Abstract: In order to verify a magnetic card and so on, the principle: an amorphous alloy material generates a magnetic pulse due to the Barkhausen effect at a predetermined magnetic level, is used. In this connection, a method for verifying a replaceable coloring agent cartridge loaded in a printer includes providing an amorphous magnetic member on a genuine coloring agent cartridge loaded in a main body; providing, in the main body, an exciting coil for exciting the amorphous magnetic member in an AC magnetic field and a detecting coil for detecting the AC magnetic field passing through the amorphous magnetic member; and verifying the coloring agent cartridge based on whether or not a magnetic pulse which is generated at a predetermined level of the AC magnetic field and which is superimposed on a detection signal of the detecting coil is generated at a predetermined phase position in a period of the AC magnetic field.

Abstract: A sensor includes an ink drop sensing element integral to a printed circuit board. Sensing circuitry is coupled to the printed circuit board and may be configured to receive electrical signals from the sensing element. A method of manufacturing such an ink drop sensor and a printing mechanism having such an ink drop sensor are also provided.

Abstract: A recovery method for an ink jet printing apparatus is provided which makes it possible to use as much ink in the ink tank as possible and minimize the residual ink volume at time of a tank replacement. The recovery method for keeping an ejection performance of the print head in appropriate condition by performing a recovery operation of discharging ink from the print head, therefore, includes the steps of: detecting a residual ink volume in the ink tank; and controlling a discharge ink volume to be discharged by the recovery operation when the residual ink volume detected by the residual ink volume detection step is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A fluid ejection cartridge includes an ejector head having at least one nozzle and a fluid reservoir containing an ejectable fluid, fluidically coupled with the at least one nozzle. The fluid ejection cartridge has a tape that includes a thermoplastic polymer film in contact with and releasably bonded to the nozzles.

Abstract: A waste ink accumulation system in an ink jet printer includes a rotatable body having an ink-collecting surface and a plurality of projections extending from the ink-collecting surface. An actuating mechanism rotates the body.

Abstract: A printing method drives each of the n(j) number of nozzles to enable the nozzle to form dots intermittently at a rate of one in m×q dot positions on the j-th main scan line during one main scan, where m is an integer of 1 or more, and q is an integer of 2 or more, to thereby complete dot formation on the j-th main scan line with the n(j) number of nozzles during n(j) number of main scans. The printing method attains high recording speed and high image quality, comparing to cases when all main scan lines are recorded using a fixed number of nozzles.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a printing method define an achromatic region and a chromatic region of image data. The image data is defined as an achromatic region when a difference between a maximum and a minimum values among R, G, B values corresponds to 1% to 10% of a range of values that R, G, B values are obtainable. In the achromatic region, the number of black and its derivative ink dots to be ejected per one pixel is 4 dots at the maximum. A chromatic region is defined as an area where does not satisfy the requirements of the achromatic region. In the chromatic region, the number of black and its derivative ink dots to be ejected per one pixel is 1 dots at the maximum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for the acoustic ejection of fluid droplets from each of a plurality of fluid-containing reservoirs. The droplets are ejected toward sites on a substrate surface for deposition thereon. The device is comprised of: a plurality of reservoirs each adapted to contain a fluid; an ejector comprising a means for generating acoustic radiation and a means for focusing the generated acoustic radiation so as to eject fluid droplets from the reservoir fluids; and a means for positioning the ejector in acoustically coupled relationship to each of the reservoirs. The invention is useful in a number of contexts, particularly in the preparation of biomolecular arrays.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a carrier having a fluid manifold defined therein, and a plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier and including a first nozzle set and a second nozzle set. The fluid manifold includes a first chamber and a second chamber such that the first nozzle set of each of the printhead dies communicates with the first chamber of the fluid manifold and the second nozzle set of each of the printhead dies communicates with the second chamber of the fluid manifold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structure comprising a sequence of elements (t) for sending or receiving a signal along an axis. Two successive elements (t) along the direction of the axis are offset with respect to each other along the direction perpendicular to the axis. The structure comprises at least two layers of material (K1, K2) deposited on a reception substrate (S1) using the layer transfer technique.

Abstract: A substrate for use of an ink jet recording head comprises a plurality of heat generating resistive members formed on the substrate, a wiring pattern formed to be electrically connected with the heat generating resistive members, and a protection film formed on the heat generating resistive members and the wiring pattern to protect them from ink, and then, a vertically turn-up wiring structure is formed with an insulation film formed on the substrate, and one side of wiring connected with the heat generating resistive members is arranged immediately below the heat generating resistive members in a width and a length larger than those of heat generating resistive members with the insulation film between them. For this substrate, the heat generating resistive members and the wiring positioned immediately below them are formed by polysilicon having impurities in different densities.

Abstract: This specification discloses a structure of an inkjet printhead chip and the method for making the same. A silicon substrate installed with a thermal element is covered with a photoresist layer or polymer material as a barrier layer. A sandblasting process is employed to make a slot on the silicon substrate as an ink channel. A photolithographic process is used to form a pattern on the barrier layer, which is then etched to form many ink cavities in fluid communications with the ink channel and pillars between the ink chambers. Finally, the barrier layer is attached onto a polymer nozzle plate by lamination. The pillars are formed between the ink cavities and the ink channel so that the polymer does not sink at the ink cavities or around the nozzles during lamination, thus ensuring the correction ejection direction of the nozzles.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead chip is installed at the nose of an ink cartridge. Its structure includes a silicon substrate, a barrier layer, and a nozzle plate. The nozzle plate is formed with two parallel rows of inkjet nozzles. Two rows of ink channels roughly parallel to the inkjet nozzles and two rows of independent control circuits are provided among the silicon substrate, the barrier layer and the nozzle plate. The ink channels are disposed between the two rows of nozzles. The control circuits are configured to be on the outer sides of the two rows of nozzles. Using this structure of ink channels and control circuits, the inkjet printhead chip allows a larger area for attaching the nozzle plate. A flexible printed circuit is used to send external control signals from both sides of the chip to the control circuits, starting ink firing elements to eject ink and form patterns or texts on a nearby medium.

Abstract: An ink-jet head comprising:

Abstract: There is provided an inkjet printing head carrying a sub-tank from which accumulated gases can be easily discharged. The inkjet printing head includes a sub-tank which has a movable section constituted by a deformable film sheet, a spring for generating a negative pressure, and a supply/discharge channel for supplying ink and discharging accumulated gases. The sub-tank is intermittently supplied with ink from a main tank and reserving the ink. The supply/discharge channel is provided in a position where it does not interfere with the movable section and the spring, e.g., in a frame of the sub-tank. The supply/discharge channel is preferably formed in an upper part of the sub-tank, e.g., a ceiling section of the sub-tank.

Abstract: An ink cartridge (3) including an ink reservoir portion having a porous member (37) for storing ink and an ink supply portion (39) has an ink inducing element (47) disposed between the ink reservoir portion and the ink supply portion (39). The ink inducing element (47) is made of bundle of fibers in which each fiber is disposed in parallel to the direction of ink supplying from the ink reservoir to the ink supply portion (39), and one end of the ink inducing element (47) is press-touched to the porous member (37).

Abstract: A titanium dioxide slurry for ink jet ink, which comprises water and surface-treated titanium dioxide particles dispersed in the water, the surface treatment being a treatment with an inorganic phosphoric acid compound. Also disclosed is an ink comprising the titanium dioxide slurry.

Abstract: The printer moves printing paper (12) toward an ejecting direction and a feeding direction in order to clean a notched rollers (28). Next, the printer moves the printing paper (12) toward the feeding direction under conditions where a cutting paper holder (60) is holding the tip portion of the printing paper (12) in order to clean the cutting paper holder (60). Next, the printer cuts off the tip portion of the printing paper (12) in a long rectangular shape in order to clean a cutting edge (54) of a cutter (50). Thereby, it is possible to clean the printer (ink type recording device) without a user's action.

Abstract: There are provided a conveying device capable of detecting a driving state of a conveying member with a simplified structure not requiring an encoder and the like, and an image-recording apparatus having the conveying device. Detecting means for detecting a surface aspect of a placing section of the conveying member is provided so as to recognize an operating state of the conveying member corresponding to the result detected by the detecting means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet conveying method in use of a conveyance belt formed with a plurality of electrodes for attracting a sheet with electrostatic force. The electrodes are applied with a voltage changed along with the lapse of time for generating attraction force, and the integral value of voltage applied to one electrode has a polarity different from that of the integral value of voltage applied to another adjacent electrode.

Abstract: A printer of the present invention includes a first and a second tray each being movable between a full-closed position and an open position. When the operator moves the first tray in the opening direction, the first tray forces the second tray located on the locus of movement of the first tray in the opening direction, uncovering a first and a second opening at the same time. When the operator moves the second tray in the closing direction, the second tray forces the first tray located on the locus of movement of the first tray in the closing direction, covering the two openings at the same time. The operator can therefore move the two trays by a single action.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum, an optical scanning mechanism, a development mechanism, an intermediate transfer member, movement detecting mechanisms, and a controller. The optical scanning mechanism deflects a laser light beam to form a latent image on a photosensitive surface of the drum. The development mechanism contains a plurality of different color toners and develops the latent image into a color toner image. The intermediate transfer member is rotated in synchronism with a rotation of the drum and receives the color toner image multiple times to form thereon a composite color toner image including multiple images of the different color toners overlaying one to another. The movement detecting mechanisms detect respective movements of the drum and the intermediate transfer belt. The controller controls respective rotations of the drum and the intermediate transfer belt with results of respective detection performed by the plurality of movement detecting mechanisms.

Abstract: A color image formation apparatus of this invention includes a density adjustment sensor which detects a density adjustment mark arranged at a position at which a detection area of the density adjustment sensor does not overlap with detection areas of alignment sensors in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of an endless belt and transferred onto the endless belt. Detection of the alignment mark by the alignment sensors and detection of the density adjustment mark by the density adjustment sensor can be performed in parallel.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus having a plurality of optical systems each simultaneously scanning two stations by one polygon mirror to minimize conveyance-directional color misregistration of an intermediate transferring belt. An electrophotographic color laser printer connected with a host computer is provided with a scanner unit common to first and second stations, a scanner unit common to third and fourth stations, and a registration-position detector for reading an image pattern formed on an intermediate transferring belt and detecting a registration position of an image of a laser beam. The plane phase of the polygon mirror in the first and second stations is controlled and central positions of image patterns by two laser beams are detected to correct the misregistration between these central positions.

Abstract: A light source unit is provided with light source parts, a fixable member and a positioning member. Each light source part comprises a submount receiving a bare chip of a laser diode thereon and a collimator lens collimating laser beam emitted from the bare chip of the laser diode for defining the emitting direction. The plurality of light source parts are directly fixed to the fixable member consisting of a member having excellent thermal conductivity for quickly transmitting generated heat to a cooling unit and radiating the same and having a wiring function for supplying current to the light source parts. The positioning member has lens holes on prescribed positions so that the collimator lenses of the light source parts are fit therein for positioning the light source parts. Thus, a light source unit, having a plurality of channels, improving the degree of integration and precision of laser diodes and an image recorder employing the same can be provided.

Abstract: An exposure device has a plurality of light emitting units for emitting laser beams based on image signals. These laser beams emitted from the respective light emitting units are combined through respective galvanomirrors and half mirrors and conducted through a cylindrical lens to a polygon mirror. The respective combined beams reflected on the polygon mirror are illuminated onto an exposure light position on the surface of a photosensitive drum through two f&thgr; lenses and a mirror. At this time, through the rotation of the polygon mirror, the respective laser beams are deflected in a main scanning direction and, through the rotation of the photosensitive drum, they are deflected in a sub-scanning direction to allow the surface of the photosensitive drum to be scanned with the exposure beams.

Abstract: A communications device such as a portable videophone includes a video camera and monitor disposed on a frame. An object selector is operatively linked to the monitor for selecting an object in an image displayed on the monitor. An image tracker is operatively coupled to the object selector and the camera for retaining an image of the selected object encoded in a video signal from the camera during subsequent relative motion of the object and the camera.

Abstract: Camera driven virtual workspace management is disclosed. A digital camera captures an input video stream comprising images of a surrounding environment limited by a field of view of the camera. The input video stream is processed by a handheld computer coupled to the camera. Parameters that define a partial view of a virtual workspace are redefined based upon motion analysis of the input video stream performed by the handheld computer during the processing.

Abstract: A mobile videophone is capable of transmitting and receiving information in mobile telecommunications systems, particularly cellular radio networks. The videophone includes a display panel on which an image is formed by selectively activating a matrix or array of electrodes; and a video camera located immediately behind the display panel. The matrix or array of electrodes are selectively activated during operating of the video camera to create relatively opaque portions of the display panel so as to create an image on the panel and to maintain a relatively transparent portion of the display panel immediately in front of the camera so as to improve the picking up of images by the camera through the display panel.

Abstract: Portable virtual reality is disclosed. A digital camera captures an input video stream comprising video frames that carry information about a surrounding environment limited by a field of view of the camera. The input video stream is processed by a handheld computer coupled to the camera. Parameters that define a rendered scene of a virtual environment are adjusted based upon motion parameters extracted from the input video stream by the handheld computer during the processing.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing the recordings of two video cameras which are operated in parallel for the three-dimensional representation of an image sequence, in particular, of two digitally recording video recorders, a light signal being faded into the image area of the two cameras and simultaneously recorded by both cameras; and the playback of the recordings being synchronized using the recorded signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to video inspection apparatus (10) for inspecting a pipeline. The apparatus (10) has first (25) and second (29) cables windable respectively in first and second reels on a drum rotatably mounted on a support. A first camera (15) is connected at one end of the first cable (25). A second camera (16) is connected at one end of the second cable (29). The first (25) and second (29) cables can each be manually unwound respectively from the first and second reels in order to advance the first (15) or the second (16) cameras along the inspected pipeline. The first (25) and second (29) cables are connectable to a video display (11) so that images recorded by the first (15) and second (16) cameras can be displayed by the video display (11). The first (25) and second (29) cables are connectable to a power source (14) so that electrical power can be relayed to the first (15) and second (16) cameras.

Abstract: To provide an inspecting apparatus of a printed state or the like in a flexible printed circuit board which requires no skill, generates no error by oversight and further improves an operation efficiency, a substrate feeding out unit (2), a substrate inverting unit (4), a camera inspecting unit (5), a substrate inverting unit (9) and a defect point marking unit (10) for a printed state or the like are sequentially placed on working tables (1, 1) along a moving direction of a flexible printed circuit board, in this order, the substrate inverting units (4, 9) respectively invert the flexible printed circuit board, the camera inspecting unit (5) detects a print defect point by means of a camera (8), and the defect point marking unit (10) applies a marking to the print defect point by a laser marker (13) on the basis of a signal output from the camera inspecting unit (5).

Abstract: A CCD camera takes rearview images of a vehicle so as to input them into a superposing image displaying device, and a vehicle index database stores a vehicle index indicating a vehicles's protruding region such as a spare tire for displaying the protruding region over a rear end of a rear reference position such as a bumper of the vehicle in the rearview image. A superposed image displaying device superposes the vehicle index stored in the vehicle index database and the rearview image taken by the CCD camera so as to provide a monitoring device. Thus, a rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle for displaying the rearview image of the vehicle and information of the protruding region for occupants in the vehicle can be provided.

Abstract: A wireless microphone system for a vehicle mounted surveillance system including an audio/video recorder, which may be automatically activated. Upon activation by the surveillance system, an ultrasonic transmitter generates an ultrasonic signal which is received by a portable wireless microphone to activate a radio transmitter. The radio transmitter generates a radio signal including audio information which is received by the surveillance system and recorded.

Abstract: System and method for adjusting the position of a displayed image of a person. The system comprises a control unit that receives a sequence of images and processes the received images to determine whether the person is positioned at the border of the received images to be displayed. If so positioned, the control unit generates control signals to control the position of an optical device providing the sequence of images so that the person is positioned entirely within the image.

Abstract: A digital still camera capable of telecommunication includes a device which converts an optical image into a digital electromagnetic signal indicative of a still image, a receiver which receives an electromagnetic signal generated in accordance with a wireless telephone system, a modifying unit which modifies the electromagnetic signal into a digital electronic signal indicative of a still image, and for a device which alternatively displays a still image on the basis of the digital electronic signal from the converting device or from the modifying unit

Abstract: The invention easily and surely enhances color reproducibility of a color imaging unit. The color imaging unit of the invention includes a color image sensor which has a plurality of types of light receiving parts having different spectral sensitivity characteristics from one another and detecting a visible image of a photographic subject formed by a photographic optical system, and it also includes an optical unit which is inserted into an optical flux incident on the color image sensor and reduces the intensity of light with a specific wavelength within a visible range of the optical flux. If an appropriate specific wavelength is selected, the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the color imaging unit approximate the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the human eye. In other words, this color imaging unit achieves high color reproducibility.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing signals representative of an image of a scene, including the following steps: providing an image sensor onto which the image is projected, the image sensor having a diagonal pixel pattern; producing frame pairs as follows: during one frame of a frame pair, outputting pixel values alternately from successive adjacent line pairs of the sensor, starting at an odd numbered line, and, during the other frame of a frame pair, outputting pixel values alternately from successive adjacent line pairs of the sensor, starting at an even numbered line.

Abstract: The digital camera comprises a photoelectric conversion part configured to perform a photoelectric conversion of a field image and output a first image signal, a first processing part configured to perform a first signal processing of the image signal and output a second image signal, an encoding part configured to encode the second image signal and output a third image signal, a second processing part configured to perform a second signal processing to the second image signal and output a fourth image signal, a first memory configured to memorize a customer ID information, a code key used in the encoding part, and the third image signal, and a second memory configured to memorize the fourth image signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a photographing device that comprises a plurality of light-receiving elements (8a to 8h), a plurality of vertical transfer registers (7a, 7b), a first drive-voltage applying electrode (3a, 3b), and a second drive-voltage applying electrode (1 to 2c). The light-receiving elements (8a to 8h) are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The vertical transfer registers (7a, 7b) transfers the electric charges accumulated in the light-receiving elements in the vertical direction. The first drive-voltage applying electrode (3a, 3b) are arranged parallel to the vertical transfer registers, for applying a drive voltage to a specific one of the vertical transfer registers. The second drive-voltage applying electrode (1 to 2c) is arranged perpendicular to the vertical transfer registers, for applying a second drive voltage to the vertical transfer registers at the same time.

Abstract: An apparatus which processes a digital image and a method therefor which can reduce an error when calculating an output value obtained by interpolating pixel values of the input digital image. The apparatus includes an interpolation processing unit which interpolates an input digital image, and a controller which measures an interpolation interval of pixel values of the digital image, calculates a coefficient by substituting the interpolation interval for a coefficient equation stored in a register, and calculates an interpolation node for the digital image by substituting the coefficient and an output pixel position value of the digital image for an interpolation node calculation equation. The controller controls the interpolation processing unit so as to interpolate the digital image to the interpolation node. As a result, it is possible to reduce an error between an interpolated output pixel position value and an output pixel position value for the pixel values of the input digital image.

Abstract: Automatic white balancing and/or autoexposure as useful in a digital camera extracts color channel gains from comparisons of image colors with reference colors under various color temperature illuminants and/or extracts exposure settings from illuminance mean, illuminance variance, illuminance minimum, and illuminance maximum in areas of an image with a trained neural network.

Abstract: In an image conversion method and apparatus, luminance Y3 of each pixel of a converted image is obtained by use of an expression Y3=C1Y1+C2Y2 and from luminance Y1 of a corresponding pixel of a source image, luminance Y2 of a corresponding pixel of a low frequency image, and C1 and C2 which are functions of the luminance Y2. Since C1+C2 is constant when Y2≦T2, contrast of a low frequency component can be prevented from decreasing. In a portion in which the luminance Y2 of the low frequency image is low, the low frequency image is enhanced. In a portion in which the luminance Y2 of the low frequency image is high, the low frequency image is suppressed. In a method and apparatus for detecting noise level of an original signal in real time, a plurality of local regions are set on an input image in such a manner that the local regions are distributed uniformly over the entire area of an image. In each local region, determination as to whether or not luminance is saturated is performed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating the power spectral density of an unknown illuminant that does not require direct spectral measurements. The apparatus and method allows calibration of color images taken with commercially available digital cameras in arbitrary illumination. Besides an imaging system, a digital computer, a means for transferring image information from the imaging system to the digital computer, and software to carry out the method, the only additional equipment a photographer needs is a set of color standards.

Abstract: An adaptive demosaicing method is disclosed that interpolates images based on color edge detection and neighborhood voting. The adaptive demosaicing algorithm uses a voting scheme to determine the direction of interpolation at each missing luminance pixel location. Each color plane votes either horizontal or vertical based on a comparison between the vertical and horizontal components of the degree of change (i.e., gradient, Laplacian or other measure of the degree of change) in that color plane. Votes are counted from the neighborhood pixels as well as from measurements taken at the pixel location itself. Once the luminance plane is fully interpolated, the chrominance planes are filled in by a simple bilinear or median interpolation of difference chrominance values. Enhancements to the adaptive demosaicing algorithm permit adaptive smoothing and sharpening.

Abstract: A technique for the reduction of coherent row-wise and column-wise fixed-pattern noise in MOS image sensing systems. An array of reference pixels is associated with each row of imaging pixels. The output of each imaging pixel is coupled through a respective imaging column amplifier to a column multiplexer, thereby constituting an imaging pixel signal. In one embodiment, the output of each of a number of reference pixels is coupled to a respective reference column amplifier and from there to a reference multiplexer. The reference multiplexer effects a pseudorandom selection from the outputs of the reference column amplifiers to form a reference signal. The reference signal and the column output are differentially coupled to the remainder of the analog signal path. Synthesis of the reference signal as described above distributes row-wise and column-wise noise randomly, thereby mitigating the effects of coherent noise and enhancing image quality.

Abstract: An integrated image capture and storage device is provided. The image capture and storage device comprises a first memory layer, a second memory layer disposed below the first memory layer, and an image capture layer disposed above the first and second memory layers. The first memory layer has a plurality of first memory elements, the second memory layer has a plurality of second memory elements, and the image capture layer has a plurality of image capture elements. Each image capture element is in electrical communication with a corresponding first memory element to allow image data generated by each image capture element to be stored in its corresponding first memory element, and each first memory element is in electrical communication with a corresponding second memory element to allow data stored in each first memory element to be moved to its corresponding second memory element.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes a user interface, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes a user-programmable non-volatile memory section that stores one or more non-volatile mode variables. The user interface is capable of receiving a mode input from a user and the processor is capable of overwriting a non-volatile mode variable value in the user-programmable non-volatile memory section in response to the mode input.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that is capable of informing a user of a posture of a camera or availability of the detection. In order to attained the object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention has a photographing part for taking an image, a posture detecting part for detecting a posture of the photographing part in taking the image, and a display part for displaying information for allowing the user to distinguish a posture detected by the posture detecting part together with the image to be taken by the photographing part.