Abstract: A nitride-based laser diode structure utilizing a metal-oxide (e.g., Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO) or Zinc-Oxide (ZnO)) in place of p-doped AlGaN to form the upper cladding layer. An InGaN laser diode structure utilizes ITO upper cladding structure, with an SiO2 isolation structure formed on opposite sides of the ITO upper cladding structure to provide a lateral index step that is large enough to enable lateral single-mode operation. The lateral index step is further increased by slightly etching the GaN:Mg waveguide layer below the SiO2 isolation structure. An optional p-type current barrier layer (e.g., AlGaN:Mg having a thickness of approximately 20 nm) is formed between the InGaN-MQW region and a p-GaN upper waveguide layer to impede electron leakage from the InGaN-MQW region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising (1) an ink carrier comprising (A) a first component which comprises an ester-amide material, and (B) a second component which comprises either (i) a material selected from the group consisting of urethane compounds, urea compounds, urethane-urea compounds, and mixtures thereof, (ii) a polyalkylene wax, or (iii) a mixture thereof; and (2) a colorant.

Abstract: An image processing system as disclosed, including at least one input processing device functionally coupled to at least one output processing device, document information configured in a format such as scanning format or a document creating format converted to a common exchange format, and a common exchange format being converted to a format such as a document viewing format or document printing format. An image processing method also disclosed, including inputting document information, converting inputted document information configured in a document format such as a scanning format or a document creating format to a common exchange format, and converting the common exchange format to a document format such as a document viewing format or a document marking format.

Abstract: An electrical connection structure that is able to electrically connect wiring to a biopolymer, a production method of the electrical connection structure, and an electric wiring method which is able to perform wiring on a nanometer-scale. A first aspect of the production method of the present invention uses a carbon nanotube as an electrode, and makes the carbon nanotube contact the biopolymer. A second aspect of the production method applies electric current between the electrode and the biopolymer of the first aspect. The electrical connection structure of the present invention comprises at least the electrode formed by the carbon nanotube and the biopolymer, wherein the electrode is in contact with the biopolymer. In the electric wiring method of the present invention, the electrode formed by the carbon nanotube contacts the biopolymer to complete an electrical connection.

Abstract: This invention is generally directed to charge transport layers and charge transport layer formulations comprising polytetrafluoroethylene particles. This invention is also generally directed to methods of forming charge transport layers on electrophotographic imaging members. The inventive methods of forming charge transport layers provide a stable dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A composition includes a metal oxide particle, which can optionally be surface treated by a silane coupling agent, and an electron acceptor surface grafted to the metal oxide particle.

Abstract: The invention provides an image-forming apparatus, having an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging unit, a light-exposure unit, a development unit, a transfer unit, and a controller that controls the traveling speed of the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor and that thus makes a period from charging to development variable, wherein: the electrophotographic photoreceptor has an undercoat layer and a photosensitive layer; and the undercoat layer contains metal oxide fine particles with an acceptor compound added thereto; and an image is formed by charging, light exposure, development and transfer while causing the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to travel in a predetermined direction; and a process cartridge that is detachable from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A charge transport layer composition for a photoreceptor includes at least a binder and a charge transport material of about 100% to about 40% by weight of a total of the charge transport layer N,N-dimethylphenyl)-4-biphenylamine and about 0% to about 60% N,N?-bis(3-methylphenyl)-(1,1?-biphenyl)-4,4?-diamine, and wherein the total charge transport material in the composition is 48% or less of the total solids of the composition. The charge transport layer forms a layer of a photoreceptor, which also includes an optional anti-curl layer, a substrate, an optional hole blocking layer, an optional adhesive layer, a charge generating layer, and optionally one or more overcoat or protective layers.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor having at least an undercoat layer and a photosensitive layer formed on a conductive substrate, wherein the undercoat layer contains metal oxide fine particles and an electron acceptor compound having a group reactive with the metal oxide fine particles. A process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus using the electrophotographic photoreceptor are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical connection structure that is able to electrically connect wiring to a biopolymer, a production method of the electrical connection structure, and an electric wiring method which is able to perform wiring on a nanometer-scale. A first aspect of the production method of the present invention uses a carbon nanotube as an electrode, and makes the carbon nanotube contact the biopolymer. A second aspect of the production method applies electric current between the electrode and the biopolymer of the first aspect. The electrical connection structure of the present invention comprises at least the electrode formed by the carbon nanotube and the biopolymer, wherein the electrode is in contact with the biopolymer. In the electric wiring method of the present invention, the electrode formed by the carbon nanotube contacts the biopolymer to complete an electrical connection.

Abstract: A multilayer electrophotographic photoreceptor, comprising an electroconductive substrate, and at least an interlayer and a charge-generating layer formed on the substrate, wherein the interlayer comprises fine metal oxide particles and the interlayer and the charge-generating layer comprise anthiaquinone derivative(s), and wherein the interlayer has a volume resistivity in a range of 1.0×108 ?·cm to 1.0×1013 ?·cm when an electric field of 106 V/m is applied thereto at 28° C. and 85% relative humidity. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the multilayer electrophotographic photoreceptor are also provided.

Abstract: An ink stick for a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink printer includes an ink stick body having an insertion perimeter, and a guide surface with a shaped guide element shaped to interact with an elongate shaped guide rail of the solid ink feed system. The ink stick insertion perimeter is in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, and the insertion direction and the feed direction are different. The insertion perimeter has at least one perimeter section forming a nonlinear key element that matches in size and shape a nonlinear key element in the perimeter of the key plate insertion opening. In particular implementations, the insertion perimeter forms a visually recognizable symbol, such as an alphanumeric character. In particular implementations, a plurality of ink sticks form a set in which the visually recognizable symbols differ from one another, and may form a pattern of symbols, such as a sequence of alphanumeric characters.

Abstract: A waveguide structure has a base having a base height (h) above a substrate and a rectangular waveguide having a waveguide height (H) above the substrate and a waveguide width (W) between opposing sides of the waveguide.

Abstract: An air bladder packing system having an inflatable center body and extensions therefrom. The center body is generally for placement on top of an item placed in an outside box while the fingers are designed for positioning in the spaces between the item and the walls of the box. After placement, the air bladder is inflated to span the space between the item and the box, thereby securely holding the item in the box and providing protection against shifting during transport and providing impact protection.

Abstract: A heat plate for fixation comprising: a metallic base plate; and a heating resistor arranged on a reverse face of the metallic base plate, the heating resistor being formed by laminating, at least, an electric insulating layer and heating resistor layer in this order on the metallic base plate, wherein the heat plate is capable of raising the temperature of the metallic base plate to a fixing temperature when the heating resistor layer is energized and heated. A semicircular heating member for fixation comprises the heat plate which is curved so that the metallic base plate has a convex surface, a belt type fixing device is provided with the semicircular heating member, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with the belt type fixing device comprising the semicircular heating member.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image that can stably provide an image for a long period of time is provided by using an electrophotographic photoreceptor having, as the outermost layer, a hard film containing one or more of a charge transporting organic silicon compound. It is an apparatus for forming an image containing a photoreceptor having, as an outermost layer, a hard film containing one or more of a charge transporting organic silicon compound represented by the following general formula (I), the outermost layer having a wear rate of about from 5 to 30 nm per 1,000 revolutions of the photoreceptor: F-[D-A]b.

Abstract: A printer assembly including a mechanism for rotating a stripper carriage includes a drum blade for stripping media from a drum and a transfix roller blade for stripping media from a transfix roller of an imaging device. The media stripper carriage is accessed and rotated so that a user may maintain parts of an imaging device without having to remove parts of the device. The stripper carriage pivots about a shaft of a transfix roller. A solenoid activates stripping of media from the drum and/or the transfix roller. When maintenance is required, the stripper carriage is rotated by a user and stops at an open position. The user may then clear a jam, clean parts or perform other maintenance on the imaging device. Then, an access door of the device is closed to automatically rotate the stripper carriage to a position in which the imaging device is ready for imaging.

Abstract: Backlash is reduced by stopping substrate short of a printing position, then slowly advancing the drive system to move the substrate to the printing position. Where a stepper motor drives a driven roller via a gear train, the stepper motor stops the substrate a predetermined number of steps shy of the printing position. The stepper motor is then advanced by the predetermined number of steps, taking up backlash and moving the substrate to the printing position.

Abstract: A method and a system for separating an image signal into a set of image planes in accordance with a control signal. The system comprises a selector module, an edge processing module and a foreground/background separation module. The selector module receives the control signal and produces a selector signal. The edge processing module receives the selector signal and produces a decision signal. The foreground/background separation module receives the image signal and the decision signal, and outputs a foreground signal and a background signal, a representation of the current pixel of the image signal being included in at least one of the foreground signal and the background signal in accordance with the decision signal.

Abstract: A method to compensate for dot placement errors includes receiving image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each having at least two states, a first corresponding to depositing no ink and a second corresponding to depositing ink; identifying a stray pixel pattern within the image data, the stray pixel pattern including a stray pixel corresponding to a misplaced dot in a dot pattern; and modifying the image data corresponding to the stray pixel pattern by setting the stray pixel to the first state and changing a second pixel from the first state to the second state.