Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for conducting a transaction—such as the purchase of goods and services—including the collection, conversion, storage, tagging and the integration of a live inventory system, mark-up, mark-down system, live auction, and bartering system in an interactive software application, virtual world, social network, commercial and/or game application, which provides a real world experience to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program for a resolution enhanced pseudo-noise coding technique for 3D imaging is provided. In one embodiment, a pattern generator may generate a plurality of unique patterns for a return to zero signal. A plurality of laser diodes may be configured such that each laser diode transmits the return to zero signal to an object. Each of the return to zero signal includes one unique pattern from the plurality of unique patterns to distinguish each of the transmitted return to zero signals from one another.

Abstract: Information is incorporated into motion picture film prints in the form of images or patterns that appear as unobtrusive defects or artifacts. The unique codes are used in association with the print number of the film and are reproduced in video copies of the film made by counterfeiters. This code can be read from the counterfeit copy and can be used to trace the source of the counterfeit. The digits of the print number are recorded in separate frames to increase the difficulty to counterfeiters in detecting and deleting them.

Abstract: An optical head having a laser source of beams at an input end and image forming beams at an output end and a plurality of optical components arranged along the beams between the input and output ends to obtain an image on a photosensitive printing plate from the beams. The optical components include reflecting surfaces adapted to fold the beams several times between the input and output ends times in such a way as to reduce the width and height of the optical head. The folded beams are located in a plurality of parallel surfaces perpendicular to the image formed on the photosensitive printing plate. The optical head further includes optical components adapted to adjust the width, location, orientation and intensity of the image from the beams.

Abstract: A print service support system for supporting print service for producing prints related to data while delivering the data among a plurality of agencies including a unit for accepting information for specifying the plurality of agencies, a unit for generating project information as information for specifying agencies to carry out a project to specify the plurality of agencies and remarkable machine information for specifying a given remarkable print output machine, a selection unit for selecting at least one piece of the information for specifying the agencies, which information is included in the generated project information, a unit for generating device link profile information for the agency including information for simulating color reproducibility of the remarkable print output machine using a print output machine, and information for specifying the agency, and a storage unit for storing the generated device link profile information.

Abstract: Novel antenna polymers characterized by a polymeric background of a biodegradable water soluble polymer and chromophores chemically bonded to the polymeric background have been found to be useful as photocatalysts in aqueous media. On completion of the desired photochemical reaction, the residual medium can safely be discharged to the natural environment as the catalyst residues undergo biodegradation to form environmentally harmless products.

Abstract: Several optical heads are mounted on a common carriage adapted to scan a photosensitive printing plate. Each head is equipped with a laser source, a modulator and projection optics and can project a segment containing a plurality of pixels. The optical track of beams in each head is folded several times in such a way as to reduce the width of the head as well as its height. When the carriage moves from one edge of the plate to the other edge a swath of pixels is projected. Each head includes means to adjust the width, location, orientation and intensity of the segment it generates. Each head is accurately positioned on the carriage so that at least two abutting swaths are projected during each sweep of the carriage to produce a wider swath.

Abstract: A pinch quill has a shank and a core and sheath apparatus. The core is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The core has a recess sector and an adjoining recess sector. The chock sector has a greater radial dimension than the recess sector. The sheath is mounted coaxially over the core. The sheath is rotatable with the core about the axis. The sheath has an outer face, an inner face, and a longitudinal slot extending between the faces. The slot narrows to a throat at the inner face. The inner face includes a grip surface spaced apart from the throat. The grip surface is longitudinally aligned with the sectors. The sheath is pivotable about the axis between first and second angular orientations relative to the core. The slot is radially aligned with the chock sector at the first angular orientation. The grip surface is radially aligned with the chock sector at an intermediate angular orientation relative to the core. The intermediate angular orientation is between the first and second angular orientations.

Abstract: A method of chromakey recording, which includes providing, in a scene, a chromakey material which is capable of continued luminance without activating light. The chromakey material is activated and the scene is recorded without activating light while the chromakey material is luminescing. The chromakey material may be an electroluminescent material that is activated by applying electrical energy to the chromakey material. The chromakey material may also be a phosphorescent material, which is activated by applying light to the phosphorescent material. The light is removed from the phosphorescent material during recording.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming transitioned edges in patterns formed by a scanning laser in a dyed textile material is disclosed. The transition rate between the untreated material and the treated material is controlled by passing a scanning laser beam through a mask prior to the laser beam reaching a focal point. An apertured mask can be employed to control the transition rate, wherein the location of the aperture relative to the focal point of the laser beam and configuration of the aperture periphery are manipulated to effect the transition rate.

Abstract: A digital cartoon or animation creation process, alternately describable as digital rotoscoping. Images are obtained in digital format by set-up steps (32, 44), image capture steps (34-36 and 46), and image storage (38, 48). The rotoscoping process (10) includes an image to line art rendering sub-process (14) which optionally may be followed by a specialized line art rendering sub-process (16) or a coloring sub-process (18). The line art rendering sub-process (14) includes a series of filters, particularly including a high-pass filter (68) using a gaussian blur convolution matrix. The specialized rendering sub-process (16) has particular use for carrying image regions having particularized detail through into final images in a manner that such detail is not lost, and the coloring sub-process (18) permits creation of colorized final images.

Abstract: According to the method and system of the present invention, digital image data is input in a personal computer, through an image input device. The order sender processes the image data with reference to a display on the screen of the personal computer, and then inputs print order data. The print order data includes print option data designating size and number of prints, expected delivery date data, delivery option data designating the way of delivery, and user ID data for identifying the order sender. Then an order receiver or a particular photofinisher is designated. The processed digital image data and the print order data are sent to the designated photofinisher. The reception processing device of the order receiver stores the digital image data and relating print order data, and commands a digital printer to make prints from the digital image data in accordance with the print order data.