Abstract: In an image forming method employing an inkjet technique, when a dot is formed by the use of a normal nozzle and an abnormal nozzle neighboring to the abnormal nozzle, binary data are corrected so as not to form the dot by the use of the abnormal nozzle and the binary data are also corrected so as to form a compensation dot, which has a color different from a color used by the abnormal nozzle, in the vicinity of a dot forming position by the abnormal nozzle. Thereby, the white stripe and the deep-colored stripe generated due to the flight bending phenomenon are almost invisible.

Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a nozzle forming member having a water repellent layer formed on a liquid drop jet side surface of a nozzle base having a nozzle hole configured to jet a liquid drop of recording liquid; wherein the water repellent layer is made of silicon resin; an oxide layer is not provided between the liquid drop jet side surface of the nozzle base and the water repellent layer; and the oxide layer is provided on a nozzle hole internal wall surface of the nozzle base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing head, an ink jet printing apparatus, and an ink jet printing method capable of achieving high-speed printing while realizing high-quality image. An ejection port face where an ejection port of the printing head is located is formed so that the normal line thereof intersects with an axis line of a nozzle at a predetermined angle. The ejection port face inclines in a relative moving direction of the printing head with a printing medium as a reference.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a substrate, discharge units each including one liquid discharge port discharging the liquid, an energy generating element on the surface of the substrate and generating energy to discharge the liquid from the liquid discharge port, one liquid chamber in which the energy generating element is disposed, one liquid supply port penetrating the substrate, one liquid path extending from the liquid supply port to the liquid discharge port through the liquid chamber, a penetrating wiring penetrating the substrate, an element wiring connecting the energy generating element to the penetrating wiring and a driving element on a back surface of the substrate and driving the energy generating element through the penetrating wiring and a common liquid chamber communicating with the substrate along the surface of which the discharge units are arranged through liquid routes having an equal distance to all of the liquid supply ports.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a charge electrode array for a binary continuous inkjet printer, the method including forming the charge electrodes and the driver circuitry for the charge electrodes using common process steps. The process steps are preferably those associated with polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistor technology. The invention further provides a charge electrode array for a binary continuous inkjet printer when formed according to the inventive method. Such an array may not only be formed integrally with the driver electronics, but also with a phase detector, a deflector, and a velocity detector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording liquid for printing and recording the information on a support for printing, such as a recording paper sheet. This recording liquid contains dye, a solvent for dissolving or dispersing the dye, and a water-soluble organic solvent having a Cobb30 value as measured by an ultrasonic transmitting dynamic liquid penetration measurement device as prescribed in JIS P8140:1998 of 22±2 g/m2, and having the time of peak occurrence in a penetration characteristic curve for a plain paper sheet of not less than 0.1 sec and not longer than 0.5 sec. As water-soluble organic solvent, one or more of 2-ethyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-2-butyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediol, 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol and 2-propyl-1,4-butanediol, is used.

Abstract: An ink container is provides ink to a vented printhead, where both the ink container and the vented printhead are positioned on a moveable carriage. The ink container receives ink from an off-carriage ink supply via an ink conduit. Air is removed from the printhead and ink container via a vacuum pump, coupled to an upper portion of the ink container via an air conduit. The vacuum pump is operable to pull air from the ink container by generating negative pressure in the ink container.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge has a container main body detachably mounted to a cartridge mounting section of a liquid consuming apparatus. The container main body includes a case main body having a liquid reservoir and a cover that covers one side of the case main body; a board mounting section provided on an outer side of the container main body, for mounting a circuit board having an information storage element, the board mounting section having a pair of board fixing bosses to be fitted in the mounting holes of the circuit board to locate the circuit board, and four guide walls provided on the peripheral four sides of the circuit board located by the pair of board fixing bosses. The three guide walls of the four guide walls that constitute the board mounting section form a substantially U-shaped opening that is open to the cover on the outer side of the case main body, and the other guide wall is at a rim of the cover.

Abstract: A replaceable tank for attachment to a micro-fluid ejection head containing a multi-function thermoplastic elastomer layer, a method for sealing an exit port of a removable fluid reservoir for a micro-fluid ejection head using the multi-function thermoplastic elastomer layer, and a method for improving the handling and shipping of replaceable fluid cartridges for micro-fluid ejection heads using the multi-function thermoplastic elastomer layer. The multi-function thermoplastic elastomer layer is disposed in the exit port and on at least a portion of an outer surface of the reservoir.

Abstract: A cartridge for a printing device includes a casing divided into a print media supply portion for housing sheets of paper and a storage portion for housing an ink supply and defining a print media exit opening. A print media transport mechanism is within the print media supply portion to feed print media out of the print media exit opening. The storage portion is defined by two separate moldings forming part of the casing in the form of an ink storage base molding and a cover molding.

Abstract: An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of ink jet printing a radiation-curable ink from a printer having a de-wetting faceplate onto a substrate in which the ink is such that it has an advancing contact angle on the substrate of no more than 22° and a receding contact angle on the faceplate, after a period of contact of one month, of greater than 28°. The invention also provides a radiation-curable ink for use in an ink jet printer having a de-wetting faceplate, the ink having a receding contact angle on a material having a surface energy in the range of 16 to 20 dyne/cm of greater than 28° after a period of contact of one month and having an advancing contact angle on a substrate having a surface energy of less than 30 dyne/cm of no more than 22°.

Abstract: An actinic radiation curable type inkjet ink is characterized in that the actinic radiation curable type inject ink contains an onium salt as a photolytically acid generating compound that does not produce benzene when exposed to actinic radiation, and a compound including an oxetane ring as a photo-polymerizable compound, wherein a water content by Karl Fischer method is 1.50 through 5.00 percent by mass.

Abstract: There is provided an ink composition for ink jet recording that, even on printing paper for running-on, can realize excellent gloss and good color reproduction and, at the same time, is excellent in ejection stability and recovery from clogging. The ink composition for ink jet recording comprises at least a colorant, water, an alkanediol, and a surfactant, wherein the alkanediol comprises a water soluble 1,2-alkanediol and a slightly water soluble 1,2-alkanediol, and the surfactant is a polyorganosiloxane.

Abstract: A printer using ink jet printing technology to print one or more colors on a sheet for use in a box is described. The printer has a feeder, a transport mechanism for moving the sheet the print head, and a stacker to receive the printed sheet. Differential air pressure is applied by a suction box disposed in proximity to a conveyer belt for transporting the sheet. The suction box may sized so that the sheet may be oriented with a long dimension in the direction of feeding. Where multiple print heads are used, the print heads overlap in the direction transverse to the motion of the sheet so that an image larger than a print head may be produced. Two printing mechanisms disposed opposite each other may be used to print two sides of a sheet.

Abstract: A light irradiation apparatus in which high peak irradiance is obtained and the heat influence on the article being irradiated with light is reduced, and also an inkjet printer which has such a light irradiation apparatus in which pictures with high image quality can be reliably made and the amount of heat influence on the recording medium is low is achieved using a light irradiation apparatus having a discharge lamp of the short arc type and a reflection component for reflecting the light of this discharge lamp. The light of the discharge lamp is radiated in a state in which it is focused by the reflection component so as to extending linearly on the light irradiation area. The inkjet printer has a head part with the above described light irradiation apparatus, the light from which sets ink of the photosetting type which has been applied to the recording medium.

Abstract: A trace forming method comprises ejecting a droplet of a trace forming material onto a substrate; radiating a laser beam on to the droplet on the substrate for drying the droplet to form a trace with the droplet; and using a polarized light with 80% to 100% of p-polarized components as the laser beam.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus that ejects liquid droplets containing metal ink onto a glass substrate includes a droplet ejection head, a transport device, a semiconductor laser, a reflective mirror, and a first shifting device. The droplet ejection head has a nozzle plate opposed to the substrate. The droplets are ejected from a nozzle of the nozzle plate. The transport device transports at least one of the substrate and the droplet ejection head relative to the other along one direction. The semiconductor laser radiates a laser beam for drying the droplets on the substrate. The reflective mirror is provided in the droplet ejection head and guides the laser beam of the semiconductor laser onto an area on the substrate opposed to the nozzle plate in such a manner that the radiating direction of the laser beam with respect to the droplets becomes substantially parallel with the one direction, as viewed in a normal direction of the substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a media multi-feed rejection apparatus, comprising: a plurality of feed rollers; a feed roller driving means operatively connected to one of the plurality of feed rollers; a clutch means operatively connected to the other of the plurality of feed rollers; and a single channel encoder means operatively connected to the clutch means to measure a rotation of the other of the plurality of feed rollers.

Abstract: An optical scanner for writing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier includes a scanning optical system that forms an optical scanning path, a pair of optical detecting units arranged at two positions on the optical scanning path for detecting a write-start position and a write-end position to measure a time for scanning from the write-start position to the write-end position, and an optical housing that houses at least the scanning optical system and the optical detecting units. The optical detecting units are mounted on the optical housing via an intermediate member having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the optical housing.

Abstract: Multi-functional image forming devices that may include a base color laser printer comprising a front side, a back side, a top, and a bottom. The color laser printer may further include a media path, a laser printhead, and a plurality of image forming units. A scanning mechanism comprising a scan bed may be mounted on the top of the base color laser printer. In one embodiment, the media path includes a first section positioned within the base color laser printer and a second section that extends between the scanning mechanism and the top of the base color laser printer. In one embodiment, the scanning mechanism is pivotally mounted to the base color laser printer and movable to access the second section of the media path.

Abstract: In a track control method for marking a label side of an optical disc, a data side of the optical disc is first oriented to an optical head. A light beam is then emitted and a sled carrying the optical head moves. A series of moving distances of the sled are calculated according to the light beam reflected by the optical disc, which are then recorded in a memory. The optical disc is then flipped to have the label side face the optical head, and the shift of the optical head is controlled to mark on tracks of the label side according to the series of moving distances recorded in the memory.

Abstract: Multicolor characters or pictures are written in an optical disk in a visible manner. The optical disk comprises a figure writing layer for writing a visible figure in addition to a data recording layer for recording data. Recording of user data in the data recording layer and the writing of a visible figure in the figure writing layer are performed using the same optical disk drive. In one example, the figure writing layer comprises phase change layers that are formed via protection layers in a region sandwiched between a pair of reflective layers. By writing figure data separated into individual basic colors in the phase change layers individually, a multicolor figure can be made visible.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of laser power uniformity calibration, comprising: printing a first pattern by a first laser beam; moving the first laser beam to print a second pattern such that the second pattern is located at a predetermined distance from the first pattern; printing the first and second patterns by a second laser beam; comparing the first and second patterns printed by the first and second laser beams; and optionally adjusting a power in the first and second laser beams.

Abstract: A handheld, wireless video receiver that receives compressed video, decompresses the compressed video, displays the decompressed video. The receiver is part of a system comprising methods, medium, and handheld, wireless devices which compress, enhance, encode, transmit, decompress and display digital video images in real time. Real time wireless videoconferences connect multiple handheld video devices. Real time compression is achieved by sub-sampling each frame of a video signal, filtering the pixel values, and encoding. Real time transmission is achieved due to high levels of effective compression. Real time decompression is achieved by decoding and decompressing the encoded data to display high quality images. The receiver can alter various setting including but not limited to the format for the compression, image size, frame rate, brightness and contrast. A zoom control can be used select a portion of interest of video being transmitted or being played back.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for distributing video image are provided. The apparatus stores a video image captured by a video unit through a monitor module. When a plurality of communication interfaces are activated simultaneously, the video image previously stored in the monitor module is directly loaded into each communication interface through the monitor module, respectively. Therefore, the purpose of providing a plurality of communication interfaces with the video image simultaneously is achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a fused image is described. In one embodiment, a first image at a first wavelength and a second image at a second wavelength are generated. Next, range information is generated and subsequently used to warp the first image in a manner that correlates to the second image. In turn, the warped first image is fused with the second image to produce the fused image.

Abstract: To supplement a video display on a conventional television, a surround video stream may be projected onto wall and other surfaces adjacent the television. The surround video stream may derive from a wide angle lens camera positioned alongside the main camera. The surround video stream may be processed in a local processor to compensate for departures from planar geometry in the wall surfaces. Where no surround video stream is received, a video processor may synthesize a surround video stream from the main video signal. Moving objects represented in the main video signal may be synthesized in the surround video to provide the perception of movement across the viewer's full field of view.

Abstract: Various embodiments of displays form a multi-dimensional image with moving pixels.

Abstract: A power supply controller (10, 60, 70) uses a negative current (36) of a power transistor (16, 71) to detect the valley point for enabling the power transistor when driving an inductor (17). The negative current occurs when the inductor is de-magnetized and can be used for controlling the time to enable the power transistor.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a broadcast signal including generating display control information for a plurality of broadcast objects to be displayed on a receiving terminal, and transmitting the broadcasting signal including both the plurality of broadcast objects and the display control information to the receiving terminal. Further, the display control information includes instructions on how the receiving terminal is to display the plurality of images.

Abstract: A method of generating a stereoscopic image is disclosed. The method includes defining at least two, three or more regions in a scene representing a region of interest, a near regions and/or a far region. This is followed by forming an image pair for each region, this image pair containing the information relating to objects in or partially in their respective region. The perceived depth within the regions is altered to provide the ideai or best perceived depth within the region of interest and acceptable or more compressed perceived depths in the other regions. The image pairs are then mapped together to form a display image pair for viewing on a display device.

Abstract: The invention provides an examination apparatus including an objective optical system for positioning a focal point inside a specimen mounted on a stage; an image-acquisition apparatus for detecting light emitted in different optical-axis directions from the vicinity of the focal point inside the specimen and collected by the objective optical system to acquire a plurality of pieces of image information; and a three-dimensional image forming unit for forming a three-dimensional image of a light-emitting site in the vicinity of the focal point based on the plurality of pieces of image information acquired by the image-acquiring apparatus.

Abstract: An attention level measuring apparatus, comprising: an eye direction measurement unit, which is configured to input image data and to measure an eye direction of a person photographed; an attention position information calculate unit, which is configured to calculate attention position information of said person, from the eye direction measured by said eye direction measurement unit; an attention level calculate unit, which is configured to calculate attention level information about an attention target of said person, with using the attention position information calculated by said attention position information calculate unit; and an output control unit, which is configured to display graphic information produced upon basis of said calculated attention level information and a picture of said attention target, putting one upon the other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a “Video Flashlight” system for managing large numbers of videos by overlaying them within a 2D or 3D model of a scene.

Abstract: A security system (20) includes at least one camera (22) that provides a reference image regarding an area within a field of vision (24) of the camera (22). A controller (30) determines whether a difference between at least a portion of a test image obtained by the camera (22) and a corresponding portion of the reference image indicates tampering with the camera. Disclosed examples detect a variety of tampering conditions and provide an indication of camera tampering so that corrective or preventative measures may be taken.

Abstract: A home/office printer for selectively printing and transmitting photographs as recorded on a memory card is disclosed. The printer includes a read-slot for inserting a memory card and a network coupling for transferring photographic images to an online printing service. The printer further includes an operating software, which is configured to print the photographic images recorded on a memory card and alternatively to transfer the photographic images data to an online printing service, as a print order, via the network coupling.

Abstract: The present invention provides synchronization and control between the wavelength of a multi-wavelength illuminator and the image frames acquired by a video camera. In accordance with the present invention, the trailing edge of a camera expose-signal triggers a pre-loaded digital value to be output from a FIFO buffer. The digital value selects a particular illumination wavelength either directly or through a voltage from a digital to analog converter. The FIFO may be periodically refilled, or it may be a circular register.

Abstract: An image processing device according to the present invention uses a representative picture having a first resolution and multiple reference pictures having the first resolution to generate a high-resolution picture having a second resolution higher than the first resolution. The image processing device includes a first repetition processing unit operable to repeat positioning processing while switching from one reference picture to another, and a second repetition processing unit operable to repeat update processing for updating an estimated value of a pixel in a target high-resolution picture. At least one of the first and second repetition processing units includes a determination unit operable to determine a pixel that satisfies a completion condition from the result of one of the positioning processing and the update processing, and an exclusion unit operable to exclude a pixel that satisfies the completion condition from one of the positioning processing and the update processing.

Abstract: To achieve more appropriate interpolation of a missing pixel, an image is input to a processing section for interpolation. The interpolation is applied utilizing image data of pixels located around the pixel to be interpolated. Specifically, correlations between the image data of the pixels to be interpolated, and pixel data in a horizontal direction, vertical direction, and diagonal direction, are compared to one another; pixel data having stronger correlation is used for the interpolation. Correlation between the image data of the pixels to be interpolated and which direction is strong is determined, so that different weighting for interpolation is used accordingly.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling artifacts in an image due to a presence of flicker in ambient light is provided. The method comprises determining a power frequency for the ambient light; determining a magnitude and phase of flicker fluctuation in the image due to the flicker; and adjusting the image for the flicker fluctuation based on the power frequency, magnitude, and phase.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which offers higher versatility than conventional image processing apparatuses. When an input signal to a spatial filtering block is a monochrome signal that contains Y component only, a selector selects its input terminal and a selector selects its input terminal. Then, a low-pass filter output signal of a programmable spatial filter is inputted to a spatial filter, and a low-pass filter output signal of the spatial filer is inputted to a spatial filter. That is, the programmable spatial filter and the spatial filters are connected in series (in cascade), and the cascade-connected three spatial filters perform filtering operation. In this example, low-pass filters with 5×5 taps are connected in cascade in three stages, which enables low-pass filtering with 13×13 taps.

Abstract: A dc level control method for holding a dc level of a clamp portion in an electric signal to be a prescribed value is disclosed, wherein the method comprises the steps of: comparing a dc level of a sampling interval in said electric signal with a predetermined reference value to obtain a difference between said dc level and said reference value using an A/D converting section for dc level comparison which has a lower bit resolution than an A/D converting section for digital signal processing of said electric signal; and feeding back a clamp signal to said electric signal so that said obtained difference between said dc level and said reference value substantially becomes zero. This method is suitable for applying to a signal processing system for a solid state imaging apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a light-receiving chip whose transparent protection plate has an area equal to or smaller than an area of the light-receiving chip, and which does not require a base portion for mounting. Provision of the light-receiving chip contributes to reduction in size and weight of cameras. In addition, provision of a solid-state imaging apparatus having excellent productivity contributes to reduction in price of cameras. A solid-state imaging apparatus (10) having: a solid-state imaging device (11) (a light-receiving chip) provided with a plurality of light-receiving cells arranged either one dimensionally or two dimensionally on one main surface of a base substrate; and a transparent protection plate (12) provided to cover a light-receiving area (18) (the plurality of light-receiving cells), where an area of the transparent protection plate is equal to or smaller than an area of the light-receiving chip, and a space (20) is formed between the light-receiving cells and the transparent protection plate.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device includes: a pixel array in which pixels performing photoelectric conversion are arranged in rows and columns; and a column amplification section in which an image signal output from each pixel is amplified. The column amplification section includes amplifiers each of which is provided for each column, and the column amplification section is connected to a power supply voltage feed section and the ground. An impedance on the power supply side of the amplifier is greater than an impedance on the ground side.

Abstract: There is provided a driving method for a solid-state imaging device in which the number of effective pixels is not reduced, a difference between resolutions in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction is not caused, blurring of an image is reduced as compared with conventional cases, image inconsistency at high luminance is not caused, and the dynamic range is wide.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device that suppresses crosstalk of light in a semiconductor substrate that caused by diffraction of light is disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid-state imaging device comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a photoelectric conversion element that is provided in a semiconductor substrate and performs photoelectric conversion of incident light to store signal charges, a floating junction that is provided in the semiconductor substrate in the proximity of the photoelectric conversion element and temporarily stores signal charges, and a transfer transistor that transfers the signal charges stored in the photoelectric conversion element to the floating junction, wherein at least one transfer transistor includes a gate electrode extended to cover a corresponding photoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device of the present invention includes: photodiodes having a vertical overflow drain structure; vertical shift registers for temporarily storing signals transferred from the photodiodes; and a horizontal shift register for storing and horizontally transferring signals transferred from the vertical shift registers, wherein a ?SUB pulse is applied to the substrate, the ?SUB pulse having a larger pulse width than a ?V pulse applied to the gate electrode of each vertical shift register. Thus, it is possible to sweep out smear charges from the photodiode toward the substrate.

Abstract: A multi-stage lens driving device comprises a lens holder, a lens mounted on the lens holder, a carriage carrying the lens holder in a movable manner, at least one magnet coupled to the lens holder, at least one coil disposed on the carriage and corresponding to the magnet, and at least one yoke disposed at a predefined position of the carriage. Through the magnetic field produced by the magnet and the current action in the coil, the force generated thereof can push the lens holder to move toward a desired position, thereby achieving the effect of focusing or zooming. In addition, through the attraction between the yoke and the magnet on the lens holder, the lens holder may be secured to the predefined position. That is, the lens is firmly secured even when the coil current is shut off, thereby achieving the goal of saving power consumption.

Abstract: To provide a camera, by which a photographer takes a photograph of him/herself, while checking his/her facial expression, and further checking whether his/her eye line is directed to a photographing lens of the camera, and to provide an image displaying apparatus including the same camera. The camera has a display means to display an image to be photographed, the display means is formed of a light emitting display element which becomes transparent when it does not display the image, which is mounted in front of the photographing lens.