Abstract: Efficient methods are disclosed for fabricating spring structures in which a passive, conductive coating is deposited onto the spring structure after release. A release layer is deposited on a substrate and then a spring metal layer is formed thereon. A first mask is then used to etch the spring metal layer to form a spring metal finger. A second (release) mask is then deposited that defines a release window used to remove a portion of the release layer and release a free end of the spring metal finger. The second mask is also used as a mask during the subsequent directional deposition of a conductive coating material on the cantilevered tip of the finger. The second mask is then stripped, and the residual coating deposited thereon is lifted off. The resulting spring structure includes conductive coating on the upper surface and front edge of the finger tip.

Abstract: A coating method for a hollow substrate including: (a) forming a seamed extended substrate unit composed of a substrate extension device and the substrate, and employing a chuck assembly to internally grip the substrate; (b) dip coating the extended substrate unit while the chuck assembly internally grips the substrate to deposit a layer first on the substrate extension device and then on the substrate; and (c) separating, subsequent to the dip coating the extended substrate unit, the substrate extension device from the substrate.

Abstract: A method to compensate for dot placement errors includes receiving image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each having at least two states, a first corresponding to depositing no ink and a second corresponding to depositing ink; identifying a stray pixel pattern within the image data, the stray pixel pattern including a stray pixel corresponding to a misplaced dot in a dot pattern; and modifying the image data corresponding to the stray pixel pattern by setting the stray pixel to the first state and changing a second pixel from the first state to the second state.

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: A polymer gel composition and an optical element using the same are provided. The polymer gel composition has a simple constitution, can be applied for a display element of transmission type, and exhibits large differences in the light-scattering index, light refractive index, and light absorption according to an imposed electric field with stable repeating performance. The polymer gel composition and the optical element using it contain a liquid and a charged polymer gel that exhibits volumetric change depending on the absorption/releasing of the liquid according to an imposed electric field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting clusters of a set of data items by using a histogram. This method includes receiving item data including coordinates of a metric space; dividing the metric space into a plurality of bins; associating a distance from at least a particular coordinate to each of the item data; inserting each of the item data into a bin within the distance of the item data so as to generate a histogram and, using the histogram to obtain one or more clusters.

Abstract: A display is provided with an insulative layer with electrical properties which have been selected so that the display can be addressed with a stylus and which minimizes the effects of stray triboelectrically generated charges. Also provided is a method of addressing such a display by depositing charges on a surface of the display, maintaining sufficient charge to effect an image change, and then removing the charges.

Abstract: A variable acceleration TAR. The properties and dimensions of the sheets in a stack are entered by a user or determined automatically. Since it is known from either customer provided input or automatic sensing what sheet length and resulting pitch size are feeding from any tray, the acceleration profile for the TAR is customized according to how much time is available to bring the sheet to transport speed in a given pitch zone. For longer sheet length with higher mass, there is also more acceleration time available and can reduce the required acceleration to a value that the motor and drive nip friction can handle thereby keeping motor size down and making more efficient use of the available torque of the motor with no added cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a micromechanical or microoptomechanical structure produced by a process comprising defining the structure in a single-crystal silicon layer separated by an insulator layer from a substrate layer; selectively etching the single crystal silicon layer; depositing and etching a polysilicon layer on the insulator layer, with remaining polysilicon forming mechanical elements of the structure; metalizing a backside of the structure; and releasing the formed structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the texture of the images to be processed are provided. An image data manager is provided that is capable of generating summed-area tables to be applied in texture mapping for texture that have no special direction or orientation, by generating summed-area tables for areas that best approximate circles. The image data manager uses the generated summed-area tables to process the image data. The summed-areas tables applied include a hexagon and an octagon. Accordingly, problems in processing images having textures that have no special direction or orientation, are reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a generally fluidized toner in an image developer system utilized in an image forming system are provided. The method includes introducing a fluid, such as atmospheric air, into a chamber containing toner particles to fluidize the toner. The fluid-like characteristics of the fluidized toner may be used to delump and transport the toner, and to detect the toner level.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing pieces of mail includes mail handling assemblies; and a printing module connected to the mail handling assemblies and having a first printing position, a second printing position, a moveable carriage for moving to and from the first printing position and the second printing position, and a first printhead cartridge mounted at a first location on the moveable carriage and including a first printhead having a first path of movement with the moveable carriage at and through the first printing position and the second printing position. The printing module also includes a second printhead cartridge mounted at a second location on the moveable carriage for increasing a width of a swath printed by the first printhead cartridge and the second printhead cartridge. The second printhead cartridge includes a second printhead having a second path of movement with the moveable carriage at and through the first printing position and the second printing position.

Abstract: A sensor and associated method is disclosed for detecting presence of a sheet which is being advanced on a photoreceptor of an electrophotographic printing device. The sensor includes a vibratory member which is configured to be positioned in contact with the photoreceptor. The sensor further includes a drive circuit operable to generate an input signal on a signal line which is coupled to the vibratory member. In addition, the sensor includes a sensing circuit operable to (i) determine if a current level of the input signal falls below a threshold value, and (ii) generate a control signal in response thereto. The control signal may be used to stop advancement of the photoreceptor such as in the case where the control signal indicates that the sheet is improperly being advanced on the photoreceptor such as into a cleaning station.

Abstract: A retrieval system enables high-speed and high-precision pattern retrieval. A retrieval dictionary generation unit classifies learned patterns into plural clusters, and generates a retrieval dictionary using the clusters. A nearest cluster detector detects, a cluster nearest to an input retrieval patter from among clusters in a multidimensional space. The specific space is generated between a couple of spheres having radiuses smaller and larger, respectively, than a distance from a central cluster that locates near the center of the multidimensional space to the retrieval pattern. A learned pattern detector compares all learned patterns that belong to the nearest cluster with the retrieval pattern and detects a learned pattern at predetermined distance from the retrieval pattern. A retrieval range decision unit decides a retrieval range using the learned pattern detected by the learned pattern detector and retrieval pattern.

Abstract: An ink jet nozzle is made from a microfabrication technique including either laser ablation or precision injection molding. The laser ablation method includes ablating an upper surface of a nozzle plate to create a bore, optionally placing a photomask adjacent to the lower surface and over the bore, and laser ablating the lower surface of the nozzle plate to create a lip which extends away from the lower surface of the nozzle plate. The lip can prevent unwanted and/or asymmetrical deflection of ink droplets. Also, the nozzle can be made from plastics, polymers or ceramics, which are resistant to acidic or basic inks, which may cause deterioration of single silicon wafers or semiconductor materials. The precision injection molding microfabrication process includes providing upper and lower molds with a space therebetween, injecting the space with the molding material, and removing the upper and lower molds to release the thus formed ink jet nozzle.

Abstract: A removable memory media, such as a floppy disk or videocassette, has an electrically alterable display thereon. The display comprises an array of electrically alterable elements which can be selectably altered in appearance without the need for ancillary circuitry on the floppy disk or videocassette.

Abstract: All the constituent members of a tray 1, for example, a side guide 30, a paper separating claw 50, a tray body 10, a drawing handle member 70, a member for regulating an end guide 40, and a holding member for holding a retard roll 60 each have a snap-fit structure. Therefore, the assembling and disassembling of the tray can be easily performed. The tray is formed only from members that enable all the steps of processes of assembling and disassembling the tray to be performed from the same direction without changing the orientation of the tray.

Abstract: A seamed flexible belt with interlocking seam members having an outer layer including a polyvinylbutyral and an isocyanate, or a polyurethane from the reaction of polyvinylbutyral and an isocyanate, for use in the xerographic, contact electrostatic, digital and other like machines.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing device which aims for appropriate settings and simplification of printing functions. In a print server, when a print job is received, an application name used in a client terminal is specified from a drawing command of the print job, and standard settings of printing functions provided for each application are read from database files. Thereafter, the standard settings and settings of printing functions of the print job are compared. When the settings are different, after carrying out a warning processing, setting of printing functions based on the standard settings is carried out, and image processing and printing processing based on the set printing functions are executed. In this way, while simplifying settings of printing functions in the client terminal, image processing and printing processing by appropriate printing functions are possible.

Abstract: A low cost yet higher speed color spectrophotometer, especially suitable for on-line color printer color control systems, wherein multiple test patches of different colors may be simultaneously illuminated and substantially simultaneously discretely color analyzed. Reduced numbers of test print sheets, with multiple sets of multiple small adjacent different color test patches, may be used. Reflected images of the multiple different color test patches may be simultaneously focused on different areas of a photodetector chip to expose differently color responsive sets of multiple photo-sites to provide plural discrete color signals for each different color test patch image.