Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion to form an image on a sheet using an erasable ink, a sheet supply tray to load the sheet on which the image was formed using the erasable ink, a mark detecting portion to detect a mark indicating that the image formed on the sheet conveyed from the sheet supply tray includes a confidential information, and an overwriting portion to overwrite so as not to make recognizable the image of at least an area including the confidential information out of the image formed on the sheet, in case that the mark is detected by the mark detecting portion.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a setting section and a print controlling section. The setting section enables or disables a first function of sorting paper by performing longitudinal printing in which printing is performed in longitudinal orientation for paper ejection in the longitudinal orientation and lateral printing in which printing is performed in lateral orientation for paper ejection in the lateral orientation alternately. The setting section further enables or disables a second function of barcode printing. The print controlling section controls printing in accordance with setting of each of the first function and the second function. When one of the first function and the second function is enabled, the setting section disables the other function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nozzle plate for liquid ejector head and a liquid ejector head. The nozzle plate for liquid ejector head includes at least a nozzle hole for ejecting droplets composed of an ejection liquid, wherein the surface energy of an inner wall of the nozzle hole at 25° C. is lower than the surface tension of the ejection liquid at 25° C. and is substantially same as the surface energy of the ejection side surface of the nozzle plate at 25° C.

Abstract: An ink-jet head is disclosed. The ink-jet head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, including a reservoir, which stores ink, a chamber, which is supplied with the ink from the reservoir, a restrictor, which connects the reservoir with the chamber, a nozzle, which ejects the ink, and a damper, which is interposed between the chamber and the nozzle, can include: a body, in which the chamber, the reservoir, the restrictor and the damper are formed; and a nozzle plate, which is coupled to the body and in which the nozzle is formed on the nozzle plate, in which the nozzle plate is made of a transparent material, and an observation window is formed on the nozzle plate and apart from the nozzle for observation of a meniscus formed in the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus includes nozzles and an ink passage. Each nozzle includes a pressure chamber which houses an electrothermal transducer provided on a substrate to apply ejection energy to ink, an ink ejection orifice which faces the electrothermal transducer, and an ink passage along which the ink is supplied to the pressure chamber. The ink supply port is provided on the substrate and communicates with the ink passages. A distance between a center of gravity of the electrothermal transducer and the ink supply port differs between the nozzles which are next to each other. In at least one of the nozzles, a center of gravity of the ink ejection orifice is shifted from that of the electrothermal transducer in a direction toward the ink supply port by an amount which is increased as the distance increases.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having a plurality of printing fluid ejection nozzle modules each having one or more printing fluid channels interconnected at respective complementary female and male end portions of the modules, a connector connected to the female or male end portion of one of the modules for communicating printing fluid from a fluid supply to the nozzles of all of the modules via the interconnected channels, and a sealing member connected to the female or male end portion of another one of the modules. The sealing member has female and male portions complementary to the female and male end portions of the modules and for sealing the channels of the connected module.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a fluid channel formation substrate in which a fluid channel is formed so as to be communicated to a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid; a pressure generating element which applies pressure on the liquid to be ejected; a first substrate of which one end is electrically connected to the pressure generating element; a second substrate which is connected to the other end of the first substrate; and a support unit which supports the first substrate. Here, the support unit includes an erecting section which is provided on the one end of the first substrate, and a substrate support section which is provided on a side of the erecting section facing the second substrate and is formed of a separate member from the erecting section. The substrate support section includes a connection support surface on a side thereof facing the second substrate.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a fluid channel formation substrate in which a fluid channel is formed so as to be communicate with a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid; a pressure generating element which applies pressure on the liquid to be ejected; a first substrate of which one end is electrically connected to the pressure generating element; a second substrate which is connected to the other end of the first substrate; and a substrate support section which supports the first substrate. Here, the substrate support section includes a connection support surface on a side thereof facing the second substrate. In addition, a connection portion between the first substrate and the second substrate is disposed in a position facing the connection support surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead with a resistive heaters for vaporizing ink to eject drops through respective nozzles. The heater is formed from a TiAlX alloy where Ti contributes more than 40% by weight, Al contributes more than 40% by weight and X contributes less than 5% by weight and comprises zero or more of Ag, Cr, Mo, Nb, Si, Ta and W.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate defining a nozzle chamber and an ink inlet channel in fluid communication with said chamber; a nozzle defined on the substrate and located over the nozzle chamber, said nozzle having a crown portion with a skirt portion depending from the crown portion, the skirt portion forming a first part of a peripheral wall portion of the nozzle chamber, the nozzle surrounded by a raised rim for supporting a meniscus of a body of ink in the nozzle chamber; and an actuator with a connecting arm fast with the nozzle to operatively displace the nozzle towards the substrate. The nozzle is substantially hexagonally shaped.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a substrate, a lower electrode formed above the substrate, a piezoelectric layer formed above the lower electrode, an upper electrode formed above the piezoelectric layer, a protection layer formed on the lateral sides of the piezoelectric layer, and a self-organized monomolecular film formed on the side of each of the protection layer not facing the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: An ink reservoir for a printer with an inkjet printhead includes a housing for storing a quantity of ink; an air inlet valve having a ball biased against an aperture of the air inlet valve for sealing an interior of the housing from atmosphere; an ink outlet valve having a circular valve seat and a ball for sealing against the valve seat; and a valve actuator having a sliding shaft extending between the ink outlet valve and the air inlet valve. The valve actuator opens the air inlet valve in response to the ink outlet valve opening to establish fluid communication with the inkjet printhead. The ball in the ink outlet valve is adapted to engage one end of the sliding shaft to slide the shaft towards the air inlet valve, whereat the other end of the shaft engages the ball of the air inlet valve against the bias applied thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid ejection head, a liquid supply apparatus, a liquid ejection apparatus, and a liquid supply method which enable the channel resistance and pressure loss of liquid in the liquid ejection head to be reduced to increase the speed at which liquid is supplied to the nozzles. To achieve this, an ink supply chamber (44) is placed so as to be laminated on a main ink supply chamber (42). A filter (40) interposed between the main ink supply chamber (42) and the ink supply chamber (44) extends along a surface substantially parallel to a nozzle arrangement plane on which a plurality of nozzles are arranged.

Abstract: A folding system includes a media pathway configured to transport a print substrate having phase change ink thereon. The folding system includes a folding apparatus disposed along the media pathway configured to fold the print substrate. A folding heater is configured to heat the phase change ink on the print media to a folding temperature. The folding temperature is above ambient temperature and below a melting temperature for phase change ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a compact, portable POS terminal through the use of a compact printer that utilizes a thermal printer with fan-folded paper. The POS terminal also accommodates contactless instrument readers and optionally includes features for electronic signature capture, user display interaction, multi-tasking capabilities, check reading and age and identity verification.

Abstract: A method of printing labels includes supporting a laser sensitive material on a disc and printing label images on the disc with a modulated focused beam from a diode-laser. The label images may be printed in regions of the medium having pre-cut label boundaries. Alternatively, label boundaries may be cut through the medium using the focused laser beam. The labels are peeled from the disc after printing.

Abstract: A driver circuit in an optical print head uses driving transistors to drive a row of light-emitting elements. The gate electrodes of the driving transistors are at least partly oriented so that driving current flows in the channels below the gate electrodes in a direction different from the direction of the row the light-emitting elements. This orientation reduces the temperature dependency of the driving current, so that the optical print head can produce the same high image quality at low ambient temperatures as at room temperature.

Abstract: A communication terminal 100 capable of communicating among a plurality of communication terminals includes a reception unit 14 for receiving image data from the plurality of communication terminals, a display unit 16 for displaying the image data from the plurality of communication terminals received by the reception unit 14, an input unit 17 for accepting a choice of at least one image data among the image data of the plurality of communication terminals displayed on the display unit 16 and a control unit 19 for controlling to transmit information indicating that the communication terminal corresponding to the image data chosen by the input unit 17 has been designated as the party of another communication separate from the communication being executed among the plurality of communication terminals.

Abstract: A mobile telephony system comprising a calling party mobile telephone with an imaging system and a display. The imaging system is operable to capture an image of the calling party. The calling party mobile telephone sends an image of the calling party to a called party mobile telephone over a wireless link, and the called party mobile telephone locally generates a holographic reconstruction of the calling party using a holographic display that is encoded with a hologram. An advantage is that a mobile telephone call may be held in which one party views a holographic reconstruction of the other party.

Abstract: A communication mode switching method and apparatus for a mobile terminal is provided for responding, in voice call mode, to an incoming video call received for a video call rejection period set by the user. A video call establishment method between mobile terminals according to the present invention includes requesting, at a calling mobile terminal, a video call connection to a called mobile terminal; determining, at the called mobile terminal, whether the video call connection satisfies a video call rejection configuration; responding, when the video call connection satisfies the video call rejection configuration, to the calling mobile terminal in voice call mode; and establishing a video call connection in voice call mode between the calling mobile terminal operating in a video call mode and the called mobile terminal operating in voice call mode.

Abstract: A method of conducting an audio-visual conference among a number of conference rooms comprising storing predetermined conference configuration data in a computer system for a plurality of room types and a plurality of combinations of configuration factors, receiving conference variable data, generating a room list of included conference rooms, generating interconnection data for each included conference room according selected by said a computer system performing a recursive process until a feasible set of configuration data is found which permits interconnection to every other included conference room, and if no applicable set of configuration data is feasible, the distribution process returns to a next higher room in said room list.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to create and display panoramic images on a mobile device are disclosed. Such a mobile device can be a mobile phone. Apparatus is provided to control the position of a lens in relation to a reference lens. Methods and apparatus are provided to generate multiple images that are combined into a panoramic image. A panoramic image may be a static image. It may also be a video image. A controller provides correct camera settings for different conditions. An image processor creates a panoramic image from the correct settings provided by the controller. A panoramic camera is applied in a computer gaming system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to create and display panoramic images on a mobile device are disclosed. Such a mobile device can be a mobile phone. Apparatus is provided to control the position of a lens in relation to a reference lens. Methods and apparatus are provided to generate multiple images that are combined into a panoramic image. A panoramic image may be a static image. It may also be a video image. A controller provides correct camera settings for different conditions. An image processor creates a panoramic image from the correct settings provided by the controller. A panoramic camera is applied in a computer gaming system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to create and display stereoscopic and panoramic images are disclosed. Apparatus is provided to control the position of a lens in relation to a reference lens. Methods and apparatus are provided to generate multiple images that are combined into a stereoscopic or a panoramic image. An image may be a static image. It may also be a video image. A controller provides correct camera settings for different conditions. An image processor creates a stereoscopic or a panoramic image from the correct settings provided by the controller. A panoramic video wall system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A restaurant table for which seats are arranged includes, a top plate on which a dishes is set, and a display panel provided in the top plate, and configured to display a three-dimensional image of the dish to be stereoscopically viewable.

Abstract: A display apparatus which displays a plurality of items includes a display panel provided with a function of displaying a three-dimensional image to be stereoscopically viewable, an item overview creation section which creates information on an item overview screen on which two-dimensional images of the respective items are arranged, an overview display control section which displays the item overview screen on the display panel, and a specific item display control section which switches an image of a specific item selected from among the items two-dimensional images of which are displayed on the item overview screen from the two-dimensional image to a three-dimensional image.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an image display device that does not damage a feeling of a three-dimensional shape of an object displayed as a floating image even if a contrast of a display unit is so bad that floating blacks occur. An image display device (100) is comprised of a display unit (10) having an image display surface (11) for displaying a two-dimensional image, an image transmitting panel (20) disposed apart from the image display surface (11), and a floating image display unit (1) that forms an image of light projected from the image display surface (11) on an image forming plane (30) in a space positioned on a reverse side to a side opposite to the display unit (10) of the image transmitting panel (20) to display a floating image. A shielding plate (2) is disposed at a place from the image display surface (11) of the display unit (10) to an observing place.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system which integrates unique lighting technologies, switching systems, mounting systems, information delivery systems and power supply systems within a support such as vehicular wheel to provide an advanced, high quality visual display apparatus in various surfaces of rotation. A displayed image may be three dimensional. These technologies, and their many unique applications, provide for a novel and useful series of video display devices that are small, lightweight, efficient and can have the capability of producing a clear, bright, high definition image that is equivalent to that of a modern day TV or high quality computer monitor.

Abstract: An image display device and a method of driving the same are provided. The image display device includes a lenticular lens array, a first backlit display element that is positioned on the lenticular lens array and is driven at a frame frequency of N×60 Hz, where N is an integer equal to or greater than 1, and a light source module under the lenticular lens array. The first backlit display element displays a video signal of a 2D format in a 2D mode and displays a video signal of an N-view 3D format in a 3D mode. The light source module irradiates light in the form of a surface light source onto the lenticular lens array in the 2D mode and irradiates light in the form of a plurality of line light sources onto the lenticular lens array in the 3D mode.

Abstract: A system for measuring at least one parameter of moving cable, the system including a system power source, a digital camera adjacent a moving cable for taking digital images of the cable as the cable moves past the digital camera, the digital camera producing signals corresponding to the digital images, a signal processor for receiving the signals from the digital camera and for processing the images to produce processed image data, the signal processor for calculating measurements of the at least one parameter of the cable based on the processed image data, the system power source for powering systems devices, e.g., the digital camera and/or the signal processor. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

Abstract: A sensor for sensing inclusions in a containerized medical fluid. In certain embodiments, the sensor may include an image capture device and an image processor communicatively interconnected to the image capture device. The image processor may include an inclusion identifier configured to detect data in an image indicative of inclusions in the medical fluid.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for chromatic distortion reduction. Relative chromatic distortion information for an imaging system may be obtained, where the relative chromatic distortion information indicates relative displacement of a first color signal and a second color signal from a reference color signal in an image. The relative chromatic distortion information may be used to modify image data.

Abstract: A monitor device for use with an endoscope apparatus, which has first and second display modes. In the first display mode, the monitor device displays, in real time, any image transmitted in a normal radio communication state. In the second display mode, the monitor device displays a noise-free image in real time, if a radio communication error occurs. If one-frame (or one-field) image data is not received within the frame (or field) time due to a communication error, the monitor device displays, in the second display mode, the image data received in a normal state immediately before the one-frame (or one-field) image data, and informs the operator of the communication error.

Abstract: An endoscope image is obtained by imaging a subject with a scope. Then, an edge portion of the endoscope image is extracted and a complexity degree of the edge portion is detected. Thereafter, a determination is made as to whether the endoscope image is an image obtained through near view imaging or distant view imaging according to the complexity degree and an imaging condition is changed according to the determined near view imaging or distant view imaging.

Abstract: A method for estimating a vanishing point in a roadway using a current image generated by a camera on a vehicle includes defining an exemplary vanishing point for each of a plurality of sample images, identifying features within each of the plurality of sample images, monitoring the current image generated by the camera, identifying features within the current image, matching the current image to at least one of the sample images based upon the identified features within the current image and the identified features within the plurality of sample images, determining a vanishing point based upon the matching and the exemplary vanishing points for each of the matched sample images, and utilizing the vanishing point to navigate the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle using an image generated by a camera includes monitoring the image, and utilizing a first patch-based analysis of the image including dividing the image into a plurality of patches, and analyzing each patch to determine a first clear path confidence likelihood for each of the patches of the first patch-based analysis. Each of the patches with the first clear path confidence likelihood greater than a first threshold confidence likelihood is defined as a clear path patch. A second analysis is utilized upon a portion of the patches with the first clear path confidence not greater than the first threshold confidence likelihood to determine a second clear path confidence likelihood for each of the patches of the second analysis. Each of the patches of the second analysis with the second clear path confidence likelihood greater than a second threshold confidence likelihood is defined as a clear path patch.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing analysis of an image generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the image, identifying through patch-based clear path detection analysis of the image a first patch within the image that indicates a not clear path, analyzing the first patch through patch smoothing, invalidating the first patch based upon the analyzing the first patch through patch smoothing, utilizing the invalidated first patch to define a clear path of travel for the vehicle, and utilizing the clear path of travel to navigate the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle using a current image generated by a camera includes defining an exemplary clear path for each of a plurality of sample images, identifying features within each of the plurality of sample images, monitoring the current image generated by the camera, identifying features within the current image, matching the current image to at least one of the sample images based upon the identified features within the current image and the identified features within the plurality of sample images, determining a clear path of travel based upon the matching and the exemplary clear path for each of the matched sample images, and utilizing the clear path of travel to navigate the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for recording images of an object scene has a lighting unit for illuminating the object scene with several lighting elements and an optical system for directing radiation of the lighting elements reflected from the object scene onto a detector. In order to achieve a simple and compact camera, the device includes a marking device for marking the radiation from each of the lighting elements and an evaluation device for differentiating the reflected radiation of the individual lighting elements by way of the marking.

Abstract: Accurate measurements of flight path obstructions are taken from a moving aerial platform. Platform position, including altitude, is combined with dynamic data including target distance and target elevation data to calculate obstruction height or altitude. An optical subsystem on the aerial platform images the obstructions and provides a video stream showing the obstructions. The video stream and aerial platform data are wirelessly communicated to a control terminal where an operator observes a presentation of obstructions and obstruction altitudes or heights. The operator can issue commands to the aerial platform.

Abstract: In an apparatus adapted to scan a lower side of an electronic component being suction-held by a suction-holding nozzle, to perform image recognition of suction-held conditions of the electronic component, this invention is intended to perform a transfer operation under a condition that the suction-holding nozzle is arranged closer to an upper surface of a base, wherein the optical path directed downwardly from the suction-holding nozzle is bended in a lateral direction by a first optical path changing member and then further bended in another direction by a second optical path changing member to allow image-sensing means to capture an image of a lower surface of the suction-holding nozzle, and the electronic component being suction-held by the suction-holding nozzle is illuminated along the lateral optical path changed by the first optical path changing member.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining longitudinal position of an elongated web are described. Sensors are used to detect one or more substantially continuous fiducial marks disposed longitudinally on the web. The sensors generate signals associated with the fiducial marks. A position detector receives the signals and determines a longitudinal position of the web using the sensor signals. The fiducial marks may be periodic fiducial marks, such as sine and/or cosine marks on the web and/or may be piecewise continuous marks. The coarse longitudinal position of the web can be determined based on periodically recurring features of the fiducial marks. The fine longitudinal position can be determined based on continuous portions of the fiducial marks between the periodically recurring features.

Abstract: A surveillance device control system is provided which can continue the system operation between a control terminal and a surveillance device even if an authentication server has gone down and cannot authenticate the control terminal to give it access permission. In the surveillance device control system (1000), the control terminal (200) sends a control request with a ticket as access permission information to the surveillance device (300) if the control terminal (200) has successfully acquired the ticket from the authentication server (100), and sends the control request without the ticket to the surveillance device (300) if the control terminal (200) has failed to acquired the ticket.

Abstract: A video surveillance method and system controls and distributes video signals from multiple surveillance cameras to multiple video clients by receiving a single original video signal stream from a camera and simultaneously converting it a plurality of video streams, with each video stream having a different video quality parameter. The different quality parameters may be different resolutions, degrees of compression, different frame rates, presence or absence of colors, intensity of colors, different contrast levels and different brightness levels. The video clients are entitled to access specified video quality parameters, and are simultaneously sent the converted video streams with the different video quality parameter to which they are entitled to access.

Abstract: An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device. The system includes a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device and a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station. The system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time.

Abstract: A feature extracting unit obtains sensor data from a plurality of sensors to calculate each feature. When an event determining unit determines the occurrence of an event based on each feature, a display data constructor generates remote-controller display data for displaying the event, and controls a remote-controller display device to display the remote-controller display data. When a user decision is input from a user input IF based on this display, a control unit controls the sensors to be turned ON or OFF. When an infrared sensor detects an abnormality, a microwave sensor whose power consumption is small after the infrared sensor is turned ON. When the microwave sensor detects an abnormality, a video camera and a microphone are turned ON, and the microwave sensor is turned OFF. A communication unit wirelessly transmits an image signal captured by the video camera and an audio signal processed by the microphone.

Abstract: A system that includes an imaging device for effectively positioning a probe for testing a semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: An active infra-red surveillance illuminator uses a statistically mono-directional micro-diffractive material overlaid on a bank of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to refract light from the LEDs onto a target image. This delivers energy distribution profiles out to a distance to match the aspect ratios of current wide-angle target and wide-angle camera surveillance systems. The distribution of refracted light is elliptical. This distribution can vary by using different diffractive material in conjunction with various numbers, brightness and angles of the LEDs in an LED bank. The effective range of the illuminators is greatly extended with this type of illumination. By limiting infrared (IR) radiation down to a 10 degree vertical window it renders the IR illumination much more effective for surveillance imaging by providing much more effective power on wide, ground-level scenes, and particularly enables multi-lane license plate capture.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system and assembly includes a variable reflectivity reflective element and a video display screen disposed behind the reflective element and operable to display images viewable through the reflective element by a person viewing the interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle. The video display screen may be operable to brighten or enhance the intensity of images displayed by the video display screen responsive to a dimming condition of the variable reflectivity reflective element. The mirror system may include an image sensor and a decoder that decodes an output signal of the image sensor. The decoder has a microprocessor operable to control the video display screen, such that the captured image data are processed and images are displayed via operation of a common microprocessor. A compass chip may connect to a vehicle wire harness that extends from a vehicle headliner.

Abstract: A monitor system is provided for making it possible to efficiently determine a coding quantity of each camera in accordance with the movement of an object.