Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a curvilinear prism-like structure and a curvilinear roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the curvilinear roof mirror would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: In a document handler associated with a scanner, such as for a digital copier or facsimile machine, an image-bearing sheet is moved over a window, through which the image is recorded by a photosensitive chip. When a spot of dirt attaches to the window, a streak results in the image data. This streaking problem is minimized by having the scan line viewed by the photosensitive chip move a small distance within the window of the document handler, so that any spot on the window will not be repeatedly exposed by the photosensitive chip.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ink jet recording apparatus which supplies a suitable amount of ink to a main ink tank for supplying ink to a recording head. The main ink tank placed over a movable carriage includes a first ink chamber which holds ink therein in a free state together with air. The main ink tank communicates with a sub-ink tank attached to its upper portion through a pipe. Ink in a sub-ink chamber of the sub-ink tank forms an interface with air by a surface tension at the pipe. When the sub-ink tank is scanned by the movable carriage in this condition, acceleration acts on the ink in the first ink chamber and the sub-ink chamber. As a result, the air in the sub-ink chamber 81 and the ink in the first ink chamber are interchanged with each other at the interface according to a change in pressure of the first ink chamber, whereby the ink is supplied from the sub-ink chamber to the first ink chamber.

Abstract: An air suction manifold device for removal of fibers/debris from the photoreceptor surface, which may otherwise attach to the development electrode wires causing a print defect(s). The device incorporating a secondary channel perpendicular to the main channel, formed by the manifold flange(s) proximity to the photoreceptor surface. The secondary channel supplying a specific volume of air at a specific mean velocity in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the main channel. The volume and velocity of secondary channel air being of such magnitude that it crosses the main channel gap and impinges on the photoreceptor surface, causing a zone of maximum shear stress prior to completely mixing with the main channel air. The maximum sheer stress zone resulting in improved fiber/debris removal performance from the photoreceptor surface.

Abstract: An optical pulse code recognition device and an optical distributor recognize multiple bits of a 1 Tbps packet signal as they are, all at one time. A serial signal light emitted from an optical fiber is collimated by a lens and applied onto a mask having a mask pattern. A thin film optical switch increases its optical transmittance when irradiated with a control light, allowing the collimated signal light to transmit through it. When the control light is applied, the transmitted collimated signal light is converted into a parallel signal. The mask pattern has multiple transmission portions allowing one bit of signal light to transmit through and an equal number of non-transmitting portions to block the light, and whether or not a bit pattern of the signal light and the mask pattern match each other is found by detecting a maximum or minimum value of light intensity with a photodetector.

Abstract: A method extracts all infinite ambiguity from an input finite-state transducer (FST). The input FST is factorized into a first factor and a second factor such that the first factor is finitely ambiguous, and the second factor retains all infinite ambiguity of the original FST. The first factor is defined so that it replaces every loop where the input symbol of every arc is an &egr; (i.e., epsilon, empty string) by a single arc with &egr; on the input side and a diacritic on the output side. The second factor is defined so that it maps every diacritic to one or more &egr;-loops.

Abstract: A system operates using meta-documents which include document content associated with one or more personalities. Each personality is associated with a set of document service requests. Users are provided different techniques for creating personalities and modifying existing personalities. These techniques include: the use of an algebra to tailor existing personalities, the use of a list of links or documents to create a personality, the use of predefined personalities and knowledge levels in a field to create new personalities, the use of question answering techniques, and the use of learning personalities. Specified personalities are then used to enrich document content by integrating into corresponding meta-documents the results received from their document service requests.

Abstract: A new type of high-Q variable capacitor includes a substrate, a first electrically conductive layer fixed to the substrate, a dielectric layer fixed to a portion of the electrically conductive layer, and a second electrically conductive layer having an anchor portion and a free portion. The anchor portion is fixed to the dielectric layer and the free portion is initially fixed to the dielectric layer, but is released from the dielectric layer to become separated from the dielectric layer, and wherein an inherent stress profile in the second electrically conductive layer biases the free portion away from the a dielectric layer. When a bias voltage is applied between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer, electrostatic forces in the free portion bend the free portion towards the first electrically conductive layer, thereby increasing the capacitance of the capacitor.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a seam that is finished using a finishing machine. The intermediate transfer belt comprises a belt outer surface and a belt inner surface. The seam comprises a seam outer surface of a seam width with adhesive material disposed thereon. The finishing process includes a finishing media with a finishing surface and a backer bar. The backer bar comprises a backer bar radius and a backer bar surface with a backer surface curvature based on the backer bar radius. The backer bar surface is positioned against the belt inner surface so that the belt outer surface contacts the finishing surface to define a finishing contact arc with respect to the backer bar radius. A tension, feed rate and pressure are applied to the finishing media. The backer bar radius is then adjusted so that the finishing contact arc covers the seam width. Using the finishing machine, the seam is then finished to remove the adhesive material.

Abstract: An information space is created using a document. Entities from the document and its information space are used to create a database of entities. An auto-completion system uses contextual information surrounding a fragment from the document to formulate a query. The query is used to identify a set of entities in the database of entities that complete the fragment. An auto-correction system uses contextual information from identified errors in the document to formulate a query. The query is used to identify a set of entities in the database of entities that correct the error.

Abstract: A hyperacuity printing system for rendering bitmapped image data on a photosensitive recording medium, the bitmapped image data being rendered as an array of pixels across the photosensitive recording medium in a fastscan direction, and an orthogonal slowscan direction. This system includes a data source for supplying grayscale input image data and a scanning device for rendering grayscale output image data onto the recording medium. The scanning device has a device for writing scan spots on the recording medium. Further included in this system is transformation circuitry for transforming the grayscale input image data into grayscale output image data. The transformation circuitry includes a halftoner, a thresholder, and a selection device, where the selection device selects either the thresholder or the halftoner to provide the grayscale output image data.

Abstract: An electrophotographic developer is provided that attains improvement in reliability by improvement in cleaning property and reduction in wear of a photoreceptor in a well-balanced manner without impairing high transfer efficiency and high image quality of a spherical toner. The electrophotographic developer contains a toner and a carrier, the toner containing spherical colored particles having an average shape factor (ML2/A) of about from 100 to 135 and irregular-shaped non-colored particles having a volume average particle diameter of about from 1 to 10 &mgr;m, a charge distribution of the developer having a peak value Q/Ma ascribable to the spherical colored particles and a peak value Q/Mb ascribable to the irregular-shaped non-colored particles, and the peak value Q/Ma and the peak value Q/Mb satisfying both the following formulae (1) and (2): 20 &mgr;C/g≦|Q/Ma|≦85 &mgr;C/g  (1) −0.7 Q/Ma≦Q/Mb≦0.5 Q/Ma  (2).

Abstract: A hand-held printer system is designed for printing a stored image onto a surface or other media. In particular, various embodiments are adapted for hand-held printing onto the surface of a whiteboard. In embodiments, the printer system comprises a marking mechanism including at least one print head, a global position sensing system that senses a position of the at least one print head, and a control mechanism that actuates the at least one print head based on the sensed position. In other embodiments, the system comprises a local position sensing system that senses a position of the at least one print head relative to a drawing surface.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge regulator capable of holding an electric charge in a stable state and superior in environmental stability, as well as a method for making the electrostatic charger regulator and an image forming method using the electrostatic charge regulator, are disclosed. The electrostatic charge regulator has a surface layer containing a non-linear resistor on a base member such as a carrier, a developer sleeve, a developer blade, or a transfer belt. The electrostatic charge regulator is obtained by forming on the base member a surface layer by using a thin film of a composite metal oxide or by using dispersion of powder of the composite metal oxide in a high molecular compound, the composite metal oxide being prepared using at least one metal selected from Group A metals (Zn, Ti, Si, Al, Zr) and at least one metal selected from Group B metals (Bi, Sb, C, Y, La, Pr, Sc, Ce, Sn, Pb). The image forming method uses the above electrostatic charge regulator to form an image.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrophoretic ink comprising a suspending fluid and, suspended in the suspending fluid, a plurality of particles comprising a mixture of a chelating agent and a spiropyran material of the formula wherein n is an integer representing the number of repeat —CH2— units and R is —H or —CH═CH2, the particles being free to migrate within the suspending fluid under the influence of an electric field.

Abstract: A positionable wiper blade is positioned by a translatable carriage contact and clean a printhead nozzle face. The carriage translates a removable ink tank support structure with an attached ink jet printhead from a printing location to a non-printing location where the positionable wiper blade is located. A replaceable ink supply tank is installed on the support structure and replaced when the ink is depleted. The wiper blade is moved into wiping position by movement of the carriage and when the carriage is translated away from the non-printing location towards the printing location, the wiper blade cleans the printhead nozzle face and flicks the ink removed from the nozzle face into a backstop receptacle.

Abstract: A shaft assembly including an elongated member having at least a portion which is hollow having an inside surface defining a shaft core is provided. The shaft assembly includes a rotatable, torque transmitting elongated member defining a portion thereof which is hollow having an inside surface and defining a shaft core. The shaft has an outside surface including a torque transmitting portion and a functional feature portion. The elongated member defines an aperture gate extending from the inside surface to the outside surface. The elongated member also defines a hardened, moldable material. The material extends from the inside surface through the aperture gate. The material is secured to at least a portion of the outside surface.

Abstract: A color transformation matrix K transforms device dependent color imaging signals RGB into device independent color imaging signals XYZ. The transformation matrix K includes a set of coefficients kn. An optimization value is calculated for the transformation matrix as a function of the coefficients within the transformation matrix having a value less than zero. The values of the coefficients within the transformation matrix are then adjusted; and a minimal optimization value is determined for the transformation matrix, which preferably has coefficients with values that are greater than zero. The optimization procedure seeks to minimize the optimization value by adjusting the values of the coefficients within the transformation matrix, such that the coefficients within the matrix are all positive values. This added constraint on the transformation matrix in the minimization technique will lead to larger residual color errors.

Abstract: A method and system implements selective, memory efficient, control over the amount of error diffused in a hybrid screening system. An image context error computer receives a pixel classification and an error value. Upon receiving these data, a set of shift registers supplies a fractional portion of the error value to an error diffusion circuit. A bypass thresholder receives screened video and applies simple thresholding. In parallel with the simple thresholding, an error diffuser receives screened video and applies error diffusion. The results of the two processes are output to a multiplexer which outputs one based on the pixel classification.

Abstract: Through a combination of a hybrid diagnostic scheme based on qualitative and quantitative technologies, at least component level status information can be obtained about a machine, such as an electronic device. In particular, qualitative model based diagnostic technologies is used in conjunction with quantitative analysis techniques and signature analysis to achieve accurate and reliable diagnosis of components and systems down to the individual component level, for example, down to the consumer replaceable unit level. Thus, the hybrid diagnostic methodology exploits the diagnostic information content in already available system signals via intelligent processing and allows for diagnosis with minimal sensor requirements. Furthermore, the diagnostic methodology allows for a self-diagnosing machine having diagnostic intelligence which in turn can reduce service time, service costs, increased machine up time and improve customer satisfaction.