Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method for cleaning inkjet cartridges. The system includes a fixture configured to mount an inkjet cartridge where a printhead of the inkjet cartridge is mounted to a cleaning plate. The cleaning plate includes one or more orifices connected to a vacuum source and one or more orifices connected to a wash solution source. The vacuum source can be used to extract ink from within the cartridge through nozzles in the printhead. The wash solution source can supply a pressurized wash solution through the nozzles of the printhead. The vacuum source can also be use to extract the wash solution from within the cartridge through the nozzles.

Abstract: A joint member is made of an elastic member whose cross sectional shape is an almost M-character shape and which has: an inserting portion formed with an opening portion and a slit; an outer edge portion as an outer peripheral portion of the joint member; and a supporting fixing portion for coupling the inserting portion and the outer edge portion on the upper portion side. A cross sectional shape of an opening of the opening portion is a shape of a circular cone frustum in which the opening and a bottom surface are coupled via an inclined surface. The slit is formed in the rectangular bottom surface. The joint member is sandwiched between a casing and a pressing plate. The inserting portion and the supporting fixing portion exist in planes which are different in the inserting direction of a liquid supply needle.

Abstract: An ink supplying device and an inkjet image forming apparatus including the same. The ink supplying device includes an ink containing unit, a printhead forming an image by ejecting ink onto a printing medium, the ink flowing from the ink containing unit into the printhead through an ink path, and an ultrasonic wave generator which is installed in one side of the ink containing unit and generates ultrasonic waves to remove gas from ink contained in the ink containing unit. Accordingly, since the gas is separated from the ink using ultrasonic waves without heating the ink, the temperature of ink is not increased, and thus, ink properties are not changed. Furthermore, the gas is removed from the ink while the ink passes through an air purging tube, and hence, the gas is prevented from being re-absorbed into the ink. That is, by removing bubbles and gas existing in the ink, an ejecting failure during ejection of ink droplets can be prevented, and thus, printing quality can be improved.

Abstract: A cavity unit for use in an ink-jet recording head, including a plurality of plate members which are stacked on each other and which have at least one ink-introducing passage which introduces an ink, at least one filter portion which removes foreign matters from the introduced ink, at least one pair of communication chambers which are provided on either side of the at least one filter portion and communicate with each other through the at least one filter portion, and a plurality of nozzles each of which ejects a droplet of the ink.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to microfluidic structures, and more specifically, to microfluidic structures and methods including microreactors for manipulating fluids and reactions. In some embodiments, structures and methods for manipulating many (e.g., 1000) fluid samples, i.e., in the form of droplets, are described. Processes such as diffusion, evaporation, dilution, and precipitation can be controlled in each fluid sample. These methods also enable conditions within the fluid samples (e.g., concentration) to be controlled. Manipulation of fluid samples can be useful for a variety of applications, including testing for reaction conditions, e.g., in crystallization, chemical, and biological assays.

Abstract: An ink circulation device including an ink tank containing ink to be supplied to a printhead, a first chamber installed within an ink circulation path between the printhead and the ink tank to allow the ink to pass from the ink tank to the printhead, and a second chamber divided from the first chamber by a gas permeation membrane and including a gas discharge hole.

Abstract: At least one of an ink for inkjet printing and an inkjet recording material contains a compound represented by formula (A): wherein R1, R2 and R3 each represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and at least two of R1, R2 and R3 are mutually connected to form a cyclic structure; L represents a divalent connecting group; and at least one of R1, R2, R3 and L is a group having 8 or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: An ink composition includes a colorant, a solvent, and an amine alcohol compound represented by formula I in which n is an integer and 0?n?9.

Abstract: A method of forming an ink-jet image comprising the steps of: i. ejecting ink compositions from an ink-jet head onto a recording medium; and ii. forming an image, wherein a) the recording medium is a porous type medium having a porous ink absorbing layer on a non-water absorptive support, b) the ink-jet head has a plurality of nozzles which eject more than two ink compositions respectively, and one ink composition is a clear ink, and one ink composition is a color ink, c) the clear ink contains water dispersible microscopic resin particles having an average diameter of 10-200 nm of more than 1 weight %, and d) pH of the ink compositions is 6.5-11.0, and an absolute value of a difference, between an ink composition pH and film surface pH of the recording medium, is less than 4.0.

Abstract: An active energy ray curable inkjet apparatus 100 comprising: an inkjet head 45 adapted to discharge ink, which is curable by active energy rays, to a recording medium S; and a displacement unit 43 adapted to cause the recording medium S and the inkjet head 45 to perform relative displacement, wherein the active energy ray curable inkjet apparatus 100 further comprises: an ink collection sheet supply unit 67 adapted to perform face-to-face supply of a spitting ink collection sheet to nozzles of the inkjet head 45.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for fixing a functional material with good accuracy in a prescribed position on a fixing surface. In order to attain this object, the present invention provides a method for fixing a functional material, comprising a droplet ejection step of ejecting a droplet of a functional material dispersed in a solvent onto a fixing surface, and a drying step of locally heating the droplet ejected on the fixing surface and gasifying part of the droplet by irradiating the droplet with a laser beam. According to this method, the droplet can be dried rapidly, heating of the entire substrate is suppressed, and loss of alignment or breakage of wiring or the like caused by the expansion of substrate can be avoided.

Abstract: A consumer tote for a roll of wallpaper is provided having an exterior which has an access flap, a core access opening and, when the access flap is closed, a gap between the access flap and an adjacent edge of the exterior, an interior for rotatably locating a core in alignment with the core access opening, a coupling attached to the end of the core adjacent the core access opening, and a handle on the exterior. The coupling is arranged to engage a driving spindle through the core access opening that rotates the core for feeding of the wallpaper onto the core via the gap. The handle is formed by two handle portions which fold from respective positions on either side of the gap to a cooperating position in which openings in each handle portion align to form a grip.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus applicable to a structure employing an ink sheet cartridge having an outwardly exposed ink sheet, capable of suppressing ejection of the ink sheet cartridge in printing and capable of suppressing reduction of printing quality is obtained. This image generating apparatus comprises an ink sheet cartridge, a chassis, a first stop member provided outside the chassis for engaging with the ink sheet cartridge and a second stop member provided inside the chassis for engaging with the ink sheet cartridge in printing.

Abstract: An ink composition is provided that includes a cationically polymerizable compound (a), a compound (b) that generates an acid when exposed to radiation, a colorant (c), and a salt of a weak acid having a pKa of 4 to 8 (d). There is also provided an inkjet recording method that includes a step of discharging the ink composition onto a recording medium, and a step of irradiating the discharged ink composition with radiation so as to cure the ink composition.

Abstract: A method and system for locally processing a predetermined microstructure formed on a substrate without causing undesirable changes in electrical or physical characteristics of the substrate or other structures formed on the substrate are provided. The method includes providing information based on a model of laser pulse interactions with the predetermined microstructure, the substrate and the other structures. At least one characteristic of at least one pulse is determined based on the information. A pulsed laser beam is generated including the at least one pulse. The method further includes irradiating the at least one pulse having the at least one determined characteristic into a spot on the predetermined microstructure. The at least one determined characteristic and other characteristics of the at least one pulse are sufficient to locally process the predetermined microstructure without causing the undesirable changes.

Abstract: A circuit for use by a cellular telephone is coupleable to an audio output device, the cellular telephone including cellphone functionality, a Bluetooth interface, and a color video display device.

Abstract: A circuit for use by a multifunction handheld device is coupleable to an audio output device, the multifunction handheld device including a color video display device and a host interface that is coupleable to a host device.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) image processing apparatus and method are provided for use with a 3D, image divided into a left-eye image and a right-eye image. The apparatus includes a disparity estimation unit estimating disparities between the left-eye image and the right-eye image; a horizontal movement determination unit determining a horizontal movement value for the left-eye image and the right-eye image using the estimated disparities; and a horizontal movement unit horizontally moving the left-eye image and the right-eye image based on the determined horizontal movement value. In the method and apparatus, a receiving end which receives and displays a 3D image can enhance 3D effects and reduce eye fatigue by adjusting the disparity of the 3D image.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for non-contact evaluation of a machined surface of a cast-metal part, including a vision-based porosity inspection station. A digital image of the machined surface is acquired, oriented and scaled to an XY coordinate system, filtered, and inverted. A second image is generated with known design surface features eliminated. Each pixel of the inverted digital image is XOR-compared with a corresponding pixel of the second image. Identified common surface features common to both images is analyzed statistically for conformance to a threshold. A defect is identified as any identified surface feature common to both images which exceeds the threshold. The system moves the part for further processing if a statistical analysis of defects indicates an acceptable component, and alternatively, removes the part from further processing if the analysis indicates a flawed component.

Abstract: A photo-curable adhesive composition including an oligourethane acrylate in a range of about 10 to about 30% by weight, a reactive monomer-diluent in a range of about 32 to about 46% by weight, a polymeric filler in a range of about 20 to about 30% by weight, a photoinitiator in a range of about 2.5 to about 5.0% by weight, an antioxidant in a range of about 0.005 to about 0.02% by weight, a chlorinated polyvinyl chloride in a range of about 3.0 to about 10%, the chlorinated polyvinyl chloride having a chlorine content of about 62 to about 64% by weight, oxalic acid in a range of about 0.3 to about 2.0% by weight, a thixotropic agent in a range of about 0.5 to about 3.0% by weight, and a plasticizer in a range of about 1.0 to about 10.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

Abstract: Even in an image-forming apparatus including an optical deflection apparatus using a light source such as a high-power laser light source, a variation in temperature of an optical deflector due to modulation of deflected light based on drawing data is compensated to maintain a preferable oscillation state of the optical deflection apparatus. The optical deflection apparatus includes an optical deflector in which an oscillator is supported by an elastic support member to be oscillatable about a support substrate and at least one light source, and the optical deflection apparatus is controlled such that total power of light emitted from the light source to the optical deflector within each of a plurality of divided time regions corresponding to specific times of equal lengths becomes a predetermined power.

Abstract: The invention relates to a film scanner for the optical scanning of a motion picture film and for the generation of corresponding scanned images. The film scanner has an infrared channel for the optical scanning of at least one perforation hole of the motion picture film in an infrared range and for the generation of corresponding infrared image data. The film scanner furthermore has an evaluation device for the evaluation of the infrared image data with respect to the position of the perforation hole and for the generation of at least one corresponding image position correction signal. The invention further relates to a corresponding method.

Abstract: An image projection/display system (referred to generally herein as a “display system”) is provided to assist a pupil in speech development. The display system displays an image of a face viewed from the rear, as though the pupil were viewing a mask from behind. This “mask image” is projected in front of the pupil, and the mask image is manipulated to display proper lip, mouth, and tongue movement for a particular verbalization. Since the pupil is viewing the face on the mask image from behind, there is no need for the pupil to translate the lip, mouth, and tongue movements by reversing the left and right side. A tongue movement to the right on the mask image corresponds to a tongue movement to the right by the pupil.

Abstract: A measuring method of scintillation appearing on a display image of a display device installed with a light source including: capturing the display image from a plurality of capturing positions respectively having different capturing angles relative to the display image to obtain a plurality of captured images; and acquiring scintillation by comparing pixels of the captured images each corresponding to a common pixel of the display image and acquiring data of pixels having different luminance as scintillation information.

Abstract: A remote camera platform system 10 includes an image-capturing device 140 having an image-capturing unit; at least one remote camera platform 100 having a driving unit 130 that rotates the image-capturing device 140 in at least one of a pan direction and a tilt direction; an operation device 200 that operates the remote camera platform 100; and at least one mobile terminal 300 having a wireless communication unit 350 that communicates with the operation device 200. The wireless communication unit 350 receives a captured image, which is transmitted from the operation device 200. Thus, a person who carries the mobile terminal can confirm the captured image of the image-capturing device 140 while moving. The remote camera platform 100 may include a wireless communication unit 150 to directly transmit the captured image to the mobile terminal 300. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 300 may directly operate the remote camera platform 100.

Abstract: A viewing surveillance system which make it possible to carry out the viewing surveillance independently from the broadcasting form like analog broadcasting or digital broadcasting. The viewing surveillance system also make it possible to carry out the viewing surveillance without any restriction set to viewers or any burden to the broadcast stations. The image feature data generating unit 12 receives a picture signal from the image viewing terminal 50, and generates the image feature data which represents a feature of the image from the picture signal. The image information transmitting unit 13 transmits the image feature data generated by the image feature data generating unit 12 to the viewing surveillance server 2. On the other hand, the image feature data generating units 21a to 21c also generates the image feature data based on the broadcasted programs and stores the image feature data in the program image feature data storing unit 22.

Abstract: A video surveillance system may include at least one sensing unit capable of being operated in a scanning mode and a video processing unit coupled to the sensing unit, the video processing unit to receive and process image data from the sensing unit and to detect scene events and target activity.

Abstract: A mobile video surveillance system is provided having portable video units communicating in a wireless network. The individual portable video units have a wireless router coupled to a video camera that is held by a portable mounting device. The wireless routers coupled to the video cameras, at the deployed portable video units, transmit video data via the wireless network to a wireless router that is coupled with a video server. The video server receives video data from the portable video units for display at the video server.

Abstract: An interior mirror which enables surveillance of a vehicle driver even at night, in tunnels and the like, without obstructing a forward field of vision of the vehicle driver or subjecting the vehicle driver to psychological pressure due to the presence of a surveillance device. Light with wavelengths in the infra-red light region is illuminated from infra-red LEDs inside a housing. When this light enters a filter from a rear face side thereof, the infra-red light that has wavelengths outside a range X is reflected, and the infra-red light that has wavelengths inside the range X is transmitted. This transmitted infra-red light is irradiated at the vehicle driver. This infra-red light is reflected from the vehicle driver, is incident at the filter from the front face side thereof and is again transmitted to the rear face side, and enters a lens of an infra-red camera.

Abstract: A system and method for protection of aircraft against surface-to-air missiles deploys sensors to provide coverage around an airport The use of a fixed (or slow moving) set of sensors around the airport allows detection of missile threats to all aircraft using the airport without requiring each individual aircraft to be provided with a threat detection system. Information about a detected threat is then typically transmitted in real time directly to the aircraft under threat to allow timely deployment of aircraft-based countermeasures. The detection system and method preferably employ spaced-apart sensors with overlapping fields of view to provide enhanced tracking through triangulation and reduced false alarm rates by redundancy of information. Airborne systems with overlapping coverage may be also used.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention introduce a user navigation interface that allows a user to monitor/navigate video streams captured from multiple cameras. It integrates video streams from multiple cameras with the semantic layout into a 3-D immersive environment and renders the video streams in multiple displays on a user navigation interface. It conveys the spatial distribution of the cameras as well as their fields of view and allows a user to navigate freely or switch among preset views. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device (10), which includes-a case structure (23), -a display component (19) fitted in connection with the case structure, -camera devices that can be oriented, fitted inside the case structure, including an image sensor (12) fitted entirely inside and optics (20.1, 20.2, 20.2?), and-an aperture arrangement (21.1, 21.2) fitted in the case structure, for exposing the image sensor from the outside, and in which the image sensor is arranged to be rotatable to at least two exposure directions (FS, BS), according to which the aperture arrangement (21.1, 21.2) is arranged in the case structure. At least part of the optics (20.2?) is arranged to be rotatable along with the image sensor (12).

Abstract: A method and system for a programmable camera for a configurable security and surveillance system are provided. A programmable sensor agent for video surveillance may comprise a network interface, a processor, an image processor, and an image sensor. The image processor may comprise at least one configurable device. A device programming file may be received by the network interface from a system manager and may be programmed into at least one configurable device in the image processor via a JTAG interface in the processor. The processor may also verify that the programming has been completed successfully. The programmable sensor agent may also comprise a display interface. The device programming file may be selected via the system manager and/or via the display interface in the programmable sensor agent. The programmable sensor agent may also comprise a battery for backup power, a wireless processor, and/or a global positioning system (GPS) processor.

Abstract: A dual camera system uses a single lens and no moving parts in the optical path. A single lens directs a desired scene to a partially reflective beamsplitting mirror, thence to a pair of image sensors. For day/night operation, one sensor may be optimized for nighttime sensitivity, while the other is optimized for daytime operation. Alternatively, one optical path may have greater magnification, thus allowing electronic zooming with no resolution loss. The system may be enhanced with an image intensifier for nighttime operation; digital sensors for improved resolution, or orthogonal gyroscopic accelerometers for image stabilization. Additionally, the monochrome and color images may be produced simultaneously and ‘fused’ algorithmically, yielding an improvement in sensitivity and color resolution compared with a conventional color camera.

Abstract: A drive mode is switched after readout for one frame is completed, and the reset operation for the following frame is started. In this manner, the reset operation for the following frame will not be performed during the readout period for the preceding frame. Therefore, the accumulation period for the following frame can be made consistent in that frame.

Abstract: In a method of processing digitized image data, first image data stored in a first area of a memory is subjected to a filtering process to produce second image data which has a peripheral portion of the first image data removed. The second image data and peripheral image data corresponding to the peripheral portion of the first image data which is removed through the filtering process are then combined into composite image data having substantially the same angle of view as the first image data.

Abstract: This invention is directed to imaging methods and systems for flexibly addressing and processing imaging pixel sensor elements. A novel architecture is described which allows for a highly integrated, low cost imager with high speed performance and good image quality. The imaging system provides on-the-fly color interpolation, color compensation (also called color correction, color maximization or white balance) and/or fixed pattern noise reduction. The hardware and/or software related to on-the-fly color interpolation, color compensation and/or fixed pattern noise reduction may be provided on-chip.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for white-balancing an image of an object. Light reflected from the object illuminated with light having known spectral characteristics is collected, and the spectral reflectivity characteristics of the object is determined from the collected light. Light reflected from the object illuminated with light having unknown spectral characteristics is collected to form an image of the object, and the formed image is white-balanced in accordance with the determined spectral reflectivity characteristics of the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing system and an image processing method, an image pickup apparatus and an image pickup method, and an image display device and an image display method, which can faithfully pick up and display the colors of an object. Slit light of an optical image of the object that has passed through a slit 42 is divided into a spectrum by a light divider 43. A light sensor 44 outputs image data based on the spectrum of the slit light of the optical image of the object. A micromirror array 74 causes the exiting of reflection light formed by extracting spectrum portions based on the image data from a spectrum of incident white light from a light divider 73. The spectrum portions of the reflection light exiting from the micromirror array 74 are synthesized by a spectrum synthesizer 77 and are projected onto a screen 111. The present invention is applicable to the image processing system.

Abstract: It is now possible to correct flicker without the risk of correcting flicker by error if a moving subject exists in the scene by using values detected in the past in order to prevent degradation of image quality from taking place. The integral value obtained by integrating an input video signal that includes a flicker component over not less than a horizontal period and the difference value between integral values of adjacent fields or frames is normalized. Then, the amplitude component and the phase component of the flicker component are estimated. A flicker coefficient for canceling the amplitude component and the phase component of the flicker component estimated is generated on the basis of the probability of being under the lighting of a fluorescent lamp. The flicker coefficient and the input video signal are computationally determined to obtain a video signal with a reduced flicker component.

Abstract: The integration time for an imager is adjusted to be an integer multiple of the light intensity received by the imager to reduce or eliminate flickering.

Abstract: When a user instructs photographing by operating an operating unit, an image captured by an image sensor is stored as a photographed image in a memory. When a mode for performing color fading correction is set, the CPU instructs an image processing device to extract, from the photographed image, areas in which there are photographic print images which are supposed to bring about color fading. The image processing device generates a binary image by detecting edges of the photographed image, erases edges contacting an outermost edge of the photographed image, and extracts the areas based on the binary image from which some of the edges are erased.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, an image processing method and a computer program are provided. An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging part; and a data processing part which executes a process to create a RAW image file that stores RAW data acquired through the imaging part and a plurality of parameter sets to be applied to a development process of the RAW data and which executes a process to store the file in a storage part.

Abstract: A control method for an imaging apparatus includes photoelectrically converting a photographic subject image formed by an imaging optical system, repetitively detecting a photographic subject region based on a signal obtained from the photoelectric conversion applied to the photographic subject image, storing photographic subject information of the detected photographic subject region, acquiring the stored photographic subject information, reading, from the stored photographic subject information, photographic subject information corresponding to a point in time when an operation for reading the photographic subject information is performed, and setting an imaging parameter based on the read photographic subject information.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to precisely detect the face of a person from a captured image even in a situation with an insufficient brightness (e.g., when an image of a person is to be photographed to have a nightscape as a background). To this end, an image capturing apparatus detects, on the basis of a captured image based on pre-light emission, a face area in the captured image, determines a light control area of a flash in the captured image including an object in accordance with the detected face area, calculates a main light emitting amount in accordance with a photometry value based on the pre-light emission in the determined light control area, and photographs an image by controlling the flash on the basis of the calculated main light emitting amount.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure small shifts and rotations of video images captured in short succession after a first reference video image is captured, and to add the sequence of captures while shifting or rotating back the shifted or rotated images, in order to improve the SNR in low light conditions.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit which converts an optical image of an object into an electrical signal, and an optical member arranged on the object side of the image capturing unit. The image capturing apparatus also includes an alien substance removing unit configured to execute an alien substance removal operation to remove alien substances adhering to the surface of the optical member, an environmental condition detection unit configured to detect the environmental condition around the image capturing unit or around the optical member, and a control unit configured to control the alien substance removal operation on the basis of the detected environmental condition.

Abstract: A cutting method for fabricating a color wheel. The first step includes cutting a set of fan-shaped filter segments from different colored filter sheets, wherein the sum of the included angles of the set of fan-shaped filter segments is either greater or less than 360°. The second step includes bonding the set of fan-shaped filter segments onto a metal ring. The third step includes cutting the outer edge of the set of fan-shaped filter segments along a circular path coaxial to the metal ring. In this way, while bonding the fan-shaped filter segments onto the metal ring, the effect of burrs, irregular cracks or irregular edges resulting from the cutting process can be minimized. Moreover, the outer edge of the color wheel will be coaxial to the axis of the metal ring.

Abstract: A macro pixel is provided. The macro pixel includes at least two color pixel elements. Each color pixel element includes a photoreceptor that in response to receiving light, generates an output signal that is indicative of the quantity of light photons of a color are received. Each of the color pixel elements are configured to receive a corresponding color. The photoreceptor of each color pixel element has a geometry and a responsivity to light that is a function of the geometry of the photoreceptor such that the responsivity of the output signal of the photoreceptor to the corresponding color is controllable by changing the geometry.

Abstract: An opening is made in a surface intercepting a wave propagating through space. An image of an object is formed on an intermediate surface from the wave passing through this opening. After wave conversion, that is to say, after the entity of a wave is converted into a detectable wave from which a two-dimensional image can be picked up, an image is picked up with a two-dimensional image pick-up device. Distortion caused by the two-dimensional image pick-up device is corrected using a calibration grid pattern provided on the intermediate surface. The intermediate surface provides a wave converting function, distortion calibrating function, distortion-free wide field of view ensuring function, and wave entity converting function, and a place of detection elements themselves.