Patents Issued in November 20, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030214541
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a liquid crystal display panel includes a vessel for containing a spacer material, an ink-jet device for jetting the spacer material across a space onto a substrate; and a heater for heating the ink-jet device. A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display panel includes the steps of aligning an ink-jet device filled with a spacer material relative to a substrate of a liquid crystal display device, jetting the spacer material from the ink-jet device across a space onto the substrate and heating the spacer material before the spacer material is jetted from the ink-jet device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hong Jun, Yong Bum Kim
  • Publication number: 20030214542
    Abstract: A printing system has a recording head, an ink cartridge and a computer. The recording head has a nozzle. The ink cartridge sprays the ink from the nozzle to a paper in accordance with a printing procedure. The computer detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge. The computer detects whether the remaining amount of ink is less than or equal to a predetermined reference value. The computer calculates usage required for the printing procedure of the ink when the remaining amount is determined to be less than or equal to the reference value. The computer compares the detected remaining amount of the ink when the remaining amount of ink is determined to be less than or equal to the reference value with the calculated usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Yoshida, Masaru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20030214543
    Abstract: A head driving device of a liquid jetting apparatus includes a driving element, respectively provided corresponding to plural nozzles from which a liquid droplet is jetted, a driving waveform generating circuit, generating a driving waveform to drive the driving element selectively at predetermined jetting timing, a current amplifying circuit, amplifying the driving waveform and a current amplifying element, connected in parallel with an amplifying element of the current amplifying circuit. The current amplifying element is operated when a current value of the current amplifying circuit exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Umeda
  • Publication number: 20030214544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a printhead, a printing apparatus comprising the printhead, and a print control method thereof. The printhead includes a plurality of heating elements and a driving circuit for electrifying and driving the heating elements. The printhead comprises: a shift register for serially inputting digital data, supplied from an external unit, and retaining the data; a counter for counting a clock; a comparator for comparing time-length data, included in the digital data, with a counted value of the counter, and outputting a match signal when a match is found; and a flip-flop circuit for enabling a driving signal in response to a driving start signal supplied from an external unit, and disenabling the driving signal in response to the match signal outputted based on the counted value of the counter from the driving start signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Aihara
  • Publication number: 20030214545
    Abstract: A remaining-liquid-amount apparatus for displaying an amount of conductive liquid (ink) remaining in a container includes electrode units which are arranged along a direction in which the liquid level falls when the amount of liquid in the container decreases and which conduct current when the electrode units are in contact with the liquid, a voltage source (pulse generator) which applies a voltage to the electrode units, a liquid detector (DFFs) which detects the presence/absence of the liquid at positions of the electrode units on the basis of whether or not the electrode units conduct current when the voltage is applied by the voltage source, and a remaining-liquid-amount display unit (LEDs) which displays, in steps, the amount of liquid remaining in the container on the basis of the detection result of the presence/absence of the liquid at positions of the electrode units obtained by the liquid detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Takumi Namekawa, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Shinichi Horii
  • Publication number: 20030214546
    Abstract: A recording liquid container for containing liquid for recording to be supplied to recording means, said recording liquid container being detachably mountable to a mounting portion of a recording device, said recording liquid container includes an information memory medium storing predetermined information; wireless sending means capable of wireless sending of a predetermined information in said information memory medium within a predetermined range; a wireless communication antenna for wirelessly sending radio wave; and communication property changing means for changing a communication property of the wireless sending.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hatasa, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20030214547
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus for recording in discharging ink out of a recording head, comprising a recovery apparatus for recovering the recording head in performing a conceptually lower recovery operation and a conceptually higher recovery operation including the conceptually lower recovery operation and a controller for controlling the operation of the recovery apparatus. In a case where the conceptually lower recovery operation is otherwise made, if a second condition not satisfying a first condition is satisfied even where the first condition for performing the conceptually higher recovery operation is not satisfied during the conceptually higher recovery operation, the conceptually higher recovery operation is performed without performing the conceptually lower recovery operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Sukigara
  • Publication number: 20030214548
    Abstract: This invention concerns a printhead capping mechanism for preventing evaporation of ink from a printhead when it is not in use. The invention has utility, for instance, in a color printer which uses a drop-on-demand inkjet printhead. The mechanism includes a cap fitted with an elastomeric seal to seal against the face of the printhead, and a sponge to catch drops ejected from the printhead during the nozzle cleaning cycle. The mechanism also includes an actuating structure operable to selectively move the cap between an engaged position to press against the printhead and a disengaged position spaced away from the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20030214549
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inkjet image forming apparatus recordable of non-margin images on a recording medium by discharging ink to regions within as well as out of the recording medium from a recording means, comprising an ink absorbing material for receiving ink dischargeed at a position protruded from the recording medium and a platen having a holding portion to hold the ink absorbing material and supporting the recording medium at a recording position. The holding section formed at the platen has an opening for receiving the ink and is formed with a wall for holding a periphery of the ink absorbing material and a rib supporting a bottom of the ink absorbing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Ogasawara
  • Publication number: 20030214550
    Abstract: A first current supplier supplies a first current to a first phase coil of a motor. A second current supplier supplies a second current to a second phase coil of the motor. A current selector selects a value of the first current and a value of the second current, so as to make constant at least one of a magnitude of a synthetic vector obtained by the selected value of the first current and the selected value of the second current at every microstep driving step of the motor, and an angular interval between synthetic vectors corresponding to adjacent microstep driving steps of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Yoshihisa, Koichiro Yokoyama, Tsunenobu Endo
  • Publication number: 20030214551
    Abstract: An ink jet head is provided with a plurality of nozzle arrays formed by many numbers of ink nozzles for discharging large-amount ink droplets and small-amount ink droplets. Although the ink jet head generates heat more on the middle portion thereof, it is cooled by discharges of ink droplets. The degree of cooling is greater by the large-amount ink droplets to be discharged. Thus, on the first column in the main scan direction, the small-amount nozzle array is positioned, and on the second column, the large-amount nozzle array is positioned. In this way, it is made possible to balance the temperature distributions in the main scan direction. As a result, color images can be formed in high quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Yabe
  • Publication number: 20030214552
    Abstract: An ink jet head according to the present invention comprises multiple discharge ports for discharging ink, multiple ink flow paths for communicating with the discharge ports, and heat generating elements for generating bubble in ink filling the ink flow paths. Two heat generating elements are arranged in each ink flow path, and the discharge ports are arranged along a line that is extended, from the center of a pressure generation region formed by the two heat generating elements, in the normal direction relative to the surface of the substrate. The pitch for the arrangement of the heat generating elements is equal to or greater than 600 dpi, and the interval dhn between a partition wall defining the ink flow path and the heat generating element adjacent to the partition wall is equal to or smaller than 4 &mgr;m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mineo Kaneko, Ken Tsuchii, Keiichiro Tsukuda, Masaki Oikawa, Kenji Yabe
  • Publication number: 20030214553
    Abstract: Overlaying electronic ink over a document. In some embodiments, a developer may easily define an inking surface over a document, wherein the document may or may not be ink-compatible. The inking surface may act as an input interface such that a user may write onto the inking surface and the ink may be transferred to the document as ink data and/or recognized text. The inking surface may be overlaid upon the document or may include the document as a background feature. The inking surface may further have one or more regions that may be linked to one or more areas of the underlying document. Each region may have an associated recognizer context.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Steve Dodge
  • Publication number: 20030214554
    Abstract: Stationary print heads of this invention employ an array of conventional print heads that are reoriented 90 degrees relative to their conventional orientation such that the nozzle arrays in each print head are aligned perpendicular to the direction of print media movement. The reoriented print heads are positioned in at least first and second rows with the print heads in the first row spaced apart across the width of a printable image area. The print heads in the second row are similarly spaced apart but offset from the print heads in the first row. As the print medium continuously moves in one direction through the printer, the first and second rows of print heads print a wide swath comprising an entire linear row of dots across the width of the print medium. Continuously moving the print media, without conventional incremental movements or bidirectional print head scanning provides significantly increased printing speed and improved dot placement accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Wellspring Trust
    Inventor: Mark J. Tschida
  • Publication number: 20030214555
    Abstract: Two print heads combined for each ink color are arranged symmetric to each other with respect to the scan direction and are used for a bidirectional printing. In producing secondary colors, image data is spread-processed by using a “diagonal arrangement” spread pattern to differentiate the ink application order at one of dots arranged in the raster direction from those of the other dots and thereby reduce color variations in the scan direction. Further, when image data has a half-tone, a “horizontal arrangement” spread pattern, different from the previous one, is used to perform image processing on the image data to alleviate an undesired texture. To prevent a driving load from concentrating on only one of the paired print heads, the number of times that each nozzle is driven is counted and an adjustment is made to spread the frequency of use among the two paired print heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Teshigawara, Naoji Otsuka, Kiichiro Takahashi, Hitoshi Nishikori, Osamu Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20030214556
    Abstract: A snap-through thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The snap-through actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor edges which define a central plane. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element is formed to have a residual shape bowing outward from the central plane in a first direction away from the second layer. The snap-through thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element which causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Antonio Cabal, John A. Lebens, David P. Trauernicht, David S. Ross
  • Publication number: 20030214557
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus which enables an easy operation of attaching and detaching an ink cartridge and a stable conduction state between an electrical contact thereof and an electrical contact on the side of a carriage unit. The recording apparatus is provided with, in order to securely hold an ink cartridge on a carriage unit, a cover disposed on the carriage unit so as to be openable and closable and a spring-like member which causes an energizing force to act on the ink cartridge so that an electrical contact disposed on the ink cartridge is energized and kept in press-contact in a direction opposed to an electrical contact disposed on the carriage unit, and constructed so that, by closing the cover, the ink cartridge is securely held on the carriage unit and both the electrical contacts are conduction-connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nakamura, Shigeo Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20030214558
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus and method thereof to bond the bonding portions of an FPC cable to pads of a print head die in order to electrically connect the print head die of an ink jet print head assembly include a stage and a bonding tool. The print head die includes resistive heaters, signal lines connected to the resistive heaters, and electrical pads to connect the signal lines to an outside of the print head die to the FPC cable having conductors having bonding portions facing the pads. The print head die is supported on the stage with the pads facing upward. The bonding tool includes a tip that press bonding portions of the FPC cable against corresponding pads of the print head die placed on the stage, and heats the bonding portions in contact with the pads to bond the bonding portion to the pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Seon Kim, Seo-Hyun Cho, Dae-Woo Son, Sa-Yoon Kang, Myung-Song Jung
  • Publication number: 20030214559
    Abstract: In order to be enable a coupling terminal member of the ink cartridge and a coupling terminal of the printing apparatus to be in certain and increase a degree of freedom on installation position of a coupling terminal member of an ink cartridge, an ink cartridge installed in a printing apparatus for supplying the printing apparatus with ink includes an ink cartridge body for containing ink therein, an ink supply section on which an ink supply opening placed on or near the first sidewall of the ink cartridge body is formed, a memory for storing information on ink contained in the ink cartridge body, a contact terminal member placed on the second sidewall of the ink cartridge body and coupled to the memory and a positioning member, which protrudes from the second sidewall of the ink cartridge body, for positioning the ink cartridge properly with respect to the printing apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Hashii, Atsuhiko Takeuchi, Kazumasa Harada
  • Publication number: 20030214560
    Abstract: A liquid jetting head of the invention includes a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles and a flowing-path plate layered on the nozzle plate. The flowing-path plate has a plurality of nozzle-communicating chambers and a plurality of elongated pressure-chambers. The plurality of nozzle-communicating chambers respectively communicate with the plurality of nozzles, the plurality of pressure-chambers respectively communicate with the plurality of nozzle-communicating chambers, and the plurality of pressure-chambers are open to a side away from the nozzle plate. A vibrating plate commonly seals the open surfaces of the plurality of pressure-chambers of the flowing-path plate, and a plurality of pressure-generating units respectively changes pressures of liquid in the respective pressure-chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuji Yonekubo
  • Publication number: 20030214561
    Abstract: Disclosed are an ink-jet recording head, in which nozzles can be arrayed in high density and a manufacturing cost thereof is reduced, and an ink-jet recording apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Shimada, Yoshinao Miyata, Hiroyuki Kamei, Tetsushi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20030214562
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead has a piezoelectric module including a plate with an integrated ink chamber in flow communication with an integrated ink supply manifold and an integrated ink orifice. The ink chamber includes a main channel that connects the ink supply manifold to the ink orifice, and multiple piezoelectric actuators depending from the main channel and spaced apart by ink subchannels in flow communication with the main channel. The printhead also includes a ground electrode in contact with a first end of each of the actuators, and a cover plate bonded to the piezoelectric plate to seal the chamber and the manifold, the cover plate being in contact with a control electrode and configured to conduct control signals from the control electrode to the actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works
    Inventor: Hongsheng Zhang
  • Publication number: 20030214563
    Abstract: A vibration plate forms a part of each of pressure chambers communicated with a nozzle orifice from which a liquid droplet is ejected. A plurality of piezoelectric vibrators include a drive vibrator and a dummy vibrator which are disposed on the vibration plate such that at least the drive vibrator opposes to each of the pressure chambers. The drive vibrator is provided with a drive electrode, a first piezoelectric layer laminated on the drive electrode, and a first common electrode laminated on the first piezoelectric layer. The dummy vibrator is provided with a connection electrode electrically connected to the first common electrode, a second piezoelectric layer laminated on the connection electrode, and a second common electrode laminated on the second piezoelectric layer and electrically connected to the first common electrode. A first terminal is electrically connected to the drive electrode to supply a drive signal thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Publication number: 20030214564
    Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid-jet recording head and a liquid-jet recording apparatus, which are capable of retaining a fine liquid ejecting characteristic and obtaining a stable liquid ejecting characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinao Miyata
  • Publication number: 20030214565
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes ink chambers storing ink, a sealing member sealing the ink chambers provided with ink injection openings injecting ink into the ink chambers and air inflow openings through which the ink chambers communicate with an outside of the ink chambers, a cover member forming air inflow passageways between the air inflow openings and the outside of the ink chambers in cooperation with the sealing member and sealing the ink injection openings, an ink blocking part first blocking the ink from being discharged through the air inflow passageways in cooperation with the air inflow openings, and an ink storage part storing the ink passing through the air inflow openings and the ink blocking part to prevent the ink from being discharged through the air inflow passageways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-su Lee, Seo-hyun Cho, Hyung-hyu Hwang, Moo-youl Kim, Myung-song Jung
  • Publication number: 20030214566
    Abstract: A duct is installed in an apparatus housing. The duct has an outside inlet, a first discharge opening, a second discharge opening, and an air filter. Outside air is taken into the duct from the outside inlet through the air filter. The air filter filters the outside air to prevent dust from getting into the duct. A cooling axial flow fan disposed in the vicinity of each of the first and second discharge openings. The cooling axial flow fans blow the filtered outside air into fixing devices to be cooled. Gaps are formed between the cooling axial flow fan and the first discharge opening, and between the other cooling axial flow fan and the second discharge opening, as inside inlets. When the air filter clogs, air in the housing is supplied to the cooling axial flow fans through the gaps, to circulate the air inside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Miyazaki, Takashi Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20030214567
    Abstract: The invention provides an image display medium comprising: a first transparent substrate disposed on an observation side; a second substrate disposed on a further side from the observation side than the first substrate; and a display layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate and containing a plurality of developer particles; the first substrate including a color filter having at least one group of a plurality of light-transmitting filter films of different colors. The invention also provides an image recording apparatus including a recording head for recording an image on the medium and a positioning device for positioning the filter films of the color filter and the recording head. The invention further provides an image recording method comprising the steps of positioning the filter films of the medium and the recording head, and recording an image by the recording head on the medium having the filter films positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Masaharu Kanazawa, Keyaki Yogome, Akihito Ikegawa
  • Publication number: 20030214568
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for forming a color image by superposing component color images, a control device obtains position data representing a forming position of each of plural registration mark images for the component color images with respect to a positional reference value arbitrarily determined, divides the position data into each of a unit reference range representing a range in which one mark image is formed, converts the position data divided for each unit reference range into those based on respective reference values representing the front edge of the unit reference ranges, extracts the position data representing ranges common to the mutually overlapping ranges each of which is represented by a couple of position data corresponding to the rising and falling edges of a passage timing pulse as read position data of the mark image of the component color, and calculates the amounts of positional deviations of the component color images from one another on the basis of the position data extracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Nishikawa, Hiroyuki Maruyama, Hiroyuki Arai, Toshihiro Motoi, Kenji Izumiya, Ryuji Okutomi, Shinobu Kishi, Satoshi Ogata, Kenichi Ozawa, Tadayuki Ueda, Yumiko Higashi
  • Publication number: 20030214569
    Abstract: A color thermal printer has thermal heads for recording yellow, magenta and cyan mono-color image, respectively. An mono-color image data of each mono-color image is processed in image data processing section, and thereafter sent to the thermal head. A correction CPU for each mono-color image reads out mono-color image data at each line to calculate a transport friction fluctuation at the thermal head between recording line and a first previous line thereto. Further, the correction CPU calculates a correction of heat energy of the thermal head on the basis of all of the transport friction fluctuation of the thermal heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Hayashi, Hisashi Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20030214570
    Abstract: A thermal developing apparatus having a recording section 16 for exposing a thermal developing photosensitive material or a photosensitive thermal recording material (hereinafter referred to as a “thermal developing recording material”) to form a latent image, a control section A for controlling the recording section 16, and a thermal developing section 18 for heating the thermal developing recording material by a heating member to carry out thermal development, comprising a sensor B1 for measuring the surface temperature of a presser roller of the thermal developing section 18 and a light amount correcting circuit A1 for correcting an amount of recording light of the thermal developing recording material based on the output of the sensor B1, the amount of light of the light amount correcting circuit A1 being corrected to reduce the amount of light when the surface temperature of the presser roller is raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Ito, Nobuyuki Torisawa
  • Publication number: 20030214571
    Abstract: In an exposure apparatus of the invention, for a spatial light modulator, each of a plurality of pixel portions fewer than the total number of the pixel portions is controlled with a control signal generated according to exposure information. Namely, a part of the pixel portions is controlled without controlling a whole of the pixel portions on the substrate. Thus, the number of pixels in the pixel portions is decreased, and transfer time of the control signal becomes short. This enables modulation speed of the laser beam to be increased and the high-speed exposure to be performed. An incorporated laser light source, in which the laser beams are incorporated and struck on the optical fiber, is preferable to the laser device. By adopting the incorporated laser light source, high brightness and high output can be obtained, and it is preferable to the exposure of the spatial light modulator. Since the fiber array is obtained with few optical fibers, it is low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromi Ishikawa, Kazuhiko Nagano, Yoji Okazaki, Takeshi Fujii, Hiromitsu Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20030214572
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that is capable controlling the rotational speed of a polygon motor so as to reduce variations in the rotational speed of the polygon motor to the minimum possible level and enable steady rotation of the polygon motor with ease in controlling the rotational speed of the polygon motor to a target speed. When a photosensitive drum is exposure-scanned while the traveling direction of an exposure laser beam is deflected by the polygon mirror, a polygon motor for driving the polygon mirror is controlled according to target periods or target speeds of the polygon motor, which are determined for respective mirror planes of the polygon mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Satoru Kanno
  • Publication number: 20030214573
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dual-purpose videophone applicable for both Internet and PSTN by handling both IP and PSTN in a single unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Song Rok Oh
  • Publication number: 20030214574
    Abstract: To provide ceremonial occasion services which enables for guests present in the hall to visually recognize each online guest, and simultaneously, for each online guest to visually recognize the hall and other online guest, and thus to provide a similar sensation to the case where each online guest attends and seats together with them at the hall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Ginganet Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nozomu Saruhashi
  • Publication number: 20030214575
    Abstract: The image pickup device includes a plurality of plane mirrors arranged in the form of a polygonal pyramid, and a plurality of cameras disposed opposite the plane mirrors, respectively. The angle of incidence of a ray passing along the optical axis of a lens of the camera on the plane mirror is set to be less than 45 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Koichi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20030214576
    Abstract: An image of an object outside a vehicle is picked up by a left camera and a right camera under the control of a CPU based on current position information of the vehicle whose position is measured, vehicle state information of slow speed, running, etc., and road information concerning the road where the vehicle is positioned, such as a narrow street, and is supplied through a selector to a display, so that the need for the user to perform burdensome work is eliminated and the user can check the circumstances outside the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Koga
  • Publication number: 20030214577
    Abstract: An image display device includes a display portion, an image transmission panel, a stereo frame and a video signal supply portion. The display portion has an image display surface for displaying an image inclusive of a stereo image. The image transmission panel is disposed in a space on a side opposite to the display portion so as to be separated from and parallel to the image display surface. The image transmission panel forms the image displayed on the image display surface. The stereo frame is disposed on a part of an image-forming plane where the image is formed. The video signal supply portion supplies a video signal to the display portion so that the stereo image formed on the image-forming plane moves between an inside space of the stereo frame and an outside space of the stereo frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Ishikawa, Hiroshi Toriumi
  • Publication number: 20030214578
    Abstract: An image monitoring system has at least one image transducer, at least one evaluating unit with which the image transducer is connectable, an indicator for outputting a signal of the at least one image transducer and a user surface connectable with the evaluating unit, a manually movable input means for indication and for parametrization of the image monitoring system, connected to the evaluating unit, the indicator presenting a representive symbol for the input means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Carsten Luehwink, Thorsten Ohmacht, Michael Meyer, Christof Ridder, Juergen Koehler
  • Publication number: 20030214579
    Abstract: A sensing device includes a propulsion system that is typically substantially or completely within the sensing device. The propulsion system may include, for example, a rotatable propeller. The sensing device may be an in-vivo autonomous capsule with an imager, but may be another type of sensing device. A separate propulsion system may be provided which may be attachable to, for example, a sensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Gavriel J. Iddan
  • Publication number: 20030214580
    Abstract: A sensing device includes a magnetohydrodynamic propulsion system. The sensing device may be an in-vivo autonomous capsule with an imager, but may be another type of sensing device. A separate propulsion system may be provided which may be attachable to, for example, a sensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Gavriel J. Iddan
  • Publication number: 20030214581
    Abstract: An imaging section is secured to a casing, and an object is supported on an object support section, which is located within the casing. The object support section is moved within the casing in order for an imaging distance between the imaging section and the object, which has been supported on the object support section, to be altered. Excitation light is irradiated to the object, which has been supported on the object support section, with an excitation light source, which is secured to the object support section. A distribution of illuminances of the excitation light on the object is thus prevented from fluctuating to a fluctuation of the imaging distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seishi Ikami
  • Publication number: 20030214582
    Abstract: A video delivery apparatus used by the user includes a roadmap selecting means, a link video selecting means, a route video selecting means, a communication speed setting means, a route tool, and a video tool. The user sets a route on a roadmap using the route tool. The video delivery apparatus selects video information corresponding to the route through the link video selecting means and replays the video by displaying images which are extracted so that the replayed image moves at the same speed as the moving speed set by the video tool, not depending on the condition under which the vide has been recorded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Kazunori Takahashi, Takeshi Shima
  • Publication number: 20030214583
    Abstract: Detecting fire and non-fire conditions includes receiving a plurality of frames of video information, determining an energy indicator for each of a subset of the plurality of frames, detecting a fire condition in response to the energy indicator for each of the subset of the plurality of frames forming a pattern as a function of time corresponding to a fire condition, and detecting a non-fire condition in response to the energy indicator for each of the subset of the plurality of frames forming a pattern as a function of time corresponding to a non-fire condition. Detecting fire and non-fire conditions may also include comparing energy indicators for each of the subset of the plurality of frames to a reference frame. The reference frame may correspond to a video frame taken when no fire is present, a video frame immediately preceding each of the subset of the plurality of frames, or a video frame immediately preceding a frame that is immediately preceding each of the subset of the plurality of frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Mokhtar Sadok
  • Publication number: 20030214584
    Abstract: A system that enables enhanced vision while driving a vehicle generally three respects: (1) extended vision in front and perpendicular to the vehicle, (2) rearward vision without the “blind” spots caused by mirrors and (3) rear detection of faster oncoming traffic. A pair of side view cameras integrated into the headlight assembly of a vehicle allows extended vision perpendicular to the direction of vehicular travel, such that an obstruction beside the vehicle will not block vision. A pair of rear view cameras also preferably integrated into the headlight assembly of the vehicle allows rearward vision to be displayed where a rear view mirror is typically positioned. A speed and distance-detecting device, such as a laser or radar gun, is mounted near the rear bumper in order to observe the speed of an approaching vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Bruce Eliot Ross
  • Publication number: 20030214585
    Abstract: A manned, mobile traffic enforcement platform with aimable violation and documentation devices employing digital video and still images, incorporating contextual information as well as data input by the system operator and driver, and mostly comprised of commercial off-the-shelf products. The mobile enforcement platform (MEP) is operated by a trained and authorized system operator (typically a police officer trained and experienced in traffic enforcement) who applies pre-determined criteria, protocols, procedures and routines that are approved and authorized by the user-jurisdiction for use with the MEP system. MEP's aimable and fixed-aim devices support detection, identification, and documentation of violations occurring in any of several lanes behind or in front of the moving MEP vehicle. MEP also can be used from the roadside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Charles Adams Bakewell
  • Publication number: 20030214586
    Abstract: An image quality analysis method and an image quality analysis system for a display device are provided. The image quality analysis method and image quality analysis system provides a quantitative determination of image quality for display devices, thereby providing an objective and fair evaluation criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Don Gyou Lee, Il Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20030214587
    Abstract: An electronic equipment manufacturer has been bearing the burden to adjust variations in characteristics of semiconductor integrated circuits according to a conventional art. The device and the method of this invention include a microcomputer, signal processing circuit which processes an input signal accordingly to a control signal from the microcomputer and provides an output signal and a memory which stores adjustment values to adjust changes in signal characteristics due to variations in manufacturing of elements composing the signal processing unit. The microcomputer adjusts the changes in the signal characteristics of the signal processing circuit according to the adjustment values stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakajima, Hideo Imaizumi, Takuji Kato
  • Publication number: 20030214588
    Abstract: The camera includes an image pick-up device which obtains an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto a photoelectrically converting surface thereof; a dust-proofing member with a circular or polygonal plate-shape as a whole, including a transparent portion at an area having at least a predetermined extensity in a radial direction from the center thereof, opposed to the front of the optical device at a predetermined interval; a member for vibration annularly arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, which applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member; a sealing structure arranged to constitute a space portion that is substantially sealed at a portion formed by opposing the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member by sealing the space portion at peripheral portions of the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member; and an image signal processing circuit which converts an image signal obtained from the image pick-up device, corresponding to an image formed onto th
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takizawa, Sumio Kawai
  • Publication number: 20030214589
    Abstract: A photographing device successively performs temporary photographing operations and main photographing operations in a predetermined photographing mode. In the temporary photographing operation, a through picture that is displayed on a monitor of the photographing device is temporarily stored in a temporary storage as a reference picture for composition matching. After the temporary photographing operation, the reference picture is processed into a semitransparent picture and mixed with a through picture that is continuously changing to form a composite picture and, the composite picture is displayed on the monitor instead of the through picture. When he shutter button is half-depressed, a photographing instruction message informing that a photograph can be taken is displayed superposed on the picture on the monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Shibutani
  • Publication number: 20030214590
    Abstract: A system and related method for compensating for dark current in an image capture device is disclosed. An embodiment of the invention includes an image sensor for capturing a dark image, a memory element for storing the dark image, and logic for assigning a mathematical function to the dark image, where the only variable in the mathematical function is time. The image sensor captures an image, the image including a time of capture indicator, where the time of capture indicator is assigned to the mathematical function. The invention then calculates a dark current value at the time of image capture and subtracts the dark current value from the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Kevin Matherson