Patents Issued in April 6, 2006
  • Publication number: 20060071961
    Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus includes: (A) a drive signal generation section generating first and second drive signals to be applied to an element that can execute a liquid-ejection operation; (B) a data output section outputting first selection data for setting an application state of the first drive signal to the element, and second selection data for setting an application state of the second drive signal to the element; (C) a data inspection section inspecting the first and second selection data having been output from the data output section, and outputting inspected first selection data and inspected second selection data, wherein if the first and second selection data indicate that the first and second drive signals are to be applied to the element simultaneously, then the data inspection section continues to output the inspected first- and inspected second selection data that had been output up to then; and (D) a switch section including a first switch that controls application of the first drive sig
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Noboru Tamura
  • Publication number: 20060071962
    Abstract: In response to a print job, a character code stream is generated including printable character codes. Each of the character codes is of a first bit length. Command codes to be embedded into the character code stream are padded with an identifier. The command codes and the identifier are of a second bit length that is one-half of the size of the first bit length. The padded command codes are inserted into the character code stream thereby to form a print data stream. The print data stream is transmitted to a printer. The identifier allows the printer to detect and extract embedded command codes while maintaining synchronization thereby to enable character code extraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Leonard Hodder
  • Publication number: 20060071963
    Abstract: A system that extends the operational effectiveness of an image reproduction machine without requiring downtime for service by personnel includes a detection subsystem that monitors components of an image reproduction system for detecting a banding defect in the image reproduction system and an automated compensation subsystem for modifying operation of the image reproduction system to compensate for the detected banding defect so that the image reproduction system continues to generate images at an acceptable quality level. The automated compensation subsystem adjusts components and/or data used by image reproduction system to compensate for the identified banding defect without requiring immediate operator or service personnel intervention. This compensation may successfully attenuate the banding defect so that the image reproduction system continues to produce acceptable images without downtime while awaiting service by personnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Meera Sampath, Howard Mizes, Susan Zoltner
  • Publication number: 20060071964
    Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: an ejection head which includes: a nozzle through which a droplet of liquid is ejected onto an ejection receiving medium; a pressure chamber which accommodates the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle; and a piezoelectric element which is provided at the pressure chamber and applies an ejection force to the liquid inside the pressure chamber; a pressure sensor which is provided at the pressure chamber and generates a determination signal corresponding to pressure in the pressure chamber; an integration device which integrates the determination signal obtained by the pressure sensor for a prescribed integration time period; and an ejection abnormality judgment device which judges whether or not an ejection abnormality occurs in the nozzle, according to a comparison result of comparing an integration result obtained from the integration device with a previously established threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichiro Oku
  • Publication number: 20060071965
    Abstract: A pump member is cyclically moved to apply an air pressure to a liquid supply source to thereby supply liquid stored therein to a reservoir member. A driving source is driven in accordance with control information to move the pump member. A position sensor senses a position of the pump member. A first storage stores target information indicative of a target driving speed of the driving source. A first calculator obtains drive information indicative of an actual driving speed of the driving source based on the sensed position of the pump member. A second calculator obtains a difference between the target driving speed and the actual driving speed, and obtains correction information for reducing the difference. A corrector corrects the control information with the correction information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Igarashi, Kaoru Koyama
  • Publication number: 20060071966
    Abstract: The liquid ejection head comprises: an ejection port which ejects liquid onto an ejection receiving medium; a pressure chamber which applies pressure for ejection to the liquid to be ejected from the ejection port; and a plurality of pressure determination elements which are provided on at least one of wall faces constituting the pressure chamber and have characteristic different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kanji Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20060071967
    Abstract: A nozzle shield assembly includes a band of material having a tag end, a standing end, a first side, and a second side; wherein the second side is at least partially folded against itself, and the standing end is configured to cover a nozzle of a print cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Teresa Cray, Steven Castle, Jefferson Ward, Marco Roccatti, Alberto Albertin
  • Publication number: 20060071968
    Abstract: A head unit 103 for use in a droplet ejection apparatus is provided with a plurality of droplet ejection heads for ejecting one or more kind of liquid material of a predetermined color onto a base in the form of droplets. Each of the droplet ejection heads includes at least one nozzle array constituted from a plurality of nozzles linearly aligned. The liquid material is adapted to be ejected through the plurality of nozzles of the plurality of droplet ejection heads in the form of droplets. The plurality of droplet ejection heads include at least two sets of two adjacent droplet ejection heads which are arranged in a consecutive manner in a first direction parallel to each of the nozzle arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Publication number: 20060071969
    Abstract: A liquid ejection recording head for effecting recording by ejecting first liquid and second liquid which is a different kind of liquid through different ejection outlets, while bidirectionally scanning a recording material in a scanning direction includes a group of first ejection outlet arrays each of which has a plurality of ejection outlets at predetermined intervals arranged in a direction different from the scanning direction, wherein corresponding ejection outlets in the respective ejection arrays are aligned in the scanning direction; a group, disposed adjacent the group of the first ejection outlet arrays, of second ejection outlet arrays arranged in a manner similar to the first ejection outlet array group; wherein the first ejection outlet arrays include a first ejection outlet array for ejecting the first liquid and a second ejection outlet array for ejecting the second liquid; wherein the second ejection outlet arrays include a third ejection outlet array for ejecting the first liquid and a fourt
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mineo Kaneko, Naoji Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20060071970
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing color inkjet images includes an image processing unit which processes source color data to generate output color data together with a signal indicative of an order of ink squirts in which a plurality of inks of respective colors are squirted onto a given pixel, and an inkjet print unit which is configured to squirt the plurality of inks in different orders of ink squirts, and prints color images based on the output color data by squirting the inks in the order of ink squirts indicated by the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20060071971
    Abstract: In an ink jet recording head including a flexible wiring board, the flexible wiring board has a thickness reduction part formed by reducing a film thickness of a part of the base film. The thickness reduction part is configured to alleviate stress applied to inner leads by a base film in the periphery of a device hole, so as to avoid the failure of bonding or the like caused by the inner leads of the flexible wiring board, on which a recording element substrate is installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Mori
  • Publication number: 20060071972
    Abstract: There are provided driving electrodes (25) on walls (24) separating both sides of individual ink chambers (22) formed in the form of an array of multiple grooves. External circuit connecting electrodes (11) for connecting these driving electrodes (25) to an external circuit are formed on exposed surface regions of electrically conductive material (10) filled in the individual ink chambers (22) at a rear end portion of a head. Each of the aforesaid exposed surface regions has an area larger than the cross-sectional area of each ink chamber as measured along a direction perpendicular to the ink chamber array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sakamoto, Tomoyuki Sagara, Shigeaki Kakiwaki, Hirotsugu Matoba
  • Publication number: 20060071973
    Abstract: A magnetostatic actuator uses a ferrofluid slug confined in a cylindrical tube which is wrapped in a conducting coil. By applying a current to the coil, a magnetic field is generated inside the coil. The ferrofluid slug may be attracted to the interior of the coil by the interaction of its magnetic moment with the field generated inside the coil. Movement of the ferrofluid slug in response to the magnetic field may be used to actuate various devices, such as a droplet dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Eric Peeters
  • Publication number: 20060071974
    Abstract: A head unit 103 for use in a droplet ejection apparatus is provided with a plurality of droplet ejection heads for ejecting one or more kind of liquid material of a predetermined color onto a base in the form of droplets. Each of the droplet ejection heads includes at least one nozzle array constituted from a plurality of nozzles linearly aligned. The liquid material is adapted to be ejected through the plurality of nozzles of the plurality of droplet ejection heads in the form of droplets. The plurality of droplet ejection heads for ejecting the liquid material of the same color are arranged so that the nozzle arrays of the plurality of droplet ejection heads are parallel to each other in a first direction and each of the plurality of droplet ejection heads partially overlaps at least one of the other droplet ejection heads when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Publication number: 20060071975
    Abstract: A droplet-discharging head comprising: a nozzle substrate in which a plurality of nozzle holes for discharging droplets are formed; a cavity substrate in which a recess to serve as a discharging chamber for pooling the droplets is formed, the recess having a diaphragm formed in a bottom face thereof; an electrode substrate in which an individual electrode opposite to the diaphragm for driving the diaphragm is formed; and a reservoir substrate having a recess to serve as a common droplet chamber for supplying droplets to the discharging chamber, a penetrating hole for transporting droplets to the discharging chamber from the common droplet chamber, and a nozzle communicating hole for transporting droplets to the nozzle hole from the discharging chamber, wherein the reservoir substrate has the nozzle substrate bonded to one face thereof and has the cavity substrate bonded to the other face thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Yasushi Matsuno, Akira Sano
  • Publication number: 20060071976
    Abstract: An ink-jet printhead includes a substrate on which an ink chamber to be supplied with ink to be ejected is formed on a front surface of the substrate, a manifold for supplying ink to the ink chamber is formed on a rear surface of the substrate, and an ink passage in communication with the ink chamber and the manifold is formed parallel to the front surface of the substrate, a nozzle plate formed on the front surface of the substrate, a nozzle formed through the nozzle plate through which ink is ejected from the ink chamber, a heater formed on the nozzle plate, and an electrode electrically connected to the heater for applying current to the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seog-soon Baek, Yong-soo Oh, Keon Kuk, Ki-deok Bae, Seung-ju Shin, Su-ho Shin
  • Publication number: 20060071977
    Abstract: A transfer belt apparatus, system and method are provided to prevent image blooming. For example, an ink jet printing apparatus may include a grounded print head, a counter-electrode opposite the ground print head, and a bi-layer transfer belt provided between a print head and a counter-electrode and at least partially supported by two or more transfer bias rollers. A method may include applying a voltage between a print head and a counter-electrode to accelerate ink drops coming out of the print head toward a transfer belt, and evacuating charge accumulated on the transfer belt with a time constant smaller than a drop ejection frequency of the print head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Meng Lean, John Ricciardelli, Fred Stolfi, Osman Polatkan, Michael Savino
  • Publication number: 20060071978
    Abstract: A fluid droplet characterizing apparatus and method includes a pressurized source of a non-conductive fluid in fluid communication with a nozzle channel and a characterization electrode. The pressurized source is operable to form a jet of the non-conductive fluid through the nozzle channel. At least one portion of the characterization electrode is electrically conductive and contactable with first portion and thereafter a second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet. The at least one electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode is operable to transfer a first electrical charge to a region of the first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet and transfer a second electrical charge to a region of the second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Steiner, Fernando Lopes
  • Publication number: 20060071979
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid discharge apparatus adapted for discharging inks from discharge holes, which comprises a control unit (68) for controlling a discharge control unit (63), wherein the control unit controls the discharge control unit in such a manner that pulse current delivered to one of a pair of heating resistors (42a), (42b) is caused to be reference, and pulse current is delivered to the other heating resistor in the state where timing is shifted in a time of the range within 20% of supply time of pulse current serving as reference with respect to supply timing of pulse current serving as reference. Thus, it is possible to suppress unevenness or variation of impact positions of ink droplets discharged in the state where discharge direction has been changed. As a result, deterioration of picture quality resulting from color tone unevenness and/or white stripe, etc. is prevented. Thus, print operation can be performed at excellent picture quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Iwao Ushinohama, Yuichiro Ikemoto, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Takeo Eguichi
  • Publication number: 20060071980
    Abstract: A printing method that can suppress drops in voltage due to discharging of piezo elements is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Toshiki Usui
  • Publication number: 20060071981
    Abstract: A printer controller configured to generate dot data for supply to a printhead which includes at least a first printhead integrated circuit and a second printhead integrated circuit positioned adjacent each other either side of a join region, the printer controller configured to transfer dot data to each of the first printhead integrated circuit and the second printhead integrated circuit at a rate proportional to the relative lengths of the first printhead integrated circuit and the second printhead integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Richard Plunkett
  • Publication number: 20060071982
    Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles (3) and one or more heater elements (10) corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble (12) therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop (16) of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. Each heater element is formed of solid material, more than 90% of which, by atomic proportion, is constituted by at least one element, from the periodic table of elements, having an atomic number below 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20060071983
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatuses and methods for acoustically ejecting the fluid from a reservoir contained in or disposed on a substrate. The reservoir has a portion adapted to contain a fluid, and an acoustic radiation generator is positioned in acoustic coupling relationship to the reservoir. Acoustic radiation generated by the acoustic radiation generator is transmitted through at least the portion of the reservoir to an analyzer. The analyzer is capable of determining the energy level of the transmitted acoustic radiation and raising the energy level of subsequent pulses to a level sufficient to eject fluid droplets from the reservoir. The invention is particularly suited for delivering fluid from a plurality of reservoirs in an accurate and efficient manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Stearns, Shehrzad Qureshi
  • Publication number: 20060071984
    Abstract: There is provided a barrier structure provided with a concave portion corresponding to a pattern formed out of a functional liquid, the barrier structure comprising: a first concave portion provided in the barrier to correspond to a first pattern; and a second concave portion that is connected to the first pattern and is provided in the barrier to correspond to a second pattern having a width smaller than that of the first pattern, wherein the height of at least a part of the bottom surface of the second concave portion is greater than that of the bottom surface of the first concave portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Hirai, Katsuyuki Moriya
  • Publication number: 20060071985
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an ink supply system of a printer includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a longitudinal fluid conduit extending therebetween. A fluid sensing device extends from a first side of the fluid conduit to an opposite side of the fluid conduit. A monitoring device is electrically coupled to the fluid sensing device for detecting changes in the fluid sensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Patrick Therien, Sarah Suffield, Isaac Farr, Shane Shivji, Ronald Juve
  • Publication number: 20060071986
    Abstract: A modular printhead includes a carrier. An elongate ink delivery member is mounted in the carrier and defines a plurality of longitudinal conduits for each carrying a respective type of ink. The elongate ink delivery member further defines a plurality of sets of apertures, each set including a plurality of apertures which are each in register with a corresponding conduit. A plurality of printhead modules is positioned end-to-end on the carrier. Each printhead module includes a plurality of inkjet nozzles. Each inkjet nozzle engages with a respective set of apertures so that each inkjet nozzle of each module is engaged in fluid communication with a respective conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin King
  • Publication number: 20060071987
    Abstract: A pagewidth printhead assembly includes an elongate channel member having a floor and a pair of opposed sidewalls and being of a resiliently flexible material. An elongate ink distribution member is positioned on the floor and defines a number of longitudinally extending ink conduits for conveying respective inks and defining sets of apertures. The apertures of each set are in fluid communication with respective conduits. A series of inkjet printhead modules is mounted on the ink distribution member. Each inkjet printhead module has an ink distribution assembly in fluid communication with respective sets of the apertures. A printhead integrated circuit is mounted on the ink distribution assembly to receive ink. Each printhead module is dimensioned to be retained in position in the channel due to an inward bias of the sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin King
  • Publication number: 20060071988
    Abstract: Products having sensitive regions, such as information handling system components have electrical connections or openings, are packaged with the sensitive region sealed. A sealing portion on the inner surface of a wrapper has an adhesive surface that adheres the wrapper to the sensitive region so that the wrapper encloses the product with the sensitive portion sealed. For instance, an ink jet cartridge printhead adheres to the sealing portion so that enclosing the cartridge in the wrapper packages the cartridge with the printhead sealed. Removal of the wrapper from the cartridge exposes the printhead for use in an inkjet printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Morton, Wayne Iltis
  • Publication number: 20060071989
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a reservoir for holding a fluid includes a housing defining an enclosed chamber, the housing having a first opening therein at one part of the chamber and a second opening therein at a second part of the chamber above the first part of the chamber, a breachable seal sealing the second opening, and a circuitous tunnel exposing the chamber to the atmosphere through the second opening if the seal is breached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: William Lewey, Eric Ahlvin, Joseph Stellbrink, Daniel Fradl
  • Publication number: 20060071990
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a first liquid application device which applies a first liquid to a recording medium; and an ejection head which ejects a second liquid onto the first liquid having been applied to the recording medium by the first liquid application device, wherein: a surface tension ?1 of the first liquid is 35 mN/m or lower; and a difference (?2??1 ) between a surface tension ?2 of the second liquid and the surface tension ?1 of the first liquid is 10 mN/m or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Hirakawa
  • Publication number: 20060071991
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an ink application device which applies ink to a recording medium; a treatment liquid application device which applies treatment liquid which causes the ink to increase in viscosity or solidify, by reacting with the ink; an image processing device which generates image data of multiple values from an input image; a block dividing device which divides an image region to be formed on the recording medium according to the image data into a plurality of blocks; an evaluation value calculation device which calculates an evaluation value for each of the blocks for judging an application of the treatment liquid to each of the blocks, according to the image data; and a treatment liquid application control device which controls a mode of applying the treatment liquid to each of the blocks, by comparing the evaluation value with a previously established threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Jun Yamanobe
  • Publication number: 20060071992
    Abstract: A printing system for use in inkjet printing. The printing system comprises an inkjet ink having a free binder and a modified pigment, a fixer fluid, and a porous print medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: George Sarkisian, Xiaohe Chen, Keshava Prasad
  • Publication number: 20060071993
    Abstract: A method of printing an image on an object comprises the steps of: providing an object having an exterior surface having a planar portion and a channel recessed from the planar portion; applying a first ground coat on the exterior surface; drying the first ground coat; and spraying droplets of ink on the dried ground coat to form an image, wherein the droplets are sprayed from an ink jet printhead that is maintained at a constant distance from the plane of the planar portion of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: William Baxter, Richard Eve, Karine Luetgert, Scott Fellin
  • Publication number: 20060071994
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a cleaning unit, a regular flushing unit, capping unit, and an ejection-amount measuring unit as droplet ejecting head maintenance units used for function maintenance, function recovery, adjustment, or inspection of a liquid ejecting head. The droplet ejecting head maintenance units are arranged in a group in a movable platen as a maintenance-unit installing section. The movable platen is supported by an accessory stand physically separated from a main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Kenji Kojima
  • Publication number: 20060071995
    Abstract: With the width in the main scanning direction of the image region of which the recording width in the main scanning direction is the shortest of all of the image regions to be recorded on the recording surface of the recording medium as X1 in the main scanning direction, the width obtained by subtracting the width of the ink discharge orifice from the width between the ink discharge orifice closet to the discharge side, of the ink discharge orifices employed for recording of an image region and the roller as Y1 in the sub scanning direction, and the period necessary for completing another image region defined by the width X1 and the width Y1 as T1, the sub scanning of the recording medium is controlled such that the one image region comes into contact with the roller after the period T1 from the point of completion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Aya Hayashi, Hidehiko Kanda
  • Publication number: 20060071996
    Abstract: A sheet handling device including a sheet support plate made of a heat conductive material having a first heat capacity, said plate having at least one cavity formed between a top wall defining a top surface of the plate and a bottom wall defining a bottom surface of the plate; and a temperature control system including a circulating system for circulating a temperature control fluid through said cavity, wherein in the cavity contains a displacement body which is spaced apart from said top and bottom walls and is made of a material having a heat capacity which is smaller than the heat capacity of the sheet support plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Pieter Kruijt
  • Publication number: 20060071997
    Abstract: A sheet handling device including a sheet support plate having at least one internal fluid cavity; and a temperature control system containing a temperature controller and a closed circulating system for circulating a temperature control liquid through the cavity and through the temperature controller, the circulating system including expansion means for at least partially absorbing expansion and contraction of the liquid, the expansion means provided with at least one hose connecting the cavity and the temperature controller and adapted to flexibly expand and contract with the temperature control liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Pieter Kruijt
  • Publication number: 20060071998
    Abstract: A sheet handling device containing a sheet support element having a surface provided with suction holes which are connected to at least one suction chamber, the suction chamber being connected to a suction device adapted to create a subatmospheric pressure in the suction chamber, and a flow obstructing material arranged to obstruct an air flow from at least a subset of the suction holes into the suction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Pieter Kruijt
  • Publication number: 20060071999
    Abstract: A cue sports cloth comprises a cloth with a playing surface having a design printed thereon. At least 30% of the area of the playing surface is printed with a camouflage design as defined by the function ?E2<k?E1, where ?E, is a measure of complexity of the design, ?E2 is a measure of the similarity of the colour contrast of the design with respect to the base colour k is a constant with a value in the range 0 to 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Stephen Lobley, Alan Brasier
  • Publication number: 20060072000
    Abstract: A feeding tray supports a plurality of media the media thereon. A hopper is provided on the feeding tray so as to be movable in a first direction for pushing the media toward a feeding roller so that a top one of the media comes in contact with the feeding roller, and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A separator separates a first group including at least one of the media which is situated under the top one of the media from the top one, so that only the top one is fed to the downstream section by rotation of the feeding roller. A returning lever is pivotable interlockingly with the feeding roller and adapted to return a second group including at least one of the media in the first group, which has been proceeded from a prescribed position to the downstream section together with the top one of the media, to the feeding tray. A holder supports a third group including at least one of the media in the first group which is situated under the second group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasumichi Okuda, Yoshihiro Kobayashi, Kazuhito Hori, Naohiro Ueyama
  • Publication number: 20060072001
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method using thermal and inkjet printing and a combination thermal and inkjet printer includes a thermal print head, an inkjet print head and at least one motor for driving a web of record members, such as labels past the thermal print head and the inkjet print head. A controller controls the thermal print head and the inkjet print head while the inkjet print head remains stationary to print on a record member as the record member moves continuously past each of the print heads at the same speed to provide a simple, fast and inexpensive and less complex combination thermal and inkjet printer than prior combination printers. The thermal print head is used to print data and the ink jet print head is used to print marks of any of various contrasting colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Rudolph Klein
  • Publication number: 20060072002
    Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes a light source capable of being modulated, a deflecting element for deflecting and scanning a beam emitted from the light source, a scanning optical element for imaging the deflected beam into a spot shape on a scanned surface, and an optical element for synchronous detection for directing the deflected beam from the deflecting element to a sensor to take the timing of image writing beginning. The scanning optical apparatus further inclueds a scanning position detecting device for making the optical axis of the optical element for synchronous detection and the principal ray of the beam from the deflecting element for taking the timing of image writing beginning coincident with each other, and detecting the position of the beam at a point having at least one image height separate from the optical axis of the scanning optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazumi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20060072003
    Abstract: A housing, formed as a desktop computer or wall-hung display, includes a display screen, a data receiver for receiving audio and video data transmitted from an external device via a public switched telephone network, and a data separator that separates the received data into separated audio data and separated video data. The separated audio data is coupled to a speaker and the separated video data is displayed on the display screen. The housing includes a short range transceiver that couples audio and video data to the separator and a slot for receiving a memory card that supplies audio and video data to the separator. The housing includes an image sensor and microphone for supplying video and audio signals to a combiner that supplies combined audio and video signals to the network, transceiver and card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: HAGIWARA SYS-COM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Syoji Kawase
  • Publication number: 20060072004
    Abstract: A communication apparatus comprising a digital interface; and a detecting unit configured to detect a change in format of video data transmitted from the digital interface, wherein the communication apparatus is adapted to control the digital interface to set the digital interface in a disabled state in case of detecting by the detecting unit that the format of video data is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shunji Fujita
  • Publication number: 20060072005
    Abstract: A four lens camera system FIG. 8 for TV and film is shown. By using LCD switching dichroic mirrored optical axes to from primary and corresponding secondary muted optical light paths from 4 separate horizontally placed synchronous lenses, a Virtual Vision 3-D Holographic Visual Scene is reprocessed. Using special phasings from an electronic circuit holographic phasing of a special high speed muting process allows viewing of a visual scene in three dimension without the use of coded viewing glasses. Also shown is a dual CCD LCD switched Vision hood FIG. 9 for displaying conventional TV signals into reprocessed three dimensional Virtual Vision, using the processing section (FIG. 8 section B) of the StarCam system FIG. 8. Incorporated into the audio system is an automatic language track translation method for real time automatic translation from a host language to a foreign language.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Patty Thomas-Wayne
  • Publication number: 20060072006
    Abstract: A 3D stereo display method and a device thereof. Two sets of shutters are disposed in a display. The shutters are complementarily interlaced with each other. The opening/closing of the two sets of shutters are controlled by time interval concept. When the display frequency is odd frequency, one set of shutters is activated. When the display frequency is even frequency, the other set of shutters is activated. The two sets of shutters are continuously opened and closed according to the variation of the frequency so that in odd and even frequencies, the left and right eyes can respectively see independent images formed of different subpixels. Therefore, a 3D display effect is presented to bare eyes without reducing resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Lin Lin, Han Lin, Wun Wang
  • Publication number: 20060072007
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include devices, systems and methods of mounting audio/video capturing equipment. For example, a mounting device for mounting equipment onto a helmet includes: a support structure having one or more gripping mechanisms adapted to be fitted to one or more locations of the helmet; and a camera mount, at a first location of the support structure, to support a camera at a desired image-capturing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Avraham Gilor
  • Publication number: 20060072008
    Abstract: This structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera in a vehicle allows a plurality of cameras to be attached to a vehicle body frame in order to stereoscopically capture images surrounding the vehicle, and the same structure includes: a lateral stay for coupling the plurality of cameras with each other; and brackets for fixing the lateral stay or the plurality of cameras at a cross member having both ends folded upward, having the terminals connected to the front end parts of the side frames at both sides of the engine room, and having a radiator supported at the middle part thereof, wherein at least a part of the plurality of cameras is disposed between both the ends of the cross member and the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Miyazaki, Hiroshi Hattori, Masahito Watanabe, Yoshitaka Katashima, Nobuharu Nagaoka, Kazuhiko Iwaizako, Hiromichi Tsushima
  • Publication number: 20060072009
    Abstract: An exemplary technique for interaction-based computer interfacing comprises determining if an interaction with a visible artifact is a recognized interaction. When the interaction is a recognized interaction, control information is determined that has one of a plurality of types. The control information is determined by using at least the visual artifact and characteristics of the recognized interaction. The control information is mapped to one or more tasks in an application, such that any task that requires control information of a specific type can get the control information from any visual artifact that creates control information of the specific type. The control information is suitable for use by the one or more tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederik Moesgaard Kjeldsen, Anthony Levas, Gopal Pingali
  • Publication number: 20060072010
    Abstract: An input video sequence may be processed by processing the input video sequence to obtain target information; and building at least one target property map based on said target information. The target property map may be used to detect various events, particularly in connection with video surveillance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: ObjectVideo, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Haering, Zeeshan Rasheed, Andrew Chosak, Geoffrey Egnal, Alan Lipton, Haiying Liu, Peter Venetianer, Weihong Yin, Li Yu, Liang Yu, Zhong Zhang