Eastman-kodak Company

Kent R Gandola

Wlodzimierz S Czarnecki

George W Brock

Peter VanderSalm Koeppe

Neil Smith

Frederick J Jeffers

Jay D Freeman

Jeremiah F Connolly

Christopher P Mencher

Joseph De Lellis

Richard R Tuyn

Photographic apparatus for recording/reproducing information in a magnetic region along an edge of photographic film, the apparatus comprising:

Magnetic head interface having a single narrow band of contact for

Magnetic recording and reproducing linear thin film head arrays particularly for use for recording and reading information on a magnetics-on-film (MOF) layer in the image area of photographic filmstrips and particularly a configuration and mounting of such heads to achieve high compliance with the relatively stiff filmstrip and MOF layer in cameras or other filmstrip handling apparatus without damaging the filmstrip. When constrained in the film transport path, the filmstrip assumes a convex cross film curvature on the MOF layer side approximated by a sixth order polynomial having even terms only. A base line for the deposition of thin film head layers of each head of the array on a linear substrate is approximated by the sixth order polynomial having even terms only. After deposition of the thin film layers, the linear head array is shaped to the cross film curvature, and the lapped head surfaces are aligned with the base line. Preferably, at least one electrical lapping guide is deposited on the substrate in relation to the linear array of magnetic head elements and the base line, wherein the head element layer height is controlled in the head fabrication processing by monitoring the electrical resistance of the electrical lapping guide during shaping of the convex curvature of the head surface.

Patterned multi-track thin film heads for image area record/reproduce on

A magnetic assembly for detection and authentication of magnetic documents. The magnetic assembly includes a permanent magnet (PM), first and second magnetically soft high permeability pole pieces shaped to form a tapered, variable gap size magnetic circuit with the permanent magnet. The PM is located at a first gap between the first and second pole pieces. A magnetoresistive (MR) sensing element is located at or near the center of a second gap between said first and second pole pieces. The second gap and MR sensing element are proximate a magnetic document to be sensed. An electrical conductor is adjacent to the MR sensing element, but is electrically insulated therefrom. A direct current is passed through the electrical conductor to create a compensating bias field in the MR element which is combined with the bias field generated by the PM.

Permanent magnet assembly with MR and DC compensating bias

A photographic still camera for receiving an elongated filmstrip having a cross-film curvature and having a substantially transparent magnetic layer deposited on the film surface and for recording or reproducing information on or from the magnetic layer in relation to the exposure of image frames of the filmstrip. The filmstrip is transported from supply to takeup chambers between film rails and a backing plate past a camera image frame exposure aperture with the magnetic layer facing the backing plate and having a concave cross-film curvature across the image frame area. A magnetic recording multi-head array formed of a plurality of recording heads mounted on flexure elements of a flexure support is positioned to extend across and contact the magnetic layer in the image frame area at the side of the exposure aperture. Each flexure element includes an elongated, cantilever spring fixed at one end to the backing plate and terminating in a mounting platform having a gimbal mechanism for providing pitch and roll compliance with film motion and the cross-film concave curvature. Each magnetic recording head element is shaped with contoured profiles in the cross-film and film transport directions for ensuring compliance with the filmstrip magnetic layer during roll and pitch motions of the magnetic recording head without causing damage to the filmstrip.

Magnetics-on-film image area recording head and suspension system

A photographic still camera for receiving an elongated filmstrip having a cross-film curvature and having a substantially transparent magnetic layer deposited on the film surface and recording or reproducing information on or from the magnetic layer in the image frame areas of the filmstrip. The filmstrip is transported from supply to takeup chambers between film rails and a backing plate past a camera image frame exposure aperture with the magnetic layer facing the backing plate and having a concave cross-film curvature near one side of the exposure aperture. A plurality of inverted gull wing shaped, spring flexure elements are positioned to extend across the magnetic layer at the side of the exposure aperture. Each flexure element has a fixed mounting plate attached to the backing plate coupled through an angled fixed leg to a mounting platform which in turn is coupled through a further angled leg back to a further plate such that the mounting plate is suspended toward the filmstrip magnetic layer. Magnetic recording head elements mounted to the mounting plates contact the magnetic layer across a variable spacing. Pitch motion is provided through the flexible legs in response to changes in filmstrip advancement tension. Roll motion compliance with the concave cross-film curvature is provided by a mounting platform gimball mechanism.

Magnetics-on-film image area recording head suspension system

A magnetic assembly for detection and authentication of magnetic documents. The magnetic assembly includes a permanent magnet (PM), first and second magnetically soft high permeability pole pieces shaped to form a tapered, variable gap size magnetic circuit with the permanent magnet. The PM is located at a first gap between the first and second pole pieces. A magnetoresistive (MR) sensing element is located at or near the center of a second gap between said first and second pole pieces. The second gap and MR sensing element are proximate a magnetic document to be sensed.

Permanent magnet assembly with MR element for detection/authentication

A magnetic assembly for detection and authentication of magnetic documents. The magnetic assembly includes a permanent magnet (PM), first and second magnetically soft high permeability pole pieces shaped to form a tapered, variable gap size magnetic circuit with the permanent magnet. The PM is located at a first gap between the first and second pole pieces. A magnetoresistive (MR) sensing element is located at or near the center of a second gap between said first and second pole pieces. The second gap and MR sensing element are proximate a magnetic document to be sensed. An electrical conductor is adjacent to the MR sensing element, but is electrically insulated therefrom.

MR sensor including calibration circuit wherein signals are averaged for

Magnetic recording and/or reproducing heads particularly for use for recording and reading information on a magnetics-on-film (MOF) layer in the image area of photographic filmstrips exhibiting a cross-film curvature in cameras or other filmstrip handling apparatus. A magnetic record/reproduce multi-head array is formed of a plurality of magnetic head elements mounted to extend across the width of the filmstrip and across the filmstrip image frame area, each head element contacting the magnetic layer at a predetermined cross-film position in a film transport path. The surfaces of the head elements aligned to contact the filmstrip magnetic layer are burnished or lapped by an abrasive tape lapping of the head as a final contouring operation on the head to remove all edges that can scrape or scratch the magnetic surface of the filmstrip. An elongated, compliant backing support, e.g. a free wheeling roller, pad or brush, having a low friction contact surface, is positioned to bear against the filmstrip emulsion layer opposite to the multi-head array. Light pressure is applied through the backing support to conform the filmstrip magnetic layer to the magnetic head elements in the cross-film and film advance directions.

Magnetics-on-film image area recording head with film flattening

A photographic still camera for receiving an elongated filmstrip having a cross-curvature in the cross film direction across said filmstrip and having a substantially transparent magnetic layer deposited on the film surface and for recording or reproducing information on or from the magnetic layer in the image area in and relation to the exposure of image frames of the filmstrip. A magnetic head is formed of a plurality of frustums including inner frustums supporting a plurality of active head gaps in an interior region and at least one further outer frustum on each side of the inner frustums in the cross film direction. The frustums and active head gaps have a contoured height profile in the cross film direction positioned to penetrate the film plane and to wrap the filmstrip around the frustums in a cavity in the film transport path, the contoured height profile in the cross film direction ensuring elastic compliance of the active head gaps with the magnetic on film layer tracks, with or without applied film tension or film compression. Contouring is effected by lapping the head mounted in the film transport path to approximate the cross-curvature of the filmstrip.

Magnetics-on-film image area recording head and interface

A print head applies electrical energy to an electrically resistive and grounded transfer ribbon bearing heat transferable dye, during sliding pressure contact and relative movement between the head and ribbon, for resistive heating of the dye to a transfer temperature for transfer to a receiver to form images of selective pixel size thereon. The head has a row of electrodes with end faces and an electrically non-conductive substrate with an end face, the end faces lying in a contact plane for contact with the ribbon. A groove in the substrate end face separates such end face from the electrode end faces. The width of the groove is sufficient to inhibit heat transfer at the groove from the ribbon to the substrate for controlling the dye amount heated to transfer temperature adjacent the groove during the relative movement and in turn the image pixel size.

Growing community of inventors

Carlsbad, CA, United States of America

Kent R Gandola