Abstract: A method for inputting information to a device connected to a deformable piece includes the steps of manipulating the deformable piece to provide a first morpheme input to the device. The first morpheme input normally triggers a first default action by the device, such as controlling a display, modifying a data structure, or communicating with another electronic device. When a user asynchronously manipulates the deformable piece to provide a second morpheme input to the device, the second morpheme input converts the normally triggered first default action to a second action generally not equivalent to the first default action. This mode of interaction allows formation of morphemic sentences to control a graspable device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a color calibration alarm apparatus and method for use in an image-rendering device. The alarm apparatus, and associated method, make use of a sensor device that compares printed or measured color values with expected or ideal color values. With the measured values differ sufficiently from the ideal color values, the alarm apparatus signals to the user that a calibration should be performed. The printed or measured color values are obtained from a test patch that is printed, preferably, on a break page between print jobs. The alarm device is placed at the output tray of an image rendering device in one embodiment that may also be a separate stand alone hand-held unit in other embodiments where it is manually used.

Abstract: A process of treating metal oxide nanoparticles that includes mixing metal oxide nanoparticles, a solvent, and a surface treatment agent that is preferably a silane or siloxane is described. The treated metal oxide nanoparticles are rendered hydrophobic by the surface treatment agent being surface attached thereto, and are preferably dispersed in a hydrophobic aromatic polymer binder of a charge transport layer of a photoreceptor, whereby ?—? interactions can be formed between the organic moieties on the surface of the nanoparticles and the aromatic components of the binder polymer to achieve a stable dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer that is substantially free of large sized agglomerations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the remote activation of a system diagnostic for a customer. The system so activated is resident at the customer location. The activation is initiated at a location remote from the customer location. The activation of the diagnostic may also include correction and optimization of the system if it is determined that it is needed. Any such initiated system activity would most typically be performed after hours. The system then communicates locally to the customer the diagnostic results as found, as well as any other action taken.

Abstract: Provided are a gas decomposing unit and an electrode for a fuel cell capable of stably supporting a gas decomposing catalyst. A gas decomposing unit and an electrode for a fuel cell each including: a carbon nanotube structure having a mesh structure in which functional groups bonded to plural carbon nanotubes are chemically bonded to mutually cross-link the plural carbon nanotubes; and a gas decomposing catalyst supported on the carbon nanotube structure. A method of manufacturing a gas decomposing unit characterized by including: an applying step of applying, to the surface of a substrate, a solution containing plural carbon nanotubes to which functional groups are bonded; a cross-linking step of chemically bonding the functional groups to build a mesh structure in which the plural carbon nanotubes mutually cross-link; and a supporting step of forming the carbon nanotube structure supporting a gas decomposing catalyst.

Abstract: An e-mail print processing device that performs printing of an e-mail and a file attached to the e-mail received via a network, including: a reception history storage unit that stores a reception history of e-mails; a display unit that displays a list of the reception history of the e-mails stored in the reception history storage unit; a selection unit that selects by a user's operation an e-mail of which printing is confirmed from the reception history list of the e-mails displayed by the display unit; a confirmation notice generation unit that generates a confirmation notice of the e-mail selected by the selection unit; and a confirmation notice sending unit that sends the confirmation notice generated by the confirmation notice generation unit.

Abstract: The method of forming an image formed of low viscosity ink on a recording medium comprises ejecting the low viscosity ink from a printer head in the form of droplets onto an intermediate transfer medium to form the image, partially curing the image on the intermediate transfer medium, transferring the partially cured image onto the recording medium, and further curing the partially cured image on the recording medium to create a hardened image.

Abstract: An ink used preferably in jet ink devices includes an ink vehicle, the ink vehicle being made up either (a) a first component curable by a first polymerization route and an associated photointiator, and a second component curable by a second polymerization route and as associated photoinitiator, wherein the second polymerization route is different from the first polymerization route, or (b) a component curable by a single polymerization route with a first and a second photoinitiator system in which the first system responds to longer wavelengths. An image may be formed by such inks by jetting onto a transfer member surface, curing the first component or partially curing the single component while upon the transfer member surface, transferring the ink to an image receiving surface, and completing curing. The first component is preferably curable via cationic polymerization and the second component is preferably curable via free radical polymerization.

Abstract: An ink preferably used in piezoelectric ink jet devices includes an ink vehicle that includes at least one curable monomer, at least one polymerizable organic gelator, at least one initiator, at least one colorant and optionally at least one low molecular mass non-reactive organic gelator and/or at least one thermal solvent. The use of the curable gelator enables the ink to form a gel state having a viscosity of at least 102.5 cps at very low temperatures of about 30° C. to about 50° C. The ink may thus be jetted at low temperatures of about 50° C. to about 90° C. The ink is heated to a first temperature above the gel point of the ink, jetted onto a surface maintained at a second temperature at which the ink forms a gel state, and when on the image receiving substrate, is exposed to radiation energy to polymerize the polymerizable components of the ink.

Abstract: A method of forming toner particles having surface particles attached thereto includes the steps of aggregating a material of at least one binder material and at least one colorant to produce toner particles, following aggregation, forming a mixture of the surface particles and the toner particles, and subjecting the mixture to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the toner particles to coalesce the toner particles, whereby the surface particles become at least partially embedded within the surface of the toner particles. Toner particles prepared by such method include a core comprised of at least one binder and at least one colorant, and surface particles at an external surface of the toner particles, wherein at least about 50% of the surface particles are substantially completely covered by a portion of binder and a majority of the surface particles protrude from the toner particle surface a distance of at least 50% of the average particle size of the surface particles.

Abstract: A toner is disclosed that includes a toner binder of crystalline sulfonated polyester, wherein the crystalline sulfonated polyester is 90% by weight or more of the toner binder, and a colorant. In other embodiments, the toner includes a crystalline sulfonated polyester and a linear amorphous sulfonated polyester, and a colorant. In these embodiments, the crystalline sulfonated polyester is from about 20% to about 60% by weight of the toner binder and the linear amorphous sulfonated polyester is from about 40% to about 80% by weight of the toner binder. The toners possess excellent miniumum fixing temperatures in the range of from about 80° C. to about 130° C. Processes for preparing the toners are also described.

Abstract: An ink jet ink includes an ink vehicle, wherein the ink vehicle includes at least one wax monomer functionalized to include in the chain at least one reactive group curable upon exposure to radiation. The reactive group is preferably curable via cationic or free radical polymerization. In a preferred embodiment, the ink vehicle includes a wax monomer having a structure: wherein C represents a cationically curable group and R represents a radically curable group. The inks may be used to form an image by jetting the ink onto a transfuse member surface, increasing the viscosity of the ink upon the transfuse member surface, subsequently transferring the ink from the transfuse member surface to an image receiving substrate, and exposing the ink to radiation following the transfer to the image receiving substrate to effect reaction of the at least one reactive group.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a processing layer and a temperature control layer. The processing layer applies a predetermined process to a subject fluid. The temperature control layer is disposed adjacent to the processing layer to give a predetermined temperature environment to the processing layer.

Abstract: An automatic grading method has processes of reading, identifying and calculating. A process of reading a document is performed and the document has one or more answers. A process of identifying the answers from the document is also performed. A process of calculating a score of the document based on a score of each answer is performed.

Abstract: A crosslinked siloxane composite overcoat for electrophotographic photoreceptors, containing at least one siloxane-containing compound, a resin and metal oxide particles; photoreceptors containing the crosslinked siloxane composite overcoat; and image process cartridge and image forming apparatuses containing photoreceptors containing the crosslinked siloxane composite overcoat.

Abstract: A printer system comprises a superordinate apparatus in which a printer driver and firmware are installed; a printer that downloads the firmware from the superordinate apparatus to store the same in a memory, the printer being controlled based on the firmware stored in the memory, wherein the superordinate apparatus comprises an install controller that controls installation of the firmware in association with installation of the printer driver.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a carbon nanotube device including an inner electrode, having connecting step, connecting a carbon nanotube to the inner electrode, wherein the connecting step comprises: attaching a conductor to an end or periphery thereof of a needle-shaped or rod-shaped carrying electrode; arranging the carbon nanotube in contact or close to a predetermined connection part of the inner electrode; approaching the end of the carrying electrode on which the conductor is carried to the connection part; and transferring the conductor carried on the carrying electrode to the connection part or periphery thereof to connect the carbon nanotube to the inner electrode.

Abstract: Error is distributed to pixels neighboring a pixel of interest based on a ranking of the neighboring pixels. The ranking is based on pixel values of the neighboring pixels. Optionally a spatial weighting is applied to the pixel values before ranking, to provide a preference for pixels closest to the pixel of interest or to a particular portion of a related halftone screen. Rank order based error diffusion provides compact halftone dots without patterning artifacts. An image processing system operative to perform rank order error diffusion includes a pixel ranker and an error diffuser. In a xerographic environment the image processing system includes a xerographic printer.

Abstract: A printshop contains resources that are utilized to complete print jobs. The resources are partitioned into autonomous cells. Each autonomous cell is capable of completing at least one class of print job. Print jobs are assigned to the autonomous cells for completion. An autonomous cell may subdivide a print job into smaller sized lots and process the smaller size lots in parallel. This approach enhances the efficiency of the shop, decreases the work in progress, labor and inventory costs associated with running the print jobs and increases the utilization of the printing equipment in the printshop.

Abstract: The method of the invention includes: determining the beam profiles of plural LED elements (light-emitting elements) including joints of LED chips (light-emitting chips); determining the distance between the LED elements at the joints of the LED chips from the distance between peaks of the beam profiles; comparing the determined distance between the LED elements with the resolution pitch of the printhead; raising the light amount of the LED elements of at least one side of the joints of the LED chips when the determined distance between the LED elements is longer than the resolution pitch; and lowering the light amount of the LED elements of at least one side of the joints of the LED chips when the distance between the LED chips is shorter than the resolution pitch.