Abstract: Circuit architecture for driving piezoelectric transducers with a Head Drive ASIC powered with only regular (constant) power supplies (instead of ramped and shaped power supplies) is disclosed. The circuit architecture consists of current mirroring systems and current switching techniques used to generate the required particular voltage waveforms across the capacitive transducers using only constant (DC) power supplies. There is no need for high voltage switching elements in this approach.

Abstract: An identification apparatus comprising an array of retractable conductive pins on a base component placed onto a primary device and in communication therewith. A set of shaped identifiers have a plurality of holes through which respective pins on the array of retractable pins pass, each identifier being uniquely configured with at least one distinct location containing a conductive plug or ‘cap’ fitted therein which blocks the passage therethrough of that particular pin thereby forcing said pin to retract into the base component to block further use of that pin by subsequently placed identifiers. Each retractable pin is in individual communication with the primary device such that, once one or more identifiers have been placed onto the pin array, the primary device can thereafter identify the placed identifiers so as to subsequently perform certain functions or other desired operations based on the type, configuration, and/or number of identifiers placed thereon.

Abstract: An adaptive filtering method and apparatus for descreening a scanned halftoned image representation is disclosed. The apparatus includes an image input subsystem; a processing subsystem for processing halftoned image data provided by the image input subsystem; and software/firmware means operative on the processing subsystem for a) low-pass filtering a halftoned input pixel value provided by the image input subsystem to produce a low-pass filtered pixel value; b) notch-filtering the halftoned input pixel value to produce a notch-filtered pixel value; c) determining a local contrast value for the halftoned input pixel value; and d) producing a descreened output pixel value based on the low-pass filtered pixel value, the notch-filtered pixel value, or a combination of the low-pass filtered pixel value and the notch-filtered pixel value depending on the local contrast value.

Abstract: The disclosed tactile interface device conveys a diversity of information to its operator through the operator's tactile sense without requiring the operators visual confirmation. The tactile interface device comprises a substructure on which magnets are arranged so that the positive and negative magnets are alternately placed, a frame that is movable on the substructure and on which coils are installed, and a pushbutton switch fixed to the frame. The operating element drive control means drives the switch in the two-dimensional direction by allowing current to flow through the coils in a predetermined direction, so that a motion pattern appropriate for the information to be conveyed to the operator is generated. Information is imparted to the operator from the switch through the operator's tactile sense.

Abstract: A method for processing multiple digital images using an imaging input device so as to reduce bleeding of edges of the multiple digital images by determining the boundaries of each of the digital images, including detecting a boundary of a first image; detecting a boundary of a second image; determining an overlap between the detected boundaries of the first image and second images; calculating the overlap between the first and second images and modeling a third image from the calculated overlap of the first and second images wherein the third image contains at least said first and second images and represents a depiction of said first and second images without an overlap between said first and second images.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus can form an image of a high-precision security information for anti-reproduction. A photosensitive material-coated area in a recording paper is exposed with an exposure unit to form an image of a high-precision security information. Since the image of the security information is thus formed by exposing the photosensitive material, it can be formed as an image incapable of reproduction.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image, a process for producing the same, a developer for developing an electrostatic image and a process for forming an image are disclosed. The toner contains a resin, a colorant and a releasing agent, in which the toner has protrusions having a height of about from 0.05 to 2 ?m, a part of the protrusions encompasses the releasing agent, and a proportion of elements derived from the releasing agent is about 10% by atom or less based on elements on a surface of the toner that is quantitatively determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Abstract: A completely new and fast public key distribution algorithm is presented which uses only a modest number of weighted multi-precision integer additions (with small integer weights). In a method consistent with the present invention, a first entity determines a first value, x, and determines a weighted sum based on the first value and a first part of a public key corresponding to the second entity. The first entity transmits the weighted sum to the second entity and determines a first comparator based on the first value and a second part of a public key corresponding to the second entity. The second entity determines a second comparator representing an approximate version of the first comparator. Based on the first and second comparators, the first and second entities can agree on cryptographic key information.

Abstract: A structure and method for improved detection of the edges of a document in a scanner provides for positioning a width detection backer so that it is simultaneously in the field of view of the optical element of the scanner and out of the focal plane of the optical element. A portion of a document is positioned in the optical path between the optical element and the width detection backer and scanned with the optical element. Information from the scanning step is analyzed to identify data indicative of an edge of the document. The out of focus width detection backer, which remains stationary while scanning the document portion presents very little variation in intensity and other data, heightening the contrast between the document and the width detection backer, and reducing the likelihood of erroneously identifying elements of the width detection backer as document edge features.

Abstract: A fuser component useful in electrostatographic machines, having a substrate, and thereover a silicone rubber layer having the crosslinked product of at least one platinum catalyzed addition curable vinyl terminated polyorganosiloxane, aluminum oxide fillers, iron oxide fillers, a crosslinking agent, and having an optional outer fluoroelastomer layer.

Abstract: Even if there may exist a difference in reading density between reading positions, there will be provided an image reader capable of accurately detecting and removing streaks-shaped noise caused by the adhesion of dust particles to the reading unit. A CCD reads an original at each reading position, and image data A and B in each reading position are obtained from an output delay circuit and a shading correction circuit. A streak detection circuit judges a difference A?B between each image data through the use of a threshold corrected on the basis of an average density difference between each image data A and B, and outputs black streak detection data in accordance with the judgment result. A streak removal circuit always outputs the image data A, but if black streak detection data is outputted, image data B corrected on the basis of the average density difference is outputted in place of the image data A.

Abstract: A process comprising heating a mixture of colorant and latex in the presence of a coagulant and a silicate salt, and wherein said heating comprises a first heating equal to or below about the glass transition temperature of a polymer contained in said latex, and a second heating equal to or about the glass transition temperature of a polymer contained in said latex; wherein said first heating enables the formation of aggregates and said second heating enables the fusion of said colorant and said polymer; and optionally wherein said silicate is contained in an alkali metal hydroxide.

Abstract: Methods and systems used to automatically identify the marking process used for an image on a substrate based on spatial characteristics and/or color of the image. Image types which are classified and identified include continuous tone images and halftone images. Among halftone images separately identified are inkjet images, xerographic images and lithographic images. Locally adaptive image threshold techniques may be used to determine the spatial characteristics of the image.

Abstract: A method of improving edge rendering of objects containing run length encoded image pixel data collects two run-length encoded scanlines (upper and lower). Each run transition is inspected for the presence of interesting runs (object tag planes to be grown or shrunk). Depending on the position of the interesting runs relative to the run transition (e.g., in upper or lower scanline, to right or left of boundary), the tag planes of the surrounding runs will be modified. If a tag plane needs to be modified in the fast scan direction, a new run (one or more pixels in length, with the original color) is inserted at the run transition and assigned to the tag plane of the interesting run. If a tag plane needs to be modified in the slow scan direction, the run is subdivided and subsequently assigned to the tag plane of the interesting run.

Abstract: An image processing device including a storage unit which stores, for set moving-target-positions of a lightness or gray axis on an uniform color space in color balance correction, color correction parameters for performing color balance correction corresponding to moving the lightness or gray axis substantially parallel to a specific moving-target-position on the uniform color space to inputted color image data, and a correction unit which, when color balance correction to the target color image data is instructed via an instruction unit, reads a color correction parameter corresponding to the instructed color balance correction among the color correction parameters stored in the storage unit, to perform color balance correction to the target color image data using the read color correction parameter, is provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems used to associate color calibration profiles with scanned images based on identifying the marking process used for an image on a substrate using spatial characteristics and/or color of the image. Image types which are classified and identified include continuous tone images and halftone images. Among halftone images separately identified are inkjet images, xerographic images and lithographic images. Locally adaptive image threshold techniques may be used to determine the spatial characteristics of the image.

Abstract: A graphical user interface includes control element or other designation portion for selection of a respective control function. The control element includes a designated appearance, graphical indicator, or other representation that indicates the current status of the control element, such as a status condition of inactivity or for interoperability due to one or more secondary settings or conditions. Invocation of the functionality of the control element causes a context-based help dialog to be presented to the user, which informs the user of the basis for the current status condition and which includes a prompt for automated modification or resolution of the secondary settings, so as to change the current status condition of the control element to a new status condition that offers the desired control function.

Abstract: A method for selecting which rendering hint or tag to use when multiple tags may be associated with a pixel, includes prioritizing the set of input tags associated with an input image, such that each input tag has a unique priority relative to other input tags in the set; filtering the input image by selecting groups of input pixels, applying a filtering function to the contone data associated with each selected group of input pixels, and producing an output pixel having an output contone data for each selected group of input pixels; for each selected group of input pixels, comparing the priorities of the input tags associated with the selected group of input pixels and selecting as the output tag associated with the output pixel, that tag with the highest priority.

Abstract: A toner process comprised of heating a mixture of an acicular magnetite dispersion, a colorant dispersion, a wax dispersion, a first latex containing a crosslinked resin, a second latex containing a resin substantially free of crosslinking, a coagulant and a silica, and wherein the toner resulting possesses a shape factor of from about 120 to about 150.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an ink which comprises mixing an ink vehicle, a colorant and a polyurethane resin emulsion.