Abstract: There is provided an image-forming apparatus and method which forcibly removes moisture of ink forming a printed image, thereby enhancing the quality of a transferred image formed by transferring the print image. A printer device prints an image on a transfer film, with a sublimable dye ink, by an ink jet printing method. A dryer device vaporizes moisture of the sublimable dye ink of a printed image formed on the transfer film. A thermal press carries out a thermal pressing process on the dried transfer film and the print medium overlaid with each other, to thereby diffuse and fix the sublimable dye ink held in the transfer film on a surface of the print medium.

Abstract: This invention is related to a printer and printing method that prints on recording media with water soluble ink by using an ink jet printer. It is related to the printing method that can create printed images with supreme durability especially on recording media or stiff panels of different thickness with water absorbent surfaces, like wood boards, porous plastic boards, and the like, and on a recording media with water resistant surfaces, like plastic boards, glass or metal plates and the like, to which an emulsion adhesive layer is applied for a printing layer. The printer of the invention has features enabling movement past the print head of media of different thickness and formed as panels while the image surfaces of the panels are vertically properly spaced from the print head for printing.

Abstract: In an electrostatic recording apparatus, a recording medium is transported to a vaporized solvent supply unit where a vaporized organic solvent is given to the recording surface of the recording medium. Then, the recording medium is transported to an electrostatic recording head where an electrostatic latent image is formed on the recording medium. Next, the recording medium is transported to a development processing unit where the development process of the electrostatic latent image using a liquid toner is performed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for image formation using an intermediate transfer recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer recording medium and a method for image formation which can yield a thermally transferred image possessing excellent various fastness properties even under severe service conditions, can transfer a protective layer onto an image on the object without transfer failure in an accurate and simple manner, and, in addition, can yield a highly lightfast image which is not deteriorated upon exposure to ultraviolet light. The intermediate transfer recording medium comprises: a sheet substrate provided with a resin layer; and a transparent sheet provided with a receptive layer, the sheet substrate provided with the resin layer having been put on top of the transparent sheet provided with the receptive layer so that the transfer sheet faces the resin layer.

Abstract: For recording and erasure of data on a reversibly writable thermal recording material (5) with a thermal print head (2), the heating elements (8) of the thermal print head for recording are subjected to an energy pulse (W) which causes the recording material to be heated to a temperature (T1) at which it assumes a colored and/or opaque state. For erasure subsequent to the recording pulse (W), the heating elements (8) are subjected to an energy pulse train (E1).

Abstract: The thermal transfer line printer is provided with a controller for controlling a heating roller contact ON/OFF motor so that a heating roller contact ON/OFF mechanism is selectively operated at least in a weak pressure contact state that a heating roller is in contact with an intermediate transfer sheet with a weak pressure and in a strong pressure contact state that the heating roller is in contact with the intermediate transfer sheet with a strong pressure when retransfer is carried out.

Abstract: There is provided provide an image-forming apparatus that is capable of bringing a transfer film and a print medium into intimate contact without any gap therebetween, to thereby enhancing the quality of an image transferred from the film to the print medium. An image-forming apparatus uses a print medium, and a transfer film formed of a water-soluble resin material and having a smooth printing surface, to form a transferred image on the print medium. An image is printed on the printing surface of the transfer film, with sublimable dye ink. The printed transfer film and the print medium are overlaid such that the printing surface of the transfer film faces a transfer surface of the print medium. The printed transfer film and the print medium overlaid to each other are sandwiched and a thermal pressing process is performed on the printed transfer film and the print medium to cause the image printed on the transfer film to be diffused and fixed on the transfer surface.

Abstract: A printhead having a plurality of exposure elements (18) with improved non-uniformity correction. Spatial variance of the energy emitted by the exposure elements (18) is measured and used to establish spot size characteristics for each exposure element. A sensor (26) scans multiple points along the pixel area written by each exposure element (18)and measures a corresponding output power value at each point. The output power values are evaluated to determine a maximum output power value for the exposure element (18) and to obtain a spot size for the exposure element (18) based on full-width at half-power values. Both spot size data, which can thus be obtained and stored only once, and output power values are then used to correct for non-uniformity's between the exposure elements (18).

Abstract: An optical writing head is provided in which the deviation of a line of light spots on the photosensitive drum in a sub-scanning direction due to manufacturing dispersion of a rod-lens array is corrected. In the optical writing head comprising a self-scanning light-emitting element array and a rod-lens array for projecting light emitted from the self-scanning light-emitting element array onto the photosensitive drum, the timing of a start pulse supplied to the start pulse line every chip is regulated to correct the deviation of the line of light spots.

Abstract: An optical printer head is provided in which light exposure of one pixel may be increased. An optical printer head for exposing a photosensitive drum to form pixels thereon comprises a light-emitting element array including two or more lines of light-emitting points, and a rod-lens array for projecting light emitted from the light-emitting array onto the photosensitive drum to form a line of light spots. Each of the lines of light-emitting points has the same pitch in a main-scanning direction in parallel with an axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum, and the light-emitting points of respective lines of light-emitting points are arranged so as to be lined up in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A printhead for an image-forming apparatus, including a substrate, a row of light-emitting elements disposed on a first side of the substrate, and a cooling element disposed on a second side of the substrate opposite to the first side, wherein the substrate is thermally insulating and is provided with at least one thermally conductive track which extends through the substrate of the first side to the second side and is disposed at a predetermined place with respect to the light-emitting elements in order to conduct heat from the first side to the second side in such manner that the elements are kept substantially at a predetermined temperature during operation of the printhead.

Abstract: An image-recording device for a printing form (29), including an array of light sources (12) and a downstream microoptics (14), which generates a virtual intermediate image (18) of the light sources (12), which is distinguished by the microoptics (14) having a downstream optical system (10) of a convex mirror (26) and of a concave mirror (24) having a common center of curvature, a combination of the Offner type, which produces a real image (28) of the virtual intermediate images (18). By employing a monolithic structure (40) of the optical system (10) of a convex mirror (26) and of a concave mirror (24), a more compact, space-saving design is able to achieved. The image-recording device according to the present invention may be utilized to special advantage for a printing form (29) in a plate-exposure unit or in a print unit of a printing press.

Abstract: An imaging device array of the present invention effectively reduces the influence of ghost light and flare light. An optical writing unit using the imaging device array and an image forming apparatus using the optical writing unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polarization-direction-controlling element comprising a ½ wavelength plate disposed with a crystal optical axis tilted at substantially 45 degrees with respect to a polarization direction of a beam of light separated by a polarization-separating element with a part of a laser beam transmitted, is provided on the optical path of the laser beam, outputted from a plurality of semiconductor lasers, between an outlet for the laser beams at a fiber array and a polarization-separating element for separating the laser beam into two beams of light having mutually orthogonal polarization directions. A polarization-direction-controlling element capable of improving the quality of recorded images in an exposing-recording device using an element with polarization dependency and an exposure device capable of improving the quality of recorded images can also be obtained.

Abstract: An improved videoconferencing system and method are provided for connecting a host to a plurality of participants. Unlike other videoconferencing methods and systems, the videoconferencing system and method of these preferred embodiments allow each of the parties of a videoconference to benefit from the interaction between the host and the selected participant without limiting the number of participants that can join the videoconference. The host and participants can interact with the videoconferencing system by issuing voice commands or DTMF signals to a voice response unit or by using a computer to access the videoconferencing system directly or indirectly though a network such as the World Wide Web.

Abstract: A video code is embedded into the active video area of a stereo subfield. The video code is detected using an electronic circuit and used to maintain synchrony of the selection device with perspective images. Preferably, the video code is a predetermined sequence of colors.

Abstract: The present invention is composed of a computer positioned at a basal portion of an apparatus for conducting image processing and counseling processing; a first image display means for displaying a computer-processed image to a subject, mounted upright in the computer, a second image display means for displaying the computer-processed image to a counselor, mounted upright in the computer so that a display screen thereof is directed in a direction opposite the first display means; and photographic means, positioned near the first image display means, for photographing a subject directed in a direction of the first display means and feeding a facial image of the subject into the computer, thus making the apparatus small in scale and simple in composition, and suitable for a counselor to provide counseling on make-up to a subject.

Abstract: In order to clearly distinguish between a short adult and a child sitting in a booster seat, for example, on the passenger seat of a vehicle, a video sensor system (4) detects the head height of the person sitting in the passenger seat (1). A footwell sensor (5, 6) recognizes whether a person is touching the floor in front of the passenger seat (1) with one foot or both feet. An analyzer unit (7) classifies the person sitting in the passenger seat (1) as a child for whom it causes a passenger air bag (3) present to be deactivated if the video sensor system (4) registers a head height that is less than a predefined threshold (SH) and, at the same time, the footwell sensor (5,6) detects no foot contact with the floor in front of the passenger seat (1).

Abstract: A scanning laser microscope is configured to include: a scanner unit for performing two-dimensional scanning on a specimen using a light beam; a photodetector unit for detecting a light from the specimen; an A/D converter for converting an output signal from the photodetector unit into a digital signal; a CPU for controlling the scanner unit and generating image data of the specimen from the digital signal output from the A/D converter; a display unit for displaying the image data; an external device for outputting an external signal; and a data storage unit, connected to the external device, for recording the time when the external signal is output. With the configuration, the data stored in the data storage unit can be read by the CPU.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle zone monitoring apparatus that eliminates artificial structures based on shape identification using a reference image from an infrared image photographed by a photographing device provided in the vehicle, and detects remaining objects as physical bodies that move, such as pedestrians and animals. The vehicle zone monitoring apparatus that detects the physical bodies present in the vicinity of the vehicle from infrared images photographed by infrared cameras 2R and 2L provided on the vehicle comprises an object extracting device that extracts object images that emit infrared radiation from the infrared image and an artificial structure identifying device that identifies whether or not an object is an artificial structure by comparing the object image extracted by the object image extracting device to a reference image that comprises a straight line pattern or a right angle pattern.

Abstract: There is disclosed a camera system including: optical member a camera control circuit which sends a vibration correction data with a first data length to a lens apparatus during an image-taking operation and sends a vibration correction data with a second data length shorter than the first data length to the lens apparatus during an image-taking preparation operation; a lens control circuit which controls a vibration correction driving unit based on the vibration correction data with the first data length, converts the vibration correction data with the second data length into data equivalent to vibration correction data with the first data length and controls the vibration correction driving unit based on the converted vibration correction data.

Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a plurality of image-pickup modes to carry out an optimal controlling process in accordance with an image-pickup scene. With respect to mode selection settings, a switching can be made between a manual selection setting in which the user manually selects an image-pickup mode and an automatic selection setting which automatically discriminates each image-pickup scene, and selects a suitable image-pickup mode. In the case of the automatic selection setting in the mode selection setting, a limited value in comparison with a parameter value relating to the image quality set at the time of the manual selection setting is set as the parameter. As a result, even in the case of a misdiscrimination in an image-pickup scene, it is possible to provide a flawless image as the resulting image, and consequently to prevent serious degradation in the image quality.

Abstract: A calibration system activates all or a majority of a display with the same value, such as with the same color. The camera is pointed at the display, but doesn't have to precisely pick up the whole display. The computer compares the pixel information received in the camera photosensor, and can store an appropriate correction factor. Not only does the user not have to precisely position the camera, jitter due to use hand movement is not a problem since this smoothes out the color information from the various pixels on the display, and actually improves the calibration. A target can be provided on the display to indicate if the user is properly pointing the camera at the display.

Abstract: A method of processing image data includes providing an image capturing apparatus. A host device for receiving image data generated by the image capturing apparatus is provided. An image to be captured with the image capturing apparatus is targeted. First image data representing the targeted image is generated using the image capturing apparatus. The first image data has a first resolution size. A first tag to the first image data is attached for post processing in the host device. The first tag instructs the host device to convert the first image data from the first resolution size to a second resolution size. The apparatus is programmed to automatically attach the first tag to the first image data once the first image data is generated.

Abstract: A personal hand-held video device that permits the user to view a scene in real time and then manipulate the scene as desired for replay is provided. A memory sequencing scheme permits the viewer to manipulate automatically stored live action video while continuously storing further live action.

Abstract: A still video camera or apparatus which eliminates possible erasure in error of a picture image to be maintained and wherein a picture image recorded in an internal memory can be reproduced readily. The camera comprises image pickup means, recording means for recording a picture image signal obtained by the image pickup means into a record medium which may be an internal memory or a removable IC card, manually operable means, protect signal recording means operable in response to an operation of the manually operable means for recording into the record medium a protect signal representative of inhibition of erasure of a picture image signal recorded in the record medium, and controlling means for inhibiting erasure of a picture image signal at a portion of the record medium corresponding to the thus recorded protect signal.

Abstract: Image sensors and methods to construct and use image sensors are disclosed. In an example, an image sensor includes a pixel array, a data store to store data transmitted from the pixel array, an image signal processing unit to perform signal processing on the output of the data store to improve the performance of the image sensor, a defective pixel address storage unit to store an address of a defective pixel by using a fuse blowing technology, a controller for receiving address information of the defective pixels from the defective pixel address storage unit and controlling the operation of the image sensor, and a defective pixel compensation unit for receiving the address information of the defective pixels from the defective pixel address storage unit, substituting data of the defective pixels with data of normal pixels around the defective pixels, and providing the substituted data to the image signal processing unit.

Abstract: Bayer data is captured by a CCD and is store in a memory. Image data is read out from the memory in units of nine lines starting with (4n +1)-th (n: integer) line. YUV data of one pixel is formed based on 5×5 pixels in the read Bayer data. Thus, the YUV data is formed in units of five lines. The YUV data is enlarged by a pixel number converting unit.

Abstract: An apparatus such as an imager includes groups of sensors each of which includes subgroups of sensors. Subgroup select circuits are coupled to outputs from respective subgroups of sensors, and group select circuits are coupled to outputs from subgroup select circuits associated with respective ones of the groups. A bus is coupled to receive outputs from the group select circuits. A controller can provide control signals to the subgroup select circuits and the group select circuits to selectively enable the respective subgroup select circuits and group select circuits to pass signals from the sensors to the bus one sensor at a time.

Abstract: A small image pickup module according to the present invention comprises a substrate, a semiconductor device chip for image pickup, a lens-barrel body, an infrared light blocking filter, a lens, and a diaphragm, in order to attempt to make assembly work easy and to reduce costs. The substrate is made from a nonmetal including a ceramic or the like. The semiconductor device chip for image pickup includes a two-dimensional C-MOS image sensor or the like which is mounted on the substrate. The lens-barrel body is adhered, as a reference to the substrate so as to cover the semiconductor device chip for image pickup, by using a potting material to be used for COB (Chip On Board) mounting as an adhesive. The infrared light blocking filter, lens, and diaphragm are respectively mounted on the lens-barrel body.

Abstract: The mobile communication apparatus in this invention can select a method for measuring light intensity value based on an imaging field angle of a camera unit and a direction of a camera unit. The mobile communication apparatus can calculate a photography exposure to capture image data based on the selected method.

Abstract: An electronic shutter apparatus and light shuttering method for a still image capturing device are provided according to the invention. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a beam splitter positioned in an incoming light beam path and splitting the incoming light beam into a first light beam and a second light beam. The apparatus further includes first and second polarizing shutters respectively positioned in paths of the first and second light beams and capable of being electrically activated to transmit light and to respectively form first and second polarized light beams. A polarization orientation of light from the second polarizing shutter is in non-alignment with a polarization orientation of light from the first polarizing shutter. The apparatus further includes a beam combiner receiving and combining the first and second polarized light beams to form a substantially non-polarized resultant light beam. The resultant light beam is focused onto an image sensor.

Abstract: A light source device for use in an image capturing device such as an endoscope capable of reducing size and cost, and preventing heat generation at an illuminated position. An illumination unit of the endoscope includes LED light sources for emitting ultraviolet light, fluorescent fibers for generating red, green and blue light respectively by irradiation of the ultraviolet light, a sampling light source, and an excitation light source. Upon capturing a normal image, the ultraviolet light is emitted sequentially from the LED light sources to cause the fluorescent fibers to generate the red, green and blue light. The light of each color is passed through a light guide and irradiated on an observation area of a living body. Thereafter, reflected images attributable to the light of each color are captured with a CCD image capturing element of a charge multiplying type, and captured images are displayed on a monitor.

Abstract: The invention is based on a method for controlling a flashlight in connection with a digital image sensor without a mechanical shutter, wherein the exposure of the image sensor is performed in sub-areas, such as pixel rows or columns, or in another order, by using a rolling electronic shutter or the like. Thus, the exposure of said sub-areas of the image sensor takes place at least partly at different times. According to the invention, during the time of exposure of one image, i.e. substantially all the sub-areas of the image sensor, several discrete, successive flashes of the flashlight are used to achieve even exposure of the image area, which the flashes are timed in such a way that each single flash is triggered at a point of time which is common to the integration or exposure time of as many successive sub-areas of the image sensor as possible.

Abstract: An opto-electronic video compression system is disclosed including a lens element for transmitting light of an image and having one or more lenses, each lens having a predetermined focal length. A sensor array includes a first sensor for receiving focused light from the lens element and a second sensor for receiving defocused light from the lens element, wherein the first sensor includes X×Y pixels and samples the focused light at each of the X×Y pixels, and the second sensor includes X/2×Y/2 pixels and samples the defocused light at each of the X/2×Y/2 pixels. An electronic differencing element in communication with the first and second sensor is also included for differencing the coefficients of co-located pixels.

Abstract: The present invention is to suppress against image deterioration in data broadcast thereby providing display with quality. A video signal separated from a reception signal by a demultiplexer is outputted to a converter section through an MPEG decoder section. A CPU, when the video signal is a data broadcast and in a 480I signal format, controls a converter section to perform size-scaling on the video signal and convert it into a 480p signal format. A data processing section generates a video signal having a 480p signal format of a corresponding character or figure, under control of the CPU, on the basis of a data signal. A synthesizer section synthesizes together the two video signals processed by the converter section and data processing section and input the synthesized signal to a D/A converter. The D/A converter converts a input video signal into an analog signal and outputs it to a display unit.

Abstract: In an address generator, a spatial position after scan line interpolation necessary for scan line conversion, that is, an address, is generated from a synchronous signal and an enlargement ratio for setting a vertical enlargement ratio. A memory control unit generates a memory control signal for the read/write control of an FIFO memory, field memories, and one-line delay memories for scan line conversion so as to send line data necessary for resolution conversion to multipliers provided in the final stage. Further, in a coefficient generator, a coefficient to be sent to the multipliers is generated based on the signal output from the address generator. In the multipliers, sequentially scan converted signals are multiplied by coefficients, and the outputs of the multipliers are added together in an adder.

Abstract: A user views television programming while also receiving information related to specific occurrences during live events shortly after they occur. Some of these live events are associated with concurrently available television programming, such as a sporting contest that is associated with live a television program televising the contest. Example of such systems allow users to track progress of live events in which they are interested while viewing television programs that are not necessarily related to those events, and allow the users to directly access more detailed information about the events or television programs related to those events using an interactive interface on the users' television screens.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus and method for digital processing of television like signals and in particular the use of oversampling and interpolation to achieve improved resolution of the digital version of such signals as compared to a digital version obtained by the use of simple A/D conversion or processing at the desired sample rate. The preferred embodiment utilizes oversampling, interpolation and various filtering in recursive and nonrecursive form to provide output video signals wherein the artifacts and distortion of the video are kept to low levels.

Abstract: Device and method for processing a signal to a display, the device including a horizontal synchronizing signal detecting part for detecting a horizontal synchronizing signal from a picture signal, and a mode determining part for determining a mode of the picture signal by using a cyclic period of the horizontal synchronizing signal.

Abstract: A method for acquiring and storing schedule event information from a cyclical broadcast in an interactive television system comprising a Head end (20), transmission media (32) and a client device such as a set top box (28) and display TV (26). An request queue for particular Event Information Table (EIT) schedule sections (42) is created and serviced in optimal fashion by selecting a section from the EIT request queue with the least acquisition latency based on the current position in the EIT broadcast cycle, the set top box (28) processing speed and the sequence of EIT sections (42) requested.

Abstract: A television receiver 1 enables a decoder 5 to extract a closed caption signal of DTVCC method from a digital broadcasting signal received via an antenna 11. The closed caption signal of DTVCC method extracted here is analyzed and converted into the closed caption signal of Line 21 method. And in a DVE 6, the closed caption data of Line 21 method is inserted into the 21st scanning line of an analog picture signal converted by the decoder 5 for output.

Abstract: A video apparatus, for instance a video player, comprises a first digital source (e.g. a media player) of a first video digital stream and a video encoder (for generating analogue video signals based on said first video digital stream. The video apparatus also has an input for receiving first analogue video signals comprising synchronization signals.

Abstract: An environment-compliant image display system, image processing method and information storage medium which can reproduce the same colors at different locations by absorbing any difference in the visual environment. In an individual environment, an image data is generated by absorbing any difference between a reference environment and the individual visual environment by a colored light information processing section 140, based on X, Y and Z values of an image in an image display area measured by a colored light sensor 60 as well as X, Y and Z values measured in the reference environment. A profile for projector input/output is corrected by a profile managing section 130 and then an image is projected by using an L/V drive section 190.

Abstract: A method and system of noise filtering is provided. The pixels of a first filter mask are separated into groups based on luminance. . . . The sizes of each group is determined and a largest group is selected. The distance of each group of pixels from the largest group is also calculated. Pixels in groups that are small compared to the largest group and far from the largest group are tagged as noisy. After tagging the noisy pixels, additional filtering can be applied to the pixels of first filter mask without degradation from the tagged pixels.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic circuit 100 and method for enhancing an image, in particular used in TV-applications. The known circuit comprises a N-dimensional image enhancement filter 130 for receiving a low-pass-filtered image signal and at least one also—low-pass-filtered—further image signal; all image signals representing different pixels of said image. An intermediate signal output from said filter 130 is combined with a high-frequency component of said image signal in order to generate an enhanced image output signal. It is the object of the invention to improve an electronic circuit 100 and method for enhancing an image such that the costs for their implementation are reduced without loss of quality in the output image signal.

Abstract: A chroma-decoder 1 has two SRCs 17 and 21. The first SRC 17 performs down-conversion, changing the sampling rate of a composite video signal sampled with a system clock signal Cs to the sampling rate (14.3 MHz) of an NTSC signal. The signal generated by the SRC 17 is output in synchronism with the system clock signal Cs. The signal is then divided into a luminance signal Y and a color-difference signal C, which are subjected to chroma decoding. The second SRC 21 performs down-conversion, changing the sampling rate of the luminance signal and color-difference signal of the NTSC signal to the sampling rate (13.5 MHz) of an ITU-R601 standard.

Abstract: A television signal transmitter includes a mixer in which an intermediate-frequency television signal is frequency-converted into a television signal on a channel used for transmission in a predetermined frequency range, a bandpass filter to which the television signal on the channel used for transmission is input and the passband center frequency of which is changed by an applied control voltage, a memory which stores, in the form of digital data, voltages for setting the passband center frequency to equal the frequencies of a plurality of channels in the frequency range, and a D/A converter which converts the digital data into each analog voltage. The analog voltage, at which the passband center frequency equals the frequency of the channel used for transmission, is applied as the control voltage to the bandpass filter.

Abstract: An outdoor-antenna digital television receiver system has an electrically controlled remote tuner located close to the antenna. In response to a remote control signal, the remote tuner selects a particular radio-frequency digital television signal to be received, converts that RF DTV signal to an intermediate-frequency digital television signal of prescribed carrier frequency, and drives a downlead transmission line, preferably a coaxial cable. Indoors, the downlead transmission line is provided with an echo-free termination This echo-free termination may be in a “set-top” box that includes a frequency up-conveter that converts the IF DTV signal back to an RF DTV signal for reception by a conventional digital television receiver. Alternatively, the echo-free termination may be in a special DTV receiver without a local tuner.

Abstract: The field of view of a video camera is set to include electric appliances such as a refrigerator, TV set, air conditioner and lamp installed within a room. When the user operates a remote controller to emit a visible laser beam toward a controlable range including these electric appliances set within this field of view, and designate a certain one of the appliances by the resulting pointer within the controlable range, the video camera for extracting only the visible laser beam of a wave length picks up this pointer, and a control box detects the position of the pointer within the controlable range from the output of the camera so that the appliance designated by this pointer can be detected and remotely controlled by use of the remote controller.