Abstract: A laser stabilization system includes laser source having first and second ends; first waveguide portion having first and second ends, first end of first waveguide portion coupled to first end of laser source; second waveguide portion having first and second ends, first end of second waveguide portion coupled to second end of laser source; micro-cavity coupled between second end of first waveguide portion and second end of second waveguide portion, micro-cavity having resonant frequency; and electronic locking loop coupled between micro-cavity and laser source, wherein electronic locking loop electronically locks laser source to resonant frequency of micro-cavity; wherein first waveguide portion is optical locking loop coupled between micro-cavity and laser source, wherein optical locking loop optically locks laser source to resonant frequency of micro-cavity; micro-cavity stabilization loop coupled with micro-cavity, wherein micro-cavity stabilization loop stabilizes resonant frequency of micro-cavity to ref

Abstract: An optical sensor device (38) for use in a measuring and/or inspection apparatus comprises an optical sensor head (40) including a white light sensor (44) having a wideband radiation source (50), a wavelength-sensitive receiver (52) and a beam splitting means (60); and an objective (46) for directing a measuring beam onto an object to be measured and detecting a reflection beam reflected from the object to be measured. The optical sensor device (38) further comprises a video sensor (80), wherein the beam path of the video sensor (80) passes through the same objective (46) as that of the white light sensor (44) of the optical sensor head (40).

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus that includes a processor coupled with a memory where the processor is operable to obtain a first speckled pattern of a first defocused image of a neighborhood of a location on an object, to obtain a second speckled pattern of a second defocused image of the neighborhood, to determine a shift between the first and second speckle patterns, and to calculate slope information of a surface profile at the location based on the determined shift. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A non-energy dissipating, curvature sensing device senses curvature variation of a sample and comprises an outer layer, an inner layer and at least one spacer. The outer layer is flexible, transparent material and has a shape. The inner layer is flexible, transparent material, has a shape corresponding to the shape of the outer layer, is positioned under the outer layer and is thicker and harder than the outer layer. At least one spacer is positioned between the outer layer and the inner layer and creates space between the outer layer and the inner layer. A non-energy dissipating, curvature sensing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring structures on masks (1) for photolithography, wherein firstly the mask (1) is mounted on a spatially movable platform (2). The position of the platform (2) is controlled in this case. The structure on the mask (1) is illuminated with illumination light from an illumination light source which emits coherent light. The light coming from the mask (1) is imaged onto a detection device (6) by an imaging optical unit (4) and detected. The detected signals are evaluated in an evaluation device (7) and the positions and dimensions of the structures are determined. The invention also relates to an apparatus by which these method steps, in particular, can be carried out. In this case, the accuracy of the position and dimension determination is increased by the properties of the illumination light being coordinated with the structure to be measured.

Abstract: A device and a method for measuring at least one surface section of an object that is mounted on a carrier includes at least one reference object that can be fixed relative to the carrier, and a holder that can be moved relative to the reference object in at least one first direction and on which a reference body and a distance measuring device are arranged. The reference body and the distance measuring device are mounted in a rotatable manner relative to each other. The distance measuring device is designed to determine a first distance to a first point of the surface section of the object and a second distance to a second point of the reference body wherein the second point corresponds to the first point.

Abstract: A film thickness measuring device includes a spectroscopic sensor and a data processor, wherein the spectroscopic sensor measures spectroscopic data of a film coated on a substrate and the data processor obtains measured color characteristic variables from the measured spectroscopic data, compares the measured color characteristic variables with plural sets of theoretical color characteristic variables corresponding to plural sets of values, each set including one of plural values of thickness and one of plural values of index of refraction of the film, determines index of refraction of the film using the set of values corresponding to the set of theoretical color characteristic variables which minimizes a difference between the set of theoretical color characteristic variables and the measured color characteristic variables, and determines thickness of the film using the index of refraction of the film.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rasterizing unit that rasterizes character information representing a character in a vector form into a first raster image in which pixels are arranged at a first predetermined density, a generator unit that generates a second raster image in accordance with the first raster image rasterized, and a mask image in which plural pixels are arranged at a second predetermined density, the plural pixels including a first pixel, and a second pixel, a exposure unit that irradiates an image carrier with the beam in response to the second raster image generated, a supply unit that supplies a developer to the image carrier which the exposure unit has irradiated with the beam, and develops on a surface of the image carrier an image responsive to the second raster image, and a transfer unit that transfers the developed image to a medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming characters for microprint and an image forming apparatus using the same. The method of forming characters for microprint includes determining for every image character a size font taking into account the rules to create small prints, rasterizing a character into a bitmap, skeletonizing the bitmap, reformatting the bitmap maintaining a character legibility, storing the bitmap, and forming halftoning cells from the reformatted bitmap.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides an image reading apparatus including: a document placement portion on which a document is allowed to be placed; a display portion, at least a part of which is transmissive of light; an image reading unit movable along a first direction below the document placement portion and comprising an light emitting unit configured to emit light; and a control unit operable to control the image reading unit in a plurality of operation modes. The plurality of operation modes include a first operation mode that allows the image reading unit to be positioned at a first position corresponding to the display portion and cause the light emitting unit to emit the light, and the display portion is transmissive of the light emitted from the light emitting unit at the first position.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a print job, an allocation unit configured to allocate, based on the print job received by the receiving unit, a printing process in which an image based on the received print job is printed on a printing medium by applying a printing agent thereto, and a drying process in which the printing agent applied to the printing medium is dried, and a change unit configured to change, based on a user's instruction, the drying process allocated by the allocation unit.

Abstract: A method of executing an additional extended feature of an image forming apparatus, includes receiving an application from an external storage medium, the application corresponding to the additional extended feature, installing the received application using one operating system of the plurality of operating systems, selecting the additional extended feature from a menu showing at least one application installed in the image forming apparatus, and executing an application corresponding to the selected additional extended feature using an operating system corresponding to the selected additional extended feature.

Abstract: A content of the common setting is applied to the plurality of devices and a content of the special setting is applied to a specific device among the plurality of devices. When the item of the special setting for the specific device is selected on the common setting screen, the acquiring unit is configured to acquire special setting screen data corresponding to the selected item of the special setting from an external device. A second setting screen supplying unit is configured to supply the special setting screen data to the display unit such that the display unit displays a special setting screen on which the content of the special setting for the selected item is settable.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that selects an image output mode from one of a plurality of output modes, the image processing apparatus including: an output mode selection unit that selects the image output mode by sequentially determining whether or not to select an image output mode in accordance with an output mode order allotted to the plurality of output modes, based on a ratio of a classified number of blocks to a reference number of blocks, wherein in a first determination in the output mode order, the reference number of blocks is a total number of blocks of the image, and in a second or subsequent determination in the output mode order, the reference number of blocks is a value that is obtained by subtracting the classified number of blocks in a preceding determination in the output mode order from the reference number of blocks in the preceding determination.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus, a second image forming apparatus disposed upstream in a sheet conveying direction and connected to the first image forming apparatus, and a post-processing apparatus that receives a sheet at a speed depending on a conveyance speed of a sheet discharged from the first image forming apparatus and that performs post-processing on the sheet. When a print job including a simplex image forming mode and a duplex image forming mode is to be executed, in the simplex image forming mode, a sheet is discharged in a reversed state to the post-processing apparatus. In the duplex image forming mode, the second image forming apparatus forms an image on a back side of a sheet, the first image forming apparatus forms an image on a front side of the sheet, and the sheet is discharged in a reversed state to the post-processing apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for managing a document. An example aspect provides a method of requesting a document to be displayed at a portable electronic device, including: installing at a computer a printer driver for displaying documents at the portable electronic device; creating an association of a portable account identifier with a unique identifier of the portable electronic device; using the printer driver and the association, to transmit the document to the portable electronic device over a network; and transmitting from the computer the document.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a power storage unit. The power storage unit includes a constant voltage generation part configured to generate a constant voltage from a commercial power supply, the constant voltage generation part being connected to an external apparatus operating by consuming power; a voltage increasing circuit configured to increase the constant voltage generated by the constant voltage generation part; a capacitor configured to store an electric charge supplied from the voltage increasing circuit; a circuit control part configured to control charging of the capacitor; and an output part configured to output power stored in the capacitor, the power having a voltage different from the constant voltage.

Abstract: An operating section structure positioned forward of a document scanning unit. The operating section structure includes: an image display surface; and an authentication device placement surface for mounting a detachable authentication device at an angle different from the image display surface.

Abstract: A method of searching for missing resources associated with an image forming apparatus, which includes forwarding a print job having a resource call-out from a host computer to an image forming apparatus; receiving the print job on the image forming apparatus; checking the image forming apparatus for a resource, which has been called out by the print job, and if the resource is not available on the image forming apparatus, obtaining the resource from a device having the resource by: sending a request for the resource from the image forming apparatus to the device having the resource; receiving a response from the device having the resource indicating that the resource is a secured resource requiring user authentication; and obtaining the secured resource by sending the user authentication to the device having the secured resource.

Abstract: A system for producing and inspecting prints having static and variable contents includes a printing unit, an inspection unit, and a computation unit. The computation unit integrates print-specific information having static and variable contents in the form of print parameters and inspection parameters into a common JobTicket and routes the JobTicket i) both to the printing unit and to the inspection unit or ii) routes the JobTicket first of all to the printing unit and from the printing unit to the inspection unit, or vice versa. The print parameters are extracted from the common JobTicket and the printing unit uses the extracted print parameters to create prints. The inspection parameters are extracted from the common JobTicket and the inspection unit uses the extracted inspection parameters to inspect the prints.

Abstract: In order to vary a threshold value for performing an error diffusion process depending on a pixel position, a threshold value matrix configured to have pluralities of rows and columns is prepared. In this case, pieces of data in the threshold value matrix are arrayed such that average values in the respective rows and average values in the respective columns are almost the same value. If such a threshold value matrix is used to perform the error diffusion process, the dot sparseness and denseness do not occur with a period of the matrix, and therefore the pattern or sweeping phenomenon specific to the error diffusion can be suppressed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising, a detector unit configured to detect an event that a user logged in to the image processing apparatus logs out, an query unit configured to be operable when said detector unit detects the event, to query the user whether or not to change a setting of a job under execution, and a control unit configured to be operable when the setting of the job is to be changed as a result of the query made by said query unit, to change the setting of the job and then perform a logout, and, when the setting of the job is not to be changed as a result of the query made by said query unit, to restrict the logout.

Abstract: Methods of providing print fulfillment for digital images may include saving an image selection property in digital memory, saving a batching property in digital memory, and saving digital images and associated image data in digital memory. A group of the digital images that satisfy the image selection property saved in digital memory may be selected, and it may be determined if the batching property saved in digital memory is satisfied for the group of the digital images having associated image data that satisfy the image selection property. If the batching property is satisfied, a print fulfillment order may be transmitted over a digital network requesting prints of the group of the digital images. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed.

Abstract: In a multifunction peripheral (MFP), when an interface portion receives a print job, a control portion extracts image data of one page after another from the print job, and then stores in a RAM the extracted image data of one page after another along with corresponding page IDs (page numbers) associated therewith. After the image data contained in the print job starts to be printed, when a touch panel liquid crystal display accepts an output-change instruction to end printing immediately after a specified page Q prior to the last page of the image data of the image data stored in the RAM, only image data up to and inclusive of the specified page Q is output.

Abstract: There is provided a layout print system including a storage storing electronic data sets having unique document IDs, and a printing image generating apparatus generating printing image data based on the stored electronic data sets. The printing image generating apparatus includes an acquisition section acquiring the electronic data sets, an identification section identifying a document form type for the electronic data sets, a weight value determination section determining weight values for the electronic data sets, and a printing image generating section generating a printing image data by arranging the electronic data sets on a layout template based on the weight values and attaching identification information to the electronic data sets. The layout print system further includes a printer printing the printing image data, and a display apparatus including an information identification reader reading the identification information on a printing medium and displaying a desired one of the electronic data sets.

Abstract: Whether or not an execution of a print job according to a designated print setting is available is decided based on a result of an output of a sensor of a temperature and humidity. When the print job cannot be executed, an alternative setting is decided and the print job is executed based on the alternative setting. Thus, whether or not the execution of the print job according to the designated print setting is available can be decided based on the output of the temperature/humidity sensor provided for a printing apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing rendering processing includes an input unit configured to input information relating to an object, a classification unit configured to classify a graphic type of the object based on the information relating to the object, and a processing unit configured to switch a processing procedure according to the graphic type classified by the classification unit to generate edge information relating to the rendering processing.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: a print instruction terminal; and a print apparatus having a printing unit that prints print data instructed to be printed from the print instruction terminal. The print instruction terminal includes: a setting information receiving unit that receives print setting information including paper attributes; a loading method displaying unit that displays a method of loading paper corresponding to the print setting information received by the setting information receiving unit in a feeding unit of the print apparatus; and a transmitting unit that transmits the print setting information. The print apparatus includes a print controlling unit that receives the print setting information and controls the printing unit to print the print data instructed to be printed from the print instruction terminal based on the print setting information when the paper is loaded in the feeding unit.

Abstract: A client personal computer having a hierarchical structure and processing a variable data printing (VDP) document to which metadata can be added includes a UI unit for receiving an instruction to mutually associate a layer of a template corresponding to the VDP document, a print setting editing unit for setting a print setting to the layer of the template according to the instruction, a job ticket output unit for outputting a job ticket including a correspondence relation between the print setting and the VDP document and the print setting, and a VDP job output unit for adding, to the print data, metadata for mutually associating the print setting described in the output job ticket and the layer of the VDP document corresponding to the layer of the template to which the print setting has been set.

Abstract: On a touch-panel display of an image forming apparatus, a function selecting area and a preview area are displayed next to each other. On the function selecting area, a function setting menu is displayed in one display mode among an icon mode in which only a group of icons are displayed, a regular mode in which a group of icons and a group of texts are displayed, and an express mode in which a group of icons, a group of texts and a group of function setting buttons are displayed. In the icon mode, detailed preview information is displayed on a large preview area, and in the express mode, detailed function selecting information is displayed on a large function selecting area.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that generate a screen capture image together with processing selectable options for a user. The screen capture image is saved to a memory of the system and the selectable options are chosen to communicate with an external device and/or helpdesk where information related to the screen can be analyzed or diagnosed for technical issues.

Abstract: A print document processing system includes a cache apparatus and plural data processing apparatuses. The cache apparatus includes a cache memory, a state memory, and a first response providing unit. Each data processing apparatus includes an image data creating unit, a query unit, and a controller. The cache memory stores image data created by each data processing apparatus. Upon receipt of a query issued by the query unit on image data of a document element, the first response providing unit provides a CREATING response if a state stored in the state memory in association with the image data indicates that the image data is not in the cache memory and is currently being created by any other data processing apparatus. Upon receipt of the CREATING response, the controller performs control to use the image data after created or cause the image data creating unit to create the image data.

Abstract: To decrease workloads caused by printing from a Web application and to provide a method for eliminating limitations of computers that can be used, a Web browser accesses a print management server based on an address transmitted from a Web application server in response to a print instruction, receives a print setting screen of an image forming apparatus that prints document data from a print management server, and displays the print setting screen.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer-readable storage media are provided. Some embodiments of the invention include an image processing device displaying on a display of the image processing device a machine-readable code, wherein information encoded in the machine-readable code is usable by a mobile computing device to establish a communication session between the mobile computing device and the image processing device. In some embodiments, the mobile computing device reads the machine-readable code, obtains the information by decoding the machine-readable code, and establishes the communication session using the information. In some embodiments, during the communication session, the image processing device receives a scan command, scans a physical document in response to the scan command, and sends an electronic document representing the scanned physical document to the mobile computing device.

Abstract: Settings for various options in image processing jobs may be restricted or otherwise limited based on the settings for corresponding or different options selected in preceding image processing jobs. In one example, a user may wish to join a preceding job and a subsequent job into a single job for processing at one time. In such an example, the settings defined for options in the preceding job may affect selectable options or settings in the subsequent job. According to one aspect, multiple preceding jobs to be joined to a current subsequent job may have conflicting settings. Accordingly, a user may be requested to select one of the preceding jobs or one of the conflicting options to use for the subsequent job and the joint job.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a transmission apparatus, a reception section that is provided in the image forming apparatus and receives a designation of the transmission apparatus, a first transmission section that is provided in the image forming apparatus and transmits apparatus information indicating the own apparatus to a transmission apparatus designated in the reception section, a first storage unit that is provided in the transmission apparatus and stores the apparatus information transmitted from the first transmission section, a second transmission section that is provided in the transmission apparatus and transmits image data to an image forming apparatus indicated by the apparatus information stored in the first storage section, and an image forming unit that is provided in the image forming apparatus and forms an image corresponding to the image data transmitted from the second transmission section.

Abstract: A printing system includes a web application of a server apparatus to respond to a browser of a client apparatus and provides a print service to the client apparatus by controlling first and second data processing apparatuses in charge of the print service. The server apparatus requests the first data processing apparatus to store the document information in response determining that an edition service is registered to document information acquired from the browser. The second data processing apparatus applies layout adjustment processing to the document information to obtain a layout adjustment having a reduced number of pages value. The second data processing apparatus additionally compares the reduced number of pages value and a threshold value to determine whether reduced page printing is to be performed. If reduced page printing is not to be performed, the first data processing apparatus is instructed to delete a result of stored layout adjustment processing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for receiving a printing instruction of image data and forming an image according to the printing instruction includes a wireless communication device, an input unit, and a connector storage portion. The wireless communication device is disposed at a body of the image forming apparatus and has a cable and an output connector. The input unit has a wireless connection port to connect the output connector via the cable and a wired connection port to connect a wired cable from an external device. The input unit receives a printing instruction from any one of the wireless connection port and the wired connection port. The connector storage portion stores the output connector removed from the wireless connection port when the wireless communication device is not used. The connector storage portion, the wireless connection port, and the wired connection port are concentrated in one location.

Abstract: An image processor includes a display. The display displays a preset-setting-group selection screen containing a plurality of icons respectively corresponding to preset-setting groups such that one icon is displayed in a manner indicative of a selected state while at least one icon other than the one icon is displayed in a manner that is indicative of an unselected state. When any of set values of a preset-setting group corresponding to the one icon having been displayed in the manner indicative of the selected state, the display displays a preset-setting-group-updated screen containing the one icon displayed in the manner indicative of the selected state on the preset-setting-group selection screen and not containing the at least one icon in the manner indicative of the unselected state on the preset-setting-group selection screen.

Abstract: A method for end-to-end printing, including entering into service level agreements with each of a plurality of partner systems that enable customers to order personalized print products, wherein a service level agreement designates maximum delays for finishing customer print orders, receiving customer print orders transmitted from the plurality of partner systems, each print order specifying at least one personalized print product, serializing the print orders into a plurality of work items, each work item corresponding to a part of a personalized print product that is to be printed on printable material, dynamically assigning priorities to the work items, dynamically advancing the work items through a plurality of print processing states, wherein each processing state processes work items in order of their priorities.

Abstract: A group of printing conditions, which have at least one condition item in common except for environmental condition items concerning a temperature and humidity environment for printing, is selected from among a plurality of printing conditions. A list image, which represents a line-up of visible information concerning the temperature and humidity environment depending on the environmental condition items, and which is included in the printing conditions of the selected group, is generated and displayed.

Abstract: An electronic architecture for an imaging data path allows for printing on objects that are unevenly spaced. The architecture uses a rolling image buffer into which images are copied. A hardware trigger can optionally be used in conjunction with the rolling image buffer to prevent any printing mismatches that could otherwise be caused by a software delay. The trigger relates the physical location of the object to a virtual location in the image buffer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which prints by scanning a printhead in two directions based on raster data containing multi-valued data, sequentially stores multi-valued data contained in each raster data in a print buffer in correspondence with a predetermined direction of the two directions, acquires for each raster data, identification information corresponding to the multi-valued data stored in the print buffer first and identification information corresponding to the multi-valued data stored in the print buffer lastly for each tone value based on initial values of identification information and the number of multi-valued data contained in each raster data, generates bitmap data from the multi-valued data using pattern data read out based on identification information selected based on a scanning direction of the printhead, and controls printing of the printhead based on the generated bitmap data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a processor, and a storage controller that writes band data to a storage device and reads the band data. The processor: (a) generates a write-side process and a read-side process; (b) generates a write-side thread by the write-side process; (c) generates a read-side thread and a file read thread by the read-side process; (d) notifies the read-side process of an identifier within the storage device, and causes the storage controller to sequentially write the band data; and (e) requests the file read thread to cause the storage controller to sequentially read out the band data corresponding to the identifier and causes the storage controller to sequentially read out the band data and one or more subsequent band data.

Abstract: A copier is provided. The copier is configured to copy an image of an original document, which has a storage medium, and the storage medium, wherein a process of copying the original document, which has the storage medium, has three operation modes (A), (B), and (C) of (A) copying the storage medium and the image of the original document, (B) copying only the storage medium, and (C) copying only the image of the original document. Further, the copier has a selection unit that selects an operation mode to be performed among the operation modes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method perform variable-magnification processing of an image while a change in an impression of an image and the processing load are suppressed. The image forming apparatus generates a normalized tile image in a tile image and calculates the number of the normalized tile images that can be arranged in a drawing region after variable magnification. If the number is not less than a first threshold value, data including a tile image in which the normalized tile images in the number are arranged in the drawing region after the variable magnification is generated as data after the variable magnification.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a storage unit that stores print data and transformation data transformed into a printable format by reflecting a print condition on the print data; a detection unit that detects an error when the transformation data stored in the storage unit is printed; a decision unit that decides a resolution print condition which is a print condition for resolving an error based on a content of the error and a device state when the error is detected; a transformation unit that acquires the print data from the storage unit and transforms the acquired print data into transformation data on which the decided resolution print condition is reflected; and a print control unit that prints the transformation data transformed by the transformation unit.

Abstract: A custom color profile is generated for a user in response to user input. A print-on-demand (POD) order for published content is received from the user. The POD order is fulfilled in view of the custom color profile for the user.

Abstract: Correction data is produced for density errors in prints produced using a printer. While printing a test image, the periods of rotation of one or more rotatable imaging members arranged along a receiver feed path in the printer are measured using respective period sensors. The printed test image is measured along a selected measurement direction and a reproduction error signal representing deviation from aim density is determined. For each period sensor, the autocorrelation of the reproduction error signal for the corresponding period is determined. If the determined autocorrelation exceeds a selected threshold, the reproduction error signal is decomposed at the corresponding period to extract the variation from the measured component. The remaining error signal is separated by frequency terms. The variations from the data at measured periods and the remaining error signal are used to produce a correction signal.

Abstract: A tape printing apparatus compares a back-side background region of print data to be previously printed and a front-side background region of print data to be subsequently printed upon receipt of plural print data including background. If they are different, the tape printing apparatus creates a front-side color mixture tolerance region and a back-side color mixture tolerance region based on the front-side background region and the back-side background region, respectively, so that the front-side color mixture tolerance region and the back-side color mixture tolerance region are arranged continuously. The apparatus sets cut positions at a front edge border and a back edge border of each print data and cut the tape off at those portions while carrying out full-color print on the tape based on respective print data.