Patents Issued in April 24, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030076508
    Abstract: The glucose concentration in the bloodstream is directly correlated to the concentration of glucose in the aqueous humor. Furthermore, variation in the glucose concentration in the aqueous humor will cause like variations in its index of refraction. Thus, by measuring the refractive index of the aqueous humor, the glucose concentration in the blood can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Tom N. Cornsweet
  • Publication number: 20030076509
    Abstract: A sensor device includes a source of radiation that irradiates a plurality of sensing elements. A test object is passed through the spacing between the source of radiation and the sensing elements so that the object blocks the radiation from at least some of the sensing elements. The sensor device provides two-dimensional profile information based upon which ones of the sensing elements are blocked from the radiation and an amount of time that the radiation is blocked at each sensing element. One example use of the inventive arrangement is for monitoring the quality of formed tube ends. Another example disclosed use is for monitoring the quality and characteristics of stripped wire ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Kiet Ngo
  • Publication number: 20030076510
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for reliably and accurately measuring the gap between two materials when the depth of gap is less than the smallest distance that an optical thickness gauge (OTG) is able to measure. The invention is practiced by forming a suitable slot (or a groove, channel, hole or other suitable deformation) having a precisely known depth in at least one material. The sum of the distance of the gap and the depth of the slot is at least equal to the smallest distance that the OTG can measure. The slot is positioned over the materials and under the OTG probe head such that a cavity is formed. The depth of the cavity is measured. Since the distance of the slot is known, the depth of the gap is determined by subtracting the known depth of the slot from the measured depth of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: George M. Clifford, William Gong
  • Publication number: 20030076511
    Abstract: An optical metrology includes a library, a metrology tool and a library evolution tool. The library is generated to include a series of predicted measurements. Each predicted measurement is intended to match the measurements that a metrology device would record when analyzing a corresponding physical structure. The metrology tool compares its empirical measurements to the predicted measurements in the library. If a match is found, the metrology tool extracts a description of the corresponding physical structure from the library. The library evolution tool operates to improve the efficiency of the library. To make these improvements, the library evolution tool statistically analyzes the usage pattern of the library. Based on this analysis, the library evolution tool increases the resolution of commonly used portions of the library. The library evolution tool may also optionally reduce the resolution of less used portions of the library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: David M. Aikens, Youxian Wen, Walter Lee Smith
  • Publication number: 20030076512
    Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium, a system and an apparatus for reducing clipping in a print job. In the method, a length of a line of text within a print job is determined. Additionally, a width of a print medium is determined. Furthermore, a clipping condition is determined to be present in response to the length of the line of text exceeding the width of the print medium. Moreover, the line of text is scaled in response to determining the clipping condition is present. The above mentioned method is further executed by computer instructions embedded within the computer readable medium. The system is configured to perform the above mentioned method utilizing a preformat detector configured to detect a clipping condition within a print job and a scaler configured to scale a line of text within the print job in response to the clipping condition being detected. The apparatus includes a printing device operable to perform the above mentioned method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: John D. Laughlin
  • Publication number: 20030076513
    Abstract: The present invention provides a contents managing system, a contents managing methods, and a program are provided, by which a communication fee required to distribute such contents which will not be probably utilized is reduced when contents are distributed via a network. An image owner performs a user registration with respect to an image managing server 2 by employing an image owner terminal. After the user registration, an image purchaser makes an order of an image with reference to a trial image produced by the image owner terminal. The image owner as to this ordered image uploads actual image data to the image managing server, whereas the image purchaser downloads the actual image data which is uploaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Mika Sugimoto, Tomoyuki Koshio
  • Publication number: 20030076514
    Abstract: A method for processing a photographic image captured by an image capture system, includes the steps of: determining a maximum dark value for the image capture system representing the response of the system to no light exposure; generating an image processing path for processing the image prior to display on an output device, the image processing path having one or more image dependent image transforms, that that upon processing the maximum dark value produces a processed maximum dark value that meets a predetermined criteria for darkness such that the “smokey black” problem is minimized; and applying the image processing path to the photographic image to produce a processed photographic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew C. Gallagher, Edward B. Gindele
  • Publication number: 20030076515
    Abstract: The screened printing data are subjected to a filtering method, the raster information being maintained. Intermediate tonal values are produced by the filtering method, using the binary tonal values, the intermediate tonal values being configured in such a way that, by means of a colour space transformation, transformed tonal values and/or intermediate tonal values can be formed which represent a true-to-colour proof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Holger Schuppan
  • Publication number: 20030076516
    Abstract: Color image processing method and apparatus which perform color separation to separate colors of image data to color-material colors of primary CMYK colors and pale colors of cyan (C) and magenta (M) of the primary colors. A target gray line to connect white to black for color separation is set in predetermined color space, the combination of color materials of 3 colors are obtained to realize a color on the target gray line, color material amounts of the primary CMYK colors are determined to realize the color on the target gray line, and a total color material amount is determined to realize the target gray line. Regarding a color which cannot be realized by a combination of primary Y color and pale C and M colors to realize the color on the target gray line, respective color material amounts of the primary CMYK and pale colors are determined based on the total color material amount and the color material amounts of the primary 4 colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20030076517
    Abstract: In a gradation display method, an image is divided into pixels having fine areas, this pixel is furthermore divided into very fine pixels (Si) having very fine areas, and then gradation is displayed based upon a ratio of a colored very fine pixel (Si) with respect to all of very fine pixels (Si) within a pixel. Also, the above-described colored very fine pixel (Si) is formed by both a first growth core which is formed by increasing the number of colored very fine pixels of a single cluster, and a second growth core which is formed by increasing the number of colored very fine pixels of another single cluster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Iioka, Yoshiyuki Hirayama, Noribumi Sato, Takashi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20030076518
    Abstract: An image inspection device to automate and simplify inspection of an output image. A paper discharge tray of a printer is a different color from paper. A CCD camera is disposed above a paper discharge portion of the printer, at which paper is discharged, and can capture the whole upper face of the paper discharge tray. When, directly after a state in which there is no paper on the paper discharge tray, a print job is received and a first print-processed sheet is outputted to the paper discharge tray, a CPU controls the CCD camera to capture the paper discharge tray in this state. Captured image data including the paper is acquired, corrections are applied to the captured image data and to original image data by image processing, and image characteristics thereof are made substantially the same. Thereafter, the outputted image is inspected by comparison of the two data sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyake, Norikazu Yamada, Tetsuichi Satonaga, Eigo Nakagawa, Koki Uwatoko
  • Publication number: 20030076519
    Abstract: A spool file modifying device employed in a print server is connected with a printer. Further, the print server and at least one external terminal are interconnected. A spool file representing a print job that is instructed at the external terminal is converted into print data adaptable to the printer. The spool file modifying device includes a font data extracting system that extracts font data included in the spool file, a registering system that registers the extracted font data with the print server, and a modifying system that modifies the spool file to create a modified spool file in accordance with modifying information included in the spool file. The modified spool file is converted into the print data using the extracted font data, and then transmitted to the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kadota
  • Publication number: 20030076520
    Abstract: Arrangements and procedures are described to provide print media information to an imaging device independently of marking every sheet in a stack of print media and independently of repetitively marking portions on a roll of media after images have been formed on the roll. Specifically, an electronic tag is fixed to a medium. The electronic tag stores information that identifies a corresponding quantity and type of print media. After the medium has been loaded into an imaging device, the stored information is detected by the imaging device. The imaging device uses the detected information to automatically configure itself to print on each sheet or portion of a roll loaded print media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Robert E. Haines, Judith A. Garzolini
  • Publication number: 20030076521
    Abstract: A series of approved printers is associated with each of multiples utilities. A client user having a local printer must first identify the local printer as one of the approved printers. The client user may then gain access to the utilities having an association with the local printer. The utilities have access to multiple image sets. Each image set includes a thumbnail representation for quick selection, a screen representation for editing the image, and a printer representation for printing the image. The printer representation is of higher resolution than the screen representation, and the screen representation is of higher resolution than the thumbnail representation. Each utility is further associated with list of predefined, and unalterably, printer setting. When a print option is actuated, the utility conveys is list of predefined printer settings to a printer without requiring the client user to submit any printer preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Li, Brian Chan, Sean Miceli, Steve Nelson
  • Publication number: 20030076522
    Abstract: A printing system that includes a personal computer, a primary printer and an alternate printer is described. The primary printer and the alternate printer each include an embedded Web Server. The primary printer can serve a first program to the personal computer upon request. The first program enables the computer to use the primary printer to print a document. In addition, the first program enables the computer to display a hyperlink referring to a second program if the primary printer fails to successfully print the document. The second program enables the computer to print the document using the alternate printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Shell S. Simpson, Ward S. Foster, Kris R. Livingston
  • Publication number: 20030076523
    Abstract: Print picture quality of an image processing apparatus is diagnosed, thereby enabling whether it is necessary to perform maintenance of the image processing apparatus or not to be monitored even from a remote location. For this purpose, a system for diagnosing the print picture quality of the image processing apparatus has: transfer means for transferring test data which is necessary for a test print from a server to the image processing apparatus; image input means for scanning an image which was print-outputted by the image processing apparatus in accordance with the test data and inputting image data; discriminating means for examining the image data and discriminating the print picture quality of the image processing apparatus; and notifying means for controlling whether the server is notified of the discrimination result in the discriminating means or not in accordance with this discrimination result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Akio Ito, Masanori Yamada, Yoichi Takaragi, Hideki Sakai, Masako Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Kojo, Masahito Yamamoto, Yasushi Higuma
  • Publication number: 20030076524
    Abstract: An output destination of a job can be arbitrarily selectively used in accordance with an application of the user. If a state of each of printers to which the print job should be outputted is abnormal, if the states of the printers are unknown, or if there is a trouble in the obtainment and holding of the states of the printers, by controlling so as to output the print job at the output destination according to each situation with reference to an output destination change instruction table which has preliminarily been registered by the user, the output destination of the job is not always changed. If the output destination is changed, the output destination can be manually changed, thereby enabling the job to be outputted at the output destination according to the application of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Koichiro Wanda
  • Publication number: 20030076525
    Abstract: An image-processing device creates a sequential print-processing schedule for inputted print jobs on the basis of supply conditions of required resources, such as printing media and the like, and of attribute information of the print jobs. Before execution of a print job, the image-processing device acquires attribute information for the leading job in a print-waiting queue, and determines whether or not resources requested for that print job are supplied. If not, execution of that printing job is inhibited, and the next print job in line is performed. Thus, productivity of the device can be improved. However, it is also determined whether or not the print job meets a predetermined condition. If so, other jobs are blocked from overtaking the inhibited job and being performed first. The inhibited job waits until resources are supplied, and thus re-prioritization of the print jobs against the will of a user is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Hikawa
  • Publication number: 20030076526
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing a document. A request is received from a user at a remote data processing system to save a document for printing in which the request includes the document. The document is then stored in a repository in association with the user in response to receiving the request to form a stored document. The stored document is sent to a printer in response to a signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Prabhakar Gopalan
  • Publication number: 20030076527
    Abstract: A printing system that includes a personal computer and a printer having multiple output trays. The printer operates both as a server and a printer. The printer serves a program to the personal computer upon request. The program enables the personal computer to print a document using the printer. The program also enables the personal computer to display an image of the printer while the printer is printing the document. The image indicates the printer output tray receiving the document. The image further indicates the present capacity of the output tray to receive additional media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Shell S. Simpson, Ward S. Foster, Kris R. Livingston
  • Publication number: 20030076528
    Abstract: A system and method of automated printing of an image posted to a network site is described. The method includes defining a print criterion. A user printer is registered with the network site. It is determined if the image has been posted to the network site, and if the image has been posted to the network site, capturing the image from the network site to the user printer. The image is automatically printed on the user printer according to the print criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Travis J. Parry, Robert Sesek
  • Publication number: 20030076529
    Abstract: A method which allows a user through a portable device to print documents which are remotely stored is disclosed. The user designates a first document among the documents to be printed as an instruction in a portable device. Such an instruction is sent from the portable device to a local printer via a portable device communication port in the local printer, where it is further passed to a host computer connected to the local printer and capable of accessing the documents. According to the instruction, the host computer retrieves the first document and subsequently prints out the retrieved first document on the local printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: John Isaac Chandan Gomes, Ngee Chuan Tan
  • Publication number: 20030076530
    Abstract: There is realized a printing system, an order-receiving server, an order-receiving system, an order-receiving method, an order-sending method, and a storage medium, capable of making it convenient for a person making an order upon ordering a printing-medium unit. A printing system for printing on a printing medium, comprises: a printing-medium unit comprising the printing medium, and a memory, the memory having printing-medium information relating to the printing medium recorded thereon. The printing system: reads-in the printing-medium information; and sends-out the printing-medium information to a telecommunication line towards an order-receiving server for receiving an order for the printing-medium unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Otsuki
  • Publication number: 20030076531
    Abstract: The output terminal management server of this invention is connected to at least one output terminal through a telecommunication line. This output terminal management server stores function setting data of output terminals by user using the output terminals. When a user inquiry is received from an output terminal, the output terminal management server searches the inquired user function setting data from the stored function setting data and sends the searched function setting data to the user inquiring output terminal. The output terminal is provided with a user recognition unit for recognizing users. An inquiry of a user that is recognized by the user recognition unit is sent to the output terminal management server. When the function setting data of that user are sent from the output terminal management server in response to the inquiry, the functions of that output terminal are set according to the received function setting data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Kawasumi, Shuichi Tsujimoto, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Mituaki Kouno, Yuki Kamata, Toshiaki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20030076532
    Abstract: When a print order is placed regarding image data, the deadline of printing processing can be estimated accurately. A user reserves the deadline and places the print order from an order reception server, while using a user terminal. A controller sends to a digital mini-laboratory the image data and order information that were sent from the user terminal so as to complete the printing processing at the reserved time. The digital mini-laboratory carries out the printing processing on the image data, and prints are generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Seto
  • Publication number: 20030076533
    Abstract: Disclosed are a communication apparatus capable of efficiently using a communication line, a control method of the communication apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a communication method, and a program. To accomplish this, if “print later” in a menu is selected with an image displayed during data communication while a line is connected (S432), printing data is generated from an HTML file of the displayed image (S433). That is, the displayed image is designated as an image to be printed after the line is disconnected. The generated printing data is stored in a printing data buffer (S434). If the presence of the data in the printing buffer is detected (S437) after the line is disconnected (S436), the data is printed (S438).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Michihiro Izumi
  • Publication number: 20030076534
    Abstract: A rotated representation of an image is printed by using a coordinate system to assign tile divisions to the image. The size of the tile divisions are selected to maintain their area equal to, or less, than a predetermined maximum. Each segment of the image, as defined by the tile delineations, is sent separately to a data processing unit for processing. The received tile is assigned new coordinate dictating its new target position on a printed page, and its relation to the other tiles. The tile is itself further rotated prior to being send to the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Li, Brian Chan
  • Publication number: 20030076535
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for Variable Data Printing that adds performance requirements to a raster image processor (RIP) memory optimization that employs memory bands within the page composition process. Documents containing both recurring elements as well as non-recurring elements are sorted into element lists depending on their frequency of recurrence and their layering position. The recurring elements are retained in rasterized form, while the non-recurring elements are rasterized as they are used in output memory. One pass assembly in raster image processing of the elements occurs when the recurring elements are blitted into memory and the variable elements are RIPped on the fly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Rainer Friedrich Prosi
  • Publication number: 20030076536
    Abstract: A binder includes both physical content and digital content. The physical content is printed on sheets retained by the binder, and the digital content is stored on a memory associated with the binder. The digital memory may be interfaced with a computerized device, such as a personal computer or a portable electronic device. The digital memory may be a portable memory device such as a memory card or a dedicated device incorporated within the binder. The digital content represents the physical content as accurately as possible so that when viewed on a computerized device with a display, the physical content is accurately represented. The digital content may be modified by a user with a computerized device, with the modified pages being subsequently printed out so that the physical content is replicated with the modified digital content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Martin Daffner
  • Publication number: 20030076537
    Abstract: A method of associating a digital version of a document with a printed version of the document, the method being executable by a processor and comprising the steps: (a) instructing a printer to print the document; and, substantially at the time of printing, (b) transferring, to a portable solid state memory device, data interpretable by a processor to enable subsequent reprinting of the document. The invention also provides an electronic device electrically couplable to a printer, computer or network, configured to couple with a portable solid state memory device and to receive data corresponding to a print job, and operable to write data to the said solid state memory device, substantially at the time of printing of the said print job, to enable subsequent reprinting of the print job.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Barry Allen Thomas Brown
  • Publication number: 20030076538
    Abstract: A system and method of producing labels at remote locations worldwide in communication with a server and central database via the internet is shown and described. The present invention accommodates vastly different printing methods including thermal printing, lithographic printing, etc. For lithographic printing or other printing methods using plates, a ratioing algorithm is used to determine the optimum number of plates and label layout on each plate to minimize production costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Whittingham, Patrick Tony Kenny, Mandy Jane Smith
  • Publication number: 20030076539
    Abstract: According to this invention, in order to efficiently output images, when an image and its attribute are selected, and an extraction output instruction of an image region with the selected attribute is issued, the selected image is segmented into image regions with different attributes, and an image region with the selected attribute is extracted and displayed from the segmented image regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: SATORU NAKAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20030076540
    Abstract: Input image data (3) and reproduction-restraining pattern data (2) are combined to obtain composite image data. A composite image represented by the composite image data is printed on an image-receiving sheet (10) by an on-demand printing system. A reproduction-restraining pattern (11) appears when the printed composite image is copied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Hamashima, Kazuhiro Kawabata, Naoji Shibasaki
  • Publication number: 20030076541
    Abstract: A communication terminal device includes a first storage device storing a transmission reservation table which includes information of communication jobs to be transmitted, a second storage device storing image data to be transmitted, and a transmitter transmitting the stored image data to a destination via a communication line in accordance with the transmission reservation table. A controller adds another image data to the stored image data that is to be transmitted, in the same communication job, and stores the combined image data in the second storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taku Soneoka
  • Publication number: 20030076542
    Abstract: A method of sending binary data over an image data channel. The binary data is encoded into an encoded linear matrix image, and the encoded linear matrix image is transmitted over the image data channel. The received linear matrix image is decoded to recover the binary data. The encoding uses encoding parameters which are adapted for encoding the binary data into an encoded matrix image. The encoding parameters are defined in such a manner that a transformed matrix image produced by transmitting the encoded linear matrix image over the image-transforming channel is reconstructable into the encoded linear matrix image. The binary data is encoded into the encoded linear matrix image according to the encoding parameters. In order to recover the binary data from the received matrix image, the decoding analyzes a header section of the received linear matrix image to determine image-distortion characteristics of the image data channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: David Marshall Holcomb
  • Publication number: 20030076543
    Abstract: A scanner with a movable mirror set in the scanning module for increasing the resolution of scanned images. The scanner includes a housing that makes use of a set of movable mirrors. When the mirrors move, the distance traveled by the light from the document to the CCD changes, resulting in a different optical resolution. The lens moves in order to maintain the proper focal distance between the document and the CCD. A driving device coordinates the movement of the lens and the moveable mirrors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Chia-Tsui Lan
  • Publication number: 20030076544
    Abstract: A scanner includes a housing, a transparent platform, a scanning module, a motor and a calibration paper. The transparent platform is installed on the housing for a document to be placed on. The scanning module is moveably installed inside the housing for scanning the document. The motor is installed inside the housing for driving the scanning module. The calibration paper is installed at a front end of the housing and has a graph for calibrating step angle errors of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Chen
  • Publication number: 20030076545
    Abstract: A locking device for locking a movable module of an electronic apparatus disclosed by the invention mainly includes a control member and a latch connected to the control member. The control member is selectively movable between a first position for locking the movable module and a second position for releasing the movable module. When the latch stops at the first position, it also latches onto an operational interface or a mechanism component so as to prevent the user from electrically or mechanically operating the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Chin-Te Liu
  • Publication number: 20030076546
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compact, portable system for capturing two dimensional images from printed and related media, as well as three dimensional scenic images, such as photographs, combining the optical features of scanning and photography. A compact, portable image capturing system is provided that is relatively simple and inexpensive, which is easy to operate, rugged, reliable, integrating the navigational and text-gathering functionalities seamlessly, transparently, and reliably, and not prone to optical misalignment, or cessation of scanning and loss of information, obviating much of the repetition of scanning efforts required by the conventional art. The present invention provides a compact, portable system for capturing both two dimensional images from printed and related media, and three dimensional scenic images, such as photographs, while providing constant user feedback of the image quality and effectiveness, during the imaging process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Dan S. Johnson, Shaz Naqvi
  • Publication number: 20030076547
    Abstract: A method for scanning an object, for example a document, by an image scanner is disclosed. The method comprises performing an initial scan of the object by displacing a carriage carrying a light source and at least one photosensitive device from a home position to an end position and performing a final scan by then displacing the carriage from the end position to the home position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Nigel M-F Cheung
  • Publication number: 20030076548
    Abstract: An improved image capture device comprising an image capture device and a stand pivotally coupled to the image capture device is disclosed. The stand is operable to support the image capture device in a raised position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Nigel M-F Cheung
  • Publication number: 20030076549
    Abstract: A lid for an imaging device is disclosed. The lid comprises a cover having a first side and a second side. The first side of the cover is adapted to retain an object to be imaged proximate to an imaging plate of the imaging device. At least one storage compartment is disposed on the second side of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Nigel M-F Cheung, Michael A. Tregoning
  • Publication number: 20030076550
    Abstract: A lid for an imaging device is disclosed. The lid comprises a cover and a reflector having a first side and a second side. The first side of the reflector is adapted to retain a first object to be imaged by the imaging device proximate to an imaging plate. The second side of the reflector is coupled to the cover, the cover being adapted to display at least a portion of a second object disposed between the cover and the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Nigel M-F Cheung, Michael A. Tregoning
  • Publication number: 20030076551
    Abstract: There is disclosed an illumination device in which a light guide is adapted to emil the light from a face thereof and is provided with an area, on a face opposite to the light emitting face, for diffusing and/or reflecting the light introduced into the light guide from an end face thereof or is provided with uneven light emitting characteristics along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and the center of the light source positioned at the end of the light guide is placed at a position aberrated from the normal line to said area, whereby attained are compactnces, a low cost, a low eleotric power consumption, a high efficiency of utilization of the light emitted by the light source, and excellent and uniform illumination characteristics. There are also disclosed an image reading device and an information processing apparatus, equipped with the above-mentioned illumination device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsundo Kawai, Osamu Hamamoto, Shinichi Takeda, Satoshi Itabashi, Toshimitsu Iso
  • Publication number: 20030076552
    Abstract: A contact image sensor (CIS) for scanning a document is disclosed. The CIS includes a housing having an opening, a first slide and a second slide, a light guide installed on the housing through the opening and the first slide for scanning the document and generating a reflective image, a rod lens installed on the housing through the opening and the second slide for receiving the reflective image and generating a focused image, a PCB installed on the housing and having a sensing array for transforming the focused image into an image signal, and a spring cover fixed on the opening for fixing the light guide and the rod lens in the housing to form the CIS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: CMOS Sensor Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Lo, Yu Lung Fang
  • Publication number: 20030076553
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image scanning module including a first unit, a second unit, and a third unit. The first unit having a light source is used for retrieving a first image. The second unit is used for generating a second image by focusing the first image. The third unit is used for generating an electric signal responsive to the second image. The first unit, the second unit, and the third unit are modules discrete from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Chin-Fu Cho
  • Publication number: 20030076554
    Abstract: With the present invention, by changing the scanning timing of a CCD line sensor in accordance with the amount of scanning misregistration corresponding to a magnification, misregistration of less than one line can be accurately corrected, thereby eliminating degradation of MTF, which has occurred in conventional apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoaki Ide
  • Publication number: 20030076555
    Abstract: A holographic shrink wrap element containing a shrink wrap film and a layer on the shrink wrap film, wherein the layer contains a holographic image. A process for preparing a holographic shrink wrap element includes providing, in the following order, a holographic polymer film having a holographic surface, a layer on the holographic surface and a shrink wrap film, and removing the holographic polymer film, leaving the holographic image on the layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: John E. Cox, Christopher C. Christuk, Jeffrey S. Gagnon
  • Publication number: 20030076556
    Abstract: Optical systems for selectively altering the propagation of light are provided. A representative optical system incorporates an optical device that includes a first para-electric holographic medium. The first para-electric holographic medium stores a first hologram that can exhibit a first active mode. The first hologram exhibits the first active mode when a first electric field is applied to the first para-electric holographic medium. When in the first active mode, the first hologram directs light incident upon the first holographic medium to a first location. Methods and other systems also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory D. VanWiggeren, Mark A. Troll, Tun S. Tan, Douglas M. Baney, Jeffrey N. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030076557
    Abstract: A fault tolerant optical switch architecture improves the level of reliability in an optical communication system by incorporating an optical switch backup that engages quickly upon notification of a failure mode of a primary switch. In an example embodiment, an arrangement for optical communication between first and second nodes includes a first optical switch having first-switch transmit and receive channels and a second optical switch having second-switch transmit and receive channels. The first and second optical switches of the optical communications arrangement conduct self-tests and indicate whether the self-tests have failed. The arrangement also includes an optical coupler that receives the first-switch and second-switch transmit channels and provides an output for transmit to at least one of the first and second nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Rick C. Stevens