Abstract: To facilitate determination of a black point on a display unit, a reference brightness region and a comparison brightness region are displayed on the display unit. The former emits at a reference brightness that is used as a reference for determining the black point. The reference brightness is set by inputting a predetermined input value to the display unit. The brightness on the comparison brightness region is compared with the reference brightness. The comparison brightness is changed by increasing and decreasing the input value to the display unit to obtain a critical input value representing the input value wherein an operator can first distinguish the comparison brightness region from the reference brightness region. The two regions are arranged so that the comparison brightness region which is, for example, a star mark is completely surrounded by the reference brightness region, or vice versa.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprises an ink jet print head with detachable ink cartridges, a carriage holding the print head, a controller for controlling their actions, and an outer case having an opening formed for detachment of the ink cartridge and mounting of a new ink cartridge. To the outer case, a manual operation key and an opening/closing cover for closing the opening are attached. The opening and closing of the opening/closing cover are detected by a sensor. The manual operation key has two action modes. When the opening/closing cover is opened, the controller switches the action modes from a sheet feed mode to a mode for moving the carriage to a region opposed to the opening for detachment of the ink cartridge and mounting of a new ink cartridge. The number of operation keys is decreased, and key operation becomes easy. A display of an action is made on the outer case and the opening/closing cover so that each action can be known whether the opening/closing cover is open or closed.

Abstract: In S100, multilevel density data C, M, Y, and K for a subject pixel are read out from the data recording medium. Then, the total ink density ND is calculated in S110. It is judged whether or not the total ink density ND is higher than the predetermined limit value L1. When the total density ND is not higher than the value L1 (no in S120), the original density data C, M, Y, and K for the subject pixel are subjected to the binarization process in S140. When the total density ND is higher than the value L1 (yes in S120), on the other hand, the value of the multilevel data for each chromatic color component is reduced through an ink density reduction process in S130. The thus obtained reduced multilevel data C3, M3, and Y3 and the black multilevel data are subjected to the binarization process in S140.

Abstract: A buffer memory 18 is formed with at least one buffer area, each for storing one band's worth of print data. The storage capacity of each buffer area is determined dependently on both the resolution and the print mode. The number of the buffer areas formed in the buffer memory is also determined dependently on both the resolution and the print mode. When the printer is supplied with successive bands' worth of print data at 720 dpi at a color print mode, the buffer memory is formed with a single buffer area for storing one band's worth of print data for four colors. The buffer area has four storage regions for the four colors. Each storage region is for storing one band's worth of print data for a corresponding color. When the printer is supplied with successive band's worth of print data at the same resolution in a monochromatic print mode, the buffer memory is formed with four buffer areas capable of storing four bands' worth of print data for a single color.

Abstract: A test image 40 for determining a gamma value has a plurality of first gradation patterns 20 and a plurality of second gradation patterns 30. The patterns 20 and 30 are arranged alternately in a vertical direction. In each pattern 20, a relative brightness linearly increases from left to right. In each pattern 30, a relative brightness linearly decreases from left to right.

Abstract: The pattern to be displayed on the display is constructed from at least three tone levels to display specific shapes such as letters and numeric characters. The pattern is designed so that the user will visually perceive different shapes when displayed at different display characteristics. The display characteristic is determined according to the user's perceived shape.

Abstract: A serial printer having print data processing unit. Print data for one line printing are successively stored in a line buffer. A size of a remaining data storing region is previously set, and the difference between the entire print data numbers for entire one line printing and the received print data numbers is measured. If the difference is equal to or smaller than the size of the remaining data storing region, a transfer commanding portion transmits a command signal to a transfer mechanism, so that operation of the transfer mechanism can be started. During the operation of the transfer mechanism, unstored print data are continuously stored in the line buffer. If all print data have been stored in the line buffer and if the carriage reaches a printing region, printing operation by a print head is started.

Abstract: The first time a print program is activated, monitor calibration for calculating display characteristic of a display is executed (S10). Then the results of the monitor calibration operation are registered along with the present date (S20). The monitor calibration results and print information are outputted to a color printer (S30). The next and further times that the print program is activated, the number of days passed since the monitor calibration operation was last performed is calculated based on the previously registered date and on the present date (S40). Whether the calculated number of days exceeds a predetermined number of days is determined (S50). If so, then the monitor calibration operation is again performed (S60) and the calibration results and date are updated accordingly (S70).

Abstract: A semiconductor element-housing package, comprising an insulating substrate composed of a plurality of laminated insulating layers and having a mounting portion for mounting a semiconductor element, in the center of a top surface thereof; a ground bonding pad and a power-supply bonding pad formed on the top surface of the insulating substrate, at the periphery of the semiconductor element-mounting portion, to which a ground electrode and a power-supply electrode of the semiconductor element are connected; and a pair of capacitor-connecting pads, formed on the underside of the insulating substrate, one of which is connected to the ground bonding pad, the other of which is connected to the power-supply bonding pad, and to both of which electrodes of a chip capacitor are connected, characterized by having a ground plane and a power-supply plane sandwiching at least one of the insulating layers buried opposing each other within the insulating substrate, and having electrical connections from the ground plane and

Abstract: An ink jet printer having a print head and connected to a host computer from which imaging data is transmitted to the printer. The printer has a purging mechanism for purging the print head. The host computer has a clock driven by a storage battery or an uninterruptible power supply. The host computer computes a period as a second period by subtracting a completion timing of the latest purging operation from a present time provided by the clock. The ink jet printer stores a first period starting at an electrical power supply timing with respect to the printer or at the operation timing of the purging mechanism after the electrical power supply. If no purging operation has been performed after the electrical power supply, the second period is compared with a predetermined period. If the second period is longer than the predetermined period, purging operation is performed. If purging operation has been performed after the electrical power supply, the first period is compared with the predetermined period.

Abstract: A print data storing unit connected to a printing mechanism of a printer for storing print data and sending the data to the printing mechanism. The storing unit includes a buffer memory which has a data storing region A having a storage capacity capable of storing therein data of one line and a temporary data storing region B having a storage capacity half the storage capacity of the data storing region A. The data storing region A is divided into two storage sections, and each storage section is divided into right storage section A1, A3 and left storage section A2 and A4. Print data of a first line are stored in the data storing region A, and when printing is started based on the print data, storage of print data of the front half portion of a second line in the temporary data storing region B is started. When the half portion of the first line is printed, storage into the empty section A1 and A3 of print data of a remaining rear half portion of the second line is started.

Abstract: The printing elements 200 are arranged with the basic pitch P of 1/180 inch. The sheet feeding mechanism 24 can feed the sheet of paper 23 at the sheet feed pitch F of 1/160 inch. The sheet feeding mechanism 24 is controlled to feed the sheet of paper 23 by a distance of R/160 inches, and a desired data is allotted to a S-th printing element 200. When the values R and S satisfy the following equation (1), the S-th printing element can print a dot at a position n/1440 inches away from an initial position at which the first printing element is initially located. ##EQU1## Thus, the printing system can print dots at a dot density of 1/1440 inch which is the highest common divisor of the values 1/160 inch and 1/180inch.

Abstract: After a printer lid has been opened, when a signal indicating that the lid is closed again and a signal indicating that there is a sheet in a print mechanism are received, the spacing or distance between a print head and the face of a sheet held against a platen is automatically adjusted to a desired value. Therefore, when a printing process is to be resumed after the lid has been opened during printing operation, the spacing between the print head and the face of the sheet is corrected even if the spacing may have been varied due to physical contact to the print head or the carriage mounting the print head by the operator, so that desired print quality will be maintained after the printing process is resumed.

Abstract: In the printer of the type in which the spacing between a print head and a sheet of paper supported on a platen can be adjusted depending upon the sheet used, the position in which the spacing is adjusted is freely selectable. When printing is effected on a sheet with tab labels, the position of the print head is specified so that the print head confronts the tab label, and then the spacing between the print head and the face of the print sheet is adjusted upon moving the print head to the specified position.

Abstract: In a printer of the kind which uses a continuous form print sheet having a plural pages each defined by perforated score lines formed in the widthwise direction of the sheet, a sheet feed control device is provided for controlling a sheet feed means for feeding the sheet. The control device includes a central processing unit which upon measuring a first line distance on the sheet, controls a sheet feeding means so that the perforated score line in the bottom of a printed page is brought in coincidence with a sheet cutting position. The print sheet can thus be separated at the line of perforations even if the first line distance is differently than that of the previous sheet.

Abstract: A paper feeding control device for use in conjunction with a recording apparatus controls the feeding of a web of paper having in succession a plurality of equi-length segmental sheets each defining one page and being adapted to be cut along a transversal cutting line from the rest of the web in such a manner that from a position wherein a first line of a new page confronts a printing head, the web of paper is advanced until the cutting line of a leading page is positioned in alignment with a cutter when it is confirmed that no printing is carried out for the next page. The printed page can now be cut off by the cutter.

Abstract: A serial printer including a print head, a carriage supporting the print head and moved by a drive motor along a line of printing, a pulse generating device for generating pulse signals corresponding to incremental distances of movement of the carriage, a time-data memory for storing time data representative of a time interval between a point of generation of each of the pulse signals, and a point at which the print head effects a printing operation, and a time-interval measuring device operable to measure the time interval according to the time data stored in the time-data memory. The time-interval measuring device generates a printing command to activate the print head upon termination of measurement of the time interval.

Abstract: A serial printer control system with printing head position control for outputting signals to feed paper and to move a printing head in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction for controlling coordinates of the printing head relative to the paper. The system includes cursor keys for outputting a signal to the head position control to move the printing head and to feed the paper set to the printer. There is print control for controlling the printing head while printing on the paper. A print format control data storage stores a position of the printing head and a feed quantity of the paper in sequential order, each time the printing head moves to a desired print position, by driving the position control according to the cursor key operation. The system receives print data composed of plural unit print data. This data is printed at each position stored in the print format control data storage and is sent from a host computer.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the carriage of a printer equipped with a stepping motor for reciprocating the carriage with a printing head comprising a power source circuit, a drive circuit for driving the stepping motor and a controller, in combination with a voltage detector for detecting voltage supplied from the power source circuit and a delay controller for delaying the driving time of the stepping motor at each end of the reciprocating motion of the carriage according to the voltage detected by the detector in order to prevent the stepping motor from excessive temperature rise.