Patents Issued in January 29, 2008
  • Patent number: 7324193
    Abstract: A method of measuring a damaged structure formed on a semiconductor wafer using optical metrology, the method includes obtaining a measured diffraction signal from a damaged periodic structure. A hypothetical profile of the damaged periodic structure is defined. The hypothetical profile having an undamaged portion, which corresponds to an undamaged area of a first material in the damaged periodic structure, and a damaged portion, which corresponds to a damaged area of the first material in the damaged periodic structure. The undamaged portion and the damaged portion have different properties associated with them. A simulated diffraction signal is calculated for the hypothetical damaged periodic structure using the hypothetical profile. The measured diffraction signal is compared to the simulated diffraction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Lally, Merritt Funk, Radha Sundararajan
  • Patent number: 7324194
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a flow cytometry having a reservoir for a sheath solution, at least one syringe connected to the reservoir, the at least one syringe being driven by a motor, a single HGB module connected on an inlet side to a sample inlet which is connected to the flow cell by a single flow path passing through the HGB module, a single flow cell connected to the HGB module and at least one syringe on an inlet side of the flow cell, and to a waste container on an outlet side of said flow cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Roche, Harold C. Flynn, Jr., James W. Russell
  • Patent number: 7324195
    Abstract: Planar waveguide based grating devices and spectrometers, for species-specific wavelength detection for example, are disclosed. A planar waveguide spectrometer apparatus may have a microfluidic channel or compartment microfabricated integrally with a planar waveguide or hybrid assembled with the planar waveguide and optically coupled thereto. The planar waveguide may also include a thin planar substrate which is made of a transparent waveguiding optical material and has a planar multilayer, one or more input waveguides, a waveguide-based spectrometer, and one or more output waveguides integrally formed thereon. An apparatus which incorporates a planar waveguide, a diffractive construct for diffracting light through the planar waveguide onto a curved image surface, and a plurality of output waveguides emanating from the curved image surface at locations selected to extract predetermined wavelengths or wavelength ranges, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Valorbec Societe Em Commandite
    Inventors: Muthukumaran Packirisamy, Ashok Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7324196
    Abstract: A spectral encoder for producing spectrally selected images of a radiation field containing multiple spectral components. An imaging spectrograph defines a first optical path that produces from the input radiation field a spectrally dispersed image comprising multiple spectral components displaced along a dispersion direction. Spectral pass bands are encoded on the dispersed image by a programmable spatial light modulator using one or more spatial masks. The imaging spectrograph further defines a second optical path that reverses the spectral dispersion of the first path and produces a spectrally-encoded polychromatic output image containing only those spectral components encoded by the spatial mask. The first and second optical paths share a common dispersing element. A detector records at least one spatial region of the spectrally encoded output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventors: Neil Goldstein, Pajo Vujkovic-Cvijin, Marsha J. Fox, Steven M. Adler-Golden, Jamine Lee, Jason A. Cline, Brian Gregor
  • Patent number: 7324198
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing image contrast between resist-covered and bare silicon regions of a wafer, applicable to Edge Bead Removal inspection. The wafer is illuminated separately by s-polarized light and p-polarized light impinging at near the Brewster angle of silicon or resist, and an image difference between the reflected s-polarized light and the reflected p-polarized light is derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventor: Eliezer Rosengaus
  • Patent number: 7324199
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting the optical spectrum of an optical input signal. The system includes a tunable optical filter having a microresonator that is tunable across a plurality of states and a processor. The input signal is coupled into the microresonator, which is continuously tuned across a spectral range that is narrow relative to the targeted detection range. Signal information such as center wavelength, power distribution, and power strength are extracted from the measured output intensities resulting from the interaction of the unknown input signal with the tunable resonator at various tuned states. The processor includes a transfer function database with the resonant spectra of the tunable optical filter at predefined states. The processor applies an iterative non-linear deconvolution algorithm, and preferably an accelerated Richardson-Lucy algorithm, to calculate the spectrum of the input signal using the transfer function information and the intensity measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nomadics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiou-jyh Ja, Eric Towers, Robert Shelton, Brian Strecker
  • Patent number: 7324200
    Abstract: A fluorescence photometric apparatus which includes a light source, a light irradiating unit configured to condense light from the light source on a sample by means of an objective lens and irradiating the sample with the condensed light, and a photodetector which detects fluorescence emitted from the sample, includes an illuminating unit configured to obtaining a sample image, a position adjusting unit configured to adjusting a relative position of the sample and a position of a light spot condensed by the light irradiating unit, and an imaging unit configured to simultaneously two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally imaging both the sample image and an image of the light spot from the light irradiating unit configured to condensing the light on the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 7324201
    Abstract: A yarn sensor for textile spinning and bobbin-winding machines for optically scanning a longitudinally traveling yarn (3) within a measurement gap (19), particularly for detecting extraneous fibers, includes a light source (20), a first receiver (23) for directly transmitted light, two further receivers (21, 22) for light reflected from the yarn (3), and light transmitting elements (24, 25, 26, 27) between the light source (20), measurement gap (19) and receivers (21, 22, 23). In the absence of the yarn (3), the receivers (21, 22) detect projected images of the opposite wall (62) of the measurement gap (19), located essentially outside both sides of the area of the wall (62) of the measurement gap (19) illuminated by the direct radiation of the light-emitting diode (20). As a result, parasitic signals are suppressed, improving the detection of extraneous fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Olav Birlem
  • Patent number: 7324202
    Abstract: An optical system is provided for achieving enhanced rejection of scattered excitation light and superior signal-to-noise performance when reading microplate wells. The optical system uses an axial configuration in which the excitation beam incident upon the sample propagates along the axis of the microplate well. Excitation light from a light source, such as a lamp or fiber optic bundle, is collimated into a beam using a lens. A reflective pick-off mirror is then used to reflect the collimated excitation beam upward along the well axis. A focusing lens, with a diameter exceeding the diameter of the collimated excitation beam, is used to focus the excitation beam in the well. The same broad lens is used to collimate the emitted fluorescent light, of which a large percentage propagates axially past the pick-off mirror towards a second focusing lens that focuses the emission beam onto the face of a fiber optic bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Novx Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen W. Leonard, Ming Gang Xu
  • Patent number: 7324203
    Abstract: A method for in-situ monitoring of an emission product includes transmitting a light, tuning the light to a first wavelength, receiving the light at a second location, varying the light from the first wavelength to a second wavelength during a first period, measuring a first absorption line and a first non-absorbing baseline signal during the first period, switching the light to a third wavelength, varying the light from the third wavelength to a fourth wavelength over a second period, and measuring a second absorption line and a second non-absorbing baseline signal during the second period. The light is transmitted from a first location by a tunable light source and received at a second location. The light passes along an optical path through the emission product between the first and second locations. The first wavelength corresponds to the first absorption line of the emission product. The third wavelength is different from the first and second wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Chi Ming Ho
  • Patent number: 7324204
    Abstract: In spectroscopic devices the sections of an optical measuring path from a light source to a measuring volume containing a measuring gas and from there to a measuring detector are often sealed off from the ambient atmosphere and purged with a purge gas such as dry nitrogen to prevent penetration of atmospheric gas components, such as water vapor, which may interfere with the trace gas measurement. The moisture content in the nitrogen supply is usually in the range of a few ppm at the gas source and can increase dramatically at the measuring site depending on the length of the nitrogen pipe net and due to porosity of the pipe walls, leakage of seals and residual moisture trapped in so-called dead legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Pawel Kluczynski
  • Patent number: 7324205
    Abstract: An optical accelerometer, gravitometer, and gradiometer have a light source, a beam splitter, a light medium, and a plurality of mirrors. The light beam from the light source is split into two beams that counter-propagate through the accelerometer. The acceleration experienced by the accelerometer causes a phase shift in the beams, and this phase shift is used to calculate the acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Howard
  • Patent number: 7324206
    Abstract: A method for determination of/compensation for the bias/random walk errors induced by the light source in fiber-optic Sagnac interferometers employing a modulation method for stochastically independent shifting of the operating point to the points of highest sensitivity. A reference beam is output from the light beam emitted from the light source of the interferometer and passed to the fiber coil to produce a proportional reference intensity signal. Such signal is demodulated with the demodulation pattern of the rotation rate control loop to demodulate the rotation rate intensity signal (proportional to rotation rate). The demodulated reference intensity signal measures the bias/random walk errors to be determined. Demodulation of the reference intensity signal is simultaneous with that of the rotation rate intensity signal so that components of the reference and rotation rate intensity signals (each resulting from light components simultaneously emitted from the light source) are identically demodulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: LITEF GmbH
    Inventor: Guenter Spahlinger
  • Patent number: 7324207
    Abstract: An optical device is useful for analyzing an optical signal pulse to determine information related to the pulse, such as information related to its temporal coherence length. The optical device generally includes a plurality of interferometric devices to generate one or more respective interference patterns from the optical signal pulse, and a plurality of detectors associated with each respective interferometric device to receive the one or more respective interference patterns. At least one of the plurality of interferometric devices is disposed in a glass substrate. The optical device may be integrated in an optical correlation system having an analyzer coupled to the plurality of detectors to determine the temporal coherence length or other pulse-related information for the optical signal pulse based on the received interference patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Translume, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Kirkpatrick, Ali A. Said, Mark Allen Dugan, Thomas Sosnowski, Philippe Bado
  • Patent number: 7324208
    Abstract: An optical frequency measurement apparatus of the present invention includes: a coarse light frequency measurer that computes coarse light frequency (Fw) of measured input light based on a reference wavelength that is a wavelength of reference light; a pulsed light source that generates pulsed light including a plurality of optical frequency components with different repetition frequency (fs1) based on reference frequency (Fs) that is frequency of the reference light; a first beat signal generating section that generates a first beat signal having a first difference frequency (fc) that is difference frequency between optical frequency of the pulsed light closest to optical frequency of the measured input light among the plurality of optical frequency components and the optical frequency of the measured input light; a frequency measurer that measures the first difference frequency (fc) of the first beat signal; and an arithmetic section that computes the fine light frequency (Fx) based on the coarse light freq
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventor: Shoji Niki
  • Patent number: 7324209
    Abstract: A method of detecting non-uniform ellipsometric properties of a substrate surface involving: directing a measurement beam onto a spot at a selected location on or in the substrate; for each orientation of a plurality of different orientations of the reference beam relative to the scattered measurement beam, interfering the scattered measurement beam with the reference beam to produce a corresponding interference beam, wherein each of the different orientations of the reference beam is selected to produce a peak sensitivity for a portion of the scattered measurement beam that emanates from the object at a corresponding different diffraction angle of a plurality of diffraction angles; for each orientation of the reference beam, converting the interference beam into an interference signal; and using the interference signals to determine whether any non-uniform ellipsometric properties are present anywhere within a region on or in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Zetetic Institute
    Inventor: Henry Allen Hill
  • Patent number: 7324210
    Abstract: A method including: providing a low coherence scanning interferometry data for at least one spatial location of a sample having multiple interfaces, wherein the data is collected using a low coherence scanning interferometer having an illumination geometry and an illumination frequency spectrum, and wherein the data comprises a low coherence scanning interferometry signal having multiple regions of fringe contrast corresponding to the multiple interfaces; and determining a distance between at least one pair of interfaces based on a distance between the corresponding regions of fringe contrast and information about the illumination geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. De Groot, Xavier Colonna De Lega
  • Patent number: 7324211
    Abstract: An optical tomographic image obtaining apparatus, capable of obtaining optical tomographic images at high resolution, is miniaturized. During obtainment of an optical tomographic image, a mirror rotating section rotates a mirror, to rotate the irradiation direction of a measuring light beam. Operations of an optical path length changing section are controlled such that a measurement point along the optical path direction is moved for every rotation of the irradiation direction. A sheath rotating section rotates a sheath to move the position of a lens fixed within a lens holder by a threaded mechanism, to move the focusing position of the measuring light beam in the optical path direction, to match the position of the measurement point. Therefore, the movement speed of the focusing position can be reduced compared to conventional apparatuses. Accordingly, the necessity of a large focusing position moving means, which is capable of high speed movement, is obviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Tsujita
  • Patent number: 7324212
    Abstract: An optical encoder includes a source of a light beam, an optical grating that generates a spatial pattern of interference fringes, and an optical detector which includes generally elongated detector elements that sample the interference fringe pattern at spatially separated locations along the direction of motion of the grating. Each detector element has one or more segments slanted along the direction of motion of the grating by an integer multiple of the period of an undesirable harmonic component of the fringe pattern, thereby spatially integrating the harmonic component and suppressing its contribution to an output of the detector. One specific detector type includes parallel elongated rectangular elements in a rectangular array that is rotated slightly about a Z axis; another type includes detector elements arranged to form a non-rectangular parallelogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: GSI Group Corporation
    Inventors: Donald K. Mitchell, William G. Thorburn
  • Patent number: 7324213
    Abstract: A system to determine unwanted noise produced by simulation equipment. In one embodiment, an angular rotation noise measuring system comprises a stable body, a laser, at least one interferometer and at least one mirror. The laser is adapted to generate a primary laser beam and is mounted to the stable body. The at least one interferometer is adapted to split the primary laser beam into two or more out of phase secondary laser beams. Moreover, the interferometer is coupled to the stable body. The at least one mirror is coupled to a fixture on a vibration generating device. The fixture is adapted to hold a device under test. Each mirror is adapted to reflect an associated secondary laser beam back to the interferometer such that an interference pattern is formed with the secondary laser beams. Changes to the interference pattern determine the angular rotation noise caused by the vibration generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Hartman, Douglas A. Chamberlin, Kim R. Heinicka, John Koss, Bryan Williams, Brandon Noska
  • Patent number: 7324214
    Abstract: Disclosed is an interferometry analysis method that includes comparing information derivable from multiple interferometry signals corresponding to different surface locations of a test object to information corresponding to multiple models of the test object, wherein the multiple models are parameterized by a series of characteristics that relate to one or more under-resolved lateral features of the test object; and outputting information about the under-resolved surface feature based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: Peter De Groot, Michael J Darwin, Robert T Stoner, Gregg M. Gallatin, Xavier Colonna De Lega
  • Patent number: 7324215
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an optical imaging system comprises a non-destructive optical device that obtains information concerning a target object and a X,Y positioning system that is capable of positioning one or both of the target object and the optical device to pre-determined offset locations more closely spaced than the obtainable resolution of the optical device. A first “base” image is produced and then overlapping additional images may be produced by the positioning one or both of the target object and the optical device to the pre-determined locations. The first image and the additional images may be combined to produce a single combined image that contains inherently more information than the first image or any of the additional images alone. The combined image then may be digitally restored and enhanced to produce an image with a greater resolution than the optical device yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Andreas Luttge, Dale S. Sawyer, Pamela G. Conrad
  • Patent number: 7324216
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate on which a layer of photoresist has been applied, the method involving: exposing the layer of photoresist to radiation that carries spatial information to generate exposure-induced changes in the layer of photoresist that form a pattern having one or more features; and before developing the exposed photoresist, interferometrically obtaining measurements of the pattern in the exposed layer of photoresist for determining at least one of (1) locations of the one or more features of the pattern and (2) magnitudes of the exposure-induced changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Zetetic Institute
    Inventor: Henry Allen Hill
  • Patent number: 7324217
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for measuring components (1) using a measurement system (20) guided by a manipulator (10). In this process, reference features (9, 9a, . . . , 9i) are decentrally located at various positions near a component (1) to be measured, the reference features each being assigned to at least one measuring object (6) located at a close distance to the particular reference feature (9, 9a, . . . , 9i) on the component (1) to be measured. Before a test object (6) is measured, the measuring system (20) is first brought into a calibration position using the manipulator (10), and the reference feature (9, 9a, . . . , 9i) assigned to the particular test object (6) is measured using the measuring system (20) to calibrate a coordinate system of the manipulator (10). Using the manipulator (10), the measuring system (20) is then moved into a measurement position, where the relevant test object (6) is measured. A corresponding device for measuring components and a component carrier (7) are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Claas Fertigungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Herrmann, Frank Hilbk-Kortenbruck
  • Patent number: 7324218
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (10) for distance measurement, with at least one transmitting branch (14) with a transmission source (22, 24) for a measurement signal for emitting a modulated measuring beam (16, 26, 36) in the direction of a target object (20), and with a receive branch (18) for the measurement radiation (17, 44) returning from the target object (30), and with a control and evaluation unit (28, 58) for determining the distance of the device (10) to the target object (20) from the measurement radiation returning from the target object (20). It is proposed according to the invention that the device (10) include means that enable measurement of distances with predetermined measurement uncertainties. The present invention further relates to a method for distance measurement, with which a measurement of distances with predetermined measurement uncertainties is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Stierle, Peter Wolf, Gunter Flinspach
  • Patent number: 7324219
    Abstract: In a method and a device for carrying out a measurement on a claw coupling including two coupling halves, each having claws which engage in the claws of the other coupling half, the distance between adjacent intermeshing claws is measured using a single light beam directed onto the claw region. It is thereby possible to measure the angle of twist of the coupling halves in a particularly simple fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: KTR Kupplungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Kösters, Stefan Daszkowski
  • Patent number: 7324220
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a print subsystem architecture in which a port monitor buffers data received from a spooler and asynchronously reads the buffered print data and transmits it to a printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Louis Cheatham, Dean Andrew Pulsifer, Richard Francis Russell
  • Patent number: 7324221
    Abstract: A system and method for merging and printing multiple postal presorted print jobs into a single print run for discounted rate mailing. The method includes merging mail recipient address lists from several print job orders into a merged recipient address list. The method further includes associating printing content provided by a print job order requestor with each recipient in the merged mail recipient address list. The method also includes printing mailpieces in a presorted sequence by selectively applying associated printing content for each mail recipient in a presorted merged mail recipient address list. Accordingly, several small targeted mailing print jobs, each individually too small to qualify for mailing discounts, can be merged into a larger, presorted print run collectively eligible for mailing discounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: SmartMix Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Denis Kieran Kelleher, Bradley D. Kent, Warren G. Cohn
  • Patent number: 7324222
    Abstract: Methods of controlling an information processing device in the sending of commands to a printer for control thereof, methods of controlling transmission of bit-map data, and systems embodying data and command flow control distinguish between true and false real-time commands. In one aspect, it is determined if a data stream to be transmitted includes bit-map data. If so, then a real-time processing disable command is sent; and then the data stream including the bit-map data is sent. In another aspect, if the status of real-time command receipt is disabled, then a data stream including bit-map data is transmitted, followed by the transmission of a real-time processing enable command, and then the transmission of a real-time command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Teradaira, Masahiro Minowa
  • Patent number: 7324223
    Abstract: The invention relates to a network facsimile device for communicating in at least one of a plurality communication modes for transmitting designated image information to a designated destination. The device comprises input means for inputting information identifying a plurality of addresses and for designating one address among said plurality addresses and address information registering means for registering a plurality of address information respectively corresponding to the plurality of communication modes, for each designated destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukikazu Mori
  • Patent number: 7324224
    Abstract: The respective ones of a plurality of print job data (jobs) thrown in the printer are independently managed according to job identifying information. The job management signifies, for example, to grasp the progressive states of the jobs and present them to a user or give a predetermined command (cancel command, etc) to a particular job. In the printer connected to an exclusive interface, such as a serial interface, a parallel interface or a USB interface, print job data is extracted, on a job-unit basis, from among a series of reception data received from the host machine. Job identifying information is assigned to the extracted print job data. Also, in the printer connected to a network, job identifying information is assigned to the reception data received from the host machine and logically distinguished as print job data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Shima
  • Patent number: 7324225
    Abstract: A multifunction system has advanced functions and high speed capability and is excellent in expandability. The multifunction system includes a controller, an IIT, an IOT, and a light distributing device. For a print job, print data outputted from the controller is converted into optical signals, which enter a light distributing device and are transmitted to the IOT of the emission side. The IOT prints the received data onto a printer. For a copy job, copy data outputted from IIT is converted into optical signals, which enter the light distributing device, and are transmitted to the IOT of the emission side. For a scan job, scan data outputted from the scanner is converted into optical signals, which enter the light distributing device, and are transmitted to the controller of the emission side. The controller processes the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Ozeki, Tsutomu Hamada, Junji Okada, Masao Funada, Takeshi Kamimura, Hidenori Yamada, Kazuhiro Sakai, Shinya Kyozuka, Hiroki Ishida, Osamu Takanashi, Masaaki Miura, Kenichi Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Yaguchi, Kazuhiro Hama, Toshiki Matsui, Yasuhiro Arai, Hirotaka Mori
  • Patent number: 7324226
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement in a data communications system. The object of the invention is to achieve a wireless communication between a processing unit and a printer using a safe transmission and an increased transmission range compared to the infrared transmission. The solution is a way of printing a document in a data communications system using a protocol profiled for printing in the Bluetooth protocol architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Örjan Fritz, Peter Pelden, Anders Oberg, Henrik Eriksson
  • Patent number: 7324227
    Abstract: A connection apparatus is disclosed which includes a connection source and a connection destination. The connection source includes information about a predetermined connection destination; and a connecting element for making a connection request to the predetermined connection destination based on the information about the connection destination and, given a permission, for automatically connecting to the connection destination. The predetermined connection destination includes a receiving element for receiving the connection request from the connection source, a judging element which, upon interpreting the connection request, judges whether the connection source is a predetermined connection source or not, and a permission granting element which, if the judging element judges the connection source to be a predetermined connection source, then grants connection permission to the connection source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Hirashima, Shinichi Horii, Hiroshi Tokunaga, Masato Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7324228
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for enabling faster downloading and printing of data received from an external content source. In one embodiment, the method is segmenting the data file available on a content source external to the user computing device into a plurality of portions; independently downloading to said computing device each of said plurality of portions; and assembling each downloaded portion into a second data file on said computing device, to mach such first data file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Luca Chiarabini, Xavier Boix, Mark E. Boettcher, Michael D. Whitmarsh
  • Patent number: 7324229
    Abstract: A page may be divided into several blocks which do not span the entire width of a page. A bit map representing the page content may be generated by rendering the display lists representing the blocks. According to another aspect, a display list may be generated associated with a big portion of a page. The big portion may be divided into smaller portions at/before rendering, and bit maps may be generated for the smaller portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Santhosh Trichur Natrajan Kumar, Shajil Asokan Thaniyath
  • Patent number: 7324230
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage section which stores image data for each page, an identification information generating section which generates identification information for identifying the type of the image data for each page, an engine image processor section has a plurality of processor sections for processing the image data to form an image, and a selector section which selects and outputs image data corresponding to the identification information, out of the image data processed by means of the processor section. The apparatus further includes an engine section which forms the image in accordance with the outputted image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Okuyama
  • Patent number: 7324231
    Abstract: The present invention is a computing system typically but not necessarily used in a printer, which includes a processor for managing operation of a print engine, expansion buses, and bridge devices between expansion buses. A bus bridge is described which can operate in an expansion bus environment. The bus bridge uses a nontransparent PCI bridge in a nonstandard manner to emulate a transparent bus bridge. Processes are included for detecting overall bus topology in the system and for creating configuration cycles on the secondary side of any bridge found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Brett L. Davis, Daniel J. Martin
  • Patent number: 7324232
    Abstract: A color laser printer 10 compares a pervious printer, which a toner cartridge 40 has been attached to immediately before attachment to the current printer, with the current printer. In the case where the previous printer is different from the current printer, the color laser printer 10 obtains setting information on the previous printer, which is stored in a storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40, and applies the obtained setting information for the current printer. The various settings in the previous printer are thus turned over to the current printer, when the toner cartridge 40 is detached from the previous printer and is attached to the current printer. This arrangement ensures smooth printing operations without requiring any troublesome settings to use the current printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Ishibashi, Kazuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7324233
    Abstract: A server computer acquires printer information containing printer position information from a printer and stores the printer information in a printer information table. When the printer information is request by a print client, the printer information is provided after authentication as required. The print client generates print transmitting data by adding the printer position information to print data and transmits the print transmitting data to the printer. The printer which has received the print transmitting data acquires printer position information at this point in time, and when the printer position information at this point in time coincides with the printer position information contained in the print transmitting data, the print data is printed by the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Shima, Kazuhito Gassho
  • Patent number: 7324234
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a storage device having storage areas divided corresponding to a characteristic value allocated for each print requesting person. Upon receiving print data and a characteristic value from an external device, the image forming apparatus stores the print data into a storage area which has been allocated the same characteristic value as the received characteristic value. The image forming apparatus subjects print data stored in the storage areas in the storage device to image formation processing on a storage area basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahide Teranoshita
  • Patent number: 7324235
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus acquires image information while analyzing the image information into pixel data of multiple color components, and reproduces an image from the image information. The imaging apparatus comprises a memory region reservation unit that reserves memory regions for storing the pixel data of the multiple color components when acquiring the image information. Each memory region is assigned to one of the multiple color components. Also provided is a color determination unit that makes a color determination as to whether each of the multiple color components is recognized as being significant in the pixel data of the image information. In addition, a memory region releasing unit is provided that releases the memory region assigned to the color component that is not recognized by the color determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7324236
    Abstract: Image signals output from a linear image sensor which outputs charges accumulated in pixels in the right-side area and charges accumulated in pixels in the left-side area via different channels are subjected to discrepancy correction. First, a gray reference board is scanned by the linear image sensor while changing charging periods, and look up tables for converting signal levels of the respective channels are generated on the basis of signal levels obtained by scanning the gray reference board. A discrepancy correction is realized by converting levels of image signals output from the two terminals using the look up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhito Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7324237
    Abstract: This invention relates to an image recording apparatus provided with a transporting unit transporting an image recording material whose shape has at a least one side in a predetermined transporting direction; an image recording position detecting unit detecting a position of the at least one side along the predetermined transporting direction, an image recording position correcting unit correcting the image recording position for the image recording material based on result of detection of the at least one side by said image recording position detecting unit; and an image forming unit forming a predesired image on the image recording material at the corrected image recording position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Okada
  • Patent number: 7324238
    Abstract: Four test patterns are concurrently displayed on a display of a computer. The test patterns include respective backgrounds and contrast areas. The test patterns, different from each other in pixel value, have identically shaped contrast areas. The contrast between the background and the contrast area remains unchanged from test pattern to test pattern. The contrast areas are adjusted in contrast with the pixel value of the background fixed until the test patterns look the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7324239
    Abstract: Print data received from a host computer is divided into five bands, and expansion time required for expanding the print data is estimated. If it is determined based on the estimated expansion time that a print overrun would occur, grayscale depth during the expansion of the print data is reduced by two bits at a time, in the priority sequence of yellow, cyan, then magenta, until it can be determined that a print overrun will not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Yamagata
  • Patent number: 7324240
    Abstract: A method for color correction of an image having an insignia portion in a multi-module printer (10). A first color profile is calibrated for a four-color image. A second color profile is calibrated for a four-color image with a transparent toner layer on top of the insignia portion of the four-color image. The image data is then buffered in a color input band buffer (40) and processed through the first (50) and second (60) color profiles in a color management module. The processed image data is stored in an output band buffer (70, 80) corresponding to the image data processed through each color profile. Clear toner input band data stored in a clear toner input band buffer (30) is compared with the processed image data in each output band buffer (70, 80) to select an output signal (100) on a per pixel basis to send to the multi-module printer (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Yee S. Ng
  • Patent number: 7324241
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the segmentation of an image into a main area and a image segment for variable data differential gloss image control. A single color is selected. Two or more different color definitions are created by combining the selected single color with two or more halftones having anisotropic structure characteristics which are significantly different in orientation to each other while remaining identical in density. By alternatively assigning the color definitions to the image segment in accord with the variable data content, a variable data differential gloss image may be superimposed within an image having reduced data processing and storage requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Reiner Eschbach, Zhigang Fan, James R. Low, William A. Fuss, Shen-Ge Wang
  • Patent number: 7324242
    Abstract: A photographic processing system comprises: a printing unit 3 for forming photographic prints based on image data read out from a negative film; a CD-R writing device 2 for writing the image data in a CD-R; a sorter 14 having numerous trays 14a for collecting the photographic prints and the CD-R in an order unit; a lateral conveyor 13 for transporting the photographic prints formed by the printing unit 3 to the sorter 14; a CD-R transporting unit 20 for transporting the CD-R having the image data written therein to the sorter 14; and a control unit 40 for controlling the printing unit, the CD-R writing device and the sorter 14 in such a manner as to collect the photographic prints and the CD-R of the same order in a specific receiver among the numerous trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Kishi, Kimiharu Otani
  • Patent number: 7324243
    Abstract: A fluorescent color scanning method is disclosed to include the steps of: scanning a standard white to obtain a first reference white W1; reducing the scanning brightness and then scanning the standard white to obtain a second reference white W2; using the first reference white and second reference white to scan every scanning document and then storing the respective scanning results Pm and Qm; and comparing Qm to W2 so as to determine if the document contains a fluorescent color or not subject to: (i) determining that the document contains a fluorescent color if Qm>W2, and then converting Qm into the accurate color output Om; and (ii) determining that the document contains no fluorescent color if Qm?W2 and then using the value of Pm as the image output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Microtek International Inc.
    Inventor: Long-Song Cheng