Abstract: A printing device is provided with an imager to capture an output image of the paper after it is printed on. The output image is compared to an input image representing the image being printed to detect any artifacts in the output image and to determine the type of the artifacts. The types of the artifacts include effects caused by dirty drum, low or missing toner, dirty or wrinkled paper, etc. The printing device performs a responsive action based on the type of artifacts detected, including displaying a diagnostic message, stopping the printing, rejecting the sheet, re-printing, printing subsequent pages with a corrective action, etc. Further, another imager is provided to capture an image of the paper before it is printed on, and the image is analyzed to detect artifacts of the input paper, including dirty or wrinkled paper, wrong paper size, paper skew or misalignment, etc.

Abstract: When a user selects not to insert advertisement data into scan data when transferring the scan data from an MFP to a Web server, the MFP converts the advertisement data into an HTML format to transfer to the Web server in association with the scan data. Accordingly, a PC accessing the Web server displays a Web page showing contents of the advertisement and information including an icon functioning as means for requesting download of the scan data. The scan data inserted with no advertisement data is downloaded to the PC by operating the icon.

Abstract: A display element containing an electrolyte (containing a metal salt compound) disposed between counter electrodes, wherein a compound represented by the following Formula (A) is immobilized on at least one of the counter electrodes: wherein R22 represents an aryl group, R23 and R24 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; X represents >N—R25, an oxygen atom or sulfur atom; and R25 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, a ratio of a region on which the compound of Formula (A) is immobilized to a region on which the compound is not immobilized is 1:4 to 4:1. A black display, a white display and a color display having a color other than black are achieved by the operation of the counter electrodes.

Abstract: An electrochromic compound represented by Formula (1), wherein R1 is an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group; R2 and R3 are each a hydrogen atom or a substituent; X is N—R4, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom; and R4 is a hydrogen atom or a substituent; provided that at least one of R1-R4 has a partial structure represented by Formula (2), —Si(Y)nR?(3-n)??Formula (2) wherein Y is a halogen atom or OR, R is an alkyl group, or an aryl group; R? is an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, and n is an integer of 1-3.

Abstract: A technique capable of satisfying both higher functionality and higher accuracy in a compact imaging device is sought to be provided. In order to accomplish the above object, an imaging device is formed by lamination of a plurality of layers including: an imaging element layer that has an imaging element part; a lens layer that has a lens part whose distance from the imaging element part is changeable, and is disposed between a subject and the imaging element part; and an actuator layer that has an actuator part to move the lens part, and is disposed between the subject and the imaging element part.

Abstract: Provided are an optical pickup apparatus and an objective lens which can appropriately record and/or reproduce information on three types of discs with different recording densities and improve the light-utilization efficiency using a simple structure. A first optical path difference providing structure is formed on an optical surface of the objective lens. The first optical path difference providing structure is a step structure in which plural ring-shaped step units each including the same number of steps are arranged concentrically about the optical axis as the center. The width w1 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the highest step or the lowest step in at least one step unit in the step structure is approximately half of the average value w2 of two steps at both sides of the highest step or the lowest step in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: A sheet cutting device includes: an interposing section that interposes a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets are bundled; a cutting blade section having a cutting blade that cuts a sheet bundle interposed by the interposing section; a blade receiving member that receives a cutting edge of the cutting blade in the case of cutting; and a controller that controls a stop position of the cutting blade in the case of cutting. The controller controls the cutting blade section so that an amount of movement from a standby position of the cutting blade to the stop position becomes great when the number of times of cutting operations is increased.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image data, includes: a power source for supplying power to various sections of the apparatus; a display section for displaying; and a control section for executing a controlling regarding operations of the apparatus, wherein the control section is provided with a normal power supply mode representing a state of normal power supply, and a power supply mode for operator part replacement representing the state of power supply different from said normal power supply mode, the power supply mode for operator part replacement to which an operator changes the state of power supply on changing a part or a unit of the apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing device including: a fixing member; a pressing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member, wherein the fixing member and the pressing member sandwich a recording medium, fix a toner image on the recording medium and convey the recording medium; a detection unit for detecting that a leading edge of the recording medium is located at the nip portion; a first air jetting unit for separating the recording medium from the fixing member by jetting air only to a position close to the leading edge of the recording medium having passed the nip portion based on the detection result by the detection unit; and a second jetting unit for jetting air to the recording medium whose leading edge has passed through the nip portion.

Abstract: A microchip 1 in which a resinous film can be inhibited from sagging into a channel. The microchip 1 comprises: a resinous substrate 2 having a channel groove formed therein; and a resinous film bonded to a surface of the substrate on which the channel groove has been formed. A micro-channel 3 including channels 3A and channels 3B is formed by the channel groove and the resinous film 10. The total length of the channels 3B, which is parallel to the X direction for the resinous substrate 2, is larger than the total length of the channels 3A, which is parallel to the Y direction for the resinous substrate 2. The resinous substrate 2 has been bonded to the resinous film so that the sides parallel to the channels 3B are parallel to the TD direction of the resinous film and that the sides parallel to the channels 3A are parallel to the MD direction of the resinous film.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a monochrome image into a color image includes a selection portion that select, for a plurality of attributes, individual colorization methods from among a plurality of colorization methods that are defined individually such that the plurality of colorization methods correspond to at least one attribute among the plurality of attributes relating to the plurality of regions, a processing portion that colorizes the monochrome image to produce a colorized image by applying the individual colorization methods selected by the selection portion, and a determination portion that determines whether or not the colorized image satisfies a setting condition. In this apparatus, when the determination portion determines that the setting condition is not satisfied, the selection portion changes a combination of the colorization methods such that at least one among the plurality of colorization methods applied to the plurality of regions is changed.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a plurality of modules for realizing a plurality of functions. The information processing device reproduces contents information and expects information which is to be inputted based on the functions relating to the reproduced contents information. Further, based on the expected information, the information processing device controls operations of at least some of the plurality of modules.

Abstract: A printing condition setting apparatus having a setting parameter data storage unit for storing a plurality of setting parameter data each including at least one setting parameter registered by the user's operation among a plurality of setting parameters specifying printing conditions; a setting parameter data reception unit for receiving the user's selection of one setting parameter data among a plurality of setting parameter data stored in said setting parameter data storage unit; and a setting parameter data call unit for calling up said one setting parameter data selected by the user to display the setting parameters included in said setting parameter data on a specific operating screen.

Abstract: An image pickup lens includes a first lens block with a positive refractive power, a second lens block with a negative refractive power, and an aperture stop. The first lens block includes a first lens substrate, and lens portions 1a and 1b arranged on the first lens substrate. The lens portions 1a and 1b are different from the first lens substrate in at least one of a refractive index and an Abbe number. The second lens block includes a second lens substrate, and lens portions 2a and 2b arranged on the second lens substrate. The lens portions 2a and 2b are different from the second lens substrate in at least one of a refractive index and an Abbe number. The image pickup lens satisfies predetermined conditions relating to a refractive index of the lens portion 2b, and composite thicknesses of the first lens block and the second lens block.

Abstract: A method for enforcing a user specified minimum font size (USMFS) in a hardcopy document (HD). The method includes: receiving a request to print an electronic document (ED) according to a magnification ratio; identifying a first character in the ED having a first font size smaller than a quotient of the USMFS divided by the magnification ratio; and increasing the first font size by a scale factor to match the quotient; where the HD is generated by scaling the ED according to the magnification ratio, and wherein the HD comprises the first character in the USMFS.

Abstract: An efficient and effective method for managing a plurality of print jobs is implemented on a print job management apparatus (e.g. a server) which is connected to a plurality of printing devices. The print job management apparatus groups the received print jobs into a number of groups based on various criteria, such as customer information, print priority, color settings, the number of copies, paper size, paper type, finishing options, etc., and submits each group of print jobs to one printing device for printing. Different groups of print jobs can be submitted to different printing devices, and each printing device prints the print jobs submitted to it. The print job management apparatus can also display the grouping result to an operator. The method allows the print job management apparatus and the operator to more efficiently manage the print jobs.

Abstract: Methods consistent with some embodiments presented provide methods for identifying at least one pixel in a raster image buffer for inclusion in a processing space. In some embodiments of methods identifying at least one pixel in a raster image buffer for inclusion in a processing space may include analyzing a tag-field associated with the at least one pixel. The tag-field may identify object types associated with the pixel. In some embodiments, an action directive may be assigned to the pixel based on the value of the tag-field. In some embodiments, the pixel may be included in a processing space based on the action directive.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an unfixed image on a recording sheet passing through a fixing nip formed by pressing a pressing member against an inside surface of a pressure belt via a low friction sheet, so that an outside surface of the pressure belt presses against a fixing member, wherein the pressing member includes a first pressing part having an elastic front face, and (ii) a second pressing part whose front face presses against a rear face of the first pressing part, the low friction sheet extends from a portion thereof pressed by the front face against the pressure belt, to an upstream end thereof, along a lateral side of the first pressing part, the upstream end being upstream from the other end with respect to a rotation direction of the pressure belt and sandwiched between the rear face and the front face by pressure.

Abstract: Provided is a cellulose acetate film which has excellent retardation properties and exhibits low haze even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions and which, in an alkaline saponification step, causes little dissolution of the film itself or additives in a saponifying liquid. The cellulose acetate film is characterized by comprising: a cellulose acetate which has an acetyl substitution degree of 2.0 to 2.5; and 5 to 15% by mass (relative to the cellulose acetate) of a component which contains a compound represented by general formula (1) wherein m is 0 and a compound represented thereby wherein in is more than 0 at a ratio of 45:55 to 0:100.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-producing fixing belt of a cylindrical shape which is composed of a heat-producing layer, an elastic layer, and a releasing layer in this sequential order from the inner side, and the heat-producing layer contains a polyimide resin and fabric containing carbon fiber and a pair of electrodes to supply power to the heat-producing layer making contact with the fabric containing carbon fiber are provided on both ends of the cylindrical shape.