Abstract: A method, system and program for displaying specified resource usage are provided. A usage status is determined for resources utilized by a computer system. Responsive to detecting a window displayed within a user interface in association with a particular system element (e.g. software, hardware, network) from among multiple system elements, adjusting a shading of a preexisting window element within the window to indicate the usage status of at least one of the resources as utilized by the particular system element, such that a display area for specifying the usage of at least one of the resources avoids consuming additional screen real estate for a status indicator.

Abstract: A signal waveform is displayed on a display. In response to a user using a pointing device to select a location on the display, values for a selected parameter of the displayed signal waveform are adjusted based on locations on the display selected by the user using the pointing device.

Abstract: A method, system and program for varying the heights of application images to convey application status are provided. At least one type of activity is detected for an application image associated with an application opened in a graphical interface. A three-dimensional height of the application image in said graphical interface is graphically adjusted to represent at least one type of activity, such that at least one type of activity is graphically distinguished for an application from the application image.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that creates a volumetric display and a user controllable volumetric pointer within the volumetric display. The user can point by aiming a beam which is vector, planar or tangent based, positioning a device in three-dimensions in association with the display, touching a digitizing surface of the display enclosure or otherwise inputting position coordinates. The cursor can take a number of different forms including a ray, a point, a volume and a plane. The ray can include a ring, a bead, a segmented wand, a cone and a cylinder. The user designates an input position and the system maps the input position to a 3D cursor position within the volumetric display. The system also determines whether any object has been designated by the cursor by determining whether the object is within a region of influence of the cursor. The system also performs any function activated in association with the designation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to enable a user to navigate through a repository of graphical displays and maintain the knowledge of the location of any display in the repository at any time. The purpose of the navigation activity could be to enable a user to create a slide presentation by searching, selecting, downloading and compiling slides from a central slide repository located on a computing network. In accordance with this invention, graphical displays are arranged in a repository in a grid-like configuration such that a list of groups of displayed in one direction and the specific displays within that group are listed in another direction (preferably, this second direction is perpendicular to the direction of the list of groups of displays). These groups of slides are arranged in set of directories and sub-directories that are linked to each directory.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking a plurality of actions against at least one object by a computer system is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing an output view, wherein the output view includes a first output area and a second output area. An action list containing each of the plurality of actions is displayed in one of the first and second output areas. A user is allowed to select one action from the action list, and information associated with the selected action is displayed in the other of the first and second output areas.

Abstract: This invention relates to a display method for query by tree search which method is to have several rows of symbols (such as alphabet or character) used for query appeared on display screen first; then to click one of said rows of symbols and the clicked rows of symbols are longitudinally arrayed as column and appeared on said display screen; after further to click the symbol going to be clicked, all words saved with the same initial as said symbol clicked are appeared on said display screen; and subsequently to click the queried word to show all information related to the queried word on said display screen.

Abstract: A method, system and program for displaying transparency characteristic aids are provided. A user interface is displayed comprising at least one displayable object within a display area controlled by a computer system. Responsive to an initiating event, placing a transparency characteristic aid within the display area in association with the initiating event, such that the at least one displayable object is not obscured by the transparency characteristic aid. The transparency resource aid may indicate resource usage of hardware, software, and graphical characteristics.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for specifying audio output according to displayable object graphical characteristics are provided. A graphical characteristic of at least one displayable object within a user interface is detected. An audio output of a sound associated with at least one displayable object is adjusted to reflect the graphical characteristic, such that the audio output is specified according to a graphical display within the user interface.

Abstract: A spittoon for servicing an inkjet printhead is provided, where the spittoon includes a bottom and one or more walls. At least one wall of the spittoon has an inwardly extending lip. The walls of the spittoon, taken in combination with the bottom of the spittoon, define a waste ink reservoir. The presence of at least one lip on the spittoon walls helps retain the waste ink when the spittoon is moved or tilted, minimizing ink spills.

Abstract: When multilevel printing is performed by using a plurality of types of inks, which present different densities for similar colors when used for printing, and changing the types of inks and the numbers of ink droplets in printing each pixel, an ink distribution table which defines a combination of the types of inks and the numbers of ink droplets in correspondence with each gray level value is generated on the basis of input information associated with the relative densities of the respective inks. A combination to be used to print each pixel is selected on the basis of the ink distribution table, thereby printing a good grayscale image free from gray-level reversal and the like.

Abstract: Aerosol emissions within an inkjet printer are reduced. A printhead of the inkjet printer is fired using a first set of firing conditions when firing conditions are critical for printing performance. When firing conditions are not critical for printing performance, the printhead is fired using a second set of firing conditions. The second set of firing conditions is optimized to provide reduction of aerosol jets.

Abstract: This invention provides a printing head which can prevent an increase in the number of block enable signal lines, and can prevent changes in printing ink density caused by interference due to the relative pressures of nozzles generated in ink discharge, and an image printing apparatus using the printing head. For this purpose, an increase in the number of input signal lines along with an increase in the number of blocks is prevented using a block clock signal or the like instead of a block enable signal as an input signal to the printing head. Three ring counters generate signals having different nozzle driving orders. These signals are selectively used by a ring counter selection signal. Ink is not always discharged from the nozzles in the same output order. This can prevent changes in ink density caused by pressure interference.

Abstract: Printing with one nozzle is liable to cause banding, whereas printing with more than one nozzle to prevent banding is slow in printing speed.

Abstract: A head drive circuit is adapted to selectively drive piezoelectric elements for ejecting liquid droplets from a liquid jetting head of a liquid jetting apparatus. A charger is adapted to apply a bias voltage to ground-side electrodes of the piezoelectric elements. An anomalous voltage detector outputs a detection signal when a charging voltage of the charger is a predetermined value or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus and voltage control method that can track instantaneous ON/OFF changes in the printing elements of the printhead and provide a steady voltage supply thereto, as well as restrain the voltage drop attendant upon such rapid load transitions. The present invention controls the drive voltage that drives the printhead including a plurality of printing elements mounted in a printing apparatus by inputting data transmitted from an external device, counting the number of printing elements to be driven, evaluating the extent of the load of the next single print cycle to be applied to the printhead, inputting an evaluation signal indicating the results of that evaluation to a voltage control unit that supplies a controlled voltage so as to drive the plurality of printing elements of the printhead, and adding a compensation voltage that compensates for the load-induced voltage drop that occurs when the printhead is driven.

Abstract: This present invention is to provide a driving circuit and method for an inkjet printhead. The driving circuit includes a group of group-driving lines, a group of column-driving lines and a group of row-driving lines. The printhead includes a plurality of driving groups which are driven by driving signals inputted in sequence via the corresponding group-driving lines. Each driving group includes a plurality of actuator and control switches which are driven by driving signals inputted via the corresponding column-driving line and row-driving line. Each control switch is just driven when the corresponding group-driving line, column-driving line and row-driving line input driving signals at the same time. Then, the driven control switch conducts the electric current to the corresponding actuator so as to jet out the ink in the ink chamber.

Abstract: An inkjet printer, a system thereof and a method of compensating for deteriorated nozzles. The inkjet printer has an input unit to select a printing workload share for nozzle groups with respect to an image writing unit area, each nozzle group including a plurality of nozzles; and a control unit to control the print head according to the printing workload share selected by the input unit, thereby causing the image data to be printed onto the recording medium. Since the printing workload share for the defective nozzles is reduced, print quality deterioration can be prevented without having to replace a print head.

Abstract: A temperature control system for an inkjet printhead assembly, including a printhead assembly having ink ejection elements energizable by an electrical pulse having an amplitude and pulse width, a sensor coupled to the printhead assembly for generating a signal representative of the printhead temperature, a memory for storing current printhead operating parameters and a controller for reading a nominal operating pulse width, the signal from the sensor and the printhead operating parameters, said controller calculates an adjusted pulse width using the nominal operating pulse width, the signal from the sensor and the current printhead operating parameters, wherein the controller uses the adjusted pulse width to control printhead temperature.

Abstract: When a pixel-dividing number is increased to a predetermined number or more, then nozzles in each nozzle group become in one-to-one correspondence with the sub-pixel number, so that only one of the nozzles performs ink ejection at one time. Accordingly an analog driving signal drives only a single nozzle in the corresponding group at one time. Therefore, by trimming the analog driving signal in accordance with a subject nozzle each time, the all-amount trimming is possible without providing a large number of analog-driving-signal generating devices for all of the nozzles.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a print control method which detect a defective printing element in operation failure status while reciprocate-scanning a printhead, and perform appropriate print control such as complementary printing on an unprinted portion by the defective printing element, without reducing the printing speed. An apparatus, to which the method is applied, has a photosensor 8, to detect ink discharge statuses of a plurality of nozzles of a printhead 5, which is provided between a home position of the printhead and the outside of an effective printing area where image printing is to be made. While the printhead 5 is scanned, test ink discharge is performed at the position of the photosensor 8, and the ink discharge statuses of the nozzles are detected by the photosensor 8. A corrector 123 analyzes the operation statuses of the nozzles of the printhead 5 based on the results of detection in a real time manner. A CPU 25 performs print control based on the results of analysis.

Abstract: A method of correcting for malfunctioning ink ejection elements in a printing system using a single pass over a recording medium which includes obtaining a standard printmask, identifying ink ejection elements which are malfunctioning, ascertaining an original color measurement value for each pixel which will be printed with the malfunctioning ink ejection elements, determining a replacement color measurement value closest in value to the original color measurement value which does not use the malfunctioning ink ejection elements for each pixel which will be printed with the malfunctioning ink ejection elements and modifying the standard printmask by adjusting the number and color of ink drops deposited based on the replacement color measurement value for each pixel which will be printed with the malfunctioning ink ejection elements to create a modified printmask.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording with use of a recording head having two nozzle arrays arranged side-by-side includes first, second, and third direct memory access (DMA) units, a data converter unit for converting first image data stored in a work buffer into second image data, a record buffer unit for storing the second image data, a latch unit for storing the second image data in a transfer buffer, a buffer reading control table unit, and a DMA control unit for causing transfer processing to be executed by the first, second, and third DMA units based on a flag in the buffer reading control table unit when the image data stored in the work buffer is transferred to the transfer buffer.

Abstract: In order to realize stable image printing, this invention provides an image printing apparatus capable of supplying a stable voltage to a printhead, and maintaining a compact shape. For this purpose, in the image printing apparatus in which a carriage which supports a printhead is scanned on a printing medium to print an image, a power converter which converts power to be supplied to the printhead is mounted on the first print circuit board of the carriage so as to supply a predetermined voltage to the printhead. The printhead, and a power smoothing unit which smoothes the voltage converted by the power converter in accordance with the load of the printhead are mounted on the second print circuit board. The first and second print circuit boards are separately arranged at a proper gap in the image printing apparatus, which prevents an increase in the size of the image printing apparatus.

Abstract: A region to be covered by a cover plate (208) on an ejection opening forming surface (205) of an ink-jet head or an ink-jet head to which the cover plate (208) is installed are determined, on a basis of content of a rebounding mist generated upon ejection of an ink and a processing liquid in overlaying fashion. By this, in the ink-jet printing apparatus performing printing by ejecting the ink and the processing liquid for making the ink insoluble, deposition of the insoluble substance contained in the rebounding mist generated upon ejection of an ink and a processing liquid in overlaying fashion can be successfully prevented.

Abstract: A spittoon system is provided for receiving ink residue spit from an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. The spittoon system includes a storage container having a chamber, and an aerogel foam within the chamber for absorbing the received ink residue.

Abstract: In an ink jet apparatus for manufacturing a color filter 1, ink jet heads 22 having a plurality of nozzle 27 are disposed in a linear manner. Filter element member is ejected to a motherboard 12 from a plurality of nozzles 27 four times so as to form the filter element 3 in a predetermined thickness. By doing this, it is possible to prevent difference in the thickness in a plurality of the filter elements 3 and to equalize light transparency in planar manner. Thus, in an ejecting apparatus, a color filter can be formed in more common way at low cost and more efficiently. Also, it is possible to provide an ejecting apparatus which can equalize factors such as electrooptic characteristics of the electrooptic members, color displaying characteristics by the liquid crystal apparatuses, and illuminating characteristics by an EL surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printer having, a white color head to jet a white color ink; a plurality of process color heads to jet respective process color inks; and a controller to control operations of the white color head and the plurality of process color heads, wherein the controller selectively conducts a control of a top face printing where at least one of the plurality of the process color heads jets the respective process color ink after the white color head jets the white color ink, or a control of a bottom face printing where the white color head jets the white color ink after at least one of the plurality of the process color heads jets the respective process color ink.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead and manufacturing method thereof including a substrate integrally having an ink supply manifold, an ink chamber, and an ink channel; a nozzle plate having a nozzle on the substrate; a heater centered around the nozzle and an electrode for applying current to the heater on the nozzle plate; and an adiabatic layer on the heater for preventing heat generated by the heater from being conducted upward from the heater. Alternatively, a bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead may be formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer having a first substrate, an oxide layer, and a second substrate stacked thereon and include an adiabatic barrier on the second substrate. In the bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead and manufacturing method thereof, the adiabatic layer or the adiabatic barrier is provided to transmit most of the heat generated by the heater to ink under the heater, thereby increasing energy efficiency.

Abstract: A flextensional transducer includes a substrate having an etch stop layer interposed between a first layer and a second layer, a flexible membrane supported by the second layer of the substrate and having an orifice defined therein, and an actuator provided on the flexible membrane and adapted to deflect the flexible membrane. The substrate has an opening formed through the first layer and a hole formed through the etch stop layer and the second layer such that the hole through the etch stop layer and the second layer of the substrate communicates with the opening through the first layer of the substrate and the orifice in the flexible membrane.

Abstract: A developing system for a bore matrix in a printer using toner in the form of a dry toner powder, and comprising a feeder brush (3) which receives toner from a toner container (1), a printer brush (5) receiving toner from the toner feeder brush (3) and transporting same through bores of a bore matrix (8) and down to a document (9) to be printed, and means (15) for charging the toner particles by mechanically rubbing the toner particles (2) against the printer brush (5), and in which a means (19) may be provided for ripping free the charged toner particles (2), so that said particles form a cloud (7) of charged toner particles (2) adjacent the bore matrix (8), which pass down to the document (9) to be printed through open bores of the bore matrix (8).

Abstract: An adhesive joint with an ink trap is provided. The joint may be employed in a cartridge for an inkjet printer. The cartridge includes a headland region attached to a printhead assembly by an adhesive layer. The adhesive joint between the headland region and the printhead assembly include notches for retaining additional adhesive in order to reduce degradation of adhesive due to ink penetration. A method of assembling the printer cartridge to include an ink trap in the adhesive joint is also provided.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer is provided with a first set of electrodes spaced in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric ceramic layers, and a second set of electrodes spaced in a direction along a plane of the piezoelectric ceramic layers. The first set of electrodes defines therebetween a first area, and the second set of electrodes defines therebetween second areas one on each side of the first area. The first area is substantially level with the second areas. The first and second areas are polarized in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric ceramic layers.

Abstract: Baffles located next to the input of the ink feed channel in an inkjet pen to capture and retain contaminant particles before the particles reach the printhead. Particles that may accumulate on interior surfaces of the pen when the pen is maintained in an non-printing orientation are thus prevented from cascading into the ink feed channel when the pen is reoriented for printing.

Abstract: A printhead assembly for an ink jet printer includes an elongate pagewidth printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrangements. The printhead defines a plurality of ink supply passages in fluid communication with each respective nozzle arrangement. An elongate pagewidth ink distribution manifold is connected to said printhead, the manifold being in fluid communication with the ink supply passages and defining a plurality of ink inlets. An ink supply unit is connected to said manifold and defines a volume in which ink for the printhead is stored while being fed from the supply unit to the printhead, via the manifold. The ink supply unit includes a plurality of obstruction members that are positioned in the ink supply unit to inhibit excessive movement of ink in the ink supply unit as a result of movement of the printer.

Abstract: Techniques for liquid replenishment in a printer/plotter. An ink delivery system (IDS) is employed wherein the on-carriage spring reservoir of the print cartridge is manually and securely connected to the off-carriage reservoir. A pen cartridge that uses an internal spring to provide vacuum pressure is connected from an inlet port through a unitary coupler to an ink reservoir located off the scanning carriage axis. The coupler serves to align as well as to secure two mating valves to securely hold them together in an open latched position which is not intended to be modified or disconnected until the entire ink supply has been depleted. A replaceable ink supply module for providing replenishment of an inkjet printhead includes a collapsible bag, an enclosure box, a connective tube, and an on/off valve. These four components are incorporated into a composite sealed system which remains intact during shipment, storage, installation and operation.

Abstract: An ink supply device is provided in correspondence with a recording head unit. The recording head unit has a recording head that ejects ink drops onto a recording medium on the basis of image information. Additionally the recording head unit has a sub ink tank provided with an air communication hole. The ink supply device includes an ink supply unit that supplies ink to the sub ink tank by reducing pressure on the inside of the sub ink tank through a pressure reduction part. A sealing part at least implements sealing of the air communication hole while the ink supply unit is reducing the pressure inside the sub ink tank.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge is provided comprising an outlet port, an ink containing region, and a wick substantially surrounding a portion of the ink containing region, the wick being configured such that ink flows to the outlet port. Preferably, the wick is configured such that ink flows to the outlet port irrespective of an orientation of the ink jet cartridge.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate to a print cartridge that can be configured to receive ink from one of at least two possible ink paths depending upon a desired printer configuration. In one exemplary embodiment, the print cartridge has a body configurable to receive ink from at least two different ink supply configurations, and a fluid interface that when coupled with the body effectively selects one of the ink supply configurations.

Abstract: A printing system includes a high volumetric efficient free-ink container vessel. The vessel includes a reservoir to store a supply of ink. A vent hole in the reservoir links atmospheric air to the reservoir. A mechanical vent system selectively opens and closes the vent hole in the reservoir. The mechanical vent system is equipped with a movable member that moves between a closed position covering the vent hole and an open position uncovering the vent hole. The mechanical vent system moves the movable member to open and close the vent hole. When the vent hole is open, non-atmospheric pressures imparted within the reservoir can be virtually eliminated by the exemplary mechanical vent system.

Abstract: An ink jet printer of the invention is comprised of: an ink cartridge including an ink pack enclosing an ink and an air injection pack arranged adjacent to the ink pack; and an air feed unit for feeding the air to the inside of the air injection pack on the basis of the control of a controller. When the air is injected from the air feed unit into the air injection pack, the volume of the ink pack is decreased so that the ink is discharged from the ink pack, as the volume of the air injection pack is increased. And, the ink, as discharged from the ink pack, is fed to a printing head so that it is discharged to a paper.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a seal between two or more components using a thermally cured sealing material. One exemplary method includes selectively applying an electrical signal to a heating trace on a first component, applying a sealing material between at least a portion of the first component and at least a portion of a second component, and at least partially thermally curing the sealing material using thermal energy generated by the application of the electrical signal to the heating trace.

Abstract: An inkjet cartridge for use with a thermal inkjet printer includes a standpipe area and an entrained ink chamber that are connected in fluidic communication. The entrained ink chamber and standpipe area can be enclosed by a wall that can have a plurality of panels or facets. The inkjet cartridge also includes a duct or passage that is connected in fluidic communication to both the standpipe area and the entrained ink chamber, wherein the connection to the entrained ink chamber is operatively located above the standpipe area, thus enabling anomalous air bubbles to migrate from the standpipe area and into the entrained ink chamber.

Abstract: A fluid ejection cartridge includes a fluid container that has both a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid ejection cartridge has one or more fluid ejectors fluidically coupled to the fluid container outlet and a fluid valve fluidically coupled to the fluid container inlet. The fluid ejection cartridge has a filter assembly having a compliant portion with an internal volume fluidically coupled to the fluid container outlet such that the internal volume changes when fluid flows into the fluid container.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fluid ejection device comprises a substrate having a fluid slot defined from a first surface through to a second opposite surface; an ejection element formed over the first surface and that ejects fluid therefrom; and a filter having feed holes positioned over the fluid slot near the first surface. Fluid moves from the second surface through the feed holes to the ejection element. In a particular embodiment, the filter is formed of a first material that is surrounded by a second material. In another particular embodiment, the filter is formed from the back side and is formed of the same material as the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating material for producing a porous ink-absorbent coating on a substrate to be used in ink-jet printers, comprising radiation curable material and particulate material in a liquid carrier, wherein the weight ratio of particulate material to radiation curable material is greater than 1:1. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a coated substrate using such a coating material. Advantageously, the coating material of the present invention does not crack upon curing, and conveniently forms a porous coating having a glossy surface, while retaining a porous structure for ink-absorption.

Abstract: An inkjet printing mechanism includes a media support holding media in a printzone and a carriage scanning an inkjet printhead across the printzone. A heating element is supported by the carriage and moves relative to the media.

Abstract: A system and method for drying a printed medium includes a heated roll and a transport mechanism which moves the printed medium against the heated roll to dry the printed medium.

Abstract: An ink drying system for high speed printing. A plurality of plenums are in fluid communication with a source of pressurized gas, mediated by respective fast acting valves. In a first embodiment of the invention, each plenum contains a plurality of small orifices grouped to define a localized drying area. The localized drying areas of the plenums form a substantially continuous drying region that, preferably, spans the entire lateral extent of the largest printed image. In a second embodiment of the invention, the plenums are spaced apart along the direction of travel of the sheet, and orifices of each plenum are distributed over the entire drying region.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus an inkjet printhead has a plurality of inkjet nozzles which eject ink onto media located within a print-zone. A drive shaft is located upstream of the printhead and is incrementally rotated to advance the media. The drive shaft has a longitudinal axis, a first radius over a central length and a second radius less than the first radius at a first recess and a second recess, each said recess being peripheral to the central length. A plurality of pinch devices stabilize the media against the drive shaft. A first guide is aligned with the first recess and is spaced from an axis of the drive shaft by a first distance which is less than the first radius. A second guide is aligned with the second recess and is spaced from the axis by a second distance less than the first radius.