Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Eric B. Janofsky
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Patent number: 6108462Abstract: A two-line sensor type image input and processing apparatus and method for accurately determining the current scan state, start of scanning and end of scanning events, as well as estimating scanning speed corresponding thereto, and for performing high precision distortion correction on the basis of these estimated scanning speeds.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1997Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Mikio Aoki, Takashi Nitta
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Patent number: 6108437Abstract: A face recognition system is provided comprising an input process or circuit, such as a video camera for generating an image of a person. A face detector process or circuit determines if a face is present in a image. A face position registration process or circuit determines a position of the face in the image if the face detector process or circuit determines that the face is present. A feature extractor process or circuit is provided for extracting at least two facial features from the face. A voting process or circuit compares the extractor facial features with a database of extracted facial features to identify the face.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Shang-Hung Lin
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Patent number: 6104496Abstract: A printer capable of printing on differing types of recording media. A memory section is provided that is capable of storing insertion wait times that wait for insertion of the respective recording medium types and setting wait times that wait for the recording medium to be properly set. Also, when the type of recording medium to be printed on is designated, then the printer waits for insertion of the recording medium according to the insertion wait time and setting wait time corresponding to that recording medium and then starts an automatic feed operation. Therefore, it is possible to offer a printer and its control method wherein the wait times can be set according to the level of experience of the operator and to the recording paper types, the ease of use of the recording medium and the installation circumstances of the printer, setting times can be set that do not cause stress on the operators, and printing can be performed without wasted time.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1997Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masahiro Minowa, Yoshikazu Ito, Masayo Miyasaka, Kazunari Yawata
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Patent number: 6097502Abstract: Tone reproduction of an image is improved by the use of error diffusion or dithering in the mapping of input pixel values on an input values scale to printer pixel values on a printer values scale, where the input values scale and the printer values scale both have more than two levels, to generate an image where a spatial average of printer values approximates a spatial average of the corresponding input values, as measured on the printer values scale. To improve the tone reproduction of reduced-resolution images, the printer pixel values are grouped into multi-pixel cells, printer pixel values within each cell are mapped to a font index value, and a font cell corresponding to the index level is printed at the location of the cell. The font set is chosen such that differences in total deposited ink between consecutive font cells is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1997Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Joseph Shu, Andrei Pascovici, Chia-Hsin Li
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Patent number: 6084563Abstract: A multiplex driving method is provided for a liquid crystal cell device having a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates, a plurality of row electrodes arranged on one of the substrates and a plurality of column electrodes arranged on the other substrate. The method comprises the steps of sequentially selecting a group of the plurality of row electrodes during a selection period, simultaneously selecting the row electrodes comprising the group, and dividing and separating the selection period into a plurality of intervals within one frame period.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1993Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Akihiko Ito, Shoichi Iino
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Patent number: 6081742Abstract: Devices are known for measuring a subject's respiratory rate based on the subject's pulse wave or level of electrocardiogram. When the subject is exercising or carrying out daily activities, however, an electromyogram becomes imposed on the cardiogram waveform, so that a body motion component is superimposed on the pulse wave. This leads to an incorrect measured result. To overcome this drawback, a portable portion in the form of a wristwatch worn by the subject and a personal computer comprising device main body 330 are provided. A photoelectric pulse wave sensor is attached to the base of the subject's finger, and the pulse waveform is measured. An acceleration sensor is provided to the portable portion, and employed to detect the subject's body motion spectrum. Device main body 330 performs a window function on the pulse wave, and removes the acceleration component, so that the body motion spectrum is removed from the frequency spectrum of the pulse wave.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1998Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kazuhiko Amano, Kazuo Uebaba, Hitoshi Ishiyama
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Patent number: 6074036Abstract: To provide a highly reliable and easy-to-manufacture ink jet head connection unit, in which ink supply paths are formed by gluing a substrate on which head component is formed to other components, that is free of ink ejection failure and ink leakage. A head component and case component 240 equipped with opening 241 on the bottom of which supply port 257 for supplying ink to head component 210 and concave area 243 to be filled with an adhesive are formed, are provided. Space 248 to be filled with an adhesive for joining head component 210 and case component 240 when case component 240 and head component 210 are coupled, is formed inside the joined case.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1999Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Nishioka, Yukihiro Hanaoka, Kazuhiko Sato, Tsutomu Yamazaki
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Patent number: 6072961Abstract: Camera module device (1), which can be mounted onto a camera main body and that is used in a state in which it is mounted onto the camera main body, is provided with a circuit for generating data to be written, and thus camera main body (2) need not be equipped with a function for generating data to be written or a communication function for sending the generated data to camera module device (1). Camera main body (2) simply issues pulse signal X1 for a write instruction, and then data is generated by camera module device (1). Therefore, the camera main body can be made inexpensively. Furthermore, camera module device (1) is provided with a self-check function, and signal RD1 from camera main body (2) places this function in the active mode during photographic film loading. In this mode, circuit board (16) reads the data that has actually been written and determines whether or not the writing operation was performed correctly based on the comparison result of comparison circuit (162).Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1997Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masaki Ozawa, Takashi Saegusa, Hirohisa Nakano, Shinsuke Itoh
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Patent number: 6068187Abstract: Provide a composite processing device and its control method capable of reliably bringing the recording medium in contact with the information detector using a simple configuration and separately configuring the insertion member and exit member for the recording medium. MICR head 33 which comes in contact with check paper P and detects the information recorded thereon, and presser roller 34 for pressing check paper P against MICR head 33 are provided. Presser roller 34 can release the pressure against MICR head 33. Insertion rollers 23, 24, slip center rollers 21, 22 and ejection rollers 19, 20 are provided for moving check paper P back and forth. Slip center rollers 21, 22 are disposed near the entry side of reader unit 32. After check paper P is inserted and form fed by transporting in the direction of arrow F, presser roller 34 presses check paper P against MICR head 33 and transports it in the direction of arrow B to perform reading.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1998Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Tsutomu Momose
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Patent number: 6042283Abstract: Disclosed is a printer comprising a paper guide surface (11D) defining a printing region. A print head (8) is disposed opposite to the paper guide surface (11D) with a gap in between and adapted to move in parallel to the paper guide surface (11D) along the printing region (11) and beyond the printing region (11) into a retracted position (11C). A paper guide guides recording paper (5) to the printing region (11) and exposing it to the print head (8) in the printing region. The paper guide includes a guide plate (31) movable between a first position in which it is disposed opposite to the paper guide surface (11D) so as to guide recording paper (5) past the printing region (11), and a second position in which it is retracted from the printing region. A drive source (31-38) moves the guide plate (31) from the first to the second position only when the print head (8) is in the retracted position (11C).Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Akira Koyabu, Tsutomu Momose, Kenichi Hirabayashi
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Patent number: 6036431Abstract: A new parts handling apparatus is provided which can shorten the index time and increase working ability without increasing the number of components and can restrict the rise of manufacturing cost. X driving member 12 to be moved rightward and leftward in correlation to the rotation of a ball screw 2 by a servomotor 1 is provided with a pair of right and left movable members 7 mounted movably in the Z direction. Two contact hands 5 are attached to each movable member 7 through aligning mechanisms 8 respectively. Each movable member 7 is provided with a Z driving member 6 mounted slidably in the X direction. The Z driving member 6 is engaged with a ball screw 4, and the ball screw 4 is connected to a servomotor 3. When the ball screw 4 is rotated by the servomotor 3, the Z driving member 6 moves vertically in the figure, thereby also moving the movable member 7 vertically.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1999Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Hiroaki Fujimori
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Patent number: 6036653Abstract: A pulsimeter analyzes a pulse wave signal output by a pulse wave sensor worn on a part of the body while exercising, enables extraction of only the pulse wave component without being affected by movement of the body, and evaluates a detection state indicative of whether the pulse wave sensor is detecting the pulse. A pulse wave component extractor extracts a pulse wave component from the result of a time-frequency analysis of a pulse wave signal. A pulse rate calculator calculates the pulse rate per minute based on the pulse wave component extracted by the pulse wave component extractor. The pulse rate is then displayed. A detection state of the pulse wave sensor is also displayed by providing a detection state evaluator for determining the presence of a pulse wave component based on the result output by the pulse wave component extractor.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1997Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Norimitsu Baba, Michio Kobayashi, Tsukasa Kosuda
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Patent number: 6030342Abstract: In order to obtain calorie expenditure with good accuracy, the device is provided with a basal metabolic state specifying element (142) which specifies the subject's basal metabolic state from his body temperature; a correlation storing element (151) which stores respective regression formulas showing the correlation between the pulse rate and the calorie expenditure when the subject is at rest or active; a correlation correcting element (152) which correcting the stored regression formulas using the basal metabolic state; a body motion determining element (104) which determines whether or not the subject is at rest; and a regression formula selecting element (153) which selects the regression formula which should be used in accordance with the results of this determination. The subject's pulse rate is applied in the selected regression formula, and the calorie expenditure corresponding to this pulse rate is calculated by calorie expenditure calculator (162).Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1998Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kazuhiko Amano, Kazuo Uebaba, Hitoshi Ishiyama
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Patent number: 6025993Abstract: An add-on cartridge structure for electronic devices having a housing formed from upper and lower case sections. The upper case is typically made from plastic and has a conductive layer formed on inside surfaces, while the lower case is made from a metallic material such as aluminum. A wall-like mating member is disposed on an outer edge of the lower case, and mates with the sides of the upper case to form a nearly rectangular cross section housing. The double conductive layer formed by the outside surface of the mating member and the inside surface of the upper case prevents leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the cartridge. Furthermore, high frequency noise is prevented by grounding both the signal ground of the printed circuit board and the frame ground at multiple locations. The conductive layer has a surface break caused by a through-hole through which the printed circuit board plug protrudes to the outside.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1997Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kenichi Wakabayashi, Chitoshi Takayama, Tadashi Shiozaki
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Patent number: 6023662Abstract: In a measurement device and a measurement method for determining output values by analyzing the frequency of cyclically changing detection data, such as pulse count, the output value indicating a peak in the analysis result is corrected using side lobe values that appear on both sides of said peak, and an output value having higher precision than the output value indicating the peak value is derived, such that a value closer to the original output value of the detection data can be obtained. Because the measurement device and measurement method according to the invention can improve the precision of the output value without increasing the sampling count, highly precise output values such as pulse counts can be obtained at high speeds without extending the data fetch time.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1997Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Seiko Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Motomu Hayakawa, Chiaki Nakamura
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Patent number: 6011378Abstract: A control apparatus by which a duty ratio in consideration of how energy stored in storage cells is consumed is set to ensure a steady traveling feeling, a regeneration brake which can produce stable braking forces regardless of how storage cells are consumed, and a protective device by which a plurality of operation stop levels are set to be able to cancel the stop operation effected for the first time and to ensure reliable alarming, are provided. In the first and second embodiments, a chopper duty ratio is compensated depending on how storage cells are consumed, to provide a steady agreeable traveling feeling. In the third embodiment, regenerated electric power is consumed by a motor driving circuit to stabilize operation of a regeneration brake regardless of how storage cells are consumed, and improve performance thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1998Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo R&D Co.Inventors: Kunio Tabata, Minoru Kozaki
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Patent number: 6000865Abstract: The printer of the present invention prevents loss of print data due to print operation malfunction after the completion of the initialization of print head 3 by detecting error conditions related to the motion of the print head during the initialization of the print head. In the initialization process of print head 3, print head 3 is moved until it is detected by reference position detector 16 located at the left edge of the print area of the printer; after completion of the initial-position detection for print head 3, print head 3 is moved over the entire print area to rightmost move position 37. By moving print head 3 as described above and by checking whether or not the print head has moved correctly, it is possible to detect any error conditions relating to the motion of print head 3.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1997Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yuji Takamizawa, Mitsuaki Teradaira, Kazuhisa Aruga
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Patent number: 5997125Abstract: To provide a highly reliable and easy-to-manufacture ink jet head connection unit, in which ink supply paths are formed by gluing a substrate on which head component is formed to other components, that is free of ink ejection failure and ink leakage. A head component and case component 240 equipped with opening 241 on the bottom of which supply port 257 for supplying ink to head component 210 and concave area 243 to be filled with an adhesive are formed, are provided. Space 248 to be filled with an adhesive for joining head component 210 and case component 240 when case component 240 and head component 210 are coupled, is formed inside the joined case.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1999Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Nishioka, Yukihiro Hanaoka, Kazuhiko Sato, Tsutomu Yamazaki
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Patent number: 5999306Abstract: A spatial light modulator is constructed from a conductive silicon mirror substrate and a glass electrode substrate including sodium, anode-bonded together. The silicon mirror substrate has micromirrors arranged in a matrix, torsion bars coupling these micromirrors in the x-direction, and a frame coupled to both ends of the torsion bars. A glass electrode substrate has a central depression, a rim around the periphery thereof, pillars projecting from within the depression, and electrodes and wiring driving micromirrors formed within the depression in an inclining manner. Both ends of the torsion bars are bonded to the rim of the frame portion, and intermediate portions of the torsion bars are bonded to the pillars. Both ends of the torsion bars are cut away from the frame portion during dicing.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1996Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Mitsuro Atobe, Hiroshi Koeda, Shinichi Yotsuya
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Patent number: 5992978Abstract: A high reliability ink jet head for an ink jet recording apparatus enabling consistent ink ejecting with no nozzle clogging. The ink jet head therefor comprises a substrate comprising plural ink passages, each comprising a nozzle, pressure generator continuous to the nozzle, and an orifice, and an ink supply member common to the plural ink passages. The substrate comprising an anisotropic crystalline material such as silicon, and a filter channel formed integrally to the ink supply member by anisotropic etching.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1995Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masahiro Fujii, Keiichi Mukaiyama, Hiroyuki Maruyama, Tadaaki Hagata, Ikuhiro Miyashita