Abstract: An image processing apparatus is connected to an image reading apparatus which reads a read area set on a scanner platen in accordance with a size of a document placed on the scanner platen so as to create image data in which an image of the document is shown. The image processing apparatus includes a document detection section and an instruction section. The document detection section creates, based on the image data supplied from the image reading apparatus, document area information indicative of an area where the document is placed on the scanner platen. In a case where the area indicated by the document area information is not completely encompassed by the read area, the instruction section sets a reread area which completely encompasses the area indicated by the document area information and causes the image reading apparatus to read the reread area.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus reads an original to which a restriction item such as copy restriction is embed to input image data. The image processing apparatus restricts an image processing on the input image data which involves a loss of the embedded information on the restriction item to maintain a state where the restriction item is embedded for the output. Alternatively, the image processing apparatus outputs the image data of a format where the restriction information is added to the input electric data.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a contact glass setting a manuscript thereon; an image sensor extending in a first direction and having a reading surface which faces the contact glass for reading an image from the manuscript on the contact glass; a rail member extending inside the apparatus main body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a carriage having a sensor container to contain the image sensor, a taper end portion formed in an end portion in the first direction to become smaller in height toward the end side, and an opening formed in the bottom of the sensor container on the taper end portion side; a biased portion adjacent to the reading surface of the image sensor in the second direction; and a biasing member biasing the image sensor toward the contact glass via the biased portion.

Abstract: A device cooperation system includes a first device including an acquiring unit for acquiring image data, an output condition receiving unit for receiving output conditions used by the first and second devices when outputting the image data, a first important document determining unit for determining whether first important information is included in the image data, a first operation information recording unit for recording operation information of a first output unit when it is determined that the first important information is included in the image data, and a second device including a second operation information recording unit for recording operation information of a second output unit when the determination result indicating that the first important information is included in the image data is acquired from the first device.

Abstract: A method for measuring a deviation in timing of start of writing in scanning lines is implemented by an optical scanning device that scans a surface to be scanned with light beams from light-emitting elements having first and second light-emitting elements which are arranged so as to be displaced from each other in a direction corresponding to a direction of the scanning lines. The method includes: detecting timing at which light from the first light-emitting element is received by a light receiving element, as a first time, the light receiving element outputting a synchronization detecting signal before start of writing; detecting timing at which light from the second light-emitting element is received by the light receiving element, as a second time; and obtaining the deviation in timing for the second light-emitting element with respect to the first light-emitting element based on a difference between the first and second time.

Abstract: An optical scanner contains in a casing made of thermoplastic material a light source that emits an image light based on image data, and at least one optical element that is disposed in an optical path for the image light. The optical element is held through a holding member by the casing. The holding member is uprightly held at one edge portion thereof on an inside surface of the casing, and secures the optical element at the other edge portion thereof. The holding member has a shape that causes a thermal deformation in which a leaning direction of the other edge portion is opposite to a leaning direction of the one edge portion due to a thermal deformation of the inside surface of the casing when a temperature of the casing rises.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rasterizing unit that rasterizes character information representing a character in a vector form into a first raster image in which pixels are arranged at a first predetermined density, a generator unit that generates a second raster image in accordance with the first raster image rasterized, and a mask image in which plural pixels are arranged at a second predetermined density, the plural pixels including a first pixel, and a second pixel, a exposure unit that irradiates an image carrier with the beam in response to the second raster image generated, a supply unit that supplies a developer to the image carrier which the exposure unit has irradiated with the beam, and develops on a surface of the image carrier an image responsive to the second raster image, and a transfer unit that transfers the developed image to a medium.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: an image reader configured to read both sides of sheets of an original document to generate page images thereof; an attribute information supplier configured to attach, to the page image of each page, attribute information including a page number of the corresponding page in the original document and a distinction whether the corresponding page is a front side or a back side of the sheet of the original document, when the page image is not a blank page; and an electronic file generator configured to generate an electronic file by integrating non-blank page images, which are the page images with no blank pages.

Abstract: A control device is notified of recording problems in a recording device based on the location of drive data in a storage device. A printer stores a start-recording position as start-recording position data, writes drive data reflecting the start-recording position in a line buffer, drives a line thermal head based on the buffered drive data to record on a recording medium, and the printer returns information denoting the start-recording position based on a request from the host computer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a thinning unit. The acquisition unit may acquire color information concerning color of an image having an attribute of at least one of character or line drawing. The determination unit may determine a thinning ratio for thinning data of non-edge portions of the image according to the color information acquired by the acquisition unit. The thinning unit may thin data of the non-edge portions according to the thinning ratio determined by the determination unit. The thinning ratio determined by the determination unit when the color information indicates a color other than black is lower than the thinning ratio determined when the color information indicates black.

Abstract: A printing system of the present invention includes: a generating unit which performs a rasterizing process to print data while performing a color conversion process by applying a multi-dimensional lookup table for calibration, which is for matching a color of the image to be printed by a printing unit by combining base colors to a target color and for keeping the color of the image consistent, to generate image data; a storage unit which stores the image data; a calibration unit which applies a first one-dimensional lookup table for calibration to calibrate the color information of the image data at a first round of printing the image, and applies a second one-dimensional lookup table for calibration newer than the first one-dimensional lookup table for calibration to calibrate the color information of the image data at a second round of newly printing the image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating multi-site FM screen dots simultaneously. The method according to the present invention can simultaneously process multiple neighboring pixels in the same row each time and generate multi-site screen dots; and meanwhile the method according to the present invention can renew simultaneously the error accumulation values of multiple locations of error row memory. The apparatus according to the present invention consists of an error row memory, an error row memory control circuit, an error allocation/accumulation register file, an error allocation/accumulation register file control circuit, and a screen dots generating circuit. The method and the apparatus according to the present invention can greatly improve the generating speed of FM screen dots, and only one read-write operation of the error row memory is needed during processing the multiple neighboring pixels each time.

Abstract: Methods and systems maintain print media stocking information. The print media stocking information comprises types and amounts of print media stored at a plurality of different physical locations. The different physical locations have printing devices and external storage locations. The print media is maintained within internal storage locations of the printing devices and within the external storage locations at the different physical locations. The external storage locations are outside the printing devices and positioned relative to the printing devices a distance to allow an operator to load the print media into the printing devices when instructed to do so. The methods and systems receive a print job from a user. In response to receiving the print job, the methods and systems output to the user the types and amounts of media available at the different physical locations that correspond to print job media required for the print job.

Abstract: The present invention provides technology according to which, in the case of changing a print setting and performing reprinting, a printing apparatus causes an information processing apparatus to regenerate print data via a network as necessary depending on whether processing in accordance with a changed print setting can be executed by the printing apparatus.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus and method. The image scanning apparatus which scans an image of document includes a light source including at least three light emitting elements of red, green, and blue, which are sequentially lit up at intervals of a first time, a light emitting time control unit to control a light emitting time of the at least three light emitting elements such that the first time is shorter than a second time by a predetermined value, a sensor array to transform an image formed by light reflected from the document into an electric signal according to results of the control of the light emitting time and the light intensity, and an output unit to output image data corresponding to the transformed electric signal.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining whether to allow certain operations to be performed with respect to a device based on a location of another device. One technique involves receiving a request from a first device over a network; in response to receiving the request: determining a location of the first device; based on the location of the first device relative to a second device that is different than the first device, determining whether to allow one or more operations to be performed on particular data with respect to the second device; in response to determining, based on the location of the first device relative to the second device, to allow the one or more operations to be performed on the particular data, allowing the one or more operations to be performed on the particular data.

Abstract: An image is divided into first a second regions on the basis of inputted image data, and a comparison is made between the gradation values of pixels in the first region and threshold values corresponding to the pixels of the first region of a dither mask. The results of the comparison are referenced to determine whether or not dots are formed in the pixels of the first region. Errors are calculated based on the results of determining the first boundary pixels, which are in the first region near the boundary between the first region second regions. Some of the errors are distributed as diffusion errors to pixels in the second region near the boundary. The diffusion errors distributed from the first boundary pixels are added, and it is determined whether or not dots are formed by the error diffusion method in the pixels of the second region.

Abstract: A second chromaticity feature is corrected and approximated to a first chromaticity feature, a new limit value for an ink amount is determined based on the second chromaticity feature after the approximation, optimization is performed by designating an ink amount which is equal to or less than the newly determined limit value when an ink amount reproducing a hue value represented by a lattice point is determined by the optimization of the ink amount with the use of an object function for evaluating image quality when the designated amount of ink is made to adhere to a first print medium, the ink amount determined by the optimization is converted with a conversion relationship based on the first chromaticity feature and the second chromaticity feature, and a profile for a second print medium, for which the converted ink amount has been defined, is created.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a thermotransfer printer for printing print media having RFID labels, comprising a thermotransfer printing unit, and a single sheet intake means. The invention is further characterised by an RFID reading unit for reading items of information from the RFID labels, wherein the RFID reading unit is so connected to the thermotransfer printing unit (70) that the thermotransfer printing unit (70) is controllable in dependence on the items of information read out of the respective RFID label.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral 1 of the present invention includes an image data storage section 16 for storing image data received by a first communication section 14 or a modem 15, the first communication section 14 for transmitting reception information including sender's information of the image data to an information processor 2, and a sections control section 10 for causing, according to control information transmitted from the information processor 2, a predetermined process to be executed on the image data stored in the image data storage section 16.