Abstract: A photoconductive member containing, for example, a substrate, a photogenerating layer, a charge transport layer and an overcoat layer wherein the overcoat layer is comprised of a crosslinked siloxane composite containing a caprolactone-siloxane.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for folding a set of sheets into two at a center thereof, includes: a sheet number recognition section that recognizes the number of sheets in the set; a pair of rotating rollers pressed against each other to form a nip portion; a blade member retractably moves with respect to the nip portion; and a blade member control section that controls the blade member to move toward the nip portion to push the set of sheets in the nip portion at a depth corresponding to the number of sheets recognized by the sheet number recognition unit.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display device includes a spacer layer sandwiched between two conductive film substrates, the spacer layer defining a multiplicity of individual reservoirs within the display device which are filled with a display liquid.

Abstract: A method for securing the chronological integrity of files prior to archiving of the files, involving an exchange between a client and a Time Source Provider, the method comprising the steps of: the client generating a Public and a Private Key pair; the client generating attributes of the to be archived files; encrypting the client's files utilizing the client's Public Key; transmitting the encrypted data attributes and key signature to said Time Source Provider; the Time Source Provider creating a TimeMap containing the current time, time calibration data, file attributes and client encryption key signature; and the Time Source Provider providing the client data and time map back to the client.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for delivering medication to the lungs is described. Acoustic ink printing technology is modified to operate as an inhaler that generates tiny droplets near a patient's nose or mouth. The tiny droplets are easily carried by air currents into the patient's lungs. The inhaler itself is preferably a battery operated portable device that can be easily carried and easily cleaned to avoid contaminating the medication.

Abstract: A compressor can compress an image by reducing the amount of data while preserving the information. Some compressors use run length coding wherein image data is converted into a series of run length code words. The efficiency of run length coding can be increased with the introduction of differential run length code words. The differential run length code words can augment the original set of run length codes. Differential run length codes vary from current run length codes by encoding runs of differences.

Abstract: A compression and decompression system and process for optimally compressing and decompressing multibit per pixel image regions based on the type of data contained in the image region, e.g., whether the image region contains continuous tone data, including data to be halftoned, or non-continuous tone data, including antialiased text and lineart data. Segmented bytemap data blocks are processed to provide both low spatial resolution continuous tone data and high spatial resolution non-continuous tone data. However, the high spatial resolution non-continuous tone data is generated by quantizing and packing the high resolution bytes across an edge and discarding the high resolution bytes along the edge, i.e., the multibit data is discarded only in directions parallel to the edges of marks to be rendered in the image data. Additional information indicating the directions of the edges in the image data are stored to aid in decompression.

Abstract: A droplet-jetting device having high jetting ability, which includes an actuator featuring a liquid chamber and a heater and a controller. The liquid chamber has an aperture for jetting droplets of an operation liquid which the liquid chamber accommodates. The heater provides thermal energy to the operation liquid and forms bubbles for droplet-jetting. The controller controls a driving signal, which is inputted to the heater. The driving signal includes a preparatory heating pulse signal, which corresponds to a preparatory heating energy for preparatory heating of the operation liquid, and a trigger pulse signal, which corresponds to a jetting thermal energy for bubble creation and growth. A power supplied by the preparatory heating pulse signal is smaller than a power supplied by the trigger pulse signal, and a heating duration by the preparatory heating pulse signal is longer than a heating duration by the trigger pulse signal.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a small footprint charging device may provide uniformity of charge and/or long life in a small diameter photoconductive drum. A grid to be parallel to the drum surface and including small wing shields may reduce or even prevent leakage of corona current to the photoconductor around the grid region, which may otherwise detract from charge uniformity.

Abstract: A print head reservoir for use in an ink jet printer includes a body, an ink bucket, and a filter. The body defines an ink cavity. The cavity includes a cavity inlet, a cavity outlet and a vent positioned above the cavity inlet for bleeding air from the ink cavity. The ink bucket attaches to the body. The ink bucket communicates with the cavity via the cavity inlet. The filter is disposed in the cavity dividing the cavity into an upstream filter cavity and a downstream filter cavity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extending the reliability and usefulness of a fullwidth printhead by providing a redundant temporary replacement printhead module that can be positioned to compensate for missing or faulty jet nozzles. In order to take advantage of a single extra printhead module and to be able to compensate for more than a single failed nozzle, the replacement module is mounted on a separate translating x-axis and preferably provided with roll adjustment along another axis so that an effective spacing of nozzles in the replacement module can be adjusted to align with detected defective nozzles. The fullwidth printhead is formed from at least one array of smaller printhead modules. The arrays may be offset by a non-integer spacing interval of the individual nozzles. For example, if the nozzle spacing is S, the offset may be S/2.

Abstract: An actuator system that includes two beams that are formed into a diamond pattern. A crossbar is positioned at a midsection to connect the two beams. When power is applied to the two beams, the diamond pattern is driven vertically. An actuator system may also include a substrate and a first layer above a second layer on the substrate. The first and second layers include upper and lower beams joined together at one end of the layers. A method of forming an actuator system includes forming a first layer above a second layer on a substrate, joining the first and second layers together at one end of the layers, and forming upper and lower beams. The upper and lower beams may be different in width, length and thickness to control a vertical movement of the actuator system.

Abstract: An information reading apparatus has an excitation unit that applies a magnetic field to a medium provided with at least one magnetic element that generates a signal when the magnetic field is applied thereto and a pseudo element that generates no signal when the magnetic field is applied thereto; a detection unit that detects a signal when the signal is generated; and an identification unit that identifies the medium based on a result of the detection.

Abstract: A surface emitting semiconductor laser array includes multiple light-emitting portions arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array, each of the light-emitting portions including, on a substrate, an active region and a current funneling portion between first and second reflection mirrors, and a light-emission aperture above the second reflection mirror, laser beams being simultaneously emitted from the multiple light-emitting portions. At least one of the multiple light-emitting portions has a near field pattern different from those of other light-emitting portions.

Abstract: A communication coupling technique is disclosed that uses optical signals separators that may be formed using optical wave guides, hollow tubes, or any material that separates signals emitted from one source from signals emitted from other sources.

Abstract: A system and method comprising RF tags, RFID readers, voice input devices, and voice recognition software may capture even characteristics associated with a workflow. Workflow characteristics, such as JobId, StationId and EventId may be stored in RF tags and may be captured along with a timestamp, when brought together in the close proximity of a RFID reader. Next node information may be captured to construct detailed workflow diagrams based upon a captured data. Quantity information, as well as other information, may be entered verbally and converted to computer readable form using voice recognition software.

Abstract: A trouble sensing device has a first unit and a second unit. The first unit determines total sum of driving current of a plurality of driving mechanisms. The second unit judges whether trouble has arisen based on the total sum of the driving current.

Abstract: A user of an image forming device selects from among a plurality of pre-stored color rendition dictionaries (CRDs) in order that a set of system process parameter setpoints associated with that CRD may be referenced to bias and/or skew an available color gamut in the direction of a particular nominally out-of-gamut color which the user wishes to produce in a color image output by the image forming device. A capability is included in a color image forming device store and/or update multiple sets of special process parameter setpoints defining a plurality of CRDs each of which may be identified and associated with a specific color in order that requests to print out-of-gamut colors may be satisfied routinely as exceptions to a nominal gamut based on a nominal set of stored setpoints when a CRD is selected and the setpoints associated with that CRD are input for reference by the color image forming device on a temporary basis.

Abstract: An interconnect includes a first contact portion including carbon fibers, a second portion including carbon fibers, and a member. The first contact portion is capable of electrically biasing the member and the second portion is capable of sensing an electrical bias of the member. Both portions may provide other electrical functions. Both portions may structurally support the member.