Abstract: An image processing apparatus that generates a background pattern to be combined with document data includes a pattern generator. This pattern generator generates a background pattern that includes a first region in which patterns that correspond to a predetermined code and are to be reproduced at a time of duplication are arranged, a second region in which patterns that are not to be reproduced at a time of duplication are arranged, and camouflage patterns formed by variations of the patterns to be reproduced at a time of duplication and the patterns not to be reproduced at a time of duplication.

Abstract: Apparatus has been provided for directing toner from a hopper containing a supply of toner to fill as well as cleanly cutoff filling of a container without post-cutoff dribbling. The apparatus includes (a) a conduit member connected to the hopper and having a discharging end for permitting a toner to be moved therethrough; (b) a conveyor device located at least partially within the conduit member for moving the toner from the hopper in a toner moving direction towards the container; and (c) an anti-dribbling nozzle device for directing the toner from the conveyor to cleanly fill the container. The anti-dribbling nozzle device includes a source of pressurized air, a controller, and a nozzle member that has a first end connected to the discharge end of the conduit member, a second and opposite end for dispensing moving toner into the container, and a nozzle wall connecting the first end to the second thereof.

Abstract: What is disclosed are various embodiments of a control panel for multi-function equipment for the alternative navigation and selection of various available options presented. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is shown comprising four arrow-shaped buttons so the impaired user can navigate controls and options displayed. An ENTER button is provided for formalizing the entry of desired selections, where required. An UNDO button is provided to de-select entries. A STATUS button initiates audio, visual, or tactile feedback as to machine state, status, and other assistance. An ENLARGE button is provided by which a visually impaired user can enlarge their current focus for easier seeing and reading. An ON/OFF switch enables/disables feedback for use in those work environments where such assistance is not desired. Each of the buttons has an identifying shape, which can be differentiated by feel, and Braille and other text are additionally provided.

Abstract: A method of generating a binary Sel plane for image compression is disclosed. The method first generates a 2 bit gray selector (GraySel). This 2 bit selector is then processed in a second stage to produce a binary Sel decision which minimizes the compression noise evident in the reconstructed image. The method used here to generate the 2 bit GraySel applies a set of prioritized rules over a small 3×3 window that is well suited for segmenting synthetic, PDL generated images that are typically free of scanner noise. The method not only marks the proper sense of the selector when it is known, but also include a 3rd state that indicates that the selector decision is weak or unknown. This weak decision can then be optimized in the second stage process based on strong edges information in the neighborhood.

Abstract: An image processing method and image processing device which carry out color replacement of any color of process colors, by using another process color or a spot color which is not a process color. CMYK values of raster data of a color for which color replacement is designated, among process colors of an image object, are converted by using CMYK values of a replacement color stored in advance, and raster data of the replacement color is generated. Then, this raster data is composed with raster data of a remaining color which is not subjected to color replacement, or raster data of another color replaced in. At this time, color correction is carried out on raster data of remaining process colors.

Abstract: A sheet supplying unit of a sheet transporting device can be attached later to an image forming apparatus body. On a sheet transporting side of the sheet supplying unit, a protrusion is provided, and a second transporting member is disposed at this protrusion. A reception space is provided on the image forming apparatus body, and the protrusion is arranged protrusively in this reception space, whereby the second transporting member protrudes to the image forming apparatus body to shorten a length of a transporting passage between a first transporting member on the image forming apparatus body side and the second transporting member.

Abstract: Provided is an optical switching system which is capable of being operated at a very high speed in a communication wavelength region and of meeting the various requests at a high grade by the provision of an optical switching system having such a construction that a signal light composed of a light pulse train, and a pulse-like control light synchronous therewith are applied to a light control portion composed of a thin film made of carbon natures to selectively transmit the light pulse train in the signal light through the thin film to form an output signal light and then receiving the output signal light thus formed is received.

Abstract: A communication terminal device which comprises an SIP call control unit that performs call control by using an SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), a recognition unit that recognizes that a calling has become an error according to a response signal sent back from a called party terminal after making the call according to the SIP call control procedure, a redial management unit that manages a redial interval to make a redial when the calling has become an error, and a redial control unit that performs redial control according to redial information when the calling has become an error and the response signal contains the redial information.

Abstract: A text sentence comparison method includes converting a first text sentence and a second text sentence into a first R tree (or a first RO tree) and a second R tree (or a second RO tree), respectively, calculating a distance between the first R tree and the second R tree (or a distance between the first RO tree and the second RO tree) on the basis of a distance between two R trees (or a distance between two RO trees), which is defined at least in accordance with a condition of a mapping between vertexes and edges of the two R trees (or the two RO trees), and calculating a distance between the first text sentence and the second text sentence on the basis of the calculated distance between the first R tree and the second R tree (or the calculated distance between the first RO tree and the second RO tree).

Abstract: Receiving an object color signal and an input black colorant quantity associated with the object color signal, an equivalent output black colorant quantity calculating section calculates an equivalent output black colorant quantity in an output color space equivalent to the input black colorant quantity from the input black colorant quantity. An output color signal determining section calculates an output color signal from the object color signal and the equivalent input black colorant quantity, and determines whether or not the coverage restriction is satisfied. When the coverage restriction is not satisfied, an optimum black colorant quantity is calculated by adjusting the input black colorant quantity, and an optimum color signal satisfying the coverage restriction is calculated to generate an output color signal with the optimum black colorant quantity in the restriction black colorant quantity calculating section and subsequent processings.

Abstract: A method of drying wet toner particles includes adding different sized wet toner particles to a dryer drying chamber and drying each of the wet toner particles for a drying time TD. The drying time TD can vary for each toner particle and is proportional to the mass of the wet toner particle. The method can also include introducing a heated drying gas into the drying chamber to create a circulating flow of drying gas having a curved portion, and retaining the toner particles in the circulating flow until the toner particles lose enough moisture that exiting forces overcome centrifugal forces and the toner particles no longer remain in the drying chamber. A dryer for drying toner particles includes a drying chamber, at least one drying gas inlet for introducing heated drying gas into the drying chamber to produce a circulating flow of drying gas. The dryer includes a feed inlet for introducing wet toner particles into the circulating flow of drying gas to dry the wet toner particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods to enable real-time and near real-time storyboarding on the World Wide Web in addition to a graphical user interface for video parsing and browsing the of the storyboard. Specifically, storyboarding can be accomplished on the World Wide Web by parsing an input video into representative or key frames. These frames then can be posted to a web document, or the like, for subsequent viewing by a user. This allows a video to be distilled down to the essential frames thus eliminating storage and bandwidth problems as well as eliminating the need for a user to view the entirety of the video. Furthermore, the graphical user interface allows a user to visually interact with an input video signal to determine the key or representative frames, or to retrieve video segments associated with already determined key frames.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inventive process for the manufacture of polymeric seamless belts, e.g. drive, fuser or toner belts for reprographics applications. The novel seamless belts can have a smooth outer surface the dimensions and quality of which are effectively determined by the inner surface of a hollow mandrel employed as a mold during manufacture. The mandrel inner surface can be highly polished to enhance the smoothness of the belt outer surface, and can be formed of a material with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the belt polymer to facilitate removal of the belt from the mandrel after curing. The molded belt can be used “as is”, be sliced into smaller belts or be employed as a substrate for deposition of additional belt layers and then, optionally, sliced. The polymer, e.g.

Abstract: A foreground erosion method is used to meet thin (but unbroken) text requirements using linear YCC segmentation. The method uses a fixed value subtracted from a gray selector signal, thereby thinning/eroding the foreground. In cases where the pixel would be converted from foreground to background, this is only done if a neighborhood test verifies that the thinning won't result in broken lines. The foreground erosion method attempts to match a couple of templates wherein if a match is found, then the adjustment is performed.

Abstract: For signals to be transmitted through a signal transmission path constituted by a relay device group for relay for each set of a plurality of channels, a timing adjustment unit is provided in both or one of a receiver-side LSI and a transmitter-side LSI for each set of a plurality of channels transmitted through the relay device group for relay so that the signals can be transmitted with accurate timing. In addition, the timing adjustment unit can adjust the timing for signals transmitted through each relay device group, the timing in one receiver-side LSI in signal transmission through a plurality of relay device groups, and the timing in one-to-many signal transmission in which signals are transmitted from one transmitter-side LSI to a plurality of receiver-side LSIs.

Abstract: A method for improving mixed raster compression segmentation utilizes a second stage of a process to generate the MRC Selector plane by operating on a multibit selector (GraySel) signal which is produced by a first stage process. The first stage methods used to generated the GraySel can be PDL or scan oriented. The binary Selector signal produced by the second stage minimizes the compression noise evident in the reconstructed image. This second stage processing relies on knowing the size of the JPEG minimum coded unit (MCU) which will be used to compress the segmented Foreground and Background planes. The idea is to move false (soft) edges away from the real (hard) edges by as large a distance as possible up to the point where they fall off the boundary of the MCU block. Thus a soft edge which occurs between two hard edges is either eliminated or repositioned to the midpoint and a soft edge between a hard edge and the MCU boundary is moved to the boundary.

Abstract: A recording medium printed out by an image forming section 14 is ejected to an ejection unit 16 provided at an upper portion of an image forming apparatus 10. This ejection unit 16 owns an inclination portion 52 which is obliquely formed and has both a lower edge and an upper edge. At least a portion of a developer storage space 70 is arranged in an area “A” which is surrounded by this inclination portion 52, a horizontal plane extended from the lower edge of the inclination portion 52, and also, a vertical plane extended from the upper edge of the inclination portion 52.

Abstract: A high speed heat and pressure belt fuser apparatus or structure for fixing toner images including an endless belt and a pair of pressure members between which the endless belt is sandwiched for forming a fusing nip through which substrates carrying toner images pass with the toner images contacting an outer surface of the endless belt. Efficient uniform heat transfer to a fusing belt, especially belts with macro non-uniformities and/or a rough surface, for enabling better toner fusing uniformity, preventing localized cold offset and extending belt life is effected by the addition of a spring loaded mechanism inside a belt module within the region of contact with the External Heat Roll (EHR). Such an arrangement produces superior contact and therefore better heat transfer to the belt. A positive and consistent heating contact is essential for uniform and high image gloss.

Abstract: A simplified color space transformation method uses a principal axis or dominating parameter in a first color space to determine the value of an associated axis in a second color space. Transformation curves relating the principal axis to the associated second space axis are predetermined and stored. Each curve describes the relationship between the principal axis and the associated axis given certain values for remaining, secondary or non-principal first color space axes. In operation the non-principal axes are used to calculate index values. For example, the non-principal values are quantized. The index values are used to access an appropriate curve. The principal axis value is used as an index into the appropriate curve. An image processor operative to perform the method comprises a transformation curve library.

Abstract: In a photosensitive scanning apparatus, in which a plurality of chips are aligned to form a single linear array of photosensors, gaps of unknown width between photosensors on adjacent chips may have an effect on resulting image quality. A set of simple strategies can be used to overcome the problem. In a first strategy, for each chip, interpolation of output values of the photosensors is used to in effect displace the outputs of the photosensors by a predetermined amount toward a gap; within constraints, the predetermined displacement can be used without actual measurement of any gap width. In a second strategy, an interpolated output of a theoretical “phantom photosensor” disposed toward the gap is added to the output stream from each chip.