Patents Issued in November 6, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080273020
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile communication device, method and computer program product for controlling a displayed screen using a rotary input device and an operating method thereof. The mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment includes a first input key, a second input key, a third input key, and a controller The first input key generates a first signal when the first input key is turned. The second input key generates a second signal when the second input key is activated after the first signal is generated. The third input key generates a third signal when the third input key is activated after the first signal is generated. The controller controls a predetermined operation on a displayed screen based on at least one of the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Jeong Yun HEO
  • Publication number: 20080273021
    Abstract: A plasma display and a driving method thereof. The plasma display includes a plurality of first electrodes, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a first capacitor. The first switch is connected between a first power source to supply a first voltage and the plurality of first electrodes. The second switch includes a first terminal electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes, a second terminal connected to a second power source to supply a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage, and a gate connected to a signal input terminal. The third switch includes a first terminal electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes, and a gate electrically connected to the first signal input terminal. The first capacitor includes a terminal connected to the second power source, and another terminal connected to a node of the first power source and a second terminal of the third switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd
    Inventor: JIN-HO YANG
  • Publication number: 20080273022
    Abstract: An electrophoresis display device includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, an electrophoresis element interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and containing charged electrophoresis particles, a pixel including a first pixel circuit and a second pixel circuit which give a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first scan line and a first data line which are connected to the first pixel circuit, and a second scan line and a second data line which are connected to the second pixel circuit, in which a signal supplied to the first pixel circuit from the first data line during a select period specified by a select signal of the first scan line is an erase signal, and wherein a signal supplied to the second pixel circuit from the second data line during a select period specified by a select signal of the second scan line is an image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuko KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20080273023
    Abstract: The embodiment relates to a display element drive method performing write at a low speed for still image display and in particular, to a method for driving a display element using cholesteric liquid crystal (electronic paper). The display element includes a plurality of scan electrodes and data electrodes intersecting one another in the opposed state. The drive method executes an empty scan for the scan electrodes before performing an image write process. The scan electrodes are selected in a predetermined sequence and an image write process is performed. According to the drive method, it is possible to suppress a large inrush current generated immediately after the image write. Moreover, it is possible to use a cheap general-purpose driver, apply the method to a cell-less display device, and achieve power saving and a stable display quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masaki NOSE, Tomohisa SHINGAI
  • Publication number: 20080273024
    Abstract: The present invention comprises pixels each configured by a switching element and a light-emitting element, and a plurality of source signal lines for one pixel column. An input terminal of the switching element is connected to any one of the plurality of source signal lines and an output terminal of the switching element is connected to the light-emitting element so as to enable a light emission when the switching element is turned ON. Pixels in plurality of rows emit light simultaneously, so that a longer light emission time can be realized. It can make the lifetime of an element longer and the power consumption lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun KOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20080273025
    Abstract: In a plasma display device, a first transistor is coupled between an electrode and a power source supplying a VscL voltage, and a second transistor gradually changing a voltage of the electrode is coupled between the electrode and the power source. First and second resistors are coupled in series between the electrode and the second transistor. A node of the first and second resistors is coupled to a control terminal of a regulator, an anode terminal of the regulator is coupled to the electrode, and a cathode terminal of the regulator is coupled to the second transistor. The regulator has a reference voltage, and connects the anode terminal and the cathode terminal when the second transistor is turned on and a node voltage of a node between the first and second resistors is greater than the reference voltage and disconnects the anode terminal and the cathode terminal when the node voltage is less than the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Jin-Ho YANG, Nam-Sung Jung
  • Publication number: 20080273026
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a separately excited inverter circuit whose switching circuit having a plurality of switching elements and which is capable of minimizing the damage of other switching elements even if any of the plurality of switching elements is short circuited and damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Nishinosono
  • Publication number: 20080273027
    Abstract: A method for generating a planar image which is provided for being perceived by humans as three dimensional, the method comprising the step of generating at least two overlapping portions of planar visual information of which first portion comprises an original planar image and a second portion a diffused image which is generated from the original image by diffusion to a predetermined extent, chosen for stimulating human depth perception. An optical element for generating a planar image which is perceived by humans as three dimensional, the optical element being partly transparent for passing an original planar image and having a predetermined diffusion pattern for generating a diffused image from the original planar image, the predetermined diffusion pattern being chosen for stimulating human depth perception.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Eric Feremans
  • Publication number: 20080273028
    Abstract: A technique for universally rasterizing graphic primitives used in computer graphics is described. Configurations of the technique include determining three edges and a bounded region in a retrofitting bounding box. Each primitive has real and intrinsic edges. The process uses no more than three real edges of any one graphic primitive. In the case of a line, a third edge is set coincident with one of its two real edges. The area between the two real edges is enclosed by opposing perimeter edges of the bounding box. In the case of a rectangle, only three real edges are used. The fourth edge corresponds to a bounding edge provided by the retrofitting bounding box. In exemplary applications, the technique may be used in mobile video-enabled devices, such as cellular phones, video game consoles, PDAs, laptop computers, video-enabled MP3 players, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Guofang Jiao, William Torzewski, Chun Yu, Brian Ruttenberg
  • Publication number: 20080273029
    Abstract: Described are a video graphics system, graphics processor, and methods for rendering three-dimensional objects. A buffer is partitioned into tiles of pixels. Each pixel of each tile includes at least one sample. A primitive is received and determined to cover fully one of the tiles. A section of the primitive that maps to the fully covered tile is tested to determine if every sample within the fully covered tile is to undergo the same stencil operation. The stencil operation is performed on the fully covered tile in the buffer if every sample within the fully covered tile is to undergo the same stencil operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Brennan
  • Publication number: 20080273030
    Abstract: A YSU (19) sorts structure instances #0 to #7 in order that the polygons #0 to #7 corresponding thereto are arranged in ascending order of the minimum Y-coordinates thereof. An RPU (9) sequentially reads the structure instances #0 to #7 sorted by the YSU (19), and performs the drawing process of corresponding polygons on the basis of the structure instances as read.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: SHUHEI KATO, Koichi Usami
  • Publication number: 20080273031
    Abstract: A method of rendering 3D graphics image includes the steps of: storing the primitives information into the primitive bank and parameter bank whose entries are made up the primitive IDs; converting the primitives into the pages whose coordinates are made up the page IDs; matching incoming page IDs of the incoming primitive with the page IDs stored in the page RAM in such a manner that when the incoming page ID of the incoming primitive matches with the sorted page ID stored in the page RAM, the incoming primitive are added to the corresponding page node in the page RAM under the corresponding page ID; flushing the page RAM when the free page nodes of the page RAM less than a predetermined amount or when the primitive's counter of the page node reaches another predetermined number; and rendering the primitives stored in the page memory into pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Pingping Shao, Jiangbo Zhang, Guofang Jiao, Jing Han, Tao Wang, Ben (Hsueh-Ban) Lan, Lingjun Chen
  • Publication number: 20080273032
    Abstract: Described are a video graphics system, graphics processor, and methods for rendering three-dimensional objects. A buffer is partitioned into tiles. Each tile includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel of each tile includes at least one sample. Each sample has a stencil value associated therewith. It is determined that each sample in a given tile has the same stencil value. A single stencil value is stored in the buffer for that tile. The single stencil value represents the stencil value for every sample in that tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Brennan
  • Publication number: 20080273033
    Abstract: Described are a video graphics system, graphics processor, and methods for rendering three-dimensional objects. A buffer is partitioned into tiles of pixels. Each pixel of each tile includes at least one sample. A primitive is received and determined to fully cover one of the tiles of the buffer. A section of the primitive that maps to the fully covered tile is tested to determine whether that section of the primitive may be drawn in its entirety. A value is stored in the buffer for the fully covered tile in response to determining that the section of the primitive may be drawn in its entirety. The value indicating that every sample of the fully covered tile has a depth value determined by the primitive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Brennan
  • Publication number: 20080273034
    Abstract: An interface for use in a 3-d graphics system comprising a parametric modelling unit for modelling objects as high order surfaces, and a polygon based rendering system for rendering polygon modelled objects for display. The interface comprises an input for receiving data and a subdivision unit coupled to the input for processing the data. The interface includes a converter coupled to the subdivision unit for determining from leaf patch data a first plurality of values representing vertices of tessellating polygons describing the leaf patch, and for determining from sub-leaf patch data a second plurality of values representing the vertices of tessellating polygons describing the sub-leaf patch. The interface also has a combiner, coupled to the converter, for combining the values to form leaf polygon data defining the polygon vertices at a first subdivision level, and an output coupled to the combiner for outputting the leaf polygon data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Simon Fenney, Jonathan Marh Redshaw, John Russell, Clifford Gibson
  • Publication number: 20080273035
    Abstract: A method of presenting a selected portion of graphical images within a wireless terminal that includes receiving an original graphical image, having a source resolution, to be presented on a display screen. The native pixel resolution of the display screen may differ from that of the original graphical image. A complex decimation pattern when applied to the selected portion of the image allows the selected portion of the original graphical image to be resized from the source resolution to a decimated resolution operable to be displayed within the native resolution of the display screen. Decimated pixels need not be further processed to reduce the processing requirements imposed on the system processor. Operations normally associated with the decimated portions of the image may be offloaded from the processing module to improve system efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ruei-Shiang Suen, Weidong Li
  • Publication number: 20080273036
    Abstract: A plurality of types of measurement data which are measured by a signal measurement section in a time serial manner are displayed on a predetermined coordinate system. A data type assignment section is operable to assign the types of the measurement data to different coordinate axes in the predetermined coordinate system, respectively. A plotting processing section is operable to plot characteristic values on the predetermined coordinate system, the characteristic values specified by the measurement data synchronized at a measurement timing from the measurement data belonging to the types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuka Kishimoto, Taketomo Amie
  • Publication number: 20080273037
    Abstract: A method for generating a looping motion space for real-time character animation may include determining a plurality of motion clips to include in the looping motion space and determining a number of motion cycles performed by a character object depicted in each of the plurality of motion clips. A plurality of looping motion clips may be synthesized from the motion clips, where each of the looping motion clips depicts the character object performing an equal number of motion cycles. Additionally, a starting frame of each of the plurality of looping motion clips may be synchronized so that the motion cycles in each of the plurality of looping motion clips are in phase with one another. By rendering an animation sequence using multiple passes through the looping motion space, an animation of the character object performing the motion cycles may be extended for arbitrary length of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: MICHAEL GIRARD
  • Publication number: 20080273038
    Abstract: A method for generating a looping motion space for real-time character animation may include determining a plurality of motion clips to include in the looping motion space and determining a number of motion cycles performed by a character object depicted in each of the plurality of motion clips. A plurality of looping motion clips may be synthesized from the motion clips, where each of the looping motion clips depicts the character object performing an equal number of motion cycles. Additionally, a starting frame of each of the plurality of looping motion clips may be synchronized so that the motion cycles in each of the plurality of looping motion clips are in phase with one another. By rendering an animation sequence using multiple passes through the looping motion space, an animation of the character object performing the motion cycles may be extended for arbitrary length of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: MICHAEL GIRARD
  • Publication number: 20080273039
    Abstract: A method for generating real-time goal space steering for data-driven character animation is disclosed. A goal space table of sparse samplings of possible future locations is computed, indexed by the starting blend value and frame. A steer space is computed as a function of the current blend value and frame, interpolated from the nearest indices of the table lookup in the goal space. The steer space is then transformed to local coordinates of a character's position at the current frame. The steer space samples closest to a line connecting the character's position with the goal location may be selected. The blending values of the two selected steer space samples are interpolated to compute the new blending value to render subsequent frames of an animation sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Michael GIRARD
  • Publication number: 20080273040
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for efficiently selectively updating multiple-region flexible displays. In an embodiment, multiple regions of a display material each have a common conductor along a first surface and a patterned set of conductors along a second surface. A control circuit includes a separate conductive trace to each common conductor, such that the control circuit can selectively apply known voltages to the common conductors, as well as a single set of driver lines to all of the patterned sets of conductors, such that any sets of signals sent to any of the patterned sets of conductors are received by all of the patterned sets of conductors. The control circuit is used to selectively apply electric fields between the common conductor and the patterned set of conductors of a subset of the regions, so as to selectively update an appearance of the subset of the regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: 3COM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Dryer, Dale Robertson, Bryce Xiaobo Xue
  • Publication number: 20080273041
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an interactive image and graphic system and method capable of detecting collision. A storage device stores a plurality of image data streams. Each image data stream includes a header, which has at least one position coordinate field, and the at least one position coordinate field corresponds to at least one object of the image data stream. An image engine plays a first image data stream of the plurality of image data streams. A graphic engine receives a sprite picture data. The sprite picture data includes a sprite position coordinate. The graphic engine receives the header of the first image data stream. When the sprite position coordinate superimposes over a position coordinate of the at least one object of the first image data stream, the graphic engine drives the image engine to select a second image data stream from the storage device for being played.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Sunplus mMobile Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Ching Chang, Chien-Chung Lin
  • Publication number: 20080273042
    Abstract: A graphic processing system to compute a texture level of detail. An embodiment of the graphic processing system includes a memory device, a driver, and level of detail computation logic. The memory device is configured to implement a first lookup table. The first lookup table is configured to provide a first level of detail component. The driver is configured to calculate a log value of a second level of detail component. The level of detail computation logic is coupled to the memory device and the driver. The level of detail computation logic is configured to compute a level of detail for a texture mapping operation based on the first level of detail component from the lookup table and the second level of detail component from the driver. Embodiments of the graphic processing system facilitate a simple hardware implementation using operations other than multiplication, square, and square root operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Mike M. Cai, Jean-Didier Allegrucci, Anthony Ya-Nai Tai
  • Publication number: 20080273043
    Abstract: A graphic processing system to compute a texture coordinate. An embodiment of the graphic processing system includes a memory device, a texture coordinate generator, and a display device. The memory device is configured to store a plurality of texture maps. The texture coordinate generator is coupled to the memory device. The texture coordinate generator is configured to compute a final texture coordinate using an arithmetic operation exclusive of a division operation. The display device is coupled to the texture coordinate generator. The display device is configured to display a representation of one of the plurality of texture maps according to the final texture coordinate. Embodiments of the graphic processing system facilitate a simple hardware implementation using operations other than division.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: GiQuila Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Ya-Nai Tai, Jean-Didier Allegrucci
  • Publication number: 20080273044
    Abstract: A video display includes a semiconductor light-source, a pixilated spatial light modulator (SLM) for spatially modulating light from the light source and projection optics for projecting spatially modulated light from the spatial light modulator onto the screen to form the video. A desired relative brightness contribution in the display of a pixel element of the SLM is achieved by varying the power output of the light-source over a refresh-period and switching the pixel element to an on-state for a predetermined portion of the refresh-period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: SERGEI V. GOVORKOV, Luis A. Spinelli
  • Publication number: 20080273045
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording process which conducts recording by imparting ink onto the surface of a recording medium according to recording information, where the recording medium has a base material and a porous ink receiving layer thereon containing inorganic particles having a BET specific surface area of at least 150 m2/g, and the ink contains a polymer emulsion having a water-insoluble or hardly-soluble colorant contained in polymer fine particles and at least one wetting agent, 8-11 C polyol or glycol ether, anionic or nonionic surfactant, water-soluble organic solvent, and water; and has a surface tension of 40 mN/m or less at 25° C. This process can provide high-grade images excellent in ink absorbing and fixing properties and satisfactory in color tone, produce images excellent in image fastness such as water resistance and light resistance, and implement ink-jet recording excellent in storage stability and discharge stability and free from head clogging at printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Naoya Morohoshi, Masayuki Koyano, Akihiko Gotoh, Kiyofumi Nagai
  • Publication number: 20080273046
    Abstract: Variations in the negative pressure in the print head is minimized by positively controlling the ink supply pressure. For this purpose, the pump (36) and the valve (35) are installed in the ink communication path between the ink tank (40) and the print head (811), and are controlled to adjust the negative pressure applied to the print head (811).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: CANON FINETECH INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Yoichi Sonobe, Kazuo Haida, Yuichi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20080273047
    Abstract: A visualizing agent quantity display control system includes a first container, a second container, a detection unit, a display unit, a control unit. The second container, which is replaceable, contains the visualizing agent to be supplied to the first container. The detection unit detects a quantity of the visualizing agent contained in the second container. The control unit causes the detection unit to detect a remaining quantity of the visualizing agent in the second container except the visualizing agent which decreases when an operation of supplying the visualizing agent in the second container to the first container has first been executed. The control unit causes a display unit to display information indicating that the remaining quantity of the visualizing agent in the second container is full regardless of the quantity of the visualizing agent which decreases when the operation has first been executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawarazuka, Hiroaki Kumai
  • Publication number: 20080273048
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent to its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside. The liquid container includes a container body which stores the liquid in its inside. The container body includes a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing the pressurized fluid to the inside and a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside. A detection unit is provided in the container body and outputs an output signal which is changed in accordance with a change in pressure of the liquid in the inside of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Takahiro Naka, Takahiro Katakura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Satoshi Shinada, Toshio Kumagai, Taku Ishizawa, Takeo Seino, Hisashi Miyazawa, Takakazu Fukano, Hitotoshi Kimura, Yasunao Uehara, Masahide Matsuyama
  • Publication number: 20080273049
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ascent and descent apparatus for a liquid material spray printer, which may control a distance between a subject to be coated and a spray assembly optimally. The apparatus includes a predetermined number of rotary shafts installed in a vertical direction and having spiral ridges on outer circumferences thereof, the rotary shafts being selectively rotated by a driving motor; and a lifting member installed to the rotary shafts to support a transferring table to which a subject to be coated is mounted, the lifting member having a spiral ridge with a shape conforming to the spiral ridges of the rotary shafts so that the transferring table is lifted when the rotary shafts are rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: BRAIN UNION SYSTEM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyung-Dae Moon
  • Publication number: 20080273050
    Abstract: This invention allows images to be printed up to the edges of printing paper while preventing ink droplets from depositing on the platen. Ink droplets Ip are ejected from a print head 28 and printing is started when printing paper P is fed in the sub-scanning direction by upstream paper feed rollers 25a and 25b, and the front edge Pf reaches a position above a downstream slot 26r. Since printing is started when the front edge Pf of printing paper P has reached a position behind nozzle No. 1, images can be printed without forming blank spaces up to the front edge Pf of the printing paper P by causing the nozzles to eject ink droplets Ip irrespective of whether the nozzles are above the printing paper. When images are formed in the vicinity of the front edge Pf of printing paper P, the paper is repeatedly fed in small increments in the sub-scanning direction, and printing is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi OTSUKI
  • Publication number: 20080273051
    Abstract: If print agents used are detected by an optical sensor at different sensitivities, the present invention enables the easy setting of adjustment values for print positions resulting from these print agents. To accomplish this object, for example, the present invention substitutes and sets adjustment values for print positions resulting from cyan, light cyan, or black ink, corresponding to a high detection sensitivity, for adjustment values for print positions resulting from a light magenta, yellow, or magenta ink, corresponding to a low detection sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru TESHIGAWARA, Kiichiro TAKAHASHI, Osamu IWASAKI, Satoshi SEKI, Naoji OTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20080273052
    Abstract: An apparatus for establishing ink application settings includes a Spectro-densitometer configured to determine neutral print value goals, an ink density and a correction display for matching advanced specification and improving accurate color matches. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to receive ink density readings from the spectro-densitometer, determine an ink control setting based on the received ink density readings, and display the ink control setting on the display. This is many component steps synthesized to accurately work together, at once to save many incremental and further steps in order to globally better match production prints to proofing color goals most efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Greg E. Imhoff
  • Publication number: 20080273053
    Abstract: An ink jet recording element substrate includes a substrate; an ejection outlet array for ejecting ink; a heat generating element array comprising a plurality of heat generating elements for generating ejection energy for ejecting the ink from the ejection outlet array; a protecting film, comprising protecting portions, for protecting the heat generating element array; a common line, disposed along a side of the heat generating element array, for supplying electric power for driving the heat generating elements, and being divided into at least two portions by a line perpendicular to the heat generating element array; a testing electrode for testing a function of the protecting film; and an externally connecting electrode, disposed at an end of the substrate, for externally supplying electric power to the common line; wherein the ink jet recording element substrate further includes, in an area between the portions of the common line, a connecting line for electrically connecting the protecting portions of the
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Souta Takeuchi, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Takuya Hatsui, Takaaki Yamaguchi, Takahiro Matsui, Kousuke Kubo
  • Publication number: 20080273054
    Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly including an ink supply arrangement and a plurality of printhead segment carriers. The ink supply arrangement has a profile member defining a semi-open cross-section with a peripheral, structured side walls having free, opposing, lengthwise running edges delineating a gap extending along the entire length of the profile member. The profile member also defines three internal webs that stand out from a base wall section of the peripheral wall into the interior of said member so as to define together with the side wall sections a total of four ink supply channels which are open towards the gap. The plurality of printhead segment carriers are operatively fast with the ink supply arrangement so that the ink supply channels are arranged in fluid communication with printheads supported on said segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Publication number: 20080273055
    Abstract: For a serial color ink jet printing apparatus that forms an image using a symmetric printing head that ejects large dots and small dots, the configuration of a printing head is provided for suppressing, to the extent possible, a cyclic fluctuation in the main scanning direction. According to the present invention, individual nozzle arrays are arranged so that two nozzle arrays, i.e., a cyan nozzle array c1 and a magenta nozzle array m1, that are located nearer each other, form dots on adjacent scan lines. With this arrangement, a high quality image, having neither an uneven density nor an uneven color, can be formed when a printing head is inclined, or when a cyclic shift in printing positions occurs, depending on the position of the main scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiichiro TAKAHASHI, Naoji OTSUKA, Osamu IWASAKI, Minoru TESHIGAWARA, Tetsuya EDAMURA, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Satoshi Seki, Naomi OSHIO
  • Publication number: 20080273056
    Abstract: An inkjet recording head in which liquid supply flow paths formed in a first plate are defined by vertical walls and inclined walls. The vertical walls are perpendicular to surfaces of corresponding recording element substrates that contact the first plate. The inclined walls are inclined with respect to these surfaces. In the liquid supply flow paths that supply ink to ink supply ports of the recording element substrates arranged in one row, the inclined walls extend in a first direction along a direction of arrangement of the recording element substrates with respect to the vertical walls. In the liquid supply flow paths that supply the liquid to the liquid supply ports of the respective recording element substrates arranged in another row that is adjacent to the one row, the inclined walls extend in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, with respect to the vertical walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsumasa Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20080273057
    Abstract: Provided is a laminated printhead arrangement for a pen nib printer. The printhead includes ink distribution layers, a layer of semiconductor ejection devices operatively supplied with ink via the ink distribution layers, and a guard layer positioned on top of the ejection device layer to protect the ejection devices. The guard layer defines printing passages via which the ejection devices eject ink. Also included is a rotary capper rotatably fixed to the guard layer about a central axis of the printhead, so that rotation of the capper covers or exposes the printing passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Publication number: 20080273058
    Abstract: Provided is an ink ejection nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer. The nozzle arrangement includes a wafer substrate with an etched ink chamber and ink channel leading to the chamber, as well as an ink ejection nozzle defined over the chamber with an ejection port etched therein. The arrangement also includes a glass actuator arm attached to the substrate via a post on the substrate, said arm having a copper nickel alloy heating means attached at a lower portion thereof proximate said post, wherein the arm extends through a slot in the chamber. The arrangement further includes a paddle fast with the arm inside said chamber, the paddle interposed between the ink channel and the ejection port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080273059
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current, a shift register comprising a plurality of successive registers, the shift register receives input data in a first register, and shifts the input data to successive registers upon receipt of a shift signal, a transfer register for latching data in one of the registers of the shift register; a control gate for outputting a control pulse in response to data in the transfer register, and a drive transistor for providing an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator upon receipt of the control pulse. The nozzle is spaced from other nozzles ejecting ink of a same colour by less than 32 microns in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of a print media upon which ink is ejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080273060
    Abstract: In a liquid discharging method for discharging droplets from a plurality of droplet discharging portions of a liquid discharging head, an actual pattern is created to indicate the discharging states of the droplets from the liquid discharging portions, and information about a defective liquid discharging portion having discharging failure is obtained by checking the discharging states. According to the information, the defective liquid discharging portion is prohibited form discharging, and discharging of droplets from a liquid discharging portion near the defective liquid discharging portion is controlled to reduce the influence of discharging failure of the defective discharging portion, and to correct image information on a recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Hiroshi Udagawa
  • Publication number: 20080273061
    Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a pattern formed body by the electric field jet method, capable of stabilizing the discharge amount and the discharge direction of a liquid. The present invention achieves the object by providing a method for manufacturing a pattern formed body characterized in that a pattern is formed on a substrate by: discharging a liquid from a discharge orifice by applying a voltage between a first electrode, disposed in the vicinity of the discharge orifice of a nozzle of a discharge head, and a second electrode, disposed in between the discharge orifice and the substrate, having an opening for discharge; and adhering the liquid onto the substrate by passing through the opening for discharge of the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Katsunori Tsuchiya, Masato Idegami
  • Publication number: 20080273062
    Abstract: Provided is a pagewidth printhead with a controller, the printhead having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes a multilayered substrate defining an ink inlet passage and walls extending from the substrate. Also included is a nozzle plate supported by the walls to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage, the nozzle plate having a nozzle rim defining an ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. Each arrangement also includes a plurality of heater elements suspended between the walls in the chamber, so that when electrical actuation energy is applied to respective heater elements a vapour bubble is formed in the fluid leading to a pressure increase in the chamber thereby ejecting the fluid via the ejection port. The controller is configured to individually actuate respective heater elements to facilitate weighted ink drop volumes to be ejected from the nozzle arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Angus John North
  • Publication number: 20080273063
    Abstract: An ink system for use in an inkjet printing apparatus includes an inkjet printhead, a supply subtank for containing a supply of an ink to the inkjet printhead, and a return subtank for containing a surplus of the ink not used by the inkjet printhead. A first fluid path couples the supply subtank with the inkjet printhead and with the return subtank, and provides a flow of ink from the supply subtank to the inkjet printhead and to the return subtank. A second fluid path couples the return subtank with the supply subtank and feeds the ink from the return subtank back to the supply subtank. The ink system is characterised by having the supply subtank, the return subtank and the first fluid path supported on a carriage for reciprocating together with the inkjet printhead across the printing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Wouters, Bart Verhoest, Werner Van de Wynckel, Robert Janssens, Erwin Kempeneers
  • Publication number: 20080273064
    Abstract: An ink-feeding device is provided in which the pressure applied to the ink in the printing head can be adjusted arbitrarily irrespective of the relative positions of the ink container and the printing head. Inside the sub-tank 80, a pressure-adjusting pump 82 is installed for applying a suitable pressure to many nozzles 22Kn of the printing head 22K. This pressure-adjusting pump 82 is placed a little above the bottom face of the sub-tank 80 at a prescribed distance from the bottom face. Thereby the pressure-adjusting pump 82 is immersed in the ink held in the sub-tank 80. A drive unit 83 for driving the pressure-adjusting pump 82 is placed above the sub-tank 80. On the upper wall of the sub-tank 80, an air-vent valve 84 is fixed to bring the inside pressure in the sub-tank 80 to an atmospheric pressure. The inside pressure in the sub-tank 80 is made equal to the atmospheric pressure by opening the air-vent valve 84.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: CANON FINETECH INC.
    Inventors: Noritaka OTA, Yuichi TAKAHASHI, Daisuke NAKAMURA, Takeshi MIURA, Kazuo HAIDA
  • Publication number: 20080273065
    Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printer having an ink cartridge unit. The cartridge unit includes a main body defining a number of ink reservoirs. Each reservoir has a layered stack of absorbent material arranged to form a micro-capillary array for suspending ink inside said reservoir. A base of each ink storage reservoir is provided with a raised portion which surrounds an ink outlet. The raised portions are molded into the main body to separate each outlet from the base of the ink storage reservoir to facilitate a sufficient flow rate of ink from the reservoir. The cartridge unit also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, as well as a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink via the ink outlets from the ink reservoirs in the main body for printing onto a printing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Publication number: 20080273066
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a color ink container having a capacity V1 accommodating therein a solvent polymerizable in the presence of an acid and a colorant, a reaction liquid container having a capacity V2 (V2<V1) accommodating therein a reaction liquid comprising a solvent, and a photo-acid generating agent capable of generating an acid when irradiated with light, a stirring container mixing the color ink and the reaction liquid at a mixing ratio of S1:S2 (the color ink:the reaction liquid) to prepare a recording ink, a color ink supply means feeding the color ink to the stirring container, a reaction liquid supply means feeding the reaction liquid to the stirring container, an ink jet recording head ejecting the recording ink to a recording medium, and a supply tube feeding the recording ink to the recording head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Masashi Hiroki, Kazuhiko Ohtsu, Yoshito Endo, Toro Ushirogouchi, Ryozo Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20080273067
    Abstract: Provided is a printer assembly having a refillable cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes an elongate main body defining a number of rectangular ink reservoirs along a length thereof, with end reservoirs being larger than reservoirs interposed between the end reservoirs, said end reservoirs being configured to store ink more readily consumed during a printing process. The cartridge assembly also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, the lid assembly having an actuator to actuate a cartridge refill unit. Also included is a printhead assembly fast with the main body and operatively fed with ink from the ink reservoirs in the main body, as well as a refill unit engageable with the lid assembly to refill at least one of the reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Publication number: 20080273068
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an ink jet recording cartridge provided with a recording element substrate on the bottom surface, wherein the cartridge can be integrated with the recording element substrate precisely without causing any damage on the substrate has a high barrier capacity, and can work with various inks and wherein such characteristics of the cartridge are provided by including the steps of pressing a lid to the upper opening of an ink-holding container made of a resin material including glass fibers to cover the opening, and vibration welding the lid to the container where means for holding the lid is vibrated in the direction along the top surface of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Ogawa, Wataru Takahashi, Hiromasa Anma, Yasuo Kotaki
  • Publication number: 20080273069
    Abstract: One embodiment of a method of storing a printhead includes opening a valve to a vent of an ink reservoir, operating a pump in a first direction to pull ink from the ink reservoir through said valve, and pumping the ink pulled from the ink reservoir to an ink supply container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Langford, Donald L. Michael, Kris M. English, Carrie E. Harris