Abstract: An improved sliding window dictionary-based compression method limits the data within the sliding window searched to data strings occurring at each discrete match location within a plurality of predefined discrete match locations, the plurality of predefined discrete match locations comprising a set of non-continuous data positions within the window of data.

Abstract: A container is provided for delivering a supply of particles for use in a developer unit of an electrophotographic apparatus. A resistor member, is permanently associated with the container. When the container is associated with the electrophotographic apparatus, the resistance of the resistor member is identified and a fault signal is communicated to a display when the incorrect configuration of the container is identified as being used in the electrophotographic apparatus. Also provided is a method of determining the configuration of a container in a printing or copying apparatus.

Abstract: A method and a system for authentication whereby authentication characteristic information is not disclosed to a third party when a verifier uses a verification device of a limited scale to authenticate a user's rights or qualifications. A ticket issuing device interacts with the user's interactive device having a secret function f to calculate document secret information &mgr; based on a document m (data) to be transmitted to the interactive device, whereby the user is issued a ticket t generated from authentication characteristic information x and the document secret information &pgr;. Upon receipt of the document m, the interactive device generates the document secret information using its unique secret function f to perform an interaction based on the generated information. The interaction involves output of a commitment r, input of a challenge c, and an output of a response &sgr;.

Abstract: A color spectrophotometer incorporating a low cost commercial imaging chip, which normally forms part of a document imaging bar used for imaging documents in scanners, etc., having multiple photo-sites with three different rows of color filters. Each chip is mounted on the optical axis of an imaging lens system, in the image plane of that lens system, to image the reflected illumination from an illuminated color test target area on the chip. The optical axis of the imaging lens system is oriented at 45° to the illuminated color test patches, and the photodetector chip is physically mounted perpendicular to the plane of the illuminated color test patches. Respective photo-sensor chips and associated 1:1 optics may be mounted on opposing sides of the spectrophotometer physically oriented at 90° to the test target area plane receiving the reflected light from the test target optically oriented at 45° to the illuminated test target.

Abstract: A stalled roll registration system and method includes a mechanism that allows for pivoting deskew action in a pre-registration nip. A ball-on-roll pre-registration transport is used in combination with a stalled roll registration nip. Any initial buckle is depleted rapidly as the body of a sheet straightens out at the registration nip under the influence of the ball-on-belt transport. The method includes the steps of providing a registration nip in a sheet path; providing a ball-on-belt sheet transport for directing a sheet towards the registration nip; feeding the sheet into the registration nip with the ball-on-belt transport; and then pivoting the sheet within the ball-on-belt transport in order to register the sheet against the registration nip.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving, analyzing, and managing key information extracted from input documents in multiple document genres. A document “genre” is the social environment that defines the document's expected structure and content. Information is extracted from the input documents based on their genre, and is synthesized into a distributed genre document, or database, representing all extracted information from all input documents. An output document having a selected genre is created by assembling information from the database consistent with the selected genre.

Abstract: An ink supply level sensing system for a solid ink loader having a channel for holding ink sticks, the channel having a push block therein, wherein the push block pushes ink sticks towards an end of the channel, and wherein the push block moves down the channel as it pushes the ink sticks. The sensing system includes a vane, an arm connected to the vane, the arm extending into the channel such that it is moved by the push block, thereby moving the vane, a first optical sensor having a first optical transmitter and a first optical receiver, wherein the first optical sensor provides a signal indicating a low ink supply when the vane passes between the first optical transmitter and first optical receiver; and a second optical sensor having a second optical transmitter and a second optical receiver, wherein the second optical sensor provides a signal indicating no ink supply when the vane passes between the second optical transmitter and second optical receiver.

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 polymer blend of a first polymer and a second polymer different from the first polymer, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surface emitting semiconductor laser, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having sequentially layered thereon a lower multi-layer mirror, an active layer region, and an upper multi-layer mirror that, together with the lower multi-layer mirror, contributes to the formation of a cavity; an upper electrode disposed on an upper layer of the upper multi-layer mirror and provided with an aperture that forms an emission region of a laser beam generated at the active layer region; and a current confinement portion disposed between the upper electrode and the lower multi-layer mirror and provided with an aperture that forms a current path; wherein an aperture diameter of the upper electrode and an aperture diameter of the current confinement portion are determined such that a difference between an optical loss of the cavity in a higher-order lateral mode of the laser beam and an optical loss of the cavity in a fundamental lateral mode of the laser beam becomes a value in the vicinity

Abstract: A bistable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based system comprises a micromachined beam having a first stable state, in which the beam is substantially stress-free and has a specified non-linear shape, and a second stable state. The curved shape may comprises a simple curve or a compound curve. In embodiments, the boundary conditions for the beam are fixed boundary conditions, bearing boundary conditions, spring boundary conditions, or a combination thereof. The system may further comprise an actuator arranged to move the beam between the first and second stable states and a movable element that is moved between a first position and a second position in accordance with the movement of the beam between the first and second stable states. The actuator may comprise one of a thermal actuator, an electrostatic actuator, a piezoelectric actuator and a magnetic actuator. The actuator may further comprise a thermal impact actuator or a zippering electrostatic actuator.

Abstract: Several methods and structures for improving the yield of out-of-plane micro-device structures including springs and coils are described. In one method the springs used to form out-of-plane structures are constrained via a tether to avoid bunching and entanglement. The high yield structure may be used in numerous electronic applications such as filter circuits.

Abstract: A fluid ejector includes a fluid channel having a resistive heater and terminating in a nozzle, a common bus formed transverse to the fluid channel and between the resistive heater and the nozzle, a connection line laterally adjacent to the fluid channel, and a connection structure for electrically connecting the common bus with the reistive heater and the connection line, the connection structure including a first set of one or more layers for electrical connection and a second set of one or more layers for covering the common bus and connection line. The first set of one or more layers includes a doped polysilicon layer on or overlaid by an optional tantalum-silicide layer. The second set of one or more layers includes a nitride layer on or overlaid by a tantalum layer.

Abstract: A sheet supply tray and a sheet discharge tray are provided. Long sheets can be supplied from the sheet supply tray loaded with the long sheets. The sheet discharge tray is used also as the sheet supply tray, and receives the long sheets with a sheet discharge surface thereof in an area facing the sheet loading surface of the sheet supply tray. A discharge guide unit for guiding the discharge direction of the long sheets is detachably provided in such a dual-purpose type sheet discharge unit. A discharge/reception unit supporting the long sheets is detachably provided as a whole or a part of the sheet discharge unit. An extension sheet tray extensible with respect to a standard sheet tray is provided while the extension state of the extension sheet tray can be detected by an extension detection unit.

Abstract: A cradle for a fusing assembly including end tabs or protrusions for supporting and pivoting on a side wall. The cradle functionally associates with the side walls and is adapted to angularly pivot between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A process for making a toner. The process includes mixing a toner resin and a colorant; extruding the resin and colorant mixture; attriting the resin and colorant mixture; classifying the attrited particles into particles averaging 4 to about 10 microns in size; and blending sufficient surface additive particles and the classified particles in a high intensity blender such that the weight of attached surface additives is greater than two (2) of the weight of the classified particles and such that the blending is intense enough to yield Additive Adhesion Force Distribution percent values after 10 minutes of sonification and 12 kilojoules of energy greater than 40 percent.

Abstract: A photoconductive imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate, and thereover a single layer comprised of a mixture of a photogenerator component, a charge transport component, an electron transport component, and a polymer binder, and wherein the photogenerating component is a pigment.

Abstract: A design aid apparatus includes an input section, an antenna propensity determination section, an output section, and a memory storing design data for a plurality of structures comprising an electronic device to be designed. Conductivity of a structure is determined based on conductivity information of the structure read out from the memory. The antenna propensity determination section determines a contact relation, which expresses a state of electrical contact between a conductive structure having conductivity and another conductive structure, based on information relating to shapes and arrangements of structures stored in the memory. A length of a route between a reference conductive structure and the conductive structure is determined. The antenna propensity of the electronic device is evaluated based on the route length.

Abstract: A hardware interface usable to communicate with electrically erasable read-only memory devices and, optionally, other external controls or devices, includes self-monitoring power supply circuitry, an EEPROM driver and noise and signal degradation prevention circuitry, and optional input/output circuitry which provides for programmatically cycling power to the memory device. The self-monitoring power supply circuitry is capable of determining whether a power supply has reached the hardware interface. The EEPROM driver and noise and signal degradation prevention circuitry reduces signal noise and/or signal degradation and driver circuitry for programming, monitoring, and downloading information to and from the EEPROM devices. The digital input/output circuitry is capable of controlling the power supply to the hardware interface, downloading or monitoring information to the hardware interface, or controlling/responding to external devices or controls.

Abstract: An image forming system and method of using the system includes a development station for developing an image, a replenishing source that stores toner mixed to a desired color and comprising at least two toner component colors, a conditioning station that conditions the toner before sending the toner to a developing station, and a drawing device that draws a portion of the toner in the conditioning station. The drawing device will remove a portion of at least one component color of the toner until the desired color is suitable for developing. The system and method will help to produce images of a desired color in liquid immersion development of color prints. With the use of the drawing device, consistent colored images can be achieved while reducing waste of toner.