Abstract: A graphical user computer interface enables a user to open at least one menu and to select an item of the menu by means of a pointing device. The said pointing device has a two-dimension actuator and a one-dimension actuator and controls a moveable pointer and a moveable menu item focus. The two-dimension actuator controls movements of the pointer, and the one-dimension actuator is activated when the menu is opened to control movement of the menu item focus within the menu.

Abstract: In a distribution server of a distribution server system according to the present invention, menu information, including a menu item name and information to execute a job related to the menu item name, is generated based on display capability information and job capability information of each multifunction apparatus. The generated menu information is stored in a hard disk. When the multifunction apparatus requests for the menu information, the distribution server retrieves the information from the hard disk and delivers the same to the requesting multifunction apparatus via a network. The display capability information and job capability information of the multifunction apparatus is displayed so that personalized menu information can be generated, by a user, based on a menu item name (set within the range of the display capability) and a function (selected from the job capability).

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for identifying print pages for printing. Briefly described, one embodiment receives a print command, determines a plurality of print pages associated with a current view on a display, generates a plurality of thumbnail images, each one of the thumbnail images uniquely corresponding to one of the plurality of print pages and such that each one of the thumbnail images represents a reduced view of the corresponding print page, communicates the plurality of thumbnail images to the display, and receives a second print command such that the print pages are communicated to a printing device.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for generating visual representations of an address space. More particularly, the dotted quad notation of an Internet Protocol address space is illustrated. A discovery process is performed to identify addresses of entities in the network, as well as other information, such as device type, operating system, geographic location, and the like. Each unique address is represented by a graphical icon representing a value of the fourth quad of the address. The graphical icons may be three-dimensional and may be indicative of the type of device. These icons are formed into strings of icons, each string of icons representing a value of the third quad of the addresses. The strings of icons are formed into spokes on wheels, each wheel representing a value of the second quad of the addresses. The wheels are stacked into cylinders, each cylinder representing a value of the first quad of the addresses.

Abstract: An electronic paper file comprises an electronic paper which is flexible medium and a main unit to which a plurality of the electronic papers is attached. The electronic paper file is characterized by comprising a mark indication control means for controlling the indication of a mark on an electronic paper. According to this electronic paper file, a mark can be indicated on an electronic paper displaying specified character strings or the like, so that the user can find out a desired page easily.

Abstract: A method of dialing is disclosed which attempts to “guess” as to which number the user is attempting to dial into a communication device, such as a cellular telephone. From the idle mode (200), the user punches the digits of the number (201), and a list of possible candidate numbers is created (203), (204), or (205). This list of candidate numbers is displayed to the user as candidates are added to the list (206), or not displayed if there were no acceptable candidate numbers (207). If one of the candidate numbers is one of the numbers displayed, the user can select the number in order to have that number dialed. Otherwise, if the number cannot be predicted before completion of entering the number, then the number is entered into the outgoing call log for possible suggestion later if the user dials the number again.

Abstract: A method of reducing uneven use of the total number of printing elements on a print head in a printer, when selectively using the printing elements to make different size color image prints on respective similar size receiver mediums, comprises: selectively using the total number of printing elements to make color image prints substantially the same size as the receiver mediums; and selectively using a particular number of printing elements less than the total number of printing elements to make similar size color image prints smaller than the receiver mediums, but alternating which ones of the total number of printing elements can be selectively used to make each print so that the placement of each print on a receiver medium is alternated, whereby, since those printing elements that can be selectively used to make each print smaller than a receiver medium are alternated, uneven use of the printing elements is reduced.

Abstract: A printing fluid delivery method is disclosed for a jet printer. The method involves displacing printing fluid in a printing fluid delivery chamber in a printing fluid delivery system by a predetermined amount. After the step of displacing, printing fluid can be driven out of the chamber at a constant flow rate.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus provides a plurality of recording heads arranged in a scanning direction, each having a plurality of nozzles arrange substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction, and records by discharging ink from the nozzles onto a recording medium by application of drive signals. The apparatus divides the plurality of nozzles among a plurality of blocks having a predetermined number of nozzles and sequentially drives each block so as to discharge ink within a discharge cycle. The apparatus has a column counter for counting a number of nozzles driven in a discharging cycle in each recording head, and a block counter for counting a number of nozzles driven in each block, and determines a pulsewidth of a heat signal for each recording head by a heat timing controller, based upon count values counted by the column counter and block counter.

Abstract: A controller generates printing data to be printed by the printing nozzles of at least first and second adjacent printing nozzle arrays out of a plurality of printing nozzle arrays on the basis of tone information of image data to be printed. In particular, the controller generates printing data to be printed by each of the first and second printing nozzle arrays in the range in which the influence of an air flow generated along with ink discharge from the first and second printing nozzle arrays is admissible. Printing by the first and second printing nozzle arrays of the printhead is controlled on the basis of the generated printing data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing with a printer includes detecting an errant page condition, and interrupting a print job in response to the possible errant page condition. An errant page condition can be the monitoring the printer for any waste of a consumable that will increase the cost per page to print. The cost per errant page can be approximated, and when the approximated cost per errant page is above a selected threshold level, the print job is interrupted. A list of options is then presented to a user interface to allow the user to select a course of action. A printing apparatus implements this method. The controller is programmed to interrupt the print job and present the options to the user interface.

Abstract: An operating system alternate arrangement for a printer driver/spooler/print processor is disclosed. Referring to one embodiment, although using a PPD-compatible printer driver is often desirable, such a driver includes no mechanism for implementing a printer feature that cannot be specified in a PPD. The disclosed alternate arrangement uses the PPD for those printer options and features that can be specified by PPD. The remaining options and features are classified as “custom actions” that are processed in a custom print processor that is bound to the spooler in place of the operating system's default print processor. Preferably, however, the custom print processor does not implement any traditional print processor functionality. Instead, after performing any custom actions, the custom print processor subroutines call the OS default print processor subroutines to perform traditional print processing.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has an ink jet printhead, which includes an ink chamber for containing ink. An array of plural ejection nozzles eject the ink from the ink chamber at an ejecting amount controlled individually from one another. A pressure sensor measures atmospheric pressure and inner pressure of the ink chamber. A system controller sets a pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure and the inner pressure at a predetermined value by adjustment. In one preferred embodiment, the predetermined value is a reference value for regularizing the ejecting amount.

Abstract: An output apparatus includes a cartridge which contains a recording material. A detector is provided in the apparatus for detecting the remaining amount of the recording material in the cartridge. A controller is provided in the apparatus for storing the cumulative consumed amount of the recording material in a non-volatile memory unit. Thus, the remaining amount of the recording material is determined.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head which is inexpensive, accurate, and highly reliable, and a method of manufacturing such a liquid discharge head are provided. On a substrate, a thermal crosslinking positive photosensitive material layer (a first positive photosensitive material layer) and a second positive photosensitive material layer are formed. First a pattern is formed on the second positive photosensitive material layer, then another pattern is formed on the first positive photosensitive material layer. Next, a negative resin for forming a liquid channel wall is laminated on the patterned first and second positive photosensitive material layers. A discharge port is formed in the negative resin layer and then the positive photosensitive material layers are removed.

Abstract: System and methods for servicing staggered printheads in an inkjet-imaging device are described. In one aspect, the color inkjet-imaging device collectively moves one or more of the staggered printheads along a single actuation axis from a respective spittoon in a particular service station to a print zone without colliding with any portion of an adjacent cleaning unit.

Abstract: A cleaning system for a continuous inkjet printer comprises a cleaning chamber positioned substantially parallel to an ink supply chamber and nozzle plate, and a gas supply, such as air or nitrogen. The cleaning chamber is formed by a cover and the nozzle plate, wherein the gas is routed between the cover and the nozzle plate so as to remove debris and excess ink from the inkjet nozzles and surrounding area. A fluid may also be applied in addition to the gas, and a deflector may be positioned on the cover to increase the angle of incidence of air and fluid as it contacts the inkjet nozzles and surrounding area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink onto a recording medium using a recording head that discharges the ink, including a carriage that is mounted with the recording head and scans in a main scanning direction, a linear scale that is provided with graduations for detecting a position of the recording head mounted to the carriage and extends along the main scanning direction, a linear sensor that is fixed to the carriage and reads out the graduations on the linear scale by scanning in the main scanning direction on the linear scale together with the carriage, and an air guide that is arranged in a vicinity of the linear sensor in the main scanning direction and guides air moving toward the linear sensor as the carriage scans such that the air is directed away from the linear sensor. In the image recording apparatus, adhesion of ink mist to the linear sensor can be reduced.

Abstract: Frequency dependency of an electrostatic actuator is improved by setting a driving voltage waveform. It has an electrode (11) that counters a vibrating plate (21) that constitutes a part of the surface of a wall of an ink chamber, and the vibrating plate (21) and the electrode are provided with a predetermined gap (40). Pulse voltage is applied between the electrode (11) and the vibrating plate (21), displacement of which is carried out by electrostatic force that pressurizes ink in the ink chamber according to mechanical resilience of the vibrating plate (21) such that an ink drop is ejected. The vibrating plate (21) is vibrated such that it may contact the electrode (11), ejecting the ink by one or a plurality of electric pulses. A ratio of the period during which the vibrating plate contacts the electrode to the period required to form a pixel is regulated to be equal to or less than (200−2.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical device includes a substrate that incorporates drive circuitry. An elongate drive member is fast with the substrate at a fixed end and incorporates an electrical circuit that is in electrical contact with the drive circuitry to receive an electrical signal from the drive circuitry. The drive member is configured so that a free end is displaced relative to the substrate on receipt of the electrical signal. A motion-transmitting member is fast with the free end of the drive member so that the motion-transmitting member is displaced together with the free end. A working member is fast with the motion-transmitting member to be displaced together with the motion-transmitting member to perform work.

Abstract: Atomic layer deposition forms a cavitation layer of a print head.

Abstract: Cylindrical electrodes are embedded in a piezoelectric sheet of an actuator unit. An axial length of each of the electrodes is somewhat shorter than half a thickness of the piezoelectric sheet, and accordingly the electrodes do not penetrate through the sheet. The piezoelectric sheet is polarized in a surface direction parallel to a surface thereof. When the electrodes take a positive potential, an electric field is applied to the piezoelectric sheet in the surface direction, the actuator unit including the piezoelectric sheet is so curved as to swell upward, because there is produced a difference between respective amounts of extension in the surface direction of an upper portion of the sheet in which the electrodes are provided and a lower portion of the same in which no electrodes are provided.

Abstract: A droplet discharge device is provided which can maintain predetermined liquid discharge characteristics even in the case where a drawing liquid of a high viscosity is used. A droplet discharge device which discharges liquid filled into a droplet discharge head, has a filling apparatus which switches between a first liquid and a second liquid of a lower viscosity than the first liquid, and fills the droplet discharge head.

Abstract: An inkjet printer and inkjet print cartridge are each especially configured for inter-engaging with one another via a plurality of keying features of the cartridge and keying structures of the printer such that loading of a foreign print cartridge into the printer is either not possible or results in the printer being inoperative. Thus, only print cartridges particularly configured and intended to be used in the printer will fit into the printer and enable its operation.

Abstract: The elastic member for an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is formed from:

Abstract: Provided is a black ink for inkjet recording obtained by dissolving and/or dispersing, in an aqueous medium, at least one black azo dye having a specific property or structure and further containing at least one metal chelating agent, which is excellent in durability of image including image quality and discharge property even after the ink is filled in an ink cassette and stored for a long period of time while being set in a printer.

Abstract: A water base ink for ink-jet recording is provided, which makes it possible to perform the discharge operation stably and highly accurately for a long period of time without deteriorating a metal, for example, due to corrosion and/or dissolution even when the ink makes contact with the metal composed of nickel or an alloy containing nickel for a long period of time. The water base ink for ink-jet recording is usable for an ink-jet recording apparatus provided with an ink-jet head having a metal member which is composed of nickel or the alloy containing nickel and which is disposed at least in an ink supply passage for supplying the ink to a discharge section. The water base ink for ink-jet recording contains potassium p-tert-butylbenzoate, a coloring agent which is dispersible or soluble in water, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of making an ink-jet-ink-derived material image on a receiver. An ink jet device is used to form a coagulable ink image on an intermediate member. Coagulates within the coagulable ink image are formed, and excess liquid is removed from the coagulates so as to form an ink-jet-ink-derived material image. The ink-jet-ink-derived image from the operational surface of the intermediate member is transferred to another member, which another member may be a receiver member, a drum or a web.

Abstract: A printing mechanism comprises a printhead that defines a printzone, and a tray adapted to support at least one sheet of print media. The tray is adapted to move through the printzone during printing by the printhead on the sheet.

Abstract: A method of selectively producing a glossy or matte finish to an ink jet printed image by applying a clear protective plastic laminate having a glossy finish to the surface of the image, heating the laminate to soften it and then selectively impressing a surface texture into the soften laminate. Pressing the softened laminate against an endless belt having a textured surface forms the surface texture. The laminate is maintained in contact with the belt for a cooling period so as to permit a cold separation of the laminate from the belt.

Abstract: Printing apparatus includes print heads which are covered by a cover mechanism when the print heads are not in use. The cover mechanism is adapted to create a moist environment around the print heads saturated with vapors of an associated solvent. The printing apparatus also includes a purging system for the print heads. The purging system is adapted to cause the print heads to discharge a high-velocity stream of ink therethrough in response to selective manual actuation.

Abstract: An individual electrode layer electrically connected to an individual electrode layer having an opening is formed beneath a heater layer and a common electrode layer along an ink flow path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is constructed to include an image bearing member which is rotatably supported to bear a toner image, a light beam scanning section to simultaneously scan the image bearing member by a plurality of light beams so as to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing section to develop the electrostatic latent image into the toner image, a transfer section to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and an ON start timing adjuster to adjust an ON start timing of one of the plurality of light beams, based on an image tone of each of a plurality of patterns of an image pattern formed by the light beam scanning section.

Abstract: A printer has a main body and a printer unit that is fixed to the main body. The printer unit has an upper cover and a lower cover. The lower cover is attached to the main body and the upper cover is fixed to the lower cover. A hollow space is formed between the upper and lower covers and a printing paper is set in this space. A sensor is provided in the upper cover and it detects a mark on the non-printable surface of the printing paper. One protrusion is provided in each of the upper and lower covers such that the protrusions make an electrical contact when the upper and lower covers are closed. A control unit is provided in the main body and it is electrically connected to the mark detection unit through the protrusions on the upper and lower covers and it controls various operations of the printer.

Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus able to form images without fluctuation of image dot intervals in the main scan direction.

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes incident optical system for causing at least one light beam emitted from a light source to be incident on a deflection device and image formation optical system including at least one refractive optical element and at least one diffraction optical element for imaging said at least one light beam reflected and deflected by the deflection device on a surface to be scanned. The diffraction optical element has at least one of an incident surface having a convex shape in a sub-scanning cross-section facing the deflection device and an exit surface having a convex shape in the sub-scanning cross-section facing the surface to be scanned.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus (10) adapted for imaging onto a photosensitive medium (160) in one of a number of selectable image formats. A telecentric print lens assembly (132) can be indexed to any one of a plurality of positions along the output optical axis for imaging in a specific format. The print lens assembly (132) can be manually indexed or can be moved by a focus mechanism (80) under the control of a control logic processor (24).

Abstract: A method of transmitting a video image including an object of interest comprises capturing a sequence of images in which the object of interest occupies a fraction of each image, tracking the object of interest by selecting and extracting a region of each image including the object of interest, and coding only the selected region of each captured image.

Abstract: An electronic stereoscopic imaging system having right and left image pick-up devices and right and left image data memories has a memory control module that is adapted to shift read start addresses of the right and left memories for horizontal pixel lines of right and left solid state image sensors to lower and higher addresses, respectively, according to object distances detected or visually determined so as thereby to vary a convergence angle of the right and left image pick-up devices with respect to the object according to the object distances apparently similar to a specified convergence angle suitable for natural stereoscopic vision.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus has a single coaxial cable which combines a power line and signal line installed between a scope and a processor unit. A waveform superimposing circuit of the scope superimposes a video signal on power transmitted through the coaxial cable and superimposes scope-side reference pulses on a blanking period of the first horizontal line signal in the first field of the video signal. On the other hand, the processor unit superimposes processor-side reference pulses on a blanking period of the first horizontal line in the second field of the video signal. Then, the scope and the processor unit perform video processing based on timing signals synchronized with the reference pulses. Alternatively, an electromagnetic coupler may be installed instead of the coaxial cable and the video signal and reference pulses may be superimposed on AC power supplied electromagnetically.

Abstract: In an image output calibrating system for cameras, a camera is supported so as to be directed at a plurality of different angles, and a light source is placed in front of the camera. A control unit associates the pan and tilt angles of the camera with corresponding positions of an image of the light source on the imaging device so that the relationship between each point on the object and the corresponding point on the image of the object formed on the imaging device of the camera can be identified.

Abstract: This invention relates to a digital camera with a wireless networking hardware that automatically transmits images from its internal storage to a service on the Internet. Whenever the camera is in range of a wireless network, the camera transmits all of its images on the camera to the Internet service. It then marks all of the transferred images as having been transferred and may delete them from the camera as it needs to make more space for newer images.

Abstract: In a mobile and broadband internet environment having a camera that automatically sends pictures from your home, or other location, to your mobile unit.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to inform the user before completion of a print process of a digital image that a cable can be disconnected from a digital camera or printer, and the digital camera is ready to photograph. To this end, a PD printer (1000) of this embodiment transmits a JobDataDone command indicating that all digital images to be printed are received to a digital camera (3012) (909). Upon reception of the JobDataDone command, the digital camera (3012) displays, on a display (35), information indicating that a cable (5000) can be disconnected from the digital camera (3012) or PD printer (1000).

Abstract: An electronic apparatus that facilitates determining whether image data is representing a 2D image or a 3D image and determining a type of image data, is provided. When image data is obtained, the electronic apparatus memorizes, in addition to the image data and a filename thereof, a dimension of an image represented by the image data and a type of the image data as an attribute thereof The electronic apparatus also creates from the image data and memorizes image data representing a thumbnail image, and displays the thumbnail images arranged in a list view so that a content of the image represented by the image data is easily recognized. It is also possible to provide the thumbnail image data representing a 3D image.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for remotely annotating an object. An embodiment of the present invention includes a video camera projector that captures video images of a local object and projects annotations made by a user at a remote location onto said local object.

Abstract: A digital imaging system and method for viewing at least one digital image. The system includes a display. The method comprises the steps of: detecting a movement of the display; navigating within the at least one digital image in accordance with the detected movement to generate an updated view of the at least one digital image; and displaying, on the display, the updated view of the at least one digital image.

Abstract: In a photography method, a film image is scanned and digitized to provide a digital image. An identifier associated with the film image is read. The identifier points to a group of filter effects. Each filter effect has a preassigned digital modification. The modifications are not remedial for the respective filter effects. One of the filter effects is detected in the digital image. Responsive to the detecting of that filter effect, the preassigned digital modification is applied to the digital image.

Abstract: A method of reducing color aliasing artifacts from a color digital image having color pixels including providing luminance and chrominance signals from the color digital image; downsampling the luminance and chrominance signals; using such downsampled luminance and chrominance signals to separate the image into textured and nontextured regions having boundaries; cleaning the downsampled chrominance signals in the textured regions in response to the boundaries of the textured region and the downsampled chrominance signals; cleaning the downsampled chrominance signals in the nontextured regions in response to the downsampled chrominance signals; upsampling the downsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals; and using the luminance and upsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals to provide a color digital image having reduced color aliasing artifacts.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a peer-to-peer photo-sharing environment. The system includes: manual and automatic photo annotation at the client; periodic client-server synchronization; an index of client photos on a central server or a photo database that is resident on the central server, which is updated by the client-server synchronization function; end-user search functionality to search the centralized index or photo database; and transmission of the relevant photos to the client via an on-line image cache. In one embodiment, one client's new photos are automatically displayed on another client's computer (e.g., via screen saver or another mechanism).