Patents Examined by Andrew Lam
  • Patent number: 7283275
    Abstract: A logo data generating apparatus and method easily generate logo data suitable for storage to and output by a particular target printer without requiring a complicated process defining the image processing and data communication parameters. An control data receiving unit enables receipt of control data including various settings and model identification data for identifying the model of the target printer. A source image obtaining unit obtains the source data used to generate the logo data. A model-specific data storage medium stores the model-specific data. A reading unit reads model-specific data for the target printer identified by the model identification data, and sets control data including part or all of the settings for logo data generation. A logo data generating unit generates the logo data by processing the source data based on the control data or the model-specific data. Specific control data is thus set automatically based on the model-specific data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhito Kitahara, Yukiharu Horiuchi, Kazuyuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7280239
    Abstract: Facsimile image data received from a normal facsimile apparatus connected to a general telephone network can be transmitted as an e-mail to the e-mail address of a computer network such as a LAN or the like designated by the source facsimile apparatus. An apparatus has a LAN I/F (6-14) for connecting to the LAN, and a line I/F (6-6) for connecting to the public telephone network. Upon reception of a remote instruction from the public telephone network, a CPU (6-3) converts received facsimile image data into e-mail data, and transmits the converted e-mail data to the e-mail address designated by the received remote instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenzo Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 7236274
    Abstract: A calibration mechanism for an optical module of a sheet-fed scanner is disclosed. The calibration mechanism includes a calibration strip and a driving unit. The calibration strip is moved by the driving unit, and the calibration strip may be moved relative to the optical module for calibrating color depth. The driving unit includes a roller and a flexible strip. One end of the flexible strip is mounted to the roller, and the calibration strip is mounted or formed on the flexible strip. The flexible strip is moved by the roller action so that the calibration strip is moved relative to the optical module, and the optical module may accordingly calibrate the color depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sheng, Chi-Yao Chen
  • Patent number: 7227659
    Abstract: It is determined in S202 whether or not a mismatch between the paper information for the job A and the paper information existing in the printer (the printer 1A, for example) has occurred, and if there is a mismatch between the two types of paper information, it is determined in S205 whether or not another job B exists in the queue. Where another job B exists in the queue, it is determined in S206 whether or not the job B is a job that uses the multi-purpose cassette 19. If the job B is a job that uses the multi-purpose cassette 19, it is determined in S208 whether or not paper that matches the paper information for the job B exists in the fixed-size paper supply cassette 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Nakata, Takeshi Morikawa, Tatsuji Hirakawa, Hiroshi Sumiyama, Munetaka Fujita
  • Patent number: 7221469
    Abstract: In a case where a conversion result image corresponding to a former image has been stored in a memory, control is performed to transmit this conversion result image without performing any image conversion process on the former image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Morita
  • Patent number: 7212303
    Abstract: A print control apparatus, which is connected to a multifunctional printer for printing images based on various data including at least facsimile data, comprises: a detector for detecting a call signal CI transmitted through a telephone line; a checker for checking the status of a print operation by the multifunctional printer, when the detector detects the call signal CI; and a controller for controlling timing of capturing the telephone line in response to the call signal CI detected by the detector, in accordance with the checked result of the checker. Thus, even if the call signal CI is detected while the print operation is being performed, the print operation can be optimally controlled, and also timing to capture the line can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Iida
  • Patent number: 7212306
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for adaptively allocating random access memory (RAM) in an multifunctional peripheral (MFP) device with a plurality of components. The method comprises: supplying an interface; and, in response to interface prompts, selecting the allocation of RAM for MFP features or components. Typically, the MFP device includes fax, scanner, printer, and copier components, and the method further comprises selecting the allocation of RAM for MFP components selected from the group including fax, scanner, printer, or copier. The method further comprises: selecting the allocation of RAM for MFP features selected from the group including post script (PS) documents, printer control language (PCL) documents, tagged image file format (TIFF) documents, or portable document format (PDF) documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Kenneth Chrisop, Daniel Leo Klave
  • Patent number: 7195326
    Abstract: A photo print is produced from image data. A system controller classifies the photo prints on the basis of additional information of the image data under a classification condition recorded in a smart medium. The photo prints are discharged to sorting trays. The system controller allocates the respective sorting trays to each classification. When the photo print is discharged to the sorting tray, a sorter switches a conveyance route of the photo print in response to a classification signal sent from the system controller. The photo prints are distributed to the sorting trays every classification. Owing to this, the photo prints are prevented from being discharged in a mixed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Uchioke, Takao Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7184165
    Abstract: In printing a plurality of pages of print data on one paper sheet upon combining the pages, a print control apparatus inputs layout data for determining a layout of the respective pages, extracts a page data portion to be printed as a single page from the print data in accordance with the input layout data, holds the page data portion, and outputs print data generated from the held page data. In this apparatus, when paper sheets are folded to form printed matter with an appearance of a book, a plurality of print page data can be printed in each print area. The apparatus includes a designation unit for making designation with respect to layout data to combine and lay out a plurality of print data pages on one page of bound paper sheets on which printing is performed, and a generating unit for generating print data print data having a plurality of page data laid out on one page of the bound paper sheets in accordance with the layout data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Mori, Koji Nakagiri, Satoshi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7184694
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: an image forming body for forming a latent image and a toner image; a developing device for developing with a toner the latent image formed on the image forming body to form the toner image; a primary transfer device for transferring the toner image on the image forming body onto an intermediate transfer body; and a secondary transfer device for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer body onto an image support. The primary transfer device has conductive body or semi-conductive body, and is provided with a power supply unit for applying a bias voltage. It is characterized in that the variation coefficient of the shape factor of the toner is 16% or less, and the number variation coefficient of the number particle size distribution of the toner is 27% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Miho, Satoshi Nishida, Shigetaka Kurosu, Masashi Saito, Hiroshi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7180619
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for monitoring a print task and resending a failed print task to a printer when a failure occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew R. Ferlitsch
  • Patent number: 7173724
    Abstract: A display section of a scanner is connected to a printer controller of a printer via a bus line, so that detailed information regarding the scanner the printer and so on is controlled by the printer controller. Both display contents respectively regarding the printer or the scanner are stored in a VRAM of the printer controller. Because of this, the detailed information regarding the printer is displayed on the display section of the scanner, which is a large LCD. This provides an image forming system, which notifies a user of the detailed information of the printer in a such manner that the user can easily understand the detailed information, when the scanner and the printer, each of which can be used independently, are combined as a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nomura, Yuhji Okamoto, Syoichiro Yoshiura, Kohki Fukuda, Keiichi Hasegawa, Seiji Takeda
  • Patent number: 7173720
    Abstract: An image forming device that uses a power transformer (T) such that no action delay and performance degradation/malfunction occur even in a power save mode, thereby achieving high energy efficiency. Circuits (2, 3, 4) of the image forming device are divided into to two blocks (A, B), and the power transformer (T) has two sets of windings (TA, TB), one for one of the blocks (A) that always needs power feeding and one for the other block (B) that needs power when necessary. Switches (SW) are provided on lines (L1 to L5) extending from the latter block (B) such that these switches are opened to interrupt power supply when the device is brought into the power save mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akinori Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 7164488
    Abstract: A facsimile/email communication system and method providing a user the ability to send emails from any standalone facsimile machine and providing a user the ability to logon to a centralized web server and send facsimiles to any standalone fax machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: MongoNet
    Inventor: Matthew K. Henry
  • Patent number: 7161692
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus including a receiving device (26a), a print data converter, a transmitting device (26b), a storage device, a spooler (27), an editor (28), and a controller (21). The data generated by an application is converted to intermediate data. The intermediate data is received by the receiving device. The intermediate data is to be converted into printable print data. The intermediate data is converted into the print data by the converter. The print data is transmitted to the printer by the transmitting device. The intermediate data is spooled in the storage device by the spooler, the intermediate data of the print data being spooled even after the print data is transmitted. The spooled intermediate data is edited by the editor. The editor is controlled by the controller to edit the intermediate data spooled in the storage device after printed according to an instruction of data re-editing by a user. The converter and the transmitting device are controlled by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Sugahara
  • Patent number: 7158244
    Abstract: A method of managing a queue of print jobs in a printer is disclosed, wherein the jobs are created by specifying print data and print parameters for each job, and the jobs are put into the print queue, and wherein, before print processing of a job in the queue begins, a start condition for the job is checked and printing is started only when the start condition is fulfilled. The method includes steps of checking a status of mode indicator specifying whether the printer is in a “keep going” mode or a “keep sequence” mode; and, when a job in the queue is reached for which the start condition is not fulfilled, postponing print processing of this job and proceeding with a next job, if any, for which the start condition is fulfilled, if the printer is in the “keep going” mode, or stopping print processing, if the printer is in the “keep sequence” mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Océ-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Monique Gerardine Miranda Sommer, Johannes Hubertus Theodorus Peters, Frederik de Jong, Louis Anna Jozef Dohmen, Johannes Josephus Maria Goossens, Pieter Berend Johannes Deen, Veronika Toumanova
  • Patent number: 7158250
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus capable of improving the operability in producing a coversheet in which plural information is written, and preventing generation of a coversheet having an improper layout resulting from the inconsistency in number between the information and fixed character strings. A plural information field is defined in a text field provided on a coversheet template and in which information is to be written, the plural information field being for setting therein attributes specifying the information to be written in the text field, and a number of the information to be written. Fixed character strings to be written in the text field of the coversheet template are set in the coversheet template in association with the information specified by the attributes set in the plural information field. The fixed character strings are repeatedly expanded on the text field of the coversheet template a number of times corresponding to the set number of the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeyuki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 7154628
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for erasing jobs from a marking device's non-volatile memory includes a monitor and notification system to detect and make a user aware of failure of the erasure. The notification system can offer alternate methods of erasure as part of the notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Davis
  • Patent number: 7148994
    Abstract: A printer module for a compact printer system has an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a stationary printhead housed within the body. Two opposing slots are interconnected by a paper path which passes through the body. An ink reservoir within the body provides ink to the printhead. Images to be printed are transferred to the printhead from a storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7145672
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that is connected to a network generates information about a processing time expected to be required for rewriting firmware in the image processing apparatus to new firmware, and transmits the information via the network to an external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tomita, Hideki Hino, Hideo Mae