Abstract: A communication terminal includes a base and a wireless handset connected to the base with a wireless connection. In the communication terminal, an audio communication channel of interactive audiovisual communication or audio communication can be transferred between the base and the wireless handset. The communication terminal performs interactive audiovisual communication or audio communication by IP telephony over an IP network. The base includes a base handset serving as an audio inputting and outputting unit and a camera serving as an image inputting and outputting unit, where both units are used for interactive audiovisual communication. The wireless handset includes a microphone, a speaker, and a receiver, where these components constituting an audio inputting and outputting unit.

Abstract: A peripheral unit is controlled by means of a driver in another apparatus, where an instruction sent to the peripheral unit contains both data produced by the driver and data produced by another application in the other apparatus. This is done by subjecting the instruction received from the other apparatus to processing in which the data produced by the other application is deleted.

Abstract: An existing printer arranged to print data from a PC (personal computer) is used as the printer unit of a facsimile apparatus. The PC uses a printer driver dedicated to an existing printer (capable of performing the same processing as the printer unit of the facsimile apparatus) as a module, serving as application software for a facsimile-apparatus control unit, for printing the data from the PC. When printing data from the PC, a command uniquely directed to the facsimile apparatus is added to the printing data generated by the PC's printer driver, and the resultant data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus. Upon receipt of the transmitted data, the facsimile apparatus removes the added command, thus restoring the printing data generated by the printer driver, and transmits the restored data to the printer unit to perform printing.

Abstract: An existing printer arranged to print data from a PC (personal computer) is used as the printer unit of a facsimile apparatus. The PC uses a printer driver dedicated to an existing printer (capable of performing the same processing as the printer unit of the facsimile apparatus) as a module, serving as application software for a facsimile-apparatus control unit, for printing the data from the PC. When printing data from the PC, a command uniquely directed to the facsimile apparatus is added to the printing data generated by the PC's printer driver, and the resultant data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus. Upon receipt of the transmitted data, the facsimile apparatus removes the added command, thus restoring the printing data generated by the printer driver, and transmits the restored data to the printer unit to perform printing.

Abstract: A communication terminal includes a base and a wireless handset connected to the base with a wireless connection. In the communication terminal, an audio communication channel of interactive audiovisual communication or audio communication can be transferred between the base and the wireless handset. The communication terminal performs interactive audiovisual communication or audio communication by IP telephony over an IP network. The base includes a base handset serving as an audio inputting and outputting unit and a camera serving as an image inputting and outputting unit, where both units are used for interactive audiovisual communication. The wireless handset includes a microphone, a speaker, and a receiver, where these components constituting an audio inputting and outputting unit.

Abstract: Printer performs accurate ink-discharge status detection, dependent upon the type of a printhead attached to the printer, the print mode and the color of ink change, and a facsimile apparatus using the printer. Each time printing based on received facsimile image data for one page of print sheet has been completed, the printhead is moved to a position close to a photosensor, and test ink discharge is performed. At this time, the type of printhead is determined, and whether or not the color printhead is in normally-dischargeable status is judged by comparing a pulsewidth obtained from output from the photosensor with a threshold value selected in accordance with the discrimination result. Otherwise, one of a plurality of threshold values according to print modes and ink colors is read from a ROM, and test ink discharge is performed with respect to corresponding color ink. The result of the discharge is compared with the threshold value.

Abstract: A plurality of ejection openings of an ink-jet head are divided into four blocks and ink ejection is performed for each block. An output of a photosensor which depends upon a number of ejected ink droplets interrupting light at a photosensor is sampled. On a basis of the sensor output, judgement is made whether ejection failure is present of the relevant block. This in ejection openings process is performed sequentially for other blocks. By this, even when a given rate of error is present in detecting precision of the photosensor, since overall number of ejection openings for which the detection is made is smaller, the number of faulty ejection openings which cannot be detected can be made smaller.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by using an ink jet recording head for discharging ink includes a conveying device for conveying the recording medium, the conveying device defining a conveyance path through which the recording medium is conveyed, a carriage for reciprocally moving the ink jet recording head across the conveyance path, a recovery device for recovering and/or for maintaining a discharge function of the ink jet recording head, and an ink detecting device for detecting ink discharged from the ink jet recording head, wherein the conveyance path is disposed between the recovery device and the ink detecting device.

Abstract: In an ink-jet printing apparatus employing an ejection failure detecting construction for optically detecting the number of ink droplets interrupting a light path, when a power source for an apparatus is turned on, a home position is detected. A carriage is shifted from this point at a constant speed, and ink ejection is performed sequentially within zones P1 to P2 where a photosensor is present. Then, among variations of output of the photosensor by sequential ink ejection, the number of steps S of a motor up to a timing where the maximum output Vmax is output. In a subsequent process for detecting ejection failure, ejection is performed at this position.

Abstract: A facsimile section receives and decodes data transmitted through a communication line, converts the received data into dot image data line by line, and further performs resolution conversion of the data using a resolution converter. The data subjected to the resolution conversion is transferred to a printer section through a Centronics interface. When data of an entire line is all white, a white-skip command is transferred for that line. The printer section performs horizontal/vertical conversion of the transferred dot image data and data corresponding to the transferred white-skip command using a horizontal/-vertical converter, the converted data being stored in a scan buffer. When the scan buffer is full of the data for one scan, a recording head is driven to record an image.

Abstract: Printer performs accurate ink-discharge status detection, dependent upon the type of a printhead attached to the printer, the print mode and the color of ink change, and a facsimile apparatus using the printer. Each time printing based on received facsimile image data for one page of print sheet has been completed, the printhead is moved to a position close to a photosensor, and test ink discharge is performed. At this time, the type of printhead is determined, and whether or not the color printhead is in normally-dischargeable status is judged by comparing a pulsewidth obtained from output from the photosensor with a threshold value selected in accordance with the discrimination result. Otherwise, one of a plurality of threshold values according to print modes and ink colors is read from a ROM, and test ink discharge is performed with respect to corresponding color ink. The result of the discharge is compared with the threshold value.

Abstract: A printer which can perform color printing by using a plurality of color ink, and if some color ink is exhausted, prevents wasteful consumption of other color ink, and a facsimile apparatus, using the printer, which enables to confirm whether or not printing based on received facsimile image data using ink has been normally performed. In a case where printing is performed based on print data from an external computer, printhead 5 is moved to a position opposite to photosensor 8, and test ink discharge is performed with regard to all the plurality of color ink prior to print operation. If it is judged that even one of the plurality of color ink is exhausted, print operation is not performed. In case of printing based on facsimile reception image data, test ink discharge is performed after the print operation. If it is judged that ink is exhausted, received image data is stored into an image memory.

Abstract: A wheel for maintaining a constant distance between an ink discharge plane of a recording head and a recording sheet is provided on a carriage such that it is upstream of the recording head as viewed in the direction of movement of the recording head in a unidirectional print mode. A sensor monitors whether the recording sheet is moved off a contact of a feed roller which feeds the recording sheet to a record position and a pinch roller. Before a trailing edge of the recording sheet is moved off the contact of the feed roller and the pinch roller, bilateral recording is conducted to print in each of forward movement and backward movement of the carriage. When the sensor detects that the trailing edge of the recording sheet has been moved off the contact of the feed roller and the pinch roller, the recording is switched to unilateral printing. The print range at the trailing edge of the recording medium is thus extended.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus comprises a facsimile unit for sending data corresponding to image data that has been received, and a printer unit for performing image recording by discharging ink droplets in accordance with data sent from the facsimile unit. A first CPU for the control of the facsimile unit sends, after one page of image data, data in a predetermined pattern and further a paper exhausting command to the printer. A second CPU of the printer unit performs a paper exhausting operation upon receiving the paper exhausting command, after recording of the predetermined pattern, and upon conveying the recording paper up to a predetermined position, sends a signal for starting detection of the predetermined pattern to the first CPU. The first CPU thereby receives a detection signal from a photo sensor. The second CPU further conveys the recording paper, and at a timing of exhausting out of the apparatus, sends a signal for the detection end of the predetermined pattern to the first CPU.

Abstract: A standard print mode or a thinning print mode can be selected at will by an input from an operation panel to record image data received by a receiving means section in a selected print mode using an ink jet recording head, And after one page of image recording, a footer mark is recorded on the trailing portion of the recording paper, and sensed by a photo sensor to determine whether or not the ink is present. This footer mark is recorded in the standard print mode without regard to the selected print mode. Thereby, the false detection of the predetermined image recorded on the recording medium, after a predefined amount of image data has been recorded, can be prevented.

Abstract: Main scanning is performed by reciprocating a recording head having plural of recording elements. After the main scanning is completed, sub-scanning is performed by conveying the recording paper for a distance corresponding to the recording width of the recording head to record an image corresponding to received image data on the recording paper. At this time, the minimum transmission time for data is set in correspondence with the recording speed of the set recording mode. For example, a decision is made as to whether a one-direction recording mode or a bidirectional recording mode is set, and when the one-direction recording mode is set, the minimum transmission time for data is set to a time longer than that set in the bidirectional recording mode. This prevents overflow of memory for storing the received image data.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing the recording an image on a recording medium by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to the recording medium has ink sheet a conveyance unit for conveying the ink sheet, a recording medium conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium, a recording unit for recording an image on the recording medium by activating the ink sheet, a counting unit for counting the black dot numbers in the current line, a timing unit for measuring the elapsed time since the image recording in the last line by the recording unit, and a control unit for controlling the ink sheet to be conveyed for a predetermined length without conveying the recording medium in accordance with the timing value of the timing unit and the counting value of the counting unit subsequent to the current line recording by the recording, thus making it possible to separate the ink sheet and recording sheet more reliably to maintain a high recording quality.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus having a thermal transfer type printer for recording images based on received information on recording medium using an ink supplied by an ink sheet. The apparatus also has a memory device for storing print data containing data of a predetermined number of lines to be printed, on the basis of the speed of conversion of received information into dot data into independent line dot data and the speed of printing of one line dot data, a feeding mechanism for causing relative motion between the recording paper and the ink ribbon, and a data output device for outputting print data read from the memory device on a line by line basis at a constant time interval between successive lines and for delivering the output print data to the thermal transfer printer.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing the recording of an image on a recording medium by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to the recording medium has an ink sheet, a conveyance unit for conveying the ink sheet, a recording medium conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium, a recording unit for recording an image on the recording medium by activating the ink sheet, a counting unit for counting the black dot numbers in the current line, a timing unit for measuring the elapsed time since the image recording in the last line by the recording unit, and a control unit for controlling the ink sheet to be conveyed for a predetermined length without conveying the recording medium in accordance with the timing value of the timing unit and the counting value of the counting unit subsequent to the current line recording by the recording, thus making it possible to separate the ink sheet and recording sheet more reliably to maintain a high recording quality.