Abstract: A fluid sprayer includes a pump and an electrostatic module configured to provide an electrostatic charge to spray fluid. The electrostatic module is electrically connected to a conductive component of the fluid sprayer, such as a fluid displacement member, fitting, cylinder, or spray tip, to charge the spray fluid via the conductive component. The fluid is electrostatically charged prior to exiting the fluid sprayer.

Abstract: The electronic hand stamp (1) includes an inkjet printhead with nozzles directed toward a bottom side (4) of the electronic hand stamp (1), a control circuit (30) and a motion detector. The control circuit (30) is connected to the motion detector and to the inkjet printhead and configured to control the inkjet printhead in response to readings received from the motion detector. The electronic hand stamp (1) includes at least four indicator LEDs (10-17) connected to the control circuit (30). At least one of the at least four indicator LEDs (10-17) is arranged on every side perpendicular to the bottom side (4) of the electronic hand stamp (1).

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a person falling, confirming a potential fall, and taking action to mitigate the effects of a fall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing system for use in cryogenic skin treatment that is capable of targeted delivery of a cryogen at a high rate, thereby achieving rapid freezing of targeted skin tissue. The dispensing system of the present invention uses a cryogen that contains dimethyl ether and is designed to deliver the cryogen in an accurate and very effective manner.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises: a printer that includes a printing mechanism that performs printing on a printing medium, the printing mechanism being provided in a print area; a housing that includes an opening region for exposing the printing mechanism to outside; and a guiding mechanism that represents a position of the print area. The guiding mechanism is provided at a position directly above the print area and visible from outside. Accordingly, when a user performs printing on the printing medium using this printing apparatus, the user can easily grasp a position of the print area by means of the guiding mechanism, and therefore can print on a desired position on the printing medium.

Abstract: A digital image processing method and apparatus eliminates or reduces the temporal delay associated a perspective transform being generated for a region of an captured image. The method includes: receiving a preview image; detecting at least one rectangular region from the preview image and obtaining coordinate information corresponding to the at least one rectangular region; determining a main rectangular region from among the at least one rectangular region detected from the preview image; capturing an image; and generating a perspective-transformed image by performing perspective transform on the captured image by using coordinate information corresponding to the main rectangular region.

Abstract: A position detection apparatus configured to detect a position on a movement surface of a mounted object having the position detection apparatus mounted thereon, includes a moved amount detector configured to detect an amount of movement on the movement surface; a posture detector configured to detect at least a posture of the mounted object on the movement surface; and a position calculator configured to calculate the position of the mounted object, based on the amount of movement and the posture.

Abstract: Provided is a printing device that has a thermal head that transfers overcoat ink provided on an ink sheet onto the surface of printing paper based on pattern data. The pattern data is data in which a first pattern and a second pattern are arranged alternately in a primary scanning direction and a secondary scanning direction. The first pattern includes a rectangular block of high tonal value pixels, a frame-like group of low tonal value pixels surrounding the rectangular block, and a group of high tonal pixels surrounding the group of low tonal value pixels. The second pattern includes a rectangular block of low tonal value pixels, a group of high tonal value pixels surrounding the rectangular block, and a frame-like group of low tonal pixels surrounding the group of high tonal value pixels.

Abstract: A handheld inkjet printer includes an inkjet print head and a tip. One or more sensors measure the position of points on a curved surface that are physically touched by the tip while the tip is moved relative to the surface. Based on these measurements, a computer generates or modifies a computer model that specifies at least (i) position of the curved surface, and (ii) a target region of the curved surface on which a pattern is to be printed. In addition, the one or more sensors measure position and orientation of nozzles in the print head, while the handset is moved relative to the surface. The computers also calculate, based on the computer model and these additional measurements, which of the nozzles to fire at a different times, such that the pattern is printed on the target region as the handset is moved relative to the surface.

Abstract: A handy printer and a mobile phone based on the use of the same are provided, wherein the printing can be performed on recording paper sheets having various sizes. The handy printer comprises a cover member which is movable between an exposure position at which an ink discharge surface of an ink discharge head is exposable to the outside and a cover position at which the discharge surface is hidden from the outside. When the cover member is positioned at the cover position, the recording is permitted on a recording paper sheet accommodated in a recording paper-accommodating mechanism. When the cover member is positioned at the exposure position, the recording is permitted on a recording medium disposed outside a handy-printer body casing.

Abstract: “A high-molecular compound or high-molecular antioxidant obtained by reacting at least three compounds of (A) a sulfur-containing organic compound having at least two active hydrogen atoms, (B) a polyisocyanate compound having at least two isocyanate groups and (C) an amine compound having at least two active hydrogen atoms and then cationizing with an acid at least some of amino groups in a resultant reaction product” or “a high-molecular antioxidant obtained by reacting at least three compounds of (A) a sulfur-containing organic compound having at least two active hydrogen atoms, (B) a polyisocyanate compound having at least two isocyanate groups and (E) a nonionic polyol compound having at least two active hydrogen atoms” and a recording medium obtained by using the high-molecular antioxidant.

Abstract: A semiautomatic electronic printer comprises a housing (2) and, internally, a print head (8). A push-button (3), projecting upwards from the housing (2), is rigidly connected to a frame (7), which is mounted in a spring-charged relationship inside the housing (2) in such a manner to be vertically movable between a rest position and a working one. The frame (7) sustains in the upper part a printed circuit board including a microprocessor for acquiring from a separate computer data that has to be printed, and for storing such data, as well as for controlling the operation of the print head (8), supported by a carriage (20), with its inferior part being brought to touch the medium to be printed when the push-button is pushed downwards and to translate horizontally after the printing of a line of dots until a desired imaging made of a dot matrix has been printed on the all printing surface.

Abstract: An ink jet pen that is equipped with a free ink chamber. The ink jet pen has a free ink chamber in fluid communication with a negative pressure producing chamber. The negative pressure producing chamber is in communication with a printhead. The ink jet pen has a power source and a surface detection device. The surface detection device is adapted to move along a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiautomatic electronic printer comprises a housing (2) and, internally, a print head (8). A push-button (3), projecting upwards from the housing (2), is rigidly connected to a frame (7), which is mounted in a spring-charged relationship inside the housing (2) in such a manner to be vertically movable between a rest position and a working one. The frame (7) sustains in the upper part a printed circuit board including a microprocessor for acquiring from a separate computer data that have to be printed, and for storing such data, as well as for controlling the operation of the print head (8), supported by a carriage (20), with its inferior part being brought to touch the medium to be printed when the push-button is pushed downwards and to translate horizontally after the printing of a line of dots until a desired imaging made of a dot matrix has been printed on the all printing surface.

Abstract: A system and method for providing privacy regions in a picture or video. In one example embodiment, a camera is provided which has a lens system and detector, image processing circuitry, compression and formatting circuitry, and control circuitry. Images or video taken from the camera are preferably corrected for distortion (such as that introduced by an anamorphic lens system) and sent to an operator's workstation, where a privacy region is defined. The privacy region is merged with the rest of the image, whether constant or dynamic, and displayed. Other processing, such as object tracking and alarms, can also be implemented at varying points in the process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide a writing device including a button pressed by a user, wherein the button engages a mechanism used to move a writing tip between stowed and operative positions. A counter receives at least one indication each time the button is pressed by a user. A display on the writing device indicates a count kept by the counter.

Abstract: A hand held device that accepts a digital image, and transfers it to a wall, ceiling, floor, or any smooth surface. The hand held unit consists of a print element array in addition to a positioning mechanism that determines the absolute position of said device on the wall. Said positioning mechanism consists of a plurality of extruding tape, which in conjunction with the motion of the device over the surface, provides linear measurements from a plurality of fixed reference points to a fixed location on the device. The combination of said tapes provide sufficient information to triangulate the exact location and orientation of said device on the surface, subsequently providing sufficient information to impart the proper portion of said digital image to the surface, as said device moves across the surface. Repeated sweeping movements of said device over the surface will render further portions of the image, until it is complete.

Abstract: A method and system for position-aware freeform printing in which a source image space in a source medium and a target image space in a target medium are specified. A selected image in the source image space is copied and/or optionally processed and transferred to the target image space. A controller captures the selected source image and stores the image in a memory. The image is optionally processed and the processed and optionally formatted image is output. The controller may format the processed image to fit into the target image space by controlling the rendering of the processed image onto the target medium as the printing device is moved over the target image space in a freeform direction. The controller predicts the freeform direction that the print head will travel by detecting the motion previously traveled and adjusting the image to compensate for the predicted freeform direction.

Abstract: A hybrid printing device for printing on a surface, the device comprising a printing means adapted to print on the surface and a sensing means adapted to sense the position of the printing device in relation to positioning indicia located on the surface wherein the printing means is further adapted to be responsive to the detected position of the device in relation to the detected position. The device operates by detecting the position whereby a print control means responds and signals to the printing head to function to build the image on the printing surface. The invention preferably uses optical glyphs pre-printed on the page to provide position information to the sensing means. The device may operate as a peripheral where the print head is controlled in response to the detected position. Alternatively, the print head may be triggered by print control data itself embedded in the optically detected glyph information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing and printing an image of a subject utilizes a tracking mechanism to allow an operator to print the captured image onto a selected surface by manually manipulating the apparatus across the surface. The apparatus is a print-capable digital camera which can print the captured image in one of a range of sizes. The printing process involves an operator placing the digital camera on the surface and scanning the surface in order for the digital camera to print a segment of the captured image according to the location of the digital camera. The tracking mechanism may be comprised of two trackball assemblies. The rotations of the trackballs generate location data which is utilized by digital signal processing circuitry to determine the position of the digital camera relative to a start-print position.

Abstract: A portable printer which can print on a variety of surfaces is disclosed. The printer has a number of failsafe features which improve its operation and the quality of print. In particular, printing is inhibited in a certain number of situations. Alternatively or additionally, a maintenance sequence can be implemented when the printing unit is removed from a base location. A set of absorbent strips additionally or alternatively allow for the ink jet nozzles to be discharged within the print area.

Abstract: A marking and counting probe for use with a counter, e.g. a computer, comprises a tubular housing for holding a marking implement, such as a highlighter. One end of the tubular housing has an aperture through which the marking end of the marking implement extends. The other end of the housing is closed and has a switch which is activated by the marking implement when a certain activating pressure is applied to the switch by the marking implement. A resilient means, such as a spring within the switch, keeps the marking implement from activating the switch until the activating pressure is applied to the switch by pressing the marking end of the marking implement against a surface. The switch is connected to a counter whereby, when sufficient pressure is exerted on the switch by the marking implement to activate the switch, a count is recorded.

Abstract: A hand-held and self-contained electronic printing apparatus (10) for printing indicia on a medium (M) which includes a housing (12) that can be manually positioned adjacent a surface of the medium (M) and manually swept across a printing area on the medium (M) during a printing sequence. A print head is disposed in the housing (12) which contains a plurality of print elements such as ink jet nozzles for printing indicia in a selectable pattern of dots on the medium (M) within the printing area. The printing apparatus (10) also contains an electronic control circuit disposed in the housing (12) for controlling the print head to print indicia on the medium (M) during a printing sequence wherein the control circuit comprises compensation means for reducing image distortion based on detecting the position of the nozzles during the printing sequence. In one embodiment, the control circuit compensates for image distortion that is the result of sweeping the housing (12) across a non-linear path.

Abstract: An electric pen is used as a data input/output device with the same feel as though writing on paper with an ordinary pen. The electric pen can be used in conjunction with an external data processor, such as a compact portable electric note book. Hand written characters inputted by the electric pen is data processed in the external data processor and characters can be printed in a designated print area on paper or the like in print form.

Abstract: A hand-held and self contained electronic printing device for printing indicia on a medium includes a housing that can be manually positioned adjacent a surface of the medium and remain stationary against the medium during a printing sequence; the housing having an aperture that generally defines a printing area on the medium when the housing is in position for printing; a printer disposed in the housing for printing indicia in a selectable pattern of dots on the medium within the printing area; an actuator for initiating a printing sequence; and electronic control means disposed in the housing for controlling the printer to print indicia on the medium during a printing sequence. In one embodiment, the print head can be moved to sweep across a printing area by a manual force applied to an actuator.

Abstract: A marking and counting implement comprises a tubular housing for holding a marking implement, such as a highlighter. One end of the tubular housing has an aperture through which the marking end of the marking implement extends. The other end of the housing is closed and has a switch which is activated by the marking implement when a certain activating pressure is applied to the switch by the marking implement. Typically, a resilient means, such as a spring, keeps the marking implement from activating the switch until the activating pressure is applied to the switch by pressing the marking end of the marking implement against a surface. The switch is connected to a counter whereby, when sufficient pressure is exerted on the switch by the marking implement to activate the switch, a count is recorded. Thus, the marking and counting implement can be used for both marking and counting.

Abstract: A disposable postage meter assembly for printing charges and captions on envelopes and/or postage strips includes a base unit and a non-rechargeable disposable module. The base unit and the disposable module have devices for setting variable information.

Abstract: A device suitable for printing bar codes is disclosed, this device comprising a housing, means for holding a label supply roll, printing means for applying indicia to a label, means for supplying data to determine the nature of the indicia printed on the label, and means for supplying electrical energy to operate the device, characterised in that said print unit is an ink jet printer.

Abstract: A hand held printer and guiding means which maintains the printer in a fixed angular orientation with respect to an article to be printed, such as an envelope, and which constrains the printer to move linearly in a series of parallel line segments whereby an address can be printed on the envelope. Also disclosed is a printer and printer control system which utilizes a two dimensional position encoder using a ball which rolls on the surface to be printed to control the printing of data stored in a RAM memory in the printer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a handy sketching apparatus which has an image information reading function and a sketching function to draw an image on the basis of the image information read by the image information reading function, and which is easy to operate and easy to be miniaturized for smaller size.The handy sketching apparatus comprises a base block containing a progressive scanning image information reading mechanism through the bottom face, a sheet carrying path provided on the top side of the base block so as to carry a sheet in a specified direction substantially parallel to the bottom face of the base block, and an upper block integrally formed on the top side of the base block, straddling the sheet carrying path. The image information reading mechanism reads image information placed under the base block sequentially as the apparatus is moved in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A hand-held recording apparatus for image recording on a recording medium by manual movement comprises a main body, a thermal head provided in the main body and having plural heat-generating elements for image recording on the recording medium, an ink sheet positioned feedable to a recording position by the thermal head and bearing ink which is transferred onto the recording medium in response to the heat generation of the thermal head, a first elastic member for biasing the thermal head to the recording medium, and a second elastic member for biasing the main body having the thermal head therein to the recording medium.The elastic force of the second elastic member is selected larger than that of the first elastic member.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for effecting recording on a recording medium is portable and capable of bearing against the recording medium. The recording apparatus comprises recording means for effecting recording on the recording medium, and control means for controlling the ON and OFF of recording by the recording means.

Abstract: A method and device for recording, storing and reproducing graphic symbols such as text, indeograms and the like on a carrier comprises an independent portable assembly with an optical pick up, a memory for the storage of data and a printer. Graphic symbols can be picked up by placing the optical pick up in contact with, or in close proximity to, the carrier and drawing it along the line of text or symbols to be copied. These symbols are recorded in the memory and can be reproduced by placing the printer against another carrier and drawing the device across it. The quality of recording and reproduction is independent of the speed at which the device is drawn along the line of text, since the optical pick up is arranged to scan the symbols each time the device is advanced a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A manually sweepable printer stores data transferred from a data forming apparatus such as a wordprocessor in a memory. The printer is placed on printing paper and manually swept to sequentially print the data stored in the memory. The manually sweepable printer separately receives printing data and print control data from the data forming apparatus and separately stores the received data. In the printing operation, the printing data is printed on the basis of the print control data.

Abstract: A manually operable scanning structure employs a mechanism for straightening movement on a record or an image recorded medium. The mechanism comprises a pair of rollers, support members for rotatably supporting the rollers and swaying members for coupling the support members with a housing member. Each of swaying members is formed in a bifurcated shape and has a flexible neck portion which is capable of swaying the roller. The flexible neck portion is positioned to the rear of the roller in a moving direction of the housing. Therefore, the swaying member sways the roller in an opposite direction by a reaction according to an external thrust force urged to the housing member.

Abstract: A hand scanning type image input and output device includes a main body adapted to be moved by hand to scan an object, such as a manuscript, and having an enclosed readout head adapted to read out the information on a desired portion of the object via an opening formed on the surface of the main body which is tightly contacted with the object, a movable roll reciprocably supported on the surface of the main body in which the read-out opening is formed, and a travel guide section rotatably mounted to the main body. A mounting reference surface for the object is formed on the perimeter of the read-out opening and the movable roll is rotated in synchronism with a detecting unit adpated to detect the distance traversed by the main body.

Abstract: The present invention is a marking device which is hand-held and which a user uses to mark in order to count each of a plurality of items in a set and to automatically record the count. As the hand-held marking device counts each of the items, it simultaneously displays the number of the items counted. The hand-held marking device includes a cartridge and a transducer both of which are mechanically coupled to a casing. The cartridge is replaceable and has a marking tip for marking off items at one end and a plunger at the other end. The transducer has a contact-trigger. The cartridge is slideably coupled within the casing so that when its marking tip contacts any surface, its plunger engages the contact-trigger of the transducer thereby producing an input pulse. The hand-held marking device also includes a counting and displaying system, a reset switch and a display.

Abstract: A hand held device for spraying liquid utilizes insertable drop-on-demand ink jet cartridges. The disclosed device is simple and inexpensive in design and facilitates interchangeable use of different inks without intervening cleaning.

Abstract: A self-contained non-contact writing device is disclosed that employs a thermal ink jet to transfer ink to a writing substrate. The problems associated with conventional direct contact writing devices are avoided by preventing direct contact of the ink transfer mechanism and the writing substrate.

Abstract: An ink jet pen, which is a pen-like writing utensil utilizing an ink jet method of recording, comprises a tubular casing, incorporating means for ink emission and equipped with means for controlling ink emission. In a representative embodiment, the tubular casing is composed of two tubes which are mutually rotatable for controlling the ink emission.

Abstract: In a handy reader/printer apparatus for reading recorded information from a desired portion of a medium to be read and printing read information on a desired portion of a medium to be printed, the apparatus has a housing having an opening in a lower surface thereof and placed on the medium to be read or printed such that the desired portion of the medium can be fitted in the opening, a reader unit, arranged in the housing, for reading the recorded information of the desired portion of the medium to be read fitted in the opening while the housing is placed on the medium, a printer unit, arranged in the housing, for printing data in the desired portion of the medium to be printed fitted in the opening while the housing is placed on the medium, a memory for storing data read by the reader unit upon operation of the reader unit, and a readout unit for reading out the storage data from the memory as the printing data to the printer unit upon operation of the printer unit.

Abstract: A small printer for printing characters on a printing medium especially adapted for use in a portable electronic calculator. The printer includes a frame having a carriage slidably mounted thereon for lateral displacement across the printing medium. An ink jet printing mechanism is carried on the carriage for selectively printing characters at predetermined positions along lines of the printing medium. A crank mechanism couples a motor to the carriage so that the printing mechanism can be translated across the printing medium. A printing position control circuit determines when the printing mechanism is in each predetermined printing position and selectively supplies a printing signal to the printing mechanism so that the printing mechanism will print a character at the selected predetermined positions.

Abstract: A portable hand-held length probe with a length measuring wheel and a tracing unit which is mounted adjacent the wheel and is movable by pressing the tracing unit against a surface to be measured. A wheel movement indicative output signal is effected as function of wheel movement, and the probe carries a switch which is actuated as a function of depress-release movement of the tracing unit to enable or disable transmission of the wheel movement indicative output signal.

Abstract: A character applying device which is controlled by a separate signal processor can be manually moved across a writing surface while the characters are being applied. A single-tipped marking instrument is moved with a prescribed motion parallel to the surface as the device is moved across the surface to create a relatively dense array of line patterns. Simultaneously, received control signals cause the tip to move in and out of contact with the surface for, in effect, masking the array to produce characters represented by those signals.

Abstract: A marking device includes a case which may be held by a user in the fashion of conventional writing and marking instruments. A ball point pen, felt tip pen, pencil or crayon is positioned within the case. In the instances of the pens, a soft iron collar is fixed or adjustably connected to the pen. In the instances of the pencil or crayon, a movable, hollow, soft iron collar is positioned about the pencil or crayon, a plurality of balls of non-magnetic, non-magnetizable material are provided within the collar to hold the pencil or crayon in fixed, preferably adjustable, position when the collar is moved downwardly. An electro-magnet or solenoid responsive to electrical signals or pulses is placed in the vicinity of the fixed or movable soft iron collar.

Abstract: In a handy reader/printer apparatus for reading recorded information from a desired portion of a medium to be read and printing read information on a desired portion of a medium to be printed, the apparatus has a housing having an opening in a lower surface thereof and placed on the medium to be read or printed such that the desired portion of the medium can be fitted in the opening, a reader unit, arranged in the housing, for reading the recorded information of the desired portion of the medium to be read fitted in the opening while the housing is placed on the medium, a printer unit, arranged in the housing, for printing data in the desired portion of the medium to be printed fitted in the opening while the housing is placed on the medium, a memory for storing data read by the reader unit upon operation of the reader unit, and a readout unit for reading out the storage data from the memory as the printing data to the printer unit upon operation of the printer unit.

Abstract: A position detection apparatus configured to detect a position on a movement surface of a mounted object having the position detection apparatus mounted thereon, includes a moved amount detector configured to detect an amount of movement on the movement surface; a posture detector configured to detect at least a posture of the mounted object on the movement surface; and a position calculator configured to calculate the position of the mounted object, based on the amount of movement and the posture.