monochrome images are formed by selective thermal transfer of dye from yellow, magenta and cyan dye color patches to a receiver. In the case of an inkjet printer, the plurality of monochrome images are formed by selective activation of ink channels containing cyan, magenta and yellow ink so as to eject cyan, magenta and yellow ink droplets onto the receiver. In the case of the thermal dye printer, the invention provides a dye carrier containing a phosphorous dye color patch.

Abstract: A letter-box filtering circuit and a method of using the same that includes a preprocessing filter circuit and a filtering circuit to reduce or correct the round-off errors generated when displaying an image of 16:9 on a screen of 4:3 in a digital image processing. The letter-box filtering circuit can display the down sampled image based on the 16:9 image without any distortion or reduced distortion.

Abstract: An invention about inverse discrete cosine transformer of MPEG decoder is disclosed. By using the symmetry of N×N IDCT kernel matrix, the invention reduces the number of multipliers to N/4, the number of accumulators to N/2 in IDCT block without loss of decoding speed. This invention include memory parts, N/4 multipliers, M/2 accumulators and transposing means. Memory parts store absolute values of kernel matrix of inverse discrete cosine transform. N/4 multipliers receive elements of discrete cosine transform coefficient matrix or of transpose matrix of one-dimensional inverse discrete cosine transform coefficient matrix, as their multiplicand input, and elements of kernel matrix of inverse discrete cosine transform as their multiplier input. N/2 accumulators accumulate data outputted from multiplier.

Abstract: A thermal print media pack for a thermal printer includes a housing; a roll of thermal print receiver media arranged in the housing; and a roll of thermal dye carrier media arranged in the housing, the thermal dye carrier media having a heat transferable dye on a relatively thin base web including a repeating series of spaced apart frames of different colored dyes and a relatively thicker leader attached to the leading edge of the relatively thin base web.

Abstract: Both a method and printer are provided that utilize a single microprocessor to modulate a thermal printhead and implement all other printing functions. In the method of the invention, the microprocessor expands numerical image data in the form of binary numbers indicative of the color tone of an image pixel into data bit streams. The microprocessor then stores at least a portion of each of the data bit streams in a temporary memory, and sequentially collates single bits of each of the data bit streams into a serial string of data bits which are then loaded into a shift register to modulate the thermal elements of the printhead.

Abstract: Both a method and apparatus are provided for sizing and operating enable groups of thermal elements in a thermal printer to allow the printer to be operated by power sources having outputs too small to operate all of the thermal elements simultaneously. Prior to the printing operation, the maximum number of thermal elements that can be actuated by the output of the power source is determined, and then divided into the total number of thermal elements. Next, the resulting quotient is rounded up into the nearest integer in order to ascertain the number of enable groups. The number of enable groups is then divided into the total number of thermal elements to determine the size of each enable group.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the number of input terminals used in an operator includes generating a conflict graph having nodes with regard to an output path of data to be processed by the operator, coloring the nodes so that no two nodes directly connected to each other have the same color, and selectively inputting data from the nodes with a first color to a first input terminal of the operator and selectively inputting data from the nodes with a second color to a second input terminal of the operator.

Abstract: A dye donor cartridge and method for use in a printer. The cartridge comprises a dye donor ribbon formed into a roll. The dye donor ribbon has an end portion. A shield is attached to the end portion of the dye donor ribbon and surrounds the dye donor ribbon as the dye donor ribbon forms the roll. In this manner, the shield shields the dye donor ribbon from damage during handling of the ribbon roll. The dye donor ribbon roll including its shield is mountable on a supply spool, so that the dye donor ribbon unrolls from about the supply spool as the supply spool rotates. The shield preferably has a plurality of sprocket holes for engaging the sprockets of a take-up spool, so that the dye donor ribbon is precisely taken-up onto the take-up spool without "jamming" as the take-up spool rotates. An alternative embodiment of the invention comprises an encasement surrounding the shield as the shield surrounds the dye donor ribbon for enhancing protection of the dye donor ribbon roll during handling.

Abstract: A printer and method adapted to precisely position a dye receiver portion. The printer and method properly positions the dye receiver portion for printing successive images onto the dye receiver portion with precise color registration and constant length, as the dye receiver portion unwinds from a roll of dye receiver. The printer comprises a print head for successively printing the images on the dye receiver and includes a rotator engaging the dye receiver roll for rotating the dye receiver roll by a plurality of incremental steps, so that the dye receiver is unwound from the dye receiver roll. The printer also includes a computer connected to the dye receiver roll for computing the incremental steps by which to rotate the dye receiver roll. The computer computes the incremental steps as a function of change of diameter of the dye receiver roll as each image of constant predetermined length is successively printed.

Abstract: Printer adapted to guide a dye donor therein and method therefor. The dye donor ribbon has a leading end portion, which in turn has a plurality of sprocket holes spaced along parallel side portions of the leading end portion. A print head activates the dye donor ribbon to transfer dye therefrom onto a receiver for forming an image on the receiver. A dye donor ribbon take-up spool is disposed near the print head for taking-up the dye donor ribbon as the print head activates the dye donor ribbon. The take-up spool has a plurality of sprockets therearound sized to engage the sprocket holes in the leading end portion. A dye donor ribbon supply spool is spaced-apart from the take-up spool for supplying the dye donor ribbon therefrom as the print head activates the dye donor ribbon. A pair of spaced-apart oppositely disposed parallel guide rails extend between the take-up pool and the supply spool. Each of the rails defines a passage for guiding the dye donor ribbon along the passages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to techniques for ensuring that an image receiving sheet, which has only one major surface thereof coated with an image receiving coating, is properly oriented prior to an image being printed thereon. The image receiving sheet has a concave or convex irregularity (e.g., a notch, arc, etc.) formed in at least one nominally straight edge of the sheet. In a first embodiment, a mechanical or optical sensing means detects whether or not the image receiving sheet is stacked correctly in a loading tray by sensing whether or not the edge irregularities are properly positioned. In a second embodiment, an edge and a notch sensing means detect whether or not the image receiving sheet is oriented properly while being fed into the printer. An improperly loaded image receiving sheet is either not fed into the printer, or transits the printer without causing the printer to attempt to print the image thereon.

Abstract: In a thermal printer having a small diameter drum, a sensor having an emitter and detector detects the lead edge of a receiver sheet just prior to its entry into the nip between the drum and a print head.

Abstract: A thermal printhead having a plurality of resistive heat elements receives electrical current from a power supply. The current is directed to selected ones of a plurality of heat elements in response to a sequence of data bits corresponding to the image to be recorded. The number of selected heat elements is determined by the current to the printhead or by counting the number of data bits and a signal representative of the number of selected heat elements is produced. The voltage coupled to the printhead is adjusted responsive to the sensed number of selected heat elements to maintain a prescribed voltage across the selected heat elements that is substantially constant independent of the number of selected heat elements.

Abstract: A novel structural jelly confectionery product is provided. This confectionery product is prepared by providing a jelly having a lower level of sugar content, enrobing a baked biscuit with said jelly and then coating the enrobed product with chocolate.