Abstract: An active ray curable ink-jet ink composition comprising: (a) a cationic polymerizable compound, (b) a cationic photopolymerization initiator, and (c) an alkyl modified or an alkyl aralkyl modified silicone oil.

Abstract: A web printer for printing digital information on print media the web printer comprising a cabinet a plurality of ink reservoirs mounted in a releasable manner within the cabinet and storing respective types of ink to be printed a print media cartridge mounted in a releasable manner within the cabinet and carrying a wound length of print media a platen extending away from the print media cartridge to support print media provided from the print media cartridge a stationary printhead mounted within the cabinet to extend transverse to the print media and configured to print digital information with the ink and upon print media provided from the platen and a dryer module configured to blow air toward the printed print media and dry the printed ink.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer body; a liquid adhesion device which provides a first liquid having a viscosity not less than 15 mPa·s and not greater than 300 mPa·s at 25° C, on the intermediate transfer body; a droplet ejection device which ejects a second liquid containing a coloring material onto a region of the intermediate transfer body where the first liquid is provided by the liquid adhesion device, in a state where the first liquid on the intermediate transfer body has a thickness not less than 1.6 ?m; a viscosity raising device which raises a viscosity of the second liquid on the intermediate transfer body; and a transfer device which transfers an image including dots of the second liquid formed on the intermediate transfer body, onto a recording medium.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device includes a recording head, a conveying member, a platen, a supporting member, and a driving member. The recording head ejects ink droplets onto a recording medium. The conveying member conveys the recording medium in a conveying direction. The recording medium has a leading edge and a trailing edge in the conveying direction. The platen is disposed in confrontation with the recording head to support the recording medium while keeping a predetermined distance from the recording head. The supporting member is disposed in the platen to slide in the conveying direction while supporting the recording medium. The driving member drives the supporting member to start sliding in the conveying direction at a starting timing corresponding to a position of at least one of the leading edge and the trailing edge.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator, a liquid droplet ejection head, and a liquid droplet ejection device which have a good response and are driven by a small drive voltage includes a vibration plate as a sheet-shaped movable electrode and an individual electrode acting as a rectangular fixed electrode confronting the vibration plate and having stepped portions or an inclined portion in a long side direction with respect to the vibration plate, wherein the thickness of the vibration plate is reduced according to an order by which the vibration plate is made to abut against the individual electrode by electrostatic attracting force generated between the vibration plate and the individual electrode. Methods of manufacturing the above devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A) according to the present invention includes a substrate (1) having an obverse surface on which a glaze layer (2) is formed, an electrode (4) formed on the glaze layer (2) and a clip connector (5) attached to an edge of the substrate (1) for connection to an external device and connected to the electrode (4) via solder (8). An input wiring portion (33) as a buffer layer is provided between the glaze layer (2) and the electrode (4), and the input wiring portion (33) protrudes from the electrode (4) at least at an end adjacent to the edge of the substrate (1).

Abstract: A printer and method for operating a printer are provided. The printer has a printhead adapted to heat a thermal donor medium to transfer donor material from a donor web to a receiver medium; a receiver medium path having guides shaped to direct receiver medium along a receiver medium travel path to and from a position in registration with the printhead with said receiver medium path having at least one change of receiver medium direction therein causing said receiver medium to bend; and a motorized platen for moving receiver medium through the receiver medium path, wherein said receiver medium path is further shaped so that the change in receiver medium direction occurs in a portion of the receiver medium path that takes the receiver medium from a position in registration with the printhead.

Abstract: A laser beam isolation includes a blocking unit having an at least partially metallic shutter disposed in a laser scanning unit to be movable between a first position to open a path of a laser beam and a second position to block the path of the laser beam. A magnetic unit is disposed opposite to the shutter at least one of a cover and an image forming unit of the device to actuate the shutter to move to the first position when the cover is closed, or when the image forming unit is mounted in the device. During an opening of the cover or a removal of the image forming unit, the blocking portion is moved to the second position by its own weight or center of gravity and blocks a laser beam of a light source from being emitted out of the laser scanning unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light source apparatus in which wasteful cost increases can be suppressed during the manufacture of various types of light source apparatuses, and replacement of a broken light source can be performed at low cost, a recording apparatus using the light source apparatus, and an image forming apparatus comprising the recording apparatus. A plurality of optical units comprising optical members (a light source element and a lens) for outputting a single beam are combined separably in row form. A holder is used as means for holding the optical units in row form.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a latent image on a photoconductive member by scanning a light beam with a rotational deflector, and forms a visual image on a sheet without temporarily stopping the sheet on a sheet conveyance path. The image forming apparatus includes a motor that drives the rotation deflector when an image formation instruction is given, a rotation status-determining device that determines if the motor driven the rotation deflector reaches steady state, and a sheet feed control device that starts conveying the sheet (from a starting position of the sheet conveyance path) when the rotation status-determining device determines that the motor reaches the steady state. A detection device detects a passage time when the sheet passes a prescribed position on the sheet conveyance path. A latent image formation control device starts forming a latent image on the photoconductive member based on the passage time.

Abstract: In a communication system for serving data corresponding to a request from the user and charging the user for the data served to the user, when the user designates a result of a desired one of a plurality of different operations, a usage management unit selects a one, corresponding to the user's designation, of a plurality of processors which effect operations corresponding to a plurality of different algorithms, respectively. When the processor corresponding to the designation is selected, an algorithm processor makes an operation corresponding to the designation. A management center charges the user for the use of the algorithm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of creating an image file in an imaging device and an imaging device comprising at least two image capturing apparatus, each apparatus being arranged to produce an image. The apparatus is configured to utilize at least a portion of the images produced with different image capturing apparatus with each other to produce an image with an enhanced image quality.

Abstract: High frequency signals cannot be reconstructed properly from sampled data if the sampling frequency lies below the Nyquist rate. The invention addresses this problem by choosing few additional sample points along a trajectory intersecting the region comprising the high frequency signals, such as an edge. Intermediate rendering data is used to determine the additional sample points. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, 4 adaptively chosen sample points per pixel may provide a visual quality comparable to 16 times super-sampling, but at a much lower computational cost.

Abstract: A multiview display device (600) for displaying multiple views, the multiple views having respective viewing angles related to an object to be displayed is disclosed. The display device comprises optical means (1108) for displaying multiple viewing cones, a first one of the multiple viewing cones having an angular distribution (630) of the views relative to the display device; and driving means (1106) for providing the optical means (1108) with sets of image data corresponding to the respective views. The sets of image data are provided such that the angular distribution (630) has a first part of adjacent views with increasing viewing angle and a second part of adjacent views with decreasing viewing angle and the angular distribution (630) has a first one of the views in between a maximum view which corresponds to a maximum viewing angle and a minimum view which corresponds to a minimum viewing angle.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a selection device and a multiple mode display device is disclosed. The multiple mode display device comprises a lens sheet comprising a plurality of individual lenticules forming a lenticular surface, an electro-optical modulator positioned adjacent the lens sheet, and a display device comprising a display surface. Alternatively, a multiple mode display arrangement is disclosed, comprising a lens sheet comprising a plurality of individual lenticules forming a lenticular surface and a display device comprising a display surface. The display device is positioned behind the lens sheet, thereby enabling viewing images transmitted in at least a planar mode and a stereoscopic mode.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion tube having an end, and an imaging catheter assembly. The imaging catheter assembly includes a tubular body, an imaging device, and a shape memory link that connects the imaging device to the tubular body.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an imaging device, a first polarizing filter disposed in front of the imaging device, a light source, and a second polarizing filter disposed in front of the light source. The planes of polarization of the first and second polarizing filters are at a substantially 90° angle.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus, includes: an explosion-proof unit that has an image pickup device that outputs photographed video images as video image signals; and an A/D converter that converts the video image signals into digitalized image signals; a control unit that controls the explosion-proof unit; and an energy limiting circuit that is provided at the control unit and that limits electrical energy of digital signals to satisfy intrinsic safety when sending and receiving of the digital signals, wherein the explosion-proof unit is connected to the control unit via the energy limiting circuit with a signal line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a movement control system which can be used to control moving platforms such as vehicles or robotic arms. It especially applies to a driving aid for vehicles and to a parking aid capable of self-parking a vehicle. A three-dimensional camera (12) is located on the platform, say a car (102) and arranged to view (114) the environment around the platform. A processor (7) uses the three-dimensional information to create a model of the environment which is used to generate a movement control signal. Preferably the platform moves relative to the environment and acquires a plurality of images of the environment from different positions.

Abstract: For an object for displaying output images of a plurality of imaging means equipped in a vehicle concurrently in a form in which the positional relation thereof can be comprehended easily, there are provided with projection means 30 for projecting output images of a plurality of imaging means; and a plurality of hologram films 21, 22 and 23 in which the output image of the projection means 30 is projected, a projection image is displayed imaginarily at a position different from an actual arrangement position, and at the same time the position on which the projection image is displayed imaginarily is made to be at lease two different positions. For a viewer seeing an image projected to the hologram films 21, 22 and 23, it looks such that a plurality of images are displayed at different positions and it becomes easy to comprehend which image picture it is imaged by an imaging means arranged at which position according to the image positional relation thereof.

Abstract: A remote instruction system includes a control portion. The control portion transmits a first image to a remote terminal and controls a projection portion to project a first annotation image onto a subject according to an instruction issued from the remote terminal on the basis of the first image, and the control portion transmits a second image to the remote terminal and controls the projection portion to project a second annotation image onto the subject according to the instruction issued from the remote terminal on the basis of the second image, the first image being captured by a first image capturing portion provided for capturing the first image of the subject, the second image being captured by a second image capturing portion provided for zooming a given area of the subject to capture the second image, when the given area in the first image is selected from the remote terminal.

Abstract: A monitoring unit for the exterior in the direction of travel of a motor vehicle includes at least one camera system with an image recording sensor. The sensor has color encoding in some regions and, otherwise, monochrome encoding. An assist system is also provided with such a monitoring unit, in particular a traffic sign and/or lane recognition assist system.

Abstract: An image data processor converts an image signal into an image data. The multi-codec unit converts the image data into a transfer data. A communication unit receives a transfer request from an outside terminal device and transmits the transfer data to the outside terminal device. A time-sharing control unit controls to drive the image data processor and the multi-codec unit in a time-sharing manner in accordance with the transfer request.

Abstract: An infrared camera system and a method thereof. The system includes a first housing and a handling component. The handling component includes a first end and a second end, and the first end is in contact with the first housing. Additionally, the system includes a second housing including a third end and a fourth end. The third end is in contact with the first housing. Moreover, the system includes a supporting component. The supporting component is in contact with the handling component at the second end and in contact with the second housing at the fourth end. Also, the system includes an infrared detector located within at least one of the first housing, the second housing, the handling component, and the supporting component. The handling component and the second housing are at least partially separated by a gap region. The supporting component includes a first surface.

Abstract: Described herein are stress detection devices and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: An image sensor coprocessor includes an SMIA image sensor interface for accepting data from an SMIA image sensor, a device interface for transmitting and receiving instructions and data with respect to a device, and a protocol translation module. The protocol translation module enables instructions received at the device interface to be translated to instructions for the SMIA image sensor interface, and a sensor data stream from the SMIA image sensor interface to be translated to a device data stream for the device interface. The image sensor coprocessor can also be modified such that the device interface is a USB interface enabling USB compliant devices to be utilized with SMIA image sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the correction of the brightness of a raw image generated by a sensor matrix, in which an intensity matching is carried out at picture elements defined by a line coordinate and a column coordinate and at least one intensity value. The intensity matching comprises the application to the intensity values of the picture elements to be corrected of two intensity corrections independent of one another, in dependence on the line coordinate, on the one hand, and in dependence on the column coordinate, on the other hand. The invention furthermore relates to an optoelectronic sensor comprising a correction device. This correction device is matched to carry out the initially described intensity matching.

Abstract: A digital camera has a memory for recording function and environment of the camera upon every use thereof, or delivery of the camera to users. The memory is kept without deletion to be a history of the camera. The memory cannot be used by the user, but is take out of the camera upon its recycle for transferring the memory to a database or to a site of designing new cameras. The memory should be taken out on the authorization of the user. If the memory includes name, address, custom settings, user contract, password, or the like, such memory may be transferred to a new camera of the same user on demand. Used camera can be conveniently returned at a site where commodities irrelevant to cameras are sold, which may prevent illegal disposal of cameras.

Abstract: A method and system for minimizing the effects of image motion in still cameras is provided. In one embodiment, a method of capturing an image in a digital camera is presented. The method includes calculating a sharpness value related to an image input. The method also includes evaluating the sharpness value to determine image motion. The method further includes capturing a next image input data from the image input responsive to evaluating the sharpness value.

Abstract: A composite media recording element is provided. An imaging system and method utilizing the composite media recording element is provided for tandem capture of visual information and positional information related to final images.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an adaptive camera network is provided. The invention discloses a camera network comprising a plurality of cameras, wherein each camera in the network comprises a plurality of applications that include a first application for performing a primary function and a second application for changing the primary function and a trigger based on an event, the trigger activating the second application in at least a portion of the plurality of cameras.

Abstract: A system for promoting physical activity includes at least two cameras which capture images of an object and generate image signals indicative of the captured images. A processor in communication with the cameras receives the image signals from the cameras and determines, based at least on part upon the image signals, when and in what position the object impacts a surface. The processor generates, based at least in part upon the determination of when and in what position the object impacts the surface, feedback signals indicative of feedback to be provided to a user of the system. A projector in communication with the processor receives the feedback signals and, based at least in part upon the feedback signals, displaying visual feedback to the user on the surface.

Abstract: A mobile device including a first image sensor, an image processor coupled to and residing on the same integrated circuit as the first image sensor, and a second image sensor, wherein the image processor is configured to substantially and separately process images from the first and second image sensors.

Abstract: The least significant bits of respective count values of an H counter and a V counter are combined, to generate a timing signal defining a 2×2-size repeat block. A timing register including four registers each storing data which determines a color of each location within the repeat block is provided for each of input channels. A selector selects one of outputs of the timing registers based on the timing signal, and generates a signal designating a color of a pixel at a certain time for each of the input channels. A register storing black level correction data for each color is used in common by the input channels. For each of the input channels, an item of black level correction data at the certain time is selected based on the signal designating the color of the pixel at the certain time and input to a pre-processing circuit in each of the input channels.

Abstract: An optical system (101) forms an optical image on an imager (102), the image is made spatially discrete for transformation into a sampled image signal, and the image signal is separated at a band separation processing block (105) into a high-frequency component and a low-frequency component. At a super-resolution target frame selection block (106), a frame to which super-resolution processing is to be applied is selected out of the separated low-frequency component image for forwarding to an interpolation and enlargement processing block (109). super-resolution processing is implemented by a motion estimation block (107) and a high-resolution image estimation block (108) adapted to estimate image date having a pixel sequence at a high resolution.

Abstract: A signal processing method and apparatus are provided. A method of serializing signals output from an image sensor is provided which includes sampling a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, and parallel image data output from the image sensor, at a first edge of a clock signal, for n cycles of the clock signal, where n is an integer. The method further includes generating a packet including information regarding timing parameters and valid image data based on the sampling result.

Abstract: An object is to carry out color correction in a highly accurate manner on images acquired by various digital cameras and scanners.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image quality correction circuit for correcting an image quality of input video data by enhancing the input video data and a control circuit for controlling the image quality correction circuit. The control circuit detects a signal level of a high-frequency component of the input video data and controls the image quality correction circuit in response to the signal level detection result so that the degree of enhancement of the input video data is increased in response to an increase in the signal level of the high-frequency component.

Abstract: There is disclosed a microscopic image pickup apparatus to be attached to a microscope device to which a plurality of specular methods are applicable, the apparatus being configured to set conversion coefficients for use in conversion of a color image into a monochromatic image so as to adapt the coefficients to a selected specular method. In the present invention, since the conversion coefficients suitable for the selected specular method are set, monochromatic conversion coefficients suitable for the specular method can easily be set without performing any special image processing. As a result, it is possible to obtain the monochromatic image adapted to the specular method and having an excellent gray-scale characteristic.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided. The method, comprises (a) determining a white balance correction parameter for a white balance correction processing block for an image sensor, and including the white balance correction parameter in the white balance correction processing block; (b) determining a gamma correction parameter for a gamma correction processing block for the image sensor, and including the gamma correction parameter in the gamma correction processing block; and (c) determining a color correction parameter for a color correction processing block for the image sensor, and including the color correction parameter in the color correction processing block.

Abstract: A Bayesian two-color image demosaicer and method for processing a digital color image to demosaic the image in such a way as to reduce image artifacts. The method and system are an improvement on and an enhancement to previous demosaicing techniques. A preliminary demosaicing pass is performed on the image to assign each pixel a fully specified RGB triple color value. The final color value of pixel in the processed image is restricted to be a linear combination of two colors. Fully-specified RGB triple color values for each pixel in an image used to find two clusters represented favored two colors. The amount of contribution from these favored two colors on the final color value then is determined. The method and system also can process multiple images to improve the demosaicing results. When using multiple images, sampling can be performed at a finer resolution, known as super resolution.

Abstract: An image signal scan-converting method and apparatus are disclosed. A progressive scan photographing unit receives an optical signal and outputs a progressive scan signal, converting the optical signal into an electrical signal. A first storing unit stores odd pixels of the progressive scan signal, a second storing unit stores even pixels of the progressive scan signal, and an adding unit adds the odd pixels and the even pixels read from the first and the second storing units to form an odd field and an even field, thus producing an interlaced scan signal. Accordingly, image signals formatted according to a progressive scan method are converted into image signals of an interlaced scan type, thereby allowing an image signal apparatus to be compatible with interlaced scan type processing apparatuses and improving image quality in other progressive scan type processing apparatuses.

Abstract: A memory control block performs in parallel a process of writing a current frame of image data captured by an image capturing device into a system shared memory, a process of reading out a previous frame of image data stored in the system shared memory, and a process of writing combined image data generated in an image combining block into the system shared memory.

Abstract: If a user is to be notified of detection of a face image, it is so arranged that the user can be so notified without being given an odd impression. To achieve this, the image of a subject is obtained by sensing the image of the subject. The image of the subject obtained contains a portrait image, and the face-image portion of the portrait image is detected by executing processing for detecting a face image. When a face image is detected, an apple mark, strawberry mark or heart mark, etc., is displayed near the detected face image. Instead of enclosing the face image within a rectangular border, the mark is displayed near the face image. The result is that the user is not given an odd impression.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of compensating a signal of an image of one screen for distortions in the horizontal and/or vertical directions of a screen of the image. The method includes the steps of: dividing one screen area of the image into a plurality of picture divisions; and detecting a movement vector of the image for each particular one of the picture divisions from information on a difference in image between the particular picture division on one of two screens and the particular division on the other of the two screens.

Abstract: When the image of a face is detected from within the image of a subject, the brightness of the face image is calculated. If it is determined that the face image is dark are requires a correction, a revised gamma correction curve is calculated in such a manner that both the face image and the overall image of the subject take on the appropriate brightness. A gamma correction is applied using the revised gamma correction curve. Noise reduction processing is executed in order to suppress the amount of noise produced by the gamma correction.

Abstract: A detection error of foreign substance due to the presence of a newly generated defective pixel can be considerably prevented. An image pickup apparatus includes a foreign substance detector detecting foreign substance adhering to an optical member arranged on a light axis for image capturing in accordance with an image signal obtained by the image pickup device, a defective pixel position detector detecting a position of a defective pixel in the image pickup device in accordance with an image signal obtained by the image pickup device, a storage unit storing position information detected by the defective pixel position detector, and a controller controlling processing so that the foreign substance detector detects the foreign substance after the defective pixel position detector detects the position of the defective pixel.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, a light guide mechanism, and a signal processing unit. The imaging device converts light incident on a photoelectric conversion portion of the imaging device into electric signals. The light guide mechanism, arranged adjacent to the photoelectric conversion portion of the imaging device, includes a plurality of apertures that guide light from a subject to the photoelectric conversion portion of the imaging device. The signal processing unit performs desired signal processing on the electric signals output from the imaging device on the basis of subject information units derived from the light guided onto the photoelectric conversion portion of the imaging device through the apertures.

Abstract: Each unit pixel includes a photodiode, a reading selection transistor, a reading transistor, an amplifying transistor, a reset transistor, and a horizontal selection transistor, and thus a MOS image sensor of a dot-sequential reading 5-Tr type is formed. The reading selection transistor and the reading transistor are formed with a two-layer gate structure, and gate potential of the reading selection transistor and the reading transistor is set to a negative potential. Thereby, a lower layer of a gate region of the reading transistor and the reading selection transistor is controlled to a negative potential. Thus, depletion in the lower layer region is suppressed to reduce leakage current.

Abstract: A circuit for use in an image sensor as well as an image sensing system using the circuit are set forth. The circuit comprises a memory device having a non-volatile memory cell, a control gate, a drain and a source. The circuit also employs a photosensitive semiconductor device that is positioned for exposure to electromagnetic radiation from an image. A pixel control circuit is connected to these components to direct the memory device and the photosensitive semiconductor device to a plurality of controlled modes. The controlled modes may include an erase mode and an exposure mode. In the erase mode, at least a portion of an electric charge is removed from the non-volatile memory cell to place the memory device in an initialized state. In the exposure mode, the non-volatile memory cell is charged at least partially in response to a voltage at a terminal of the photosensitive semiconductor device.