Patents Issued in August 2, 2001
  • Publication number: 20010010498
    Abstract: In a component mounting device in which a component is picked up and mounted on a circuit board by a suction nozzle, an amount of displacement between a center position of the suction nozzle 11 and that of the picked-up component 12 is measured, and when it is larger than a preliminarily determined value, a warning is generated indicating that the parts cassette 3 from which the component 12 has been fed is in abnormal condition, as well as the mounting action of the component 12 is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Hirano, Yoshinori Sakai, Tateo Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20010010499
    Abstract: A method time-stamps an electronic message in accordance with information about the time zone in which the intended recipient resides where the message is originally received by a message center in a time zone different from the intended recipient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Oliver Mason Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20010010500
    Abstract: A method, arrangement, and system enable adaptive calibration of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) from reference signals with unknown parameter(s) that may vary (e.g., a varying frequency). An analog reference signal s(t) is supplied to an ADC to be calibrated. The output x(n) of the ADC is used by a, e.g., sine-wave reconstruction filter to reconstruct an estimate ŝ(n) of the sampled instances of the signal s(t). A recursive frequency estimator within the sine-wave reconstruction filter produces a frequency estimate of the analog reference signal s(t) from the signal x(n). An adaptive reconstruction filter uses this frequency estimate and the signal x(n) to produce the estimate ŝ(n). When a convergence detector determines that the adaptive reconstruction filter has converged, the estimate ŝ(n) is used to alter values that are stored in a correction table. During functional operation of the ADC, the correction table is used to correct the output values of the ADC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Henrik Lundin, Peter Handel, Mikael Skoglund, Mikael Pettersson
  • Publication number: 20010010501
    Abstract: A decoder for generating output pulses or oscillations in response to input analog waveforms includes a circuit having a variable operating point and having a transfer function characterized by an unstable operating region bounded by a first stable operating region and a second stable operating region. In one embodiment, the circuit is characterized by having a resistive input impedance. The analog waveform forces the operating point of the circuit into its unstable and stable regions to produce oscillatory and non-oscillatory behavior at the circuit's output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Jonathan Tun Nan Liu, Jurianto Joe, Siong Siew Yong, Kin Mun Lye
  • Publication number: 20010010502
    Abstract: An isolation system is provided that is suitable for use in telephony, medical instrumentation, industrial process control and other applications. Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise a capacitive isolation barrier across which a digital signal is communicated. The system provides a means of communication across the isolation barrier that is highly immune to amplitude and phase noise interference. Clock recovery circuitry may be employed on one side of the isolation barrier to extract timing information from the digital signal communicated across the barrier, and to filter the effects of phase noise introduced at the barrier. Delta-sigma converters may be disposed on both sides of the isolation barrier to convert signals between analog and digital domains. An isolated power supply may also be provided on the isolated side of the barrier, whereby direct current is generated in response to the digital data received across the isolation barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Silicon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Scott, Navdeep S. Sooch, David R. Welland
  • Publication number: 20010010503
    Abstract: A universal remote control comprising a keyboard having a plurality of pushbuttons including a macro pushbutton and a library of codes and data for use in transmitting operating commands to a plurality of different home appliances of different manufacturers. Instructions within the remote control are used to match the universal remote control to a plurality of different home appliances of different manufacturers such that selected codes and data from the library are used to transmit operating commands to the matched home appliances in response to activation of selected pushbuttons of the keyboard. The instructions are also used to assign to the macro pushbutton a subset of the selected codes and data from the library whereafter activation of the macro pushbutton causes the universal remote control to use the subset of selected codes and data from the library to transmit operating commands to one or more of the matched home appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Paul V. Darbee, Richard E. Ellis, Louis Steven Jansky, Avram S. Grossman
  • Publication number: 20010010504
    Abstract: A movable body detecting device and a road-curve mirror with a radio wave reflection plate for allowing a reception side movable body present at a position where the movable body is hidden from a transmission side movable body to accurately receive movable body detecting radio waves transmitted from the transmission side movable body by making use of a road-curve mirror. A radio wave reflection plate for reflecting radio waves, being transmitted from one movable body A and received by another movable body B so that the reception side movable body detects the presence of the transmission side movable body, is mounted in a road-curve mirror provided on such a road to assist an individual in navigating an intersection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazumitsu Kushida
  • Publication number: 20010010505
    Abstract: In a signal receiver of GPS and a demodulation processing control method, since satellite signals to be transmitted respectively from multiple GPS satellites in the GPS system are received and the demodulation processings of satellite signals by the demodulator are time division controlled by the control circuit based on the demodulation timing with respect to satellite signals received respectively, demodulation processing can be executed not providing the demodulator corresponding to each of GPS satellites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Tetsuya Naruse
  • Publication number: 20010010506
    Abstract: An antenna structure for a vehicle which includes an antenna which is disposed as a print or sticker antenna on a front window glass (FW) and is used to receive FM and AM waves, has a loop-shaped (e.g., reverse-convex-shaped) antenna element (1) which is disposed near the upper edge portion of the FW, one antenna element (2) which is connected in a DC manner to the lower side portion of the loop shape defined by the antenna element (1), and nearly vertically descends toward the lower edge portion of the FW substantially at its center in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, and a feeder distribution center (P) formed on the upper side portion of the loop shape defined by the antenna element (1), and the antenna elements (1, 2) are formed of silver paste containing dark carbon particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Tatsuaki Taniguchi, Kazuo Shigeta
  • Publication number: 20010010507
    Abstract: A communication device in which the problem caused by separately providing an antenna and a filter directly connected thereto, and the problem caused by separately providing a balanced-to-unbalanced transformer, have been solved. A dielectric filter having a both-end opened &lgr;/2 resonator is constructed by providing inner-conductor forming holes in a dielectric block. An antenna is constructed by forming a radiation electrode and terminal electrodes on a dielectric block. By bonding the antenna and dielectric filter, an antenna device is achieved which has a balanced feed antenna and which performs the input-output of unbalanced signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoharu Hiroshima, Hideyuki Kato
  • Publication number: 20010010508
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus includes at least one display apparatus that displays parallactic first and second images; an image-separation apparatus that separates the first and second images from the display apparatus; an image formation system that foes the separated first and second images on the respective eyes of a person viewing the stereoscopic images; and a position detection means able to acquire information on the positions of the viewer's eyeballs. The image-separation apparatus is provided between the display apparatus and the image formation system on a light path on which light information emitted by the display apparatus reaches the viewer. The image formation system is positioned between the image-separation apparatus and the viewer, and real images are formed between the image formation system and the viewer. Also, display contents of the first and second images are changed based on the positions of the viewer's eyeballs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Communications Research Laboratory
    Inventor: Hideki Kakeya
  • Publication number: 20010010509
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a light-emitting display controls the light-emission of light-emitting elements in such a manner that a driving current or driving voltage having a prescribed value to be supplied to the light-emitting elements is turned on or off by an on/off signal from a driving unit. The driving apparatus includes a pixel read section for reading the luminance values for the light-emitting elements in a frame period from an image signal and a &Dgr;&Sgr; modulator which operates in a sub-frame period which is 1/n of the frame period according to the luminance values read by the pixel read section. The output of “1” or “0” from &Dgr;&Sgr; modulator is served as the on/off signal. The driving apparatus can further includes a random data generator for providing random luminance values for the individual pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Okuda
  • Publication number: 20010010510
    Abstract: A dimensional light-emitting element array device is provided. The device comprises a light-emitting element array in which a plurality of three-terminal light-emitting thyristors are arranged in X-Y matrix of N rows×M columns; a plurality of row lines to each thereof an anode of the thyristor on a corresponding row of the matrix is connected; one clock line to which all the row lines are connected; a plurality of row address lines to each thereof a gate of the thyristor on a corresponding row and a 0th column of the matrix is connected; and a plurality of column address lines to each thereof a gate of the thyristor on a corresponding column of 1st-Mth columns of the matrix is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Seiji Ohno
  • Publication number: 20010010511
    Abstract: An active-matrix display device includes rows of gate lines, columns of signal lines, and a matrix of liquid-crystal pixels provided in the region where the gate lines and the signal lines intersect. Vertical scanners sequentially scan each gate line during one vertical period, and select one row of liquid-crystal pixels. A horizontal scanner samples video signal for each signal line, and writes the video signal in the one row of liquid-crystal pixels selected within one horizontal period. A voltage applying means applies to each signal line a voltage equal to or less than the minimum level of the video signal in one horizontal period excluding a time assigned for writing the video signal in one row of liquid-crystal pixels. The repeated application of the voltage during one vertical period approximately equalizes signal leakages from all the pixels, whereby vertical crosstalk can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: KATSUHIDE UCHINO, TOSHIKAZU MAEKAWA
  • Publication number: 20010010512
    Abstract: A gray-scale power supply line supplied to a source signal line driving circuit is made only one system, and each of D/A conversion circuits drives source signal lines in which three source signal lines corresponding to RGB are made a unit and the number of which is a multiple of 3. The periods in which respective source line selecting circuits select source signal lines corresponding to respective colors of the RGB are made synchronous with each other, and the power supply voltage applied to the gray-scale power supply line is changed in one horizontal writing period, so that power supply voltages corresponding to R, G and B are respectively applied to the gray-scale power supply line in periods while the source signal lines of R, G and B are respectively selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Munehiro Azami
  • Publication number: 20010010513
    Abstract: A low-cost tactile feedback mouse device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions and manipulations in a graphical environment provided by a computer. The mouse device includes a sensor device able to detect the movement of the mouse in the planar workspace. An actuator is coupled to the housing of the mouse and applies an inertial force in a particular degree of freedom, preferably along an axis perpendicular to the planar workspace, where the inertial force is transmitted through the housing to the user. The actuator outputs the inertial force preferably by linearly moving an inertial mass along the Z-axis. The output force is correlated with interaction of a controlled graphical object, such as a cursor, with other graphical objects in a graphical environment displayed by the host computer. The inertial force can be a pulse, vibration, texture force, or other type of force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Louis B. Rosenberg, Kenneth M. Martin
  • Publication number: 20010010514
    Abstract: A position of a target point on a given plane or an attitude of a given plane is to be detected. The given plane has a plurality of characteristic points, the number of which is greater than a predetermined number. The detector comprises an image sensor having an image plane on which an image of the given plane is formed with at least the predetermined number of the characteristic points included in the image. The position or the attitude is calculated on the basis of the identified positions of the predetermined number of the characteristic points on the image plane. A controller generates the characteristic points on the given plane. An image processor identifies the positions of the characteristic points with at least one of the characteristic points distinguished from the others. The image processor calculates a difference in the output of the image sensor between a first condition with the characteristic points on the given plane and a second condition with the given plane in a reference state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Yukinobu Ishino
  • Publication number: 20010010515
    Abstract: An ergonomic mouse that alleviates mouse RSI is obtained by gripping the mouse with a pinching action between the thumb and opposing fingers while the mouse is in the U-shaped opening formed in the hand when in a neutral and unflexed condition with the little finger and the heel of the palm opposite the thumb resting upon a work surface. The mouse has two gripping surfaces; one receives the thumb and the other the opposing fingers. Indentations in the gripping surfaces help locate the finger tips. Mouse buttons are located in the indentations. The gripping surfaces are inclined toward each other, so that the pinching action to actuate the mouse buttons produces a slight downward force toward a base surface that rests upon and slides over the work surface. The little finger is allowed to drag on the work surface to assist in fine positioning. Preferably, the mouse utilizes an optical motion sensing technique instead of the conventional rubber coated steel ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Gary B. Gordon
  • Publication number: 20010010516
    Abstract: An Internet refrigerator and a method of operating the Internet refrigerator are disclosed. The Internet refrigerator includes a modem for performing a data communication with remote communication devices through the Internet, a first control section for controlling constituent elements of the refrigerator, a touch panel for producing key signals in accordance with a user's touch, a second control section for controlling other constituent elements of the refrigerator including the first control section in response to the key signals provided from the touch panel and key signals from the remote communication devices, a display section for displaying necessary information under the control of the second control section, and an Internet connection device for connecting the refrigerator to the Internet. The Internet refrigerator operating method uses internal information of the Internet refrigerator and information from the external communication devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Young Hoon Roh, Kwang Choon Kim, Jin Cheol Cho
  • Publication number: 20010010517
    Abstract: A perspective projection calculation device making a perspective correction accurately and rapidly in each plane while avoiding an increase in the number of dividing operations. The perspective projection calculation device comprises at least one plane slope element coefficient calculation unit for calculating a coefficient which implies a plane slope element of the triangle defined in the three-dimensional space usable in common in a plurality of geometrical parameters to be interpolated, at least on interpolation coefficient calculation unit for calculating an interpolation coefficient from the plane slope element coefficient calculated by the plane slope element coefficient calculation unit, and at least one correction unit for making a perspective correction, using the interpolation coefficient obtained in the interpolation coefficient calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Ichiro Iimura, Yasuhiro Nakatsuka, Jun Satoh, Takashi Sone
  • Publication number: 20010010518
    Abstract: A flowchart containing objects A-C is displayed on a computer screen. Object B is subordinate to object A and object C is subordinate to object B. If a user selects object B, object B is deleted, and simultaneously objects A and C are connected. In this case, object C is subordinate to object A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Saitou
  • Publication number: 20010010519
    Abstract: In a computer aided design system, a method for converting a computer-generated symbol, or computer generated graphical entities, into an intelligent symbol involves identifying connection points to the computer-generated symbol and generating coordinates for the connection points. A symbol definition is built using the coordinates. The connection points are found by determining a perimeter substantially including the symbol and identifying graphical entities on or near the perimeter. Connectors joined to the symbol are also converted into intelligent connectors by finding coordinates for points on the connectors. A multi-symbol is generated from two or more symbols. The definition of one of the symbols forming the multi-symbol is maintained and linked to the multi-symbol such that changes in that symbol are reflected in the multi-symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Timothy Joseph Erskine
  • Publication number: 20010010520
    Abstract: When performing gamma-compensation processing, contour adjustment processing and resolution conversion processing, in that order, for example, on prescribed picture image data, the addresses in a memory in which the functions for performing those processes are also stored in that order. The data processing apparatus can modify the order of processing in response to user inputs. A new processing order is created, and the picture image processing is carried out according to the modified order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: KATSUHISA MURAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20010010521
    Abstract: An external character creating method is provided for an image forming apparatus having a display screen. The external character creating method includes the steps of displaying at least a portion of image data in a specifying area on the display screen, displaying a dot-shaped cursor on the display screen, and creating an external character on the displayed image data using the cursor. The cursor is fixed at a position in the specifying area, so that the image data is scrolled in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction to create an external character.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: HITOSHI HAYAMA, KENJI WATANABE, TAKANOBU KAMEDA, TOMOYUKI SHIMMURA
  • Publication number: 20010010522
    Abstract: A three-dimensional graphic processing device includes an identifying portion for identifying whether the vertex data of a polygon to be drawn is an absolute value or a relative value, an operation unit for operating to obtain the absolute value of vertex data identified as a relative value by the identifying portion and a set up circuit for generating data necessary for drawing based on the absolute value of the vertex data obtained by the operation unit. The operation unit operates to obtain the absolute value of vertex data identified as a relative value by the identifying portion, and therefore the vertex data of a polygon can be expressed by a relative value. As a result, the data amount of polygon data can be reduced, which permits the drawing throughput to be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shohei Moriwaki, Yoshifumi Azekawa, Osamu Chiba
  • Publication number: 20010010523
    Abstract: Providing at least one description scheme. For audio and/or video programs a program description scheme provides information regarding the associated program. For the user a user description scheme provides information regarding the user's preferences. For the system a system description scheme provides information regarding the system. The description schemes are independent of one another. Preferably, the program description scheme, user description scheme, and system description scheme are independent of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: M. Ibrahim Sezan, Richard Qian, Peter J. L. Van Beek
  • Publication number: 20010010524
    Abstract: A customizable user interface for a mailing apparatus, such as a postage meter or other mailing equipment, provided as input data to a user interface control program, the input data specifying all aspects of the look and feel of the user interface. The invention provides a specific organization of the input data suitable for providing the required specifications. At a high level, the data is organized into a screen tree component, for providing the feel of each screen, i.e. the response by the mailing apparatus (usually the execution of a function) to any key pressed by a user in association with each screen of the user information as well as for providing what screens to display in response to an event so as to communicate the occurrence of the event to a user; and a screen language component, used in conjunction with a font component, for providing the look of each screen, i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Mozdzer, Robert G. Arsenault, Gary S. Jacobson, Wesley A. Kirschner, Daniel Lanin, Sharon A. McNeal
  • Publication number: 20010010525
    Abstract: An adaptive information display apparatus is provided for simultaneously displaying a plurality of kinds of display information on a display screen in an optimal display form. The information display apparatus includes a work processing unit for executing a plurality of kinds of work processing based on each of data inputted from a sensor input unit and a character/coordinate input unit and outputting the results of the work processing, and a display unit for displaying the results of the plurality of kinds of work processing outputted from the work processing unit. The information display apparatus further includes a display form detector unit detecting display form data for the display unit, an arrangement rule storage unit storing an arrangement rule defining display forms corresponding to each of the plurality of kinds of work processing, and a display arrangement control unit comparing the display form data and the arrangement rule for each work to output a predetermined display arrangement instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshibumi Fukuda, Yukihiro Kawamata, Kimiya Yamaashi
  • Publication number: 20010010526
    Abstract: An indexing wiper scraper cleaning system for cleaning a scraper, which has removed ink residue from a wiper following an inkjet printhead wiping routine where the residue was first removed from the printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism, has a reservoir filled with an ink solvent. Rotary scraper member having a series of scraper bars projecting radially from a cylindrical body is supported to periodically soak at least one of the scraper bars in the ink solvent bath. Following this soaking, the scraper bars are rotated through an indexing motion into a scraping position to scrape the ink residue from the wiper. After the scraping operation, the scraper bars are returned to the solvent bath to ready them for the next scraping operation. A method of cleaning an inkjet printhead, along with an inkjet printing mechanism having such a indexing wiper scraper cleaning system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: John A. Barinaga
  • Publication number: 20010010527
    Abstract: A printer including apparatus for reducing systematic print quality defects includes, in one embodiment, a printhead with variably spaced nozzles and, in another embodiment, a controller which varies the location along the carriage scan axis that ink is ejected from the nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Stephen King Glass
  • Publication number: 20010010528
    Abstract: In order to overcome inefficient power dissipation in parasitic resistances and to provide economies in the power supply, a higher resistance value heater resistor is employed in a thermal inkjet printhead. Higher current densities in a high resistance segmented heater resistor are reduced by employing a shorting bar divided by a current balancing resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Matthew Giere, Noah C. Lassar, Satya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20010010529
    Abstract: In a micro device including a through hole for piercing a substrate and a fragile part provided around or across a part corresponding to a through hole of a multilayer film and relatively thinner than the other part, an opening can be formed in the multilayer film by cutting the multilayer film along or inside the fragile part and a through hole can be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Yutaka Furuhata, Yoshinao Miyata, Hajime Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20010010530
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink supply of the type having a diaphragm pump that is actuated by an actuator for providing ink to a printhead. The diaphragm pump includes a diaphragm and a chassis. The diaphragm has an integral pressure plate portion formed therein. The chassis and the diaphragm define a variable volume chamber. The chassis has a bias portion disposed therein for engaging the integral pressure plate portion to urge the pressure plate in a direction away from the chassis. The pressure plate urges the diaphragm away from the chassis to expand the variable volume chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Paul Mark Haines
  • Publication number: 20010010531
    Abstract: The ink cartridge is provided with a pressure controller to regulate the inner pressure therein by atmospheric pressure while the ink stored in the ink cartridge is gradually drained off. The ink is stored in a container with negative pressure therein, and at least one through hole formed on the container is used to connect to the atmosphere, and at least one recess is formed on the inner wall of the through hole. The pressure controller has a plug movably disposed on the through hole and the recesses. The recesses are used as a channel to allow the entrance of the atmospheric air, and the plug can be automatically moved so as to enlarge the clearance between the plug and the through hole while the ink stored in the ink cartridge is gradually drained off. The inputted air can effectively reduce the negative pressure in the container, and therefore the printing process of the ink cartridge can be proceeding steadily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research
    Inventors: Shu-Cheng Hsieh, Shyh-Haur Su, Cheng-Wei Hsu, Chin-Tai Chen, I-Chung Hou, Chieh-Wen Wang
  • Publication number: 20010010532
    Abstract: The present invention is a replaceable ink container for use in an off-axis printing system. The printing system is responsive to electrical signals from the replaceable ink container for controlling printer parameters. The ink container has a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to the direction of insertion into the printing system. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the leading edge toward a first side. The plurality of electrical contacts are configured for engaging corresponding electrical printer contacts associated with the printing system. Also included is a fluid outlet disposed on the leading edge toward a second side opposite the first side and spaced from the plurality of electrical contacts. The fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the replaceable ink container. The fluid outlet is configured for engaging a fluid inlet associated with the printing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Robert L. Battey, Michael L. Bullock, John A. Barinaga, James E. Clark, John A. Underwood, Paul David Gast, Susan M. Hmelar, David O. Merrill
  • Publication number: 20010010533
    Abstract: A laser color image forming apparatus uses a plurality of laser beams, forms a latent image on a photosensitive belt by laser scanning having a fixed scanning frequency and a pixel forming clock frequency within one scanning, develops the latent image on the photosensitive belt by toner absorption using toner of a color corresponding to each laser beam, and then transfers the developed image to a printing medium such as a paper sheet or the like. Regarding image patterns for the detection of positional deviation, specifically designed to detect the quantity of printing positional deviation of a color to be measured, zonal patterns arrayed on a fixed cycle for a reference color and zonal patterns having shapes similar to the former and designed for the color to be measured are superposed to form a plurality of image patterns on the photosensitive belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromasa Kanno
  • Publication number: 20010010534
    Abstract: Using a thermal transfer recording medium formed with thermal transfer recording material on a surface of a supporting material, of which dynamic shear modulus of elasticity is within a range of 1×103 Pa to 8×105 Pa, and loss tangent tan &dgr; is within a range of 0.6 to 2.5 measured in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in a temperature range of the melting point thereof to 50° C. over the melting point at a frequency of 0.5 Hz, pressurizing the heat generating elements against the thermal transfer recording medium to bring the same into contact therewith with a load of 0.3 to 1.0 N/mm, which is a load per unit length in the main direction of the arrangement of the heat generating elements, transferring the thermal transfer recording material to the printing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kushida, Mitsuharu Endo
  • Publication number: 20010010535
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses an ink ribbon having ink layers of different colors, and a long, film-like intermediate transfer medium. A platen for holding the medium during transfer is driven by a motor via a synchronous reduction gear whose speed reducing ratio is an integer multiple. The ink ribbon is selectively heated by a thermal head having regular polygonal or circular heat-generating portions. Under the control of a controller, the thermal head is driven on the basis of image information, and a record image containing an area gradation image is formed on the medium. This area gradation image has a color set by stacking dots having different colors in the same spot. The medium on which the record image is formed is overlapped on a target body and heated and pressed by a heat roller, thereby transferring the record image from the medium onto the target body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Tomio Andoh, Tomoyuki Marugame, Nobuaki Honma
  • Publication number: 20010010536
    Abstract: Apparatus for transmitting information at a data rate, comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Yigal Katzir, Boris Kling, Avraham Gross, Wolfgang Retschke
  • Publication number: 20010010537
    Abstract: In a device for projection on a dome with a plurality of projectors (50, 51, 54, 56) for displaying image contents on an at least partially spherical projection surface (52), wherein every projector (50, 51, 54, 56) is arranged in such a way that it illuminates at least a partial surface (56, 58) of the projection surface (52) with partial images, and there is provided for at least for one of the projectors (51, 54, 56) a light source (12) and a deflecting device (40) by which a light bundle (10) emitted from the light source (12) can be guided along the portion to be illuminated in order to display the image contents, the deflecting device (40) of the at least one projector (51, 54, 56) is constructed as a scanning device by which the light bundle can be guided in a plurality of lines with a plurality of picture points over the partial surface (56, 58) to be illuminated, and the light source (12) is connected to an intensity control (64) on the basis of which individual picture points can be illuminated for
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: WILFRIED LANG, LUDWIG MEIER
  • Publication number: 20010010538
    Abstract: An oral cavity image pickup apparatus, has image pickup means having at least an object lens and an imaging device; and holding means of holding the image pickup means inside and/or outside an oral cavity, wherein the image pickup means is capable of image-picking up full or partial dentition exposed inside and/or outside the oral cavity and partial bio-tissue at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoko Ooshima, Shinji Uchida
  • Publication number: 20010010539
    Abstract: A tool (2) mounted on the wrist end of a robot (1) is placed in a predetermined photographing position (P1), and the front and side faces of the tool (2) are photographed by cameras (41, 42) to obtain three-dimensional shape data of the tool (2). The extent of deformation of the tool (2) is detected by comparing the obtained shape data and reference shape data, and a programmed movement path for the robot is corrected depending on the extent of deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: TARO ARIMATSU, KAZUHIKO AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20010010540
    Abstract: A picked-up image of an environment of the vehicle concerned is displayed. The position of an object which approaches the vehicle concerned is acquired on the basis of two picked-up images taken at times apart by a prescribed time interval. An immobile point on the approaching object is set. A display frame image is created with reference to the immobile point. The display frame image is superposed on the picked-up image. In such a configuration, since the approaching object is encircled by a display frame image, the approaching object can be easily visually recognized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ogura, Kazutomo Fujinami
  • Publication number: 20010010541
    Abstract: Integrated imaging and GPS network monitors remote object movement. Browser interface displays objects and detectors. Database stores object position movement. Cameras detect objects and generate image signal. Internet provides selectable connection between system controller and various cameras according to object positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Dennis Sunga Fernandez, Irene Hu Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20010010542
    Abstract: An intruder monitoring apparatus has at least a feature of correcting characteristic quantities by which an object to be monitored is specified, on the basis reference characteristic, when any change occurs in conditions of the video devices and environments. A further feature is provided which a plurality of scenes are monitored periodically by one camera and an image analysis function is driven so as to monitor any intruder only when the camera unit is fixedly directed to a specific scene among the scenes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: YOICHI TAKAGI, HIROSHI SUZUKI, KUNIZO SAKAI, YOSHIKI KOBAYASHI, TAKESHI SAITO
  • Publication number: 20010010543
    Abstract: A network configuration file is generated at a host computer and downloaded to a digital camera. This file contains instruction information for communicating with a selected destination via a communications interface. The digital camera includes a “send” button or LCD icon which allows the user to easily transmit one or more images via a wired or wireless communications interface to a desired destination, which among other possibilities may be an Internet Service Provider or a digital photofinishing center. When the user selects this option, the communications port settings, user account specifics, and destination connection commands are read from the network configuration file on the removable memory card. Examples of these settings include serial port baud rate, parity, and stop bits, as well as account name and password.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Joseph Ward, Kenneth A. Parulski, James D. Allen
  • Publication number: 20010010544
    Abstract: A digital camera with an anti-blur function is provided with simple structures. The digital camera comprises an automatic exposure control mechanism for an automatic exposure mode and inclinometer. As sub-modes, the automatic exposure mode comprises a normal program mode and a high-shutter-speed priority program mode. Output of the inclinometer is repeatedly checked at a predetermined period to detect camera-shake. Camera-shake is determined by stable or unstable output from the inclinometer. When the output is unstable, it is determined that camera-shake exists, and the high-shutter-speed priority program mode is selected. Contrarily, when it is stable, it is determined that no camera-shake exists, and the normal program mode is selected. Attitude of the camera, which is sensed by the inclinometer, is recorded to a detachable PC card with the image data when camera-shake is not detected. If camera-shake is detected, the sensed attitude data is invalidated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI
    Inventor: Yoshio Wakui
  • Publication number: 20010010545
    Abstract: A camera control system capable of controlling a plurality of cameras has a determination means for determining whether or not the camera to be controlled is controllable, and a display control means for changing the display state of an interface used for performing a camera operation in accordance with the determination result of the determination means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: AKITOMO SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20010010546
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating and rendering multiple-view images. A camera includes an image sensor to receive images, sampling logic to digitize the images and a processor programmed to combine the images based upon a spatial relationship between the images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: SHENCHANG ERIC CHEN
  • Publication number: 20010010547
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of storing or transferring an image along with an image-processing parameter for processing the image. When storing or transferring a second image for storage or transfer which has a second resolution for storage or transfer differing from a reference resolution, a reference image-processing parameter set according to a reference resolution image having the reference resolution is corrected based on a difference between the reference resolution and the second resolution, so that it becomes a second parameter corresponding to the second image. The second parameter obtained by the correction is stored or transferred along with the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Masahiko Yamada