Abstract: In a modular power supply having a plurality of module slots capable of receiving power supply modules therein, a system and method for controlling the power supply modules to regulate an overall output characteristic of the modular power supply, including: (1) an overall control circuit for sensing an overall output characteristic of the modular power supply and developing therefrom an overall error signal representing a deviation of the overall output characteristic from a reference characteristic and (2) a separate module control circuit for each of the power supply modules, each separate module control circuit sensing an output characteristic of an associated power supply module and developing therefrom and from the overall error signal a regulating signal for the associated power supply module, the regulating signal controlling the output characteristic of the associated power supply module to control the overall output characteristic of the modular power supply.

Abstract: A high power source unit employing a piezoelectric transformer detects whether the output of the piezoelectric transformer reaches a predetermined value or not using a comparator. Subsequently, using a frequency scanning circuit, an oscillation frequency of a driving frequency control circuit is scanned across a resonance frequency of the piezoelectric transformer. During this frequency scanning, the efficiency of the piezoelectric transformer is detected by a efficiency calculating circuit to detect the frequency where the efficiency becomes maximum, by a most efficient frequency detecting circuit. By maintaining this frequency, the piezoelectric transformer may operate at the frequency at optimal efficiency.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus, includes a power supply section for powering an X-ray tube (4) with a high-voltage transformer (3) which has two groups of primary and secondary windings provided on the same transformer core, the coupling between the primary windings (16, 26) belonging to different groups being weaker than the coupling between primary and secondary windings (for example, 16, 31) belonging to the same group, the primary windings of the two groups being connected to two inverters (1, 2) which operate at the same frequency. Control of the power at the secondary side is improved in that the inverters are operated at a fixed frequency and with a duty cycle which can be independently controlled.

Abstract: Processes, products and inventive uses for improved gray scales in pictorial content of monochrome printed matter and involving a color laser copier (30). An exemplary process presents a subject image (14) to a laser color copier, supplies an electrostatic printing plate (20) to the copier, and introduces the subject image directly to the plate as a transfer image (14') by operating the copier. The process confers superior gray scale capability to the plate and prepares the plate, as later mounted on a printing press (40), to produce printed matter (43) wherein printed image (14") corresponds to the subject image and is characterized by improved gray scale. An exemplary product, as an article of manufacture, is a printing plate with the directly-introduced transfer image. An inventive use is use or operation of the copier directly to make--from subject image on its copy board (31)--the transfer image on the printing plate.

Abstract: For use in a power supply having a rectifying diode, a snubber circuit for, and method of moderating a reverse recovery current that flows from the rectifying diode as the rectifying diode transitions from a conducting state to a non-conducting state. The snubber circuit includes: (1) a saturable reactor, coupled in electrical series with the rectifying diode and providing a first conductive path for a first portion of the reverse recovery current from the rectifying diode and (2) a saturable reactor resetting circuit, coupled in electrical parallel with the saturable reactor and providing a second conductive path for a second portion of the reverse recovery current from the rectifying diode, the second conductive path reducing the reverse recovery current through the saturable reactor, thereby decreasing a thermal dissipation of the saturable reactor as the rectifying diode transitions from the conducting state to the non-conducting state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a photoreceptor, and an exposure device for exposing the photoreceptor based on image data so as to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. The exposure device has a plurality of light emitting devices aligned along a main scanning direction of the photoreceptor, the respective light emitting devices having a plurality of luminescence portions, and a light emitting device driver for applying a voltage to the respective luminescence portions so that the luminescence area of the light emitting device increases step by step whenever the applied voltage increases by a predetermined voltage based on the image data. With the arrangement, tone expression is realized in the electrostatic latent image, according to the size of the luminescence area of the respective light emitting devices, which can be controlled by the voltage applied to the respective light emitting devices based on the image data.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus for forming an image on an image-bearing member includes an image-reading unit. The image-reading unit has an electric component which converts an original image to image data. The image-forming apparatus has a data memory in which the image data is stored, and an image-forming unit. The image-forming unit has an electric component which forms an image on the image-bearing member on the basis of the image data and a personal identification code. Furthermore, the image-forming apparatus has a control unit for controlling the image-forming unit so as to form an image on the basis of the image data at a predetermined timing which an operator requests.

Abstract: In reading out an original image divided into a plurality of regions, a scanner reads out image data having each divided region partially repeated for each adjacent divided region. The read out image data of each divided region is stored in a memory in correspondence with the original image and stored in a memory. A controller identifies an overlapping region of the stored image data, and joins each image data according to the identified result to generate an image data corresponding to the original image.

Abstract: A color printer has multiple printing heads that print dots in different colors, one dot line at a time. Each line is divided into at least two parts. For each printing head, the printer has an image data memory that stores data for at least two dot lines. When a printing head prints one dot line, data for each part of the dot line are taken from an independently-selected line in the image data memory. The image lines are selected so as to correct positional skew between different printing heads.

Abstract: An exposure device includes: at least three light-emitting elements for respectively emitting light of mutually different colors and forming a slit beam; an optical shutter array in which a plurality of optical shutter elements for allowing the slit beam incident thereupon to be transmitted therethrough or shut off as the optical shutter elements are opened or closed, and being provided in a number corresponding to the number of pixels constituting a row of pixels in a scanning line of the photosensitive material along a direction corresponding to the cross-sectionally longitudinal direction of the slit beam; and a control member for controlling the light-emitting elements and the optical shutter array such that an amount of exposure applied to a predetermined pixel on the photosensitive material becomes substantially equal to an amount of exposure of a corresponding pixel of color image data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a halftone image generates halftone cells based on grayscale image data and bitmap code. A human readable pattern is embedded within the halftone image. Each of the halftone cells is formed from dot patterns having one of a plurality of predetermined shapes. The predetermined shapes of the halftone cells form the human readable pattern. The halftone cells are written onto a recording medium to produce the halftone image. Rotation of the halftone cells allows data to be encoded within each of the halftone cells without varying the tone of the image. The tone of the image may be controlled by selectively varying a thickness of the dot patterns within the halftone cells.

Abstract: A DC to DC converter including a resonant switching circuit (13, 51 , 115, 151, 125, 153); an impedance matching circuit (53) responsive to the resonant switching circuit; a rectifier circuit (55) responsive to the impedance matching circuit; an output filter circuit (57) responsive to rectifier circuit for providing a filtered DC to DC converter voltage output; and a varactor diode circuit (27, 29, 31, 61) responsive to the filtered DC to DC converter voltage output for controlling the impedance matching circuit such that the filtered DC to DC converter output voltage is substantially constant.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by comprising first signal conversion section for converting a pixel density value of an current pixel of an input image signal into a first recording control signal for defining a recording amount, second signal conversion section for referring to an adjacent-pixel recording control signal for defining a recording amount of at least one adjacent pixel connected to the current pixel to convert the first recording control signal into a second recording control signal, being closest to the first recording control signal, for defining a recording amount at which pixel formation for the current pixel is stabilized, recording section for recording an image based on the second recording control signal, and error diffusion section for diffusing an error between the pixel density value and a recording density value of the second recording control signal to a pixel density value of each of non-processed pixels located around the current p

Abstract: An electric power supply apparatus comprises a traveling-wave tube 15 exhibiting partial negative-resistance characteristics and a voltage stabilizing circuit for controlling a voltage control element 12 using an error amplifier 16 and a switch and for supplying stable power to the traveling-wave tube 15. In the apparatus, whether a traveling-wave tube 15 is in positive-resistance operation or negative-resistance operation is detected. In the negative-resistance operation, the control using the error amplifier 16 and the switch S1 is rendered ineffective.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a halftone image which generates halftone cells based on grayscale image data values. Each of the halftone cells is formed from serpentine dot patterns. The serpentine dot patterns form two separate arcs. The halftone cells are written onto a recording medium to produce the halftone image. Rotation of the halftone cells allows data to be encoded within each of the halftone cells without varying the tone of the image.

Abstract: A digital copy machine includes an image reading unit IR, an image memory, an image formation unit PRT, and a circulation type sheet transportation mechanism having a transportation path of a length that can accommodate n (n.gtoreq.2) sheets for reversing the side of the sheet having a copy image formed on one side to the opposite side and refeeding the same to a copy position. In duplex copying using at least n sheets, the timing of feeding the first sheet is set so that the n-th sheet arrives at the copy position only after the time when the copy of an original image of the (2n-1)th page can be initiated in order to set the number of circulating sheets to n.

Abstract: A copying machine is provided which generally includes a scanner unit (2) for reading an original image, a line type thermal head (14) for printing the read image on to a tape (16) which is used as a recording medium, a tape cartridge (51) for supplying the tape, and a tape conveying mechanism. The tape (16) has an image carrying sheet (161) with a front surface forming a printing face, and a back surface forming an adhesive layer (162) formed by applying an adhesive, and a release sheet (163) releasably stuck to the surface of the adhesive layer. The tape may be rolled into a tape roll and placed in a tape cartridge (51) which is detachably fitted into the body of the copying machine. Both ends of the tape have conveyance border portions of a uniform width. Engaging holes are formed in the border portions, at regular intervals in the direction of the tape length. The tape conveying mechanism has sprockets (183, 184) with projections being capable of engaging the engaging holes on the outer circumferences.

Abstract: An electronic prepress system for electronically preparing and outputting images onto image receiving materials includes a computer for generating and storing color separated images in electronic files. A processor processes the electronic files received from the computer and converts the electronic files to rasterized image files. The rasterized image files are accepted by the scan engine from the processor. The scan engine outputs color separated images on an image receiving material and is operable in a first operating mode for outputting the color separated images individually onto a first image receiving material as a set having a separated image for each of the color separated images, and a second operating mode for outputting the color separated images onto a second image receiving material having the color separated images superimposed as an assembled color proof of the image.

Abstract: A printing device (10) is commanded to print a reference set of intensity values from almost white or highlight regions through almost dark or shadow regions. A measuring device (12) measures the actual outputted printer intensity levels from the printing device (10). An interpolator (14) interpolates the printer intensity levels into a best fit smooth curve plotted against the reference set of intensity levels which produces a non-linear function. A mapping means and converter (24a, 24b) calculate a set of fractional intensity values and densities which produce a linear function when mapped with the printer intensity levels. A dot area parameter calculator (28) calculates a set of dot parameters defining a configuration of a halftone dot required to fill an area within the halftone cell corresponding to each intensity level. For each position of each halftone cell, a measurement processor (30) determines a distance between a current scan position (a,b) and a nearest edge defined by the dot parameters.

Abstract: After a plurality of parallax images either obtained from an external camera or generated by a computer are divided into a plurality of image strips, respectively, a combined image is formed from the plurality of image strips, and recorded on a photo sensing drum as a latent image. Next, the latent image is transferred or printed on backside of a lenticular sheet, made from a transparent plastic, with toner or ink, thereby forming a stereoscopic image display medium. Accordingly, a high definition stereoscopic image of good contrast can be printed out at high speed by using a printer having a simple configuration.