Patents Issued in December 20, 2007
  • Publication number: 20070291046
    Abstract: A color calibration method and device used for a displaying device, which is used to first calculate the RGB signal level value of the RGB colors of the first color signal, and next obtain the color area corresponding to the RGB signal level value through calculation and search, and then obtain the corresponding gamma value by utilizing the color area, and subsequently, calibrate the first color signal by making use of the gamma value to generate a second color signal, thus realizing the process of calibrating the first color signal. Through the application of the method and device, the automatic calibration of the displaying device color signal can be achieved at low costs, hereby realizing the optimal image quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Shu-Wen Chuang, Sheng-Fu Lan
  • Publication number: 20070291047
    Abstract: A method includes determining a first blend map for a first projector, the first blend map including a first plurality of attenuation factors corresponding to a region of overlap between first and second images projected by the first projector and a second projector, respectively, on a display surface, applying the first blend map to a white level measurement map that includes a plurality of white level measurement values measured from a first plurality of captured images, applying a smoothing function to the white level measurement map to generate a white level target map, and determining a scale map for the first projector from the white level measurement map and the white level target map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Harville, Irwin E. Sobel, Daniel G. Gelb, Andrew E. Fitzhugh
  • Publication number: 20070291048
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for calculating and selecting tone curves for image enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Louis Kerofsky
  • Publication number: 20070291049
    Abstract: The present invention generates a color template design. According to one aspect, a source image is selected. Colors of a selected template design are adjusted automatically using color data collected from the selected source image. A histogram may be generated for the selected source image. The histogram may be analyzed to automatically adjust the colors of the selected template design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Edwards, Clay Fisher
  • Publication number: 20070291050
    Abstract: A surface definition module of a hair/fur pipeline may be used to define a surface. An interpolation module may be used to interpolate at least one final hair on the surface based upon at least one control hair. An effects module including an effects pipeline may be utilized to apply a plurality of effects to the final hair in a user-defined order to generate a modified final hair that may be ultimately rendered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Armin Bruderlin, Francois Chardavoine, Clint Chua, Gustav Melich
  • Publication number: 20070291051
    Abstract: An image generation apparatus provides interpolation and distortion correction. The interpolation and distortion correction may be provided in one or two dimensions. Nonlinear image scan trajectories, such as sinusoidal and bi-sinusoidal trajectories are accommodated. Horizontal and vertical scan positions are determined using a linear pixel clock, and displayed pixel intensities are determined using interpolation techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Margaret Brown, Mark Freeman, Mark Champion, Aarti Raghavan, Shawn Swilley, Kelly Linden
  • Publication number: 20070291052
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a panoramic display for a wireless device are described. In one embodiment, a wireless device may include a display comprising a plurality of display regions. The display regions may include a central display region and multiple lateral display regions arranged to provide a panoramic display. Image compression and/or scaling may be applied to media content that is to be displayed in one or more of the lateral display regions based on the proximity of the lateral display region to the edge of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Pieter S. van der Meulen
  • Publication number: 20070291053
    Abstract: An image display device comprises the following five units. A histogram generating unit generates histogram data based on an image signal. An amount-of-light control unit controls an amount-of-light adjustment unit so that the amount of light decreases as a ratio corresponding to a black color increase based on the histogram data. A holding unit holds first gradient correction data which is used to decide a character of an output gradient with respect to an input gradient of the image signal. An additional data generating unit generates additional data including one or more values which each increases as the ratio increases and adds the one or more values into the first gradient correction data in order to increase one or more gradients in a middle gradient region of the image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Shingo Kida, Masahiro Kitaura
  • Publication number: 20070291054
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display device including a display device having odd-numbered sub-pixel columns for displaying a left image and even-numbered sub-pixel columns for displaying a right image; a first set of sub-pixels disposed in a same first horizontal line of adjacent odd-numbered sub-pixel columns have different colors; a second set of sub-pixels disposed in a same second horizontal line of adjacent even-numbered sub-pixels column have different colors; a screen positioned away from the display device for displaying the right and left images; and a slit barrier disposed between the display device and the screen for screening light from the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Ho Shin, Hyung Ki Hong, Juun Park
  • Publication number: 20070291055
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a replaceable ink cartridge. The ink cartridge stores ink to be printed. The ink cartridge includes a quality assurance (QA) integrated circuit (IC) containing cartridge data. A controller unit is configured to read the cartridge data from the QA IC and then sets the print speed of the printer using the cartridge data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20070291056
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a setting portion on which a recording medium is set; a feeder which feeds the recording medium from the setting portion in a feed direction; a recording head which ejects ink so that an image is recorded on the recording medium fed by the feeder; a gap changing device which changes a gap between the recording head and the recording medium; a judgment portion which judges a setting direction of the recording medium on the setting portion; and a changing control portion which controls the gap changing device to change the gap between the recording head and the recording medium, according to the judged setting direction of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naokazu Tanahashi, Noritsugu Ito, Shingo Ito, Wataru Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20070291057
    Abstract: An ink jet printer is provided with a passage unit, an actuator, and a pulse applying device. The passage unit comprises a nozzle, a pressure chamber, and an ink passage located between the nozzle and the pressure chamber. The actuator faces the pressure chamber and comprises a first electrode, a second electrode to which a reference potential can be applied, and a piezoelectric element located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The pulse applying device is capable of applying a first voltage pulse to the first electrode such that the nozzle discharges an ink droplet, and a second voltage pulse to the first electrode such that the nozzle does not discharge the ink droplet. A voltage change on a leading edge and/or a trailing edge of the second voltage pulse is greater than a voltage change on a leading edge and/or a trailing edge of the first voltage pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Iwao, Atsuo Sakaida
  • Publication number: 20070291058
    Abstract: Satellite droplets that have a lifetime selectable between an infinite lifetime and a finite lifetime are formed with a continuous fluid-jet system having a drop generator, a stimulation device, and a nozzle plate with at least one nozzle opening. A force is applied to eject a fluid jet having a diameter D from the nozzle openings and an adjustable energy drive pulse is applied to the stimulation device in a manner to create a series of perturbations on the ejected fluid jet, such that the perturbations are separated by a distance ?. The drive pulse is defined by a pulse shape, a pulse amplitude, and a pulse duty cycle. A first satellite formation state is established by adjusting the energy of the drive pulse while operating the continuous fluid-jet system in a state wherein the ?/D values are greater than ? and correspond to the measured normalized Rayleigh growth rate within or beyond the first minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Randy L. Fagerquist, Qing Yang
  • Publication number: 20070291059
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head having a nozzle array of plural nozzles capable of discharging ink. The inkjet recording apparatus performs a scanning/recording operation for forming an image on a recording medium by shifting the recording head in a main scanning direction. The inkjet recording apparatus repeatedly perform the scanning/recording operation and a recording medium conveying operation. The inkjet recording apparatus sets a recording position correction amount for each section of the nozzle array based on information relating to the inclination, so that a recording position correction amount in a forward scanning operation is different from a recording position correction amount in a backward scanning operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Norihiro Kawatoko, Hidehiko Kanda, Toshiyuki Chikuma
  • Publication number: 20070291060
    Abstract: This is an imaging apparatus having at least one recording unit arraying a plurality of nozzle arrays featured with a plurality of nozzles for jetting a single color ink onto a recording medium, and recording an image onto the recording medium by correcting a recording timing of each of the corresponding plurality of nozzle arrays by using individual correction parameter considering the individual characteristic of each of the plurality of nozzle arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Toshinao Aruga
  • Publication number: 20070291061
    Abstract: An ink jet printer comprises a printhead drive unit and a cartridge. The cartridge includes the printhead controller. The printhead controller includes a plurality of inverters connected in series to constitute a buffer circuit for receiving one or more control signals to control the enable status of the nozzle in order to determine whether to jet out the ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL UNITED TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Lieh Hu, Jui-Hua Hu
  • Publication number: 20070291062
    Abstract: There is provided an ink jet printing apparatus capable of printing an image having few joining stripes. Dot count is performed regarding an image printed in the vicinity of the joining stripe, and print duty is judged. Next, a dot count value is determined from the print duty. Then, a print data correction rank is determined beforehand in accordance with properties of the printing apparatus, and image data to be printed in the vicinity of the joining stripe is added or thinned out. Thus, an image can be printed which has few black and white stripes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eri Noguchi, Tsuyoshi Shibata, Hiromitsu Yamaguchi, Takashi Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20070291063
    Abstract: A print start position is set to an appropriate position, and the time required for printing is shortened. A printing apparatus, which forms a row of dots from a print start position in a scanning direction to print on a medium to be printed, is provided with a sensor that is capable of detecting an edge, in the scanning direction, of the medium to be printed. The printing apparatus stores the result of detecting the edge of another medium to be printed, and, when printing on the medium to be printed, it reads out the stored detection result and determines the print start position based on that detection result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi AKASE, Koichi OTSUKI
  • Publication number: 20070291064
    Abstract: A gradation representing method capable of representing a wide range of high-quality gradation is provided. A gradation representing method of a predetermined unit region 1 by changing area ratio of ink to be recorded in the unit region 1, wherein the gradation of the unit region 1 is represented by recording a first ink recorded at an area ratio of almost 100% in the unit region and a second ink with changing area ratio are recorded overlappedly in the unit region 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Tamura, Yoshinori Kamikubo, Takayuki Ohkubo
  • Publication number: 20070291065
    Abstract: This invention can perform inkjet printing operation which can reduce density irregularity and reduce deterioration in image quality without causing any deterioration in graininess. The invention relates to an image correction method or inkjet printing apparatus which divides the scanning area of a printhead into a plurality of count areas and printing areas in the scanning direction, counts the number of dots printed in each count area, and forms an image by modifying image data in the next printing area in accordance with the counted number of dots. Image data is modified by counting multilevel image data. The modified multilevel image data is converted into binary data. The binary data is then printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: TSUYOSHI SHIBATA, HIROMITSU YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20070291066
    Abstract: A temperature detection circuit acquires first temperature data detected by a temperature sensor corresponding to a heater of a recording head in a state in which no electric current is flowed into the heater, and second temperature data for the heater in a state in which an electric current is flowed into the heater. Correaction data for correcting the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor is obtained based on the first and second temperature data. The temperature data detected by the temperature sensor is corrected based on the correaction data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takabayashi, Takatsuna Aoki
  • Publication number: 20070291067
    Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording head that discharges ink by applying thermal energy produced in response to driving a heater to ink, a change in temperature occurring when the heater is driven is measured by a temperature sensor disposed directly below the heater. A discharge state for each nozzle can be determined by determination as to whether an inflection point is present in a curve representing the change in temperature occurring after the driving for discharging ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takatsuna Aoki, Makoto Shihoh, Seiichiro Karita
  • Publication number: 20070291068
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and ink discharge failure detection method capable of precisely detecting temperature information corresponding to each nozzle are provided. Temperatures of respective electrothermal transducers (heaters) are measured on the basis of outputs from a plurality of sensors corresponding to the respective heaters. The temperatures of the heaters at a predetermined timing during a printing operation are predicted on the basis of the temperature change profiles of the respective heaters that are generated by energizing the heaters. A plurality of thresholds corresponding to nozzle states are generated on the basis of the predicted temperatures and the driving conditions of an inkjet printhead, and it is controlled to execute temperature measurement at the predetermined timing. A temperature measured under the control is compared with the respective generated thresholds, and the nozzle state is identified on the basis of the comparison results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takatsuna Aoki, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Seiichiro Karita, Isao Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20070291069
    Abstract: A method is provided for inspecting a recording head including a plurality of electrothermal conversion elements and a temperature detection element placed above or below each of the plurality of electrothermal conversion elements. The method includes driving the electrothermal conversion element, determining whether there is a change in slope of a temperature fall process in temperature detected by the temperature detection element during a predetermined time, if it is determined that there is a change in slope of the temperature fall process, obtaining a timing of the change in slope, and determining whether ink is discharged normally based on the obtained timing of the change in slope and a predetermined timing of a change in slope of the temperature fall process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Shihoh, Takatsuna Aoki
  • Publication number: 20070291070
    Abstract: An inkjet drop ejection apparatus comprising: a chamber with a side wall and a nozzle wall, the nozzle wall defining an ink ejection nozzle; and, an actuator for ejecting drops of ink through the nozzle; the chamber and actuator being fabricated by lithographic etching and deposition techniques; wherein, the nozzle wall and at least part of the side wall integrally formed by a single deposition process. Simultaneously depositing the chamber walls and nozzle plate removes the need to align and adhere a separate nozzle guard to the printhead. Using VLSI fabrication techniques provides a compact monolithic nozzle array at relatively low cost and high yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20070291071
    Abstract: Without newly providing a curling inhibition apparatus or a curling inhibitor and without placing excessive restrictions on a composition of an ink or a printing properties enhancing liquid, curling after printing is suppressed. In an ink jet printing apparatus which performs printing on a printing medium by ejecting from a printing head an ink and a reaction liquid which reacts with the ink, said apparatus comprising; means for on the basis of ink ejection data for ejecting the ink onto an one side of the printing medium, generating reaction liquid ejection data for ejecting the reaction liquid onto an other side of the printing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Nakazawa, Takuei Ishikawa, Hideaki Takamiya
  • Publication number: 20070291072
    Abstract: An introducing liquid for an ink jet head in the invention is used to fill the ink jet head before introducing ink into the ink jet head. The introducing liquid has a surface tension satisfying the following equation (1), and a contact angle of not more than 25 degrees with respect to an ink passage member of the ink jet head to be applied. An ink jet head of the invention is to be filled with the introducing liquid. 6mN/m<(St10?St1000)<16mN/m ??(1) where St10 is a surface tension in a lifetime of 10 msec, and St1000 is a surface tension in a lifetime of 1000 msec.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Noriaki Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20070291073
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of driving the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes, an ink cartridge including a plurality of print heads arranged in a width direction of a paper sheet crossing a direction along which the printing medium is transferred, a wiping unit moving in the transfer direction to wipe nozzle surfaces of the plurality of print heads, and a controller independently driving the plurality of print heads which have been wiped by the wiping unit, so that color nozzles of the plurality of print heads spray predetermined amounts of inks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youn-gun Jung, Jin-ho Park, Dong-woo Ha
  • Publication number: 20070291074
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus determines the timing of executing discharge recovery processing based on the discharge amount of ink for each predetermined region discharged from a recording head, and controls the discharge recovery processing to be executed at the determined timing. Thereby, the discharge performance of the ink can be kept to be good, and the discharge recovery processing can be executed at the suitable timing without producing any deterioration of the image quality of a recorded image, and with the deterioration of throughput reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka Kawamata, Taku Yokozawa
  • Publication number: 20070291075
    Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus is provided which can stir ink efficiently and reduce user stresses by specifying the time for stirring ink in an ink tank. A stir operation that reciprocally moves a carriage for stirring ink in the ink tank is executed in parallel with a suction-based operation of sucking out ink from a cap after a print operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshito Mizoguchi, Hitoshi Nishikori, Daisaku Ide, Satoshi Seki, Yasuo Kotaki, Tetsuya Ohashi, Ryoji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20070291076
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus and a method for controlling an ink jet printing apparatus which can shorten the stirring duration without losing any stirring effect by stirring ink at a required time to only a required level and still perform a printing operation with no image impairments. By a reciprocal movement of the carriage according to a mode during a non-printing operation excluding a print operation that is accompanied by a reciprocal movement of the carriage, ink in an ink tank is stirred. The stir mode is set according to the color of the ink in the ink tank mounted on the carriage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Seki, Hitoshi Nishikori, Daisaku Ide, Yoshito Mizoguchi, Yasuo Kotaki, Tetsuya Ohashi, Ryoji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20070291077
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus and a method for controlling an ink jet printing apparatus which, during a non-print operation excluding a print operation, can stir ink at a required time and to a required level according to the state of the ink in the ink tank. During a non-print operation excluding a print operation accompanied by a reciprocal movement of the carriage, a stir operation is executed to stir the ink in the ink tank by reciprocating the carriage according to a stir mode. As the stir mode, one of different modes is set according to an elapsed time from the previous stir operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Seki, Hitoshi Nishikori, Daisaku Ide, Yoshito Mizoguchi, Yasuo Kotaki, Tetsuya Ohashi, Ryoji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20070291078
    Abstract: To increase manufacturing yield, an array of ejection chambers in an inkjet printer includes at least one redundant ejection chamber. For each ejection chamber, there is a possible nozzle window, and these nozzle windows overlap. The ejection chambers are tested prior to nozzle formation to identify any non-functioning chambers, appropriately positioned within the respective nozzle windows to form uniformly spaced dots on a substrate, with at least one ejection chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: XXAAR TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Paul Drury
  • Publication number: 20070291079
    Abstract: A printhead assembly for use as a page width printhead in a printing system includes a casing assembly for housing drive electronics. A printhead module is mounted in the casing. The printhead module includes a fluid channed member. Printhead tiles are carried by the fluid channel member, the printhead tiles having printhead integrated circuits incorporating printing nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin King, Janette Lee
  • Publication number: 20070291080
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink-jet ink composition, which comprises (A) a polybutadiene; (B) a radical polymerizable compound having a (meth)acryloyl group; (C) a radical polymerization initiator; and (D) a colorant. The ink composition is highly sensitive to activated radiant rays and can accordingly be cured in a high sensitivity when irradiated with the same, can maintain its flexibility even after the cure thereof and can accordingly be used suitably in the ink-jet recording method and a method for the preparation of a lithographic printing plate, to thus form printed matters and a lithographic printing plate having high printing durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Ippei Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070291081
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recording head that has a driving circuit performing driving by dividing a plurality of heaters into a plurality of blocks and supplying electric current on a block-by-block basis based on recording data; a constant current source applying a common bias current to each temperature sensor group obtained by dividing temperature sensors disposed in correspondence to each heater of a plurality of heaters into blocks; a voltage output circuit having a switching element that turns electric current supply to the temperature sensors of the selected temperature sensor group ON and OFF, and obtaining a voltage generated at both terminals of the selected temperature sensor by supplying an electric current to the temperature sensor; and an amplifier circuit amplifying the detection voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Kanno, Isao Hayashi, Seiichiro Karita, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Takatsuna Aoki
  • Publication number: 20070291082
    Abstract: A drop on demand ink jet print head has a chamber with a plurality of liquid passages into and out of said chamber, such that liquid is continuously moved into the chamber to a stagnation point adjacent to the nozzle opening, whereat the fluid comes substantially to rest, and out of the chamber from the stagnation point such that vector sum of liquid flow derived forces within the liquid channels is neutral. An actuator associated with the chamber is adapted to selectively increase the pressure of the liquid at the stagnation point to thereby eject a liquid drop from the nozzle opening. Continuous fluid flow internal to the system decreases the time to refill the fire chamber directly behind the nozzle opening after droplet ejection. This in turn dramatically increases the response time of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Michael F. Baumer, Michael J. Piatt, Yonglin Xie
  • Publication number: 20070291083
    Abstract: There are provided a pressure chamber disposed on an ink jet head board and serving to discharge an ink with a pressure change, a piezoelectric vibrator disposed in the pressure chamber and serving to apply a pressure to the pressure chamber, a sealing cap for sealing a space including at least the piezoelectric vibrator, and plural kinds of drying agents disposed in a sealed space formed by the sealing cap and having moisture absorbing characteristics which are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira GYOUTOKU, Kenji OSHIMA, Hisahiro TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20070291084
    Abstract: A disclosed liquid jet head includes a nozzle plate having plural nozzles for jetting liquid therefrom, plural flowpaths formed in communication with the plural nozzles, a vibration plate member having a flexible part that forms at least one of the walls of each flowpath, and plural piezoelectric element units having a piezoelectric element member fixed to a base member. Each piezoelectric element unit has plural piezoelectric elements divided by a plurality of slits formed in the piezoelectric element member. The plural piezoelectric element units are arranged in a straight line at predetermined intervals along the plural nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Keisuke Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20070291085
    Abstract: A printing system includes a catcher having a length with portions of the catcher defining a fluid drop contact region and an opening for passage of the fluid away from the fluid contact region with the opening having two ends. A fluid drop generator is operable to form fluid drops at least some of which contact the fluid drop contact region of the catcher. An eyelid is operatively associated with the catcher. A pair of walls are positionable at locations outside of the ends of the opening such that the pair of walls and the eyelid are operable to form a fluid seal at least partially around the opening of the catcher. A first portion of the each of the pair of walls extends in a first direction toward the fluid drop generator, and a second portion of each of the pair of walls extends in a second direction at least partially toward each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Paul K. Hengesbach, David F. Tunmore
  • Publication number: 20070291086
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid droplet ejecting device including a liquid droplet ejecting head; a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; a first flow path and a second flow path that connect the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, the second flow path connecting with the first flow path in the liquid droplet ejecting head; a bypass flow path connected with the first flow path and the second flow path; a liquid feed unit provided between the liquid storage unit and a connecting portion of the bypass flow path and the first flow path, and circulating the liquid in the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, and a pressure control unit provided at the bypass flow path, and controlling pressure of the liquid flowing through the bypass flow path from the first flow path side to the second flow path side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Atsushi Murakami, Masashi Hiratsuka, Kishiharu Itazu
  • Publication number: 20070291087
    Abstract: An ink cartridge filled with an ink added with an infrared absorption material with a function of absorbing an infrared ray to distinguish the ink from another ink of a same color, the ink cartridge used in a loaded state where the ink cartridge is loaded into a printing apparatus for performing printing, the ink cartridge includes an ink supplying system including a storage portion for storing the ink, an outlet for supplying the ink to the printing apparatus in the loaded state, and a flow path for guiding the ink from the storage portion to the outlet, a light emitter, a sensor including a light receiver disposed in opposition to the light emitter with the ink supplying system intervened therebetween, the light receiver for receiving transmitted light resulting from transmission of emitted light from the light emitter through the ink supplying system, and an ink cartridge-side terminal electrically connected to the sensor, coming in contact with an apparatus-side terminal provided to the printing apparatus
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko AMANO, Naoyuki TOYODA, Hiroyuki HARA, Takayuki KONDO
  • Publication number: 20070291088
    Abstract: An ink cartridge has an ink tank in which the ink is stored, and a shutter mechanism which is arranged in the ink tank. The shutter mechanism includes a lever which is supported swingably and which has one end provided with a shutter and the other end provided with a float. The mass and the volume of the float are set so that the first direction, in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity generated when the entire shutter mechanism is positioned in the ink, is opposite to the second direction in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity when a part of the float protrudes from the ink liquid surface. A residual amount of an ink is indicated without being excessively affected by any disturbance such as the surface tension of the ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Katayama, Toyonori Sasaki, Tomohiro Kanbe
  • Publication number: 20070291089
    Abstract: An ink cartridge has a first portion having a plurality of chambers formed therein; a second portion attached to the first portion and having at least one opening into each of the plurality of chambers, and wherein for each opening the second portion further includes at least a portion of a fluid directing channel; and a third portion attached to the second portion and configured to receive a plurality of fluids and direct each of the plurality of fluids into one of the respective fluid directing channels such that each of the plurality of fluids flows into a respective one of the plurality of chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Fishbein, Blair Butler, Geoffrey Schmid, M. Patton, Timothy Carlin
  • Publication number: 20070291090
    Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus includes: a nozzle plate in which a nozzle is formed; a substrate which is opposite to the nozzle plate and is provided with a heat generating element; a bubble generation chamber which has an internal diameter greater than an internal diameter of the nozzle, at a boundary between the bubble generation chamber and the nozzle plate; a liquid storage chamber which stores liquid to be supplied to the bubble generation chamber through a supplying channel; a heat generating element drive device which drives the heat generating element to generate and expand an ejection bubble in the liquid in the bubble generation chamber so that the liquid in the bubble generation chamber is ejected from the nozzle by means of the ejection bubble; and an air bubble incorporation unit which incorporates air bubbles into the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Naoki Kusunoki
  • Publication number: 20070291091
    Abstract: An inkjet nozzle with an elongate ink inlet channel that defines a straight flow path of a length sufficient to provide enough viscous damping to prevent significant reverse flow of ink in the channel when an ink drop is ejected from the nozzle. This removes the need to form ink supply channels with complex geometries such as pinch points and baffles in order to have the required hydraulic resistance to reverse flow. The nozzle packing density on the printhead can be significantly increased if these complex geometries are not formed adjacent the chambers. The ink can be supplied from the ‘back’ surface of the wafer, thereby removing the need for ink feed channels beside the chambers. This provides more room for the power and print data to be connected to each nozzle along the front surface of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20070291092
    Abstract: This is a phase change marking system with the ability to minimize adherence of a marking composition to a component in the system, such as an imaging member. In this manner, offset is avoided and a better image results on the paper or receiving medium. This is accomplished by using a substituted polyolefin as a release agent that is coated on the surface of the imaging member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: David J. Gervasi, Santokh S. Badesha
  • Publication number: 20070291093
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a printing apparatus and printing medium roll-up state discrimination method of printing using a rolled printing medium while reliably rolling up the printing medium after printing and accurately detecting a roll-up error. This printing apparatus prints on a rolled printing medium, rolls it up in accordance with the discharge operation of the printing medium after printing, and optically detects the roll-up state of the printing medium upon roll-up. The printing apparatus discriminates an abnormality in the roll-up state of the printing medium on the basis of the detection result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: YOHEI IZUMI
  • Publication number: 20070291094
    Abstract: A paper discharging system of an image forming apparatus to discharge a printed paper to the outside, includes side roller parts which are positioned on opposite sides of a paper proceeding direction and are inclined in a predetermined angle toward a vertical direction to a paper proceeding direction. An image forming apparatus and a paper discharging system thereof enable a printing paper to be maintained stiffly in order for printing ink to be dried before transferring onto a discharging tray. Such configuration minimizes printing damage by delaying a discharge time to discharge the printed paper and prevents overlapping contact with a previously printed paper before the printing ink has sufficiently dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Karp-sik YOUN
  • Publication number: 20070291095
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus is provided that is capable of stably maintaining image quality by preventing the degradation in image quality due to a rotational body for holding down a recording medium. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a linked-up head having a plurality of short chips arranged in a staggered arrangement in the width direction of the recording medium. The rotational bodies for holding the floating of the recording medium on the downstream side of the linked-up head in the conveying direction are arranged in the width direction of the recording medium within a range of the short chip that ejected ink earlier on the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Wada, Hiroshi Aoto