Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus for extracting embedded information from a printed document, including: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain a printing method of the printed document; a second obtaining unit capable of obtaining first image data by reading the printed document while applying light to the printed document; a third obtaining unit capable of obtaining second image data by reading the printed document without applying light to the printed document; and an extraction unit configured to extract the embedded information by using at least one of the first image data and the second image data according to the printing method obtained by the first obtaining unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a fixing unit, an induction heating unit, a positioning mechanism, and a charge adjustment portion. The fixing unit includes a first fixing member and a second fixing member that form, between them, a nip portion through which a sheet is passed. The induction heating unit is supported so as to be rockable with respect to the apparatus main body and heats the first fixing member. The positioning mechanism keeps a distance between the induction heating unit and the first fixing member constant. The charge adjustment portion is fixed to the induction heating unit in a detachable manner and electrically charges or eliminates static electricity from the first fixing member.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material, comprising: a piezoelectric self-assembling monolayer of oligopeptides; a conductive surface; and a substrate, wherein the conductive surface is located between the piezoelectric self-assembling monolayer of oligopeptides and the substrate. A touch sensitive device, comprising: a first piezoelectric material, comprising: a piezoelectric self-assembling monolayer of oligopeptides containing a dipole moment; a conductive surface; and a substrate; a second piezoelectric material, comprising: a piezoelectric self-assembling monolayer of oligopeptides containing a dipole moment; a conductive surface; and a substrate, wherein the oligopeptides making up the self-assembling monolayer of the first and second piezoelectric materials, respectively, have the same amino acid sequence but have an equal and opposite dipole moment.

Abstract: There is provided with a method of manufacturing an electrostatic adsorptive belt. A portion for forming an electrode pattern on a first resin layer is irradiated with an ultraviolet laser beam. A region including the portion for forming the electrode pattern on the first resin layer is oxidated. The electrode pattern if formed on the first region layer by plating. A second resin layer is formed on a surface of the first resin layer on which the electrode pattern is formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image; a plurality of electrode portions; a control unit configured to control a voltage applied to the electrode unit based on image information; and a toner bearing member configured to bear toner and form a toner image on the image bearing member according to the voltage applied to the electrode portion, in which ?>1.22 is satisfied and rx?/ry? is defined as ?, where Dy indicates a thickness of the image bearing member, Dx indicates a distance between the electrode portions adjacent to each other, rx? indicates a resistance component of the image bearing member in a direction parallel to Dx and ry? indicates a resistance component of the image bearing member in a direction parallel to Dy in a rectangular solid body including Dx and Dy in a side.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source that emits first and second light beams, and an optical splitter to which the first and second light beams deflected by an optical deflector are incident. Principal rays of the first and second light beams incident to the optical splitter are nonparallel to each other in a plane orthogonal to a main-scanning direction. Transmitted light from the optical splitter out of the first light beam and reflected light from the optical splitter out of the second light beam are guided to corresponding scanning target surfaces, and transmitted light from the optical splitter out of the second light beam and reflected light from the optical splitter out of the first light beam reach none of the scanning target surfaces.

Abstract: A print defect management device that supports job-specific print defect management automatically assesses print job pages to determine the severity of image quality defects likely to occur on one or more selected printers. Views of identified troubled pages may be rendered to include approximations of color and image quality defects based on the original page image data, and each printer's color rendition data and defect data, thereby allowing troubled pages for one or more selected printers to be viewed prior to printing. Suggested changes may be automatically or manually applied. Once satisfied with the image quality of print job pages rendered for a specific printer, a user may submit the print job to the same printer, thereby assuring that the user's image quality expectations are met in the printed product. The device may support job-specific print defect management with both local and/or remote printers via LAN, WAN and/or Internet based connectivity.

Abstract: Various configurations and applications of traveling wave grids are disclosed. Systems for transporting particles to feed apertures, and/or for transporting particles from storage reservoirs are described. The systems are particularly useful for transporting toner particles in printing systems.

Abstract: A charge source is used to create a latent image on an imaging surface. A volume between the charge source and the imaging surface may be pressurized while the latent image is being created.

Abstract: An imaging system may include first and second imaging assemblies for synchronously imaging on both sides of a receiver material using directed charged particle or aerosol toner printing methods. The imaging assemblies may in turn each include an imaging member and an intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member may be a split intermediate transfer member. The imaging system may also use flexible aperture print arrays.

Abstract: Various particle transport systems and components for use in such systems are described. The systems utilize one or more traveling wave grids to selectively transport, distribute, separate, or mix different populations of particles. Numerous systems configured for use in two dimensional and three dimensional particle transport are described.

Abstract: Image development methods, hard imaging devices, and image members are described. According to one embodiment, an image development method includes providing an image member comprising a surface having different portions of different electrical conductivities, wherein one of the portions defines an imaging pattern of an image, providing a development agent comprising a plurality of electrically charged image particles and a plurality of electrically charged charge directors over the image member, providing an electrical field proximate the image member having the development agent over the image member, and using the electrically charged charge directors and the electric field, directing the electrically charged image particles to the one of the portions of the surface of the image member to develop the image.

Abstract: An ion generating device provided in an image forming apparatus of the present invention as a charging device for charging before a first transfer, a charging device for charging before a second transfer, or a charge device for charging an electrostatic latent image is arranged such that a discharge electrode can move with respect to a dielectric material and the relative positions of the discharge electrode and the dielectric material can be changed. This makes it possible to provide: a long-life ion generating device whose life has been extended by making effective use of a dielectric material; and an image forming apparatus including the ion generating device.

Abstract: An imaging system may include first and second imaging assemblies for synchronously imaging on both sides of a receiver material using directed charged particle or aerosol toner printing methods. The imaging assemblies may in turn each include an imaging member and an intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member may be a split intermediate transfer member. The imaging system may also use flexible aperture print arrays.

Abstract: A temperature detecting unit including a temperature detecting sensor, a window member, and a frame which holds the window member. The temperature detecting sensor receives infrared rays radiated by an object, thereby detecting the temperature of the object without contact with the object. The window member is arranged between the object and the temperature detecting sensor, and transmits the infrared rays. The window member includes a surface with a fluorination organic compound.

Abstract: An electrode array with embedded thin-film transistors is fabricated with a self-aligned imprint lithography process. In an embodiment the electrode array is built over a flexible, conductive, substrate, in an alternative embodiment the electrode array is built on a curved substrate. In an embodiment, the electrode array is incorporated into a printer, and is coated with a passivation layer having openings for each electrode of the array. The printer develops an image by selectively charging electrodes of the array, the openings of each electrode being exposed to an electrophoretic ink. Charged particles of the electrophoretic ink migrate to charged electrodes, thereby forming an image that is transferred to a printing substrate such as paper.

Abstract: An electrode array printer has a housing, an image roller, and a plurality of developer modules. Each of the developer modules has an electrode array printhead, a toner cartridge and a developer roller. The electrode array printhead is installed on a side surface of the image roller for emitting an electron array onto the side surface of the image roller to form an electrostatic image. The developer roller is capable of attracting toner contained in a corresponding toner cartridge. The electrostatic image formed on the side surface of the image roller is capable of attracting toner from a developer roller corresponding to the electrode array printhead when the image roller rotates to a position where the electrostatic image is adjacent to the developer roller. The printer further includes a transfer roller, a fuser and a toner blade.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of printing on electrically writable media and electrically writable displays are described. In one aspect, a printer for printing on an electrically writable medium includes a source of an invisible charge species, and a charge species projector. The charge species projector is operable to project charge species from the source onto the medium to electrically reorient switchable display elements in the medium. In another aspect, a portable storage device that includes a memory and an electrically writable medium is received. Data is written to the memory of the portable data storage device. The electrically writable medium of the portable data storage device is printed on by electrically reorienting switchable display elements in the medium. In another aspect, an electrically writable display includes an electrically writable medium that is incorporated into a continuous web having an outward-facing side and an inward-facing side.

Abstract: Toner/ink is saved while still being able to print any given color value within the full color gamut of a given printer. Combinations of varying percentages of a printer's toners/inks (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are determined for maximum black substitution with varying percentages of under color addition (UCA) (e.g., 0%, 50%, 80%, and 100%). Patches of varying combinations of CMYK using maximum black substitution and a given percentage of UCA are printed out, and the color value (L*a*b*) of each patch is measured. Tables are generated having the percentage amounts of C,M,Y, and K and the corresponding measured color value. A first table represents maximum black substitution with 0% UCA. If a desired color value falls within this table, the corresponding CMYK combination represents the most toner/ink that can be saved. If a desired color value does not fall within the first table, subsequent tables representing increasing percentage amounts of UCA are examined.

Abstract: An electron beam printer assembly for operating a standard electron beam print cartridge (such as an eighteen inch 600 DPI print cartridge) includes an RF generator which has a powdered iron core transformer, and a dual pulse width generator operatively connected to the transformer. The RF generator also includes a power driver, control logic, and an oscillator feedback circuit. The dual pulse width generator may comprise a NOR gate, a capacitor, two resistors, and a diode, all connected to an adjustable voltage source. The transformer core may be toroid-shaped, and of carbonyl SF. Using this RF generator it is possible to image a substrate moving at a speed of greater than 200 FPM, and to operate at a frequency of about 5 MHz in an efficient manner, to eliminate print gradients due to an overdriven transformer, to eliminate transformer temperature failures due to core loss, and to provide greater flexibility in transformer construction and design, and less power loss in the transformer drive transistor.

Abstract: An image is accurately recorded by a light beam on a PS plate wound on a drum which is rotating at a constant speed. A rotary encoder detects information of a recording position in a main scanning direction by the light beam that is emitted from an optical unit to the PS plate. Based on the detected information, a PLL circuit of a recording synchronizing signal generating unit generates an original clock. Pulses of the original clock are counted by a decimating counter, which outputs a decimating instruction to decimate a pulse from the original clock each time the count reaches a preset count. Based on the decimating instruction, a pulse is decimated from the original clock, and a decimated clock is frequency-divided at a fixed frequency-dividing ratio by a frequency divider, which outputs a pixel clock for recording the image.

Abstract: A vacuum fluorescent color print head for photographic printing paper having a red luminous block (32) including a plurality of luminous elements arranged in a main scanning direction, and red color filters attached to light-emitting ends of the luminous elements; a green luminous block (33) including a plurality of luminous elements arranged in the main scanning direction, and green color filters attached to light-emitting ends of the luminous elements, and a blue luminous block (34) including a plurality of luminous elements arranged in the main scanning direction, and blue color filters attached to light-emitting ends of the luminous elements. The color filters (69: 69a, 69b, 69c) are attached to the light-emitting ends of the luminous elements defined by phosphorous object (64) formed of ZnO:Zn phosphor, and part of a first strip-like anode conductor (62) or a second strip-like anode conductor (63).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a direct electrostatic printing method, in which a stream of computer generated signals, defining an image information, are converted to a pattern of electrostatic fields which selectively permit or restrict the transport of charged toner particles from a particle source toward a back electrode and control the deposition of those charged toner particles in an image configuration onto an image receiving medium.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a toner particle source for delivering charged toner particles to an image receiving medium. The image recording apparatus further includes a printhead structure arranged between the toner particle source and the image receiving medium to modulate a transport of toner particles from the particle source to the image receiving medium. The printhead structure includes a substrate of electrically insulating material having a first surface facing the toner particle source and a second surface facing the image receiving member. A first cover layer of electrically insulating material is arranged on the first surface of the substrate. A plurality of apertures are arranged through the printhead structure.

Abstract: An ion flow recording apparatus performs recording making density modulation every pixel. When developing on a fine grain toner is to be performed using a liquid developer for an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit (developing roller) is disposed to face a direction of gravity. Namely, a control valve is provided on a pipe for application of a developer to the developing roller or on a joint portion between the pipe and a developer tank, developing units of different two colors are joined to their developer tank portions, and a rotary shaft is provided on the joint portion to be positioned at a point of symmetry to provide alternate use of the two developing units upon turning them. Therefore, developing for a plurality of colors can be simply performed, and such turning of the developing units enables prevention of the toner from deposition in the liquid developer during developing, thereby making it possible to perform a clear recording.

Abstract: Apparatus for information transfer and including a dielectric element having generally opposite first and second surfaces, an information bearing voltage signal being associated with the first surface and an information bearing charge pattern being associated with the second surface, device for applying a flow of charges to the second surface, the flow of charges being operative to transfer information between the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: A photosensitive member which has an electrode provided on the front side and a photoconductive layer stacked on the electrode, the photosensitive member being disposed face-to-face with an electrostatic information recording medium that includes a charge retaining layer having an electrode provided on the rear side, either in or out of contact with each other, to carry out exposure with a voltage being applied between the two electrodes, thereby forming an electrostatic charge pattern on the electrostatic information recording medium in accordance with an exposure light pattern. The layer arrangements of the photosensitive member and the photoconductive layer as well as the method of forming the photoconductive layer are improved so that electrostatic information can be recorded on the electrostatic information recording medium with high sensitivity and it is also possible to improve the contrast ratio of the information charge at the exposed region to that at the unexposed region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a direct electrostatic printing method, in which a stream of computer generated signals, defining an image information, are converted to a pattern of electrostatic fields which selectively permit or restrict the transport of charged toner particles from a particle source toward a back electrode and control the deposition of those charged toner particles in an image configuration onto an image receiving medium. Particularly, the present invention refers to a direct electrostatic printing method performed in consecutive print cycles, each of which includes at least one development period (t.sub.b) and at least one recovering period (t.sub.w) subsequent to each development period (t.sub.b), wherein the pattern of electrostatic fields is produced during at least a part of each development period (t.sub.

Abstract: A printing machine composed of: (a) an electrographic imaging member including a substrate layer and a charge accepting layer selected from the group consisting of a silicone elastomer and a grafted elastomer composed of a polyorganosiloxane bonded to a fluoroelastomer; (b) latent image generating apparatus for recording an electrostatic latent image on the imaging member; (c) developer apparatus for depositing marking material on the imaging member to produce a marking material image; (d) a heating device for heating the imaging member so as to form a tackified marking material image thereon; and (e) transfer apparatus for transfering the tackified marking material image from the imaging member to a recording sheet

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a plurality of electron emitting devices and luminescent members are arranged into a matrix formed on one surface of a substrate. As rows of electron emitting devices are successively driven, each luminescent member emits light according to a voltage applied to it or other members in accordance with an image information signal when irradiated with a light beam from one of the electron emitting devices mated with it.

Abstract: A process for generating a visible image that involves forming an electrostatic latent image upon the surface of a charge receptor medium consisting of a thin dielectric layer adjacent the metallized surface of a non-conducting substrate. The latent image is then developed to form a visible image. The thin dielectric layer may be in the form of a thin plastic film which may be delaminated from the metallized layer after image development and then laminated to the face of graphics display media such as a pressure sensitive paper. Alternately, the dielectric layer may be delaminated from the metallized layer, inverted, and laminated back to the metallized layer so that the developed visible image is sandwiched between the metallized layer and the thin plastic film. The process produces a latent image receptor comprising a support base having a metallized layer and a dielectric layer for use in producing electrographic images.

Abstract: An imagewise polarizable imaging member can be used to print the same or different images with an electrically responsive marking media. The imaging member includes a matrix-addressable microelectronic layer in proximate relationship with an imagewise polarizable ferroelectric layer. Imaging is accomplished by forming an imagewise electrical pattern in the ferroelectric layer using signals from the matrix-addressable microelectronic layer, and applying the electrically responsive marking media to the electrically polarized ferroelectric layer, creating thereon an identifiable image pattern. The marking media can then be transferred to a suitable receiver material to form the desired printed image.

Abstract: Apparatus for information transfer and including a dielectric element having generally opposite first and second surfaces, an information bearing voltage pattern being associated with the first surface and an information bearing charge pattern being associated with the second surface, means for applying a flow of charges to the second surface, the flow of charges being operative to transfer information between the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: A method, device and system for utilizing a pixelized ungated linear array of field emitters and an integrated electrode-media surface to either detect the presence of charge on the surface in a given two-dimensional pattern, or to deposit charge on the surface in a desired two-dimensional pattern. The methods, devices and systems disclosed are particularly useful in the arts of printing, scanning and copying. In one embodiment designed for printing, a pixelized surface may be utilized to receive a charge pattern from the ungated linear field emitter array. In one embodiment designed for scanning, a pixelized transfer sheet may be utilized to transfer a two-dimensional charge pattern from a photostatic surface thereto for sensing and detection by the ungated linear field emitter array.

Abstract: A print head has a matrix array of charge generating loci defined by crossings of a first set of electrodes which are parallel to each other and extend across the region to be printed and a second set of electrodes that extend obliquely across the first electrodes so that the crossings are closely spaced lattice points. The charge deposited by a lattice point varies with the position of the first electrode defining the point, but the electrodes are arranged so charge carriers are generated or gated for projection onto a latent imaging member with local charge dot uniformity. In one embodiment of the invention, there are an odd number of first electrodes, and the second electrodes are arranged such that when electrodes are actuated, pairs of adjacent dots are deposited by pairs of lattice points having complementary variations in charge. As viewed or measured along the print line, each pair of deposited dots has a substantially uniform level of charge, and doubling and extreme discontinuities do not occur.

Abstract: An ionographic printer directs a sheet of ions from a source to a charge receptor to create an electrostatic latent image thereon. An ion sheet splitting rod is positioned between the ion source and the charge receptor that splits the ion sheet into two separate streams of ions and insulating wedges serve to focus the separate ion streams into two rows of apertures in an ion control device. The ion streams pass through relatively large apertures having associated therewith a pinch electrode for narrowing the ion streams to a preselected width, and displacing electrodes for positioning the narrowed ion streams within the apertures.

Abstract: An e-beam processing method for improving micron and submicron line quality and resolution by selecting one of several recipes each containing recursive expressions for evaluating figure pattern fracturing and e-beam processing parameters based on the size of the figure's width.

Abstract: A device for direct electrostatic printing is provided wherein a flow of toner particles in a electrical field from a toner source to the surface of an intermediate image receiving member is image-wise modulated by a printhead structure with printing apertures and control electrodes, and wherein the toner image of the intermediate image receiving member is transferred to a final substrate and fixed to that final substrate. The intermediate member has a surface energy lower than 40 mN/m and surface roughness Ra smaller than 3.0 .mu.m. The transfer of the toner image from the intermediate image receiving member to the final substrate can be aided by electrostatic attraction and/or by tackifying the toner image on the intermediate member.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents an apparatus for pattern generation on a dielectric substrate comprising an imaging drum including a dielectric pattern receiving and retaining substrate, a plurality of electrodes underlying the pattern receiving and retaining dielectric substrate, imaging circuitry for application of voltage signals to the plurality of electrodes, an elongate charge source operative to apply a flow of charges to the dielectric substrate, thereby creating a latent image thereon, a developing unit operative to apply toner to the dielectric substrate, thereby producing a toned image according to the latent image, and a transfer unit operative to transfer the toned image to a substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents an apparatus for pattern generation on a dielectric substrate comprising an imaging drum including a dielectric pattern receiving and retaining substrate, a plurality of electrodes underlying the pattern receiving and retaining dielectric substrate, imaging circuitry for application of voltage signals to the plurality of electrodes, an elongate charge source operative to apply a flow of charges to the dielectric substrate, thereby creating a latent image thereon, a developing unit operative to apply toner to the dielectric substrate, thereby producing a toned image according to the latent image, and a transfer unit operative to transfer the toned image to a substrate.

Abstract: A control system for optimizing print quality in an electrophotographic printer uses a fuzzy-logic technique with only solid-area and half-tone density as control inputs, and only scorotron voltage and ROS laser power as outputs. The measured errors in solid-area and half-tone density are assigned to respective fuzzy-logic error subsets. Joint memberships of the solid-area and half-tone density error subsets are then used to derive error subsets are then used to derive correction values for laser power and scorotron voltage.

Abstract: An electrostatic image-bearing dielectric member comprises a support and a dielectric layer formed on the support. The dielectric layer is formed of at least one of amorphous carbon, diamond-like carbon and diamond. The dielectric layer may contain not larger than 60 atomic percent of at least one of hydrogen and fluorine. An intermediate layer may be provided between the support and the dielectric layer in order to improve the adhesion therebetween.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for electrographically imaging a plurality of substrates heretofore not usable in such a system. While prior art dielectric substrates could be used in the present process, the specific parameters outlined in this invention allows many more charge retentive surfaces or substrates to be used in electrostatic imaging. The process involves developing the latent electrostatic image before dissipation of the image charge which can be calculated by the inventive process for each substrate to be used.

Abstract: In a field emission microcathode array, a plurality of cones are arranged in a plurality of blocks, each of plural cones, on the main surface of a substrate, each cone having a sharp tip. A plurality of gate electrode portions respectively correspond to the blocks, each portion having a plurality of openings therein corresponding to the plurality of cones of the respective block, each opening being aligned with and disposed in surrounding relationship relative to the corresponding tip of the respectively associated cone. A plurality of lead electrodes, each configured as a fuse, are respectively connected to the plurality of gate electrode portions and each lead electrode provides an independent connection of the respective gate electrode portion to the common power source. In another embodiment, each gate electrode portion and wiring films connected thereto have respectively high and low resistances.

Abstract: An image recording device forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of an image holding member in accordance with image information and transferring by pressure an image made by developing the electrostatic latent image to a transfer medium which passes through a contact portion between the image holding member and a pressure roller bearing against it is disclosed, including: a plurality of electrostatic latent image forming devices disposed adjacent to and around the circumference of the image holding member at predetermined spacings and forming an electrostatic latent image on the image holding member; and a controlling device for starting the electrostatic latent image formation by an electrostatic latent image forming device disposed upstream around the circumference of the image holding member, stopping electrostatic latent image formation by the electrostatic latent image forming device disposed upstream around the circumference of the image holding member immediately before the transfer medium