Patents Issued in June 12, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030107726
    Abstract: In a device for detecting transmission losses of optical light guide means (2) of an endoscope (3) by means of measurements, said optical light guide means (2) having an optical inlet portion (4) through which light from a light source (6) is transmitted to an optical outlet portion (8) of the means to be checked, said device comprising at least one light sensor (10) measuring the light intensity emerging from the optical outlet portion (8) of the means (2) to be checked, and an evaluation means (14) for the signal of the at least one light sensor (10), said evaluation means (14) having a display means (18) for displaying the measurement result, it is provided that the at least one light sensor (10) is arranged in a chamber (20), that the optical outlet portion (8) of the light guide means (2) to be checked is adapted to be introduced through an opening (22) of the chamber (20) into the chamber (20), and that the inner surface (24) defining the chamber (20) diffusely reflects the light emerging from the optic
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Joachim Hirt, Thomas Glenzer, Armin Kamp
  • Publication number: 20030107727
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system to provide adaptive control in an optical storage medium. The method comprises providing a beam of light, reflecting the beam of light off an optical disk and detecting the reflected beam. A value of the reflected beam is compared with a predetermined value, and an output signal is generated if the value of the reflected beam is greater than the predetermined value. A timing signal having a timing interval is generated and a control signal is generated if the output signal occurs over the timing interval. One of a current servo signal and a predetermined servo signal is provided in response to the control signal and a position of the light beam is controlled based on one of the current servo signal and the predetermined servo signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Hubert Song, Hwee Chin Ong
  • Publication number: 20030107728
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method that utilizes optics to measure a hole depth in a workpiece. The method involves placing a light recording apparatus and a light source apparatus proximate a hole. Light is then emitted from the light source apparatus and is directed into the hole. This illumination of the hole allows an image of the side surface of the hole that is at the greatest distance from the light recording apparatus to be recorded. Then, the apparent diameter of the image is calculated. The apparent diameter of the image, in turn, is compared to the known diameter of the hole in order to calculate the distance between a reference datum in the light recording apparatus and the far side surface of the hole. Once this distance is determined, the hole depth is calculated by accounting for the distance between the reference datum and the workpiece surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: John H. Belk, Daniel E. Hulsey
  • Publication number: 20030107729
    Abstract: A first parameter is detected on a fast moving strip or yarn with a wave field, and a first signal indicating potentially present contaminants or impurities is generated. This first parameter preferably detects reflection properties that can be detected on the surface of the product. A further parameter is detected on the strip or yarn in a field, and a second signal is generated which also indicates contaminants or impurities. This second parameter preferably detects properties such as mass or diameter of the yarn or strip. Evaluations of the first signal and the second signal that occur at the same location on the product are considered together, and labeled to indicate the specific type of impurity or contaminant that they represent. Using empirical analysis, evaluation specifications can be selected to identify a group of impurities which are most likely to include a specific impurity of interest, e.g. non-vegetable contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Furter
  • Publication number: 20030107730
    Abstract: Enclosed is an apparatus for analyzing micro-bubbles inside a high-purity glass tube by using a laser light dispersion. The apparatus includes: an optical base having a sample stage in a substantially horizontal orientation; a glass tube rotably mounted on the optical base in a substantially vertical orientation, the glass tube being rotated and translated in a vertical direction at a predetermined speed via the sample stage; a light generator disposed at one side of the glass tube for selectively irradiating a laser light onto an outer surface of the glass tube at a prefixed angle; and, a detector disposed at the other side of the glass tube for detecting the distribution and amount of micro-bubbles of the glass tube using the laser light passed through the glass tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Byoung-Sam Kim, Young-Min Baik, Mi-Kyung Lee, Hyung-Min Lee
  • Publication number: 20030107731
    Abstract: Disclosed is a counting chamber for optical detection of particles that are present in a fluid, comprising two substantially transparent and substantially parallel plates of material, between which the fluid can be introduced. At least one of the plates includes a visible reference, which comprises a relief formed on the surface of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Alfons Petrus Antonius Gerrit De Kock, Joannes Hendricus Wilhelmus Cornelis Van Stralen, Hendrik Jan Westendorp, Corne Arjen Westerveld
  • Publication number: 20030107732
    Abstract: The laser scanning microscope comprises an objective focusing a laser beam on a sample, and takes fluorescence or reflected light from the sample, optical scanning means for scanning the laser beam on the sample two-dimensionally, an acousto-optic device, arranged on an optical path of a fluorescence or a reflected light, which selects and deflects only a light beam with the wavelength which corresponds to incident fluorescence or the reflected light and a frequency of the applied high frequency voltage, optical detection means for detecting a light beam through the acousto-optic device, and frequency scanning means for switching and setting a frequency of a high frequency voltage applied to the acousto-optic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasaki, Junichi Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20030107733
    Abstract: In a spectrum measuring instrument of the present invention, a detecting surface (13a) of a detector (13) is a two-dimensional detecting surface and spectrum light coming out from a spectroscope is irradiated to a region A on the detecting surface (13a). Signal intensity at the regions on the detecting surface (13a) other than the region A where the spectrum light is irradiated is subtracted from signal intensity on the region A. Consequently, it is possible to obtain an accurate spectrum intensity signal by processing a detection signal in such a manner that adverse effects of stray light generated inside the spectrum measuring instrument and unwanted light generated by reflection and diffraction occurring on the surface of a detecting element are removed (FIG. 4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Kouichi Oka, Makoto Okawauchi
  • Publication number: 20030107734
    Abstract: An apparatus for identifying microscopic particles in a fluid, includes a laser beam (16) that passes though a narrow detect zone (22), and photodetectors (30) that detect light scattered by microscopic particles that pass through the detect zone. The laser beam has a horizontal width (W) that is a plurality of times as great as its average vertical thickness (T), to increase the number of particles passing through the zone while minimizing the time of each particle in the zone. A quadrant detector (48) that is used to detect deviation of the laser beam from a predetermined path, is oriented about 45° from the usual direction. The laser beam is generated by a diode laser (82) whose output passes through two appropriately-positioned cylindrical lenses (84, 86) to produce the desired the ratio of width (W) to thickness (T).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Clay Davis, Donald Mead, Gregory Quist
  • Publication number: 20030107735
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the particle size distribution (PSD) of bridging agents in fluids, particularly aqueous fluids used in hydrocarbon recovery such as drilling fluids, drill-in fluids, completion fluids, and the like. It was discovered that the PSD could be selectively determined for calcium carbonate as a bridging agent because it auto-fluoresces. The method is reproducible and is not bothered by the presence of other particles such as drill solids which interferes with conventional methods, for instance, light-scattering techniques. The light used to fluoresce the bridging agent may be filtered to a particular frequency if there are other components present that fluoresce. Flow cytometry is another technique that could be used to implement the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Ronald G. Bland, Tom A. Jones
  • Publication number: 20030107736
    Abstract: In an inspection apparatus (1) for inspecting a pattern on a semiconductor substrate (9) which is processed by CMP, an optical head part (11) for acquiring a two-dimensional image of the pattern of the substrate (9) and a computer (13) for performing a computation are provided. In the computer (13), a reference image and an edge image of the reference image are prepared in advance and a differential image is obtained after performing a pattern matching between the acquired two-dimensional image and the reference image. In the differential image, an average value of absolute values of pixels is compared with a predetermined threshold value while an edge area indicated by the edge image is omitted, to detect whether there is a metal remaining film or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20030107737
    Abstract: An alignment system includes a first module wherein a plurality of emitters are located at defined locations on the face of the first module. The emitters are positioned to emit signals of a known intensity distribution away from the face of the first module. A first receiver configuration is also located on the face of the first module, where the first receiver configuration has a known sensitivity distribution. A second module has a second plurality of emitters located at defined locations on the face of the module. The second plurality of emitters are positioned to emit signals of a known intensity distribution away from the face of the second module. A second receiver configuration is also located on the face of the second module, and has a known sensitivity distribution. First and second trigger signal generators are configured to fire the first and second plurality of emitters, respectively, in predetermined patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimon D. Roufas, Ying Zhang, David G. Duff, Mark H. Yim, Craig Eldershaw
  • Publication number: 20030107738
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and calibrating the measurement of small volumes of liquids. The small volumes of liquid are typically dispensed from liquid delivery devices, the delivery device often having multiple channels to analyze many samples at once. The liquid samples are delivered to one or more cells, typically in a multi-well plate, and positioned in a spectrophotometer for determining an absorbance of a chromophore in the liquid sample. Based upon an absorbance measurement and the concentration of the chromophore, a path length of the liquid sample is determined, from which a volume of the sample may be calculated. The method and apparatus provide various means for correcting for differences in the dimensions and/or other factors causing a non-linear deviation from the Beer-Lambert law. A system or kit may be provided including sets of sample solutions of varying dilution ranges for calibrating different liquid volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Richard H. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20030107739
    Abstract: An apparatus for detection and measurement of trace species in a gas or liquid sample. A ring down cell formed from a fiber optic ring is exposed to the sample gas or liquid. A coherent source emits radiation into the fiber optic ring, which in turn is received at an output thereof. The fiber optic ring has a portion thereof, between the input and output, exposed to the sample gas or sample liquid. A processor is coupled to the receiver and determines the level of trace species in the gas or liquid sample based on the rate of decay of the radiation within the fiber optic ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin K. Lehmann, Peter B. Tarsa, Paul Rabinowitz
  • Publication number: 20030107740
    Abstract: An analyzer useful in determining the presence of an analyte using a diffraction based sensing device and methods and systems using this device. The present invention may be used with a variety of different diffraction-based diagnostic methods and systems. The analyzer enhances the accuracy and/or usefulness of these devices in detecting analytes, while providing more ease-of-use and convenience to the user. The analyzer may include a light source, a photodiode, a microprocessor and a display system for informing the user of the result. Other features include mirrors, lenses, a sample holder, and a mask for blocking out some light. The analyzer and related method and system may be used in a large number of environments, including commercial, professional, and individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Rosann Marie Kaylor, Difei Yang, Zdravko Savov Atanassov, Michael Eugene Knotts
  • Publication number: 20030107741
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor system for measuring the changes of refractive index and for the thickness variation of a sample medium, and the variations in concentration of a liquid sample using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) or a sensor chip constituting the surface plasmon microscope (SPM). The surface plasmon resonance sensor system comprises a sensor chip having a sensor element on which a measuring sample is located, the sensor element is composed of a first adhesion layer, a conductive thin film, a second adhesion layer and a transparent thin film sequentially stacked on a transparent substrate; a prism attached under the sensor chip; a light source for providing light to the sensor chip through the prism; and a light-detecting element for measuring variations in the refractive index caused by resonance of surface plasmon on the conductive thin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Hyeon Bong Pyo, Yong Beom Shin, Ji Wook Jeong, Min Gon Kim, Sang Kyung Lee, Dong Ho Shin, Seon Hee Park
  • Publication number: 20030107742
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for analysing a diffusing sample comprising steps which consist in: a) illuminating the sample with a temporally coherent and wavelength-modulated incident light beam; b) producing a succession of interference signals with the diffuse light; c) combining each interference signal with a reference signal (Ref(t,&tgr;0)) generating a time port; d) extracting the continuous component of each signal characteristic of the predetermined delay (&tgr;0)) derived form c); applying a non-linear function on each of the continuous components of the signals characterising the predetermined delay (&tgr;0); and f) averaging each of the images, with said non-linear function, of the continuous components of the signals characterising the predetermined delay (&tgr;0). The invention is useful for observing organs of the human body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Tualle
  • Publication number: 20030107743
    Abstract: Phase noise is at least partially cancelled for an interferometric system by using a delay/phase cross-correlation approach for two interferometers within the system. The cross-correlation approach may be used in measuring group delay of a device under test and includes determining the differences between the phase of the output of each interferometer at time t and the phase of the same output at the time t minus the delay of the other interferometer. In one embodiment, the first phase difference is the difference between the phase of a test interferometer output at time t and the phase of the test interferometer output at the time t offset by the known delay of a reference interferometer. The second phase difference is calculated using the same technique, but the time offset is a delay representative of the relative delay of two light propagations within the test interferometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Gregory D. Van Wiggeren
  • Publication number: 20030107744
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interferometer arrangement (1000) having at least one measuring beam path for providing light in an object area, at least one reference beam path and at least one unit for superposing light of the measuring beam path with light of the reference beam path and a unit for detecting an interference phenomenon caused by light from the object area and light from the reference beam path. The invention further relates to a method for measuring the velocity of an object with an interferometer arrangement. In the interferometer arrangement, the unit for detecting has a spatial resolution which corresponds to the characteristic spatial period of the interference phenomenon. In evaluating the time change of the interference signal, the movement of stray centers can be measured. Use of such an interferometer arrangement in a surgical microscope allows to visualize areas of a field of surgery which cannot be accessed with light in the visible spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Christoph Hauger
  • Publication number: 20030107745
    Abstract: A process for tunable filter train alignment comprises detecting a spectral response of the filter train and aligning an optical fiber that transmits an input optical signal to the filter train during operation. Further, the tunable filter is moved relative to the filter train in response to a spectral response of the filter train. As a result, the alignment and spectral response of the tunable filter train are optimized. In the preferred embodiment, the alignment and SMSR optimization occur simultaneously with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Walid A. Atia, Randal A. Murdza
  • Publication number: 20030107746
    Abstract: An apparatus for locking the wavelength of a laser uses a non-planar etalon, for example a non-parallel etalon, to produce a periodic spatial interference pattern, typically in the light reflected from the etalon. The apparatus also uses a detector to detect the spatial interference pattern having at least three separate detector elements, commonly referred to as pixels. The etalon and the detector are matched to each other so that adjacent pixels detect a specific portion of the phase of the periodic interference pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Altitun AB
    Inventors: Gunnar Hedin, Johan Erik Fredrik Tegin
  • Publication number: 20030107747
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shape and color detecting apparatus that detects a three-dimensional shape of an object and a color thereof is provided with an illuminating system that emits light to illuminate the object, and a light receiving device that receives a reflected component of the light from the object. In this structure, the illuminating system is configured to emit the light from a surface having a predetermined area to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Takeo Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20030107748
    Abstract: A remote pointing apparatus including a remote control that generates an optical signal that is periodically expanded and/or reduced around the origin and an optical sensor that detects whether the optical signal is received, and a remote pointing method therefor. The remote pointing method includes projecting an optical signal that is periodically expanded and/or reduced around an origin; detecting whether the optical signal is received using a plurality of optical sensors that are two-dimensionally disposed; and detecting the position of the origin, which exists within a position recognition range including at least a polygon having the optical sensors as vertexes, based on the results of detection of the optical sensors. Since the remote pointing apparatus and method do not need a light receiving panel that is installed to fully cover a display screen or installed in vertical and horizontal directions of the display panel in order to receive a laser beam, a manufacturing cost thereof can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-won Lee
  • Publication number: 20030107749
    Abstract: An in-vehicle printing system that provides an in-vehicle mounted printer operably connected to a host-computing device such as the vehicle's telematics system or a personal computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Rene Charles Aquilina
  • Publication number: 20030107750
    Abstract: An image forming device 2 includes a printer engine 206, a display unit 209, and a sound reproducing unit 208. The image forming device 2 receives a list of contents from a content distributing device 1, and has the display unit 209 display the content list. From the content list displayed by the display unit 209, a user of the image forming device 2 selects a print content, a display content, and a sound content that he desires, associates the selected contents with one another to produce a group of the selected contents, and requests the content distributing device 1 to distribute the group of the selected contents. The content distributing device 1 produces the group of contents associated with one another, and distributes it to the image forming device 2. The image forming device 2 expands the print content in the distributed content group into print data, and has the printer engine 206 print the print data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Kouichi Takamine, Atsushi Hirose
  • Publication number: 20030107751
    Abstract: Executing a plurality of print jobs in a job queue by a computing architecture, each print job including at least one instruction for processing print data, including accessing one of the print jobs from the job queue, determining whether the accessed print job represents an image, selecting a high resolution mode in the case that the accessed print job represents an image, selecting a low resolution mode in the case that the accessed print job does not represent an image, and executing the accessed print job in accordance with the selected resolution mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Sadahiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20030107752
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus (10) for writing images to print media (32), which comprises an imaging drum (300) for supporting the print media (32), wherein the imaging drum (300) has a surface, a drive end wall (310), and a vacuum end wall. A printhead (500) is used for forming an image onto the print media (32). A motor rotates the imaging drum (300) and a blower creates a vacuum supply to the imaging drum (300) for holding the print media (32) on the surface. At least one vacuum piston (504) creates a second vacuum supply (508) to the surface, wherein the vacuum piston (504) is mounted in the drive end wall (310) or the vacuum end wall, or if more than one vacuum piston (504) is used, optionally in both walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Roger S. Kerr
  • Publication number: 20030107753
    Abstract: This invention has as its object to efficiently encode an image. To this end, for example, an image undergoes a color reduction process using a dither matrix with a predetermined size. A print control command is output. A compression parameter designation command that designates an up copy vertical offset value (a value according to the matrix size), a near left copy horizontal offset value (a value according to the matrix size), and a far left copy horizontal offset value (a value according to the period of background patterns), which are used in encoding, is output. Image data is encoded according to an encoding sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Yoichi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20030107754
    Abstract: This invention is to correct a difference of dot gain between output devices. This invention for converting binary data for a first output device to binary data for a second output device includes the steps of: converting the binary data for the first output device to multi-value data; correcting the multi-value data so that an output density by the second output device becomes equal to an output density by the first output device; and converting the corrected multi-value data to the binary data for the second output device. As stated above, by carrying out the correction so that the output density of the first output device coincides with the output density of the second output device, the user can obtain the same output result without giving consideration to a difference between output devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Ino, Takeshi Nagae
  • Publication number: 20030107755
    Abstract: A printer capable of displaying a state of completion of a printing job through LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). The printer has the LEDs disposed as one line to display the state of completion of the printing job. When printing data is transmitted from a host, a control unit calculates the number of the LEDs according to the state of completion of the transmitted printing data printed on paper, and controls the LEDs to be consecutively turned on according to the calculated number of the LEDs. Accordingly, a user can judge when the printing job is completed based upon the amount of the current print job that remains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hong-rok Woo
  • Publication number: 20030107756
    Abstract: In an image formation apparatus that prints out print data to a sheet, a print data storage unit stores the print data, a printing unit conducts print processing to the print data stored in the print data storage unit, a password acquisition unit acquires a password for the print data from an outside of the apparatus, and a printing control unit allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the print data under condition that the password acquisition unit acquires the password for the print data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Koji Dan, Takeshi Fujita, Yasuyuki Igarashi, Mihoko Inamoto, Nozomi Sawada
  • Publication number: 20030107757
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for reliable and customer-friendly delivery of documents. One method of the present invention include the steps of: producing document data for printing documents; accepting requests to print selected documents; determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery; printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery; and electronically delivering documents accepted for electronic delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Junious Gupton, Todd Beck, Varun Tandon, Glen Young, Jeff Gainer, Scott Hamilton, Randy Harris
  • Publication number: 20030107758
    Abstract: A job executing system in which, with respect to a same processing object DC1, designated jobs are executed in time series, includes: job management means 47 for managing input-related job JB 11 which executes chiefly input processing and output-related jobs which chiefly executes output processing; and job synthesizing means 40 for generating a synthetic job B (DC1, JB11, JB12) constituted by an input-related job which has been already executed, and an output-related job which will be executed hereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20030107759
    Abstract: A method and system for printing a 2D-barcode corresponding to a binary data array and a substrate imprinted with such barcode. The barcode has I first columns of modules and J rows of modules transverse to columns. Each module having a one-to-one correspondence with a bit in a data array and comprising X columns and Y rows of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: G. Thomas Athens, John A. Hurd, Jerome E. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20030107760
    Abstract: There is described a system and a method for transferring digital image data for archiving and for ordering photographic prints through the network between a photofinisher and a customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Chao King, Albert Lieu, Phyllis Catura, Yoshitaka Ota
  • Publication number: 20030107761
    Abstract: A host that controls jobs of a printer obtains client identifying information within a job control request, which is received from a terminal, while obtaining the job information and client identifying information of the print request from the printer, and storing the same in a job information storage unit. For each job included in the job information that is obtained from the printer, a job control capability determiner compares the client identifying information (of print requester) and client identifying information of the terminal that made a control request. When both of the client identifying information is identical, it is determined that the control is allowed. When it is not identical, it is determined that the control is not allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Graphics communication systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Shougo Kimura
  • Publication number: 20030107762
    Abstract: An information providing server has information on plural printers. The information providing server provides a user of a portable terminal with the information on the plural printers by sending the information on the plural printers to the portable terminal. The portable terminal sends an e-mail to which a file to be printed is attached to a printer selected by the user. Each of the plural printers has a plurality of print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned. The printer that has received an e-mail specifies a print condition from an e-mail address indicating the destination of the e-mail. The printer then prints the file attached to the received e-mail under the specified print condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Koji Kinoshita, Yohichiroh Higashizaki
  • Publication number: 20030107763
    Abstract: A plurality of color signals indicative of a plurality of color patterns are processed based on a first distribution curve to distribute the original color signals into color signals for normal ink and color signals for light ink. Then, the plurality of color patterns are printed by the color signals for normal ink and color signals for light ink. Then, the density of each color pattern is detected to produce a density curve. A second distribution curve is produced based on the detected density, the original color signals, and the first distribution curve so that the second distribution curve can attain a properly linearly-changing density curve. By preparing beforehand a plurality of first distribution curves dependently on a variety of usage conditions of the printer, it is possible to use a second distribution curve that is in conformity to the usage condition, under which the printer is desired to be driven, by selecting a distribution curve that corresponds to the usage condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Hagai, Masashi Kuno, Masaki Kondo, Masashi Ueda, Masahiro Nishihara
  • Publication number: 20030107764
    Abstract: In cluster printing, the pages of a print job are divided and output to a plurality of image forming apparatuses. When this is done, a table that records the image size (data size) for each page included in the print job and the speed of data transmission to an image forming apparatus for that page is created. A determination is made whether there are pages with a data transmission speed lower than a threshold value (i.e., whether unprintable pages exist), and if there are, the job is re-divided such that the number of image forming apparatuses to be used is reduced. Consequently, the data transmission speed for each page is prevented from becoming slower than the printing speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Hajime Takei
  • Publication number: 20030107765
    Abstract: Images are formed in the S-D and D-D modes and sheets of recording paper after image formation are arranged in accordance with the order of pages. A document of an odd-numbered page placed on a paper feeding tray in a document transport part is fed to an image reading part and an image is read and stored into a RAM. Subsequently, a document of an even-numbered page is fed and an image is read. A sheet of recording paper housed in a paper feeding cassette is transported to an image forming part and the image is formed on one of the surfaces of the sheet of recording paper. Further, the sheet of recording paper is transported to a path, turned upside down, and transported again to the image forming part. The image stored in the RAM is read out and formed on the other surface of the sheet of recording paper. Finally, the sheet of recording paper is transported with the other surface facing downward and ejected to an output tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: MASAKAZU SUZUKI, KOUICHI ETOH, ATUSHI SAITO, NAOYUKI KAMEI, NAOTO HARADA
  • Publication number: 20030107766
    Abstract: A method for generating a printer-ready representation of pages having regions described by page assembly instructions is provided. The method includes analyzing the page assembly instructions to identify a complex page having one or more complex regions and assembling at least one complex region to generate at least a partial printer-ready representation of the complex page. The method also includes updating the page assembly instructions associated with the complex page to refer to the partial printer-ready representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Ran Ramot, Jacob Aizikowitz, Avinoam Beinglass, Evgeny Kolesnikov, Israel Manor
  • Publication number: 20030107767
    Abstract: When multiple pages of a document are condensed and printed on a single sheet of printing media, an image data generator condenses the page image data by a prescribed reduction ratio. A sequence information overlayer overlays layout sequence information such as numerals or arrows, or borders or shading of different densities or colors, on the condensed image data. A recording device prints the condensed image data and overlaid sequence information on the single sheet of printing media. The reader of the condensed document recognizes the condensed page sequence from the overlaid sequence information, and can therefore always tell which page to read next. A print sample image of the single sheet preferably includes a sequence line graphically illustrating the page layout sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Ishizaki
  • Publication number: 20030107768
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method for reproducing a contone image as a halftone image on a recording medium, using threshold values in a threshold matrix, including the steps of providing a base supercell suitable for periodically tiling a plane, which has a plurality of microdots and a plurality of virtual halftone dot centers; assigning an ordering sequence consisting of a series of numbers on the virtual halftone dot centers in the base supercell; assigning threshold values to microdots in response to the ordering sequence thereby generating the threshold matrix in the base supercell; and using the threshold matrix in combination with the contone image to generate a screened halftone image on the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Crounse
  • Publication number: 20030107769
    Abstract: An error diffusion processing method includes determining a binary value of an input pixel according to a grayscale level of the input pixel, searching a nearest pixel that has the same binary value as the input pixel, and comparing a measured actual distance with an ideal distance between the two pixels, so as to compute a first adjustment value. By applying a noise array to an input image, a second adjustment value is also computed according to a noise value of the input pixel. Based on the first and second adjustment values, a threshold is adjusted to determine the binary value of the input pixel. The adjusted threshold is compared with the grayscale level of the input pixel, and according to the comparison result, the binary value of the input pixel is determined. By diffusing an error value, which is a difference between the grayscale level and the determined binary value of the input pixel, to neighboring pixels, the grayscale level of the neighboring pixels is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki-min Kang
  • Publication number: 20030107770
    Abstract: An algorithm (method) for sizing (adjusting edges of) grayscale or dose level pixel-maps (raster images) real time for input into radiant beam lithography systems or similar dose level grayscale image rendering systems to compensate for systemic distortions such as edge bias and/or loss of linearity (i) successively assembles one or more frame matrixes of grayscale values from a parent pixel-map having edges and corners where an edge is defined by gray pixels having values between 1, 2, . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Asher Klatchko, Samuel C. Howells, Michael A. Ward
  • Publication number: 20030107771
    Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, a user ID is input as login information pertaining to the user who implemented reading of the original document. The user ID is embedded in the image data created from the original document data as an electronic watermark, and the image data is sent to a PC. The PC that receives the image data reads the user ID from the image data. If the user ID read from the image data matches a user ID entered by a user who issued a printing command, the PC issues a print command regarding the image data. Otherwise, printing is prohibited. Through this processing, printing of the image data is permitted only for the user who implemented reading of the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Koichi Shibata
  • Publication number: 20030107772
    Abstract: Disclosed are a printing color management system and a printing color management method, wherein a plurality of machine plates, which is associated with a plurality of monochromatic images wherein a color image is color-separated, is created in accordance with image data, and an color image is created in such a manner that the plurality of machine plates is used to sequentially print a plurality of monochromatic images on an overlapping basis. The printing color management system and the printing color management method are capable of creating a printed image closely similar in color to a target printed matter, while an image quality of the printed image is guaranteed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicants: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD., MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Shimazaki, Tadashi Miyakawa, Kiyomi Tamagawa, Syuuichi Takemoto, Hideaki Nagai
  • Publication number: 20030107773
    Abstract: A video buffer that updates and holds an inputted video signal by a unit of a frame image comprising: a image data holding unit (103) that consists of the first image data holding unit (103A) that holds the latest frame image, the second image data holding unit (103B) that hold the second frame image that goes back n pieces of frames in time from the first frame image and the third image data holding unit (103C) that hold the third frame image that goes back m pieces of frames in time from the first frame image; a moving picture display unit (105) that displays the latest frame image held in the first image data holding unit (103A); a print data selection unit (104) that selects a frame image stored in either of the first˜the third image data holding units (103A˜103C) as a print object; a print confirmation display unit (106) that displays the selected frame image; a print data generation unit (110) that converts the image data of the displayed image into print data and so forth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Kouichi Takamine, Atsushi Hirose
  • Publication number: 20030107774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device which comprises a printed replication of a plurality of, in the embodiment, ceramic floor tiles. The array is digitally replicated using a digital camera to provide a visual image which is a printed, four colour, replica of the floor tiles. The replica, in A5 size on a foldable substrate such as paper, can be folded to A4 and taken by a prospective purchaser to a point of intended use, such as a home, where the visual effect of the tiles can be seen without the need to take an actual tile to the point of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Jeremy Graham Scott
  • Publication number: 20030107775
    Abstract: A portable imaging system transportable by a user between a first and second location for scanning an image for later production of an image product. The system includes (a) a first and second member movable between an open and closed position; (b) a scanning area accessible when the system is in the open position for receiving and scanning the image to produce a digital image; (c) memory for storing the digital image; and (d) a communication port adapted to transmit the digital image from the portable imaging system to a device for later production of the imaging product comprising the digital image. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a display for displaying the digital image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: John R. Fredlund, Richard S. Keirsbilck, Joseph A. Manico