Abstract: An image forming apparatus which configures a printing system includes an application server which has a function of editing and storing document data, and provides the document data in response to a request; the image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including a printing function; a data generation apparatus which generates, from the document data, print data printable by the image forming apparatus; and a storage apparatus which stores data having undergone processing by the image forming apparatus, the apparatuses being communicable with each other via a network, comprising: recording unit configured to record, as difference data, a setting difference upon setting change of print data; and transmission unit configured to execute processing for the print data, and transmitting a completion notification of the processing together with the difference data.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit which executes a predetermined image forming process to a paper, a control section which controls so as to receive reservations of a plurality of jobs, so as to execute the plurality of jobs in a predetermined order and to make the image forming unit carry out the image forming process to the paper in each predetermined interval, so as to continuously executed the plurality of jobs without interrupting the image forming process in each predetermined interval, so as to stop the image forming process in each predetermined interval until a reserved job be in a state where the image forming process is startable when a predetermined continuous execution not-feasible condition is met when starting an execution of the reserved job and a display section which displays an execution order of the plurality of jobs which are received by the control section so as to be specified.

Abstract: When an image formation instruction for created document data is received, image data for a preview image corresponding to the document data is generated, the preview image based on the image data is displayed on a display, and an image is formed using data for image formation based on the image data for the preview image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a near field communication (NFC) unit that establishes, when a portable terminal device comes near the NFC unit, wireless communication with the portable terminal device; a short-range communication unit that has a larger wireless communication coverage than that of the NFC unit, establishes, after the wireless communication has been established and connection setting information has been received via the NFC unit, wireless communication with the portable terminal device by using the connection setting information; a data processing unit that performs data processing on data received via the short-range communication unit; a printer unit that prints out the processed data; and a control unit that controls, when the data received via the short-range communication unit is determined to contain data about image processing control, processing performed by the data processing unit or the printer unit in accordance with the data about image processing control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a network interface unit for communication with an electronic mail server via a communication network, a main control unit that entirely controls the image forming apparatus and does not operate in a power-saving mode, and a sub control unit that inquires of the electronic mail server in the power-saving mode about whether an electronic mail addressed to the image forming apparatus is stored in the electronic mail server. When such an electronic mail is stored in the electronic mail server, the sub control unit activates the main control unit. The main control unit shifts the image forming apparatus from the power-saving mode to a normal mode, and acquires the electronic mail from the electronic mail server. An image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium based on an attachment file attached to the electronic mail acquired by the main control unit.

Abstract: A network interface device having a first board to connect with a wired network to provide signal exchange, which is mounted in a network electronic device, a second board to connect with a wireless network to provide signal exchange, and a first and a second link portion provided at the first and the second boards to removably connect the first and the second boards, respectively.

Abstract: A program execution control method for a printer provided with a controller including a CPU, a RAM and a ROM, wherein a first program to be operated in a printing state, a second program to be operated in a sleep state and a third program to be operated in a standby state are stored in the ROM, the program execution control method includes the steps of: executing by the CPU, in the printing state, the first program by expanding the first program on the RAM, and by using a work area of the RAM; executing by the CPU, in the sleep state, the second program without expanding the second program on the RAM, and without using the work area of the RAM; and executing by the CPU, in the standby state, the third program without expanding the third program on the RAM, and by using the work area of the RAM.

Abstract: A scanning system includes a transparent plate and a first crop marker. A document to be scanned is placed upon the transparent plate. The first crop marker is mounted on first housing for the scanning system located adjacent to a first edge of the transparent plate. The first crop marker allows a user to specify a value for a first dimension of a final image to be produced by the scanning system. The scanning system detects a location of the first crop marker and crops the final image of the document in accordance with the value of the first dimension.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure provides a halftoning method for annular rasters comprising: using annular rasters with uniformly spaced raster lines and uniformly spaced pixels within the raster lines; angularly tiling wedge shaped halftone cells around at least a partial circumferential print medium wherein an integer number of wedge tiles fills a disc space; wherein the annular rasters are considered in arcs and wherein pixel thresholds in the wedge shaped halftone cells are considered in arcs so as to conform to the annular rasters upon tiling the wedge shaped halftone cells; and, setting the number of pixel thresholds in each arc raster of the cell to an integer value near a desired writing resolution to enable seamless tiling wherein the number of thresholds increase as a function of a wedge cell radius.

Abstract: Data processing methods provide a work flow for producing custom screen printed products based on digital images. Disclosed techniques include a work flow for receiving user-supplied images and transforming the images into color separation data and related metadata that can drive screen printing, including previewing the appearance of the products as they will appear when screen printed, for user approval; finding key color components using a filtering and grouping approach; image resolution limiting; structured error diffusion halftoning with an improved random number generator for use in adding blue noise; error diffusion dot spread correction; and others.

Abstract: A method of adjusting line data is provided, where a dot pattern for one line is represented by dot data indicative of dot formation and blank data indicative of no dot formation. The method includes: determining whether X or more blank data are arranged consecutively, the X or more blank data including adjacent blank data adjacent to dot data on at least one side of the dot data, where X is an integer greater than or equal to one (X?1); and converting Y consecutive blank data including the adjacent blank data into dot data if it is determined that the X or more blank data are arranged consecutively in the determining step, where Y is an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to X (X?Y?1).

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate sorting used printed sheets of paper or other media, identifying reusable pages (i.e., pages without print on one or both sides), and outputting the reusable pages for reuse. If print is detected on one side of a used page, a security or interference pattern, or a blackout pattern, is printed over the detected print (e.g., text or the like) to conceal or obscure the print to render it illegible. In this manner, potentially sensitive or confidential information is concealed, and the reusable pages are output for use in a user-selected application (e.g., label printing, etc.) while ensuring that confidential information is obscured.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for a communication device operable pursuant to a push content communication scheme. An instruction detector detects a message containing a instruction by which to operate upon push content. The message is, for instance, generated by a mobile station at which an application associated with the content is resident. Once detected by the instruction detector, a content operator operates upon the content in a manner corresponding to the instruction contained in the detected message. Once operated upon, the content is stored at a storage element, available when an application of which the content is associated, becomes active.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a display unit having a display member for displaying a read image that has been read, and an image reader unit having a mount portion for mounting the display unit in a demountable manner, a reading unit for reading a read-target medium, and a data transmitting unit for outputting read image data, which is generated by the reading unit, to the display unit. The display unit mounted on the mount portion functions as a read-target-medium stack tray for stacking either a read-target medium to be fed to the image reader unit or a read-target medium discharged from the image reader unit.

Abstract: A system and a method of processing faxes are disclosed. The method includes receiving image data that includes a plurality of pages to be transmitted by a first fax device coupled to a fax transmission network. Page number information is encoded in a field of a fax transmission. The fax transmission, including the image data and encoded page number information, is transmitted to a second fax device coupled to the fax transmission network. Whether all pages of the fax transmission are received is determined, based on the transmitted page number information. When fewer than all pages of the fax transmission are received, the received pages of the image data are withheld at the second fax device. When all pages have been received, the pages are concatenated for printing without interruption.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus which scans a document, includes: a scanning section which includes a scanning area and which scans the document in the scanning area; a control device which includes a position information capturing section which captures a position information indicating a position of the document on the scanning area when the document is scanned by the scanning section and a processing section which performs a plurality of processes with respect to an image data of the document scanned by the scanning section based on the position information captured by the position information capturing section.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a generator. By using compressed image data which is obtained by compressing image data that have been obtained by reading a document with a reading unit, and combinational data, which represent an image or text to be combined with an image represented by the image data, the generator generates a single file by combining the compressed image data and the combinational data without decompressing the compressed image data, so that the compressed image data and the combinational data are held in separate layers.

Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes an operation unit operated by a user for detecting an instruction from the user, a transportation unit for transporting a read medium, a medium detector for detecting the read medium, a reader for reading the read medium, and an instruction detector for detecting the instruction from the user. The instruction detector is different from the operation unit. Moreover, the apparatus includes a controller for performing control, based on the instruction from the user. The instruction detector is valid between a time when the medium detector detects the read medium and a time when reading the read medium is finished.

Abstract: A system registers a specified storage region included in a plurality of storage regions for storing data and a specified property item given to data stored in the specified storage region, selects data to be facsimile-transmitted from among a plurality of pieces of data stored in the plurality of storage regions, and determines whether the selected data is the data stored in the specified storage region. When the selected data is the data stored in the specified storage region, the information processing system acquires a value of the specified property item given to the selected data, and sets the acquired value as the facsimile number of the destination.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a pattern generation unit configured to cause an image forming section to generate a plurality of image patterns that have periodicity unique to the image forming section and are different from each other, a selection unit configured to select one test pattern from the generated plurality of image patterns, and an image correction unit configured to correct an image based on the test pattern selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided for performing image processing on an image containing a first image and a second image representing a translucent object. The image processing apparatus includes a detector that detects a non-overlapping region in the second image, the non-overlapping region being a region that does not overlap the first image, and an equalizing portion that makes gradations in the non-overlapping region uniform.

Abstract: A system for identifying a physical page containing printed text from a plurality of page fragment images. The system includes: (A) a handheld electronic device having: a camera for capturing a plurality of page fragment images at a plurality of different capture points when the device is moved across the physical page; motion sensing circuitry for measuring a displacement or a direction of movement; and a transceiver; (B) a processing system configured for: performing OCR on each captured page fragment image to identify a plurality of glyphs in a two-dimensional array; and creating a glyph group key for each page fragment image; and (C) an inverted index of the glyph group keys.

Abstract: A method for reproducing a document is provided. The method includes the following steps: scanning a front side and a back side of an original and accordingly producing a front side image and a back side image; determining a size of the original; comparing the size of the original with a page size; and if the size of the original is determined smaller than one half of the page size, producing one-page image data representing the front side image and the back side image on one single page. An apparatus for reproducing the document is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes image reader reading an image of a manuscript which is placed on a manuscript platen, and size detector detecting a size of the manuscript, wherein the image reader slides inside a chassis, which is arranged below the manuscript platen, in parallel to the manuscript platen and reads the image of the manuscript, wherein the size detector includes two light sensors each of which is composed of a pair of light emitter emitting light toward the manuscript platen from a position under the manuscript platen, and light receiver receiving reflection light which is reflected by the manuscript, wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are mounted on one substrate so that each line connecting the light emitter with the light receiver of the light sensor may be on one straight line, and wherein the size detector is arranged at one internal side area of the chassis, which does not overlap with an area through which the image reader slides, so that the line connecting the light e

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit, a request reception unit configured to receive a scanning request requesting to scan an image, a scanning execution unit configured to execute a scanning process to scan the image based on the scanning request and thereby to obtain image data, and a transmitting unit. The transmitting unit is configured to determine whether to transmit the obtained image data to an information processing apparatus corresponding to first identification information specified in the scanning request based on a charging scheme of a communication service specified in the scanning request, to transmit the obtained image data to the information processing apparatus if it is determined to transmit the image data, and to store the image data in the storage unit if it is determined not to transmit the image data.

Abstract: An optical scanning unit includes a light source including a plurality of light-emitting elements; a light detector to detect a light beam emitted from the light source; a light-flux splitter, angled to the optical axis of the light beam emitted from the light source, having an aperture, a portion of reduced thickness susceptible to warping, a concave face of the warped light-flux splitter as a reflecting face, and a convex face of the warped light-flux splitter opposite the concave face as a non-reflecting face; and a light-flux splitter pressing unit to press the light-flux splitter onto a light-flux splitter holding member without blocking the aperture. Light beam passed the aperture is used as a write-use light flux. The reflecting face reflects a light flux other than the write-use light flux as a monitor-use light flux. The light-flux splitter pressing unit presses a portion of maximum convexity of the non-reflecting face.

Abstract: An optical scanner contains in a casing made of thermoplastic material a light source that emits an image light based on image data, and at least one optical element that is disposed in an optical path for the image light. The optical element is held through a holding member by the casing. The holding member is uprightly held at one edge portion thereof on an inside surface of the casing, and secures the optical element at the other edge portion thereof. The holding member has a shape that causes a thermal deformation in which a leaning direction of the other edge portion is opposite to a leaning direction of the one edge portion due to a thermal deformation of the inside surface of the casing when a temperature of the casing rises.

Abstract: An image reader includes an original transport device to transport an original, and an image reading device including multiple image sensor arrays having image reading areas staggered relative to the transport direction of the original in such a manner that the multiple image sensor arrays are offset at least partially, in the main scanning direction of the original with a predetermined gap therebetween in the transport direction. There is at least one original transport speed detector to detect the transport speed of the original transported by the original transport device, a storing device to store a reference delay time period which is between when the image sensor arrays on the upstream side read a predetermined position relative to the transport direction and when the image sensor arrays on the downstream side read the predetermined position. Further, there is a misalignment amount calculator, and an image synthesizer to synthesize an image read by the image sensor arrays.

Abstract: An image scanning device, an image forming apparatus including the image scanning device, and a method of controlling image quality in the image scanning device are provided. The image scanning device includes a document board on which documents to be scanned are placed, a scanning unit which is installed on a lower portion of the document board to be linearly reciprocated, and comprises a scanner including a light guide for irradiating light to the documents, and light emitting devices that are separated from both ends of the light guide and irradiate light, and an image sensor for receiving the light emitted from the scanning unit, wherein, loss of the light emitted from the light emitting devices is compensated for by increasing intensity of electric current supplied to the light emitting devices as a distance between the light emitting devices and the light guide increases.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes: a light source; a light deflector configured to deflect a light beam from the light source in a main scanning direction; a scanning lens through which the light beam having been deflected by the light deflector passes; a beam detector configured to detect the light beam; a mirror disposed between the light deflector and the scanning lens in an optical axis direction of the scanning lens and configured to reflect the light beam having been deflected by the light deflector toward the beam detector; and a wall portion configured to cover one end face of the mirror that faces the scanning lens, wherein the surface of the wall portion facing the scanning lens is tilted with respect to a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A process for digitizing closed books without having to open them, of printed documents or manuscripts, bound or in batches, without having to separate them, using an imaging system of a three-dimensional object by Terahertz waves including acquiring by an THz acquisition subsystem a set of three-dimensional low-resolution images representative of this object and obtained by application of shifts orthogonal three-dimensional in translation according to which the object and the THz acquisition subsystem are relatively shifted relative to each other, a process in which, during these three-dimensional shifts, the amplitude of the relative shift in each of these three dimensions is less than the spatial resolution of the THz acquisition subsystem in each of these three dimensions and a three-dimensional super-resolution processing step is provided, capable of generating a super-resolved 3D image from a linear combination of 3D low-resolution images and an image-restoration step capable of generating a restored su

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an automatic document feeder having a media feeding section, a media collecting section and a media conveying path extending from the media feeding section to the media collecting section. The imaging apparatus includes a scan head adjacent to the automatic document feeder. The scan head is moveable to a raised position aligned with a portion of the media conveying path for scanning a media sheet in the portion of the media conveying path.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an operating unit that issues a starting instruction to start reading a medium which is a read-target medium, according to a user's operation, a conveying unit that conveys the medium, a display unit that displays states of the medium conveyed, a reading unit that reads the medium, and a medium detecting unit that detects the medium. The display unit displays contents indicating that the reading operation is possible when the reading operation of the medium is completed and the medium detecting unit does not detect the medium. The conveying unit starts conveyance of the medium in response to the read-operation starting instruction, when the read-target medium is a first medium in a set of media, and when the medium detecting unit detects the first medium, and the conveying unit starts conveyance of the medium, when the read-target medium is a second or later medium in the set of media, after the medium detecting unit detects the second or later medium.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reader unit that has a plurality of light receiving elements for reading an image on an original, and moves relative to a frame for applying a pressing force to a read-target surface of the original; and a driven roller that is rotatable, comes into contact with the original, and moves relative to the frame and independent of the image reader unit in a direction in which the image reader unit applies the pressing force to the original, thereby applying a pressing force to the original independent of the image reader unit.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes an original feed table that has a detection hole and on which a bundle composed of a plurality of originals is set; and an original detection sensor that detects the original on the original feed table. The original detection sensor is a reflective optical sensor having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit, and disposed under or inside of the original feed table to detect the original though the detection hole. The detection hole includes a light-emitting side portion corresponding to the light-emitting unit of and a light-receiving side portion corresponding to the light-receiving unit of the original detection sensor, the light-emitting side portion and the light-receiving side portion having planar shapes different from each other. The original feed table includes a light-shielding portion that is provided above the light-receiving unit of the original detection sensor, and has a slanted surface overhanging the light-receiving unit.

Abstract: A system and method of scanner characterization is provided which establishes an accurate relationship between a scanner's device-dependent (scanner) color space and a device-independent colorimetric space. A hierarchical subdivision of device-dependent color space into sub-regions is performed. The sub-regions are defined by cutting planes dividing patch color values in device-dependent color space perpendicular to principal axes. A color transformation matrix is then generated establishing the relationship between the scanner device-dependent color space and the device-independent color space for each sub-region of device-dependent color space using the patch color values and a weighting function for each matrix. Each weighting function gives a weight to each patch color value which is a function of the location of the patch color value with respect to the cutting planes defining the sub-region containing the patch color value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an output unit that outputs a tone-correction-parameter generation sheet and a scanner-profile generation sheet identical in layout of patch columns, each containing patches of different tone values, formed thereon; a scanning unit that scans the patches at scanner positions on a platen; a scanner-profile creating unit that creates, for each of the scanner positions, a scanner profile specifying a relationship between readout values of patches on the scanner-profile generation sheet and color measurement values of the patches measured with a colorimeter; a color-measurement-value deriving unit that determines, from readout values of the patches on the tone-correction-parameter generation sheet and the scanner profiles for the scanner positions, color measurement values of the patches; and a calculating unit that calculates a tone correction parameter for correcting differences between the color measurement values and target color measurement values for the patches on th

Abstract: An optical reflection element includes a mirror portion and an oscillator coupled to the mirror portion. The oscillator includes a base, an insulating layer, a drive element, and a monitor element. The insulating layer is formed on the base. The drive element and the monitor element are formed on the insulating layer, and are separated from each other by a separation groove. Each of the drive element and the monitor element includes a lower electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode layer formed in that order on the insulating layer. The monitor element has high detection accuracy, allowing the optical reflection element to perform self-excited driving with high accuracy.

Abstract: A biaxial micro-electromechanical (MEMS) device is disclosed. The device includes a gimbal rotatable about a gimbal axis of rotation. A pair of gimbal torsion bars connects the gimbal to a support along the gimbal rotation axis. A mirror plate is rotatable about a mirror axis of rotation, the mirror plate rotation axis being substantially perpendicular to the gimbal rotation axis. A pair of mirror plate torsion bars connects the mirror plate to the gimbal along the mirror plate axis of rotation. One or more gimbal moment-of-inertia-altering blocks are positioned on a surface of the mirror plate away from the gimbal axis of rotation. Additionally, one or more mirror plate moment-of-inertia-altering blocks are positioned on a surface of the mirror plate away from the mirror plate rotation axis such that the distance from the mirror plate axis determines a resonant frequency of the biaxial MEMS device.

Abstract: A light source device includes a light source, a coupling lens configured to convert light emitted from the light source into a beam of light, a holding member configured to hold the coupling lens, and a frame to which the holding member is fixed. The holding member includes a tubular main body portion for holding the coupling lens, and a pair of first protrusions sticking out from an outer peripheral surface of the main body portion. The pair of first protrusions have fixing surfaces lying in the same plane and fixed to the frame.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch includes a light input output portion having an input port and an output port for a wavelength-multiplexed light, which are arranged in an array form in a first direction, a light dispersive unit which separates the wavelength-multiplexed light which has been input from the input port, into respective signal wavelengths, a condenser element which condenses light which has been separated into the signal wavelengths, and a light deflective element array which deflects the signal light in the first direction such that, respective signal wavelength light which has been condensed by the condenser element is switched to a desired output port.

Abstract: A display including a light source for generating light, an optical waveguide for receiving and evenly distributing light in a light propagation direction by total internal reflections and a matrix of electromechanical picture elements for modulating light to produce an image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light adjusting apparatus which is characterized in that it includes: a first substrate and a second substrate at least one of which has an aperture; a spacer which defines a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate; at least one incident light adjuster which includes a shaft member as a center of rotation and rotates between the first substrate and the second substrate in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis direction, a magnet being formed on at least part of the shaft; at least one driving device which includes a coil formed separately from the magnet, and drives the incident light adjuster; wherein the driving device rotates the incident light adjuster between a position at the aperture and a position to retract from the position of the aperture, further comprising a guide portion which is formed on the first substrate to restrict movement of the shaft member in directions other than a rotation direction thereof.

Abstract: A modulating retroreflector system includes a modulating retroreflector having a plurality of multiple quantum well modulator pixels and at least one transimpedance amplifier. The transimpedance amplifier receives a photocurrent generated by at least one of the plurality of modulator pixels. Each pixel is capacitively coupled to a current driver, which applies a high frequency digital electrical signal to the pixel when the voltage at the output of the transimpedance amplifier exceeds a threshold value. The modulated output of the retroreflector is reflected toward the source of the received optical beam. The system activates high frequency current drivers for only the illuminated pixels, eliminating the need for a separate angle of incidence sensor and reducing power requirements.

Abstract: An optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) is used to provide a continuous, high Q, modulated signal for a variety of purposes, including a carrier wave for communications, and radar emissions. The OEO of this invention replaces an RF filter in the conventional OEO with an interferometer, preferably a high finesse Fabry-Perot etalon as the mode selector, providing lower phase noise and higher RF frequency stability.

Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode opposing the first electrode, a first electrochromic layer, a second electrochromic layer, and an electrolyte contacted with the first and second electrochromic layers. The first and second electrochromic layers are positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and includes different electrochromic materials. The first and second electrochromic layers are simultaneously n-type or simultaneously p-type. The electrochromic device may display transparency and various colors in a single pixel without using plural sub-pixels.

Abstract: A multifunctional building component is capable of serving as one or more of a window, a wall, a shading device, a roofing element, a color panel, a display, and an energy harvesting, storage, and distribution element.

Abstract: An environmental sensing device includes an interferometric modulator which permanently actuates, in a visually-detectable manner, in response to being exposed to a predetermined environmental threshold or condition. The device can include a reactive layer, coating, or proof mass disposed on a movable member of the interferometric modulator. The reactive layer, coating, or proof mass can expand, contract, bend, or otherwise move when exposed to a predefined chemical, level of humidity, temperature threshold, type of radiation, and/or level of mechanical shock, causing the interferometric modulator to collapse and permanently indicate such exposure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to micromirror devices and methods of fabricating a micromirror/micromirror array. According to an embodiment, micromirrors can be fabricated from a semiconductor substrate where after forming actuators and bonding pads on a front side of the semiconductor substrate, the device is flipped over to have a portion of the back side of the substrate removed and formed to become the mirror plate surface. The subject micromirrors can allow further miniaturization of endoscopes and other optical applications without sacrificing the optical aperture through their surface mounting capabilities.

Abstract: A display device (10) includes an upper substrate (first substrate) (2), a lower substrate (second substrate) (3), and a conductive liquid (16) that is sealed in a display space (S) formed between the upper substrate (2) and the lower substrate (3) so as to be moved toward an effective display region (P1) or a non-effective display region (P2). Ribs (14) are provided on the lower substrate (3) so as to partition the inside of the display space (S) in accordance with each of a plurality of pixel regions (P). The height h of the ribs (14) in the direction perpendicular to the upper substrate (2) and the lower substrate (3) is set to be smaller than the gap size H of the display space (S) in the perpendicular direction.