Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a user input pattern in a portable terminal. The apparatus includes a sensing unit, a pattern management unit, and an output management unit. The sensing unit includes a sensor for sensing light, and measuring a sensed value for light. The pattern management unit determines an input pattern of a user based on a measured value of the sensing unit. The output management unit performs an operation corresponding to the input pattern determined by the pattern management unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a game in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes outputting an audio signal for indicating a specific indication through a speaker, obtaining user's motion data, and determining whether the user's motion data corresponds to the specific indication.

Abstract: A motor controlling apparatus includes a control unit which sets a motor on standby for a predetermined time if an enable signal is applied and sets the motor to a default state by rotating the motor at least once for the next predetermined time. The apparatus includes a driver unit which generates a drive signal to control the motor and outputs the drive signal to the motor. Accordingly, a stepping out of the motor may be prevented.

Abstract: A scanner with a first driving motor and a second driving motor has an improved driving structure as transmission of a driving force from one of the first and the second driving motors to the other driving motor is inhibited, thereby preventing loss of power and increased noise and vibration. The scanner may include a first driving motor, a second driving motor, an operating unit operable to move the scanning unit and configured to operate by a driving force generated from one of the first and the second driving motors and a power transmitting unit configured to transmit the driving force generated from one of the first and the second driving motors to the operating unit while disallowing transmission of the driving force between the first and the second driving motors.

Abstract: A print alignment error between a first printhead of a first ink cartridge and a second printhead of a second ink cartridge installed in an inkjet printer is calibrated by printing preset test patterns on a paper according to an input correction signal using the first and second printheads, scanning the printed test patterns, measuring positions of a starting point and an end point of each of the scanned test patterns, calculating a horizontal print alignment error between the first and second printheads from the starting points, calculating a vertical print alignment error between the first and second printheads from the starting points and the end points, and calibrating the calculated horizontal and vertical print alignment errors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a medium transferring unit which transfers a printing medium to a predetermined target position and a controller which controls the medium transferring unit in a predetermined external disturbance prevention mode to transfer the printing medium a predetermined amount by transferring the printing medium past the target position first in a forward direction past the target position, then in a backwards direction past the target position and then to the target position in the forward direction.

Abstract: A thermal printer and a printing method are provided. The thermal printer includes a thermal printhead for applying a predetermined amount of heat to a thermal recording paper to develop a print layer provided on the thermal recording paper; a feeding roller for feeding the thermal recording paper, a platen roller for facing the thermal printhead to support the thermal recording paper, wherein the thermal recording paper passes between the thermal printhead and the platen roller, a first encoder sensor for detecting a rotation of the platen roller, a second encoder sensor for detecting rotation of the feeding roller; a counting unit for counting first and second pulse signals generated from the first and second encoder sensors, respectively, and a switching unit of the first and second pulse signals as a variable to control the feeding of the thermal recording paper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically updating data broadcasting through a broadcasting terminal, while audio/video (A/V) broadcasting is being watched. The method includes: comparing a predetermined update period of the data broadcasting with an elapsed time; if the elapsed time is greater than the update period, and if a main/sub channel of A/V broadcasting currently being watched by a user is different from a predetermined channel, changing the main/sub channel of A/V broadcasting into the predetermined main/sub channel; processing the predetermined data broadcasting signal; and providing the data broadcasting signal to a user. The method and apparatus can be used without additional key input by a user, reducing, traffic accidents caused by distraction of the user in the process of key input for watching digital broadcasting.

Abstract: An electronic device for acquiring encoder speed information and a method for implementing the same are provided, wherein the electronic device includes an encoder for electrically outputting an encoder signal corresponding to a driving speed, a processor unit for outputting a preset interval count value based on the resolution of the encoder, and an integrated circuit unit for outputting the interrupt count value for calculating information using the encoder signal and the interval count value. By acquiring the encoder speed information in this manner, control performance can be improved.

Abstract: An image forming device capable of controlling a scanning unit and a method to control the scanning unit, the image forming device including a rate error calculator to calculate a rate error from a difference between a practical rotation rate and a target rate of a motor that drives the scanning unit, a position error calculator to calculate a position error from a difference between a current position and a target position of the motor, and a rate/position controller to output a control pulse to control a rate and a position of the motor by applying the rate error and the position error.

Abstract: An image aligning method for a thermal imaging device includes picking up a thermal imaging medium that has a first surface and a second surface on which printing operations may be performed respectively from a medium container. An edge of the medium is fed a first distance from a heating element of a thermal printhead to a printing path. An image is formed on the first surface of the medium while proceeding the medium through the printing path. The thermal printhead is rotated to face the thermal printhead toward the second surface of the medium. The edge of the medium is fed the first distance from the heating element. An image is formed on the second surface of the medium while feeding the medium through the printing path.

Abstract: A method for printing on a thermal medium by aligning test patterns comprises the steps of feeding a thermal medium to a print starting position of the medium beyond a predetermined distance from a heating elements of a thermal printhead; printing a first test pattern when a front edge of the medium is detected by an edge detection sensor; measuring a first distance between the front edge and the first test pattern by detecting the first test pattern using the edge detection sensor; rotating the thermal printhead to face the second surface; feeding the thermal medium to the print starting position of the medium is beyond predetermined distance the thermal printhead; printing a predetermined second test pattern when the front edge of the medium is detected by the edge detection sensor while feeding the medium; and measuring a second distance between the front edge and the second test pattern.

Abstract: An electronic device for acquiring encoder speed information and a method for implementing the same are provided, wherein the electronic device includes an encoder for electrically outputting an encoder signal corresponding to a driving speed, a processor unit for outputting a preset interval count value based on the resolution of the encoder, and an integrated circuit unit for outputting the interrupt count value for calculating information using the encoder signal and the interval count value. By acquiring the encoder speed information in this manner, control performance can be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for reducing a printing position error, in which the method includes the steps of (a) driving an encoder wheel as many times as a predetermined number of forward counts at a predetermined initial acceleration, thereby making the edge of a printing paper become separated from a sensing unit and conveyed in a forward direction, (b) driving the encoder wheel at the predetermined initial acceleration and conveying the printing paper in a backward direction, (c) calculating a difference value between the number of backward counts of the encoder wheel from a start time of the backward driving to a point when the sensing unit detects the edge of the printing paper and the number of forward counts, and (d) repeating the steps (a) through (c) for a designated number of times while varying the predetermined initial acceleration, and setting an initial acceleration corresponding to a smallest value among the difference values as the initial acceleration for driving the encoder wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling a feeding speed and a printing speed of an image forming device. The apparatus includes an encoder to convert a motion of a feeding motor to an electrical signal, an average feeding speed detector to count variations of an output signal of the encoder, to measure a time for counting each of the variations of the output of the encoder, and to calculate an average feeding speed by multiplying the total number of the counted variations by a feeding distance per variation to obtain a result and dividing the result by the sum of the measured times, and a controller to control the feeding speed by controlling the feeding motor based on the calculated average feeding speed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for reducing a printing position error, in which the method includes the steps of (a) driving an encoder wheel as many times as a predetermined number of forward counts at a predetermined initial acceleration, thereby making the edge of a printing paper become separated from a sensing unit and conveyed in a forward direction, (b) driving the encoder wheel at the predetermined initial acceleration and conveying the printing paper in a backward direction, (c) calculating a difference value between the number of backward counts of the encoder wheel from a start time of the backward driving to a point when the sensing unit detects the edge of the printing paper and the number of forward counts, and (d) repeating the steps (a) through (c) for a designated number of times while varying the predetermined initial acceleration, and setting an initial acceleration corresponding to a smallest value among the difference values as the initial acceleration for driving the encoder wheel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus constantly forms images of the same length at each of printing periods by conveying a printing medium at a constant speed. The image forming apparatus includes a driving motor to provide a driving force, a conveying unit to convey a printing medium by receiving the driving force from the driving motor, and a printer head to form images according to printing data on each line of the printing medium at a predetermined printing period (Cp), wherein the printing period (Cp) is set as a positive integer multiplied by a cogging torque cycle of the driving motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the optical density of an image printed on a medium in an image forming apparatus. The method includes the steps of reading reference information from a memory, measuring the amount of light reflected from a medium on which a target image is printed by applying light to the medium, and calculating the optical density of the target image using the reference information and the measured amount of light reflected from the medium. Accordingly, it is possible to precisely measure the optical density of an image printed on the medium without the aid of an additional optical density measurement device and easily reduce differences or variations in the quality of printing between image forming apparatuses.

Abstract: A method of compensating a sheet feeding error in an ink-jet printer includes printing a test pattern on the sheet; scanning the printed test pattern using the image sensor and measuring a distance W1 between a starting point X1s and an ending point X1e of the test pattern; driving the feeding roller and moving the sheet to a set distance Hm so that the set distance Hm is shorter than a length of the test pattern in a sheet feeding direction; scanning the test pattern using the image sensor and measuring a distance W2 between a starting point X2s and an ending point X2e of the test pattern; calculating a distance H, along which the sheet is actually fed, from a difference between the distances W2 and W1; calculating a feeding error E of the sheet from a difference between the feeding distance H and the set distance Hm; and compensating for the sheet feeding error E at the set distance Hm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately reading a barcode with a low-resolution reflective sensor are provided. The apparatus includes: a scanning unit for sensing a barcode and generating a scan signal; a searching unit for calculating a rate of change of the scan signal, extracting sloped line segments from the scan signal, searching for starting and ending points of the extracted sloped line segments to detect edges of the barcode's bars; and a barcode reading unit for reading out the barcode based on distances between the detected edges.