Abstract: In a multi-exposure drawing method for drawing a pattern on a drawing surface, using an exposure unit including a plurality of optical modulation elements arranged in a matrix manner, the unit is continuously and relatively moved at a constant velocity with respect to the drawing surface in an array-direction defined by a matrix-arrangement of the modulation elements. Optical modulation elements, spaced at a regular interval in an alignment of optical modulation elements along the array-direction, are successively and selectively driven based on a same bit datum, to thereby modulate a light beam made incident thereon, whenever the exposure unit is moved by a distance corresponding to the regular interval, resulting in the production of a pixel dot on the drawing surface in a multi-exposure manner by the modulated light beams.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a multicolor pixel sheet on which pixels of different colors (R, G and B) and a black matrix are formed. Pixels are formed with a gap therebetween on a light-transmitting substrate and each pixel is composed of a coloring layer. The black matrix is formed by a black coloring resin provided at upper surfaces of pixels on the pixel sheet, the gap between the pixels, and the outer periphery defined by the outermost pixels. A two-stage developing process is conducted after exposure from the back and the front of the substrate to form a spacer pattern having a predetermined thickness on the black matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held and hand-operated printing device having a print (2) head assembly comprised in a housing (1) for a hand-held and hand-operated printing controlled by a processor (4), and a method therefore. The position of the printing device on a print medium is sensed in relation to pixels to be printed. An image is stored in a memory together with its mutual image pixel coordinate data. Image pixels are printed onto the print medium through nozzles (12) in a print-head array (60) in accordance with the pixel coordinate data during a printing sequence. The image is built-up through sectional printing whereby each section has at least one print area interfacing at least one other print area, said interfacing print areas being correlated to fill-out transition print areas during printing of said sections through at least one transition printing pattern by omitting printing of some pixels in said transition print area.

Abstract: A thermal fixing device for fixing toner images onto recording sheets includes a heat member, a pressing member, a temperature sensor, a clock, and a control unit. The control unit performs a toner fixing control and a high-temperature heat-up control. During the toner fixing control, the control unit controls the heat member to heat up to a fixing temperature required to melt toner on a recording sheet disposed between the heat member and the pressing member. During the high-temperature heat-up control, the control unit controls the heat member to heat up to a high-temperature fixing temperature that is higher than the fixing temperature. The control unit sets length of the high-temperature heat-up control in accordance with length of the start-up time measured by the clock.

Abstract: In an image processor for a character image included in an image data to be processed, character codes are recognized, and character sizes of the characters in the character image are recognized. A font data is selected in a plurality of font data of different sizes stored in a storage device, so as to match with the recognized character codes, the recognized font sizes and a magnification of the image data. The selected font data are outputted. Thus, the character image is reproduced by using the recognized character codes. Alternatively, in a saving mode where image data of N pages are outputted in M sheets of recording medium, wherein N is not equal to M, character codes are recognized in a character image included in N pages of image data to be processed. Then, a font data is selected in a plurality of font data, so as to match with the recognized character codes.

Abstract: A device and method to render a page in a printing device are described. In an implementation, an object to be rendered onto the pixel map is converted from a description in pixel coordinates to a representation in lower resolution surface units. The lower resolution surface units are compared to a lower resolution map of the page. If the representation does not overlap an object in the lower resolution map, then an indication is formed that the object can be rendered on the pixel map without destination dependent operations.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus avoids abnormal control on loads including an optional device and enables only program transfer when transfer of a control program from an external device is not normally proceeding. Through a communication interface, the control program is transferred from the external device to a flash memory via an external controller, while a transfer state thereof is stored in EEPROM. In response to the state of the EEPROM, CPU controls power supply to the external controller and the optional device to avoid abnormal operation of the optional device during transfer of control programs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for managing printed documents. The method includes receiving a print request, assigning an identifier to a print job associated with the print request, and sending the print job to a printer for printing. Once the printer completes printing the print job, the identifier is added to an unretrieved print job queue. When a printed document associated with the print job is retrieved, the identifier associated with the printed document is scanned, such as with a bar code reader. Once the identifier is scanned, a retrieval confirmation is sent to indicate that the printed document has been retrieved. The identifier is then removed from the unretrieved print queue. Notification messages are sent to a notification recipient while the identifier is in the unretrieved print queue. The notification message includes an email message, a pop-up window, a pager message, and the like.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus receives, from a server connected to a network, a notification that a module operating units composing the apparatus can be added. The apparatus requests distribution of a program including the module to the server. Further, when a function of the module can be realized from information of the module stored in each hierarchy composing the program of the apparatus acquired each predetermined period and information of main and option devices, the server transmits program distributing information including the module. The device stores the module in an area of a predetermined hierarchy on the basis of the program distributing information.

Abstract: A computing system including a computer and a printer. The computer is operable to transmit a print job to the printer that cases the printer to retain the job. The computer is further operable to record a record of the job. The record includes an identifier of the job and an identifier of the printer. The user can later retrieve and display the job ID and request that the job be printed. The computer responds by causing the printer to print the job.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program provides for making an image area correction in a printing system. Print data is provided in a logical page order corresponding to at least one signature for printing. At least one parameter of a recording medium on which the print data are printed is determined, this parameter being relevant to the position of the printing format on the recording medium, which is folded according to the signature. The position of the pages is then corrected according to this parameter prior to printing, in such a way that the print formats of successive pages of the finished signature are positioned accurately.

Abstract: In order to provide a print control unit capable of selecting predefined information corresponding to a document to be printed without depending upon an artificial operation, the print control unit comprises an information storing section which links identification information for identifying a kind of document and predefined information for controlling a printing job of the document and stores an information package of the linked identification and predefined information, an identification information retrieving section which retrieves the identification information of the document to be printed, and a predefined information selecting section which selects the predefined information linked with the identification information retrieved by the identification information retrieving section, from the information package stored in the information storing section.

Abstract: Systems and methods for describing imaging tasks across a distributed environment of imaging clients, servers and devices, wherein the tasks include complex imaging operations, and interchanging imaging data and operations. The imaging jobs include diverse imaging tasks that can be constructed in a single program unit. The imaging tasks are constructed using a single imaging job language and common interface across all imaging devices, clients and servers, or managers thereof. A manager communicates with the imaging components through the common interface and translates the operations into the communication methods that are compatible with the devices, clients and servers. Composite imaging jobs are selectively dispatched to diverse imaging components through a single imaging spooler subsystem.

Abstract: In a computer generation of a dither mask for conversion of a continuous-tone image into a halftone image, a pixel array having a size in accordance with the dither mask is partitioned into blocks. Initial pixel values are determined such that the occurrences of pixel values will be substantially uniform in the blocks. A pair of exchange target pixels are selected at random from the pixels in one of the blocks and function values of a predetermined evaluation function that indicates a characteristic of the pixel value configuration of the pixels in this block are computed for the two cases where pixel values are exchanged among the exchange target pixels and where not exchanged. These function values are compared to judge whether exchange should be performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for Variable Data Printing that adds performance requirements to a raster image processor (RIP) memory optimization that employs memory bands within the page composition process. Documents containing both recurring elements as well as non-recurring elements are sorted into element lists depending on their frequency of recurrence and their layering position. The recurring elements are retained in rasterized form, while the non-recurring elements are rasterized as they are used in output memory. One pass assembly in raster image processing of the elements occurs when the recurring elements are blitted into memory and the variable elements are RIPped on the fly.

Abstract: The technique of the present invention reads job management data including an ID allocated to a printing apparatus receiving each print job and an ID allocated to a printing apparatus executing the print job from each of printing apparatuses 50a and 50b at regular intervals. The technique calculates profit distributions, cost distributions, and charge distributions at preset division rates to the printing apparatus receiving each print job and the printing apparatus executing the print job, based on the job management data. The technique then notifies each printing apparatus or each administrator of printing apparatuses of the calculated profit distributions, cost distributions, and charging distributions.

Abstract: In a black character detection processing, RGB data read from a line buffer is converted into YIQ data. For a subject pixel, a subject area centered on the subject pixel is set, and a judgment pixel that has the lowest brightness in the subject area is set. Then, a judgment area is set as being centered on the judgment pixel. If the absolute values of the averages of chroma components I and Q in the judgment area are both less than the corresponding thresholds T1 and T2, the subject pixel is determined as being an achromatic pixel. Black codes are added to fine-line pixels and edge pixels if the fine-line pixels and edge pixels are determined as being achromatic. Thus, the fine-line pixels and edge pixels can be specified as to be printed in black monochromatic ink. Therefore, black character or similar fine-line or edge part images can be outputted with high quality.

Abstract: A method of preventing image degradation due to nonejecting nozzles of a recording head is provided for an inkjet recording apparatus for recording images by ejecting ink from plural nozzles disposed in the recording head. The method according to the present invention includes the steps of measuring and recording a pattern for checking an ejection state of the head, determining a nonejecting nozzle from the pattern, obtaining density distribution for each nozzle, and determining a complementary table for every nozzle from the density distribution in the nonejecting nozzle portion for performing different-color complementing.

Abstract: A photographic processing system comprises: a printing unit 3 for forming photographic prints based on image data read out from a negative film; a CD-R writing device 2 for writing the image data in a CD-R; a sorter 14 having numerous trays 14a for collecting the photographic prints and the CD-R in an order unit; a lateral conveyor 13 for transporting the photographic prints formed by the printing unit 3 to the sorter 14; a CD-R transporting unit 20 for transporting the CD-R having the image data written therein to the sorter 14; and a control unit 40 for controlling the printing unit, the CD-R writing device and the sorter 14 in such a manner as to collect the photographic prints and the CD-R of the same order in a specific receiver among the numerous trays.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including an image processing unit for executing image processing based on image data of an image; a region extracting unit for extracting a main subject region corresponding to a main subject in said image for the image processing; and an image display unit for displaying the image in enlargement with the main subject region disposed at a center of image. There is also provided an image processing method for executing image processing based on image data of an image, comprising steps of: extracting a main subject region corresponding to a main subject in the image for the image processing; and displaying the image in enlargement with the main subject region disposed at a center of image The apparatus and the method as above allow the correction of a red-eye color, the trimming processing, and the freckle and wrinkle removing processing, all based on image data, to be easily confirmed and inspected in a short time.