Patents Issued in August 2, 2007
  • Publication number: 20070176943
    Abstract: Provided are a field sequential image display apparatus that reduces flicker and a method of driving the same. The field sequential image display apparatus, which uses a plurality of single color light sources, includes: an image analyzing unit dividing frames of an image signal into fields, whereby the number of fields is greater than the number of single color light sources; an image display panel displaying the fields sequentially; and a light source unit comprising the plurality of single color light sources that are independently driven or driven with other light sources in order to supply lights corresponding to the color components of the fields to the image display panel, wherein an average driving frequency of the single color light sources is higher than a frame rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyun-seung Cho
  • Publication number: 20070176944
    Abstract: Highlighting selected objects in an electronic document is provided in a manner such that a highlighted object maintains coloring and formatting properties to allow for a maintenance of visual fidelity with a pre-highlighted view of the highlighted object and that allows for a semi-transparent background underneath a highlighted object that allows a user to see and appreciate the coloring and any visual properties applied to the background underneath the highlighting applied to the selected object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sara Brown, Ryan Hill, Amit Kumar, Robert Parker, Dachuan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20070176945
    Abstract: A facility for adapting a subject color to be compatible with a basis color is described. The facility accesses a color transformation specification that specifies how the subject color is to be adapted to be compatible with the basis color. The facility then applies the accessed color transformation specification to the subject color to adapt the subject color to be compatible with the basis color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Evan Moran, Mark Nelson
  • Publication number: 20070176946
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which enables even a user inexperienced in configuration operations to easily configure settings of a job. A touch panel section displays a configuration screen for use in carrying out configuration operations concerning a job. A storage section stores history records, on an executed job-by-executed job basis, each of the history records containing configuration information indicating a configuration concerning each job. A job history selection section selects one of the history records stored in the storage section. A CPU causes the touch panel section to sequentially display a series of configuration screens for use in carrying out configuration operations indicated by configuration information contained in the one of the history records selected by the job history selection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuo MATOBA
  • Publication number: 20070176947
    Abstract: Digital information objects in a digital information space are linked through the use of an overlay. A dynamic association between an accessed digital information object and each concept node in the overlay is established if the accessed digital information object and the overlay include at least one common concept. Links to other digital information objects are displayed if those objects are represented by information nodes within the overlay linked to a concept node expressing a common concept. At least a portion of the overlay may be exported for incorporation into other overlays or for various information processing functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Kenyon
  • Publication number: 20070176948
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method, device and/or system for displaying a more than three primary color (RGB) image. The device (100,200) may include, for example, a driver control module (218) to controllably activate one or more drivers (206,210) of an array of sub-pixel elements of at least four primary colors based on image data representing pixels of the color image in terms of at least three primary colors (RGB). Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Ilan Ben-David, Nir Weiss
  • Publication number: 20070176949
    Abstract: Disclosured is a dithering system applied to a multimedia player. The dithering system comprises a pattern generator to generate video data; a processing unit to receive the video data as pre-processed by way of fixed-pattern and output; a timing controller to receive the output video data; and a dynamic index system comprising a pseudo-random generating unit and a dynamic pattern index generating unit, wherein the dynamic index system receives the video data provided by the timing controller, then a substantially random number is generated via the operation of the pseudo-random generating unit, continuously a dynamic pattern index is generated via the operation of the dynamic pattern index generating unit so as to allow the dynamic pattern index be the index of the dithering data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Wen-Chieh Chang, Yao-Jen Hsieh, Huan-Hsin Li
  • Publication number: 20070176950
    Abstract: A transflective display panel substantially comprises a plurality of a sub-pixel grouping substantially comprising a plurality of at least first and second color sub-pixels. The plurality of the sub-pixel grouping forms an array across said display panel in a plurality of rows and columns. The first color sub-pixel is a substantially dark color sub-pixel disposed in the plurality of the sub-pixel grouping across said display panel so as to form a substantially vertical line down said display. Each sub-pixel further comprises an optical via, and the optical vias are formed in non-uniform positions upon said dark color sub-pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: CLAIRVOYANTE, INC
    Inventors: Candice Brown Elliott, Thomas Credelle, Moon Im
  • Publication number: 20070176951
    Abstract: When the horizontal period is less than a lower limit threshold value in a state that an LCD panel is driven in an SVGA mode, a mode judging circuit judges the resolution of an image signal as VGA. When the horizontal period is above an upper limit threshold value in a state that the LCD panel is driven in a VGA mode, the mode judging circuit judges the resolution of the image signal as SVGA. Even when frequency modulation is applied to the input signal, the modulation is absorbed by the width between the lower limit threshold value and the upper limit threshold value, whereby the resolution of the image signal can be reliably judged. A control signal generating circuit controls the timing of driving the LCD panel in accordance with the resolution, whereby image signals of a plurality of different resolutions can be reliably displayed on the LCD panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kato
  • Publication number: 20070176952
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus comprises: (a) a recording head including a nozzle from which a droplet of a liquid is ejected, (b) a pressure chamber which is filled with the liquid and whose volume is changeable for ejecting the droplet from the nozzle, and (c) an actuator which changes the volume of the pressure chamber by a drive pulse inputted thereto; and an operating device which outputs the drive pulse to the actuator and which is capable of performing a restoring operation for restoring a droplet ejection performance of the recording head. The restoring operation includes: a first operation for outputting, a plurality of times, an ejection drive pulse as the drive pulse by which the droplet can be ejected; and a second operation for outputting, a plurality of times, a non-ejection drive pulse as the drive pulse by which the droplet can not be ejected, the second operation being performed following the first operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20070176953
    Abstract: A method to compensate for a degradation of print image quality generated by a defective nozzle, from which no ink or less than a design specification required amount of ink is ejected, in an inkjet image forming device includes moving a printer head a moving distance in a scanning direction, shifting image data corresponding to nozzles of the printer head in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the printer head by the number of nozzles corresponding to the moving distance of the printer head, and printing an image by driving the nozzles according to the shifted image data, and an apparatus to compensate for a degradation of print image quality generated by a defective nozzle, from which no ink or less than a design specification required amount of ink is ejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eun-bong Han
  • Publication number: 20070176954
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding roller and a recording unit. The feeding roller is rotatably disposed to convey the recording medium in a conveying direction, and includes a rotational axle that is eccentric and a peripheral surface having an actual external dimension that is different from a theoretical external dimension. The recording unit has a head length in the conveying direction. A method of compensating for an error of a conveyance distance of a recording medium in the image forming apparatus includes (1) printing a first image on the recording medium; (2) rotating the feeding roller N turns, N being a positive integer; (3) printing a second image on the recording medium after the feeding roller has been rotated N turns; and (4) determining difference of the actual external dimension from the theoretical external dimension, based on both the first image and the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20070176955
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a recording head, a first pair of conveying rollers, a second pair of conveying rollers, and a conveyance controller. The conveyance controller controls the first and second pairs of conveying rollers to halt a conveying operation of the recording medium when a trailing edge of the recording medium has moved to or exceeded a position downstream from the nip position of the first pair of conveying rollers by a first prescribed distance during a first prescribed period of time running from a time instant when the trailing edge of the recording medium has passed through the nip position of the first pair of the conveying rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20070176956
    Abstract: There are provided a suction unit which sucks a recording medium, and a unit which changes sucking force of the suction unit according to the property of the recording medium. Hereby, since the sucking force of the suction unit can be set according to a state of the recording medium. Therefore, for example, even if the recording medium is greatly curled, since its recording medium can be surely sucked on the transporting surface of the recording medium by the suction unit. Further, even if the recording medium has little rigidity and is thin, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being stuck on the transporting surface of the recording medium by the suction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Satoshi Fujioka, Takayuki Ishii, Yoshitaka Shimada
  • Publication number: 20070176957
    Abstract: A printer architecture and memory card is described. The architecture can include an integrated circuit and a memory card. The memory card can include print swaths and bit-maps of thumbnail images associated with the print swaths. The thumbnail images can be displayed on the hand-held printer. A print swath associated with the selected thumbnail image can be printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Adam Ahne, Thomas Eade, Michael Webb
  • Publication number: 20070176958
    Abstract: An electronic drive system for a droplet spay generation device of the type having a droplet generator including a perforate membrane driven by a piezoelectric transducer, the electronic drive system comprising: a programmable micro-controller providing a power supply for converting, in use, a battery supply voltage to power the device; a power amplifier connected to receive electric power from the power supply and supply a drive signal to the piezoelectric generator in use; and wherein the micro-controller is also arranged: to control the operation of the power amplifier, including the drive signal operating frequency at substantially its resonant frequency: to measure the current provided to the power amplifier by the power supply at a plurality of different frequencies; to determine, as the resonant frequency of the droplet generator, the frequency at which the maximum power is consumed by the amplifier, and to set the drive signal operating frequency at the resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Anthony Hailes
  • Publication number: 20070176959
    Abstract: A nozzle device is provided for an inkjet printer. The nozzle device includes a support structure defining an ink inlet chamber connected to a source of ink. An elongate actuating arm is cantilevered relative to the support structure. A nozzle chamber structure defines a nozzle chamber for receiving ink from the ink inlet chamber. The nozzle chamber structure includes a static portion extending from the support structure and defines a nozzle opening through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. The nozzle chamber structure further includes a movable wall portion mounted to the actuating arm, between its ends, so that the actuating arm terminates in a free end within the nozzle chamber. Upon actuation of the actuating arm, the free end of the actuating arm moves within the nozzle chamber and ejects ink therein through the nozzle opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20070176960
    Abstract: A liquid droplet of a first liquid and a liquid droplet of a second liquid are mixed upon landing on a substrate, and then the reaction is initiated between the first and second liquid droplets. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the problem which would have been caused when the two liquids are mixed in advance before the usage that the reaction between the two liquids is advanced before the liquids are actually coated. Further, since the ink-jet system is employed, it is possible to precisely control the liquid-droplet amount and the landing position, thereby landing the first and second liquids on a same position with high precision. Accordingly, a highly integrated pattern can be formed. Furthermore, since the mixing ratio of the first and second liquids can be precisely controlled, the film quality can be stabilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Masanori Tsuruko
  • Publication number: 20070176961
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a recording head having a nozzle face provided with a nozzle for discharging an ink to form an image on a recording medium, and a detachable cap for capping the nozzle face. The cap of the inkjet printer is provided with an annular rim and an annular groove, which are provided along a periphery of the cap, the groove being opposed to the nozzle face in a state where the cap is abutted against the nozzle face. In the inkjet printer, a during non-image-forming period, the rim of the cap is abutted against the nozzle face, thus capping the nozzle face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Takamasa Usui
  • Publication number: 20070176962
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording head and a capping unit which seals a nozzle forming face of the recording head and sucks the ink from the nozzles. The capping unit includes a cap member having a plurality of housing recesses partitioned from each other for ink suction from a corresponding one of a plurality of groups of the nozzles, and cap chips housed in the respective housing recesses. The cap member includes discharge ports discharging the ink sucked into the respective housing recesses, a peripheral rib positioned at an outer peripheral portion enclosing all of the housing recesses, and a partitioning rib defining the housing recesses, two end portions of the partitioning rib being connected to the peripheral rib. The cap chips include regulating portions which abut against side faces of the partitioning rib to suppress deformation of the partitioning rib in a direction crossing the side faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mikio Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20070176963
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: an ejection head that ejects a liquid from a nozzle; a cap that can seal an opening of the nozzle; an absorber disposed in the cap; a first ejection unit that allows to perform a first ejection operation toward the cap for maintenance of the nozzle; a suction unit that sucks the liquid from the cap; a second ejection unit that allows to perform a second ejection operation for replenishing the cap with a liquid before the suction, and a capping unit that covers the opening of the nozzle by the cap after the second ejection operation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Morikoshi
  • Publication number: 20070176964
    Abstract: A printhead is provided having elongate printhead modules arranged to aggregately extend across a pagewidth and controllers for processing print data into dot data and for controlling the printhead modules in accordance with the dot data. Each printhead module has plural rows of ink ejection nozzles. The nozzle rows of at least one of the printhead modules are longer than the nozzle rows of the other printhead modules. The controllers control ink ejection of the nozzles of the printhead modules in accordance with the dot data. At least one of the controllers is arranged to control all of the printhead modules and at least one other of the controllers is arranged to control only one of the printhead modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Walmsley, Richard Plunkett, Mark Pulver, John Sheahan, Michael Webb
  • Publication number: 20070176965
    Abstract: A printer includes a print head having nozzles forming dots on a medium; a unit acquiring image data having pixel values with M gray scales (M?2); a unit storing nozzle characteristic information; a unit specifying a banding generating nozzle based on the nozzle characteristic information; a processor performing a banding prevention process for data corresponding to a banding generation line formed by the banding generating nozzle and a different line formed by a different nozzle near the banding generating nozzle; a controller controlling the banding prevention processor so that a process range includes the banding generation line and the different line, a density difference of a line adjacent to the different line falling within a predetermined numerical range; and a unit printing an image on the medium with the print head based on the image data subjected to the banding prevention process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi ARAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20070176966
    Abstract: In relation to a superimposed image obtained by superimposing second image data on first image data in which respective pixels are arranged in a staggered pattern, an image forming apparatus discriminates a region where the second image data is superimposed from a region where the second image data is not superimposed. When forming an image in a region determined as the region where the second image data is not superimposed in the superimposed image, the printing mechanism is controlled based on a first control pattern. When forming an image in a region determined as the region where the second image data is superimposed in the superimposed image, the printing mechanism is controlled based on a second control pattern different from the first control pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Morimoto, Takeo Miki
  • Publication number: 20070176967
    Abstract: A photo printer for printing 6?×4? photos comprising: a stationary 4? printhead, said printhead comprising a plurality of color channels, each color channel comprising at least one nozzle row extending along the length of said printhead, each nozzle in a color channel ejecting the same colored ink; means for continuously moving 6?×4? paper sheets past said printhead; and a controller for selecting firing nozzles from each color channel of said printhead; wherein, for one line of printing, all selected firing nozzles of each color channel are fired within about 200 microseconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20070176968
    Abstract: A printer comprising a stationary printhead extending across a paper path is provided. The printhead comprises a plurality of color channels, each color channel comprising at least one nozzle row extending along the length of the printhead. Each nozzle in a color channel ejects the same colored ink. The printhead has a print zone of less than 10 mm, wherein the print zone is defined as the distance covered by all nozzle rows of the printhead in a paper feed direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20070176969
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an ink-jet head including an ink chamber, a pressure chamber in communication with the ink chamber, a nozzle for ejecting an ink in communication with the pressure chamber, a piezoelectric actuator for applying an ejection pressure to an ink in the pressure chamber, and an ink passage extending from a boundary of the ink chamber to a tip of the nozzle. The tip of the nozzle has an aperture diameter of from about 15 to about 25 ?m, and the ink passage is configured such that when an ink having a viscosity of from about 2.5 to about 3 mPa·s is passed therethrough, a passage resistance value of the ink passage is from about 50 to about 100 kPa·s/mm3. Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to an ink-jet recording device containing such an ink-jet head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Satoshi Okuda, Narumi Koga, Kazuma Goto, Atsushi Ito, Koichiro Hara, Masaharu Ito
  • Publication number: 20070176970
    Abstract: An inkjet nozzle arrangement is provided having a substrate, an ink passivation layer on the substrate, a nozzle chamber on the passivation layer, and an arm anchored to the passivation layer. The substrate has an ink passage and incorporates drive circuitry. The passivation layer has a first aperture in fluid communication with the ink passage. The is in fluid communication with the first aperture and has second and third apertures. The arm extends into the nozzle chamber through the second aperture and is connected to the drive circuitry. The arm is displaced relative to the nozzle chamber upon receipt of a signal from the drive circuitry thereby causing ejection of ink from the third aperture of the nozzle chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20070176971
    Abstract: A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a wafer assembly defining spaced apart groups of ink supply channels. Groups of ink ejection nozzle arrangements extend from the wafer assembly and are in fluid communication with respective ink supply channel groups. Each group of nozzle arrangements includes a pair of rows of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes an ink ejection head from which an actuator tail extends and is arranged so that the actuator tails collectively extend outwardly on either side of the ink ejection heads which, in turn, are centrally located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20070176972
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement is provided for an inkjet printer. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate defining an ink supply conduit. A shelf layer is positioned on the substrate, and defines a shelf which covers the ink supply conduit and an opening in fluid communication with the ink supply conduit. A static wall extends from the shelf layer and surrounds the opening. An anchor extends from the shelf layer outside the static wall. A bend actuator extends away from the anchor and terminates in a roof structure. The roof structure defines a movable wall which extends adjacent the static wall to define a nozzle chamber and an ink ejection port through which ink provided via the opening to the nozzle chamber can be ejected. In use, the bend actuator can bend and straighten to vary the volume of the nozzle chamber and eject ink therein through the ink ejection port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20070176973
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a print head that is usable in a horizontal printer, that is small in size, that is superior in mass production, that can easily perform discharge control, that is excellent in reliability, and that is excellent in practicality to be writable in a state in which a recording medium is not bent. The print head has a discharge control unit. The discharge control unit includes a heating mechanism and a discharge portion. The heating mechanism includes a heat generation portion provided with a heat generation body and a driver IC that controls heat generation of the heat generation body. The discharge portion includes a discharge electrode disposed in accordance with the heat generation body. In the discharge control unit, the heat generation portion and the discharge portion are insulated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: FUKUOKA TECHNOKEN KOGYO, CO, LTD
    Inventor: Matsuzoe Hisanobu
  • Publication number: 20070176974
    Abstract: In a thermal printhead (A), a common wiring portion (4) is divided into a plurality of blocks (BL) arranged side by side in a primary scanning direction, and voltage is applied to opposite ends of each of the blocks (BL) in the primary scanning direction. A plurality of heating resistance sections (3) are divided into a plurality of blocks (BL?) corresponding to the blocks (BL) of the common wiring portion (4), and in each of the blocks (BL?), the resistance reduces as proceeding from opposite ends toward the center in the primary scanning direction. Therefore, the adjustment of the resistances of the plurality of heating resistance sections is easy, and the non-uniformity in darkness of print dots is reduced, so that high-quality image printing is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nakanishi, Shinobu Obata
  • Publication number: 20070176975
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a liquid droplet discharging head and a tank. The liquid droplet discharging head discharges a liquid droplet. The tank supplies a liquid to the liquid droplet discharging head. The liquid droplet discharging head includes a liquid droplet discharging head circuit board including a board substrate and a writing pattern. The wiring pattern is located on the board substrate to supply power and includes a plurality of divided wiring patterns formed by dividing at least a part of the wiring pattern in a width direction of the wiring pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Kaichi Ueno
  • Publication number: 20070176976
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a print head which can stably eject ink droplets of large volume without being influenced by negative pressure variations in an ink supply source or by drive conditions. To this end the ink jet print head of this invention includes a plurality of nozzle openings to eject ink, a plurality of liquid paths communicating with these nozzle openings, and energy generation portion to eject ink supplied to each liquid path from each nozzle opening in the form of an ink droplet. In a part of each liquid path, a dividing portion to divide the liquid path into a plurality of paths is installed inward of the nozzle opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: CANON FINETECH INC.
    Inventor: YUKI FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20070176977
    Abstract: A liquid-droplet jetting apparatus is provided with a cavity unit in which nozzles and pressure chambers are formed; and a piezoelectric actuator which includes active portions which deforms when a drive voltage is applied thereto. In the apparatus, the active portions are deformed to change the volume of the pressure chambers to thereby jet a liquid in the pressure chambers from the nozzles. The active portions are grouped into a plurality of groups which are different in the length in the longitudinal direction of the active portions. Active portions with a greater length have a greater width, and active portions with a smaller length have a smaller width. Accordingly, in the liquid-droplet jetting apparatus in which the active portions are grouped into the jetting groups, drive voltages can be made substantially same with respect to all the jetting groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Akira Iriguchi
  • Publication number: 20070176978
    Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a piezoelectric layer, pressure chambers, nozzles, first electrodes, and second electrodes. When electric potentials of the first and second electrodes respectively are changed at the same timing such that increase and decrease in the electric potentials are opposite between the first and second electrodes, volume of the pressure chamber is changed to apply jetting-pressure to ink in the pressure chamber, thereby jetting an ink droplet from the nozzle. When only the electric potential of the second electrode is changed, the volume of the pressure chamber is changed to apply a vibrating-pressure lower than the jetting-pressure to the ink in the pressure chamber, thereby vibrating meniscus of the ink, agitating the ink in the nozzle. This makes it possible to suppress increase in viscosity of the ink in the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20070176979
    Abstract: A piezoelectric inkjet printhead includes a fluid path forming substrate having a pressure chamber, a piezoelectric actuator formed on the fluid path forming substrate to provide a drive force to the pressure chamber to eject ink, and a damping layer formed on the piezoelectric actuator to dampen a residual vibration of the piezoelectric actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-woo Chung, Hwa-sun Lee, Ji-hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20070176980
    Abstract: A piezoelectric inkjet printhead includes a manifold, a chamber array including a plurality of chambers in connection with the manifold and arranged along at least one side of the manifold, a vibrating plate to cover the plurality of chambers, and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators formed on the vibrating plate to change pressures of corresponding ones of the plurality of chambers by vibrating the vibrating plate. The plurality of chambers includes a plurality of pressure chambers disposed in a center portion of the chamber array and having corresponding ink ejecting nozzles, and at least two dummy chambers, one disposed on each side of the chamber array and having corresponding dummy nozzles that do not eject ink. A plurality of trenches may be formed in the vibrating plate between each of the piezoelectric actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-mo Lim, Tae-kyung Lee, Chang-youl Moon, Jae-woo Chung, Hwa-sun Lee
  • Publication number: 20070176981
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and system for refilling printer ink cartridges. The method and system refill the cartridge while under a vacuum, and provide a positive displacement, peristaltic pump that is automatically operated a precise amount of time to ensure that the proper amount of ink is added to the cartridge. In addition, the filling pump's operation is periodically paused during the refilling process to ensure that air within the foam sponge that retains the ink typically in most printer cartridges can migrate out of the sponge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Shahar Turgeman
  • Publication number: 20070176982
    Abstract: Inkjet printheads and actuator chips, such as an inkjet printhead actuator chip having a substrate, ink vias formed in the substrate, and columnar arrays of actuators in operational communication with the ink vias. At least one of the ink vias has at least one of a different length, width and a via to via pitch than another one of the ink vias. Imaging devices for use with the printheads are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: David King, George Parish, James Powers, Lucas Barkley
  • Publication number: 20070176983
    Abstract: An ink tank which includes a plurality of ink chambers and a plurality of supply ports is provided. The plurality of supply ports are provided for the respective ink chambers. Each of the supply ports communicates an outside with each of the ink chambers. Ink stored in the each of the ink chambers is supplied through the each of the supply ports to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Shohei Koide
  • Publication number: 20070176984
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head, a carriage carrying the liquid ejecting head, a plurality of subtanks carried on the carriage, a main tank disposed on a body of the apparatus, and a feed pipe. The carriage is moved back and forth in a main scanning direction. Each subtank contains a highly concentrated color ink which corresponds to one of the respective ink colors. The main tank contains a diluent containing no coloring component and/or a colorless ink. The diluent and/or the colorless ink is supplied from the main tank to the carriage through the feed pipe. The liquid ejecting head is supplied with the respective color inks and ejects the inks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Seshimo
  • Publication number: 20070176985
    Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting head, having: a plurality of dividing walls to divide a plurality of flow channels, wherein at least a portion of the dividing wall is formed with a piezoelectric element; a flow path having a rectangular tubular from formed by an upper wall to close an upper surface of the flow path along an array direction of the plurality of the flow paths, and a lower wall to close a lower surface of the flow path; a nozzle to jet liquid in the flow path as the liquid droplet; and two driving electrodes formed independently on each wall surface of the dividing wall in a longitudinal direction of the flow path having the rectangular tubular form, wherein the nozzle is formed on either the upper wall or the lower wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshio Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20070176986
    Abstract: A liquid containing bag includes a liquid filling opening part having a tube configuration through which an inside of the liquid containing bag is filled with liquid. The liquid filling opening part is melt-sealed from directions which face each other in a part of the liquid filling opening part. The part which is melted has a non-symmetrical configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Takanori Tsuyuki, Masami Iguchi, Moriaki Saitoh, Hideki Sugiyama, Kiyohiro Uehara
  • Publication number: 20070176987
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge body including an ink storage chamber and a wall having an ink introduction hole formed therethrough. The ink introduction hole is configured to receive an ink supply tube of an inkjet printer when the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer, and the ink supply tube is configured to communicate with an ink supply channel of the inkjet printer via a communication path. The ink cartridge also includes a first valve member configured to selectively open and close the ink introduction hole, and a first urging member configured to apply a first force to the first valve member to urge the first valve member to close the ink introduction hole. The first valve member includes a valve body configured to receive a second force from the ink supply tube when the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer. The second force urges the first valve member to open the ink introduction hole, and the second force is greater than the first force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito, Wataru Sugiyama, Noritsugu Ito
  • Publication number: 20070176988
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a liquid-containing bag filled with liquid and having a supply port that discharges the liquid; an outer frame accommodating the liquid-containing bag; a detecting plate fixed on the liquid-containing bag for detection of a liquid-exhausted state; and at least one protrusion disposed on the outer frame. The protrusion regulates transfer of the detecting plate in a direction along which the liquid-containing bag is compressed when the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid-containing bag becomes small, and ensures a space through which the liquid can flow in the liquid-containing bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakamura, Seiji Mochizuki, Yoshio Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20070176989
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first case having a wall having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The wall has a first opening and a second opening formed therethrough, the first opening has a first center, and the second opening has a second center. The wall also has a first center line and a second center line which is perpendicular to the first center line, and each of the first center and the second center is offset from each of the first center line and the second center line. The ink cartridge also includes a second case enclosed within the first case, and an ink supply portion positioned adjacent to the second end of the wall, in which a portion of the ink supply portion is configured to be received by the first opening. The ink cartridge also includes an opaque, protruding portion extending from the second case and positioned at the wall between the first end of the wall and the ink supply portion, and a portion of the protruding portion is aligned with the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Tomohiro Kanbe, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20070176990
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes: a substrate; a plurality of ink discharge ports formed to a front face side of the substrate, and a plurality of ink flow paths communicating with the ink discharge ports; an ink supply opening extending through the substrate and communicating with the plurality of ink flow paths; and a filter formed in an opening portion of the ink supply opening arranged in the front face side of the substrate, the filter being constituted of two or more stacked films having formed therein a plurality of opening portions. In this case, the stacked films are arranged with a spacing therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Urayama, Kenji Fujii, Masaki Ohsumi, Jun Yamamuro, Hiroyuki Murayama, Yoshinori Tagawa, Shuji Koyama
  • Publication number: 20070176991
    Abstract: An ink composition which comprises a compound represented by formula (1), which is described in the specification; and a plurality of water-soluble organic solvents, wherein the water-soluble organic solvents contains at least a water-soluble organic solvent having a thioether or sulfoxide moiety in an amount of 10 mass % to 80 mass %, and a recording method which uses the ink composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Arai
  • Publication number: 20070176992
    Abstract: An ink composition which comprises: a dye which is represented by formula (1), which is described in the specification, and has at least one ionic hydrophilic group, wherein the dye has a molecular weight of from 310 to 500 per one ionic hydrophilic group, and a recording method which comprises: discharging ink droplets of the ink composition onto plain paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Arai, Masaru Takasaki