Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus, charging, exposure and development are repeated thereby a plurality of color component toner images are formed in superposing on an image carrier and then transferred collectively to an image receptor. As a charging device used in image forming cycle of at least the second color or later, a corona charging device having a discharge electrode and a grid is used. An electrode power source applying at least AC voltage is connected to the discharge electrode, and a grid power source applying AC voltage in nearly the same phase as that of the AC voltage applied to the discharge electrode is connected to the grid, and frequency or peak-to-peak amplitude of the AC voltage from the grid power source is set to optimum range.

Abstract: Input device signals R.sub.s, G.sub.s, B.sub.s generated by an image input terminal are converted to colorimetric values R.sub.c, G.sub.c, B.sub.c. The colorimetric values processed by an image processing unit to generate address entries to a lookup table which stores a set of transform coefficients with which the R.sub.c, G.sub.c, B.sub.c values may be processed to convert them to C.sub.x, M.sub.x, Y.sub.x, K.sub.x colorant signals or any multi-dimensional output color space, which include but are not limited to CMYK or spectral data. Values which are not directly mapped from the table are determined using tetrahedral interpolation over a hexagonal lattice. The hexagonal lattice is formed by offsetting by a half unit every other row of one of its dimensions relative to another dimension. The offset provides closer packing of sample points that define more regular tetrahedrons to reduce relative interpolation errors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling curl in a liquid ink printer. The liquid ink printer deposits an anticurl material on the side of a printed sheet opposite the one having printing deposited thereon. The anticurl material is a fluid which counteracts the steady state curl in the direction of the printed image resulting from active drying of the printed sheet. The back side of a printed sheet has deposited thereon an anticurl fluid which can contain water, a penetrant, and a humectant like material such as diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, sulfolane and glycerin. The anticurl material is deposited with a roller made of a foam material for absorbing the anticurl fluid or a roller having dimples disposed on the surface thereof. In addition, the anticurl fluid can be deposited by a spray device or a thermal ink jet printhead ejecting anticurl fluid.

Abstract: A method of managing memory allocation in a printing system including the steps of creating a plurality of blocks and designating each block with an identifier. In response to a request from a client, a first set of identifiers, corresponding with a first set of blocks, is placed into a database by a resource manager. The client then accesses the database and, by reference to the first set of identifiers, begins filling up the first set of blocks with image data. As each block is filled, the client transmits an interrupt signal to a controller. After a predesignated one of the first set of blocks has been filled, the controller causes the resource manager to place a second set of identifiers in the database so that the client can access the second set of identifiers as soon as it has completed filling the first set of blocks.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing interpolated image data from original image data represented in terms of pixels, each pixel defined in terms of value and position in an original image, includes an original image input receiving original image data from an original image source; a page memory operatively connected to the input for storing a page of original image received; a source of interpolation parameters indicating: a slow scan initial pixel value Xinit, a fast scan initial pixel value Yinit, a fast scan x offset value FSx, a fast scan y offset value FSy, a slow scan x offset value SSx, and a slow scan y offset value SSy; a bilinear sequencer calculating for each new pixel, from the received parameters a reference pixel within the image, and a pair of interpolation coefficients for interpolating new pixel values; a memory controller retrieving to an interpolation calculator from the page memory a set of original image pixels including the pixel at the reference position, and three other pixels whose po

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automating the design of morphological or template-based filters for print quality enhancement. A plurality of different phase, but same resolution, subsampled images are generated from training documents. Statistical data derived therefrom is then employed in an automated process to generate filters. The filters may be used for resolution enhancement and/or conversion of bitmap images. Furthermore, the statistical data is used to produce filters that are intended to not only optimize image structure, but image density as well.

Abstract: A smart direct memory access controller for data space transformation. The smart direct memory access controller can be used in computer systems to read and/or write data in a non-linear fashion in order to alter the organization of data stored within the computer system. The direct memory access controller has particular application in the electronic subsystem of a non-raster format electronic printer, such as a partial width array or full width array thermal ink jet printer. The smart direct memory access controller enables a non-raster format printer to access image organized in raster format, by viewing the data space as a non-linear or multi-dimensional memory. Memory addresses of the non-linear or multi-dimensional address space are a catenation of several data fields. Each field is one of the coordinates that defines the location of data within memory.

Abstract: An apparatus for pattern processing includes a display control unit for controlling display by a CRT, a keyboard, a CPU, a RAM, and the like, the CPU being adapted to control the apparatus and incorporating a segment-information extracting unit and a boundary-position-information setting unit, wherein the segment-information extracting unit extracts segments respectively parallel with an x-axis and a y-axis of the coordinate system from a plurality of segments constituting the outline, on the basis of at least two sets of coordinates indicating a position of each of the segments, while the boundary-position-information setting unit determines a horizontal boundary position of the outline on the basis of the respective sets of coordinates indicating the position of the segment parallel with the x-axis of the coordinate system, and determines a vertical boundary position of the outline on the basis of the respective sets of coordinates indicating the position of the segment parallel with the y-axis of the coord

Abstract: A developer unit adapted to develop with marking particles a latent image. The developer unit includes a housing and a mover for moving the marking particles in a recirculating path within the housing. The developer unit further includes a fibrous element located adjacent the recirculating path to trap contaminants recirculated by the mover with the marking particles.

Abstract: The paint-out processing speed for the inner part of a figure is increased in the image supply unit for a printer. When a scan line is moved down to the vertex or intersection of a figure, which is expressed in the form of contour data, graphic lines present between the vertex or intersection and the next vertex or intersection are sorted in the scan direction, to form a sorting list. A fill list for designating a paint-out segment is formed on the basis of the sorting list. The paint-out processing is performed according to the fill list. The sorting is required only for the vertex or intersection, while the conventional paint-out method requires the sorting every scan line. The sorting time is reduced and the paint-out processing speed is increased.

Abstract: The invention provides submicron particles. The invention further provides submicron particles which are dispersed in an aqueous colloid. The invention further provides a method of forming the stable dispersion which includes providing an ion exchange resin, loading the ion exchange resin with an ion, treating the loaded resin to form nanoscale particles. The invention further provides fluidizing the resin and particles to form an aqueous stable colloid.

Abstract: In a multi-color imaging apparatus utilizing a recharge step between two image creation steps, a corona generating device is used to recharge the developed image areas and untoned areas of a charge retentive surface to a lower electrical potential than that associated with the developed image areas before recharge, so that the residual voltage associated with the developed image is substantially reduced and a minimal level of negative charge is driven through the toner layer(s). An electrical charge associated with any previously developed images is substantially neutralized prior to development of any subsequent images thereon.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor is disclosed which comprises an electroconductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed thereon, said photosensitive layer containing as a binder resin a copolycarbonate resin comprising a structural unit represented by formula (I) ##STR1## and a structural unit represented by formula (II) ##STR2## wherein X and X' each is hydrogen, a halogen, or methyl; R, a substituent, is hydroxyl, carboxyl, acetyl, or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl; and j is 0 to 3 and further containing as a charge transport material a triarylamine compound represented by formula (III) ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl; k is 1 or 2; and Ar.sub.1 and Ar.sub.2 each is an optionally substituted aryl.

Abstract: High voltage circuitry often requires assembling an array of high voltage devices that are electrically isolated from one another. A lead frame that fits within conventional plastic packaging has been designed that will allow electrical isolation of the substrates of two or more transistors mounted together in a single package.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dip coating method for fabricating a photosensitive member employing a substrate which defines a top non-imaging portion, a middle imaging portion, and a bottom non-imaging portion, wherein the method comprises: (a) immersing the bottom non-imaging portion, the middle imaging portion, and optionally a part of the top non-imaging portion of the substrate in a coating solution; (b) raising the middle imaging portion out of the coating solution; and (c) raising the bottom non-imaging portion out of the coating solution at a take-up speed which is decreasing from the take-up speed of the substrate at the junction between the middle imaging portion and the bottom non-imaging portion, thereby reducing the size of any bead on the bottom non-imaging portion.

Abstract: A hub for supporting a tube is provided. The hub includes an expandable body adapted to be mounted at least partially in the tube and a resilient urging member. The urging member has at least a portion of the urging member internal to the body to expand the body so that a portion of the body contacts the tube.

Abstract: A technique of constructing a multi-segment print job from multiple local and remote sources on a network using a network interface to identify print job segments and location of segments on the network by entering a start build print job function at the network interface, identifying each segment of the print job including segment location, specifying print job characteristics such as quantity and quality for each segment, entering an end build print job function at the network interface, and identifying a printing device on the network whereby each segment of the print job is accessed and distributed to the printing device to complete the multi-segment print job.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for developing and displaying a representation of a total estimated time to print a job. The apparatus includes a user interface, with a display screen, for selectively programming the job with plural print related attributes, wherein selected ones of the print related attributes affecting a time required to print the job. The apparatus further includes a memory for storing the image data and the print related attributes as well as a processor for generating an estimated time to print value for each of the plural electronic pages based on the selected attributes programmed during said programming which affect the time required to print the job, the estimated time to print generating being performed prior to printing the job. In operation, the processor sums the values generated with the estimated time to print generating for obtaining a total estimated time to print, wherein the representation of the total estimated time to print is displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: A data processing system including a message compiler for an object-oriented language with which object types are determined during execution of a programming code. The compiler compiles source code into object code. The compiler includes a provisional type identifying device for provisionally identifying a set of candidate types for an object to which a message is to be transmitted, based on a parsed result of the source code. A static method-searching device statically searches a method corresponding to the candidate type provisionally identified by the provisional type identifying device when the set of candidate types includes at least one candidate type. A type-checking code producing device produces object code to perform a type-check with the set of candidate types provisionally identified, if the set of candidate types includes more than one candidate type.