Patents Issued in April 6, 2006
  • Publication number: 20060071911
    Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for use with vibration sensing touch input devices that distinguish signals derived from vibrations on a touch plate due to a touch input from signals derives from electromagnetic interference. In the present invention, the phase response of the signals due to electromagnetic interference can be inverted relative to the phase response of the signals due to vibrations in at least one signal transmission channel so that pair wise cross-correlation of the various signal channels reveals the signals caused by electromagnetic interference. Once electromagnetic interference is identified, it can be ignored or otherwise appropriately taken into account by the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Darius Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20060071912
    Abstract: The present invention provides a touch sensitive input device that uses vibrations due to touch impacts and/or frictional movement of a touch implement across a surface to determine information related to the touch, such as touch position. The present invention also provides for detecting lift-off events in such vibration sensing input devices. Lift-off detection can be accomplished by monitoring for a signal that indicates a sustained touch on the touch plate, and correlating a change in such a signal with a lift-off event. Signals indicating a sustained touch can include low frequency rumbles coupled into the touch plate via the touch implement, touch plate bending under the force of a sustained touch, and touch plate displacement under the force of a sustained touch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Nicholas Hill, Darius Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20060071913
    Abstract: The present invention improves operatability provided for the user as operatability to specify a display range in an information-processing apparatus employing an absolute coordinate input unit such as a touch panel. The information-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention allows the user to select one of a plurality of input operation modes of the absolute coordinate input unit. One of the input operation modes is a specific mode allowing a display range to be moved to a desired position in a state where the highest resolution of a display unit integrated with the absolute coordinate input unit is lower than the resolution of an entire screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Wang, Takashi Sato, Hiroki Tamai, Takanori Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20060071914
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a display and a touch panel provided thereon. A CPU core causes the display to display an input screen (image) that has a keyboard image including a plurality of key patterns and an input area formed on each of the key patterns. By touching some of the key patterns, moving a stick or like to the input area while keeping it in a touch-on state and then performing a touch-off from the key pattern, a character graphic for the key pattern can be input (dragged) to a coordinate position in the input area just before the touch-off; however, by touching some of the key patterns and then performing a touch-off from the key pattern, a character graphic for the key pattern is input to a predetermined position in the input area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kuroume, Tetsuya Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20060071915
    Abstract: A notebook computer that has a keyboard, a navigation input device (e.g., a touchpad or mouse) and a sketch input device (usually an integrated sketch pad and stylus). The sketch input device operates in an absolute coordinate mapping mode and can be tracked on the display when hovering or touching. It draws digital ink when touching. Whenever the digital ink runs into existing text notes the text is reflowed around the sketch. A movement on an input device can either select text or draw digital ink depending on which input device was used. The computer can have sketch tool buttons operable with a stylus. The navigation and sketch input devices can be disjoint or overlapping. Variations of the sketch input device include a second touch pad that works with a finger and a stylus that works without a sketch pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Peter Rehm
  • Publication number: 20060071916
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable computer having a computer main body and a display part coupled to the computer main body. The portable computer comprises a connector provided in the computer main body and detachably combining the display part to the computer main body, and a supporting device having a display support supporting the display part and rotatably coupled to the computer main body, and a connection unit provided in the computer main body and transmitting rotation of the display support to rotation of the connector. Thus, the present invention provides a portable computer capable of safely and stably coupling the display part with the computer main body detachably and rotatably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Sung-Kyu Jeun, Bum-Young Won
  • Publication number: 20060071917
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing haptic feedback in a user interface are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a manipulandum, a rotor in communication with the manipulandum, an actuator in communication with the rotor, and a biasing element disposed between the manipulandum and the rotor. The actuator may be configured to vary a force on the rotor. The biasing element may be configured to store at least a portion of energy input to the apparatus when the actuator increases the force on the rotor, and to provide at least a portion of the stored energy to the manipulandum when the actuator decreases the force on the rotor, or when the manipulandum is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Daniel Gomez, Henry DaCosta
  • Publication number: 20060071918
    Abstract: The present invention has been made to allow a user to intuitively select desired data from a large amount of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Eijiro Mori, Takuo Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20060071919
    Abstract: A system comprises a display (1) with a substrate (16) and a carrier (2). The display (1) comprises pixels (11) and display conductors (12) which supply display signals (DS) to the pixels (11). The carrier (2) comprises carrier conductors (20) for carrying input signals (IS). The display conductors (12) and the carrier conductors (20) are positioned with respect to each other to obtain capacitors (C) between corresponding ones of the display conductors (12) and the carrier conductors (20) to capacitively transfer the input signals (IS) on the carrier conductors (20) to the display conductors (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Kononklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Hjalmar Huitema, Peter Cirkel, Eugenio Cantatore
  • Publication number: 20060071920
    Abstract: An information-processing apparatus comprises an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a communication-method type from a display device connected to the information-processing apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the display device is adapted to receive data on digital contents by using a predetermined copyright-protection technology based on the communication-method-type information, a conversion unit configured to convert an image quality of the digital contents based on the determination result, and an output unit configured to transmit the converted digital contents to the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Ishimatsu, Hideo Tanaka, Hiroki Nitta, Hidekazu Kamon, Keiichi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20060071921
    Abstract: A display apparatus receiving a signal from a plurality of signal sources and outputting the signal to a display part, the display apparatus including a selection input part to select one of the plurality of signal sources as an input signal source; a memory to store information about the signal input from the signal source; and a controller that periodically detects the signal input from the plurality of signal sources, controls the memory to store the information about the detected signal, and sets the selected signal source as the input signal source on the basis of the information stored in the memory when the input signal source is selected through the selection input part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Heung-jun Park, Young-chan Kim
  • Publication number: 20060071922
    Abstract: A method for up/down converting display data employs steps of generating a first clock signal, generating display data, writing the display data into a buffer using the first clock signal, generating a second clock signal, reading out the display data written into the buffer using the second signal, and transmitting the read-out display data to a display module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Yu-Pin Chou
  • Publication number: 20060071923
    Abstract: A shift register includes a plurality of stages each generating an output signal in sequence and including a buffering section, a driving section, a first charging section, and a charging control section. The buffering section receives one of a scan start signal and an output signal of a previous stage so that the driving section generates the output signal of a present stage. The first charging section includes a first terminal electrically connected to the driving section and a second terminal electrically connected to a first source voltage. The charging control section applies the output signal of a next stage to the first charging section. Therefore, a gradual failure of TFT is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Myung-Woo Lee, Sang-Jin Pak, Joo-Hyung Lee, Hyung-Guel Kim, Man-Seung Cho, Kee-Han Uh
  • Publication number: 20060071924
    Abstract: Power-efficient, pulsed driving of capacitive loads to controllable voltage levels, with particular applicability to LCDs. Energy stored in a portion of the capacitive load is recovered during a recovery phase. Time-varying signals are used to drive the load and to recover the stored energy, thus minimizing power losses, using processes named adiabatic charging and adiabatic discharging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Lars Svensson, William Athas, Rajat Lal
  • Publication number: 20060071925
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a received radio frequency (RF) signal is used to power a display update system and a display device. The received radio frequency signal also includes information to update the display device. The display update system may include a voltage processing unit to derive power from the signal, a processor to demodulate, optionally decrypt, and optionally authenticate the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Wykoff, Lewis Adams
  • Publication number: 20060071926
    Abstract: A driving voltage generating circuit includes: a pulse voltage generating unit generating predetermined pulse voltages; a first voltage generating unit connected to the pulse voltage generating unit and generating a first voltage; a first diode unit and a second diode unit commonly connected to the pulse voltage generating unit and each comprising at least a diode; a second voltage generating unit connected to the first diode unit and generating a second voltage; and a third voltage generating unit connected to the second diode unit and generating a third voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Jun-Pyo Lee, Yun-Jae Park, Seung-Hwan Moon
  • Publication number: 20060071927
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided, which includes: a plurality of pixels; a gray voltage generator generating a plurality of gray voltages; an image signal modifier that receives first, second, and third image signals for a pixel in three successive frames, generates a preliminary signal for the second image signal based on the first image signal, and generates a modified signal for the second image signal based on the preliminary signal and the third image signal; and a data driver converting the modified signal into a data voltage selected from the gray voltages and applying the data voltage to the pixel, wherein a range of the gray voltages is substantially equal to a range of target voltages for obtaining target luminance of the pixel, and a highest available value for the modified signal is equal to a highest available value of the image signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Hak-Sun Chang, Ji-Won Sohn, Nak-Cho Choi, Hyun-Wuk Kim, Chang-Hun Lee, Jae-Jin Lyu
  • Publication number: 20060071928
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for supplying a voltage to a counter electrode which faces a pixel electrode in an electro-optic device, an electro-optic material being disposed between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode, includes: an operational amplifier which drives the counter electrode; and an operational amplifier control circuit which controls at least one of a slew rate and an electric current drive capacity of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier control circuit increases at least one of the slew rate and the electric current drive capacity of the operational amplifier, during a control time starting at a start timing of a write-in to the pixel electrode, and brings the slew rate and the electric current drive capacity of the operational amplifier back to the state prior to the control time after passing the control time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Akira Morita
  • Publication number: 20060071929
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating aerial messages using multiple aircraft. Each of the aircraft includes a control box located in the aircraft for receiving data from and transmitting data to a software program running on a main computer. The systems and methods employ a wireless network to transmit and receive data between the aircraft and the software program, with each aircraft (or its respective control box) representing a node on the wireless network. Additionally, the systems and methods may operate on remote controlled devices, such as miniature remote controlled aircraft, and may be used to produce colored aerial messages. The systems and methods may be used to create an aerial vapor screen capable of displaying projected images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Curtiss Stinis, Stephen Stinis, Gregory Stinis
  • Publication number: 20060071930
    Abstract: When volume data of a three-dimensional object to be processed is read and stored into a predetermined storage, first, a plurality of reference planes are set and a plurality of reference distance maps each indicative of distribution of distances between the three-dimensional object and each of the reference planes are generated. Next, when an actual projection plane onto which the three-dimensional object is projected in the volume rendering is set, two or more distance maps out of the plurality of reference distance maps are converted into two or more converted distance maps in accordance with a positional relation between two or more reference planes corresponding to the two or more distance maps and the actual projection plane, and integrating the resultants, thereby generating a distance map for visualization indicative of distribution of distances between the three-dimensional object and the actual projection plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Koichi Fujiwara, Osamu Toyama
  • Publication number: 20060071931
    Abstract: A dynamic directory and tetrahedralization method. The dynamic directory of degree of freedom data for elements in a non-conformal mixed-element mesh includes elements subdividable into tetrahedral, in which a respective degree of freedom value is stored for each element, wherein the degree of freedom value is current as element subdivision proceeds. The tetrahedralization method includes providing a non-conformal mixed element mesh comprising elements subdividable into tetrahedra, identifying respective degree of freedom values for the elements in the mesh, and performing element subdivision based on the degree of freedom values of elements in the mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Fischer, Jeffrey Johnson, Ralph Young
  • Publication number: 20060071932
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for visualizing a sequence of volume images of a moving object. Methods and apparatus of this kind are used in cases where a sequence of three-dimensional volume images is to be rendered as a two-dimensional image, for example, for a viewer. The invention utilizes the fact that usually only the volume values of a part of the voxels are relevant for the derivation of a two-dimensional image from a volume image. In the case of a sequence of volume images of a moving object, the derivations of the two dimensional images can be accelerated by storing the voxels which are relevant for the visualization during the visualization of a first volume image and by deriving the relevant two-dimensional image during the visualization of a second volume image exclusively from the volume values of the stored voxels and from voxels neighboring such stored voxels. The selection of volume values of neighboring voxels for use is dependent on the motion of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jurgen Weese, Daniel Hempel, Vladimir Pekar
  • Publication number: 20060071933
    Abstract: An application binary interface includes a descriptor specifying a binary shader for each pass of a multi-pass shader. The application binary interface also includes a graphics state of a graphics object for each pass of the multi-pass shader. The graphics state for the first pass is an initial graphics state of the graphics object. The graphics state for each subsequent pass specifies a change from the graphics state of a previous pass. The application binary interface further includes parameters for the binary shaders. The application binary interface links the binary shaders together based on the parameters. Further, the parameters of the binary shaders may be modified at run time to configure the multi-pass shader. The binary shader of each pass is then executed based on the graphics state and parameters of the pass to render the graphics object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Robin Green, Axel Mamode, Roy Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20060071934
    Abstract: A motion tracking system enables faithful capture of subtle facial and eye motion using a surface electromyography (EMG) detection method to detect muscle movements and an electrooculogram (EOG) detection method to detect eye movements. Signals corresponding to the detected muscle and eye movements are used to control an animated character to exhibit the same movements performed by a performer. An embodiment of the motion tracking animation system comprises a plurality of pairs of EMG electrodes adapted to be affixed to a skin surface of a performer at plural locations corresponding to respective muscles, and a processor operatively coupled to the plurality of pairs of EMG electrodes. The processor includes programming instructions to perform the functions of acquiring EMG data from the plurality of pairs of EMG electrodes. The EMG data comprises electrical signals corresponding to muscle movements of the performer during a performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Mark Sagar, Remington Scott
  • Publication number: 20060071935
    Abstract: The present invention provides an editing apparatus, an editing method, and a program by which a user can freely and easily apply an effect while visually confirming a motion-image to be edited. The editing apparatus includes a playback/display unit that plays back and displays a motion-image, a position designation unit that designates the positions on the motion-image played back and displayed by the playback/display unit, a coordinate conversion unit that converts the positions designated by the position designation unit into virtual coordinates on the motion image, a storage unit that stores the virtual coordinates obtained by the coordinate conversion unit in association with frames of the motion-image, and an effect application unit that applies an effect to the motion-image based on the virtual coordinates stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keizo Inoue
  • Publication number: 20060071936
    Abstract: A method of processing an image comprising: measuring a set of pixel dependent attributes for a pixelated video frame, each pixel of the frame having a gray level, each gray level associated with a brightness level; and in response to each and every pixel dependent attribute of the set of pixel dependent attributes meeting a corresponding criteria, decreasing the overall brightness of the video frame in accordance with a global brightness signal and increasing the brightness of the gray level of each pixel of the video frame in accordance with a local brightness control signal, the amount a particular gray level brightness is increased being dependent upon the particular gray level and a function of the measured pixel dependent attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Evgeniy Leyvi, Sandeep Dalal
  • Publication number: 20060071937
    Abstract: The present invention transforms a device-dependent color value in a device-dependent color space of a display device to a device-independent color value in a device-independent color space. A first color value is determined in a perceptually linear color space by applying a matrix model to the device-dependent color value, the matrix model applying a tone curve correction and a tristimulus matrix to the device-dependent color value. A difference value is then determined in the perceptually linear color space, wherein the difference value is determined by applying a difference model to the device-dependent color value, and wherein the difference model models deviation of the matrix model from actual measurements of the display device. Next, the difference value and the first color value are added and the sum is transformed to the device-independent color space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Siu-Kei Tin
  • Publication number: 20060071938
    Abstract: An operating system (OS) includes a color adjuster that can map a color space to an adjusted color space that a user can discriminate. The color adjuster can map colors in the gaps of the user's discriminable color space to colors that the user can discriminate or, alternatively to cues. The OS can also include an assessor to determine whether a user would benefit from the use of an adjusted color space. The assessor can also receive color discrimination data associated with a user without having to perform an assessment (e.g., from a profile or “passport” that includes data from a previous assessment performed on another computer or device). This data can be stored on removable media, a smart device, a node on a network, and then accessed by the assessor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Cyra Richardson, Peter Gurevich, Thomas Olsen, Bradley Gibson, Michael Stokes
  • Publication number: 20060071939
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing or eliminating artifacts that may occur during color reduction of images. A bias is added to a data structure that is arranged to store counts of pixel colors of an image. Counts of pixel colors of the image are added to the data structure. Via the data structure, colors from the image are grouped into buckets until the number of buckets is less than or equal to a number of colors in a palette. Then, colors of pixels in the image are mapped to colors in the palette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gilles Khouzam, Gilman Wong, Cyra Richardson, Donald Curtis
  • Publication number: 20060071940
    Abstract: In a correction data generating method for use with an image display apparatus having data conversion means for outputting digital data of corrected image signal with respect to digital data of R, G and B input image signals, tristimulus values of R, G and B are obtained at or near a maximum gradation value, and tristimulus values for those color component signals are also obtained at those signals' respective minimum gradation value. Also obtained are tristimulus values when R, G and B are displayed at the same time at a gradation value between those two gradation values, and there is generated a conversion matrix for converting XYZ (constituted of difference values obtained by subtracting the second from the first tristimulus values) to a color mixture ratio of R, G, and B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Ouchi
  • Publication number: 20060071941
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a video signal includes providing a comparison of correction data to safety margin data, and determining a level of correction based on this comparing, wherein video correction is provided, but clipping of the video signal is substantially prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Michael Bakhmutsky
  • Publication number: 20060071942
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing digital images is provided. A collection of digital images may be managed using a digital image system that displays images using groups, stacks, and versions. A group is a set of unordered digital images that may be visually represented, in a first state, using a representative image, and in a second state, by each digital image in the group. Stacks are similar to groups, except that each digital image in a stack has a rank, and each digital image in the stack is depicted in order of its rank. Versions are similar to groups, except that one or more images in the group are derived from another image in the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Randy Ubillos, Laurent Perrodin, Dan Waylonis, Stan Jirman, Sarah Brody, Mike Mages
  • Publication number: 20060071943
    Abstract: A video object clipping method includes storing, in a storage unit, original images each including a video object to be clipped and reference alpha images representing objects prepared, determining a criteria original image and a criteria reference alpha image from the original images and the reference alpha images, determining a deformation parameter by deforming the criteria reference alpha image to correspond to the criteria original image, and deforming remaining ones of the reference alpha images according to the determined deformation parameter to generate output alpha images corresponding to the original images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Matsumoto, Osamu Hori, Takashi Ida, Hidenori Takeshima
  • Publication number: 20060071944
    Abstract: A video object clipping method includes storing, in a storage unit, original images each including a video object to be clipped and reference alpha images representing objects prepared, determining a criteria original image and a criteria reference alpha image from the original images and the reference alpha images, determining a deformation parameter by deforming the criteria reference alpha image to correspond to the criteria original image, and deforming remaining ones of the reference alpha images according to the determined deformation parameter to generate output alpha images corresponding to the original images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Matsumoto, Osamu Hori, Takashi Ida, Hidenori Takeshima
  • Publication number: 20060071945
    Abstract: An information processing method includes steps of: acquiring arrangement information indicating the position or the position and orientation of an index arranged in a physical space; capturing an image in the physical space; detecting the index from the captured image; and calculating the position and/or orientation of a viewpoint of the captured image based on the arrangement information and the detected index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mahoro Anabuki
  • Publication number: 20060071946
    Abstract: In a case where a position and/or orientation of a shooting viewpoint is calculated by using information about image coordinates of markers placed in a scene, the present invention enables a user to easily determine positions of the markers so that the position and orientation can be calculated more accurately. Information about markers placed in a physical space is obtained and area information about mixing accuracy between a physical space image and a virtual space image is obtained based on the information about the markers, so that a virtual space image is generated in accordance with the obtained area information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mahoro Anabuki, Daisuke Kotake, Shinji Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20060071947
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying digital images on a display is provided. A pile of images that includes a plurality of images arranged in a first arrangement in which at least one image in the pile overlaps with at least one other image in the pile is displayed. Location data that indicates the location of each image in the first arrangement is stored. In response to first user input while the images of the pile are displayed in the first arrangement, without changing the location data, the images that belong to the pile are displayed in a second arrangement in which no image in the pile overlaps with any other image of the pile. In response to second user input while the images of the pile are displayed in the second arrangement, the pile of images are redisplayed in the first arrangement based on the location data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Randy Ubillos, Laurent Perrodin, Dan Waylonis
  • Publication number: 20060071948
    Abstract: This invention relates to a 3-dimensional font-engine for redrawing characters onto a display screen to represent characters on a page. A user may continuously change orientation with respect to that page in 3-dimensional space and the characters themselves are rotated and redrawn to the display means after each change of orientation. The text layout on the page is not considered as a single image but instead the basic font information in terms of characteristic control points defining the curves of the characters are rotated prior to the image being redrawn to the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Chris Hemmings
  • Publication number: 20060071949
    Abstract: A display control apparatus for controlling display in a first display device that displays a predetermined display range of an entire supplied image is provided. The display control apparatus includes an image scaledown unit adapted to scale down a first image based on a scaledown ratio that is preset in accordance with the size of the display range relative to the entire image; and a display control unit adapted to control display of the first image that is scaled down by the image scaledown unit in the first display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Sakuma, Masanori Nomura, Hiroshi Nagatani, Haruhiko Sakata, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Hirooki Tajima
  • Publication number: 20060071950
    Abstract: A reading machine that operates in various modes includes image correction processing is described. The reading device pre-processes an image prior to optical character recognition processing by detect distortion in an image of a page by measuring an extent to which page boundaries in the image deviate from a simple rectangular shape and correcting for the optical distortion by transforming the image to restore the page to a rectangular shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Raymond Kurzweil, Paul Albrecht, Lucy Gibson, Lev Lvovsky
  • Publication number: 20060071951
    Abstract: A printer controller for supplying dot data to a printhead in a predetermined order, the printhead comprising at least first and second printhead modules, each comprising a plurality of printing nozzles and being disposed adjacent each other such that a printing width of the printhead is wider than a printing width of either of the printhead modules, the printer controller being configurable during or after manufacture to order and time supply of the dot data to the printhead modules such that any relative displacement between the printhead nozzles in a direction normal to the printhead printing width is at least partially compensated for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Simon Walmsley, Richard Plunkett
  • Publication number: 20060071952
    Abstract: A multifunction machine includes cartridge accommodation portions provided at different positions. Each of the accommodation portions accommodates multiple ink cartridges. If the ink remaining amount of at least one of the cartridges is smaller than a threshold value, a display control section determines that the cartridge requires replacement and operates a display to display an ink-end screen. The ink-end screen displays a message requiring the cartridge be replaced and information regarding the position of the accommodation portion corresponding to the cartridge requiring replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Motominami, Hirotake Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20060071953
    Abstract: A printer 1 has an I/F section 31 for receiving data from a PC 2, a parameter-deriving section 35b for deriving a control constant on the basis of print setting information included in the received data, and a printer section 11 which performs printing operation on the basis of the print setting information, the control constant, and print data included in the received data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Takuya Yasue, Shuichi Shima, Reiko Nomura
  • Publication number: 20060071954
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide an ink jet printing apparatus having excellent throughput which can continue the printing operation without interruption if a part of line heads falls into an unprintable state when the apparatus is printing images of the same color using a plurality of line heads. For this purpose, this invention divides the image data for images of the same color and supplies the divided image data to such a line head of the plurality of line heads intended to form images of the same color which are capable of ejecting ink properly so that the ink ejectable line head perform the printing operation according to the supplied image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Morooka, Yoshiyuki Shino
  • Publication number: 20060071955
    Abstract: A printing apparatus which prints plural dots on a printing medium by a printing head to form a predetermined image, including: an image data acquirement unit acquiring image data corresponding to the predetermined image; a data conversion unit converting the image data, for each pixel, into printing data relating to a presence or absence of a dot; a printing head grasp unit grasping characteristic information of the printing head; and a printing unit executing printing based on the data obtained, wherein when the occurrence of a banding phenomenon is forecasted based on the characteristic information, the data conversion unit converts the image data so that the size of a part or all dots associated with the banding phenomenon is changed to a size different from the size of a dot when the occurrence of the banding phenomenon is not forecasted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Shinichi Arazaki
  • Publication number: 20060071956
    Abstract: A method of printing with a personal computer and connected printer includes the step of rendering contone data to a pixel level and subsequently compressing the contone data in the personal computer. The bi-level data is rendered to a dot level and subsequently compressed in the personal computer. Compressed page data is communicated to the printer. The contone data and the bi-level data are expanded in the printer. The contone date is halftoned in the printer. The bi-level data is composited in the printer. The halftoned and composited data is printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Simon Walmsley, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20060071957
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention describe an apparatus and a method of visualizing droplets dispensed from an inkjet printing system. A droplet visualization system is integrated with the inkjet printing system and is capable of measuring the sizes and the speeds of dispensed inkjet droplets and capturing the trajectories of the dispensed inkjet droplets. The measured information regarding the sizes, the speeds and trajectories of the droplets is feedback to the inkjet printing system to monitor and to control the dispense operation of the inkjet printing system. Due to this feedback control, the uniformities of the sizes, the speeds and the trajectories can be monitored and be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Quanyuan Shang, Stephen McPherson
  • Publication number: 20060071958
    Abstract: A pen alignment method and apparatus used in a printing apparatus, which perform a pen alignment operation when the amount of ink contained in an ink cartridge of an inkjet printing apparatus is reduced to a predetermined value or less. The pen alignment method includes measuring the amount of ink contained in an ink cartridge; determining whether the measured amount of ink is less than a predetermined value; and performing a pen alignment operation if the measured amount of ink is less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyoung-jae Lee
  • Publication number: 20060071959
    Abstract: An ink jet head is presented that decreases the density in wiring patterns to be connected to a large number of actuator terminals formed on a main body of the ink jet head while ensuring large spacing between the wirings. The ink jet head comprises a main body, a driver IC, and a sheet. The main body comprises a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of actuators, and a plurality of actuator terminals distributed on a surface of the main body. The driver IC can select any actuator terminal among the plurality of actuator terminals and transmit a driving voltage to the selected actuator terminal. The sheet mounts the driver IC at a first surface of the sheet and is fixed to the main body at a second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicants: KYOCERA Corporation, BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Ito, Koji Nakayama, Hiroshi Murashima, Takuji Hashiguchi
  • Publication number: 20060071960
    Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a nozzle through which liquid is ejected; a pressure chamber which accommodates the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle; a supply side flow path which fills the liquid from a supply system into the pressure chamber; an actuator which is provided on at least one wall of the pressure chamber and changes a volume of the pressure chamber; and a drive signal generating device which generates a drive signal including at least a first drive signal having a time period T1 which drives the actuator so as to expand the pressure chamber, and a second drive signal having a time period T2 which drives the actuator so as to contract the pressure chamber, wherein: a relationship between the time period T2 of the second drive signal and a Helmholtz period Tc of the pressure chamber satisfies T2?Tc/2; and when the actuator is operated by means of the drive signal to generate, in the nozzle, a pressure having a prescribed cycle in which a negative pressure acting in a direction which c
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mataki