Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires image data expressing an image region included in an image with a first value and a background region included in the image with a second value; a segmenting unit that segments the image region into multiple segments arranged in a fast scanning direction; a converting unit that converts a value of at least one of the segments into the second value; an output unit that generates an image signal on the basis of the image data and outputs the image signal; an exposure unit that exposes a charged image bearing member to light according to the output image signal by scanning the light thereto in the fast scanning direction so as to form a latent image; and a developing unit that forms the image by developing the latent image using an invisible toner that absorbs infrared light or ultraviolet light.

Abstract: An image scanning device has first and second image scanning units to scan an image on the front and rear surfaces of a document to sequentially output image data on a line-by-line basis. A determining unit determines whether or not the number of lines of the front image is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, and whether or not the number of lines of the rear image is greater than or equal to the predetermined number. A processing unit reads out the front and rear image data on a line-by-line basis for the predetermined number of lines and performs image-processing on the readout data if the number of lines of the front image data is greater than or equal to the predetermined number and performs image-processing on the readout data if the number of lines of the rear image data is greater than or equal to the predetermined number.

Abstract: A printing system has a printer device including a communication control portion and a print engine carrying out a print processing, and an information processing device connected to the printer device as external equipment via a USB interface, the printer device being connected to external equipment by the communication function of the communication control portion via a USB interface, and inputting the electric power of the print engine by a print request from the external equipment to perform the print processing in a printer standby state in which the electric power of the print engine is reduced while maintaining the communication function of the communication control portion.

Abstract: There are provided an image forming apparatus which implements divisional control using a plurality of control units without an increase in cost and a control method for the apparatus. To accomplish this, this image forming apparatus includes a master control unit that controls the overall image forming apparatus, a plurality of sub-master control units that control a plurality of functions for performing image formation, and a plurality of salve control units that control loads for implementing a plurality of functions. The master control unit is connected to the plurality of sub-master control units via first signal lines. The plurality of sub-master control units are connected to the plurality of slave control units via second signal lines higher in data transfer timing accuracy than the first signal lines.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit to communicate with a network using a physical layer protocol (PHY), a first control unit that includes a first Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a normal mode, and to control the image forming apparatus, a second control unit that includes a second Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a power saving mode, and a switching unit to switch a data path between the PHY, the first MAC, and the second MAC according to the operation mode of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image interpolation apparatus includes an extracting unit, temporal interpolation calculators, pattern matching units, and an output unit. The extracting unit extracts pixels around the missing pixels in order to form a basic frame and comparative frames. Each temporal interpolation calculator corresponds to each comparative frame, and calculates a temporal interpolated pixel for each comparative frame based on signal levels and variation of the signal levels. Each pattern matching unit corresponds to each comparative frame, inserts the temporal interpolated pixel of each comparative frame to the missing pixel, calculates difference of between each of the pixels in the basic frame and each of the corresponding pixels in the comparative frame, and sums up the differences for all pixels in absolute value to obtain sums for all comparative frames respectively. The output unit outputs the temporal interpolated pixel having a minimum sum among the sums as a final interpolated pixel.

Abstract: A printer having multiple stages of nozzles is controlled to avoid or minimize blank space between print portions when printing on roll paper. A controller in communication with the printer is configured to determine if last partial print data to be printed contains blank raster data. If so, the controller calculates the difference between a total number of rasters in the first through the last partial print data and the number of blank rasters in the last partial print data, prints the last partial print data, and controls the paper transportation mechanism to advance the roll paper only the calculated distance to eliminate excess blank space between print portions. The functionality of the controller is also embodied in a method for controlling a printer as described above.

Abstract: A merge application creates a particular set of documents for a particular matter. The merge application receives a selection of a particular master template corresponding to the particular set of documents, where the selected master template specifies a plurality of slave templates, and also receives a selection of a data structure from a database with data relating to the particular matter. The selected master template and the selected data structure are employed to produce the set of documents for the particular matter in an electronic form, where a corresponding document of the set is produced for each specified slave template in the selected master template. Each corresponding document is produced according to common content in the slave template and data in the selected data structure in the database referred to by placeholders in the slave template.

Abstract: A communication unit transmits image data of a preceding sheet scanned to a management device communicating with a decoloring device and receives from a management device determination data which is produced by the management device based on the image data and indicates at least whether or not the preceding sheet is reusable and receives ability data of the management device or reception time indication data. A control unit conveys the preceding sheet to a predetermined conveyance destination based on the determination data and feeds sheets at a timing at which the leading end of a following sheet does not run into the tail end of the preceding sheet even if the preceding sheet is held until the determination data is received based on the ability data or the reception time indication data.

Abstract: In one implementation, a physical version of a document is converted to a digital representation of the physical version and a new certificate is computed for the digital representation of the physical version. The new certificate is computed based on the digital representation of the physical version, at least one processing step performed on the digital representation, and a prior certificate computed for a prior digital representation indicative of the physical version. In another implementation, a document is validated.

Abstract: A processing device is provided in which unauthorized processing is prevented from being preformed at the time of executing a program or others. The processing device includes a processing portion for executing processing, a program memory portion for memorizing a program that makes the processing portion execute processing, a judge portion for judging whether or not the program is permitted to start, and a control portion for controlling the processing portion so that processing is executed in accordance with the program when the judge portion determines that the program is permitted to start, and for controlling the processing portion so that processing based on the program is not executed when the judge portion determines that the program is not permitted to start.

Abstract: A method for printing an image, the method includes the steps of defining a media support surface; advancing a print medium onto the support surface; emitting light from a first side of the print medium toward the defined surface; moving a sensor on a second side of the print medium along a scan direction; monitoring the position of the sensor as it moves along the scan direction; sensing the light on the second side of the print medium which is opposite the first side as the light passes through the print medium to a sensor; providing memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; providing a processor for comparing signals from the sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type; identifying the print medium type; selecting a print mode based on the identified print medium type; processing an image according to the selected print mode; and printing the image on the print medium.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimizing the phase lock loop circuitry of sub-pixel clock generators for situations where frequent switching between different system printing speeds, and hence clock frequencies are required. A timing control logic circuitry is associated with the sub-pixel clock generator for a graduated change in charge pump current. The timing control logic circuitry comprises a plurality of current generators serially connected with the charge pump current via associated switches for the selective adjustment of charge pump current in a graduated manner.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a projector capable of projecting desired image information by enabling the user to select easily and promptly an image input interface terminal into which the desired image information is inputted, among image input interface terminals. The projector can include image input I/Fs into which image signals from image input devices are inputted, a touch panel having a liquid crystal display to display image information inputted from the image input I/Fs, a thumbnail generating portion to generate thumbnail images to be displayed on the liquid crystal display, and a changeover switch to selectively switch the image input I/Fs by operations on the touch panel. Image information inputted from the selected image I/F can be projected. This enables the user to select desired image information promptly for the desired image information to be projected.

Abstract: A reference-signal generating unit generates a reference signal for generating a driving signal to drive other units of the image reading device. A frequency modulating unit modulates frequency of the reference signal, thereby generating a frequency-modulated reference signal. A driving-signal generating unit generates the driving signal from the frequency-modulated reference signal. A photoelectric converting unit converts an incident light into an analog image signal using the driving signal. An AD converting unit converts the analog image signal into a digital image signal. A correcting unit corrects the digital image signal by generating a correction signal for eliminating a noise superimposed on the digital image signal using the frequency-modulated reference signal and adding the correction signal to the digital image signal.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus includes a plurality of image processing units which perform image processing for image data, a packet data containing part of image data and an identifier for identifying an image processing unit is generated. When image processing to be executed by a specific image processing unit identified based on the identifier is switched to another image processing, an image processing unit which has received packet data changes the identifier contained in the packet data, and transfers the packet data containing the changed identifier to another image processing unit.

Abstract: A method of determining document characteristics prior to processing the document (11) in a document scanner (10) includes capturing at least a portion of an input image of documents in an input tray (20); transmitting the images to a processor (65); determining characteristics of the documents; processing the document based on the characteristics; wherein at least one characteristic is document length (70) or width (80) or position or other characteristics; and disabling or enabling ultrasonic zones (160) in at least one location down the document based on at least one characteristic.

Abstract: Conventionally, in the case where multiple readings of a document are carried out in order to generate an output image, image processing to a super-resolution image has been started after waiting for completion of the multiple readings necessary for giving a target resolution to the image after super-resolution processing. Therefore, a lot of time has been required for processing. In an image processing apparatus including a document reading component configured to read a plurality of image data each having a different phase from a document by a single scanning, a super-resolution processing component is configured to generate super-resolution image data by using the plurality sheets of image data each having a different phase, so as to have a resolution higher than those of the plurality of image data, and an image processing component is configured to carry out multiple image processing to the super-resolution image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of receiving a response with respect to an acquisition request of management information of a printing apparatus even if the printing apparatus is working. The image processing apparatus comprises a network connecting section; an interface section; a data transferring section; a management information acquiring section; a management information storing section; and a network controlling section, in the case that the printing apparatus is not working, the management information acquiring section acquires management information from the printing apparatus; in the case that the printing apparatus is working, the management information acquiring section acquires management information from the management information storing section.

Abstract: A document authentication method using block-by-block image comparison is disclosed. An image of an original document and an image of a target document are each segmented into multiple blocks corresponding to paragraphs of text. A first block in the original image is used to search the target image to find a corresponding first block using a cross-correlation method. The position mapping for the first block of the target image is calculated and alterations are detected. Then, for each subsequent block of the original image, a corresponding block of the target document is identified based on the position of the subsequent block of the original image relative to the first block of the original image and the position mapping for the first block of the target image. The corresponding subsequent blocks of the original and target images are compared to detect alterations using a method other than cross-correlation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a region detection unit configured to detect from an image a region which is sandwiched between a pair of opposite lines and in which image formation is performed at a density lower than a predetermined density, a rendering unit configured to render a border of an inner portion inside the region sandwiched between the pair of opposite lines with a line having a density higher than the predetermined density, and an outputting unit configured to output an image in which the inner portion inside the region sandwiched between the pair of opposite lines is bordered by the border rendered by the rendering unit.

Abstract: A document administration system includes a server connecting document storing apparatuses via a network. Each document storing apparatus includes a plurality of boxes, and a document storing portion for making the document storing apparatus store a document in one of the boxes. The server includes a storing destination deciding portion for deciding one of the document storing apparatuses and one of the boxes thereof for storing the document, based on one or more of information including information on the document corresponding to the storing request, information on the document storing apparatuses registered in a document storing registering portion, and information on the boxes obtained by a box information obtaining portion, and a controller for transmitting the document to the document storing apparatuses having the one of the boxes selected by the storing destination deciding portion and making the document storing portion store the document in the one of the boxes.

Abstract: A laptop computer is comprised of a base portion, a display portion, and a scanning/illuminating mechanism. The scanning/illuminating mechanism illuminates a display of the display portion of the laptop computer and illuminates a document during scanning of the document.

Abstract: An output device which outputs pixel data corresponding to a color material used by a printing unit to the printing unit includes an image buffer which stores image data, a generation unit which generates density data corresponding to the color material based on image data read out from the image buffer, a print buffer which stores density data generated by the generation unit, and a conversion unit which converts density data read out from the print buffer into pixel data corresponding to the resolution of the printing unit synchronously with the printing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for classifying a document (3) to be associated with at least one service (Si), including a step in which a scanner (1) comprising a processor (6) scans (E1) the document (3), wherein said method being characterized in that the method also includes steps in which the processor (6): develops (E2) at least one structure (?j) representing the document (3), determines (E3) for each service (Si) at least one similitude value (?ij) between the structure (?j) representing the document and a reference structure (Rij) of the same kind and representing said service (Si), deduces (E4) from said similitude value (?ij) the service (Si) with which the document (3) is to he associated, and processes (E5) the document (3) according to the service (Si) thus associated. The invention also relates to a scanner for implementing the method.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to improve operability of an image processing device by reading a document with multiple pages at a time, changing a page addressed to each destination, and transmitting the page to each destination.

Abstract: A photosensitive chip, including first and second sets of photosensors aligned in a Y direction and separated in a perpendicular X direction and third and fourth sets of photosensors aligned in the Y direction and separated in the X direction. The first and third sets are aligned in the X direction. The second and fourth sets are aligned in the X direction. The first and third sets are offset in the Y direction from the second and fourth sets by a distance about equal to a length of a photosensor divided by the number of sets. A time interval between activation of two sequential photosensors from the first through fourth sets of photosensors is substantially equal to the time period of a scan line for the first through fourth sets of photosensors divided by the number of photosensors in the first through fourth sets of photosensors.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which is capable of managing a large number of transfer jobs without using a large-capacity storage device. A transfer job for transferring image information input to the image processing apparatus to at least one destination is performed, and character information is extracted from the input image information. History information indicative of the execution result of the transfer job is generated, and recorded in association with the extracted character information in a storage device. At least one of at least one piece of history information and at least one piece of character information recorded in association with the history information are perused.

Abstract: A detecting unit detects output-prohibit area information indicating an output-prohibit area from image data. An identifying unit identifies the output-prohibit area in the image data based on the output-prohibit area information detected by the detecting unit. A masking unit performs a masking on the output-prohibit area identified by the identifying unit. A rearranging unit rearranges an image of an area other than the output-prohibit area over the output-prohibit area on which the masking is performed by the masking unit. An outputting unit outputs image data obtained by rearranging the image by the rearranging unit.

Abstract: A printing system, provided with a first administrating section for administrating the number of sheets remaining until the number of printed sheets reaches to a predetermined upper limit of the number of sheets, a second administrating subsection for administrating the number of reserved sheets being under a waiting condition for being printed and outputted in the printing section, and a judging section for comparing the total number of sheets of the number of reserved sheets and the number of scheduled sheets indicated in a printing permission request with the number of remaining sheets when receiving the printing permission request. The judging section judges from the comparison whether or not the printing requested by the printing permission request is to be permitted, and transmits the judgment result as the response to the printing permission request.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a drive source, a speed change mechanism provided in a transmission unit that transmits a driving force from the drive source to a scanning drive unit. The speed change mechanism is configured to change a transmission ratio of the transmission unit by selectively bringing one of first and second couplings into a connected state. The image reading apparatus further includes a selector configured to selectively bring one of the first and second couplings into the connected state, a detector configured to detect the connected state of the second coupling, and a controller configured to control a scanning position of the reading unit based on the transmission ratio changed via the second coupling after the detector detects the connected state of the second coupling after the selector changes selection from the first coupling to the second coupling.

Abstract: Service information provided by a user is notified to a central processing unit (CPU), and the CPU executes a computer program for an operation process of the service, to determine a path (channel) through which image data should pass and a process content of image processes according to the service. Depending on the service information, image process is performed only by a first image data processor, image processes are performed by a combination of both the first image data processor and a second image data processor, or image process is performed only by the second image data processor.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a charge-coupled device that generates and outputs an image signal, a timing generator that outputs a frequency-modulated clock, a modulation signal detector that detects a modulation signal being a signal corresponding to a change in frequency of the clock, an amplitude controller that controls an amplitude of the modulation signal, and a signal combining unit that superimposes the modulation signal after the amplitude is controlled on the image signal.

Abstract: A scan unit having an electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise blocking unit and usable with an image forming apparatus includes a document plate supporting a document, a reading module which is disposed under the document plate, performs a reciprocating motion, and includes an image sensor that reads an image of the document and generates an image signal in response to the read image, a flexible flat cable (FFC) which is connected to the reading module and functions as a transfer path of power and the image signal, and an EMI noise blocking unit which blocks noise that occurs when the image signal of the reading module is transmitted.

Abstract: An image reader includes: an average calculation unit which calculates an average DAV of pixel values of pixels existing in an area corresponding to a striped image in a document image read by a scanning unit; a judgment unit which judges whether the average DAV is a value between judgment reference values DL and DH where (DL<DAV<DH); and a correction unit which executes replacement processing to replace a pixel value of each pixel in an area corresponding to the striped image with to a pixel value calculated based on a pixel value of a peripheral pixel if DL<DAV<DH is not satisfied and maintains the pixel value of each pixel in the area corresponding to the striped image without performing the replacement processing if DL<DAV<DH is satisfied.

Abstract: A detection device that includes a setting component, a measuring component, an accumulating component, a determining component, and an increasing/decreasing component is provided. The joint quantity measuring component measures joint quantities between the photoelectric conversion elements that are dependent on precision when arraying the plural photoelectric conversion elements. The joint error quantity accumulating component accumulates error quantities of the joints that are obtained from the joint quantities that have been measured and a reference quantity. The determining component determines whether or not the accumulated error quantity has exceeded an allowable range. The interpolation pixel increasing/decreasing component increases/decreases, on the basis of direction of error, interpolation pixels between specific photoelectric conversion elements when it has been determined that the accumulated error quantity has exceeded the allowable range.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying that a document is included in a document management system is disclosed. This system and method includes radio frequency scanning at least a portion of the document, generating document data dependently upon the radio frequency scanning, comparing the generated document data to stored document data, the stored document data generated dependently upon a prior radio frequency scanning of at least a portion of the document, and outputting an indication of the document being included in the document management system as determined by the comparing.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus according to the invention includes: a scanning unit configured to scan each of plural images from plural originals that are inputted; a rotation designating unit configured to designate rotation of the plural images that are scanned, so that an orientation of the plural images that are scanned coincides with a desired image orientation; a first image rotating unit configured to rotate the image that is scanned, in accordance with the designated rotation of the image; an orientation determining unit configured to determine whether the image orientation rotated by the first image rotating unit coincides with the desired image orientation or not; and a second image rotating unit configured to, for an image determined as not coinciding by the orientation determining unit, further rotate the orientation of the image so that the orientation coincides with the desired image orientation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a scanning unit configured to scan at least one of two surfaces of a printed material on both of which information is printed and to obtain a density image representing intensity distribution of diffuse reflection light from the scanned surface and a gloss image representing intensity distribution of specular reflection light from the scanned surface, a mask image generating unit configured to generate a mask image for the scanned surface based on the obtained gloss image, and a show-through removing unit configured to perform mask processing on the density image using the generated mask image to generate a show-through-removed image that does not include show-through information for the scanned surface.

Abstract: A facsimile machine includes an image data generating unit that reads a original and generates image data, an information transmitting and receiving unit that transmits and receive the digital data, a first data generating unit that generates first digital data used for a real-time communication method without using analog data, and a second data generating unit that generates second digital data used for a deemed voice communication method without using analog data. when using the real-time communication method, the first data generating unit generates the first digital data and the information transmitting and receiving unit transmits the first digital data to the destination. When using the deemed voice communication method, the second data generating unit generates the second digital data and the information transmitting and receiving unit transmits the second digital data to the destination.

Abstract: A system for scanning paper media is disclosed and may include at least one microprocessor. The system may also include a scanner connected to the microprocessor. The scanner may simultaneously scan two or more printed pages using computed tomography and send a three-dimensional data set to the microprocessor that represents the printed pages.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method for downloading a message in a mobile terminal, the method includes receiving a notification message comprising information indicating whether a media file included in a transmitted message is modified, and selectively requesting downloading of the transmitted message to the mobile terminal, if the media file is modified, based upon a message reception mode of the mobile terminal.

Abstract: An evolutionary document system comprises: a multi-function printer, a recognition module, an evolutionary document processing module, a list of document identifiers and corresponding actions, and an evolutionary document creation module. The MFP includes software and control routines for processing and creating evolutionary documents. The recognition module is operable on the MFP and allows the MFP to determine an evolutionary document identification number from an image scanned by the MFP. The evolutionary document processing module is capable of matching an evolutionary document identification number to one or more steps or action stored in the list of document identifiers and corresponding actions. Once the actions have been identified, the evolutionary document processing module executes the actions. The present invention also includes an evolutionary document creation module for creating an evolutionary document including an identification code.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a reading unit and a controller connected to the reading unit through a transmission path. The controller includes: a first clock generator which generates a first reference clock; a second clock generator which generates a second reference clock; a line synchronizer which generates a line synchronization signal based on the first reference clock; a clock transmitter which transmits the line synchronization signal and a unit clock based on the first reference clock to the reading unit; and a processor which execute a process based on the second reference clock and which is synchronized with the line synchronization signal. The reading unit includes a reading sensor which reads a document line by line based on the unit clock and the line synchronization signal.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus in which cross-talk noise occurring between plural reading units is reduced, an image reading method and an image reading program are provided. There are included plural reading units that respectively operate at different timings, a noise calculation unit that acquires first read data as a result of reading of a first read object as the read object by the plural reading units, acquires an operation state of the plural reading units during the reading of the first read object, and calculates, based on the operation state and the first read data obtained in the operation state, noise information based on the operation state, and a noise removal unit that acquires second read data as a result of reading of a second read object as the read object different from the first read object by the plural reading units, and removes noise from the second read data based on the noise information calculated by the noise calculation unit.

Abstract: An image processing system performs a specific process on first image data to generate second image data, and estimates, if it is specified that the second image data is to be stored into a portable storage medium, a necessary time for the second image data to be generated. If the necessary time is longer than a predetermined period of time, depending on a selection made by a user, the image processing system stores the second image data into the portable storage medium after the second image data is completely generated, or, alternatively, stores, identification information including a storage location of the second image data into the portable storage medium, and then, stores the second image data into an image data storage portion. The image processing system, then, transmits, to a terminal, the second image data stored in the image data storage portion in accordance with a request from the terminal.

Abstract: An image scanner includes: a light source that irradiates, with light, a recording medium on which an image is formed; a light receiving portion that receives light reflected by the recording medium; a generating portion that generates a light amount value from the light received by the light receiving portion; a measuring portion in which plural reflecting surfaces are disposed, the reflecting surfaces respectively having predetermined colors different from each other; and a processing portion that derives a correlation formula from a light amount value generated at predetermined reference time and from a light amount value generated when the reflecting surfaces in the measuring portion are irradiated with the light from the light source, the correlation formula expressing a time-varying change in the light source.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing the processing of print data at a printing device based upon available consumable resources. A printing device includes a print process configured to determine consumable resources that are currently available at the printing device. The print process is further configured to determine which print data is to be processed based upon the consumable resources currently available at the printing device and the consumable resources required to completely process each of the print data. Print data that can be completely processed using the currently available consumable resources are selected for processing. The print process may also be configured to cause a notification to be provided to a client device to indicate the consumable resources currently available at a printing device and/or that insufficient consumable resources were available to process particular print data and to recommend other consumable resources to process the particular print data.

Abstract: An output device which outputs pixel data corresponding to a color material used by a printing unit to the printing unit includes an image buffer which stores image data, a generation unit which generates density data corresponding to the color material based on image data read out from the image buffer, a print buffer which stores density data generated by the generation unit, and a conversion unit which converts density data read out from the print buffer into pixel data corresponding to the resolution of the printing unit synchronously with the printing unit.

Abstract: An image processing device is provided which comprises an input unit and an analog front end circuit with DC inputs. According to the invention, no capacitor is installed in the input unit and no clamper is installed in the AFE circuit with DC inputs. By appropriately selecting a comparing voltage and adding a level shifter or a compensation circuit, the invention can still generate an accurate digital signal.