Abstract: A display device is provided which displays images by emitting light when a reference voltage is applied to pixels. An average picture level calculation unit of a reference voltage calculation unit in a rectangular wave driving unit of a TFT substrate calculates the value of average picture level, and a ?V calculation unit of a reference voltage calculation unit calculates a correction amount ?V of the reference voltage based on the average picture level value. The calculated correction amount ?V is added to a reference voltage and is used as the voltage of a rectangular wave signal that is output to each pixel from a rectangular wave driving unit. In each pixel in which a data signal corresponding to the grayscale value is stored, an organic EL device emits light in accordance with the rectangular wave signal.

Abstract: A pixel driving circuit for a display device in which a plurality of gate lines and data lines are arranged. The pixel circuit is disposed at an intersection between the gate lines and data lines, and includes at least two light emitting elements for emitting certain colors within a certain section; an active device commonly connected to the at least two light emitting elements to drive the at least two light emitting elements; and an power source control part connected to the active device to transmit driving control signals for the at least two light emitting elements to the active device. The active device sequentially drives the at least two light emitting elements in the certain section per a certain period of time in response to the power source signals transmitted through the power source control part, and the at least two light emitting elements are sequentially emitted.

Abstract: A 3-D display system and relevant display control method, consisting of linear display units vertically arranged in a 2-D plane or cylindrical columns to form a 3-D display matrix, and a display control system that acquires corresponding display data through computer image processing and outputs the display data to control units. The control units issue control signals to the illuminants with corresponding addresses at corresponding time instants, to light up the corresponding illuminants and make the 3-D display matrix display a corresponding 3-D image or animation. The illuminants can be monochromatic or multicolor LEDs or other point light sources.

Abstract: A multi-gradation drive circuit that drives a cholesteric liquid crystal panel in a plurality of drive phases in different drive cycles, includes: a current upper limit control circuit that calculates an upper limit of a supply current of a liquid crystal drive power source and outputs an upper limit control signal; and a supply current limiting circuit that limits the supply current of the liquid crystal drive power source to the upper limit value or less specified by the upper limit control signal, wherein the current upper limit control circuit switches the upper limit control signal to another in accordance with the drive cycle in each drive phase.

Abstract: A light emitting element drive apparatus that drives light emitting elements reduces power loss caused by variability between forward voltage drops of the light emitting elements. A plurality of voltage applying sections (1, 32 and 33; and 2, 34 and 35) generate application voltages based on a detection voltage determined based on a maximum forward voltage drop among the forward voltage drops of the light emitting element arrays (11 to 14), and apply the generated application voltages to the light emitting elements (11 to 14). Switching sections (30 and 31) switch between a plurality of voltage applying sections (1, 32 and 33; and 2, 34 and 35) to which the light emitting element arrays (11 to 14) individually connect. Controlling sections (40 to 42) control the switching sections (30 and 31) to switch connection to minimize the difference between forward voltage drops of light emitting element arrays (11 to 14).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling an ink supply system includes operating a pump of the ink supply system in a forward direction to supply ink from an ink reservoir to an ink tank, and subsequent to operating the pump in the forward direction, reversing the pump and operating the pump in a reverse direction to prevent or reduce formation of clogs within the ink supply system.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the spacing between a portion of a printhead and a portion of a media support in a printing system. The spacing is easily adjustable at least at the time of manufacture for locking a printhead at a selected distance from the media support. A rotatable variable spacer is abutted against an anti-rotation rail to lock into place the printhead at the selected distance.

Abstract: A two pass print mode method and apparatus limits wind-related print defects produced during printing, utilizing a reciprocating carrier of a printer carrying a printhead having an array of columns of actuator-fired fluid-jetting nozzles along a bi-directional scanning path. Due to instructions from a controller, printing proceeds along an initial partial swath on a print medium during a first pass along the scanning path by firing actuators associated with a first plurality of segments of a given column of nozzles. Then, printing proceeds along a final partial swath on the print medium during a second pass along the scanning path by firing actuators associated with a second plurality of segments of the given column of nozzles. Each segment of nozzles of the first and second pluralities includes more than one consecutive nozzle so that gaps are created in the partial swath printing accommodating wind-related effects without causing wind-related print defects.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel including an exit having a cross sectional area, a liquid return channel, and a liquid dispensing channel including a cross sectional area and an outlet opening. The outlet opening includes an end that is adjacent to the liquid return channel. The cross sectional area of a portion of the liquid dispensing channel that is located at the end of the outlet opening is greater than the cross sectional area of the exit of the liquid supply channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A diverter member is selectively actuatable to divert a portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening, and a liquid return channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A diverter member is selectively actuatable to divert a portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel. A surface is positioned downstream relative to the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel and leads to atmosphere. A portion of the surface, when compared to another portion of the surface, includes structure that reduces viscous drag on the portion of the liquid that has been diverted by the diverter member such that drops formed from consecutive portions of the liquid that have been diverted by the diverter member travel with consistent drop characteristics.

Abstract: An image recording device for recording an image by an interlace system of scanning a specified region repeatedly with use of an ink-jet head having a configuration of a plurality of nozzle heads arranged in a sub-scanning direction, the nozzle head including multiple ink discharged discharge nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A fluid-jet precision-dispensing device cartridge assembly includes a housing, a fluid-jet precision-dispensing device die, and a flexible circuit. The housing has a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is non-parallel to the first surface. The housing is insertable in a fluid-jet precision-dispensing device. The die is disposed at the first surface of the housing. The circuit is attached to the housing and wraps around the housing from the first surface to the second surface. The circuit includes electrically conductive traces and contacts that are electrically coupled to the die to transmit power and communicate signals between the device and the die. The circuit includes one or more regions having no functionality in usage of the assembly to precisely dispense fluid. The regions are rigid and/or thermally conductive to improve attachment of the circuit to the housing.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus which jets liquid droplets includes: a liquid droplet jetting head which has a nozzle for jetting the liquid droplets; and a jetting controller which controls the liquid droplet jetting head to jet the liquid droplets from the nozzles by supplying the liquid droplet jetting head with a driving signal having a predetermined drive waveform in each of continuing driving periods, and which includes: a driving waveform selecting section which selects, with respect to each of the continuing driving periods, a driving waveform from a plurality of driving waveforms each having a wavelength which is same as a length of one driving period; and a driving waveform shifting section which shifts the driving waveform selected by the driving waveform selecting section.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes: a modulator adapted to pulse-modulate a drive waveform signal forming a basis of a drive signal of an actuator to obtain a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier circuit adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal to obtain a power-amplified modulated signal; a low pass filter adapted to smooth the power-amplified modulated signal to obtain the drive signal; and a power amplification stopping section operating when holding a voltage of the actuator constant.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes, a modulator, a digital power amplifier, a low pass filter, and an inverse filter circuit, including, a delay device, a subtracter that subtracts an output signal of the delay device from a drive waveform signal, an amplifier adapted to amplify an output signal of the subtracter, an adder that adds an output signal of the amplifier and another input signal, a first switch adapted to perform switching so as to set either one of the drive waveform signal and an output signal of the adder to be an input signal of the delay device, a second switch adapted to perform switching so as to set either one of the drive waveform signal and the output signal of the delay device to be the another input signal of the adder, and a switch connection control section that controls the first switch and the second switch.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus including a recording head having a nozzle, a pressure chamber, and a pressure generation section; and a drive signal generator which generates a drive signal for applying at least one drive pulse, wherein the apparatus ejects the ink droplet from the nozzle by applying the drive signal to activate the pressure generation section, wherein the drive signal generator generates the drive signal within one pixel period in chronological order including a first expansion pulse to expand the volume of the pressure chamber, a contraction pulse, and a second expansion pulse, and wherein a contraction pulse width is 0.1 AL through 0.5AL, where AL represents a half of an acoustic resonance period of the pressure chamber, and |Von|/|Voff| is 1.3 through 10, where Von and Voff respectively represent drive voltages of the first expansion pulse and the contraction pulse.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus having: a recording head including a pressure generation section, a pressure chamber, and a nozzle; and a drive signal generator which generates the drive signal including a first expansion pulse, a contraction pulse, and a second expansion pulse, wherein the pulses are generated to satisfy that: a peak value position P1 of positive pressure is not more than 1.45AL from a drive signal applying start time, and |M1/P1|?0.45, where AL represents a half of the acoustic resonance period of the pressure chamber, M1 is a first peak value of negative pressure in the pressure chamber, P1 is a peak value of a positive pressure succeeding to M1, and M2 is a peak value of a negative pressure succeeding to P1, wherein M1, P1 and M2 are values of a pressure wave generated by total effect of all the pulses.

Abstract: A pattern forming method that includes forming a pattern for detecting defective discharges of a plurality of ink discharging nozzles and recording a first dot pattern with the plurality of ink discharging nozzles. The pattern forming method also includes recording a second dot pattern to be adjacent to at least one side of the first dot pattern in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method are provided which can minimize air current disturbances that occur between the print head and the print medium and also minimize density unevenness caused by mask patterns. For this purpose, the 2-pass printing is performed such that the high printing ratio region and the low printing ratio region are alternated every pixel in the nozzle-arrayed direction and that adjoining groups of high printing ratio regions are separated from one another by a group of low printing ratio regions that forms a passage wide enough for air currents to pass through.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus configured to allow the ejection performance of a print head with a large number of nozzles densely arranged therein to be kept in a favorable condition by preliminary ejection and to enable degradation of images caused by the preliminary ejection to be alleviated. Preliminary ejection data generation unit is provided which generates preliminary ejection data designed to allow ink not contributing to image printing to be ejected through nozzles 103A and 103B in a print head 21-1. The preliminary ejection data generation unit generates preliminary ejection data designed to allow the ink to be preliminarily ejected onto a print medium through the nozzles 103B, which are included in the plural types of nozzles and which offer a smaller ejection amount than the other nozzles 103A.

Abstract: A recording apparatus can be prevented from becoming dirty, for example, due to incorrectly loading a recording medium. If a width of the recording medium that has been detected by the detection means is shorter than a width, in the direction that intersects the carrying direction of the recording medium, over which the recording information is to be recorded, then a portion of the recording information, of the entire recording information, corresponding to the width, or to less than the width, of the recording medium that has been detected by the detection means is recorded onto the recording medium by the recording head. A notice is made when the width of the recording medium that has been detected by the detection means is different from a width of the size of the recording medium that has been set with the setting means. The ON/OFF of an operation through which the detection means detects the width of the recording medium is settable.

Abstract: Each of four areas of 2×2 in one pixel has four sub areas and the four sub areas correspond to four nozzle arrays A to D. In the sub area of each area, information showing what nozzle array is used for a print of the area is defined. The sub area filled in black shows performing therein a print of a dot using nozzles in the nozzle array corresponding to the sub area. In this way, the dot arrangement pattern has information showing the nozzle array to which nozzles used for printing an area belong, for each area. Therefore, without executing the particular data allocation processing such as mask processing, the allocation of the dot data to the plurality of nozzle arrays can be carried out with a simple arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention ejects a treatment liquid at a scan before a scan where ink is ejected and reduces variations in a time interval from a point of the ejection of the treatment liquid to a point of the ejection of the ink, thereby enabling an increase in image performance, and longevity, low costs and reduction in size of the print head. For achieving this object, the present invention includes a treatment liquid ejection data generating unit configured to generate the treatment liquid ejection data for ejecting the treatment liquid from the print head to the unit area before the formation of the image by the ink starts. The treatment liquid ejection data generating unit generates the treatment liquid ejection data in such a manner as to eject the treatment liquid at the plural times of the scans of the print head.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing an inkjet printing apparatus which can improve image performance while restricting an ink consumption amount of a treatment liquid. The present invention generates ejection data for ejecting the plural kinds of the ink and the treatment liquid to each predetermined area of a printing medium in a predetermined order from the print head. The plural kinds of the ink is classified in plurality based upon a minimum application amount of the treatment liquid per a predetermined area required for realizing an effect of the treatment liquid. Ejection data generating unit generates the ejection data in such a manner as to eject the plural kinds of the ink and the treatment liquid from the print head according to the order determined in accordance with the classification of the ink ejected within the predetermined area.

Abstract: The present invention includes a recording control unit configured to record a recording position adjustment chart including a pattern for adjusting a recording position of a recording head for discharging ink, and a determination unit configured to determine an adjustment value for adjusting the recording position based on data of the pattern included in the recording position adjustment chart read as image data, in which the recording position adjustment chart includes a mark for detecting an inclination in reading the recording position adjustment chart.

Abstract: A method for forwarding a firing signal within a nozzle group of a fluid ejection device includes receiving warm data and fire data. A firing signal having a firing pulse preceded by a warming pulse is received. The firing signal is conditionally modified according to of the fire data. The conditionally modified firing signal is forwarded to a particular nozzle circuit of the nozzle group.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printing unit configured to print a plurality of images sequentially onto a continuous sheet while conveying the sheet, a cutter configured to cut the printed sheet into every print unit length, a drying unit configured to dry the cut sheet cut while conveying the sheet piece by piece, and at least one feeding roller situated between the cutter and the drying unit configured to apply a driving force via a torque limiter, wherein a conveyance speed of the cut sheet is larger than the conveyance speed of the sheet conveyed through the drying unit, and the feeding roller absorbs a difference of the conveyance speed according to a function of the torque limiter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid application device, an inkjet recording apparatus and a recording apparatus, which are capable of performing an adequate application initial operation according to the length of waiting time and power-off time, as well as a method of controlling the liquid application device. In the present invention, information on an end time of the previous processing for collecting liquid is read from a nonvolatile memory, current time information indicating the current time is obtained, and information on a lapse of time from the end time of the previous collection to a start time of the current application. Thereafter, the number of preliminary rotations R of an application roller is decided based on the information on the lapse of time with reference to a look-up table. Sequentially, the application roller is rotated by the decided number of preliminary rotations R to perform preprocessing operation.

Abstract: A multifunctional portable data processing system having print, scan, and copy capabilities includes a portable computer having a housing, a display screen, a input panel, a pointing device, and a data processing unit which may be within or attached to the housing. The data processing unit includes a contact image sensor scan unit and a full page width ink jet printhead unit, an ink container, a paper path, paper feeding and ejecting rollers, control circuitry, and electrical power and standard data protocol data connections with the portable computer. The data processing unit further includes a clock with a clock rate fed to the printhead unit to reduce printing throughput of the printhead unit to approximately 1 to 60 pages per minute. The use of a stationary printhead unit and a reduced clock rate allows full functionality of the print system without sacrificing needed portability.

Abstract: A printing system with adjustable spacing between a portion of a printhead and a portion of a media support. The spacing is easily adjustable at the time of manufacture for locking a printhead into a selected distance from the media support. A rotatable variable spacer is abutted against an anti-rotation rail to lock the selected distance.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening including an end, and a liquid return channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A diverter member is selectively actuatable to divert a portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel. A structure extends from the end of the outlet opening and is shaped to direct the portion of the liquid diverted from the liquid dispensing channel through a steep angle relative to the direction of travel of the liquid provided by the liquid supply channel.

Abstract: A head unit includes a plurality of nozzle groups. Each group has a plurality of nozzles discharging liquid as liquid droplets. The nozzles are arranged at an approximately equal distance from one another when viewed from a first direction. The nozzle groups are arranged at the distance when viewed from the first direction and in a direction intersecting with the first direction, and adjacent nozzles of the nozzle groups adjacent when viewed from the first direction discharge an approximately equal amount of the liquid droplet.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a print head in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and having a plurality of orifices and a corresponding plurality of associated ejection chambers. The print head includes a substrate and a barrier layer disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer defines in part a plurality of fluid channels and the plurality of ejection chambers. The barrier layer includes a material selected from epoxy-based photo resist materials and methyl methacrylate-based photo resist materials. An orifice plate is disposed over the substrate. The orifice plate includes the plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the ejection chambers. The orifice plate comprises a material selected from polyimides and nickel.

Abstract: A print module for printing mailpieces comprises a print head assembly operative to deposit ink on each mailpiece and a registration plate for registering a first surface of each of the mailpieces during print operations. The print module includes a conveyor belt opposing the registration plate and engaging a second surface of each of the mailpieces for conveyance along a feed path. Disposed beneath and supporting an underside surface of the conveyor belt, is a continuous compliant deck operative to urge the conveyor belt and mailpieces toward the registration plate during printing. The compliant deck is also operative to print consecutive mailpieces of variable thickness dimension. The print module also includes a pivotable support rack for mounting the print head assembly to a housing.

Abstract: A liquid-ejection head unit includes a head, an electric-circuit board, electronic components, and a storage tank. The head includes a frame member and ejects droplets of liquid. The electronic components are mounted on the electric-circuit board and connected to the head. The storage tank stores liquid supplied to the head. The electric-circuit board is disposed between the frame member of the head and the storage tank to form a single multi-layered structure. The electronic components of the electric-circuit board are accommodated in at least one of a first internal space defined by the frame member of the head and the electric-circuit board and a second internal space defined by the electric-circuit board and the storage tank.

Abstract: A solvent-based inkjet ink composition for inkjet printing includes at least 50 weight percent solvent, a colorant, a humectant, from 0.3 weight % to 8 weight % of a binder resin, and not more than 5 weight percent water. The ink composition is compatible with components of a thermal ink jet printer.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening, a liquid return channel, and a liquid cooling channel positioned relative to the liquid dispensing channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A diverter member is selectively actuatable using heat energy to divert a portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel, the diverter member including a first side that faces the liquid dispensing channel and a second side that faces the liquid cooling channel.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening, and a liquid return channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A selectively actuatable diverter member imparts heat energy directly to a first portion of the liquid to divert a second portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.

Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a liquid cartridge, which has a liquid chamber that stores liquid, a cartridge mounting portion, and a surface detector. The liquid chamber has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The liquid cartridge removably attaches to the cartridge mounting portion. The surface detector detects a surface of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber. A horizontal cross-sectional area of the first portion of the liquid chamber is less than each of a horizontal cross-sectional area of the second portion and the third portion of the liquid chamber, and the first portion of the liquid chamber is positioned between the second portion and the third portion of the liquid chamber in a direction orthogonal to the horizontal cross-sectional area of the first portion of the liquid chamber.

Abstract: An integrated fluid cartridge (100) for securing onboard memory (150, 215) includes an electrically actuated dispensing mechanism (120, 205) with a number of droplet generators which are fluidically connected to a fluid reservoir (110); a memory module (150, 215); and an electrical interface (200) containing shared select lines (250) and data lines (255) configured to control both the dispensing mechanism (120, 205) and the memory module (150, 215). A method for secure communications between a precision-dispensing device and integrated fluid cartridge (100) includes connecting the precision-dispensing device and the cartridge (100) via an electrical interface (200) containing select lines (250) and data lines (255); the cartridge (100) having several electronic components which are controlled via the select (250) and data lines (255).

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus capable of improving reliability of an electrical connecting portion between a carriage side and head cartridge side. When an ink tank is mounted on a head cartridge, a hook of a set lever is obstructed to be operated in a lock releasing direction by a restricting surface of the ink tank. This prevents the head cartridge from being removed from the carriage, and maintains an electrical connecting condition between the carriage and the head cartridge. Therefore, for removing the head cartridge, it is necessary to remove the ink tank.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel that includes an outlet opening, and a liquid return channel that includes a porous member located therein. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A diverter member is selectively actuatable to divert a portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.

Abstract: An ink ejection head unit includes a head that ejects ink drops from plural two nozzles. The head includes a common liquid chamber connected to the plural nozzles. The common liquid chamber has a supply opening and an ejection opening. A tank is connected to the head and includes an ink containing section that contains ink to be supplied to the head. Also included is a supply path to supply the ink from the ink containing section to the supply opening of the head. An ejection path is provided to eject the ink ejected from the ejection opening of the head to an outside of the ink ejection head unit. A communication path is also provided to communicate the highest section of a seal of the containing section with the ejection path higher than the highest section of the seal. A fluid resistance of the communication path is larger than the total fluid resistance of a path starting from the supply opening to the ejection opening.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes nozzles, separate chambers, a common chamber, inlet portions, a filter unit, and ribs. Droplets of liquid are ejected from the nozzles. The separate chambers are communicated with the nozzles. The inlet portions are communicated with the corresponding separate chambers. Liquid is supplied from the common chamber to the separate chambers through the inlet portions. The filter unit is disposed between the inlet portions and the common chamber to filter liquid in an area across the separate chambers in a first direction in which the nozzles are arrayed. The ribs are disposed in the filter unit at intervals corresponding in size to at least two of the separate chambers in the first direction to partition the filter unit. The inlet portions are communicated in the first direction with each other in at least one portion of each of the inlet portions facing the filter unit.

Abstract: Self-erasing inks in which both the printing and self-erasure of color images can be controlled by the dynamic/non-equilibrium aggregation of photoresponsive surface-coated nanoparticles contained in a carrier film are provided. The aggregation is a reversible aggregation that is triggered by a photo-induced transformation in ligands within the surface coating on the nanoparticles. Methods for forming images using the inks are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method of ink-jet printing on vinyl print media can comprise jetting an ink-jet ink onto a vinyl print medium to form a printed image, and applying from 50-100° C. of heat to the printed image. The ink-jet ink can include a colorant, an aqueous liquid vehicle, and core-shell polymer particles. Upon printing and heating, at least a portion of the aqueous liquid vehicle evaporates, the vinyl print medium plasticizes (but does not flow), and the ink-jet ink flows. The fused polymer particles form a film that encapsulates at least a portion of the colorant.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic material that is characterized by including a rigid matrix and a dye having a phosphorescence lifetime of 0.1 seconds or more in a rigid medium at 77 K and that exhibits such a strong and long-lived phosphorescence as to be recognizable with the naked eyes even at ordinary temperature: namely, an ordinary-temperature-phosphorescent organic material.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source configured to emit a light beam, a scanning unit configured to deflect the light beam from the light source so as to scan a photosensitive member, an optical lens configured to guide the light beam scanned by the scanning unit onto the photosensitive member, and a lens supporting unit having a fixing portion configured to fix the optical lens, wherein the lens supporting unit includes a movable supporting portion configured to restrict movement of the optical lens in a direction perpendicular to a scanning direction of the light beam and an optical axis direction of the optical lens, to restrict movement of the optical lens in the optical axis direction, and to support the optical lens movably in the scanning direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source for emitting first light beams, a deflecting unit that deflects the first light beams as second light beams having scanning lines that are substantially arc shaped, a scanning lens disposed in a light path of one of the second light beams, and a light-blocking member interposed between the deflecting unit and the scanning lens. The light-blocking member blocks reflected light generated from the one of the second light beams when the second light beam enters the scanning lens. The light-blocking member protrudes toward the second light beam path along at least a scanning area of the second light beam, and includes a protruding edge section curving in substantially a same arc shape as the scanning line.

Abstract: A laser markable security laser transfer film includes a carrier web formed from a laser light-transmissive material and a taggant-containing film disposed on the carrier web. The taggant-containing film is formulated from an energy sensitive taggant capable of withstanding temperatures of at least about 1800° F. to about 2200° F. The taggant absorbs energy at a first predetermined wavelength and, in response, emits energy at a second predetermined wavelength that is different from the first wavelength. The taggant-containing film further includes a polymeric resin. The taggant-containing film is disposed on the object to be marked with the taggant-containing film adjacent the object, and laser light is directed through the film to fuse the taggant-containing film onto the object to form a taggant-containing marking on the object.