Abstract: An improved and lower cost color spectrophotometer, especially suitable for an on-line color printer color control system, in which plural different spectra LEDs sequentially perpendicularly illuminate a common and substantially circularly illuminated color test area, which may be variably spaced and variably oriented relative to the spectrophotometer, through a common central lens system, and also the reflected illumination therefrom may be measured at 45 degrees thereto by averaging the outputs of photodetectors spaced around that circularly illuminated color test area, to provide reduced sensitivity to the variable angular or azimuthal orientation of the color test area relative to the spectrophotometer, and which photodetectors may be so illuminated by 1:1 optics for spatial insensitivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for on-line predicting an analytical model of a dynamically varying color reproduction device comprises recursively executing a parameter adjustment algorithm for updating the parameters to the analytical model. Parameter adjustment is computed based upon a measured error signal detected between a sensed signal detected from actual device output and with an insitu sensor, and the analytical model output. The adjustment algorithm is recursively executed until parameter convergence effects a minimal error measurement, at which time the updated parameters are identified as accurate within the selected parametric model.

Abstract: A method for calibration of touchscreen display coordinates includes displaying a calibration target; sensing a calibration touch for the calibration target; obtaining a calibration touchpoint coordinate for the calibration touch; determining if the calibration touchpoint coordinate is valid; and if so, storing the calibration touchpoint coordinate in a touchpoint history database and using calibration touchpoint coordinates to define a calibration reference point for operation, otherwise generating a computed reference calibration point as an average of using a predetermined number of the calibration touchpoint coordinates in the touchpoint history database.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and program products for a context monitor that monitors communications between components in a monitored environment. The context monitor maintains a historical context of interactions between the components and analyzes the current monitored environment using the historical context and the composition of the components in the environment and returns a situational assessment of the environment.

Abstract: An actuator including a pneumatically distended elastomer membrane that is pressurized and depressurized using electrostatically actuated flap valves laminated onto a printed circuit board. The flap valves close only at zero pressure gradients and flows so that elevated closing and hold-off pressures are achieved. Fluid expelled from the elastomer membranes during collapse are vented through a wall of the actuator. An air jet object mover utilizes an array of the pneumatic actuators as valves to open and close air jet vents. A fiber optic micro-switch utilizes pneumatic actuators to position a mirror.

Abstract: A series of enable trains are designed to provide a predetermined increment of heat to the heating element of a thermal ink jet printer printhead. The enable trains are stored in tabular form in memory according to printhead temperature. The printhead temperature is sensed during the printing cycle and read by the printhead controller. The controller selects a enable train from the table and applies it to the heating element. When subsequent cycles call for a change in the enable train, the current enable train is blended with the new enable train to provide an average increment of heat.

Abstract: The present invention is an organic light emitting device (OLED) comprising an anode, a cathode and a luminescent region provided between the anode and the cathode. The luminescent region comprises an electron injection and transporting zone and at least one of a hole injection and transporting zone and a mixed charge transport layer. One or both of the electron injection and transporting zone and the mixed charge transporting layer comprises an azole compound represented by formula I and/or II. The provision of the novel azole compounds of the invention as electron transport materials within an organic electroluminescent device advantageously reduces power consumption and increases power conversion efficiency within the device and as such, are suitable for a variety of display applications.

Abstract: A development system having a magnetic developer material that features novel coated carrier particles. In embodiments of the invention, the coated carrier particles incorporate a coating of sufficiently resilient characteristic so as to maintain the encapsulation of the respective carrier core while withstanding the mechanical action of a development material stripping device which would otherwise cause fragmentation of the carrier particles. Preferably, the carrier coating is of a sufficiently thick and/or a resilient nature such that the desired encapsulation is maintained.

Abstract: A method for cutting belt material to accurate dimensions and for forming the mating edges of a puzzle cut joint for joining the ends of the belt material to form a continuous belt for use in a document processing application. The belt material is maintained in accurate registration a punch press by optical sensors at each station. A vacuum pickup is constructed to move the belt material from a precision cutter to a punch press and maintains the material in tensioned condition to facilitate accurate operation of the punch press.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid ejection device having circular nozzles includes forming channels in a substrate, depositing a sacrificial material, such as photoresist, into channels to form a mold for the fluid channels and a fluid reservoir and then forming the remainder of the fluid ejection device above the sacrificial material on the substrate. Various novel fluid heater structures and an in situ fluid filter may be formed during the manufacturing process. The fluid ejection device can include a heater element located in the fluid chamber behind the nozzle opening. The geometry of the heating element can be planar. Alternatively, the heating element can be located inside the channel in either a half-cylindrical or fully-cylindrical configuration. The internal fluid pathways remain protected from contaminants by the sacrificial material. After all layers and manufacturing processes are complete, individual fluid ejection devices are diced and the sacrificial material is removed.

Abstract: The relationship between first and second side images is evaluated to determine how the position of the paper and/or the size and arrangement of an image can be manipulated to compensate for paper shrinkage caused by fusing. Show through is reduced by performing setup to adjust a pixel clock frequency and/or a photoreceptor speed, determining a residual magnification error, determining margin shifts to compensate for the residual magnification error, and applying the margin shifts. Paper shrink effects on registration can be compensated for using determinations made during a typical printer setup. Show through errors can be reduced without using a paper conditioner to pre-shrink or re-wet the paper. In simplex and duplex printing, the show through errors worsen as the image moves away from the registration edge. Using information obtained during setup, a margin shift is determined that results in a significant reduction in the maximum show through for each image.

Abstract: A method of correcting illumination variation in a scanned image of a non-planar original object, such as an open book, includes scanning at least a portion of the book in order to produce scanned image data. Illumination variation data is extracted from the scanned image data and used to derive a plurality of illumination compensation values. The scanned image data is then compensated or scaled in accordance with the illumination compensation values. Illumination data is acquired through a sampling window having a long and thin geometry. From the data acquired via the sampling window, foreground and background illumination distributions are defined. From the foreground and background illuminations, high and low threshold values are determined in order to calculate a set of reference or compensation values. A tone reproduction curve is generated in order to map the scanned data, thus normalizing the illumination variation. Alternately, an illumination gain factor is employed in the compensation.

Abstract: What is presented is a method for feature recognition using loose-gray-scale template matching including at least an initial point for locating within the received image a plurality of pixel points in gray-scale surrounding an initial point. The method has the steps of first locating the initial point and the plurality of pixel points to define feature boundaries and then generating a looseness interval about the located initial point with template information being associated therewith. The next step involves determining which one of a plurality of templates for fitting fits within a threshold looseness interval, and then outputting a signal associated with that recognized feature.

Abstract: A print job is partitioned into sub-jobs or “batches” to shorten the turnaround time for completing the processing of the print job. The sizes of the batches are chosen so as to minimize the turnaround time. The batch sizes are optimized based on factors affecting the turnaround time. The batches may be processed concurrently in a pipelined fashion to minimize the turnaround time.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for applying an electrical charge to a photoreceptor wherein a bias charge roll member is situated in contact or in close proximity with a surface of a member to be charged such as a photoreceptor. The bias charge roll member is supplied with an electrical bias having a variable voltage waveform onto which a DC bias is superimposed. The amount of DC bias is selected to set the signal voltage such that a minimally acceptable amount of AC corona is created sufficient for uniform photoreceptor charging while avoiding unnecessary excessive positive corona that causes excessive photoreceptor wear.

Abstract: A method for candidate frame selection involves sampling the source frames of the source video at a predetermined fixed periodic interval. The largest frame differences represent candidate boundaries, and the frames before and after the N/2 largest candidate boundaries are selected as candidate frames. A method for selecting keyframes involves clustering all candidate frames into a hierarchical binary tree using a hierarchical agglomerative clustering algorithm. Optionally, the pairwise distances for the members of the two clusters is modified according to class membership of the members, which is preferably determined statistically from image class statistical models. A method for selecting M clusters from which keyframes are extracted involves splitting the M-1 largest clusters of a hierarchical binary tree of clusters. Optionally, clusters not having at least one uninterrupted sequence of frames of at least a minimum duration are filtered out.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high intensity blending apparatus, particularly for blending operations designed to cause additive materials to become affixed to the surface of base particles. More particularly, the proposed invention relates to an improved blending tool for producing surface modifications to electrophotographic and related toner particles. The tool comprises a shank having riser members at each end, such risers being angled to the axis of the shank between 10 and 16 degrees.

Abstract: A method of determining the configuration of a plurality of resources in an image processing apparatus by running turn around tests to determine the interconnection of the resources and comparing the interconnection to a reference interconnection indicator stored in memory. The difference of interconnections between the reference indicator and the determined interconnections is then displayed to an operator for confirmation. An indication of the new configuration, if confirmed, is then loaded into memory and the machine is set up based upon the new configuration.

Abstract: An electrostatic type voltmeter for measuring the potential on a surface, the voltmeter including a probe; a support for supporting the probe in spaced relationship with the surface, the probe having a plurality of spacing element sites thereon for measuring a distance between each of the plurality of spacing element sites and a corresponding area on the surface opposite of each of the plurality of spacing element sites; a plurality of electrostatic element sites, intermixed and adjacent to the plurality of spacing element sites on the probe, for measuring a voltage between each of the plurality of spacing element sites and an area on the surface adjacent to the corresponding area opposite of each of the plurality of spacing element sites. A processor for compensating an output signal of the probe in response to the measurements received from the plurality of spacing element sites and the plurality of electrostatic element sites.

Abstract: A method for dip coating the exterior surface of a hollow substrate having an open first end and an open second end, the method including: