Patents Assigned to Matsushita Graphic Communications Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6836341
    Abstract: A data communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus having an automatic telephone message recording function, having a common memory for storing video and audio data that have been received or are to be transmitted, enables selection of a method of memory management whereby the memory space is divided at a boundary address into two regions which respectively store video data and audio data and a method whereby the memory space is not so divided, but the video data and audio data are written into addresses which successively increase from respectively opposite ends of the memory space. Remaining amounts of memory capacity which can be used to store video and/or audio data can be displayed as respective numbers of standard document pages and telephone calls, the latter representing standard-duration recording intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Doi, Masatsugu Okuyama
  • Patent number: 6804023
    Abstract: An appearance change of an information processing device, which has a plurality of operation modes and whose appearance is changed in accordance with change of operation mode, is displayed on a display screen as graphic data representing the appearance. When a memory card is extracted from the information processing device, an operation of the information processing device is reset to avoid a run away phenomenon. Furthermore, in an inquiry and communication operation, only necessary pages of resultant inquiry information are printed out at a time after the communication line is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hanaoka, Ichiro Minami, Ryoji Kuribayashi, Takuya Kuwahara, Munenori Fujimoto, Kazuma Yoshida, Takashi Okiyama
  • Patent number: 6668150
    Abstract: An oil application roller capable of preventing an oil leak when the roller is left in the state where the rotation axis thereof runs vertically and also capable of preventing an oil escape from the roller in a fixing device. The oil application roller (15) includes a seal ring (25) at respective end portions of the roller (15). The seal ring (25) includes a vent hole (26) extending from an end face of the roller (15) to the outside of the seal ring (25), and the cross-sectional area of the vent hole is not less than 0.01 mm2 and not more than 1 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Akinori Toyoda, Noriyuki Tajima, Michihiro Sima, Yoshihiro Nakayama, Takumi Kitano
  • Patent number: 6647226
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses a plurality of image forming units having photosensitive drums and that are arranged rotatable in a vertical plane such that the image forming units are shifted sequentially to an image forming position. Each of the image forming units has a rectangular concave portion along its longitudinal direction which contains a handle made of an elastic rectangular-shaped plate. The handle has elongated holes extending in the longitudinal direction at both ends of the handle which engage anchoring members provided at the concave portion. The handle is allowed to be contained within the concave portion by its elastic force and is allowed to be pulled out from the concave portion by a user's finger inserted into an entrance groove provided only at a side opposite to the photosensitive drum with respect to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Noboru Katakabe, Keizou Takeuchi, Shigemitsu Tani
  • Publication number: 20030206580
    Abstract: A communication apparatus at a remote location is connectable to a communication apparatus at a central location. The apparatus includes a negotiation data transmitter that transmits negotiation data to the communication apparatus at the central location. The negotiation data includes an identification field that includes at least modulation independent information, a standard information field that includes at least modulation dependent information, and a non-standard information field that includes information other than information associated with the identification field and information associated with the standard information field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphics Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Palm
  • Publication number: 20030204749
    Abstract: A security system that protects an apparatus from (e.g. theft) comprises at least one secured apparatus having an identification code, an operation center having a memory with the identification code of the secured apparatus stored in association with an operation-permitting code and a gateway apparatus connecting the secured apparatus and the operation center. The gateway apparatus and the operation center are connected via a permanently connectable line, which is not subject to connection time charges. When the secured apparatus is turned on, the secured apparatus transmits the identification code to the operation center via the line. Then, the operation center searches the table for an operation-permitting code corresponding to the identification code, and transmits the operation-permitting code retrieved from the memory to the secured apparatus via the line, if the operation-permitting code corresponding to the identification code is found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC
    Inventors: Alan Pugh, Akira Atsuta
  • Publication number: 20030197700
    Abstract: A hard disk stores a CAD file having 3-D data that relates to an assembly product comprised of a plurality of parts. Based on this 3-D data of an assembly product, a parts data retriever retrieves 3-D data for each part. According to this 3-D data for each part, a bitmap output unit generates 2-D bitmap image data illustrating the part image, which is viewed from a predetermined direction. Moreover, using the 2-D data of the part, a management data generator generates a management table describing steps to output an assembly scene on a screen. A file having this management table and a file having 2-D data are then delivered to a PC for assembly scene output, in order to output the assembly scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicants: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc., Nippon Systemware Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Tanaka, Kazunori Toshima, Minoru Murano, Hisatomo Ogawa, Takeshi Nagamatsu, Tomomi Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20030193929
    Abstract: A communication apparatus and a communication device that are selectively connectable to each other. A transmitter, associated with one of the communication apparatus and the communication device, transmits a first predetermined signal, such as, for example, an MS signal, to designate a specific mode to the other one of the communication apparatus and the communication device. The first predetermined signal includes an identification field that stores modulation independent information and a standard information field that stores modulation dependent information. A receiver receives a second predetermined signal, such as, for example, an ACK signal or a NACK signal, in response to the first predetermined signal from the other one of the communication apparatus and the communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Palm
  • Publication number: 20030169447
    Abstract: At a predetermined location on a touch panel, a document image in a portrait direction, or a document image in a landscape direction is displayed according to a direction of the scanned document, while displaying a corresponding forwarding image in parallel, on the same screen. Since the direction of the scanning document and the direction of the document at the destination are displayed, it is possible to easily confirm how the scanning image is forwarded to the destination, thereby preventing an error of forwarding the document with the wrong direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hidemi Nakadaira
  • Publication number: 20030170036
    Abstract: A multifunctional printer is provided with an external LCT (Large Capacity Tray) that has an elevator movable in up/down directions, the elevator being empowered by a power supply to a drive mechanism of a body unit. Paper is provided on the elevator to be fed into the body unit. When a sheet of paper remains within the LCT during a paper delivery error, the elevator is lowered to a predetermined location before shutting down the power supply to the drive mechanism in the body unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoichi Mochizuki, Kimio Saito
  • Publication number: 20030170047
    Abstract: A photocopier comprises an intermediate member that is provided pivotably to the photocopier through a freely pivoting joint and an opening and closing cover that is provided pivotably to the intermediate member through a freely pivoting joint. The intermediate member is connected to the photocopier at one edge of the intermediate member. Further, the opening and closing cover is connected to the intermediate member at other edge opposite to the edge of said intermediate member. When the opening and closing cover is opened, image recording system located within the photocopier is exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasutoshi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20030169449
    Abstract: A communication apparatus is connected to a terminal apparatus via a network. The communication apparatus includes a memory that stores image data and a storage period of the image data and a checker that determines whether a storage time of the image data exceeds the storage period time. A deleter deletes image data based on a determination by the checker section and a server transmits an instruction for changing the storage period to the terminal apparatus in accordance with a request by the terminal apparatus, wherein the storage period is changeable from the terminal apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Junichi Iida
  • Publication number: 20030170060
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plurality of destination screens having a plurality of pages, in which a plurality of destination selection keys are displayed. The destination screens are displayed in layers, each screen having a tag to select a desired destination screen. When a specific tag is selected, a page of the corresponding destination screen with a registered destination selection key is displayed. When page scroll key are pressed, the registered destinations can be searched as each page of the destination screens is scrolled in the ascending/descending order. When no more pages can be scrolled in one destination screen, another destination screen is displayed, instead of terminating the operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a separate operation to switch to another screen, when no more pages can be scrolled by pressing a page scroll key. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the operator's burden to find a desired destination, thereby improving the convenience of the operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Hidemi Nakadaira, Hidenobu Kanda
  • Publication number: 20030156860
    Abstract: A photocopier includes a toner bottle that discharges toner from an opening by a rotation, a motor that rotates said toner bottle and a contacting section provided at a position through which a protrusion of the toner bottle passes when the protrusion comes down by the rotation of the toner bottle. When the weight of the toner bottle is more than or equal to a predetermined value, the contacting section descends by the weight of the toner bottle when the protrusion passes through the contacting section, and the contacting section ascend when the protrusion passes away from the contacting section. When the weight of the toner bottle is less than a predetermined value, the contacting section doesn't descend by the weight of the toner bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Masashi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20030140260
    Abstract: A multifunctional printer is provided with a main CPU that controls the entire apparatus, main power unit that supplies power to the main CPU, sub CPU that shuts down the power supply from the main power unit to the main CPU at a predetermined condition and restores the power supply from the main power unit to the main CPU upon detecting a factor canceling the power supply shut-down, PC interface board that informs the sub CPU about the factor canceling the power supply shut-down upon detecting a printing request from a PC, and sub power unit that supplies the power to the sub CPU and PC interface board separately from the main power unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Makoto Kizawa, Tamotsu Sato, Masami Hirakawa, Takashi Hanada
  • Publication number: 20030137697
    Abstract: The present invention adopts a configuration making a decision on a half-tone dot image focused on cyclicity of an image of a half-tone dot decision information adding circuit 102 on an image input from an image reader 101 in advance, adding the decision result to the image as half-tone dot decision information and carrying out various kinds of image processing using the image data in an arbitrary order. Image processing blocks 103, 104 and 105 store added half-tone dot decision information and transmit the half-tone dot decision information to the next block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sato, Yoshikazu Y Naito, Toshiaki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030133442
    Abstract: A communication apparatus comprises a destination obtainer that obtains a destination address, a telephone network interface that connects to a public switched telephone network and a LAN interface that connects to an Internet. Further the communication apparatus includes a communication controller, an Internet communication controller and a network communication controller. The communication controller analyzes the destination address obtained by the obtainer to determine whether communication is performed via the telephone network interface or via the LAN interface. The Internet communication controller performs voice transmission over the Internet via the LAN interface when the communication controller determines that the communication is performed via the LAN interface and the network communication controller performs voice transmission over the public switched telephone network via said telephone network interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Asahiro Onuma
  • Publication number: 20030131906
    Abstract: A powder feeding container is made from paper, resin film, or a synthetic film made with paper and resin film, the container containing powder within, and having a peak at one end, which is formed from an incline that starts from a middle of one edge of the container. The peak end is cut to form a first opening that releases the inside powder, whereas a change proximity area that starts forming an inclined edge is cut, and the rear area from the incision is folded inward, so that air is sent into the first opening along the inner wall of the inclined edge, forming a second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eiji Fujita, Satoshi Yamamoto, Tatsuo Nakatsugawa
  • Patent number: 6587219
    Abstract: Internet facsimile apparatus 1 notifies a facsimile number of the final destination to server 3 and acquires an e-mail address of a relay apparatus from server 3. And it transmits an e-mail attached image information to Internet facsimile apparatus 2 corresponding to the acquired e-mail address. At this time, it inserts a relay transfer instruction command to a part of a header of the e-mail to order a relay transfer. Internet facsimile apparatus 2 functioning as a relay apparatus converts a specific predetermined information among the header information of the e-mail to be relay transferred into the same format as that of the image information, and transmits the converted specific information with the image information to facsimile apparatus 4 of the final destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoji Saito, Kiyoshi Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20030107761
    Abstract: A host that controls jobs of a printer obtains client identifying information within a job control request, which is received from a terminal, while obtaining the job information and client identifying information of the print request from the printer, and storing the same in a job information storage unit. For each job included in the job information that is obtained from the printer, a job control capability determiner compares the client identifying information (of print requester) and client identifying information of the terminal that made a control request. When both of the client identifying information is identical, it is determined that the control is allowed. When it is not identical, it is determined that the control is not allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphics communication systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Shougo Kimura