Abstract: A surface-emitting semiconductor laser includes comprising a substrate, a first mesa that is formed on the substrate and includes at least one mesa capable of emitting laser light, and a second mesa that is formed on the substrate and includes at least one mesa restraining emission of laser light.

Abstract: Provided is a nanotube-polymer composite which can effectively utilize characteristics of a carbon nanotube structure. The composite includes a carbon nanotube structure and a polymer, in which: the carbon nanotube structure has a network structure constructed by mutually cross-linking functional groups bonded to multiple carbon nanotubes through chemical bonding of the functional groups together; and the polymer is filled in the network structure.

Abstract: The invention provides an image-forming apparatus equipped with a toner container containing toner particles and an endless belt circulating in contact with image carriers carrying electrostatic latent images. The image-forming apparatus forms a toner image on a recording medium by developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier by supplying the toner particles thereto, transferring the toner image onto the surface of the belt and finally onto the recording medium, and fixing the toner image thereon. When the particle count distribution in diameter ranges of the toner particles is expressed by Smaller-side grain size distribution index GSDpS=(D50p/D16p)1/2, the toner container contains toner particles having a smaller-side grain size distribution index GSDpS of 1.24 or less; and the belt comprises a base support having a Young's modulus of 3,500 MPa or more and 9,000 MPa or less and a surface microhardness of 10 mN/?m2 or less.

Abstract: The invention provides particles for a display device having a positively or negatively chargeable property and color, and the particles have an abundance ratio of amorphous particles with a major axis to minor axis length ratio of approximately 1.2 or greater is approximately 5% or less by number.

Abstract: A method for joining fluid containers and fluid ejectors in a fluid ejecting device are provided. The fluid container includes one or more heat stakes and a substrate includes one or more apertures for receiving the heat stakes and one or more three-dimensional features in the vicinity of the one or more apertures. The fluid ejector and optionally an elastic member are interposed between the fluid container and the substrate. Thermal energy is applied to the one or more heat stakes so that the one or more heat stakes soften to occupy the apertures and three-dimensional features of the substrate and pressure is applied to maintain contact between the fluid container, elastic member, fluid ejector and substrate. The present invention is also directed to substrate including one or more apertures for receiving heat stakes and one or more three-dimensional features in the vicinity of the one or more apertures.

Abstract: An image processing device has a storage unit, a read-out unit, a color information generating unit, a color information converting unit and a color replacing unit. The storage unit stores color information of spot colors. The read-out unit reads out the color information from the storage unit. The color information generating unit generates color information of an alternate color based on the color information of the spot color. The color information converting unit generates each of first and second color information, the first color information is generated by converting the color information of the color plate for which color replacement is instructed into the color information of the spot color, the second color information is generated by converting the color information of the color plate for which the color replacement is instructed into the color information of the alternate color. The color replacing unit generates new color information.

Abstract: Driver management method, driver management apparatus and driver management program which manages drivers corresponding to devices connected to a network, in which devices connected to a subnet of the network are detected, and drivers corresponding to the devices connected to the subnet, of drivers installed in a user terminal are presented to a user.

Abstract: An optical signal transmitting device includes: a semiconductor laser diode that is disposed so that its periphery is covered by a laser package and which emits laser light in accordance with information to be transmitted; and a light limiting member that covers at least part of the periphery of the semiconductor laser diode and limits the light amount and divergence angle of the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser diode. An opening is formed in a side wall of the light limiting member, and the laser light whose light amount and divergence angle have been limited by the light limiting member is guided to optical fiber connected to an optical signal device.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink set for ink-jet recording that is able to form an image having a sufficient optical density and causing no feathering and intercolor bleed within a short period of time while being excellent in reliability of the maintenance unit. The ink set comprises at least a liquid (a) containing a colorant, water soluble solvent and water; a liquid (b) containing a pH adjusting agent, water soluble solvent and water; and a liquid (c). The ink set satisfies any one of the conditions in the first embodiment: (i) the colorant is anionic, (ii) the liquid (b) has a pH of not higher than 6.5, (iii) the liquid (c) has a pH of not lower than 8.0, and (iv) the mixed liquid of the liquid (b) and the liquid (c) in a mass ratio of 1:1 has a pH of not lower than 7; or the second embodiment: (i) the colorant is cationic, (ii) the liquid (b) has a pH of not lower than 8.5, (iii) the liquid (c) has a pH of not higher than 6.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for finishing a receiver sheet or similar substrate by providing a protective coating on the receiver sheet for the benefit of, for example, protecting an image resident thereon. Such coating is created by applying and fusing a mixture containing a transparent, abrasion-resistant toner resin, and optionally components such as a light-fast material, to the receiver sheet.

Abstract: In data communication among a plurality of component units in an apparatus, transition state information corresponding to a state transition which has occurred in a sending side unit is sent to a receiving side unit in serial communication. In the receiving side unit, a state control signal is regenerated at the time when a given delay time has elapsed from the occurrence time of the state transition. Therefore, the state control signal can be sent in serial communication without any time skew. Also, in serial communication between the sending side unit and the receiving side unit, even if a control command signal is to be sent, in addition to the state control signal, a transition state information can be identified from the received signal, by means of adding identification information to the sending information.

Abstract: A cleaning system and process for removing residual toner from an imaging surface, including a primary cleaner system for removing the predominant amount of residual toner and debris and a retractable secondary agglomeration cleaning blade mounted downstream from the primary cleaner, wherein, when the blade is moved into the engaged position, the cleaning edge is engaged with the imaging surface at for shearing release of agglomerations from the imaging surface and wherein the cleaning blade is movable to the retracted position during periods in which the primary cleaner is in its operative position.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus having a coated imaging member for use with phase-change inks, has a substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a nano-size filler having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 250 nanometers, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: A system is described for displaying images of a virtual three-dimensional book having one or more virtual pages. The system comprises a display system capable of executing a display program wherein images of the virtual three-dimensional book are produced on the display system. The display system may include a magnification function producing a virtual magnifier moveable over the virtual pages. The display system may also include a the “stretchy page” display method wherein one section of the page is directly magnified, while other adjacent sections may be directly magnified in a horizontal or vertical direction, but not both directions. Moreover, a virtual page may also be tilted about a central axis of the virtual page to accommodate viewing of a desired section on the display system. Finally, a computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for producing images of a virtual three-dimensional book is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for printing media includes a plurality of marking engines for outputting printed media in a stream, a media path system operable to transport the printed media from the marking engines to one or more finishing stations such that the streams are merged and transported one on top of the other and one or more finishing stations capable of compiling media in groups of 2 or more sheets for post-processing the printed media into one or more completed jobs.

Abstract: A method permitting less energy consumption and efficient formation of high quality electrodes is provided. An electrode is formed as an electrodeposited film by irradiating the surface of an object to be treated, the surface at least permitting generation of charged particles when irradiated with a laser beam, with a fentosecond laser beam and metal-plating the surface of a substrate using hot electrons generated by this laser irradiation.

Abstract: The invention provides a toner for developing electrostatic charged images comprising toner mother particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive, wherein: the average of shape factors SF1 of the toner mother particles represented by the following Formula (1) is 140 or less; the external additive contains higher alcohol particles having a volume-average particle diameter of 1 to 12 ?m; and the content of the higher alcohol particles having a diameter equal to or less than the volume-average particle diameter of the toner mother particles is in a range of 0.15 to 2.5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner mother particles. In addition, the invention provides a developer for developing electrostatic charged images comprising the toner. Further, the invention provides an image forming method using the toner.

Abstract: The invention provides an information processing apparatus, which performs a predetermined series of processes to document information in cooperation with an external device. The information processing apparatus includes: a display that displays an operation designation input screen, a rule information input screen and a determining button, which is designated when inputting of an operation designation and a rule information has been terminated and an input result has been determined, a decision unit that decides, when the determining button is designated, whether an operation for the job flow can be executed; and a controller that controls the display in such a way that the display displays, when the decision unit decides that an operation cannot be executed, a reason why the operation cannot be executed, and displays also a re-execution button, which is to be designated when the operation is re-executed.

Abstract: A process for forming curable powder comprises providing an aqueous dispersion of particles of curable resin and optionally particles comprising at least one curing agent; aggregating the particles optionally with the curing agent to form aggregated particles; coalescing the aggregated particles to form fused particles; and removing the fused particles from the aqueous dispersion. By the process, a curable powder is formed. The curable powder may be used in powder coating.

Abstract: A process for forming curable powder comprises providing an aqueous dispersion of particles of curable resin and optionally particles comprising at least one curing agent; aggregating the particles optionally with the curing agent to form aggregated particles; coalescing the aggregated particles to form fused particles; and removing the fused particles from the aqueous dispersion. By this process, a curable powder is formed. The curable powder may be used in powder coating.