Variable Magnification Patents (Class 399/196)
  • Patent number: 10460529
    Abstract: A computer system having a display generation component and one or more input devices displays a representation of a virtual three-dimensional object in a user interface region. In response to an input for rotating the object, when the input corresponds to a request to rotate the object about a first axis, the object is rotated by an amount that is determined based on a magnitude of the input and is constrained by a limit on the movement restricting rotation by more than a threshold amount. When the input corresponds to a request to rotate the object about a second axis, the object is rotated relative to the second axis by an amount that is determined based on a magnitude of the input, wherein, for an input with a magnitude above a respective threshold, the device rotates the object by more than the threshold amount of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Dascola, Stephen O. Lemay, David J. Addey, David Lui, Giancarlo Yerkes, Lisa K. Forssell
  • Patent number: 9966767
    Abstract: A charge control device uses external electricity to charge a plurality of battery devices. A constant current source uses the external electricity to generate and adjust an output current amount to a constant target value. A selector selects one battery device from the plurality of battery devices and supplies output current from the constant current source to the one battery device. A measurer measures an amount of actual current flowing from the constant current source to the one battery device. An instructor monitors a measured value provided by the measurer and instructs the selector, when the measured value meets a condition for a reduction of charging current amount to be regarded as having occurred, to change a destination to which the output current of the constant current source is supplied from the one battery device to a different battery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhei Tatsumoto, Tomonobu Tamura, Satoshi Teshima
  • Patent number: 8662768
    Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a sheet feeding unit capable of selectively feeding recording sheets of a plurality of sizes, a print unit configured to print out images represented by print data on page-by-page basis, the print data including information of designated size of the recording sheets. On condition that running out of the recording sheets of the designated size in the sheet feeding unit is detected during printing out of the images, the sheet feeding unit starts feeding the recording sheets of a substitute size which is different from the designated size and the print unit continues printing out of images represented by remaining part of the print data on the recording sheet of the substitute size. A storing unit stores the remaining part of the print data after printing, but not part of the print data printed on the recording sheets of designated size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8179559
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nozomi Sawada
  • Patent number: 8010000
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light source unit, an image carrier on which a latent image is formed by a light beam emitted from a light source, a developing unit configured to develop a latent image formed on the image carrier using a toner, an intermediate transfer unit on which a toner image developed by the developing unit is transferred, a heating unit configured to heat the intermediate transfer unit on which a toner image is transferred, a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image heated by the heating unit on a recording medium, a temperature detection unit configured to detect temperature of the intermediate transfer unit, and a control unit configured to control a magnification of a latent image to be formed on the image carrier according to a detection result of the temperature detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Goto
  • Patent number: 7970301
    Abstract: Disclosed are printing methods, apparatus and systems to compensate for distortion caused by fusing toner to a media substrate. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method includes processing image data according to media characterization data for a measured fuser temperature. The media characterization data provides a basis to compensate for media substrate shrinkage due to fusing the printed image on the media substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Paul J. DeGruchy
  • Patent number: 7859714
    Abstract: A light emitting device that forms a latent image by irradiating light onto a charged surface of an image carrier. The light emitting device includes an electro-optical substrate that forms an optical image, a focusing lens array that focuses light from the electro-optical substrate to form an erect image of the corresponding optical image on the charged surface, and a frame in which the focusing lens array is fixed. A position determining member, which is formed of resin, is disposed on the frame, comes in contact with a supporting body that supports the image carrier, and determines a distance between the focusing lens array and the image carrier by its own height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7573606
    Abstract: Even if the user selects a print mode for executing borderless printing, when the borderless printing is improper for a discriminated sheet type, in order to prevent the occurrence of various faults in a printing unit due to the execution of whole surface printing onto the sheet on which borderless printing is improper by outputting image information with margins on the sheet, a sense result of a media is obtained and whether or not the media type indicates the media which can be borderless-printed is discriminated on the basis of the sensed result. If it is determined that the media is not the media which can be borderless-printed, the print mode is changed to bordered printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Nomoto, Hiroshi Kai, Hideo Natori, Hideki Honda, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7536125
    Abstract: A line sensor that detects the edge position of a recording paper is provided on the upstream side of a transfer point where an image formed on a first photosensitive drum is transferred to the recording paper. When performing borderless image formation, the size of the image on the first photosensitive drum to be transferred to the midstream of the recording paper after detection of its edge position is changed to a smaller size based on the detection results by the line sensor, and subsequent image formation to the recording paper continues to be performed according to this image on the photosensitive drum whose size has been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Yamamoto, Hidenobu Mandai, Masahiko Fujita, Takayuki Ohno, Masaki Saka, Kouzou Yamaguchi, Osamu Fujimoto, Masaya Asakawa
  • Patent number: 7421230
    Abstract: A digital copying machine includes a CPU that executes an overall control, a scanner section, a printer section, and an image processing section that executes image processes including image-process magnification alteration. The CPU adjusts a main-scan magnification of the scanner section at 90.9%, sets the image-process magnification alteration in the image processing section at 110%, and executes a control to form an image in the printer section on the basis of image data in which these magnifications are combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Honda
  • Publication number: 20080025760
    Abstract: A photo sensor of the invention includes a photo coupler having a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged and disposed to be spaced from each other by a specified interval, and a prism capable of being coupled to the photo coupler, having an optical path to guide a light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element, and provided with a slit in the optical path, through which an object to be detected can pass, plural prisms different in width of the slit are provided, and the plural prisms and the photo couplers are combined to enable detection of objects to be detected which are different in detection distance. The photo sensor can be used for an image forming apparatus or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Mori, Kazushige Morihara
  • Patent number: 7095975
    Abstract: An Flat Bed-Multi Function Device includes an MPU, a reading section, a recording section, an operation section, an image memory, and a ratio changing section. In a reduction copy mode, the reading section reads an extended reading area of a document larger than a recording area of recording paper to generate image data. The ratio changing section reduces the image data at a predetermined reduction ratio. The recording section forms an image on a sheet of recording paper on the basis of the reduced image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Shirai, Motonobu Ando
  • Patent number: 6965458
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image formation apparatus to which a postprocess unit requiring a discharge condition that a transfer member of which image formation face is being turned downward is discharged and a binding position at a time of binding the member at its trailing edge is being at the left of the image formation face can be installed. On a platen glass, an original is carried in such a state as its read face is opposite to an upper face of the glass, and an image on the read face of the original is read by a scanner supported at a running read position when the original passes the running read position. Then, through a mirror image process, it is formed on an image formation face (upper face) of a sheet the read image of whcih direction is the same as that of the set original. When the image-formed sheet is discharged externally by the reverse sheet discharge control, the sheet is discharged in such a state as its face is being turned downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Sato, Norifumi Miyake, Yasuo Fukazu, Masatoshi Yaginuma
  • Patent number: 6873812
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a page of a booklet having different size pages. The image forming apparatus includes a setting unit for determining an image forming area on a page having the smallest size; a magnification modification unit for modifying a magnification of an original image on an original document so that the original image fits the image forming area set by the setting unit; and an image forming unit for forming the original image at the magnification modified by the magnification modification unit on the different size pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Misao Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20040175205
    Abstract: An original reading apparatus can realize stepwise or sequential variable magnification using relatively small size optical system upon reading an original. The apparatus includes a first mirror arranged in an optical path from a reading position of an original to an image forming portion across an image forming lens and reflecting a light from the reading position of the original, and a second mirror arranged with placing a reflection surface in opposition to a reflection surface of the first mirror and reflecting a light reflected from the first mirror for a plurality of times between the first and second mirrors, and thereafter reflecting toward the image forming lens. Reflection times setting means sets number of times between the first and second mirrors by varying an angle of the reflection surface of at least one of the first and second mirrors depending upon a designated original reading magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeki Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20040161264
    Abstract: An FB-MFD includes an MPU, a reading section, a recording section, an operation section, an image memory, and a ratio changing section. In a reduction copy mode, the reading section reads an extended reading area of a document larger than a recording area of recording paper to generate image data. The ratio changing section reduces the image data at a predetermined reduction ratio. The recording section forms an image on a sheet of recording paper on the basis of the reduced image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Shirai, Motonobu Ando
  • Publication number: 20030223780
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a page of a booklet having different size pages. The image forming apparatus includes a setting unit for determining an image forming area on a page having the smallest size; a magnification modification unit for modifying a magnification of an original image on an original document so that the original image fits the image forming area set by the setting unit; and an image forming unit for forming the original image at the magnification modified by the magnification modification unit on the different size pages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventor: Misao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6628424
    Abstract: The digital synthesizer comprises a system control unit, a read control unit, and a write drive control unit, and based on a magnification fine adjustment value set using a magnification fine adjustment panel, in the copy mode, a magnification of an image in the main scanning direction is finely adjusted by controlling a write reference clock frequency for modulating a laser beam for image formation so that a desired pixel density is obtained and also a magnification of the image in the auxiliary scanning direction is finely adjusted by controlling a scan speed when reading an image from a document, while in the printer mode, a magnification of an image in the main scanning direction is finely adjusted by controlling a write reference clock frequency and also a magnification of the image in the auxiliary scanning direction is finely adjusted by controlling a rotational speed of a polygon mirror for scanning a photosensitive mirror with a write beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 6236418
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method wherein a writing device writes information of an image on a photoconductive body traveling in the sub-scanning direction to form an electrostatic latent image of the image thereupon by driving a light source to emit luminous flux, in response to an image signal corresponding to the image information, using a write clock and scanning the luminous flux from the light source with a scanning device in the main scanning direction on the photoconductive drum. The electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive body is developed by a developing device to a toner image, a transfer sheet having a size in the main scanning direction is selected by a selecting device, and the toner image on the photoconductive body is transferred by a transfer device to the selected transfer paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 6041205
    Abstract: A copier includes a reader for reading a document image, an orientation sensor for sensing orientation of characters in the document image that has entered from the reader, a size sensor for sensing the size of the document image that has entered from the reader, an image processor for zooming the document image at a magnification that conforms to results of sensing performed by the orientation sensor and size sensor, and laying out a plurality of document images as a single image, and a printer for printing the images laid out by the image processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Funada, Yukari Toda
  • Patent number: 5946532
    Abstract: A lens is moved by a lens moving member in the direction of its optical axis, and a mirror group is moved by a mirror moving member in the direction of the optical axis of the lens. The moving ranges of the lens moving member and the mirror moving member overlap, and the mirror moving member and the lens moving member are moved at different rates or times such that the mirror moving member and lens moving member do not interfere. A flexible light shielding member on the lens moving member blocks non-image forming light from reaching the mirror group, but bends within a housing holding the moving members to allow the lens moving member to move in its full moving range. A pivotable light shielding member in the moving range of the lens moving member blocks non-image-forming light from reaching the mirror group, but pivots when the lens moving member is moved in contact with it, allowing the lens moving member to move in its full moving range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichinokawa
  • Patent number: 5940663
    Abstract: An error between a set value of magnification and an actual value of magnification is reduced by correcting the amounts of movement of a single-focus lens unit and a mirror in accordance with a production error in the focal length (in accordance with the lot number) of the single-focus lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Mizunuma, Mitsuo Nimura, Kazumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 5926330
    Abstract: An optical variable power module has a movable lens unit slidably mounted on a chassis, such that the lens unit is moved along an optical axis defined thereby, and a movable mirror unit slidably mounted on the chassis, such that the mirror unit is moved along the optical axis of the lens unit. The movable mirror unit has a frame, a pair of supporting plates shiftably attached to the frame, and at least one mirror supported by the supporting plates. The chassis has a pair of abutment faces formed thereon such that the supporting plates can be abutted against the abutment faces. The abutment faces define a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens unit, whereby the supporting plates are shifted with respect to the frame such that the longitudinal axis of the mirror supported by the supporting plates is perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichinokawa
  • Patent number: 5842083
    Abstract: An electrostatic copying machine made up of an image-forming unit including a rotary drum having an exposure zone and a transfer zone, an optical system for projecting the image of the document to be copied onto the exposure zone, a copying paper-feeding system including a paper-feeding cassette that can be freely drawn to the front surface of the body of the copying machine, and a copying paper conveying passage for conveying a copying paper fed from the copying paper-feeding means through the transfer zone. A fixing device and a pair of paper-discharging rollers are disposed on the downstream side of the transfer zone. The paper-feeding cassette, image-forming unit, fixing device and the pair of paper-discharging rollers are successively arranged from one side toward the other side in the body of the copying machine within the maximum exposure scanning length of the optical system, and the copying paper conveying passage is arranged substantially linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoaki Miyamoto, Kenichi Tanabe, Tadakazu Ogiri
  • Patent number: 5809381
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming unit for image-forming image information of an original on a record medium, an optical-path-length varying unit for varying a distance between an object and an image, a driving unit for driving the image-forming unit and the optical-path-length varying unit in an interlocking manner such that the image information of the original is formed on the record medium at a plurality of magnifications, and a control unit for controlling the driving unit. In the structure, the image-forming unit and the optical-path-length varying unit are mounted to the driving unit such that the positions of the image-forming unit and the optical-path-length varying unit are adjustable relative to the driving unit. An appropriate magnification is obtained even if a focal length of the fixed-focus image-forming lens fluctuates due to errors occurring during its manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 5794104
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus designates image area on the original. A shifting device shifts the image area by predetermined amount. An outputting device outputs the image data corresponding to the image area and the image data corresponding to the shifted image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiko Maruyama
  • Patent number: 5790921
    Abstract: When zoom keys for changing a magnification by a predetermined unit each time, not only setting of a fixed magnification is bothersome, but also setting a magnification in the vicinity of the fixed magnification is very troublesome. A zoom up key and a zoom down key for changing a magnification by a predetermined unit, e.g., 1%, each time to set to a desired magnification are provided. By operating either one of the keys, a set magnification is zoomed up or down, while displaying that condition in an LCD display which serves as a display portion. While the set magnification shifts, when the set magnification becomes a fixed magnification or a magnification close to the same, a sub message as well is displayed which indicates an optimal combination of original and paper sizes with which processing at that fixed magnification is possible. Referring to the displayed sub message, the desired magnification is set by operating the zoom up key or the zoom down key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Ishikura, Yuji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5764370
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a zoom processing circuit, a scanning optical system and an enlarging/reducing circuit. The enlargement/reduction of the formed image in the main scanning direction is performed by the zoom processing circuit and an enlarging/reducing circuit, and the enlargement/reduction in the sub scanning direction is performed by the scanning speed of the scanning optical system and the enlarging/reducing circuit. When a magnification within a magnification range depending on the zoom processing circuit and the scanning optical system is specified, the enlargement/reduction of the input image data by the enlarging/reducing circuit is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Amakawa, Haruo Yamamoto, Masaya Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 5754304
    Abstract: When an magnified and synthesized image is finally printed on a printing medium based on an original image and a character font data, linear magnifying processing is executed with the aid of a software on the host computer side for the original image optically read by a scanner. In addition, vector magnifying processing is executed for font data likewise with the aid of a software, and moreover, synthesizing processing is executed for the font data. At this time, forming processing such as edge emphasizing or the like can be executed after completion of the vector magnifying processing. Synthesizing data are additionally magnified in a printer with the aid of a hardware, and subsequently, the magnified and synthesized image is outputted to the printer for performing a printing operation by the latter. An magnifying rate applicable to the host computer and the printer can be determined such that productivity of the image forming system is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Endo, Kazuyoshi Takahashi, Toshiyuki Yanaka
  • Patent number: 5740505
    Abstract: The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimile devices, and complexes thereof. When the image is produced as rotated by 90 degrees or 270 degrees by the rotary processing part 307 while the scanning speed of the original document is finely adjusted so as to be lowered, the control of the magnification is carried out so that the produced image will be contracted in the main direction and enlarged in the sub direction by an mount corresponding to the amount of adjustment made on the operating panel. On the other hand, when the scanning speed of the original document is adjusted to a higher level, the control of the magnification is carried out so that the output image may be enlarged in the main direction and contracted in the sub direction by an amount corresponding to the amount of adjustment to be made on the operating panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Kusumoto, Katsuaki Tajima
  • Patent number: 5671469
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus which exposes a document image to a photosensitive material to obtain a reproduced image, comprising: first magnification setting means which automatically sets a first exposure magnification in which the document image is recorded on the overall surface of the photosensitive material; second magnification setting means which changes the first exposure magnification which has been set by the first magnification setting means to set a second exposure magnification where the first exposure magnification has been increased by a predetermined value so that margin is prevented from being formed at the periphery of an image which is recorded on the photosensitive material; and exposure means which exposes the document image to the photosensitive material, on the basis of the central portion of the document image, in one of the first exposure magnification which has been set by the first magnification setting means and the second exposure magnification which has been set by the second ma
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Yasuda
  • Patent number: RE37812
    Abstract: When zoom keys for changing a magnification by a predetermined unit each time, not only setting of a fixed magnification is bothersome, but also setting a magnification in the vicinity of the fixed magnification is very troublesome. A zoom up key and a zoom down key for changing a magnification by a predetermined unit, e.g., 1%, each time to set to a desired magnification are provided. By operating either one of the keys, a set magnification is zoomed up or down, while displaying that condition in an LCD display which serves as a display portion. While the set magnification shifts, when the set magnification becomes a fixed magnification or a magnification close to the same, a sub message as well is displayed which indicates an optimal combination of original and paper sizes with which processing at that fixed magnification is possible. Referring to the displayed sub message, the desired magnification is set by operating the zoom up key or the zoom down key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Ishikura, Yuji Okamoto