Abstract: One end of an FPC (21) for supplying power to the driving section of a light amount control section provided in a shutter unit (20) is disposed between a second lens holder (17) and the shutter unit (20) secured to this second lens holder (17) and is held between the second lens holder (17) and the shutter unit (20). Thus, the FPC (21) is prevented from being spaced apart from the shutter unit (20), and a member for securing the FPC (21) to the shutter unit (20) is eliminated, reducing the number of part items. Further, the second lens holder (17) and the shutter unit (20) blocks unwanted light toward the FPC (21), so that a ghost image is prevented from appearing on an image due to unwanted light reflected on the FPC (21).

Abstract: One end of an FPC (21) for supplying power to the driving section of a light amount control section provided in a shutter unit (20) is disposed between a second lens holder (17) and the shutter unit (20) secured to this second lens holder (17) and is held between the second lens holder (17) and the shutter unit (20). Thus, the FPC (21) is prevented from being spaced apart from the shutter unit (20), and a member for securing the FPC (21) to the shutter unit (20) is eliminated, reducing the number of part items. Further, the second lens holder (17) and the shutter unit (20) blocks unwanted light toward the FPC (21), so that a ghost image is prevented from appearing on an image due to unwanted light reflected on the FPC (21).

Abstract: A case member has a predetermined surface and a sealable inside, where a first circular area for passing light is provided at the center portion of the predetermined surface, a double-sided light shielding sheet, which is provided with a second circular area for passing light at the center, is adhered to the predetermined surface such that the second circular area is positioned in a concentric circle manner to the first circular area, the second circular area having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first circular area, a transparent dustproof film is adhered on the light shielding sheet.

Abstract: An objective lens holder of the present invention includes: (i) a cavity, having an entrance and an exit, which guides, to an objective lens, an incident light beam entering the entrance, the exit being provided on a side of the cavity where the objective lens is housed; and (ii) an aperture having an opening for limiting, to an effective diameter of the objective lens, a beam diameter of the incident light beam passing through the cavity. The cavity is surrounded with internal wall surfaces facing each other so that space between the internal wall surfaces gradually increases from the opening of the aperture toward the entrance or the exit. This makes it possible to provide a highly rigid objective lens holder that allows high speed read/write operations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an objective lens holding unit which allows for accurate information reading and writing. In order to make it possible for a read/write device including an objective lens with a small working distance, particularly such as a BD-compliant read/write device, to perform accurate information reading and writing, the objective lens holding unit of the present invention includes two ribs provided on a surface of a lens holder facing an optical disk, the lens holder holding an objective lens, so as to sandwich the objective lens therebetween. On the surfaces of the ribs facing the optical disk, protectors are provided so as to project toward the optical disk more than the objective lens does.

Abstract: An objective lens holder of the present invention includes: (i) a cavity, having an entrance and an exit, which guides, to an objective lens, an incident light beam entering the entrance, the exit being provided on a side of the cavity where the objective lens is housed; and (ii) beam diameter limiting means having an opening for limiting, to an effective diameter of the objective lens, a beam diameter of the incident light beam passing through the cavity. The cavity is surrounded with internal wall surfaces facing each other so that space between the internal wall surfaces gradually increases from the opening of the aperture toward the entrance or the exit. This makes it possible to provide a highly rigid objective lens holder that allows high-speed read/write operations.

Abstract: In a lens holding system of the present invention, at least two lens protection sections protruding from a surface of a lens holding section are provided, which surface faces the optical recording medium, the lens protection sections sandwiching an objective lens therebetween. A distance between each of the lens protection sections and the optical recording medium is smaller than a distance between the objective lens and the optical recording medium. Accordingly, according to the structure mentioned above, because each of plural lens protection sections is independently provided, spaces between (i) adjacent lens protection sections and (ii) each of the lens protection sections and the lens holding section are easily formed. This makes it possible to easily perform attachment/detachment of the objective lens to/from the lens holding section. Further, a region for releasing heat is easily formed by the space provided between adjacent lens protection sections mentioned above.

Abstract: An objective lens driving device includes: a movable section 8 for collecting light of a light source onto an optical disk 2; and a driving section for driving the movable section 8 (i) in a direction of a light axis of an objective lens 1 which direction is orthogonal to a storage surface of the optical disk 2 and (ii) in an in-plane direction orthogonal to the light axis, wherein the movable section 8 includes a protruding portion 4 which protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the light axis of the objective lens 1, and there is provided a stopper section 16 for restricting a movable range of the movable section 8 by coming into contact with the protruding portion 4 when the movable section 8 moves.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus is adapted to use a non-contact method for detecting the presence and the amount of liquid, in the form of ink droplets discharged from a printhead or ink tank, using electromagnetic waves in the form of infrared rays. The apparatus and method employ an infrared sensor to detect infrared radiation emitted by the ink in proportion to the amount of ink present. The apparatus and method further employ one of various shielding members to prevent the intrusion of infrared radiation noise into the infrared sensor field of detection, and, in some aspects, a fan to control air flow within the field of detection. The result is less noise in the detection signals of the infrared sensor, and therefore a more sensitive and more reliable liquid detection method and liquid detection apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having capping control means which, if a dot number counted by a count means reaches or exceeds a second threshold value smaller than a first threshold value and if a waiting time measured by a measuring means reaches or exceeds a first predetermined waiting time, covers an ink discharge surface of an ink jet recording head with a cap, and wiping control means which, if the dot number counted by the count means exceeds the first threshold value, wipes the ink discharge surface of the ink jet recording head with a wiper, and, if the waiting time measured by the measuring means reaches or exceeds a second predetermined waiting time longer than the first predetermined waiting time during the capping, wipes the ink discharge surface of the ink jet recording head with the wiper.

Abstract: In a lens driving unit, when a first lens group holder 10 has received an impact from external in a use state in which first, second lens group holders 10, 11 are projecting, the first lens group holder 10 and the first nut 16 are released from their coupling by attractive force of a magnet 18. Then, the first lens group holder 10 is moved toward one side opposite to the subject side. Thus, with a cushioning member 20 brought into contact with a second lens group holder 11, the second lens group holder 11 and the second nut 17 are released from their coupling by attractive force of a magnet 19, and the first, second lens group holders 10, 11 are moved toward one side opposite to the subject side. As a result, the lens group holders 10, 11 instantaneously come into a collapsed state, by which the impact is relaxed so that damage of the lens barrel portion or the like is reduced, while a miniaturization of the lens driving unit in the optical axis direction can be achieved.

Abstract: A disk cartridge having a small size and a sufficient portability. The disk cartridge has a size of 58 mm (L1)×54 mm (L2)×4 mm (L3), a thickness less than 5 mm and a small area less than a square of 65 mm. The disk cartridge has a notch 10 formed on the insertion side and having a width of 2 mm (L6) and a length of 27.5 mm (i.e., a taper portion of 6 mm (L4)+a straight portion of 21.5 mm (L5)).

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method according to the present invention suppress a variation in the density of ink in a supply channel and a print head without the need for useless recovery operations, thus always providing very reliable high-grade images. The ink jet printing apparatus carries out printing using a print head for ejecting ink. The apparatus includes a scanning unit for causing the print head to scan across a printing medium, a measuring unit for measuring a time from an end of a preceding printing operation until a start of a current printing operation, and a determining unit for determining whether or not a result of measurement executed by the measuring unit exceeds a predetermined value. The scanning unit causes the print head to carry out at least one idle scan before the start of a printing operation depending on a result of determination made by the determining unit.

Abstract: An objective lens driving device includes: a movable section 8 for collecting light of a light source onto an optical disk 2; and a driving section for driving the movable section 8 (i) in a direction of a light axis of an objective lens 1 which direction is orthogonal to a storage surface of the optical disk 2 and (ii) in an in-plane direction orthogonal to the light axis, wherein the movable section 8 includes a protruding portion 4 which protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the light axis of the objective lens 1, and there is provided a stopper section 16 for restricting a movable range of the movable section 8 by coming into contact with the protruding portion 4 when the movable section 8 moves.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method uses an ink jet ejecting portion for ejecting ink on a printing material and a print quality improving liquid ejecting portion for ejecting print quality improving liquid on the printing material. The application mode of the print quality improving liquid is different depending on the printing mode in which a printing operation is carried out.

Abstract: To enable an ink jet printing apparatus to produce high quality images at all times from the initial stage of use until the end of its service life, the present invention provides an ink jet printing method for printing an image on a print medium by using a print head, in which the print head can eject ink supplied from an ink tank. The ink jet printing method includes an ink consumption detection step for detecting an amount of ink consumed in the ink tank, an ejection number detection step for detecting the number of ink ejections from the print head, an ink droplet volume calculation step for calculating an ink droplet volume based on the number of ink ejections from the print head and the ink consumption, and a control step for changing processing associated with a printing operation according to the ink droplet volume calculated by the calculation step.

Abstract: A host computer acquires information about an amount of remaining ink of a printer. In response to the acquired information about the amount of remaining ink, the host computer displays a message on a display screen so that a user can select whether an ink cartridge is to be replaced with a new one or the process is to return to a previous routine without replacing the ink cartridge.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing apparatus and suction recovery control method which can minimize reduction in throughput while maintaining a printhead in the most appropriate condition, and can reduce the amount of wasted ink. According to the suction recovery control method, a printing period of predetermined printing operation is timed, and the number of print dots formed by discharging ink from a printhead during the predetermined printing operation is counted. Based on the timed printing period and counted number of print dots, the number of print dots per unit time is calculated. Then based on the calculated number of print dots per unit time, timing of suction recovery operation is determined, and suction recovery operation of the printhead is performed according to the determined timing.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a carriage movable in a given direction with a recording head which is detachably mountable on it and provided with discharge ports for discharging liquid. The apparatus is arranged to include a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the carriage, the recording head, and at least one of the ink containers. This sensor is provided for the main body of the apparatus and positioned within the movable range of the carriage. With this arrangement, it is possible to simplify the structure required for detecting whether or not these vital elements for recording are installed without any auxiliary power-supply or memory means.

Abstract: In the present invention, the minimum necessary consumption of ink can recover the channel miss state of the plurality of nozzles. The present invention provides a recovery processing method of an ink jet printing apparatus for forming images using a print head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets. The method comprises a first step for detecting channel miss state of said plurality of nozzles, and a second step for executing at least one of different recovery processes depending on the channel miss states of said plurality of nozzles detected in the first step.