Patents Issued in January 6, 2004
  • Patent number: 6674501
    Abstract: A pixel unit included in a multi-domain vertically aligned liquid crystal display is provided. The pixel unit includes a first insulating substrate having a first side and a second side, a second insulating substrate having a third side and a fourth side, a plurality of liquid crystal molecules filled between the first side of the first insulating substrate and the fourth side of the second insulating substrate, an electric field generation device for providing an electric field to change alignment of the liquid crystal molecules, and a cone protrusion formed on the first side of the first insulating substrate for generating an advance inclination of the liquid crystal molecules around the cone protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Long-Hai Wu, Sakae Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6674502
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes an insulative substrate having a surface treated with an oxygen plasma and a nitrogen-plasma-treated layer formed over said surface of said substrate. A surface of said nitrogen-plasma-treated layer has a nitrogen concentration of about 10 mol % or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatomo Terakado, Toshiki Kaneko, Takuya Takahashi, Kenichi Chahara, Kenichi Onisawa
  • Patent number: 6674503
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display element includes a pair of substrates made of plastic, a liquid crystal sandwiched between the pair of substrates, and a plurality of spacers for maintaining a gap d between the pair of substrates, which are sandwiched between the pair of substrates, and when x is an average value of thickness of the plurality of spacers in a state without a load in such a direction that the plurality of spacers are sandwiched between the pair of substrates, d<x≦1.1d is satisfied. Further, in the liquid crystal display element, a numerical density of the spacers is set to be not less than 240 pieces/mm2 and not more than 300 pieces/mm2. Further, in the liquid crystal display element, an elastic modulus of the spacers is set to be larger than that of the pair of substrates. As a result, in the liquid crystal display element, color shading is suppressed while suppressing generation of bubbles in a vacuum region and reduction in contrast, thus obtaining desirable display quality of a display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Niiya, Ippei Inou
  • Patent number: 6674504
    Abstract: A device and method of manufacturing a single layer multi-state ultra-fast cholesteric liquid crystal includes two optically transparent states with a liquid crystal arranged therebetween, and changing the optical states of the liquid crystal ranging from one state to any combination of broadband reflection, tunable narrow band reflection, light scattering, and transparency in accordance with a voltage applied to the device. A surfactant can be added to reduce the response time and a dichroic dye may be added to include the property of light absorption and reduce the bandwidth. The device can provide any and all of the aforementioned optical states for infrared light, visible light, and ultra-violet light. The desired outputs can be formed according to need, so that predetermined optical states can operate with either no voltage or a particular voltage or voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kent Optronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Le Li, Deng-Ke Yang
  • Patent number: 6674505
    Abstract: A light-modulating cell and a display device based on a chiral nematic liquid crystal material in which the difference of optical rotation power between the planar nematic state and the focal conic state is used for discriminating between optical states, in particular for chiral nematic liquid crystal material having a pitch length associated with infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Van De Witte, Rifat Ata Mustafa Hikmet
  • Patent number: 6674506
    Abstract: An apparatus introduces fluid in vias formed in an LCD element free of voids or air bubbles in the fluid material. A support base secures the LCD element in place during fluid flow from a fluid dispenser positioned proximate to the LCD element. Fluid flow is facilitated by thermal energy from a heating element arranged in thermal contact with the support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Fallon, Charles F. Scaglione
  • Patent number: 6674507
    Abstract: A belt-shaped sealant is coated on a substrate to surround a periphery of a display region of a flat type display device. A start point and a termination point of the sealant are disposed remote from the display region such that the sealant never intrudes into the inside of the display region when the sealant is pressed between opposing substrates of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignees: NEC Corporation, NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidefumi Yoshizoe
  • Patent number: 6674508
    Abstract: To achieve for a photographic film conveying device that no external force causing conveying speed to vary is applied to a photographic film during image reading, after a preceding photographic film is discharged from a reading conveying path, the time until a subsequent photographic film is conveyed to the reading conveying path is not long, or even if a photographic film set in a film supplying section is elongate, image reading of photographic films by an image reading section can be carried out efficiently, there is provided a photographic film conveying device comprising a section setting a discharge conveying section in a withdrawn state or a conveying state, a section controlling conveying of preceding and subsequent photographic films, or a section switching a conveying path of a photographic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignees: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Ando, Yasuhiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6674509
    Abstract: A scanning exposure apparatus for transferring a pattern of a master onto each of a plurality of shot regions defined on a substrate, while synchronously scanning the master and the substrate. The apparatus includes a master stage for moving the master, a substrate stage for moving the substrate, and a controller for controlling movement of the substrate stage during scanning exposure of the plurality of shot regions so as to assure that a setting distance in which the substrate stage is moved guarantees that a synchronization error between the master stage and the substrate stage falls within an allowable range after the substrate stage is accelerated up to a scan speed for the scanning exposure. The controller controls the movement of the substrate stage such that a setting distance for first shot region, which is exposed first upon a change in a row to which a shot region to be exposed belongs, is set to be longer than a setting distance for other shot regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6674510
    Abstract: In an off-axis levelling procedure a height map of the substrate is generated at a measurement station. The height map is referenced to a physical reference surface of the substrate table. The physical reference surface may be a surface in which is inset a transmission image sensor. At the exposure station the height of the physical reference surface is measured and related to the focal plane of the projection lens. The height map can then be used to determine the optimum height and/or tilt of substrate table to position the exposure area on the substrate in best focus during exposure. The same principles can be applied to (reflective) masks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes C. M. Jasper, Erik R. Loopstra, Theodorus M. Modderman, Gerrit J. Nijmeijer, Nicolaas A. A. J. van Asten, Frederik T. E. Heuts, Jacobus Gemen, Richard J. H. Du Croo de Jongh, Marcus E. J. Boonman, Jacob F. F. Klinkhamer, Thomas J. M. Castenmiller
  • Patent number: 6674511
    Abstract: An evaluation mask for evaluating a projection-type exposure apparatus, the mask including at least one diffraction grating pattern for producing a diffracted light of the positive first-order and a diffracted light of negative first-order, diffraction efficiencies of the diffracted lights being different respectively, one of the diffracted lights having a magnitude that is zero, and an image of the at least one diffraction grating pattern being projected onto a test substrate by the projection-type exposure apparatus, and a reference pattern for obtaining a reference image to measure a displacement of the image of the diffraction grating pattern, and an image of the reference pattern being projected onto the test substrate or the image detector by the projection-type exposure apparatus, wherein the images of the diffraction grating pattern and the reference pattern projected onto the test substrate or the image detector are used for evaluating the projection-type exposure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Kenji Konomi
  • Patent number: 6674512
    Abstract: An interferometer measuring system comprising two moveable members and a reference member that may have significantly less movement, the group having a number of attached measurement mirrors, interferometers for measuring position and two optical support blocks for the interferometers. The interferometers are used to determine the measured optical path lengths to each of the moveable members and reference member and these positions are used to calculate the misalignment, or error in the relative positions of the moveable members with respect to the reference member. This calculated error is then used to correct the misalignment by moving the appropriate members in the manner directed by the calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: W. Thomas Novak, David Stumbo, Fuyuhiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 6674513
    Abstract: A dioptric projection optical system for imaging a reduced image of a pattern on a first surface onto a second surface using radiation-transmitting refractors. The projection optical system has a front lens unit of a positive refracting power and a rear lens unit of a positive refracting power. An aperture stop is located in the vicinity of a rear focal point of the front lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Omura
  • Patent number: 6674514
    Abstract: An optical system includes an internal reflection type optical member for changing a direction of advancement of an approximately linearly polarized light on the basis of total reflection and a depolarizing member for dissolving linear polarization of light emitted from the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken-ichiro Shinoda
  • Patent number: 6674515
    Abstract: A light beam cut-off device installed separately from a light beam scanning device and making it possible to cut off a light beam emitted from the light beam scanning device to a photosensitive material when exposure for the photosensitive material is stopped, and prevent transmission of vibration to the light beam scanning device. The light beam cut-off device disposed below the light beam scanning device. An elongated plate shutter member extending along a main scanning direction of a laser beam emitted from the light beam scanning device, is provided so as to, when exposure for the photosensitive material is stopped, swing due to driving force of the stepping motor to a position at which the laser beam is blocked. Further, when the photosensitive material is exposed, the shutter member swings to a position at which it retreats from the optical path of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Yamada
  • Patent number: 6674516
    Abstract: A predictive method is used to compensate for intermediate batch sensitivities which inevitably occur during resist batch changeover. The compensation is applied to historical dose levels to arrive at a new dose level estimating an optimum dose. When the system discovers that a new batch of resist is loaded to a tool, historical data is used to calculate a reference dose for each tool. A batch factor is continuously calculated and using historical data along with the batch factor, a dose adjustment is made to maintain proper image size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith J. Machia, Matthew C. Nicholls, Charles J. Parrish, Craig E. Schneider, Charles A. Whiting
  • Patent number: 6674517
    Abstract: A light beam from a light-emitting device is applied to a measurement object via a collimator lens and an object lens, and reflected light concentrated via the object lens among the reflected light from a light spot formed on the measurement object is split and concentrated by a beam splitter and a light-receiving lens. The reflected lights from the two regions inside the light spot located at a prescribed interval on a straight line parallel to the travel direction of the measurement object are made to pass separately through two pinholes, respectively, and the resulting reflected lights are respectively made incident on two light-receiving sections. Then, on the basis of the outputs of the two light-receiving sections, the travel speed and the quantity of movement of the measurement object are measured by an operating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akifumi Yamaguchi, Hisakazu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6674518
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for testing a fiber-optic cable. An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is presented. Test signals are generated from the OTDR and received by the OTDR for processing. The received test signals are sampled and analyzed. The received test signals include reflectance spikes and a slope. A first-order derivative is taken of the received signal. The first-order derivative is then filtered to remove the reflectance spikes and the slope. Discontinuities in the filtered first-order derivative denote a fault in the fiber-optic cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Michael L. Asher, Hossein Eslambolchi, Charles C. Giddens, Christopher Rollin Giles, John Sinclair Huffman, Harold Jeffrey Stewart
  • Patent number: 6674519
    Abstract: An adaptive optics system configured as an optical phase front measurement system which provides for relatively high resolution sampling as in holographic techniques but without the need for a reference beam. The optical phase front measurement system includes one or more lenses and a spatial light modulator positioned at the focal plane of the lenses and a camera which enables the phase front to be determined from intensity snapshots. The phase front measurement system allows for relatively long range applications with relatively relaxed criteria for the coherence length of the laser beam and the Doppler shift. As such, the system is suitable for a wide variety of applications including astronomy, long range imaging, imaging through a turbulent medium, space communications, distant target illumination and laser pointing stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Peter H. Mui
  • Patent number: 6674520
    Abstract: A missile tracking and deflection system for protecting a platform includes a missile warning system for detecting the presence of a missile and generating a warning signal. A countermeasure processor receives the warning signal and analyzes characteristics of the missile to prioritize a trajectory signal. A track processor receives the trajectory signal and generates a pointer signal. The system also includes a receiver, which is positioned by a pointer that receives the pointer signal, for receiving a passive and/or active signature of the missile to confirm the presence thereof. The countermeasure processor then directs a laser beam at the missile to determine its operational parameters and receives an active signature from the missile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Allen T. Hicks, Timothy E. MacKlin, Dennis L. Carter, Susan E. Hall
  • Patent number: 6674521
    Abstract: A reconfigurable optical method and system for rapidly measuring relative angular alignment of flat surfaces are provided. The method and system can be used to rapidly and simultaneously measure the relative angular alignment of machined flat surfaces of a manufactured part. The system can measure parallelism, perpendicularity or angular alignment of multiple flat surfaces. The system can also be used to set up a range of reference angles to which machined surfaces can be compared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Stephen B. Segall, Juris Upatnieks
  • Patent number: 6674522
    Abstract: The ability to inspect photomasks for errors or defects in phase-shifters is greatly enhanced using optical techniques based on multiple modified radiation collection techniques. In particular, the apparatus and methods of the invention allows for errors in phase-shifters to be more accurately detected, even in the presence of regular amplitude objects such as grid lines. In one embodiment, the intensities of two slightly defocused images of phase objects corresponding to the same photomask location are compared. In a second embodiment, radiation having two Zernike point spread functions is used to obtain two slightly different phase sensitive images. Data collected and analyzed using this method provides much greater sensitivity to phase objects and errors in phase objects than prior art inspection systems. Embodiments include both scanning-type and projector-type optical architectures and may utilize radiation transmitted or reflected by a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias C. Krantz, Mark Joseph Wihl, Stanley E. Stokowski
  • Patent number: 6674523
    Abstract: A pre-viewing inspection method and apparatus for inspecting an inspection article prior to visual inspection thereof, the inspection article being an electrophotographic member, such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The method (apparatus) comprises a defect signal detecting step (means) of detecting a defect signal based on a defect state of the inspection article, a detailed defect information generating step (means) of generating detailed defect information based on the defect signal detected in the defect signal detecting step, the detailed defect information including defect position information, and a detailed defect information visualizing step (means) of visualizing, on the inspection article, the detailed defect information generated in the detailed defect information generating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichi Kawamorita, Ryozo Fukuda, Kazuya Tokuda, Kenji Muranaka, Shoshin Igarashi
  • Patent number: 6674524
    Abstract: An arrangement for the visual inspection of substrates (S) comprises a microscope (2) for viewing the substrate (S) present at an inspection point (I); at least one viewing field (11), arranged next to a microscope viewing port (2a), for viewing an image or an image area of the substrate (S); and/or at least one further viewing field (12), arranged next to the microscope viewing port (2a), for direct viewing of the substrate (S) or a portion of the substrate (S); the microscope viewing port (2a) and the viewing fields (11, 12) being arranged with respect to an operating position (P) in such a way that from the operating position (P), the viewer looks in a first viewing direction (A) perpendicularly onto the microscope viewing port (2a), and in at least one further viewing direction (B, B′) approximately perpendicularly in each case onto one of the viewing fields (11, 12). The first viewing direction (A) and the viewing directions (B, B′) enclose acute angles (&agr;, &agr;′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Jena GmbH
    Inventor: Karsten Urban
  • Patent number: 6674525
    Abstract: A microcytometer which combines lysing and cytometry into a unified system that achieves blood lysis and white blood cell count in a single device. The device focuses the white cells into a thin ribbon which is then focused into a single stream for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Micronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Bardell, Bernhard H. Weigl, C. Frederick Battrell
  • Patent number: 6674526
    Abstract: The long-term stability of the analytic accuracy of spectroscopic measurements is often limited by wavelength axis instabilities of the hardware. A dedicated optical element called the inverse sample element (4) is inserted into the path of the measurement light. The optical response of the inverse sample element (4) is determined from the spectral response of the average sample (3) in such a way that wavelength axis instabilities of the instrument hardware cause opposite and nearly cancelled amplitude effects in the resulting absorbance spectrum. The inverse sample element (4) can be movable or permanently mounted inside the instrument and is preferably made from a thin-film structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Ralf Marbach
  • Patent number: 6674527
    Abstract: A method in which a multiplicative ratio approach is used to remove the effects of the unwanted background fluorescence when making fluoroescence polarization (FP) measurements rather than the conventional subtractive approach, thus preserving both the precision and accuracy of the FP measurements, is disclosed. The method comprises selecting an appropriate multiplicative ratio, then calculating the selected multiplicative ratio using sample measurements. The calculated multiplicative ratio is multiplied by an appropriate value in a standard FP measurement equation or an appropriate value in an equation derived from a standard FP measurement equation. After this, the corrected FP measurement is calculated. When such multiplicative ratios are applied to the appropriate value or values in an FP measurement equation, the effects of background noise can be reduced without decreasing the precision of the FP measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford C. Hoyt
  • Patent number: 6674528
    Abstract: Suspended particulate matter in the atmospheric air is sucked into a container by a pump. The suspended particulate matter in the atmospheric air in the container is electrically charged so as to electrically collect it. The collected suspended particulate matter is irradiated with laser beams under the condition that the collected suspended particulate matter is dispersed at an appropriate concentration. A spatial intensity distribution of diffracted and scattered light obtained by irradiating laser beams to the suspended particulate matter is measured. A particle size distribution of the suspended particulate matter P is found from the result of measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Motoaki Adachi, Kikuo Okuyama, Shinichiro Totoki, Michio Higuchi, Haruo Shimaoka, Akihiro Fukai
  • Patent number: 6674529
    Abstract: The present invention creates an apparatus for determining physical collective parameters of particles in gases, which comprises a measuring chamber with light entrance ports (121) and exit ports (123, 124) for electromagnetic radiation, an emission source (113) for electromagnetic radiation being provided and at least two detection apparatuses (114, 115) for determining the intensity of electromagnetic radiation scattered at the particles being provided, and the detection apparatuses (114, 115) detecting electromagnetic radiation of different scattering regions. The present invention further creates a method for determining physical collective parameters of particles in gases, the particles being exposed to electromagnetic radiation which is scattered at the particles, wherein the intensities of the scattered radiation of at least two different scattering regions are determined and their ratio is taken subsequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Sachweh, Camiel Heffels, Matthias Rädle, Helmut Biermann, Hans Jürgen Eisen, Jürgen Ettmüller, Johannes G Reuvers
  • Patent number: 6674530
    Abstract: A handheld, pen-like colorimeter for measuring the color of an object is provided. The invention includes three light sensors, each of which detects a separate primary color. A microprocessor in the colorimeter calculates a single composite color value from the three separate color measurements from the light sensors and then compares the composite color value with a list of color values, wherein each value corresponds to a unique color name. The colorimeter selects the color name that matches the composite color value of the object presents the color name to a user, using a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an audio speaker. Another embodiment of the present invention uses lasers emitting primary colors, rather than passive light sensors. The lasers shine on an object one at a time, and the reflected laser light from the three lasers is detected by a special light sensor. The three color measurements are then combined to produce a composite value, similar to the first embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Viktors Berstis
  • Patent number: 6674531
    Abstract: With interferometric test systems, the test object is frequently measured over several sections in order to realize a complete test. If special structural features are found, in particular defects, it is usually difficult to localize the structural features shown on the result images on the object. It is the object of the present method to transfer the interferometrically measured data from the various sections to a joint object coordinate system. To achieve this object, the shape of the object is measured and the spatial coordinates for the deformation data on the object surface are determined from this measured. Thus, a method is realized which permits determining the exact spatial orientation and position of the discovered structural features on the object. On the one hand, the defects on the object can thus be localized precisely while, on the other hand, an exact quantitative evaluation of the results is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Bernward Mähner
  • Patent number: 6674532
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for instantaneous measurement of the complete state of polarization across an image. A polarimetric encoding scheme is employed to uniquely map the spatially-varying state of polarization across a partially-polarized image to irradiance variations in a polarization-encoded interference pattern. In one embodiment of the method, two spatially-varying retarders and a linear polarizer comprise an interferometric polarization interrogating filter assembly. When a conventional irradiance image is presented to the filter assembly, it is decomposed into polarized and unpolarized components. While the unpolarized component passes through the filter substantially unaffected, the polarized component gives rise to a polarization-encoded interference pattern that overlaps the scene so that local regions within the image having specific polarization content may be recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Jay S. VanDelden
  • Patent number: 6674533
    Abstract: An anodizing system for forming a anodized coating on at least a portion of a substrate thereby creating an anodized substrate is disclosed. The anodizing system includes a bath, a coating thickness monitor, at least one probe and at least one controller. The coating thickness monitor includes at least one radiation source directed at at least a portion of the anodized substrate; at least one probe for capturing at least a portion of the radiation reflected and refracted by the anodized coating on the anodized substrate, the captured radiation being at least a portion of the radiation directed the anodized substrate from the radiation source; and at least one detector in communication with the at least one probe, the at least one detector capable of processing the captured radiation to allow a determination of at least the thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph K. Price
  • Patent number: 6674534
    Abstract: When a scanning start position set signal is input in an area image sensor, the content is transferred to a vertical scanning circuit, and the scan start position is set. Image of a desired row is read by horizontal scanning. Then, one shift signal for vertical scanning is input, the position of scanning is shifted by one row, and horizontal scanning is performed. Thus image of the next row is read. By repeating this operation, a desired strip-shaped image is read. The shape of the object is determined and when a portion is determined to have complicated shape, the image data is input by means of a lens having long focal length, and image data of other portions are input by means of a lens having short focal length. By putting together a plurality of input image data, image data as a whole is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Norita, Makoto Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6674535
    Abstract: A technique for processing print data in which a single printer driver of a host confirms a data processing form of a printer, generates print data corresponding to the confirmed data processing form of the printer and transmits the print data to the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 6674536
    Abstract: The present invention discloses apparatus for, and a method of, rendering image data prior to outputting of the resulting image. A graphics co-processor (224) is utilized together with a host CPU (202), the former having a plurality of data calculation streams (241, 242, 243) arranged in parallel fashion. Only one of the data calculation streams (241, 242, 243) is operated at any one time. Preferably at least one (242) of the data calculation streams is able to be reconfigured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Timothy Merrick Long, Ian Gibson, Christopher Amies
  • Patent number: 6674537
    Abstract: When an ID card including a user ID stored therein is set in an image processing apparatus, the user ID is read out of the IC card. Upon depression of a key instructing individual setting, ID information including the user ID and an apparatus ID is transmitted to a computer terminal which stores a plurality of user ID's and setting information corresponding to the apparatus. Responding to the ID information transmitted, the computer terminal transmits individual setting information stored therein for each user back to the image processing apparatus, whereupon the apparatus stores the individual setting information in a memory and realizes the individual setting for each user, which corresponds to the set user ID, in a control panel of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 6674538
    Abstract: An image reproduction system includes a data bus for transmitting a compressed and coded digital image signal, in which compression mode information related to the compressing and coding of the digital image signal is added to the digital image signal. The system also includes a first input device that inputs the digital image signal transmitted by the data bus and a second input device that inputs an analog image signal. A converter converts the analog image signal inputted by the second input device to a digital signal. A buffer memory selectively stores either the digital image signal inputted by the first input device or the digital signal converted by the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6674539
    Abstract: A method for printing an image in a distributed network system is described. The distributed network system includes an image provider system, a printing service provider system, and a user terminal coupled together via a network. First, a low resolution version of the image is received in the user terminal from the image provider system. The user can customize the low resolution image using typical image processing operations. The low resolution version of the image is then sent to the printing service provider system if the image is determined to be printed. Then the printing service provider system receives a high resolution version of the image from the image provider system such that the high resolution version instead of the low resolution version of the image is printed by the printing service provider system. The customization of the low resolution image is applied to the high resolution image before it is printed. A system for printing an image in a distributed network system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bill Serra, Paul Charette
  • Patent number: 6674540
    Abstract: A system for assembling the various pieces of a complex document that may be created in different formats and/or by different document generating application programs, while preserving the integrity of those individual file formats, and printing the fully assembled complex document. The invention may be generally characterized as (1) arranging individual document files created by different document generating application programs , MSWord®, MSExcel®, and Adobe Acrobat® for example, in different file formats (*.doc, *.xlc, *.pdf) in the order that they will appear in the compound document and then (2) launching the corresponding document generating application program to print each file in the arranged order and thereby print the compound document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alejandro Wiechers, Rogelio Robles
  • Patent number: 6674541
    Abstract: A method for transmitting facsimile data between facsimile apparatuses each connected to a relay apparatus, and relay apparatuses being connected each other through an internet protocol network, includes steps of: performing an address conversion from a telephone number of a facsimile apparatus of the reception side to an IP address corresponding to the telephone number; transmitting a request for TCP connection to a relay apparatus corresponding to a destination of the IP address when receiving an identifying signal which indicates transmission of the facsimile data from the facsimile apparatus of the sending side; and transmitting the facsimile data to the relay apparatus corresponding to the destination of the IP address based on the TCP connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Kamiyama, Kazuki Yoshiura, Katsuo Gomi, Hiroaki Hamano, Ryoichi Doi
  • Patent number: 6674542
    Abstract: An unprintable area on a label sheet is at first obtained so that a print is not overlapped with the unprintable area on the sheet when laying out print items in cells of a tack sheet etc. It is judged whether or not address data is printed in the unprintable area, and, if a print position of the address data is overlapped with the unprintable area, a print of a fragment of data extending to within the unprintable area is so controlled as to be reduced and moved. Only the fragment of data is set as an object for the control of the reduction, and movement, and hence a well-laid-out print can be attained while making attributes (a size of a character font etc) of the original data reflected therein. In the print control, data that should not be reduced (the size should ne be changed) as in the case of a bar code may be excluded from the object for control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kaoru Shimamura
  • Patent number: 6674543
    Abstract: A printer with a housing arranged to be manually positioned on an image receiving medium. In order to allow easy alignment, a window is provided such that the print face is visible through the window. A controller of the printer is operable to detect markings on an image receiving medium, the markings being scanned by means of a scanner. An indicator referring to a direction in which the printer is to be moved and the detected markings are displayed in order to obtain alignment between the print face and the detected markings. The printer uses a medium with alignment marks, or alternately prints alignment marks onto a medium. Finally, a base station with an adjustable stop for positioning a print medium is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Esselte N.V.
    Inventors: Robert Charles Lewis Day, Jonathan Kemp, Adrian Michael Woodward, Lawrence Archard, Robert Charles Sims, Geert Heyse, Michel Woodman, Chris McCleve, Martin Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6674544
    Abstract: This improved image processing method comprises the steps of selecting a low-pass filter having a mask size corresponding to the pixel density of an image to be reproduced from a plurality of types of low-pass filters; creating unsharp image signals representing an unsharp image of the photographic image from digital image signals using the selected low-pass filter; obtaining difference signals by carrying out subtraction between signals relating to pixels which correspond to the digital image signals and the unsharp image signals; and obtaining processed image signals for reproducing visible signals by subjecting the difference signals to predetermined image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Shiota, Toru Matama, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6674545
    Abstract: The management apparatus is connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network and manages the amount of image formations made by separate users using the plurality of image forming apparatuses. The management apparatus includes the amount of image formations distribution unit which distributes the amount of image formations allocated to each user among the plurality of image forming apparatuses in accordance with the first ratio and the distributed amount transmission control unit which transmits a respective amount of image formations associated with the user together with the identification information of the user to each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Atsumi
  • Patent number: 6674546
    Abstract: The invention provided an image processing method having the steps of, storing a plurality of multi-level dither threshold value arrangements employed for a multi-level dither process, discriminating a given first gradation image data expressing one pixel by a first bit number into an image field emphasizing a resolution and an image field emphasizing a gradation, selecting an optimum multi-level dither threshold value arrangement from a plurality of multi-level dither threshold value arrangements on the basis of a discrimination result by the discriminating step, and converting the gradation image data into a second gradation image data expressing one pixel by a second bit number less than the first bit number according to a multi-level dither process on the basis of the selected optimum multi-level dither threshold value arrangement. Accordingly, it is possible to perform a multi-level dither process which establish both of a resolution in a character/line image field and a gradation in a photo image field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Nakahara
  • Patent number: 6674547
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus having an input unit for inputting an image signal, a generation unit for generating a modulation mode signal in accordance with a designation made by an operator using an operation unit, and a modulation unit for selectively outputting a pulse-width modulated signal obtained by performing pulse-width modulation of the image signal input by the input unit in units of m pixels or in units of n pixels (m<n) in accordance with the modulation mode signal generated by the generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 6674548
    Abstract: A facsimile apparatus includes: a unit for receiving image data and information on the type of the image data: There is at least one data output port each or which is connected with a first recording device; and/or at least one second recording device. The facsimile apparatus further includes a recording device determining unit which determines one recording device among the first recording device and the at least one second recording device, based on the information. A selector unit outputs the received image data, based on the determination by the recording device determining unit, through one of the at least one data output port corresponding to the first recording device, or to one of the at least one second recording device. The facsimile apparatus may contain an image type determining unit for examining the received image data to determine the type of image data, instead of receiving the above described information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Norio Kanemitsu
  • Patent number: 6674549
    Abstract: Apparatus for acquiring an image utilizing serial transmission between the analog-to-digital converting means and the processing means (ASIC) is disclosed herein. The image acquiring system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the following devices. The image sensor converts an image to an electrical signal responding to a trigger signal. An amplifier amplifies the power of the electrical signal mentioned above, and the amplified electrical signal is of the analog format. The A/D converting device converts the amplified electrical signal from the analog format to the digital format responding to a reference voltage, wherein the A/D converting device outputs the digitized electrical signal in series. The processing device stores the digitized electrical signal in a memory, wherein the trigger signal is generated by the processing device responding to the digitized electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mustek Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Liang, Gene Tai, Chuck Lo
  • Patent number: 6674550
    Abstract: In a facsimile apparatus which communicates data through a communication line, a transmission level can be changed manually or in accordance with a type of the communication line or a type of an external unit as discriminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Ezumi, Toshio Kenmochi, Hisashi Toyoda, Takeshi Tsukamoto