Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved method for producing color watermarks in digitally reproducible color documents. The color watermarks are generated by producing a halftone pattern, which appears as stochastically distributed dots, in at least one or more color separations of the color document. A second halftone pattern, which also appears as stochastically distributed dots and is spatially displaced from the first halftone pattern, is generated in at least one or more different color separations. Portions of the first and second halftone patterns are auto-correlated or conjugally correlated, therefore, when the two halftone patterns are laid over each other, watermark patterns of highly contrasting colors become markedly visible.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a rotational velocity of an imaging drum in an image producing device includes constructing a table of a drive current for a transfer roll for a plurality of first distances between the imaging drum with the transfer roll, and utilizing the table to control the transfer roll drive to maintain a substantially constant imaging drum rotational velocity at each of the plurality of distances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing electronic documents, with maximum intradocument independence, and maximum flexibility in optimization of compression modes. The method includes receiving documents containing unknown combinations of a plural data types, including combinations of scanned data, computer rendered data, compressed data and/or rendering tags; dividing the received image into strips of blocks determining from the image itself, which data types are present in each block; compressing data of each data type present in each block with a compression method optimized for its data type. Scanned data may be further segmented into plural scanned data types, where each data type is compressed in said compressing data step with a compression method optimized for said scanned image data type.

Abstract: A method and system to facilitate searching a data collection, such as the World Wide Web, that takes advantage of the collective ability of all users to create queries to the data collection. First, a node-link graph of all queries submitted to a data collection within a given period of time is constructed. In the case of the World Wide Web, the queries would be to a particular search engine. In the graph, each node is a query. There is a link made between two nodes whenever the two queries are judged to be related. A first key idea is that the determination of relatedness depends on the documents returned by the queries, not on the actual terms in the queries themselves. For example, a criterion for relatedness could be that of the top ten documents returned for each query, the two lists have at least one document in common.

Abstract: A new class of conjugated organic polymers or copolymers comprising a triazine group. This class of polymers or copolymers may be used in organic electroluminescent (EL) devices.

Abstract: Circuits for rendering according to the present invention are operable to function in either halftone mode or error diffusion mode. A pixel multiplexor selects between a rasterized unrendered pixel signal from an input rasterized unrendered datastream in halftone mode and an error diffusion adjusted pixel signal generated by error diffusion hardware in error diffusion mode. A memory stores the current error diffusion state signal and retrieves it as the previous error diffusion state signal during the processing of the appropriate pixel in the next scan line in error diffusion mode. A threshold multiplexor selects between an error diffusion threshold signal and a halftone threshold signal. In halftone mode, the memory is operable to retrieve a halftone threshold signal which is supplied to the threshold multiplexor.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus prints a visible watermark superimposed over an original image on recording paper. The apparatus includes a first memory for storing watermark print information, a second memory for storing watermark effective data, a third memory for storing original image data, an original image data reader for reading out the original image data from the third memory, and a watermark data reader for reading out the watermark effective data based on the watermark print information.

Abstract: An image forming method, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus are provided, with which an electrophotographic image that has superior image quality, superior fixing ability and remains good even in a hot and humid environment is obtainable. The image forming method includes: developing, with a developing agent, an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor to form a toner image; transferring the toner image onto an image receiving member to form a transfer image; and fixing the transferred image onto the image receiving member to form an image, wherein the photoreceptor includes a layer that contains a siloxane compound having charge-transferability and a crosslinking structure, with a compound having acid-adsorbing ability being supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor. The process cartridge and the image forming apparatus are used in the image forming method.

Abstract: A housing 10 of a development apparatus is vertically divided into two segments; a lower housing 20 and an upper housing 30. The housings 20, 30 are fixedly joined together without use of fixing means such as screwing or welding means but by means of causing a plurality of engaging projection pieces 26 formed on a joining surface section 25 to engage with engage holes 36 formed on a joining surface section 35, and causing resiliently-deformable snap-fit engaging sections 27 to engage with engaged sections 37. Side brackets 40, 50 are fitted to respective sides of the thus-joined housings 20, 30, thereby reinforcing the joined state of the housings 20, 30. No damage arises at the time of assembly or disassembly of the housing, and the housing can be reused.

Abstract: In obtaining performance of a combination of actions, such as in a coordination or scheduling application, combination data indicating a combination of two or more action types can be obtained. The combination data could, for each action type, identify a service that can be performed by a networked server to provide an instance of the action type. Combinations of offers can be generated, with the offers in each combination together offering the combination of action types indicated by the combination data. In generating the combinations, inquiries can be provided to the servers or other sources of actions, with an inquiry indicating an action type and requesting offers offering to perform an action and indicating an action identifier for the offered action. The action identifiers from the offers in any of the generated combinations can be used to obtain performance of that combination of actions.

Abstract: A microfluidic filter has a conical filter structure having a plurality of pores through the structure. Alternately the microfluidic filter can have a cylindrical filter structure or a coil structure of multiple cylindrical filters with decreasing radii. The pore structure of the filters is formed by laser ablation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing device and an image processing method which efficiently and effectively use an overprint warning function to make it possible to efficiently check an actual print finish. When an overprint warning function is set, the print server checks whether a trapping function is set in an ON state or not. The print server sets a trapping setting as a warning object when the trapping function is in an ON state. Therefore, the print server extracts an overprint to check whether the object is set as a warning object for a Koverprint and a register mark/caption, and then performs a warning process to the object serving as a warning object and a print setting, so that the print setting is performed to make the selected warning object definite.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having dimensions comparable to or smaller than those of conventional color image forming apparatus and adapted to produce a hard copy of photographic image quality. The image forming apparatus of the present invention has a first fixing device that fixes a toner image transferred to a recording medium, a second fixing device that re-fixes the toner image fixed on the recording medium by the first fixing device, and a switch section that selects the first route or the second route for the recording medium to be discharged. The first route passes through the first fixing device and allows the recording medium to be discharged immediately thereafter without passing through the second fixing device. The second route passes through the first fixing device and subsequently the second fixing device, and then allows the recording medium to be discharged.

Abstract: In a high speed color printer wherein color images are produce by superposing a developed image atop another developed image, the improvement comprising a charging system for charging a surface, including: at least two coronodes; a housing with at least two coronodes spaced from each other; a grid interposed between the surface and said at least two coronodes; a shield, interposed between the housing and said at least two coronodes; a first power supply for biasing the grid and shield; a second power supply for energizing each of said at least two coronodes; and a phase control connected to the power supply and adapted to control energizing of said at least two coronodes such that each of said at least two coronodes is charged at a phase difference.

Abstract: A communication terminal device which has a network control unit for controlling connection with a network according to call set-up information from the network, wherein the network control unit is provided with a first communication control unit which is connected to the network, a control unit which has a built-in memory and judges whether it is receivable according to call set-up information from at least the network according to an output of the first communication control unit, and a second communication control unit which has an outside memory for storing a control program and controls communication with the network, and the control unit operates the first communication control unit and the second communication control unit in a normal state, cuts off the power supply to the second communication control unit in a standby state to operate the first communication control unit so to judge whether it is receivable according to the call set-up information from the network, and when it is judged to be receiva

Abstract: The present invention updates only necessary information alone, while decreasing the user's load of operation, without executing complex processing. A service-retrieving server searches for a FAX service that is currently available. A concentrated-management section displays on a GUI the searched result of the service-retrieving server. And the management section collectively updates a FAX number table that is commonly used by a respective one of the service-processing devices that appear in a FAX service list.

Abstract: An imaging system, which may be applied both to black and white and color imaging systems and comprising a platen member which defines an imaging portion and a calibration portion is disclosed. The imaging portion and the calibration portion comprise separate portions of the platen member. The platen member is supported by a movably mounted support member, and moves with the support member between a platen member calibrating position and a platen member imaging position. The platen member is dimensioned to support a sheet to be imaged. An imaging module with an imaging zone is supported in a position where the imaging zone is positioned to coincide with a portion of a sheet supported on the imaging portion of the platen member, when the platen member is in the platen member imaging position. A calibration member having a reference reflectivity is adhered to the calibration portion of the platen member.

Abstract: An image formation method for forming an image containing an embossed portion of an expandable material on a recording medium, comprising converting height information about an embossed image which is the image of the embossed portion to the same density information as one used to indicate a density of a non-embossed image which is not raised, and controlling an amount of the expandable material formed on the recording medium according to the converted density information.

Abstract: A printing technique wherein pixel locations that are requested to be marked with only black are identified, black is applied to the identified pixel locations, non-black color is applied to a subset of the identified pixel locations that have an associated black half-tone threshold level that is darker than a predetermined non-white threshold level, such that only black is applied to identified pixel locations having an associated black half-tone threshold level that is lighter than or equal to the predetermined non-white threshold level.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing method and an image processing apparatus for properly enabling a compressed image included in a page layout to be drawn in colors. A print server detects a compressed image in an EPS (JPEG) format or the like, sets a CMS according to the color plate being processed, and converts values of C, M, Y, and K. For example, when a process on the C color plate is performed, the converting process is performed by using a CMS 40C for the C color plate so that the value of “c” in the compressed image becomes a value of K (KC value). In such a manner, the values of K (KC, KM, KY, and KK) output from CMSs 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K are converted into values of C, M, Y, and K.