Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus and a control method for the same, with which an adjustment for satisfying an image quality is performed without fail while an execution frequency of the adjustment can be changed, for example, an unnecessary adjustment can be skipped. The image forming apparatus includes: a controller for issuing a plurality of commands; an engine for executing image formation according to the command; a control portion for holding a condition status indicating an internal condition of the engine and a factor status indicating a factor of the condition status, or the factor status and notifying, in response to the command, the condition status and the factor status, or the factor status; and a judgement unit for judging whether to adjust an image formation condition of the engine or not according to the condition status and the factor status, or the factor status.

Abstract: There is provided a multifunction peripheral which comprises a first storage unit configured to store a relationship between a state change and at least one function expected to be used in relation to the state change, a detection unit configured to detect the state change, a function extraction unit configured to firstly extract at least one function which is expected to be used in relation to the state change detected by the detection unit in accordance with the relationship stored in the first storage unit and to secondly extract at least one function for which a predetermined condition concerning availability of each function is satisfied from among the firstly extracted at least one function, and a warm-up operation control unit configured to execute a warm-up operation of at least one device used to execute the at least one function secondly extracted by the function extraction unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a printing unit configured to print images on a recording sheet, a page number acquiring unit configured to acquire a common page number which is common among a plurality of files subject to be printed, a page extracting unit configured to extract a page of image from page data contained in each of the plurality of files based on the common page number acquired by the page number acquiring unit, and a print control unit configured to control the printing unit to print a plurality of images respectively extracted from the plurality of files, which are extracted by the page extracting unit, on a page of a recording sheet.

Abstract: A method and graphical user interface for selecting pad printing functions for an image output device. The user interface is provided to a user and displays a pad printing dialog box that enables selection of pad printing output. Selectable pad printing options are displayed, which include the number of sheets per pad and the total number of pads to be output. When the user selection of pad printing and pad printing options are received, the total quantity of sheets to be output based on selected pad printing options and organizing the sheets for pad printing output from the image output device are automatically determined. Availability of pad printing is determined based on finishing options selected.

Abstract: A print shop includes at least one printing device adapted to print a print job. A central computer is in communication with the printing device. An offline finishing device includes a reader device, adapted to read a job identifier carried on the print job, and a wireless transceiver in communication with the reader device and a central computer wireless transceiver.

Abstract: Described herein is a printing system comprising a plurality of print processing modules which selectively transfer print media therebetween during printing and a system controller that tracks process control protocols of each of the plurality of modules and compares to a scheduled job run and selectively alters a control variable of at least one of the process control protocols thereby preemptively altering initiation of at least one process control protocol to process the job run uninterrupted.

Abstract: Embodiments for creating image documents are disclosed.

Abstract: In a method or printing system for generation of document processing jobs, control parameters for the document processing jobs are read from different sources and stored in a control file. Priorities are associated with the sources. In the event specific control parameters are present in a plurality of the sources, control parameters from the sources that have a highest priority are stored in the control file. Also in a method or printing system for sorting of print jobs, a check of specific directories as to whether a file belonging to a new print job has been generated is repeatedly implemented. A job identification number is associated with each new print job, the job identification numbers for print jobs stored in a specific group of directories being respectively generated chronologically. A plurality of print jobs are sorted corresponding to the job identification numbers.

Abstract: A fax machine incorporates a receptacle to accommodate the insertion of a cellular data access modem that provides the fax machine with a unique cell phone number so that the fax machine may be accessed in a standard “dial up manner” from any standard fax machine or computer emulating a fax machine.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus generates print data interpretable by a printing apparatus and transmits the generated print data to the printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set information identifying a positional relationship between a tab portion of a first tab sheet and a tab portion of a second tab sheet in a state where the first and second tab sheets are stacked, if usage of the tab sheets is designated, wherein the tab sheet is a tab-attached printing paper to be inserted between printing papers based on print data of document information. The information processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine a print start position of a character string to be printed on the tab portion of the first tab sheet and the tab portion of the second tab sheet according to the information identifying the positional relationship set by the setting unit.

Abstract: Disclosed an image forming apparatus including: an image forming section to form images on sheets based on image data of a document composed of a plurality of document pages; a sheet finishing section to perform sheet finishing to the sheets; a first input section to receive an input regarding divisions of the document pages by the sheet finishing to set the input divisions; a second input section to receive setting of addition of a front cover; and a control section to allow the image forming section to form an image on a first sheet of each of the divisions as the front cover when the first input section sets the divisions of the document pages by the sheet finishing and the second input section sets the addition of the front cover.

Abstract: From an image-processing apparatus that can communicate via a network, updated configuration information is received, and configuration information for display is not updated based on the received configuration information so that an item to be processed is not reflected in configuration information of an item manually set by a user, and the configuration information for display is updated based on the received configuration information so that an item to be processed is reflected in the configuration information of an item that is not manually set by the user. Accordingly, the configuration information can be manually set while effectively using the configuration information received from the information-processing apparatus.

Abstract: This invention determines a compression method of printing data in consideration of a printing operation halt time when a low-speed interface is used. An image processing apparatus of this invention, which is connected to a printing apparatus, compresses printing data, and outputs the compressed printing data, determines the interface type, acquires a print waiting time, and determines the compression method of printing data based on the determined interface type and the acquired print waiting time. The image processing apparatus compresses printing data using the determined compression method, and outputs the compressed printing data to the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a command section for causing a printing apparatus to execute a print job, the print job for printing a print subject image on a sheet, with a mark overlaying the sheet. Furthermore, the print control apparatus includes: an accepting section that accepts a processing condition for an image process of the mark, during a processing condition accepting period, which is set for every print job and is the period before an input of an executive instruction; and an image processing section that performs the image process of the mark in accordance with the processing condition during the processing condition accepting period. This makes it possible to prevent delay in initiation of printing, without excessive consumption of storage capacity of a storage device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of storing a job transmitted to a printing apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain a job result regarding the job from the printing apparatus, an identifying unit configured to identify an output mode of the job, a reference unit configured to store a storage setting that defines whether to store or delete job data based on a combination of the job output mode and the job result and reference the storage setting, based on the output mode identified by the identifying unit and the job result obtained by the obtaining unit, and a storage control unit configured to store or delete the transmitted job based on the storage setting referenced by the reference unit.

Abstract: This disclosure discloses a label producing apparatus that produces a label with print, comprising: a feeding device that feeds a print-receiving tape or a base tape thereto; a printing device that performs printing on the print-receiving tape; a first command input part that inputs a first command signal for providing instructions from an external source; a second command input part that inputs a second command signal from an external source; and a control portion that controls said at least one of devices for working based on the first or second command signal.

Abstract: A printing system including a first memory unit storing a printer operating system and at least two interpreters; a second memory unit having an operating area for the printer operating system, an operating area and a heap area for each interpreter of the first memory unit, and at least two reception buffers temporarily storing incoming print job data; a printing control unit controlling operation of the printing system based on the printer operating system, controlling the interpreters of the first memory unit to interpret the print job data, and transmitting the interpreted print job data to a printer engine; and a print job scheduling unit providing a first scheduling procedure regarding initiation of the interpreters for multiple print jobs and a second scheduling procedure regarding interpretation of the multiple print jobs that have been initiated, the printer control unit using the first scheduling procedure and the second scheduling procedure to control the operation of the interpreters.

Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to implement a high-speed printing operation based on print data attached with a digital signature. The apparatus comprises: a storage section to store print data; a, digital signature analyzing section to analyze a digital signature; a language analyzing section to analyze the print data; an image processing section to create bitmap data; a printing section to implement a printing operation; and a control section that selectively conducts either a first controlling operation or a second controlling operation.

Abstract: An image-processing unit includes: a common drawing data acquisition component that acquires drawing data for a unit page containing a common image in variable printing whereby a plurality of pages are printed, with each of the pages having an image that is common among the pages and an image that is variable from page to page, the images being compounded; a variable drawing data acquisition component that acquires drawing data for a unit page containing the variable image at each page in the variable printing; a specification component that specifies, for each of the pages, a region where the common image is positioned over the variable image, among regions where the variable image is positioned; and a generation component that overwrites the common drawing data with the variable drawing data so as not to overwrite the specified region, and generates drawing data for variable printing.

Abstract: Imposition software produces an imposition plan for a layout of printing elements (1). A nominal layout (10) including printing elements (1) with nominal displacements (12) identified. The imposition plan is optimized by reducing a displacement (12) between the printing elements (1). The amount that the displacement (12) can be reduced is determined by analyzing overlaps (22) in printing element content that may occur to ensure that the overlap (22) is beneficial.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet including: an image forming section to form images on sheets according to a plurality of page image data divided in a plurality of chapters; a finisher section for forming a book with the sheets divided in chapters; and a control section to combine heading image data with the page image data with respect to chapters in a matter that positions of the heading image data to discern chapters are along a fore edge of the book and to allow the image forming section to form the images when the book is formed by the finisher section.

Abstract: The invention provides a printing method of performing printing on a print medium. The method includes: generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, by performing a halftone process on image data representing a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image; providing a print head and a platen; setting a platen gap as a distance between the print head and the platen to a single fixed value that is commonly applied to plural printing environments; and performing a main scan of the print head to form a dot in each of the print pixels on the print medium supported by the platen according to the dot data in each of a forward pass and a backward pass of the print head, for generating the print image.

Abstract: The screened printing data are subjected to a filtering method, the raster information being maintained. Intermediate tonal values are produced by the filtering method, using the binary tonal values, the intermediate tonal values being configured in such a way that, by means of a color space transformation, transformed tonal values and/or intermediate tonal values can be formed which represent a true-to-color proof.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming device that does not require an original image scanning operation upon copying of an original for the second time or later in a device for preventing illegal copying with the use of paper fingerprint information. Upon registration of the paper fingerprint information, original image data is scanned from the original. Also, the paper fingerprint information is scanned. The image forming device associates the original image data and the paper fingerprint information with each other to register them in an information processing device. Upon copying, paper fingerprint information scanned from an original is transmitted to the information processing device to request the device to determine whether or not the paper fingerprint information has been registered. If the paper fingerprint information has been registered is received, the original image data registered in association with the paper fingerprint information is retrieved from the information processing device.

Abstract: An image processing device scans a document and judges a background color of the scanned document based on a stored threshold. The threshold necessary for background color judgment is reset when the judgment result is not determinable, and the background color is re-judged based on the reset threshold. Image processing is performed according to the judgment result.

Abstract: An image processing device detects a candidate area of a background color in a chromaticity plane with respect to an original scanned document. A background color area is determined based on the candidate area of the detected background color. Boundary lines extending from the determined background color area to an achromatic-color area are generated. The background color area and an area surrounded by the background color area and the boundary lines are set as a mask, and the background color of the original document is deleted.

Abstract: An original document is scanned, an arbitrary color area in a chromaticity plane is extracted with respect to the scanned original document, coordinate conversion is performed on the extracted color area in the chromaticity plane, and a mask area is determined to be masked, in accordance with the converted color area on which the coordinate conversion has been performed.

Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to a motor configured to selectively drive a carriage and a document transport.

Abstract: An image copying apparatus includes a target data acquiring unit, a target data saving unit, an adding unit, a sampling data saving unit, a specifying unit, a sampling data saving unit, and a correcting unit. The target data acquiring unit acquires target data from a test chart document. The adding unit adds data displaying a specification image specifying the scanning unit having scanned a test chart recorded side to the recorded side image data. The sampling data acquiring unit acquires sampling data from a copy of the test chart document. The specifying unit specifies the scanning unit having scanned the test chart recorded side from the specification image. The sampling data saving unit saves the sampling data when the scanning unit having scanned the test chart copied side matches the specified scanning unit. The correcting unit corrects the image data based on a correcting feature generated from the saved data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that, is capable of physically preventing taking-out of the set document, even when a thick copy-prohibited document is set on a document reading device. The image forming apparatus is configured to place a document on a document table, and at least the document is read by closing a pivotally supported document cover portion to cover the document and the image forming apparatus comprises a read-out document determining portion and when the document is determined to be a copy-prohibited document, and prevents the document from being taken out from the document table by locking the rotation of the pivotally supported portion of the document cover.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source, a reading unit to convert received light to image data, a correction unit to correct the image data based on correction data, a storing unit storing the correction data, an illumination target switch unit to switch an illumination target between a read position and a reference position, a reflector reflecting light, a judgment unit to judge whether the image data outputted by the reading unit at the read position satisfies a predetermined condition, a correction data determination unit to determine the correction data in response to a fact that the illumination target of the light source is switched to the reference position, and a correction data update unit to store the correction data in the correction data storing unit. The illumination target switch unit switches the illumination target to the reference position if the image data satisfies the predetermined condition.

Abstract: PROBLEMS To provide an optical scanner, wherein, with a compact apparatus configuration, the image curvature on the surface to be scanned, and the unevenness in the sub-scanning magnification as well as the optical scanning speed in the main scanning direction can be reduced, and moreover, the focus shift in the sub-scanning direction on the surface to be scanned is small even for the fluctuation in oscillation wavelength of the light flux and environment.

Abstract: An optical scanning device is provided which comprises a laser array which emits laser beams including a number of beams (1, 2, . . . , n) writing a swath of rasters having a laser scanning section which, when an interlaced scanning period i, is set to a natural number between beams which are adjacent in a sub-scanning direction, scans the laser beams emitted from the laser array with the interlaced scanning period i. The laser scanning section can scan the laser beams such that the beam number n and the interlaced scanning period i are relatively prime natural numbers, and n>i. In a first scan, data for raster lines (1, 2, . . . , n) can be selectively associated with a respective first exposure. At a second scan, data for raster lines (i+1, i+2, . . . n) can be selectively associated with a respective second exposure and data for raster lines (n+1, n+2, . . . , n+i) can be selectively associated with a respective first exposure. The first respective exposure for raster lines (i+1, i+2, . . .

Abstract: A scanner includes a housing, a transparent platen disposed on the housing for positioning a document, and a calibration pattern formed on a side of the transparent platen. The calibration pattern includes an arc having a first point and a second point. The scanner further includes an optical engine installed inside the housing for scanning the document and the calibration pattern with movement in a first direction, and a control module installed inside the housing for controlling the optical engine to move to a scan start position according to the first point and the second point of the calibration pattern scanned by the optical engine and a radius of curvature of the arc.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes an input tray, a transfer path, a roller assembly, an ejecting tray, a light emitter, a light receiver, a comparator and a discriminating unit. The light emitter successively emits multiple light beams of different intensities to the document. When the multiple light beams penetrating through the document are received by the light receiver, the light receiver outputs corresponding voltage signals. The discriminating unit is electrically connected to the light receiver for discriminating document types according to the voltage levels of the voltage signals.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a feeding portion that feeds an original or a recording medium, a reading portion that reads an original, and a recording portion that performs recording on a recording medium. The original or recording medium fed from the feeding portion can be selectively conveyed to the reading portion or the recording portion, thereby allowing for compactness of the apparatus as well as cost reduction.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to store information in multiple holographic data storage media. The method supplies a first holographic data storage medium, defines an inner storage portion of that first holographic data storage medium, and defines an outer storage portion of that first holographic data storage medium. The method further supplies a second holographic data storage medium, defines an inner storage portion of that second holographic data storage medium and defines an outer storage portion of that second holographic data storage medium. The method provides information, encodes a hologram comprising that information into the outer storage portion of the first holographic data storage medium, and encodes the information in the inner storage portion of the second holographic data storage medium.

Abstract: A hologram recording apparatus for recording a hologram by dividing light from a light source into recording light and reference light through a spatial light modulator, and emitting the recording light and reference light through the same objective lens onto a hologram recording medium; wherein the spatial light modulator has a light modulating region including a plurality of pixels; the light modulating region is divided into a central pixel region where a part of the light from the light source is led to the objective lens as the recording light, and a peripheral pixel region where the rest or another part of the light is led to the objective lens as the reference light; and a plurality of pixels included in the peripheral pixel region includes larger pixels than a plurality of pixels included in the central pixel region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for reading data from a holographic storage medium (HSM), said system comprising an optical ring cavity defining a closed optical path so as to recycle the light of a reference beam that is used to read out the holographic storage medium, in view of increasing the light path efficiency by lengthening its path.

Abstract: An all-optical device for data processing is presented. The device comprises at least one optical waveguide unit (10) made of linear media and configured to provide multiple total internal reflections of light passing therethrough, the waveguide unit (10) comprising a waveguide portion (11) for interaction between reflected light components of input light; an input aperture arrangement (14) formed by at least one input aperture at an input facet of the waveguide portion (11); and an output aperture arrangement forme by at least one output aperture at an output facet of the waveguide portion.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a MEMS device for a scanner system may be driven in a non-resonant mode of operation. The drive signal provided to the MEMS device may be tailored to prevent the MEMS device from exhibiting resonance characteristics and to cause the MEMS device to operate non-resonantly. In one or more embodiments, a filter may be used to tailor the frequency components of the drive signal, for example to sufficiently attenuate frequency components at or near the resonant frequency of the drive signal. A direct current signal may be provided to the MEMS device to provide an offset to scanned light beam for example to provide beam steering, and the sweep range and/or sweep frequency may be adjusted for example to steer the scanning field of view off axis from the user pointing axis.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a coil for a MEMS device, and/or a structure on which the coil is disposed, may have one or more linear segments and one or more non-linear segments. One or more of the non-linear segments may be curved to increase a responsiveness of the coil to the magnetic field in which the coil is operating to provide an increased torque on the rotation of the mirror of the MEMS device in response to a drive signal applied to the coil in the presence of the magnetic field. The non-linear coil may have other shapes and may be any arbitrary shape.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a MEMS device for a scanner system may include one or more magnets disposed on the side of the MEMS die opposite to the reflectance path of the scanning mirror without requiring magnets to be disposed on the side of the die that is the same side of the reflectance path of the scanning mirror. As a result of such an arrangement of the one or more magnets, there is no optical obstruction of the incoming and/or outgoing light beams. Likewise, fewer parts may be required for MEMS device and/or the scanning module, and the assembly process of scanning module may be substantially simplified.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a MEMS device may comprise a coil frame having a drive coil disposed thereon and being supported by one or more suspension arms disposed along an axis of the coil frame, and a mirror platform having a mirror disposed thereon. The mirror platform may be coupled to the coil frame at connection points generally disposed along the axis in order to reduce deflection of the mirror platform to reduce stress on the mirror in order to maintain the relative flatness of the mirror surface. Furthermore, the mirror platform may include flexible members disposed near an edge of the mirror platform generally along the axis to isolate the mirror platform and the mirror from warping of the coil frame and twist of the suspension arms to further maintain the relative flatness of the mirror.

Abstract: A light scanning device includes: a light source which emits a light beam; an oscillating mirror which oscillates rotationally to reflect the light beam; an optical system which is configured to convert the light beam reflected by the oscillating mirror to be scanned over a scanning line on a target at a constant speed when an oscillation amplitude of the light beam by the oscillating mirror is a reference value; a detection unit which detects the light beam at least one position; a modulation controller which controls modulation of the light beam based on external data; and a timing correction unit which corrects a modulation timing based on two consecutive detection times of the light beam detected by the detection unit and detection times of the light beam detected by the detection unit when the oscillation amplitude is the reference value.

Abstract: An optical deflector includes an oscillating system and a driving system for driving the oscillating system, the oscillating system including a first oscillator, a first torsion spring, a second oscillator, a second torsion spring and a supporting member, the first oscillator including a first movable element having a light deflecting element configured to deflect light, the second oscillator including a second movable element having a mass adjusting member configured to adjust a mass, wherein the first movable element is resiliently supported by the second movable element through the first torsion spring, for torsional oscillation about an oscillation axis, wherein the second movable element is resiliently supported by the supporting member through the second torsional spring, for torsional oscillation about the oscillation axis, and wherein the oscillating system has at least two natural oscillation modes having different frequencies, about the oscillation axis.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source configured to emit light beams, a deflector to deflect the light beams emitted from the light source, a first optical assembly which is positioned upon a light path of the light beams traveling from the light source to the deflector and which forms an image with the light beams emitted from the light source in a sub scanning direction in a vicinity of the deflector, and a second optical assembly to form the image upon a surface to be scanned with the light beams deflected by the deflector. A principal ray of two of the light beams incident to the first optical assembly, which are located at each respective terminus in the sub scanning direction, are set so as to advance so as either to remain mutually parallel to or converge with one another after passing through the first optical assembly.

Abstract: A light scanning device is provided. The light scanning device includes: an oscillating mirror which oscillates rotationally and reflects a light beam to be scanned over a scanning range, the scanning range including a first scanning range and a second scanning range set across a center of the scanning range; a detection unit including a light receiving face, on which the light beam is incident, to detect the light beam; and first and second stationary mirrors which reflect the light beam reflected by the oscillating mirror to the first scanning range and the second scanning range, respectively, to be incident on the light receiving face, wherein an incident pattern of the light beam reflected by the first stationary mirror incident on the light receiving face is different from an incident pattern of the light beam reflected by the second stationary mirror incident on the light receiving face.

Abstract: An optical apparatus uses a variable-optical-characteristic optical element whereby focusing, zooming or the like can be effected without moving a lens or the like and the whole optical apparatus can be arranged in a lightweight structure. The user wears a power transmitting unit 303 by hanging it from his/her neck, for example. The power transmitting unit 303 may be put in a clothes pocket or the like. The power transmitting unit 303 may be placed somewhere around the user. In the power transmitting unit 303, a transmitting circuit 305 is driven by a power supply 304 to send an electromagnetic wave from a transmitting antenna 306 toward variable-focus eyeglasses 302. The variable-focus eyeglasses 302 have a receiving antenna 307 provided on eyeglass frames 308 to receive the electromagnetic wave sent from the power transmitting unit 303. The received electromagnetic wave is, for example, boosted in voltage and rectified to drive the variable-focus lenses.

Abstract: A disclosed scanner apparatus includes a member having spaced apart proximal and distal portions. An electromagnetic radiation device is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation therefrom and is movably coupled to the distal portion of the member. The electromagnetic radiation device is configured to move in a first plane of movement to a first position to direct the electromagnetic radiation along a first path and configured to move in the plane of movement to a second position to direct the electromagnetic radiation along a second path. A MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) actuator is coupled to the electromagnetic radiation device, wherein the MEMS actuator is configured to move in a first direction to move the electromagnetic radiation device to the first position and configured to move in a second direction to move the electromagnetic radiation device to the second position. Other scanning and robotic structure devices are disclosed.