Abstract: When it is determined that an end process flag is not stored in memory, there is a possibility that the recovery operation was not executed normally and the viscosity increased or fixed coating liquid exist in a liquid holding member and liquid flow paths. Therefore, a filling operation for generating stronger fluidization than a normal filling operation is carried out as a filling operation also acting as a restoration operation. That is, a pump is operated at a predetermined rotating speed for a specified time, which is longer than the specified time for the normal filling operation. By this, the viscosity increased coating liquid existing in the liquid holding space and the respective liquid flow paths is re-fluidized to an extent that will not interfere with circulation, and normal filling of the coating liquid is carried out.

Abstract: In an image processing method, on the basis of input image data with respect to a target pixel, independent multi-level data (g0, g1) corresponding to respective plural species of dots which are different in at least one of a density and a diameter are generated, and then data (O0, O1) relating to an amount of generation of the dots with respect to the target pixel are generated on the basis of a relationship between the generated independent multi-level data (g0, g1) corresponding to the plural species of dots. The image processing method is effective in performing design having a high degree of flexibility in proper use of a relatively high power dot (high density dot or large dot) and a relatively low power dot (low density dot or small dot) and can realize obviation or alleviation of an occurrence of granulation or an apparent frame caused due to the relatively high power dot.

Abstract: The planar lighting device includes a light guide plate including two symmetrical, inclined planes increasingly distanced from the light exit plane with the increasing distance from the light entrance planes toward the center, a curved portion joining the inclined planes, and scattering particles dispersed therein; light sources; a housing; a securing unit securing the light sources and light guide plate to keep their distance constant, and a sliding mechanism allowing the securing unit to slide. Distance between the light entrance planes, thicknesses at the light entrance planes and at the central curved portion, its radius of curvature and taper of the inclined planes are all held within respective given ranges as well as scattering particle diameter and density, light use efficiency and middle-high ratio of the brightness distribution. A thin planar lighting device yielding high light use efficiency with a minimized brightness unevenness and a high-in-the-middle brightness distribution.

Abstract: The light guide plate includes a rectangular light exit plane, a light entrance plane containing one side of the light exit plane, and a rear plane located on the side opposite from the light exit plane and scattering particles for scattering light propagating inside the light guide plate dispersed therein. The light guide plate has two layers, a first layer located on the side closer to the light exit plane and having a first particle density of the scattering particles, and a second layer located on the side opposite from the light exit plane and having a second particle density that is greater than the first particle density of the first layer. Npo and Npr satisfy Npo<Npr, where Npo is the first particle density and Npr is the second particle density.

Abstract: A planar lighting device is capable of keeping the light entrance plane of the light guide plate spaced a constant distance from the light source and the light guide plate spaced a constant distance from the liquid crystal display panel even when the light guide plate expands, contracts or warps. This prevents break of the light source, decrease of light admission efficiency, occurrence of uneven brightness, and break of the liquid crystal display panel and permits a thin, larger, and lightweight design. The planar lighting device includes a fixing member for keeping them spaced from each other, a housing for accommodating the light source and the light guide plate, a sliding mechanism to elastically hold the fixing means against the housing while keeping the light source spaced a constant distance from the light guide plate, and a reinforcing member for reinforcing the housing.

Abstract: The planar lighting device includes linear light sources, a light guide plate having a flat light exit surface, a rear surface and parallel grooves formed in the rear surface for accommodating the light sources, respectively, and a support member for supporting the light guide plate with the rear surface. A cross-section of the light guide plate has a rear surface profile including convex portions having the respective grooves and concave portions formed between adjacent grooves, and a thickness in each concave portion decreases from each groove toward either midpoint between adjacent grooves and is thinnest at the midpoint. A cross-section of the support member has a first surface profile of a first surface including a profile identical to a profile of each concave portion of the rear surface profile and a second surface of the support member is a flat surface.

Abstract: Provided is a planar lighting device having a thin shape and capable of emitting uniform illumination light with less brightness unevenness. The planar lighting device includes a first and a second light sources arranged at a given distance apart from each other and a light guide plate arranged between the first and second light sources. The light guide plate includes a light exit plane, a first light entrance plane facing the first light source and containing one side of the light exit plane, and a second light entrance plane facing the second light source and containing the opposite side to the one side, and has a shape growing thicker from the first and second light entrance planes toward the center. The light guide plate contains scattering particles for scattering light entering through the first and second light entrance planes and propagating inside by a ratio satisfying 1.1??·Np·LG·KC?8.2.

Abstract: In an image processing method, on the basis of input image data with respect to a target pixel, independent multi-level data (g0, g1) corresponding to respective plural species of dots which are different in at least one of a density and a diameter are generated, and then data (O0, O1) relating to an amount of generation of the dots with respect to the target pixel are generated on the basis of a relationship between the generated independent multi-level data (g0, g1) corresponding to the plural species of dots. The image processing method is effective in performing design having a high degree of flexibility in proper use of a relatively high power dot (high density dot or large dot) and a relatively low power dot (low density dot or small dot) and can realize obviation or alleviation of an occurrence of granulation or an apparent frame caused due to the relatively high power dot.

Abstract: The planar lighting device includes, in addition to light sources, a light exit plane, a pair of light entrance planes formed on a pair of sides of the light exit plane, and a rear plane composed of a pair of inclined planes formed on a side opposite from the light exit plane such that the light guide plate grows thicker with an increasing distance from the light entrance planes toward the center. The light guide plate contains light scattering particles satisfying Npi>Np, where Npi is the particle density in a region of space within a given range of the light guide plate and Np the density in the other region of space. The planar lighting device with minimized brightness unevenness liable to develop near the light entrance planes when the light exit plane has great dimensions.

Abstract: The planar lighting device includes a light guide plate having the light exit plane, two pairs of light entrance planes formed at the four sides of the light exit plane, and rear planes formed opposite to the light exit plane and inclined such that the light guide plate grows thicker toward the center thereof, a pair of main light sources and a pair of auxiliary light sources disposed opposite their respective light entrance planes to emit light to the respective light entrance planes, and illuminance distribution control unit to adjust the amount of light emitted by the main and auxiliary light sources to form a designated local illuminance distribution for any position desired in the light exit plane. The planar lighting device performs area control and line control to adjust illuminance at a light exit plane for any area desired and along any line desired, respectively.

Abstract: The planar lighting device includes linear light sources, a light guide plate having a flat light exit surface, a rear surface and parallel grooves formed in the rear surface for accommodating the light sources, respectively, and a support member for supporting the light guide plate with the rear surface. A cross-section of the light guide plate has a rear surface profile including convex portions having the respective grooves and concave portions formed between adjacent grooves, and a thickness in each concave portion decreases from each groove toward either midpoint between adjacent grooves and is thinnest at the midpoint. A cross-section of the support member has a first surface profile of a first surface including a profile identical to a profile of each concave portion of the rear surface profile and a second surface of the support member is a flat surface.

Abstract: The absolute value of the light amount is increased by providing main light sources and auxiliary light sources on four sides of a light guide plate having a flat and rectangular light exit plane whereas the amounts of light emitted by LED chips of the main light sources and the auxiliary light sources are adjusted such that illuminance is highest near the central area of the light guide plate to obtain a high-in-the-middle, bell-curve illuminance distribution for light emitted by the light guide plate. A planar lighting device achieving a reduced thickness and weight and capable of emitting an increased amount of illumination light is provided.

Abstract: A thinner and larger planar lighting device is achieved without increasing the number of light sources and holding the power consumption to a minimum. The LED chips on the light sources are arrayed at an array density varying according to the position of each of the light entrance planes of the light guide plate such that the illuminance distribution as measured on along the middle of the light guide plate in a direction parallel to longitudinal direction of the light entrance planes represents a high-in-the-middle, bell-curve distribution.

Abstract: The planar lighting device includes a pair of light sources, a light guide plate and a housing. The light guide plate is disposed between the light sources and includes a light exit plane and a pair of opposite light entrance planes respectively provided opposite to the light sources. The planar lighting device thus configured features a heat dissipation structure whereby a heat sink is connected to each of the light sources and heat pipes are attached to the heat sink so as to extend toward the center of the housing. Disclosed is a thin and lightweight planar lighting device suitably used for a large display television or the like, capable of emitting illumination light free from brightness unevenness or with a reduced level of brightness unevenness, allowing increase of dimensions of the display area, and capable of optimally releasing heat generated by the light sources.

Abstract: A liquid applying apparatus can prevent an applying roller from being degraded while contacting with an application liquid for a long time. Specifically, once an applying operation has been completely executed on an applying medium, the apparatus stands by for 60 seconds while holding the application liquid in a liquid holding member. When an applying instruction is not given during this period, the apparatus performs an application liquid collecting operation of discharging the application liquid from the liquid holding member. Thus, upon determining that no applying operation has been performed for a certain period after one applying operation has finished, the apparatus collects the application liquid from the liquid holding member. This avoids immersing the applying roller in the application liquid for a long time. Therefore, the applying roller is prevented from being degraded by the application liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid applying apparatus that prevents an applying roller from being degraded while contacting with an application liquid for a long time. Specifically, once an applying operation has been completely executed on an applying medium, the apparatus stands by for 60 seconds while holding the application liquid in a liquid holding member. When an applying instruction is not given during this period, the apparatus performs an application liquid collecting operation of discharging the application liquid from the liquid holding member. Thus, upon determining that no applying operation has been performed for a certain period after one applying operation has been finished, the apparatus collects the application liquid from the liquid holding member. This avoids immersing the applying roller in the application liquid for a long time. Therefore, the applying roller is prevented from being degraded by the application liquid.

Abstract: An adjustment value applicable to the adjustment of a printing position is obtainable by reading a printing position adjustment pattern printed on a printing medium without requiring the manual operation by the operator. Furthermore, the printing position can be optimally adjusted by accurately scanning the printing position adjustment pattern. For this purpose, an optical sensor is located in the vicinity of the printing head, and the optical sensor is situated near a predetermined position side. The predetermined position side is a pinch roller side where a large restrictive force acts to the printing medium with the printing position adjustment pattern printed thereon.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, which forms a color image by applying different color inks to a printing material while bi-directionally moving the recording head to scan the recording material, includes a changing unit for changing an order of applications of the inks of different colors to be applied at least at one amount for printing a secondary color to a secondary color pixel area; and a forming unit for forming the secondary color while making the order of applications of the inks to at least one of a plurality of the secondary color pixel areas arranged along a predetermined direction different from the order of another, by the changing unit.

Abstract: For a liquid applying mechanism of an ink jet printing apparatus, a liquid to be used for applying it to a medium is prevented from evaporating and leaking from a liquid holding member. An applying roller and the liquid holding member contact with each other to hold the liquid and apply the held liquid to a printing medium by means of the applying roller. In this configuration, the surface of the applying roller has no irregularities. Thereby, the applying roller can contact with the liquid holding member to form an adequate liquid-tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: If print agents used are detected by an optical sensor at different sensitivities, the present invention enables the easy setting of adjustment values for print positions resulting from these print agents. To accomplish this object, for example, the present invention substitutes and sets adjustment values for print positions resulting from cyan, light cyan, or black ink, corresponding to a high detection sensitivity, for adjustment values for print positions resulting from a light magenta, yellow, or magenta ink, corresponding to a low detection sensitivity.