Patents Issued in April 1, 2004
  • Publication number: 20040061740
    Abstract: There is provided a color conversion processing method and the like, which are capable of performing a data processing for images with a common processing system independently of a printer and also capable of performing a flexible alteration of the processing method, even if it is concerned with the printer restricted in the above-mentioned matter. In the event that there is a restriction on a total value of the respective values of CMYK on one pixel for instance, for a respective printer, image data is converted into image data suitable for the printer involved in the restriction. Processing in a printer conversion processing section, which is hitherto performed by the hardware operating processing, is implemented in form of a profile (referred to as a printer processing conversion profile). The printing profile and the printer profile are combined with the printer processing conversion profile to create a combined profile. The color conversion processing is performed in accordance with the combined profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyomi Tamagawa
  • Publication number: 20040061741
    Abstract: A mold configured to be coupled to a fluid ejection head die to allow a protective material to be molded around a plurality of contact pads on the die is disclosed. The mold includes a molding surface configured to cover the contact pads, wherein the molding surface is configured to support and shape the protective material during molding, and at least one side extending away from the molding surface, wherein the side is configured to contain the protective material during molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Christopher C. Aschoff, William R. Boucher, Paul F. Reboa, Gilbert G. Smith, John M. Altendorf
  • Publication number: 20040061742
    Abstract: A printer cartridge and method of making or refurbishing a printer cartridge are disclosed. The printer cartridge may include a first cartridge subassembly attached to a second cartridge subassembly. The first cartridge subassembly may include a first conductive terminal and the second cartridge subassembly may include a second conductive terminal that is normally in electrical contact with the first conductive terminal when the first and second subassemblies are assembled. An external access may be provided to the first conductive terminal in the event the first conductive terminal is inaccessible after assembling the printer cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Matthew Daniels
  • Publication number: 20040061743
    Abstract: An integrated circuit fabricated on a single substrate that includes a data bus and purpose-specific functional units connected to the data bus. The functional units include a JPEG decoder and a printhead interface. A general-purpose processor is also connected to the data bus and controls the functional units by running software that coordinates the functional units to receive, expand and print pages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20040061744
    Abstract: A fluid droplet ejection device including a body defining a plurality of fluid paths that each include an inlet including a flow restriction, a pumping chamber, and a nozzle opening communicating with the pumping chamber for discharging fluid droplets. An actuator is associated with each pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a largest dimension that is sufficiently short and the flow restriction provides sufficient flow resistance so as to provide a fluid droplet velocity and/or volume versus frequency response that varies by less than plus or minus 25% over a droplet frequency range of 0 to 40 kHz. Also disclosed are fluid droplet ejection devices in which the ratio of the inlet flow resistance to the pumping chamber flow impedance is between 0.05 and 0.9, the pumping chamber has a time constant for decay of a pressure wave in the pumping chamber that is less than 25 microseconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Robert A. Hasenbein, Paul A. Hoisington, Andreas Bibl
  • Publication number: 20040061745
    Abstract: A fluid containment system includes an ink depository and a hood secured thereto. The hood includes an ink redirection structure for directing ink emitted from a printhead through a constrictive conduit into the ink depository.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Mark L. Salzer
  • Publication number: 20040061746
    Abstract: An inkjet carriage for holding an inkjet pen includes an airflow reducing member configured and positioned to at least partially block airflow between an inkjet ejection nozzle of a pen on the carriage and an object to be printed upon during carriage movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Fredrickson, Richard W. Seaver
  • Publication number: 20040061747
    Abstract: Here disclosed is an ink jet apparatus having an ink-circulating/dispersing function. The apparatus provides the ink with dispersion as required, and circulates the ink through the tube to the ink-collecting tank. In the circulation, a required amount of the ink is fed to the printer head to form a predetermined pattern on the surface of a substrate. By virtue of the circulating/dispersing function, the apparatus can cope well with easy-to-aggregate ink having poor stability in printing, protecting the printer head or the ink-spouting section from clogging in ink jet printing. Such stabilized ink jet printing contributes to manufacturing highly reliable electronic components with increased yield of products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakao, Hideyuki Okinaka
  • Publication number: 20040061748
    Abstract: An ink supply system, an ink jet printing apparatus, an ink tank and an ink jet cartridge are provided which, in intermittently supplying ink through a disconnectable connecting portion, can smoothly supply a required volume of ink easily, and can quickly and smoothly discharge a gas which enters into the ink supply system without complicating their structure and mechanism. The first ink tank and the second ink tank are disconnectably connected through the supply unit and the connector. Two communication paths connecting the ink tanks are formed by the tubes. Gas in the second ink tank is discharged through one of the communication paths and at the same time ink in the first ink tank is supplied to the second ink tank through the other communication path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kuwabara, Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Tetsuya Ohashi, Ryoji Inoue, Hideki Ogura
  • Publication number: 20040061749
    Abstract: A method of filling an ink supply bag with a liquid ink, comprises: positioning the bag bottom end down and a top end up; flowing the liquid ink into the bag through an upper portion of the bag to fill the bag to a liquid level below the upper portion; squeezing the bag to raise the liquid level in the bag partway into the upper portion, and shaking the bag to cause any bubbles in the liquid ink in the bag to rise at least substantially to the liquid surface in the upper portion; and sealing the upper portion above and below the liquid level in the upper portion to trap a small quantity of liquid ink that includes the bubbles and a small quantity of air between the respective seals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Corby, Diana C. Petranek, Mark D. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20040061750
    Abstract: An ink cartridge including at least one first chamber storing an ink, at least one second chamber having an air inflow hole formed at an upper portion thereof to be exposed to an ambient air and an ink supply portion formed at a lower portion thereof and having an ink supply port supplying an ink, the second chamber expanding with a negative pressure generating medium storing the ink, an intermediate partition having a connecting hole defined in a lower portion thereof connecting the first and the second chambers to each other, the intermediate partition dividing the first and the second chamber, and a connecting hole blockage preventing structure formed with respect to the connecting hole, at least preventing the negative pressure generating medium adjacent to the connecting hole from being partially compressed and providing an additional air-liquid transfer space with respect to the connecting hole, to thereby prevent the connecting hole from being blocked with the negative pressure generating medium expand
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seo-Hyun Cho, Myung-song Jung, Young-su Lee, Hyung-hyu Hwang
  • Publication number: 20040061751
    Abstract: An ink tank comprises ink holding means capable of impregnating and retaining ink; and a housing for containing the ink holding means, with an ink supply port provided for the housing for supplying to the outside ink impregnated in the ink holding means, and an air inducing port for inducing the air outside into the housing. For this ink tank, the ink holding means further comprises a first ink holding member arranged on the inner face of the housing having the ink supply port open thereto, and a second ink holding member held closely to the first ink holding member, having smaller ink holding power than that of the first ink holding member, and the first ink holding member is essentially formed in the same shape as the shape of the inner face of the housing having the ink supply port open thereto, and substantially covers the inner face entirely, and grooves communicated with the ink supply port on the inner face of the housing having the ink supply port open thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Hayashi, Yasuo Kotaki, Keisuke Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20040061752
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of thermal inkjet printing is provided. The apparatus is adapted to be used with an inkjet ink including a pigment(s), an aqueous vehicle, and a sufficient amount of polymeric binder and/or humectant(s) to wet and directly adhere to non-porous, uncoated, untreated, hydrophobic media. The ink is adapted to be ejected through a thermal inkjet head with consistent image quality and no kogation. The concentration of binder and/or humectant(s) raises the viscosity of the ink at room temperature. As such, the apparatus is adapted to lower the viscosity of the ink prior to the ink being ejected through the thermal inkjet printhead. Additionally, the apparatus is adapted to prepare the media for receiving the ink, and dry the ink after the ink is deposited on the media. This can be accomplished by providing heat to the media and/or the ink during the printing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Dheya Alfekri, Minh C. Duong
  • Publication number: 20040061753
    Abstract: An aqueous inkjet ink and receiver combination wherein the aqueous inkjet ink comprises: a pigment; a polymer binder containing less than 25% of a hydrophilic monomer by weight of the total polymer; the binder being dispersible but insoluble in aqueous media; at least one surfactant; a humectant; and wherein the receiver comprises a non-absorbing substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Huijuan D. Chen, Xiaoru Wang, Ricky G. Frazier, Jin-Shan Wang
  • Publication number: 20040061754
    Abstract: An ink jet printing method, comprising the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element comprising a non-absorbing substrate; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition comprising an aqueous ink jet ink composition comprising: a pigment, a polymer binder containing less than 25% of hydrophilic monomer by weight of the total polymer, which is dispersible but insoluble in aqueous media, at least one surfactant, and a humectant; and D) printing on the ink jet recording element accompanied by a heating step using the ink jet ink composition in response to the digital data signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Huijuan D. Chen, Xiaoru Wang, Ricky G. Frazier
  • Publication number: 20040061755
    Abstract: An ink jet printing method, comprising the steps of A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition comprising an aqueous ink jet ink composition comprising: a pigment, a polymer latex containing at least one halogenated vinyl monomer, at least one surfactant, and a humectant; and D) printing on the ink jet recording element accompanied by a heating step using the ink jet ink composition in response to the digital data signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Huijuan D. Chen, Xiaoru Wang, Ricky G. Frazier
  • Publication number: 20040061756
    Abstract: Smear resistant ink jet ink images and methods for making such are disclosed and described. Generally, a smear resistant ink jet ink image includes an ink jet ink image upon a print substrate, and a water insoluble protective film having contact with the ink jet ink in the image. In one aspect, the film may include a combination of water soluble film forming polymers that become water insoluble upon interaction with one another. In another aspect, the water soluble film forming polymers may be interacted at the print substrate to form the water insoluble film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Anne M. Kelly-Rowley, Melissa D. Lee, Amiya K. Chatterjee
  • Publication number: 20040061757
    Abstract: A recording apparatus for effecting recording on a recording material by recording means, the apparatus includes a tray, mountable to the recording apparatus, for stacking a recording material; a feeding roller for feeding the tray; a portion to be detected, provided on the tray to permit detection of a position of the tray; a tray position detecting portion for detecting the portion to be detected; wherein a position of recording material stacked on the tray is detected by detecting the position of the portion to be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki Yanagi, Kenji Kawazoe, Seiji Takahashi, Takao Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040061758
    Abstract: An ink drying apparatus for an ink jet printer includes an internal heating apparatus. The heating apparatus comprises gas flow restrictors for air that enters the heating apparatus. The gas flow restrictors may be formed as dual horizontal slots which are sized to maintain a higher air pressure in the heating apparatus as compared to the air pressure in a region within the ink drying apparatus that is outside of the heating apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert S. Patterson, Jason S. Dewey, Shawn J. Mercy
  • Publication number: 20040061759
    Abstract: A print head for a liquid ink printer deposits liquid ink droplets on a recording medium. A curved infrared foil heater is disposed adjacent to the recording medium path opposite the print head, for heating the recording medium to dry the liquid ink droplets. The foil heater is an infrared emitting, etched foil circuit heater mounted within a channel in a frame to curve and thus self-tension to prevent wrinkling of the foil heater despite any thermal expansion of the foil heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas F. Szlucha
  • Publication number: 20040061760
    Abstract: Image data, or RGB luminance data input from a host computer, is color-converted by LUT into 8-bit CMYK density data for each ink color. The CMYK density data is divided into predetermined regions and, based on a gray scale value for each of the divided regions, ink application volumes are calculated. According to the calculated ink application volumes, the 8-bit processing liquid application data S is generated. Then, the CMYK density data and the processing liquid application data undergo output gamma processing, after which they are quantized by a quantization processing unit into 1-bit ejection data for each nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentaro Yano, Masao Kato, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto
  • Publication number: 20040061761
    Abstract: A small-sized printing apparatus is provided, which is stable in printing operation and high in reliability although the installation area and the utility area are small. For this purpose, the conveying direction of a supplied printing medium is reversed generally in the opposite direction, and then guided in the vertical direction. Thus, the printing medium is firmly supported. Also, since the printing medium exists beneath the printing section in the vertical direction during the printing operation, it is possible to prevent the interior of the apparatus from contaminating with ink dropping down from the printing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Ogura, Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Ryoji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20040061762
    Abstract: An ink jet printing process, having the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon in order: i) at least one porous, ink carrier liquid receptive layer; ii) a fusible, porous dye-trapping layer of fusible polymeric particles, a binder, and a dye mordant; and iii) a fusible, porous ink-transporting layer of fusible, polymeric particles and a film-forming, hydrophobic binder; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink compositions; and D) printing on the image-receiving layer using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Allan Wexler
  • Publication number: 20040061763
    Abstract: An ink jet recording element having a support having thereon in order: a) at least one porous, ink-retaining layer; and b) a fusible, porous ink-transporting layer of a film-forming, hydrophobic binder and fusible, polymeric particles of a cellulose ester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Allan Wexler, Kevin M. O'Connor, Kurt M. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20040061764
    Abstract: An ink jet printing process, having the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon in order: i) at least one porous, ink-retaining layer; and ii) a fusible, porous ink-transporting layer comprising a film-forming, hydrophobic binder and fusible, polymeric particles of a cellulose ester; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink compositions; and D) printing on the image-receiving layer using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kevin M. O'Connor, Allan Wexler, Kurt M. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20040061765
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is featured with excellent operability of storage at the time of non-use, as well as excellent operability of charging the battery, in addition to such advantages as thin and battery-driven, and preferably suitable for portable use. A cradle provided for this image forming apparatus functions as a placement stand when an ink jet printer, which is provided with a battery charger mounted thereon, is inserted in the direction designated appropriately at the time of non-use. When the ink jet printer having the battery charger thus mounted thereon is contained in the cradle, the contact point portion of the battery charger and the contact terminal portion of the cradle are electrically connected. Therefore, the battery incorporated in the battery charger is charged when the AC adopter cable is inserted into the CDL-DCin jack of the cradle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Shoichi Kan, Yasufumi Tanaami
  • Publication number: 20040061766
    Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes three light emitting diodes (7, 8, 9) emitting red, green and blue light respectively, and respective detectors (10, 11, 12) mounted on the opposite side of a dyesheet (1) passing through the printer. The detectors (10, 11, 12) detect the light absorption ratios of three colour print panels (Y, M and C) of the dyesheet, and these detected ratios are compared C with acceptable ranges of light absorption ratios. If the detected light absorption ratio for any colour falls outside the corresponding range, use or further use of the dyesheet in the printer is prevented, for example by disabling an essential function of the printer or ejecting the dyesheet from the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Richard A. Hann
  • Publication number: 20040061767
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which corrects a transfer amount of a recording material without a scanner is provided. A paper is transferred to a position in which the transfer amount is adjusted by an LF roller, and a plurality of test pattern images, each of which is composed of a first pattern image and a second pattern image, are printed. Then, the paper is transferred to a position in which the transfer amount is adjusted by an exit roller, and the aforementioned plurality of test pattern images are printed. The plurality of test pattern images differ from each other in the transfer amount between printings of the first pattern image and the second pattern image. A degree of error in the transfer amount of the respective rollers can be visually observed. Accordingly, by receiving an input based on the printed test pattern images, it is possible to correct the transfer amount of the respective rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20040061768
    Abstract: A heating element array is cleaned in case foreign matters are adhered or deposited to a thermal head, such as after printing. A color thermal recording paper is fed in a state that the thermal head is heated not so as to develop a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer. After that, a cleaning portion and the heating element array are in slidable contact with each other, so that the heating element array is cleaned. The cleaning portion used for the cleaning treatment is cut away and discharged through a delivery opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyoshi Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20040061769
    Abstract: A thermal printer detachably connected to a portable type terminal equipment. The printer has a printer cover including upper and lower covers hinged together. A printer head is arranged in the body of the portable type terminal equipment, and a platen is arranged in the upper cover. The platen is usually held in the upper cover but can be released from it when undesirable force is applied to it. Therefore, a straight line connecting the platen shaft to the hinge shaft is generally parallel to the bottom surface of the portable type terminal equipment and the printer head is generally perpendicular to the straight line, so that a pressure applied by the printer head to the platen is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicants: FUJITSU LIMITED, FUJITSU FRONTECH LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuji Shimoda
  • Publication number: 20040061770
    Abstract: An optical imaging heads that produce a plurality of light spots on light sensitive medium such as photographic film or printing plate. The optical head incorporates an array of multi-mode laser diodes optically coupled to multi-mode optical fibers, an array of micromachined supports for the optical fibers, an array of micromachined light-pipes (MLPs) aligned with the supports and with the optical fibers and means for imaging the exit aperture of each of the micromachined light-pipes on a photosensitive medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Nissim Pilossof, Igal Koifman, Alex Weiss
  • Publication number: 20040061771
    Abstract: An electronic trapping implementation in imager with laser driver is provided by comparing an output image from the imager to a reference image to obtain a difference image and calculating one or more frequency and amplitude modulations based on the difference image and applying the one or more frequency and amplitude modulations to the imager until the difference image is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad H. Rahnavard, Mehrdad Zomorrodi
  • Publication number: 20040061772
    Abstract: Characters written on a text medium such as paper can be obtained easily as information. The text medium having the characters written thereon is photographed by a camera phone. A text image data set is obtained in this manner, and sent to a text image processing apparatus. Correction means corrects aberration and the like of a camera lens of the camera phone, and obtains a corrected text image data set. Character recognition means carries out character recognition processing on the corrected text image data set by using an OCR technique, and obtains a character code data set. The character code data set is sent to the camera phone and displayed as text on a liquid crystal display monitor of the camera phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Kouji Yokouchi
  • Publication number: 20040061773
    Abstract: An Image Transceiving Telephone with Integrated Digital Camera (ITTDC) for simultaneous transceiving of real-time audio and non-real time image through a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is disclosed. The ITTDC includes an integrated telephone front end, a PSTN access device, an audio CODEC, an image input device, an image CODEC, an image display device, a local storage for an embedded system control software and associated control and operating parameters and data, an optional local electronic interface, a user-control and a system control including the embedded system control software. The control software further includes an audio sampling and processing means, an image capturing and processing means and a process priority control means allocating, via a real-time audio but non-real time image transfer protocol control, a highest priority to tasks for audio information processing whereas a lower priority to tasks for image information processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Jianxin Liu
  • Publication number: 20040061774
    Abstract: An imaging system for obtaining a wide field of view comprises a plurality of imaging devices each having a defined field of view and each of the imaging devices having a mechanism for capturing an image at a selected time instant. The imaging devices are positioned such that the field of view of each device overlaps the field of view of each adjacent device. A control module simultaneously actuates each of the imaging devices to capturing an image within the field of view of all devices concurrently. The resulting images from each of the devices are merged to produce a wide field of view image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Robert A. Wachtel, John Keable, Richard Paulson
  • Publication number: 20040061775
    Abstract: Digital binocular fusing apparatus places a primary image in registration with a lenticular lens to produce a secondary 3D image from the primary image. The apparatus includes a lens array, a display mounted behind the lens array and including a primary image and reference marks, a primary image orientation adjustment system for receiving registration adjustment signals to adjust the position of the primary image and the reference marks, a sensor to detect the position of the reference marks and generate position identification signals, and, a registration control for receiving the position identification signals, determining if the primary image is in registration with the lens array, and, if necessary, generating registration adjustment signals and transmitting the registration adjustment signals to the primary image orientation adjustment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Randall E. McCoy, William C. Farley
  • Publication number: 20040061776
    Abstract: To provide an image pickup system having CCDs 25 driven at different frequencies respectively which can drive each CCD 25 with a predetermined frequency if a detachable camera head (or electronic endoscope) 28 is used and also can process a signal processing clock of a video processing circuit 29 with one type of clock. A drive signal of the predetermined frequency supplied to the CCD is produced via a generating circuit CXO 155 in the video processing circuit 29, a frequency dividing circuit 132 and a timing generator (T.G.) 131. A CCD signal outputted from the CCD 25 is inputted to a line memory 139 in a floating circuit 135. As a writing clock (WCK) of the line memory 139, the one which is divided in the frequency dividing circuit 132 to a frequency in accordance with the CCD 25 to be used is used, and as a reading clock (RCK), the one of one type of frequency is used without regard to the CCD 25 to be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Mochida, Katsuyuki Saito, Makoto Tsunakawa, Noboru Kusamura, Kotaro Ogasawara, Hideki Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20040061777
    Abstract: Detecting a fire, such as a fire in an aircraft cargo bay, includes receiving a plurality of frames of video information, determining an energy indicator for each of a subset of the plurality of frames, and detecting the presence of fire in response to the energy indicator for each of the subset of the plurality of frames corresponding to a predetermined pattern as a function of time. Detecting a fire 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 or a video frame immediately preceding each of the subset of the plurality of frames. At least some of the subset of the plurality of frames may be provided by a camera having a sensitivity of between 400 nm and 1000 nm that may generates 640×480 pixels per frame. At least some of the subset of the plurality of frames may be provided by a CCD camera or a CMOS camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Mokhtar Sadok
  • Publication number: 20040061778
    Abstract: An image processing and inspection system includes a master device (10) having a video camera (40) and a first controller (20) responsible for processing and inspecting the image of an object (1) in accordance with inspection criteria. Intercommunicated (12) with the master device (10) is a personal computer (100) equipped with a second monitor (120), and a second input member (102,104). The motion-picture taken by the camera (40) for inspection on the side of the master device (10) is transmitted to the computer (100) so as to be displayed on the second monitor (120) as a real-time image of the object (1) for easy confirmation of the object on the side of the computer (100), thereby enabling to determine the inspection criteria on the side of the computer (100) while monitoring the real-time image of the object (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Toshiki Yamane, Masayuki Hattori, Jun Nishijima, Osamu Iijima, Yoshinori Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20040061779
    Abstract: A defect inspection system for the semiconductor and microelectronics industry. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automated defect inspection system for wafers or other semiconductor or electronic substrates of any kind or type that are transparent, translucent, opaque or otherwise capable of allowing at least some light to pass through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Harless, Jeremy Jenum, Willard Charles Raymond
  • Publication number: 20040061780
    Abstract: A solid-state video surveillance system includes at least two video cameras and a video controller unit. The video controller unit synchronizes the operation of the video cameras such that video data may be independently generated from each of the cameras substantially in phase. The video data from each of the cameras may be merged and stored in a data file. The data file is a continuous loop such that newly stored video data continuously overwrites the oldest previously stored video data. The data file may be stored in a detachable solid state memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: David A. Huffman
  • Publication number: 20040061781
    Abstract: A security system for tracking suspicious characteristics, the system includes first and second cameras each for monitoring and capturing images in a predefined area; and a computer electrically connected to the each camera and which computer is programmed to identify one or more movements that exceeds a predetermined threshold that is predefined as suspicious movement; wherein, when suspicious movement is detected by the first camera, the computer communicates to the second camera coordinates at which the suspicious movement will enter the predefined area of the second camera so that tracking is maintained within a larger predefined area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Darius K. Fennell, Thomas M. Stephany
  • Publication number: 20040061782
    Abstract: Convenience of a digital camera is improved and the performance specialized for each function is also improved. A photography system 1 includes a photography device 10 by which the photographic objects are photographed to acquire the image information, and a portable data processing device 20 which is formed separately from the photography device 10 and stores the image information. The photography device 10 has an image information transmission means 12 that transmits the image information acquired to the data processing device 20 directly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoto Kinjo
  • Publication number: 20040061783
    Abstract: Provided is a digital camera having a recording medium and a communication interface. The digital camera transmits data files on the recording medium to a second device, such as a computer, through the communication interface, or receives data files stored on a computer through the communication interface for storage of the received data files on the recording medium. On a display panel, the digital camera displays an initialization state of the communication interface, a transceiving (transmitting or receiving) state of the data files, and an electrical connection state between the camera and the computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moon-Jung Choi, Hyuk-Soo Son
  • Publication number: 20040061784
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a bidirectional reflectance distribution function of a subject. The apparatus includes a light source for producing light. The apparatus includes sensing means for sensing the light. The apparatus includes means for focusing the light between the light source and the sensing means and the subject. The apparatus includes a computer connected to the sensing means for measuring the bidirectional reflectance distribution function of the subject from the light sensed by the sensing means. The apparatus can include only one CCD camera for sensing the light. The apparatus can include means for taking sub-measurements of the subject with light from the light source without any physical movement between sub-measurements. A method for determining a bidirectional reflectance distribution function of a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Kenneth Perlin
  • Publication number: 20040061785
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying an image generated by at least one detector of an imaging unit are disclosed herein. The method includes creating a pixel map identifying locations of bad pixels in an array of pixels in the image detected by the at least one detector, linking the pixel map to the image, and providing for selective display of the pixel map. Bad pixels behave from a group including pixels which do not respond electrically and pixels which are statistically different from surrounding pixels in the array of pixels. The apparatus includes an imaging unit for generating x-rays which pass through a body of interest, at least one detector unit for detecting the x-rays, and a processing unit for identifying bad pixels within the detected image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Aufrichtig, Robert Forrest Kwasnick, John R. Lamberty, John C. French
  • Publication number: 20040061786
    Abstract: A method for image stabilization of at least two digital images is disclosed. In such an embodiment, a first digital image having a plurality of pixels and at least a second image having a plurality of pixels are provided. Each pixel has an associated address for display and is representative of a color. Either a user of the system provides a color match range or the system provides a predetermined color matched range. A pixel is selected within the first digital image. Preferably the pixel is one that represents an item within the image that is either blurry due to movement of the item or appears jittery due to camera movement. Due to the vast number of available colors a pixel selected in a first image can be matched to a pixel in a second image within a range. The range allows for compensation due to lighting changes. Once the pixel in the first image is selected it can be compared to all pixels within the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Susan Heath Calvin Fletcher, Gene Arthur Grindstaff, Therman Ward McKay
  • Publication number: 20040061787
    Abstract: The present invention includes a foveated wide-angle imaging system and method for capturing a wide-angle image and for viewing the captured wide-angle image in real time. In general, the foveated wide-angle imaging system includes a foveated wide-angle camera system having multiple cameras for capturing a scene and outputting raw output images, a foveated wide-angle stitching system for generating a stitch table, and a real-time wide-angle image correction system that creates a composed warp table from the stitch table and processes the raw output images using the composed warp table to correct distortion and perception problems. The foveated wide-angle imaging method includes using a foveated wide-angle camera system to capture a plurality of raw output images, generating a composed warp table, and processing the plurality of raw output images using the composed warp table to generate a corrected wide-angle image for viewing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Zicheng Liu, Michael Cohen
  • Publication number: 20040061788
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing both still images and video using a single user input element. The user input element functions both (1) as a mode selection input, and (2) as a capture input. The user input element could be a button, switch, dial or other input element. In one embodiment, the digital camera is equipped with a dual-mode capture button, which combines a slider button with a transparent capture button. The transparent capture button actually has two distinct contact points on the printed circuit board. One contact point corresponds to the still camera icon, and thus to capture of still image data, while the other contact point corresponds to the video camera icon, and thus to the capture of video data. Sliding the transparent button in one direction uncovers a still camera icon, while sliding the button in another direction uncovers a video camera icon. When the button is positioned over one of the icons, the other icon is obscured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventor: John Bateman
  • Publication number: 20040061789
    Abstract: In a digital still camera, when the reproducing mode is selected, an indication to the effect that the operation is in standby for reproduction is displayed on an indicating device, and if the command dial is not operated until 16 seconds elapses after the indication has been started, the supply of source voltage to the various parts of the camera is stopped, to achieve a reduction in power consumption. If the command dial is operated within 16 seconds, image signals are output to an external monitor and also an indication to the effect that reproduction is in progress is displayed on the indicating device. If the command dial has been operated within three minutes after reproduction of a given photographic frame has been started, reproduction of the following frame is performed, but if the command dial has not been operated until the three minutes have elapsed, the indication to the effect that the operation is in standby for reproduction is displayed again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Uehara, Koichiro Kawamura