Patents Issued in November 24, 2011
  • Publication number: 20110285980
    Abstract: A coherent laser radar that uses two coherent femtosecond fiber lasers to perform absolute ranging at long distance. One coherent femtosecond fiber lasers acts as a source and the other as a local oscillator for heterodyne detection of the return signal from a cooperative target. The system simultaneously returns a time-of-flight range measurement for coarse ranging and an interferometric range measurement for fine ranging which is insensitive to spurious reflections that can cause systematic errors. The range is measured with at least 3 ?m precision in 200 ?s and 5 nm precision in 60 ms over a 1.5 m ambiguity range. This ambiguity range can be extended to 30 km through reversal of signal and LO source roles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Nathan R. Newbury, Ian Coddington, William C. Swann
  • Publication number: 20110285981
    Abstract: A LIDAR sensor element and system for wide field-of-view applications such as autonomous UAS landing site selection is disclosed. The sensor element and system have an imaging source such as a SWIR laser for imaging a field of regard or target with a beam having a predefined wavelength. The beam is scanned over the field of regard or target with a beam steering device such as Risley prism. The reflected beam is captured by the system by receiving optics which may comprise a Risley prism for receiving and imaging the reflected beam upon a photodetector array such as a focal plane array. The focal plane array may be bonded to and a part of a three-dimensional stack of integrated circuits, a plurality of which may comprise one or more read out integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Irvine Sensors Corporation
    Inventors: James Justice, Medhat Azzazy, David Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20110285982
    Abstract: Arrangement and method for obtaining information about objects exterior of a vehicle in which a light source is mounted in the vehicle, structured light is projected into an area of interest exterior of the vehicle, rays of light forming the structured light originate from the light source, reflected light is detected at an image sensor at a position different than the position from which the structured light is projected, and the reflected light is analyzed relative to the projected structured light to obtain information about the object in the area of interest exterior of the vehicle. The structured light is designed to appear as if it comes from a source of light (virtual or actual) which is at a position different than the position of the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: David S. BREED
  • Publication number: 20110285983
    Abstract: A method for measuring a velocity of an object surface relative to a sensor having a plurality of light-sensitive elements arranged spaced apart from one another. Each light-sensitive element produces an element signal indicative of detected brightness. The method includes receiving element signals at intervals of time, producing a frequency signal according to a spatial frequency filter method, producing a correlation signal according to an image processing method, and monitoring the produced frequency signal regarding at least one of a frequency value and at least one quality feature of the frequency signal. The method also includes selecting a produced signal for determining the velocity of the object surface relative to the sensor, and selecting the correlation signal in the event that at least one of the frequency signal lies below a threshold frequency value and the frequency signal fails to achieve a threshold quality feature value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Fraba AG
    Inventors: Arno Bergmann, Siegfried Wienecke, Christian Jakschies
  • Publication number: 20110285984
    Abstract: A laser Doppler velocimeter uses self-mixing amplification of backreflections from scatterers below the surface of a flow. A time domain signal is divided into segments that are roughly equal to a transit time of particles through a focus of a laser beam. The segments are connected to a frequency domain through the use of an FFT algorithm to produce frequency domain data segments. Signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced through signal processing techniques using the segments to produce a final enhanced signal spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: Wiiliam R. Christian, Ray C. Delcher, Tong Chen, Mohsen Khoshnevisan, Phillip B. Liescheski, Michael A. Metcalf
  • Publication number: 20110285985
    Abstract: In the present invention, microanalysis chip 1 possesses resin substrate 20 in which a groove (flow path 22) is formed, and resin film 10 to cover the groove (flow path 22), and at least one of a substrate (resin substrate 20) and a lid body (resin film 10) is made of a cycloolefin resin to realize not only accurate position alignment and confirmation of presence or absence of reaction with visible light or fluorescence, but also accurate sample analysis with terahertz light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Mika Honda
  • Publication number: 20110285986
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a detection system for acquiring the SPR angle, including a modulatable SPR sensor to be detected; an incident light source apparatus; a photoelectric detector; a narrowband filter system; a modulated signal source for generating an alternating current signal that is used to modulate said modulatable SPR sensor; and a data processing system for recording the corresponding relationship between the incident angle and the intensity of the filtered reflected light and further obtaining the resonance angle of said modulatable SPR sensor. The present disclosure also provides a corresponding detection method for acquiring the SPR angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicants: Beihang University, National Center for Nanosccience and Technology, China
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Jinsong Zhu, Zheng Zheng, Jiangfeng Fan
  • Publication number: 20110285987
    Abstract: This installation includes a support for the object, a panel having a fringe pattern alternating pale and dark lines, the pattern having a first series of parallel fringes extending in a first direction and at a first pitch, and a second series of parallel fringes extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and at a second pitch, illuminating means arranged to illuminate the fringe pattern, at least one imaging capturing means to capture an image of the pattern reflected or transmitted by the surface of the object, and where at least one of the support, the panel and the capturing means is mobile between a plurality of positions, the movement between two successive positions of each chosen element being designed so as to produce a predetermined phase shift between two images of the pattern reflected or transmitted by said surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: VISUOL TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Yves SURREL
  • Publication number: 20110285988
    Abstract: An illumination module that may include a LED driver; a strip cable comprising multiple conductors that have a high ratio form factor and a low impedance and a low inductance factor; the forms factor is a ratio between a width of the strip cable and a thickness of the strip cable; a group of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that comprises at least one LED; the group of LED is coupled to the LED driver via the strip cable; wherein the LED driver is arranged to activate the group of LEDs by driving a high current short duration driving signal via the strip cable; and wherein the group of LEDs is arranged to emit at least one light pulse in response to the high current short duration driving signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Amnon Menachem, Yossi Cherbis, Arnon Ben Natan
  • Publication number: 20110285989
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a wafer stage for carrying a wafer, an illumination module which irradiates an inspection beam on the wafer carried on the wafer stage, a detection module which detects scattering rays or reflection rays from the wafer on the wafer stage and outputs an image signal, a coordinates control module which stores information about the arrangement of individual inspection areas on the wafer, and an imperfect area recognition module which recognizes, on the basis of the inspection area arrangement information stored in the coordinates control module, an imperfect inspection area interfering with a wafer edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroyuki YAMASHITA, Yukihisa MOHARA, Eiji IMAI
  • Publication number: 20110285990
    Abstract: In a case of generating a main body of an analysis tool and a micro flow path chip as separate components, to obtain an accurate sample analysis result and to accurately adjust fluid temperature inside the micro flow path chip without damaging an analytical light receiving section of the micro flow path chip. In main body of analysis tool (10) that detachably holds micro flow path chip (30) in a fixed manner, notch section (21) is formed in mount surface (13) onto which micro flow path chip (30) is to be mounted. Notch section (21) is formed in a predetermined range including a part corresponding to optical path L of light emitted from a lens of optical unit (60) in a state where analysis tool (1) is arranged on heat block (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Tomoki NAKAO
  • Publication number: 20110285991
    Abstract: A label-free multiplexed sensing platform is based on light interaction with aperiodic photonic structures with an advantage of a broadband operation. Multiple-scattering-induced “fingerprinting” colorimetric signatures can be used as a transduction mechanism. Aperiodic sensing platforms can operate in the infrared to provide an overlap with spectral fingerprints of biological molecules. Miniaturized optical biosensors may be based on engineered colorimetric scattering signatures (structural color), sharp spectral features, non-uniform angular distributions of scattered light, and broadband manipulation of the local density of states in nano-textured scattering surfaces with deterministic aperiodic order. The biosensors can be fabricated in semiconductor, metal, low- and high-index dielectric platforms using standard nanofabrication techniques such as electron-beam lithography, ion-beam milling, etc, and can be replicated over large areas by standard nano-imprint lithography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Luca Dal Negro, Svetlana V. Boriskina
  • Publication number: 20110285992
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. In one embodiment, the method has the steps of simultaneously evaporating a metal at a first evaporation rate and a polymer at a second evaporation rate different from the first evaporation rate, to form a nanocomposite of the metal and the polymer, depositing the nanocomposite onto a substrate, and applying an etching process to the deposited nanocomposite on the substrate to remove the polymer material, thereby forming an SERS substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventors: Alexandru S. Biris, Abhijit Biswas, Ilker S. Bayer, Lloyd A. Bumm
  • Publication number: 20110285993
    Abstract: An Echelle spectrometer arrangement (10) with internal order separation contains an Echelle grating (34) and a dispersing element (38) for order separation so that a two-dimensional spectrum having a plurality of separate orders (56) can be generated, an imagine optical system (18, 22, 28, 46), a flat-panel detector (16), and predispersion means (20) for predispersing the radiation into the direction of traverse dispersion of the dispersion element (38). The arrangement is characterized in that the predispersion means (20) comprise a predispersion element which is arranged along the optical path behind the inlet spacing (12) inside the spectrometer arrangement. The imaging optical system is designed in such a manner that the predispersed radiation can be imaged onto an additional image plane (24) which does not have any boundaries in the predispersion direction and which is arranged along the optical path between the predispersion element (20) and the echelle grating (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Leibniz Institut fur Analytische Wissenschaften- ISAS-e.V.
    Inventors: Helmut Becker-Ross, Stefan Florek, Michael Okruss
  • Publication number: 20110285994
    Abstract: A method of monitoring laser shock peening of a material includes forming an ablative layer on the material, directing the laser beam at the ablative layer to produce an acoustic wave in the material, converting the acoustic wave in the material to thermal energy external to the material and measuring the thermal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Manu Mathai, Gabriel Della-Fera
  • Publication number: 20110285995
    Abstract: Devices and methods for hyperspectral and multispectral imaging are discussed. In particular, Image Mapping Spectrometer systems, methods of use, and methods of manufacture are presented. Generally, an image mapping spectrometer comprises an image mapping field unit, a spectral separation unit, and a selective imager. Image mapping spectrometers may be used in spectral imaging of optical samples. In some embodiments, the image mapping field unit of an image mapping spectrometer may be manufactured with surface shaped diamond tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tomasz S. Tkaczyk, Robert T. Kester, Liang Gao
  • Publication number: 20110285996
    Abstract: This application describes designs, implementations, and techniques for controlling propagation mode or modes of light in a common optical path, which may include one or more waveguides, to sense a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: TOMOPHASE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Feiling Wang
  • Publication number: 20110285997
    Abstract: An assembly for testing the effectiveness of anti-fog coatings on eyewear lenses, the assembly comprising a chamber for receiving and retaining the eyewear, means for controlling the temperature and relative humidity in the chamber, means for providing warm moist air to the chamber, and a hazemeter for detecting and recording haze values exhibited by the lenses; and a method for evaluating effectiveness of anti-fog coatings on eyewear lenses, utilizing the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: USA as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: David P. Ziegler, Christopher Drew, Michelle Markey
  • Publication number: 20110285998
    Abstract: This invention makes it possible to measure a concentration of a gas component having the adsorption even thought the concentration is low, and to improve a response speed of the measurement of the concentration, and comprises a body that has an introduction port to introduce a sample gas into a measurement cell, a laser light irradiation part that irradiates the laser light on the measurement cell, a heating pipe that applies heat to the sample gas introduced into the introduction port, a flow rate limit part that makes the sample gas at a negative pressure and that introduces the negative-pressurized heated sample gas into the body, and a negative pressure pump that keeps inside of the measurement cell and a flow channel from a downstream side of the flow rate limit part to the measurement cell at the negative pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Hara, Montajir Rahman, Shigeru Nakatani, Masahiro Nakane
  • Publication number: 20110285999
    Abstract: There is provided a surface plasmon resonance sensor including a metallic graphene layer formed in a core of a predetermined area of an optical fiber from which a jacket and a cladding are removed. Further, a preparing method of the surface plasmon resonance sensor and a surface plasmon resonance sensor system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOR CORPORATE COLLABORATION
    Inventors: Taesung Kim, Byung Hee Hong, Jaeboong Choi, Atul Kulkarni, Hyeong Keun Kim
  • Publication number: 20110286000
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optically characterizing a turbid sample are provided. A structured light beam is impinged on the sample. The sample includes an embedded region. A reflected light image of the structured light beam is detected from the sample. A measured reflectance image of the structured light beam for the sample is determined based on the reflected light image and a reflectance standard. The following parameters are determined: absorption coefficients ÿa, scattering coefficient ÿs and anisotropy factor g of the sample from the reflectance image. A size parameter of the embedded region is estimated based on the absorption coefficients ÿa, scattering coefficient ÿs and/or anisotropy factor g of the sample from the measured reflectance image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Hu, Cheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20110286001
    Abstract: By including an illumination system and a detection system, an information collecting function of monitoring an environment, such as temperature and atmospheric pressure, and an apparatus state managing function having a feedback function of comparing the monitoring result and a design value, a theoretical calculation value or an ideal value derived from simulation results and calibrating an apparatus so that the monitoring result is brought close to the ideal value, a unit for keeping the apparatus state and apparatus sensitivity constant is provided. A control unit 800 is configured to include a recording unit 801, a comparing unit 802, a sensitivity predicting unit 803, and a feedback control unit 804. In the comparing unit 802, the monitoring result transmitted from the recording unit 801 and an ideal value stored in a database 805 are compared with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Atsushi Taniguchi, Taketo Ueno, Yukihiro Shibata, Shunji Maeda, Tetsuya Matsui
  • Publication number: 20110286002
    Abstract: A light reflecting mask includes a reflecting layer which is provided on a substrate and reflects light, an absorbing layer which is provided on the reflecting layer and absorbs light, a device pattern which is formed in a first region of the absorbing layer, and a reflectance measuring pattern which is formed in a second region of the absorbing layer. The reflectance measuring pattern is a diffraction grating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Kosuke TAKAI
  • Publication number: 20110286003
    Abstract: An optical image measuring device includes: an optical system that generates and detects interference light; an image forming part that forms a tomographic image based on the detection; an alignment part that performs alignment of the optical system with respect to an object; a focusing part that focuses the optical system with respect to the region of interest; a determining part that determines the suitability of the position of the optical system by the alignment part, the suitability of the focus state by the focusing part, and the suitability of the position of the tomographic image in a frame; a control part that, when it is determined that all of the positions of the optical system, position of focus state and the position in said frame are appropriate, controls the optical system and the image forming part, making it possible to obtain the tomographic image of the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventor: Yusuke Ono
  • Publication number: 20110286004
    Abstract: A method an optical position measuring instrument for detecting a relative position of a scanning unit and a scale. The optical position measuring instrument includes a scale and a scanning unit, wherein the scanning unit and the scale are movable with respect to one another along a curved measurement direction. The scanning unit includes a detector unit, and a reflector unit that has a first wave front corrector, a beam direction inverter and a second wave front corrector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Michael Hermann, Karsten Sändig
  • Publication number: 20110286005
    Abstract: A welding inspection method has steps of: generating transmission laser light for generating an ultrasonic wave and transmitting the transmission laser light to an object to be inspected during or after welding operation for irradiation; generating reception laser light for detecting an ultrasonic wave and transmitting the reception laser light to the object to be inspected for irradiation; collecting laser light scattered and reflected at surface of the object to be inspected; performing interference measurement of the laser light and obtaining an ultrasonic signal; and analyzing the ultrasonic signal obtained by the interference measurement. At least one of the transmission laser light generated in the transmission laser light irradiation step and the reception laser light generated in the reception laser light irradiation step is irradiated onto a welded metal part or a groove side surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Setsu YAMAMOTO, Takahiro Miura, Takeshi Hoshi, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Yoshihiro Fujita, Shozo Hirano, Kazumi Watanabe, Satoshi Nagai, Masahiro Yoshida, Satoru Asai, Makoto Ochiai, Jun Semboshi
  • Publication number: 20110286006
    Abstract: A central ray blocking aperture element is utilized in a chromatic confocal point sensor optical pen for chromatic range sensing. The central ray blocking aperture element blocks light which would otherwise pass through the chromatic confocal point sensor optical pen proximate to its optical axis. The average numerical aperture of the operative light rays of the optical pen is thereby increased, which decreases the width of a corresponding spectral peak that the optical pen provides in the spectrometer of a chromatic confocal point sensor system and thereby improves the overall measurement resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yong Xie
  • Publication number: 20110286007
    Abstract: An improved dimensional detection system is portable and can be used to characterize a workpiece. The dimensional detection system employs as few as a single focused light source and as few as a single camera along with a calibration data set to convert the illuminated pixels of an image of a beam on the workpiece into a cloud of real world points in space on an outer surface of the workpiece. The cloud of points can be processed to characterize the workpiece, such as by determining the right hexahedron that would encompass all of the real world points in space and which could be used to determine a dimensional weight of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: John Gregory Pangrazio, John Alan Pangrazio, Robert Thomas Pangrazio, Kenneth Lloyd Brey, Cesar Pena-Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20110286008
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an accommodating device for a dispensing or infusion device, comprising: a displaceable element which is displaced within the accommodating device when a cartridge is inserted into the accommodating device; and at least one sensor which can detect the presence or absence of the displaceable element or a detection element disposed on or in the displaceable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Andreas Schlaeppi, Jean-Noel Fehr, Stefan Lindegger
  • Publication number: 20110286009
    Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus to detect objects within a monitored region includes a housing having a window. A sensor includes a transmitting/receiving unit arranged inside the housing and rotatable around an axis. The transmitting/receiving unit includes a transmitter to emit light rays and a receiver to receive light rays. The transmitted light rays and the received light rays are conducted through the window in the housing. The window is optically adapted to shape the transmitted light rays and the received light rays into beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Leuze Electronic GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Lutz LOHMANN
  • Publication number: 20110286010
    Abstract: A target for use in a motion tracking system includes an optically transparent substrate with front and rear artwork. A robust landmark is comprised of portions of the front and rear artwork, and includes alternating spokes and interstitial spaces. The front and rear artwork also define orientation dependent radiation regions that occupy a portion of the interstitial spaces. The artwork also provides target identification markings and markings for providing in-plane rotation information. The surface area of the robust landmark maximized with respect to the total surface area of the target size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Todd P. Kusik, Brian S. R. Armstrong, Robert T. Barrows, Ethan V. Munson
  • Publication number: 20110286011
    Abstract: A risk of a disadvantage was caused where the entire face of an image subjected to an interpolation or thinning processing causes an increased boundary length between a region including pixels (printing region) and a region not including pixels (paper background region) or causes a broken texture in the image. To prevent this, a transition area is provided in the image so that only the transition area can be subjected to an interpolation or thinning processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Shoji
  • Publication number: 20110286012
    Abstract: A label printer, comprising: input means operable by a user; display means; and control means connected to the input means and the display means. The control means are configured to control the display means to first display a header and a first image representative of a label; and, in response to receiving at the control means a signal indicative of an operation of the input means by a user to select the header, to control the display to then display a second image representative of the label and a graphical control panel associated with said header. The second image representative of the label is of a size smaller than the first image representative of the label. The display means may comprise a touchscreen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: DYMO
    Inventors: Elke De Munck, Dirke Winne, Jeroen Leyman, Jimmy Dullaert, Jos Vleurinck, Emely Serruys, Julie Hibbard, Tom De Fruytier
  • Publication number: 20110286013
    Abstract: A recording apparatus using a recording head having a first recording element array and a second recording element array for one color component includes a first memory configured to store a plurality of first patterns which correspond to first, second, and third gradation values and in which dot data is allocated to the first recording element array or the second recording element array, a second pattern which corresponds to fourth gradation value and in which dot data is allocated to the first recording element array, and a third pattern corresponds to fifth gradation value and in which dot data is allocated to the second recording element array, a data acquisition unit configured to acquire multi-valued data at the first, the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth gradation value, a generation unit configured to generate dot data based on the multi-valued data generated by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitai
  • Publication number: 20110286014
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining a printer metric in terms of image quality (IQ) over a large complex set of conditions based upon measurements taken over a small simple set of conditions while compensating for printer drift. The present system and method effectively utilizes a predictive model that predicts noise measurements of multi-separations from those of single-separation colors and/or a subset of the multi-separations. Because a model is used to comprehend the metric over the entire gamut, the number of patches is reduced. This reduction enables the method to be used within a machine to dynamically characterize the device's image quality metric. Various embodiments have been disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Wencheng Wu, Edul N. Dalal
  • Publication number: 20110286015
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for converting a set of L*a*b* values to CMYK color space in which all CMYK formulations that produce each L*a*b* value are found and enumerated. The CMYK formulations are found through a search algorithm starting with the lightest L*a*b* values then visiting neighboring L*a*b* values until the entire L*a*b* color set has been processed. The CMYK space is tessellated into a set of pentahedrons, and for each L*a*b* value, an enclosing pentahedron is found and the CMYK values corresponding to where the locus of this point penetrates each surface is recorded. Adjacent pentahedrons are then visited and this process continues until the gamut boundary is reached. The result is a piecewise linear representation of the CMYK locus containing all values that will give the target L*a*b* value. The present method provides a flexible and powerful approach for solving color management problems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Martin S. Maltz, Raja Bala, Yonghui Zhao, Matthew Frederick Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20110286016
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for printing jobs received from enterprise customers through a global printing network. One aspect relates to an architecture that interfaces customers, communication service firms (CSFs), and downstream digital print service providers (PSPs) in a global communications network. Such an architecture permits last-mile production functions that allow the distribution of print jobs to be optimized, containing costs, maintaining quality, and performing billing functions that improve the quality of such networks and make a global print network feasible. As a result, Enterprise customers benefit from lower costs and global sourcing while print service providers and graphics service firms benefit from increased revenue due to increased utilization of the overall global network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: HUBCAST INC.
    Inventors: Toby LaVigne, Christopher David Wells, Aron Blume
  • Publication number: 20110286017
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, fast error diffusion processing is performed without increasing the size of an error diffusion processing circuit, even in cases where the print data to be generated is 12 colors data or similarly large data. More specifically, with quantization by error diffusion, binarized image data for 12 colors is obtained by causing an image processing circuit that executes 6 colors quantization processing to operate twice. At this point, RAM realized by DRAM with comparatively slow operating speeds, for example, is accessed for error data diffused to a first raster and error data diffused from a last raster. In contrast, an error buffer realized by SRAM inside the image processing circuit with fast operating speeds is accessed for all other error data. Thus, as a result, memory access speeds for reading out and writing error data can be improved overall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Takemura
  • Publication number: 20110286018
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of outputting an image using a plurality of coloring agents includes a printing unit configured to print patch data to be used for correction of image data to be output by the image forming apparatus using the plurality of coloring agents, a selection unit configured to select a color corresponding to a coloring agent to be used in printing by the printing unit from the plurality of coloring agents, and a change unit configured to change an arrangement of a pattern of patch data which is printed using the coloring agent of the color selected by the selection unit to an arrangement different from an arrangement of a pattern of patch data to be formed using the selected coloring agent in patch data to be printed using the plurality of coloring agents when the patch data is printed by the printing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Asako Hashizume
  • Publication number: 20110286019
    Abstract: A printing machine includes a high-speed print device configured to receive a print media and discharge a printed product that includes a printed image. An image capturing device is positioned adjacent the print device and is configured to capture an image of the printed image on the printed product. A computer includes a monitor, a processor, an input device, and a communication device configured to communicate with the print device. The monitor is configured to display the captured image, the input device is configured to allow a user to vary the displayed image, and the processor is configured to calculate an adjustment to the print device in response to the varied image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Rick C. Honeck, Adam Nelson, Steve Daily, Jon Ubert, John C. Seymour, Michael D. Sisco
  • Publication number: 20110286020
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an image processor that can reduce color unevenness occurring in a composite color image formed by overlapping different types of inks due to a variation in printing characteristic among a plurality of nozzles while suppressing a reduction in processing speed in generation of printing data. The image processor converts a color signal indicating the image represented by a plurality of elements to a color signal corresponding to the plurality of inks with use of a conversion table determined on the basis of ejection characteristics of nozzle groups corresponding to the plurality of inks so as to suppress color unevenness occurring in a composite color image due to a variation in ejection characteristic among the plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomokazu Ishikawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Fumitaka Goto, Tohru Ikeda, Nobutaka Miyake, Makoto Torigoe
  • Publication number: 20110286021
    Abstract: When a plurality of test copies of an identical image are required, print data of the first page is created from the same image that is used in regular printing and is test-printed; the second and following pages are test-printed using a simplified image that is created by extracting only contour portions of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiko HIRASAWA
  • Publication number: 20110286022
    Abstract: A print control apparatus configured to control a plurality of types of printers, the print control apparatus including: a storage part storing a printer type, a function of the printer type, and a correspondence between the printer type and the function of the printer type; an acquisition part, which acquires identification information for identifying at least the printer type from the printer, and the acquisition part acquires the function corresponding to the printer type identified based on the identification information from the storage part, and a display part displaying an operation screen corresponding to the function acquired by the acquisition part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryota KAKITSUBA
  • Publication number: 20110286023
    Abstract: There is provided a form creation device including a retaining unit that retains a range of set information which prescribes image elements that are suitable for OCR processing and an image generation unit that generates a form image based on a user's input and the set information range retained in the retaining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Shoichi HAGISAWA, Go DOJO, Toshihiko SUGITA, Yoshinori KUWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20110286024
    Abstract: A document copier is disclosed. The document copier has a code sensor for sensing coded data on a surface of a source page. The source page contains the coded data and content. A controller is provided for identifying from the coded data an electronic document containing the content, and for retrieving the electronic document. A print engine then prints the content on a blank page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110286025
    Abstract: A method of using a mobile device to authenticate a print medium before completing printing onto the print medium, the mobile device including processing means, a printhead and a sensor, the print medium comprising a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: using the sensor to sense coded data provided on a surface of the substrate, the coded data having a plurality of coded data portions; using the processing means to interpret the plurality of coded data portions to authenticate the print medium; and in the event the authentication step is successful, using the printhead to print onto the print medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
  • Publication number: 20110286026
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a unit configured to acquire identification information for identifying a document management server from a cooperation server; a data reception unit configured to receive data including information concerning a job from a printing apparatus, a unit configured to determine; based on the received data and the identification information, whether document data of the received data is document data; a unit configured to store the received data when the determination unit determines that the document data is document data managed by a first document management server; a unit configured to transmit the received data to the cooperation server when the determination unit determines that the document data is carry-in document data which is not managed by the first document management server; a unit configured to receive the instruction associated with permission/inhibition of printing; and a unit configured to transmit the instruction associated with permission/inhibition of printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriko Matsuzawa
  • Publication number: 20110286027
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an action part that processes an image; a user interface part; a power measurement part that measures power consumed by the image processing apparatus; and a control part that controls the action part and the user interface part, and controls power supply to the action part and the power measurement part. The control part obtains information of the power measured by the power measurement part and displays the information on the user interface part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takumi NOZAWA
  • Publication number: 20110286028
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a printer, a wireless device, an authentication information reader, an authentication device, and a processor. The printer forms an image on an image forming medium. The wireless device receives signals sent from an external device. The authentication information reader reads authentication information from a user operating the image forming apparatus. The authentication device authenticates the user by the authentication information read by the authentication information reader. If the wireless device receives signals sent from the external device, the processor starts warming up of the image forming unit, also, if the authentication device succeeds in user authentication, the processor causes the printer to form an image on the image forming medium in response to the user's request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Toshihiro Sone, Ryota Saeki
  • Publication number: 20110286029
    Abstract: When an ID card (41, 81) including user ID stored therein is set in an image processing apparatus (1, 71), the user ID is read out of the IC card. Upon depression of a key instructing individual setting, ID information including the user ID and apparatus ID is transmitted to a computer terminal (3; 3-1, 3-2) which stores a plurality of user ID's and setting information corresponding to the apparatus. Responding to the ID information transmitted, the computer terminal transmits individual setting information stored therein for each user back to the image processing apparatus, whereupon the apparatus stores the individual setting information in a memory and realizes the individual setting for each user, which corresponds to the set user ID, in a control panel (8) of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiro Kadowaki