Abstract: A dependency action system uses redundant sets of dynamically reconfigurable functional components to achieve robustness and fault tolerance, and to achieve self-optimization by learning and planning techniques that use time-stamps and or computation stamps as a key indicator. The dependency action system is based on functional components, or actions, which act on data values that are stored in stamped storage locations. Data is read and written to these storage locations, updating the stamps as appropriate. The execution of an action is controlled by the stamps of its enabling and disabling storage locations. The dependency action system specifies an action as enabled if new data has arrived in the enabling storage locations. Updating the stamp of the disabling storage locations disables the action. If an alternative action succeeds and produces a value, the other alternative actions become disabled.

Abstract: In a key registering mode, a freely set key table is produced which correlates operation key information representing a function of a specified key and area information representing an arbitrarily selected area of a coordinate input surface of a coordinate input device. A key name of the registered operation key may further be registered in the freely set key table.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which adopts a simultaneous transfer and fixing method and is capable of obtaining a high-grade image which has high luster, a favorable balance of color and an excellent transparency. In an image forming apparatus provided with a transfer and fixing device which includes a heating roller and a pressure roller for transferring and fixing a toner image on an intermediate transfer body to a recording medium, the transferring and fixing operation is carried out using the heating roller and the pressure roller under a condition that the ratio a/b between the length a of a nip region N of the heating roller and the pressure roller in a direction A at the central portion of these rollers extending in a roller axial direction and the length b of the nip region N in the direction A at both ends of these rollers extending in the roller axial direction is set to be more than 0.8.

Abstract: The triazine wherein Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, and Ar4 are each independently an aryl; R1 and R2 are substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl, an aryl, an alkoxy, a halogen atom, and a cyano; R3 and R4 are each a divalent group L selected from the group consisting of —C(R′R″)—, alkylene, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, and —Si(R′R″)—, wherein R′ and R″ are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, and aryl.

Abstract: A system for producing a desired final halftone color. The system includes a plurality of halftone dot sets. Each dot set includes a plurality of halftone cells. Each halftone cell has a distinct number of sub-cells. Actual halftone levels of a plurality of component colors are produced by each halftone cell as a function of a number of the sub-cells within the halftone cell being selected. Combinations of the actual halftone levels of the respective component colors within each dot set producing respective actual final colors are associated with each of the dot sets. A database stores, for each dot set, the actual halftone levels for each component color produced by each halftone cell. A closest actual halftone color to the desired final halftone color is determined as a function of a combination of the actual halftone levels stored within the database for the respective component colors within one of the dot sets. The closest actual halftone color is produced using a color printer.

Abstract: A technique for producing high quality output on a mixed-resolution color printing device. Unlike current techniques that impose global ink-limit and dot scheduling constraints, the new method can improve the quality of text and line-art features by rendering the outline at the highest resolution yet maintaining an overall ink-limit by compensating the inside density. The new method uses a programmable unsharp mask filter to detect and outline these edges. The system uses bigger black drops than for the three colors, so the big drops have to be treated differently for avoid saturating the paper. The method allows a little saturation, selectively as necessary, and controls the drop spacing and color correction to minimize the problem for nearby pixels. The result is that the quality of rendering is superior to that of the current rendering methods, especially for text and fine line-art graphics. The technique also limits head heating.

Abstract: Phase change inks containing at least one colorant that comprises at least one metal phthalocyanine tetraamide chromogen, at least one metal phthalocyanine tetraester chromogen, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Photoreceptor charge control for obviating the adverse effects of photoreceptor variation inherent in the photoreceptor as the result of the manufacturing process. The voltage values around the periphery of the photoreceptor commonly referred to as the Vc belt signature are measured. The readings for each of the ESVs are averaged (to find the mean) and the deviations from the mean are smoothed using a 41-term weighting function that properly removes the high frequency reading spikes while retaining the low frequency belt signature. Center weighted averaging of 41 points (n, . . . n±20) where n is a measured point on the photoreceptor that is averaged with the previous twenty readings together with the next twenty readings is initiated a few mm past the photoreceptor seam and ends a few mm before the seam—no phase shift. The readings are taken approximately every 3 mm around the periphery of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image desired to be reproduced is scanned to determine its video pixel gray values. A histogram generator generates a histogram distribution representing a frequency of the gray values. The histogram distribution is analyzed to determine a background peak gray value of the image and a standard deviation of the histogram distribution based on a Gaussian approximation. A thresholding circuit dynamically adjusts the background peak value based on the standard deviation and a selected scaling factor to generate a background threshold value. The background threshold value expands a range of background gray values in the image which are eliminated during image reproduction. Eliminating substantially all background gray values improves the quality of the reproduced image.

Abstract: The invention is an electric paper sheet that uses a pattern of conductive charge-retaining islands on the outward-facing side of the first of two thin layers used to encapsulate a Gyricon sheet. The second encapsulating layer may also coated with a conductive material, or made of a conductive material, and may or may not be patterned. The Gyricon sheet and two encapsulating layers comprise a sheet of Gyricon electric paper on which images can be written and erased repeatedly. The patterned charge-retaining islands of the first encapsulating layer receive electric charges from an external charge-transfer device. After the charge-transfer device is removed, the conductive, charge-retaining islands hold electric charge, creating an electric field in the electric paper sufficient to cause an image change.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transfer paper in electrophotography that shrinks by no more than 0.45% in a direction crossing a flow in making paper process and which has a two sideness shrinkage difference in a crossing direction ranging 0.02 to −0.02%. The present invention also relates a process for producing electrophotographic transfer paper comprising the steps of feeding pulp suspension liquid onto at least one wire to form a paper layer in making paper process, in which a ratio between feeding speed of the pulp suspension liquid and moving speed of wire is controlled to cause a propagating velocity ratio of longitudinal waves of a produced transfer paper in the range from 1.1 to 1.5.

Abstract: A localized heating device includes a laminate structure of a heat insulating substrate, a heating region made by sandwiching a heating layer between a pattern electrode layer and a conductive layer and a low surface energy layer. In another aspect of the invention, a localized heating apparatus includes a localized heating device and a power supply system that supplies a current selectively and stably to the heating layer between the pattern electrode layer and the conductive layer from the current supply portion formed at one or both end portions of the heating region.

Abstract: A surface emitting semiconductor laser comprises a semiconductor multilayer reflecting film of a first conductivity type, a quantum well active layer having at least one quantum well structure, a semiconductor multilayer reflecting film of a second conductivity type and a contact layer of the second conductivity type sequentially stacked in a layered manner inside a concavity formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The contact layer of the second conductivity type is formed in a buried manner so that the surface of the contact layer is approximately flush with the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A second electrode is formed on a part of the surface of the contact layer other than a part left for forming a light guiding region thereon.

Abstract: Premising a duplex imaging apparatus having an image carrier provided with a plurality of image carrying regions, the image deterioration phenomenon (i.e., the so-called “oil ghost phenomenon”), as might otherwise accompany the local transfer of a releasing agent from a fixing unit to the image carrier, is effectively avoided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for periodically upgrading the color calibration for an electrophotographic printer (or other digital document viewing device) using a color compensator is proposed. Initially, a fairly large number of colors are printed and measured. From this information a color correction is determined and stored in a high density compensator. A small number of color patch samples are printed and measured at regular intervals during the use of the printing machine. This low density information which is periodically updated compensates for slow drift in the high density compensator. Each time the small patch printing process is repeated a different set of colors is used to assure that all regions within the gamut of the machine are updated uniformly. A similar process can be used to maintain the gray scale fidelity in a black and white printer or digital document display device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for depositing layered material onto a substrate including a layer formed from a coating solution, wherein the method comprises: (a) cleaning the substrate by dipping the substrate into and raising the substrate from a cleaning solvent selected from the group consisting of (i) a mixture comprising an alcohol and an alkane; and (ii) a liquid compatible with the coating solution; and (b) dipping the substrate subsequent to (a) into and raising the substrate from the coating solution, thereby depositing the layer on the substrate, wherein when the cleaning solvent is the liquid compatible with the coating solution, any cleaning solvent present on the substrate upon the dipping of the substrate into the coating solution fails to detrimentally affect the layer.

Abstract: A method for permanently marking a photoreceptor surface includes the steps of irradiating a surface of a photoreceptor with an irradiation source to permanently mark the photoreceptor, and ablating material from the photoreceptor to at least one controlled depth in the photoreceptor with the irradiation source.

Abstract: An electrostatographic printing machine that includes an erase light source that reduces the quantity of charges on the photoreceptor surface and a reconditioning light source that reduces both the quantity of the trapped charges and the variation in the quantity of the trapped charges among the different portions of the image area.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface, including a housing defining a reservoir storing a supply of developer material including toner. A donor member is spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting toner on an outer surface of the donor member to a region opposed from the imaging surface. A mag roll loads toner onto a region of the outer surface of the donor member. A charging device ion charges the toner loaded on the region of the donor member. An AC/DC voltage supply for biasing the donor member positioned in close proximity to the imaging member to detach toner from the donor member as to form a toner cloud for developing the latent image. A second charging device discharges and removes residual toner on the region of the donor and returning the toner to the reservoir.

Abstract: A cleaning station for removing toner and particulates from a fusing member has first and second cleaning rollers rollingly engaging the fusing member. Each cleaning roller has a roller surface coated with a layer of tacky toner. Each roller further defines an internal receiver for collecting excess toner and particulates, and has an aperture forming a fluid passage between the reservoir and the surface of the roller. A synchronization assembly synchronizes the rotation of the rollers so the second cleaning roller cleans the portions of the fusing member uncleaned by the first cleaning roller due to the aperture in the surface of the first cleaning roller.