Abstract: An array is fabricated in which a cell's dark matrix overlaps its cell electrode so that the overlap areas and the dielectric material between them form a storage capacitor. Each cell's dark matrix can overlap the cell's electrode around its perimeter, and the overlap areas of the dark matrix and the electrode can be sufficiently large and the dielectric layer between them can be sufficiently thin that the storage capacitor they form meets the cell's requirements. The dark matrix can be over the cell electrode, with scan lines and data lines in a series of lower layers, or the dark matrix can be below the series of layers that includes scan lines and data lines, with the cell electrode in an opening defined in the series of layers. The dark matrix layer can be electrically connected to a fixed potential.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing a group of graphic objects so as to maximize usage of a display area on a computer controlled graphics display system. The present invention provides a means for "collapsing" a group of graphic objects so that the group is represented by a container icon. The container icon occupies a smaller amount of display area than the group of objects. The group is recallable (i.e. expanded) by "tapping" on the container icon. Alternatively, the group may be located on a separate accessible area of the display space. The container icon is itself a graphical object and can be moved, copied or deleted. Any change of attributes, e.g. color, of the graphical object causes a corresponding change to the group of graphic objects.

Abstract: A method backfills areas of an image with synthesized textures. This is realized by selecting a texture exemplar from an image and identifying an area of the image to be backfilled. An estimate of the synthesized texture is generated and predetermined spatial domain constraints are applied to the estimate. The spatially constrained estimate is operated upon by a Fourier transform to create a spectral function. Predetermined spectral domain constraints are applied to the spectral function and an an inverse Fourier transform is performed thereon to produce a synthesized texture. The synthesized texture is inserted into the area of the image to be backfilled if it is determined to be adequate. If the synthesized texture is inadequate, the synthesized texture is put through the synthesis process again until the the texture is adequate for backfilling.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming an image includes an endless belt member and an inner face cleaning member which is provided on an inner face of the endless belt member. The cleaning member captures deposits deposited on the inner face of the endless belt member and holds the captured deposits. The inner face cleaning member includes fibers densely arranged and projecting radially outward from the inner face cleaning member. The inner face cleaning member is fixed in a contact state so that a contact face does not move while the endless belt is moving.

Abstract: A period determination signal is generated in accordance with the image type of an input image signal. A clock signal having one of a plurality of periods is generated in accordance with the period determination signal. A CR integration circuit having a resistor and at least one capacitor generates a triangular-wave signal based on the clock signal. The combined capacitance of the CR integration circuit is changed in accordance with the period determination signal. A pulse-width modulated binary image signal is produced by comparing the triangular-wave signal with the input image signal. The amplitude of the triangular signal is kept constant by changing the combined capacitance of the CR integration circuit in proportion to the period of the clock signal.

Abstract: The clock multiplier which is useful for multiplying the frequency of a clock signal by an integer factor, like 4 or 6. In a typical application this multiplier is used for achieving high addressability printing on a laser printer. In order to print at a quarter pixel resolution, the frequency of the clock signal must be multiplied by four. It is important that at the beginning of the pulse train, as occurs on the leading edge of each scanline, the new clock locks in at once with the input clock from the printer. The clock multiplier, as described below, has capabilities for multiplying the input clock by a factor of 4. Other factors, like 2, 6 or 8 can easily be achieved by expanding on the description. The circuit features automatic and instant locking to the input pulse train, as well as automatic tuning to the present clock frequency.

Abstract: Described is a semiconductor photo detector comprising, between two electrodes, at least one of said electrodes being a transparent electrode, an optical absorption layer which is composed of a non-single crystalline material, absorbs light and generates photo carriers and a carrier multiplication layer which is composed of a non-single crystalline material and multiplies the photo carriers generated by the optical absorption layer. The carrier multiplication layer is formed of a multilayer film obtained by stacking films each having plural layers which are composed of non-single crystalline Zn.sub.x Cd.sub.1-x M (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, M represents one selected from the group consisting of S, Se and Te) and are different in a composition ratio in accordance with a change in the value of x in said Zn.sub.x Cd.sub.1-x M, whereby a band discontinuity .DELTA.Ec of the conduction band can be made larger, an ionization rate of electrons can be heightened and the place where ionization occurs can be specified.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus wherein plural developing devices 3 have alternating electric field applying mechanisms 4, the alternating electric field applying mechanisms 4 have alternating electric field changing mechanisms 7 for reducing the degree of the action of the alternating electric field on at least one of the developing devices 3 which are later in development order, to a level which is lower than that in the preceding step. As required, at least one of the transferring devices 5 which are later in transfer order has a transfer force changing mechanism 8 for increasing the force of transfer to a transfer medium 6 applied to a color-component toner image on an image carrier 1, to a level which is higher than that in the preceding step. Furthermore, an operation condition judging mechanism 9 may judge whether preset transfer failure conditions are satisfied or not, or environmental conditions may be considered by an environmental condition adjusting device 10.

Abstract: An image drying and fixing apparatus for affixing an image to a copy substrate, wherein a drying oven defining a copy substrate inlet and outlet is provided with a conveyor for advancing the copy substrate through the drying oven, and an image impacting system disposed along the path of travel of the copy substrate for pressing the image onto the copy substrate in image configuration. The image impacting system includes a pair of cooperating roll members forming a nip through which the copy substrate having the image thereon passes, with the image impacting system being selectively positionable along the path of travel of the copy substrate for optimizing the process of affixing the image to the copy substrate. The image drying and fixing apparatus may also include a radiant heating device situated within the drying oven, positioned for radiating thermal energy in the direction of the copy substrate immediately prior to passage of the copy substrate through the copy substrate output.

Abstract: In a quantum well semiconductor laser structure, a distributed Bragg reflector is used to select the polarization mode of the emitted light beam. The period of the distributed Bragg reflector matches the peak gain of one polarization mode providing optical feedback for that mode to be the light emitted. The distributed Bragg reflector can extend along the length of the active layer within the semiconductor structure or extend at one end of the active layer external to the semiconductor structure.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for providing information on the structure of a document page so as to complement the textual information provided in an optical character recognition system. The system employs a method that can be used to produce a file editable in a native word-processing environment from input data including the content and characteristics of regions of at least one page forming the document. The method includes the steps of: (a) identifying sections within the page; (b) identifying captions; (c) determining boundaries of at least one column on the page, and optionally (d) resizing at least one element of the page of the document so that all pages of the document are of a common size.

Abstract: A printed wiring board includes features which allow the board to be held firmly in place by a vacuum mounting device so that semiconductor chips can be placed thereon, and wire bonds established between the semiconductor chips and the circuitry on the board. The side of the board opposite the side having the semiconductor chips defines a ridge which encloses a portion of the surface area thereof. The ridge forms a gasket around a vacuum slot on the vacuum mounting device. The ridge also provides a firm surface for wirebonds to be ultrasonically welded to landings on the board.

Abstract: A noise masking system in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a copying machine having a drive mechanism acting as a noise generation source during operation, the noise masking system comprising a masking sound generator for generating a sound to mask the noise and masking sound control means which controls the masking sound generator to generate a masking sound of a frequency range including a main-component frequency of the noise. The masking sound thus generated is of a frequency range from a lower-limit frequency to an upper-limit frequency in a critical band of the main-component frequency of the noise. The noise masking system masks noise to eliminate a psychological unpleasant feeling caused by frequency fluctuation. It is small-sized and inexpensive.

Abstract: An image forming method wherein a developer layer formed by a layer forming material and supported on a developer supporting body is used to develop an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image supporting body, thereby forming an image. In the method, the direction of rotation of the developer supporting body is the same as that of the electrostatic latent image supporting body, the ratio of peripheral speed of the developer supporting body to the electrostatic latent image supporting body ranges from 0.7 to 1.8, the developer is composed of a carrier and a toner, and the toner contains a conductive inorganic fine powder. The method is useful for making an amount of static electrification of the toner suitable and stabilizing the same.

Abstract: A variable-length code decoder includes plural barrel shifters, each of which executes shift processing on inputted variable-length code data bit by bit from the 0 bit to (the bit number of a maximum length codeword -1). The barrel shifters, which are in number equal to the bit number of the maximum length codeword, are arranged in parallel connection. Plural storing devices are provided, each of which stores a pair of a decoded symbol and codeword length thereof corresponding to code data. Plural fetching devices are provided, each of which fetches the pair of the decoded symbol and the codeword length thereof in accordance with the code data outputted from each of the barrel shifters. Each of the fetching devices is connected to a respective barrel shifter and storing devices. A selecting device is provided for selecting a predetermined pair from plural pairs of the decoded symbol and the codeword length fetched by the plural fetching devices in an initial decoding process.

Abstract: A system and a method for motion-compensated de-interlacing of interlaced video frames that generates high quality progressive video frames, keeps computational complexity low and requires the use of only a single image frame is provided. The system and method of this invention determine if global motion (camera motion) is present in the scene. If global motion is detected, it is estimated and compensated. The globally-compensated image is then analyzed to determine whether local motion is present. If local motion is detected, the image pixels affected by the local motion are interpolated using motion-adaptive techniques. If no local motion and no global motion is detected, the image pixels are interleaved.

Abstract: A method for processing an input image including a plurality of input pixels each having a first number of possible input levels of optical density to form an output image including a plurality of separations each including a plurality of output pixels each having a second number of possible output levels of optical density.

Abstract: A liquid developer comprised of a nonpolar liquid, resin, optional colorant, a charge director, and an optional charge control agent, and wherein the charge director is comprised of a mixture of phosphoric acid esters I, II and III, and IV a nonpolar liquid soluble organic aluminum complex of the formulas ##STR1## hydrates thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl, and n represents a number of from about 1 to about 6.

Abstract: A communication device, such as a telephone or a facsimile device, includes an input device for inputting code information for a call to be transmitted through a communication network, a transmitting device for transmitting dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signals to the communication network according to the code information, and a transmission control device for controlling transmission parameters of a DTMF signal. At least one of a plurality of parameters, including signal transmission time, signal pause time, and signal transmission level, is made different by the transmission control device for a DTMF signal transmitted during the call by the transmitting device after the execution of a dialing input from the communication device to the communication network.

Abstract: A method for making a fresnel lens on a substrate by forming a plurality of annular rings. Each ring has a plurality of steps, with each step having an inner wall and an outer wall, and an upper surface. The first step is formed on the substrate, and successive steps are formed at least partially on the upper surface of the previous step such that the outer wall of each successive annular step is offset from the outer wall of the previous annular step in an outward radial direction.