Abstract: An encoding operation encodes binary data that is then embedded in an iconic, or size-reduced, version of an original text image, in a position in the iconic image that replaces a text portion in the original text image. The encoding operation produces rectangular blocks that have a foreground color and size dimensions proportional to the iconic image so that when placed in the iconic image in horizontal lines, the blocks appear to a viewer to be representative of the text portion of the original image that they replace. Exemplary encoding operations are described, including operations based on run-length limited encoding. A second message may be encoded in the background color regions that separate the blocks. The message carried by the binary data may be any information suitable for a particular application, and need not be restricted to information about or related to the original image.

Abstract: A document server is provided for processing a distribution job in a document processing system. The document processing system includes a document manager, communicating with first and second virtual services, for coordinating the storing or processing of first and second copies of an image data set at the first and second virtual services, respectively. The document processing system further includes a distribution agent, communicating with the document manager, for receiving a first job ticket, including attributes for controlling the storing or processing of the first copy of the image data set at the first virtual service and a second job ticket for controlling the storing or processing of the second copy of the image data set at the second virtual service.

Abstract: An ink supply device for use in an ink jet printer comprising a main ink chamber in communication through a communication hole with a sub-ink chamber containing an ink absorbing member therein. A meniscus film forming member covering the communication hole and communicating the main ink chamber with the sub-ink chamber; the member having a first surface facing the interior of the main ink chamber and an opposite second surface. An ink guide member extending into a lower portion of the main chamber and also being in contact with the first surface of the film forming member, wherein as ink in the main ink chamber is consumed a differential pressure between the first and second surfaces of the film forming member causes a gradual expansion of a liquid meniscus film into an air bubble on the film forming member to maintain a constant negative pressure in the main ink chamber.

Abstract: A detoning roll having a ceramic outer coating for removing residual toner particles from a cleaning reproduction machine. The ceramic outer coating consists essentially of a suitable mixture of alumina and titania by weight giving the detoning roll a desired resistivity within a range of 2.8.times.10.sup.7 -2.10.times.10.sup.9 (Ohm-cm), a discharge time constant of greater than 600 microseconds, and a dielectric constant within a range of 12-24 at 100 KHz.

Abstract: A buffer layer having crystal orientation In a (111) face is formed on a semiconductor single-crystal (100) substrate and a ferroelectric thin film having crystal orientation in a (111) or (0001) face is then formed over the buffer layer. The buffer layer is preferably formed of MgO at a temperature ranging from 20.degree. to 600.degree. C. and at a rate ranging from 0.5 to 50 .ANG./sec. The thus formed ferroelectric thin film has its axes of polarization aligned in one direction. Using the oriented ferroelectric thin-film device, highly functional nonvolatile memories, capacitors or optical modulators can be fabricated on semiconductor substrates.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for vacuuming toner waste from a toner sump in a xerographic printing machine. A xerographic module in the machine contains a photoconductor, charging devices, a cleaning unit and the toner sump. When the toner sump approaches a full condition, the toner waste must be removed in order to prevent failure of the xerographic module seals. This is accomplished by removing the xerographic module from the machine, opening a sealed toner sump port and attaching a vacuum source to the toner sump port so that the toner waste can be removed with the vacuum source. A disposal adaptor tool sealingly engages the vacuum source to the toner sump at the toner sump port, allowing the toner to removed in a clean glove environment. Once the toner waste is removed from the toner sump, a new toner seal is placed over the toner sump port and the xerographic module is returned to the machine for further use.

Abstract: A multisegmented, highlight color ball for an electrical twisting ball display device made up of spheroidal balls rotatably disposed in an elastomer substrate. The ball is composed of segments arrayed substantially parallel to one another, each segment being adjacent to at least one other segment and to no more than two other segments, adjacent segments being adjoined to one another at substantially planar interfaces. Each segment has an optical modulation characteristic, the optical modulation characteristics of adjacent segments being different from one another. The segments include: a central segment having a thickness; a first interior segment, situated adjacent to the central segment and having a thickness less than the central segment thickness; a second interior segment, situated opposite the first interior segment with respect to the central segment and having a thickness less than the central segment thickness; a first exterior segment; and a second exterior segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a toner composition for the development of electrostatic latent images which comprises particles comprising a mixture of a resin and a photochromic material. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a liquid developer composition for the development of electrostatic latent images which comprises a nonaqueous liquid vehicle and a photochromic material, wherein the liquid developer has a resistivity of from about 10.sup.8 to about 10.sup.11 ohm-cm and a viscosity of from about 25 to about 500 centipoise. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a liquid developer composition for the development of electrostatic latent images which comprises a nonaqueous liquid vehicle, a charge control agent, and toner particles comprising a mixture of a resin and a photochromic material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording sheet which comprises a base sheet, a phosphonium compound, an optional pigment, and an optional binder. Also disclosed are a process which comprises applying an aqueous recording liquid to the recording sheet in an imagewise pattern and a printing process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus containing an aqueous ink the aforementioned recording sheet, and (2) causing droplets of the ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the recording sheet, thereby generating images on the recording sheet.

Abstract: A resistive transfer component having a fluorinated carbon filled fluoroelastomer, and in embodiments, the resistive transfer component with an optional polyimide substrate, and an optional outer silicone release layer.

Abstract: An aqueous ink jet ink composition comprising pigment, water, and an (A.sub.n -B.sub.m) block copolymer wherein n represents the degree of polymerization of A and m represents the degree of polymerization of B, wherein A is styrene, and B is acrylic acid.

Abstract: A Raster Output Scanner (ROS) assembly is mounted within a printing machine frame so as to maintain a very precise relationship with the photoreceptor being imaged. A ROS housing is mounted in relation to the photoreceptor so that, while the housing is fixed to a machine frame by isolators to damp out vibrations and transients, a mechanical latching to a photoreceptor backer bar provides a degree of rotational movement consistent with movement of the photoreceptor. Thus, errors created by photoreceptor motion are compensated for. The invention discloses a 3 or a 4 point mounting arrangement which affords a high degree of stability coupled with conformance with exacting registration tolerances.

Abstract: The present invention provides a program control system including plural programs, plural execution means each of which executes the corresponding program of the plural programs, a memory for storing the plural programs, plural program counters each of which generates an address for reading the corresponding one of the programs from the memory, and a selector for selecting an output of one of the program counters and providing the output to the memory. Each of the programs stored in the memory and executed by the corresponding one of the execution means is indicated by the address generated by the corresponding one of the program counters selected by the selector, and the memory sequentially stores instructions in each of the programs.

Abstract: A fiber optic detection system is used in a color reproduction device to generate color image registration signals. In one embodiment a retroreflector is positioned beneath the photoreceptor belt, the retroreflector being periodically visible through holes formed in a non-image area of the belt. An optical fiber directs flux from a light source onto the photoreceptor belt and periodically illuminates the retroreflector. Light is preferentially reflected back into the fiber with a portion being coupled to a photosensor to provide a signal used for registration purposes. In another embodiment, a plurality of optical fibers are bundled together to form a trunk at the belt illumination end with two branches functioning as the light input and detecting ends. In a still further embodiment, retroreflective marks are formed directly on the surface of a photoreceptor; the several fiber optic embodiments are used to detect the formed marks.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing accumulation of toner from the surface of an electrode member in a development unit of an electrostatographic printing apparatus which includes providing a low surface energy coating on at least a portion of the electrode member.

Abstract: An overhead scanning system records pages from bound documents in an upright and open condition. The scanning system is defined with a general imaging geometry that makes the scanning system readily portable, and provides the scanning system with a variable imaging area. Once an operator defines an imaging area of an image acquisition system, the operator positions a light stripe projector to project across the imaging area. After recording calibration data, a perspective transform is provided by a perspective transform generator. In operation, a first image of the bound document having a light stripe projected there across is recorded by the image acquisition system. A page shape transform generator is then used to derive a page shape transform. Subsequently, a second image of the bound document is recorded without projecting a light stripe thereacross.

Abstract: An end of life monitor apparatus for a filter that removes an undesirable gas including: (a) an elastic material, which degrades in the presence of the undesirable gas; (b) a support member coupled to the elastic material; and (c) an indicator component movable to a filter end life position, coupled to the elastic material, whereby the elastic material is stretched between the support member and the indicator component, wherein the indicator component is biased to move to the filter end life position but is restrained by the elastic material from moving to the filter end life position, wherein degradation of the elastic material allows the indicator component to move to the filter end life position.

Abstract: A system controller which significantly reduces the number of development processes and automatically exercises control corresponding to situations. The system controller is made up of a manipulation value output circuit for supplying a manipulation value to a system to be controlled, a control example memory for storing the manipulation value and a controlled variable which is output from the system in response to the manipulation value, a control rule extraction circuit for extracting a control rule from among a plurality of control examples stored in the control example memory, and a manipulation value computing circuit for calculating a manipulation value which matches the controlled variable with a target figure using the control rule extracted by the control rule extraction circuit, and causing the manipulation value output circuit to output the thus obtained manipulation value.

Abstract: An ink container for an ink printer is disclosed of the type wherein a foam member is seated within the ink container in which ink is drawn by capillary action through an ink outlet port in the container. The interior surface of the compartment of the container which seats the compressed foam has been treated so as to establish two areas of surface finish. A first area, adjacent the face of the container through which the foam is inserted, has a fine surface finish to prevent the foam from rebounding or bulging back through the entrance face following insertion. A second finish, in the more interior portion of the compartment, is relatively coarser and is designed to prevent the foam member from pulling away from interior corners and insures a more even distribution of the foam.

Abstract: A control system for optimizing print quality in an electrophotographic printer uses a fuzzy-logic technique with only solid-area and half-tone density as control inputs, and only scorotron voltage and ROS laser power as outputs. The measured errors in solid-area and half-tone density are assigned to respective fuzzy-logic error subsets. Joint memberships of the solid-area and half-tone density error subsets are then used to derive error subsets are then used to derive correction values for laser power and scorotron voltage.