33rd week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 23 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090201520 | Image Processing for Determining Dot Formation States in Printing an Image - An image processing apparatus for determining formation states of dots in printing an image based on an image data using dots of a plurality of sizes includes a storage and a dot formation state determination unit. The storage stores a width correspondence table that indicates correspondence relationships between a plurality of dot sequences representing combinations of dots of specific color along a prescribed direction, and width along the prescribed direction of dot areas composed of dots that are formed on a printing medium in accordance with the dot sequences. The dot formation state determination unit determines formation states of the dots based on the correspondence relationships indicated in the width correspondence table. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201521 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus includes a data recording unit to store a misregistration amount of a scanning line from an ideal scanning line when a plurality of laser beams is scanned in a main scanning direction, a calculation unit to calculate a shape of the scanning line based on the misregistration amount stored, and to determine a scanning line curvature cancellation curve which cancels misregistration of the calculated shape of the scanning line, and an image forming unit to form an image that reflects the scanning line curvature cancellation curve by shifting image data which is read out from a memory unit in a sub scanning direction according to the scanning line curvature cancellation curve. The image forming unit corrects the amount of misregistration which is smaller than a main scanning line interval by adjusting a transfer point at which the image data is shifted in the sub scanning direction. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201522 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM INCLUDING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus that forms a color image using a transparent toner and color toners based on received printing information includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a transparency attribute is set for an object included in the printing information, and a generation unit configured to generate a transparent object using the transparent toner on the object when the determination unit determines that the transparency attribute is set for the object. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201523 | Printing apparatus - A printing apparatus includes: an image data acquiring unit which acquires image data representing an image of a print target; a print data generating unit which on the basis of the image data generates print data for forming the image by allowing an ink head to perform scanning and record ink in a specific edge of a print medium more times than in a portion other than the specific edge; and a print control unit which performs printing on the image on the basis of the print data by controlling the ink head. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201524 | Printer Printing Composited Print Image Planes - A printer is provided having a receiver for receiving compressed print data, a first decoder for decoding continuous tone image planes in the received compressed print data to produce first decoded data, a second decoder for decoding bi-level image planes in the received compressed print data to produce second decoded data, a ditherer for dithering separate image color planes of the first decoded data to produce dithered data, a compositor for compositing the second decoded data with the dithered data to produce composited data, and a printhead for printing the composited data. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201525 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In continuous printing of plural sheets of recording paper, a controlling section of an image forming apparatus corrects a writing position for a first sheet of recording paper in accordance with an off-center amount detected by a carrying position sensor with respect to the first sheet of recording paper. As for an nth sheet of recording paper, the controlling section corrects the writing position for the nth sheet of recording paper in accordance with an off-center amount α(n−1) detected by the carrying position sensor with respect to an (n−1)th sheet of recording paper. In a case where an absolute value of a difference between an off-center amount αn detected by the carrying position sensor with respect to the nth sheet of recording paper and the off-center amount α(n−1) exceeds a threshold, the controlling section corrects the writing position in accordance with the off-center amount αn and causes an exposure unit to write again the electrostatic latent image at the writing position corrected in accordance with the off-center amount an, instead of writing an electrostatic latent image at the writing position corrected in accordance with the off-center amount α(n−1). This makes it possible to minimize a decrease in printing speed and improve accuracy of a position with which an image is formed on a sheet of recording paper. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201526 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND PRINTING SYSTEM - An information processing apparatus includes an application that encrypts document data using a public key of a spooler and stores the document data encrypted as a spool file. A printer driver decrypts the encrypted document data using a secret key of the spooler and performs rendering to generate print data. Subsequently, the application decrypts the print data using the public key of the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus decrypts the encrypted print data using the secret key of its own. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201527 | Operations panel and image forming apparatus - An operations panel is disclosed that comprises plural operations blocks attached to a main body of an electronic apparatus; a selection information output unit that outputs a selection information item indicating a selection item selected in the operations block; a display operations block that is removably attachable to the main body, including a display unit that shows display selection items used for selecting operational functions, a selection detecting unit that detects the selected display selection item, and a display control unit that causes the display unit to show the selection items corresponding to the operations blocks together with the display selection item when the display operations block is removed from the main body; and a selection information retrieving unit that retrieves, as the selection information item, a selection result detected by the selection detecting unit of the display operations block removed from the main body. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201528 | METHODS FOR PRINTING MULTIPLE FILES AS ONE PRINT JOB - A method is disclosed for selectively printing multiple PDF files currently open in a PDF viewer (including editor) application. A GUI lists all PDF files currently open within the viewer. A user selects files from the list and specifies page ranges for the selected files. The PDF viewer submits data from the user-selected files to a printer as a single print job. In one implementation, the viewer generates a master PDF file from the selected files and transfers it to the printer. In another implementation, the viewer interprets the PDF data in the selected files into PDL data and transfers it to the printer. In another implementation, the viewer generate a separate PDF file containing selected data for each open PDF file, composes a job ticket using the generated PDF files and transfers the job ticket and the generated PDF files to the printer. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201529 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, APPARATUS, METHOD AND CONTROL PROGRAM - An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus connected to a host device via a network. The host device transmits a power-off notification notifying the image forming apparatus on the network that power is to be turned off, together with job information identifying a job, when the host device is powered off. The image forming apparatus searches whether or not there is a job identified by the job information upon receiving the power-off notification from the host device, reads the job identified by the job information out from a job saving unit, transmits the job to the host device and deletes the job that has been transmitted to the host device, from the job saving unit. Further, the host device saves the job transmitted from the image forming apparatus that has received the power-off notification, in a storing unit, and then turns off the power. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201530 | PRINT JOB SEPARATION APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus and method are disclosed for separating print jobs. Print jobs may be separated by alternating between outputting entire print jobs in straight and askew orientations. Print jobs may also be separated by outputting jobs in a straight orientation and outputting a separator page between each print job in an askew orientation. In one embodiment, separator pages may be input from a specified input tray that may contain sheets of a different color than that used for print jobs. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201531 | PRINT JOB ASSIGNMENT METHOD ALLOWING USER-PRIORITIZATION - A method implemented in a print job management apparatus for processing print jobs in a multiple-printer print shop environment is described. Each print job specifies job ticket parameters representing printing requirements. Each received job is processed by comparing the printing requirements of the job with capabilities of the printers. If a printer cannot satisfy all printing requirements of the job, it is eliminated as a candidate printer. Then, from all printers that can satisfy all printing requirements of the job, one printer is selected based on a pre-defined priority preference and the job is submitted to the selected printer. The printer priority preference is created by the operator based on cost and other factors. The operator can also select an alternative execution mode where, among all printers that can satisfy all requirements of the job, the one with minimum wait time is selected. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201532 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A URL SHORTCUT NAME CORRESPONDING TO A WEB PAGE AND PRINTING THE WEB PAGE WITH THE SHORTCUT NAME - A system and method are provided for creating a URL shortcut name corresponding to a web page and printing the web page with the shortcut name. The system includes a printer in operative communication with a processor configured for accessing a network and the at least one web page identifiable by a corresponding URL; a memory storing a shortcut name corresponding to the URL; and at least one application software module having a set of programmable instructions configured for execution by the processor for enabling said printer to print the shortcut name on a web page printout corresponding to the at least one web page. The system further enables providing the shortcut name in an URL address window of a network browser, determining the corresponding URL from the shortcut name, and accessing the at least one web page using the determined URL. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201533 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AN EFFICIENT SHIPPING STRATEGY FOR SHIPPING PRINTED MATERIAL - A system and related method for creating an efficient shipping strategy for shipping printed material is disclosed. The system includes a communication component, an analysis component and a shipping component. The communication component communicates printing instructions. The printing instructions include image data and at least one job parameter. The analysis component communicates with the communication component and determines at least one physical property of a print job when formed according to the printing instructions. The shipping component generates shipping information in accordance with the at least one physical property. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201534 | METHOD FOR GENERATING SIMULATED INSERT SHEETS FOR A PRINT JOB - A printing method is described where, when a print job requires printing multiple copies of a document and a simulated insert sheet option is selected as a part of the print job requirements, simulated insert sheets are automatically generated and inserted between the printed copies that are outputted to the output tray of the printer. The simulated insert sheets are printed using the same paper as the document. The simulated insert sheets may be numbered, and may include a printed pattern extending to an edge of the sheets. The layout and content of the simulated insert sheets may be specified by the printer driver or the printer itself. The method can also be used with copiers when making multiple copies of an original document. Further, simulated insert sheets can be used to separate groups of pages within a single document, such as chapters or sections. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201535 | Posting server, sending terminal, posting server control method, and sending terminal control method - Prior to delivery of content data, SIP servers | 2009-08-13 |
20090201536 | Posting server, printing terminal, posting server control method, and printing terminal control method - When a printable term is set for content data, a posting server | 2009-08-13 |
20090201537 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a data reception unit for receiving data sent from another electronic device via a predetermined network; a state detection unit for detecting a current status regarding at least an image forming operation; a data storage unit for storing a plurality of image data corresponding to a plurality of states beforehand; a data selection unit for selecting, based on the current status detected by the state detection unit, at least one of the plurality of the image data stored by the data storage unit; and a data transmission unit for transmitting, when a predetermined request is received from the another electronic device via the predetermined network, the image data selected by the data selection unit to the another electronic device according to the predetermined request. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201538 | Image processing method and image processing apparatus - An image processing apparatus processes image data that contains a confidential image portion. The image processing apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives designation of the confidential image portion; a generating unit that generates specification information that specifies the confidential image portion; an adding unit that adds the specification information to the image data thereby generating first processed image data; and an output unit that outputs the first processed image data. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201539 | ADDRESS BOOK TRANSMISSION PROGRAM, ADDRESS BOOK TRANSMISSION METHOD, AND ADDRESS SERVER - The present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein an address book transmission program for causing a computer, which includes a storage that stores therein one or more pieces of address book data, to transmit the pieces of address book data to a data transmission apparatus, each of the pieces of address book data corresponding to one or more senders, the address book transmission program causing the computer to execute: a receiving step of receiving, from the data transmission apparatus, apparatus information indicating a state of the data transmission apparatus; a reading step of reading a piece of address book data that corresponds to a sender out of the pieces of address book data stored in the storage; a judging step of, based on the apparatus information received in the receiving step, specifying a use mode that shows how the data transmission apparatus uses address book data, and judging whether or not the piece of address book data read in the reading step is appropriate to the specified use mode; an editing step of, if a result of the judging step is negative, editing the read piece of address book data so as to be appropriate to the specified use mode; and a transmitting step of transmitting the edited piece of address book data to the data transmission apparatus. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201540 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PRINT SETTING CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - If a print setting of a print job causes any conflict (device conflict) in a network printer when the print job is executed, an information processing apparatus registers the print setting as a device conflict rule in a device conflict rule database. Then, the information processing apparatus performs a conflict determination based on device conflict rules registered in the device conflict rule database in addition to conflict rules registered beforehand in a conflict rule database. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201541 | SYSTEM FOR OPTIMAL DOCUMENT SCANNING - A method of controlling a scanner to improve automatic recognition and classification of scanned physical documents for a document analysis system, which receives and processes jobs containing at least one electronic document from a plurality of users to automatically recognize and classify the job documents into document categories, is disclosed. The method comprises, using a scan control system, obtaining the capability of, and existing scanner settings for, the scanner upon receiving a command to initiate scanning of physical documents; saving the existing scanner settings of the scanner; automatically commanding the scanner to use new scanner settings, wherein the new scanner settings are selected in accordance with the capability of the recognition system; commanding the scanner to begin scanning operation with the new scanner settings; and automatically resetting the scanner settings of the scanner back to the saved existing scanner settings upon completing of the scanning operation. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201542 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM - An image processing system readily provides a client PC with preview of a target image for printing or transmission. In accordance with a request from a client PC (information transmission direction i), a server | 2009-08-13 |
20090201543 | DOCUMENT READING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A document reading apparatus includes an integral display portion integrally provided with the area sensor portion and a main CPU for controlling screen display of the integral display portion, in which a document placed on a screen of the integral display portion is read by the area sensor portion. The integral display portion has an operation area for displaying various operation keys of the document reading apparatus on its screen, and the main CPU detects an area of the document placed on the screen by the area sensor portion and sets an area other than an area where the document is placed as the operation area of the document reading apparatus. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201544 | Communication Apparatus and Program Thereof - A communication apparatus includes: a communication section which executes a facsimile communication with a remote communication apparatus; a communication history control section which stores communication history information for each facsimile communication and controls a communication history; a log information storage section which stores log information relating to the facsimile communication by correlating to the communication history information; a code information generation section which generates code information being able to compress and display the log information; a print data generation section which generates print data for printing the communication history information and the code information of the log information correlated to the communication history information on a recording sheet such that the communication history information and the log information are comparable on the recording sheet; and a print section which prints the print data. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201545 | FACSIMILE TRANSFERRING SYSTEM - A facsimile transferring system is supplied capable of preventing a paper on which facsimile data transferred from his/her work place is printed from leaving as it is at a place where the destination person does not exist. In the system, an entering/leaving room managing equipment and a facsimile apparatus are furnished at plural places respectively; and a transfer/notification processing server transfers received facsimile data to one of the facsimile apparatus on the basis of entering/leaving room management information, wherein the transfer/notification processing server includes a destination person whereabouts managing section that specifies a whereabouts place of destination person of the received facsimile data on the basis of entering/leaving room management information, and a facsimile apparatus controlling section that transfers the received facsimile data to the facsimile apparatus furnished at the whereabouts place of the destination person on the basis of a control of the destination person whereabouts managing section. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201546 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing system to perform image processing. The image processing system includes an image processing device and a data processing device communicably connected to the image processing device. The data processing device includes a setting screen display unit to display a setting screen to input setting data for the image processing device, and a transfer unit to send the setting data input through the setting screen to the image processing device. The image processing device includes a production unit to create a data management table in which the setting data received from the data processing device and management data for specifying the setting data are associated with each other, a storage unit to store the data management table in a storage medium, and a reading unit to read out the setting data stored in the storage medium based on the data management table. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201547 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM USING A MANAGEMENT APPARATUS TO MANAGE SOFTWARE COMPONENTS - An image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a management apparatus configured to manage and operate the image forming system, and a plurality of communication control apparatuses each configured to control data communication between the management apparatus and a corresponding image forming apparatus, wherein the management apparatus includes a software component storing unit configured to store one or more software components in a predetermined storage area of a storage device of the management apparatus, the one or more software components being each configured to generate print data recognizable by a corresponding image forming apparatus and a selecting unit configured to select a software component from the one or more software components in response to the print request, the selected software component being used to generate print data corresponding to the image forming apparatus selected as a printing apparatus. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201548 | PRINTER DRIVER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A printer driver and an image forming apparatus for appropriately combining additional information (such as a stamp) and an original to print the combined image data. The printer driver according to one embodiment of the present invention, relates to a printer driver connected to a printer for registering form data transmitted from the printer driver, and for combining the registered form data and contents data. The printer driver transmits transparent data as form data and a command indicating that the form data is transparent data, to the printer. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201549 | Facsimile Machine - A facsimile machine is provided. The facsimile machine includes a first reading unit which reads an image of an original placed on a platen; a second reading unit which reads an image of an original while feeding the original; a transmitting unit which is configured to execute a first transmission operation to transmit the image of the original read by the first reading unit as facsimile data and a second transmission operation to transmit the image of the original read by the second reading unit as facsimile data; a transmission inhibition unit which inhibits the first transmission operation by the transmitting unit; and a release unit which releases the inhibition of the first transmission operation by the transmission inhibition unit. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201550 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING IMAGE AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An image storage system includes a plurality of image processing apparatuses that execute image processing on image data in collaboration with one another; a storage unit that stores information on the image data; a transmitting unit provided in at least one of the plurality of image processing apparatuses and transmitting the information on the image data to the storage unit; an information acquisition unit that acquires apparatus information on the plurality of image processing apparatuses; and a determination unit that determines, from the plurality of image processing apparatuses, an image processing apparatus that transmits the information on the image data, which is processed by the plurality of image processing apparatuses in collaboration with one another, to the storage unit based on the acquired apparatus information. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201551 | PRINTING APPARATUS, DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM - A printing apparatus includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a print setting of document data from a document management apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine whether the document data can be printed using the print setting acquired by the first acquisition unit, an output unit configured to output information about a result determined by the determination unit to the document management apparatus, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire, from the document management apparatus, printing availability determination information about a determined result as to whether document data can be printed with the printing apparatus, a display unit configured to display the printing availability determination information acquired by the second acquisition unit and printing apparatus information on a display apparatus, a third acquisition unit configured to acquire document data designated by a user from the document management apparatus by requesting the document management apparatus to transmit the document data, and a printing unit configured to print the document data acquired by the third acquisition unit. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201552 | DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Provided are a data processing apparatus and method that make it possible to detect improper resource data that has been stored in a printer. The data processing apparatus, which is connectable to an image forming apparatus that refers to resource data when an image is formed, first acquires information relating to resource data that has been stored in the image forming apparatus and stores the information on a hard disk. Next, improper resource data is detected by control exercised by a CPU in the processing apparatus based upon the acquired information relating to the resource data. After prescribed processing is executed with respect to improper resource data that has been detected, information relating to prescribed resource data is provided to the image forming apparatus via a network controller. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201553 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus of the invention includes a read unit to read an image and to generate temporal image data from the image, a capacity specifying unit to specify a specified capacity for final image data, and a generation condition setting unit to set a generation condition for generating the final image data from the temporal image data, the final image data not exceeding the specified capacity is generated, and the capacity of the generated final image data is displayed. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201554 | IMAGE PROCESSING ENABLING REDUCTION OF PROCESSING TIME FOR DATA CONVERSION - A reference level of data required for outputting (printing, sending and so on) in accordance with output configuration settings is set. It is determined whether or not a level of target data to be output which is stored in a storage is lower than the reference level. When the level of the target data is lower than the reference level, the data level is increased in stages. The data of the level raised to the reference level is output in accordance with the output configuration settings. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201555 | DEFACEMENT DEGREE DETERMINATION APPARATUS AND DEFACEMENT DEGREE DETERMINATION METHOD - A defacement degree determination apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention includes an alignment unit which aligns positions of an input image from one printed material printed using a plurality of printing plates with registered images registered in advance, a plate separation processing unit which separates the input image into a plurality of printed components corresponding to the plurality of printing plates, and extracts defacement features from the respective printed components, and a defacement degree determination unit which determines a defacement degree of the printed material based on the defacement features extracted from the respective printed components. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201556 | Apparatus, system, and method for identifying embedded information - An information identification apparatus includes a processor and a storage device. The storage device stores computer programmed instructions which when activated by the processor cause the processor to operate as a specially programmed processor. The processor obtains image data assumed to be embedded with supplemental information, extracts a portion of the image data to obtain target pattern data from the portion of the image data, obtains reference information, compares the target pattern data with the reference information to generate a comparison result, and determines whether the supplemental information embedded in the image data is identifiable using the reference information based on the comparison result. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201557 | Image data transmitting apparatus, server apparatus, image data transmitting system, and program - The image data transmitting apparatus acquires the address book data corresponding to the user or such data and the transmittal cover letter data from the server apparatus, selects, out of the acquired information on destinations, the destination according to selecting operation by the user, generates transmittal cover letter image data based on the transmittal cover letter data related to the selected destination and attaches the image data to be transmitted as second and subsequent pages, thereby generating the image data with the transmittal cover letter attached thereto. While thus generated image data with the transmittal cover letter attached thereto is transmitted to the destination, transmission is prohibited of image data other than thus generated image data with the transmittal cover letter attached thereto. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201558 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a memory that has a first storage area for storing a control program and a second storage area for storing image data and operates in a normal mode and a self-refresh mode. The image forming apparatus stores the control program in the first storage area to set the first storage area in the self-refresh mode, when the power saving mode, stores image data which is stored in the second storage area, in the storage medium to set the second storage area in a dormant state, when the storage medium is connected to a main body in the power saving mode, and sets at least a bank of the second storage area in which the image data is stored, in the self-refresh mode and sets the remaining bank in the dormant state, when the storage medium is not connected to the main body in the power saving mode. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201559 | Rotatable scanner and image forming apparatus - A rotatable scanner includes a scanner body and a document holder. The scanner body includes an exposure surface on which a document is placed. The document holder is provided above the scanner body to cover a document placed on the exposure surface of the scanner body, and includes a hinged side and a free side opposite the hinged side. A front upper edge of the scanner body is chamfered. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201560 | IMAGE READING DEVICE, IMAGE READING METHOD, AND IMAGE READING PROGRAM - There is provided an image reading device including a tag information reading unit for reading information recorded in an IC tag by performing radio communication with the IC tag attached or embedded at a predetermined position of a medium that becomes a target of image reading and an image reading unit for creating image data of an image recorded on the medium by scanning the medium. The image reading unit determines an area for the scanning based on area information related to the medium among information read by the tag information reading unit and, and scans the determined area. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201561 | IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD FOR THE SAME - An image reading apparatus and a controlling method for the same are disclosed. When a paper feeding speed needs to be varied temporarily, the scanning operation is suspended, and the scanning module is advanced in the paper feeding direction by a predetermined distance to a point where the paper feeding speed becomes constant. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201562 | Method of Determining Number of Patches - A test chart used for color calibration includes: the number of patches of a first color; and the number of patches of a second color. The number of patches of the first color is determined on the basis of the degree of variation in the colorimetric value of the first color in a color space on a medium, and the number of patches of the second color is determined on the basis of the degree of variation in the colorimetric value of the second color in the color space on the medium. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201563 | Screen Display Control Device - A screen display control device includes: a compression unit which compresses input image data in a line unit; a rewritable image memory to which the compressed data compressed in the line unit by the compression unit is written in non-synchronization with a reading process; a decompression unit which decompresses the compressed data periodically read from the image memory in synchronization with screen display to restore original image data; a display unit which displays an image of the image data decompressed and restored by the decompression unit; a buffer memory which temporarily maintains compressed one-line data compressed by the compression unit; and a writing/reading control unit which controls the processes of writing and reading the compressed data to and from the image memory and processes of writing and reading the image data to and from the buffer memory. When the processes of reading and writing the compressed data of the same line to and from the image memory compete with each other, the writing/reading control unit controls the image data of the line to be written so as to be maintained in the buffer memory. The writing/reading control unit controls the process of reading the compressed data of the line maintained in the buffer memory upon reading the compressed data of the line. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201564 | Monitoring Modulator Bias Using Photon Absorption - Monitoring a bias point of an optical modulator includes receiving an optical signal modulated by the optical modulator. Photons of the optical signal are received at a photon reactive material operable to produce a reaction in response to the arrival of a predetermined number of photons. Reactions are produced in response to the arrival of the photons of the optical signal. Feedback is generated in response to the reactions. The feedback reflects the waveform of the optical signal, and indicates one or more bias points of the optical modulator. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201565 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING BRIGHTNESS OF DISPLAYS USING ANGLE CONVERSION LAYERS - Various embodiments of the present invention relate to enhancing the brightness of displays that employ illumination systems. In some embodiments, the illumination systems include light guides, diffractive microstructure, and light-turning features. The diffractive microstructure may be configured to receive ambient light at a first angle and produce diffracted light at a second angle greater than the first angle and greater than the critical angle for of light guide. The light is thereby guided within the light guide. The light-turning features may be configured to turn the light guided within the light guide out of a light guide and onto, for example, a spatial light modulator at near normal incidence. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201566 | DEVICE HAVING A CONDUCTIVE LIGHT ABSORBING MASK AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING SAME - A system and method for an optical component that masks non-active portions of a display and provides an electrical path for one or more display circuits. In one embodiment an optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical elements on the substrate, each optical element having an optical characteristic which changes in response to a voltage applied to the optical element, and a light-absorbing, electrically-conductive optical mask disposed on the substrate and offset from the plurality of optical elements, the optical mask electrically coupled to one or more of the optical elements to provide electrical paths for applying voltages to the optical elements. In another embodiment, a method of providing an electrical signal to optical elements of a display comprises electrically coupling an electrically-conductive light-absorbing mask to one or more optical elements, and applying a voltage to the mask to activate the one or more optical elements. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201567 | OPTICAL FILTER DEVICE AND METHOD OF REDUCING VIGNETTING - An optical filter device ( | 2009-08-13 |
20090201568 | Three states of micro mirror device - The present invention provides a spatial light modulator, comprising a mirror modulating a light emitted from a light source, wherein the mirror is further controlled to operate with at least three stationary states whereby an image is projected with a gray scale expression through a combination of modulation of the light operated in the three stationary states. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201569 | DISPLAY PARTICLE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, DISPLAY PARTICLE DISPERSION, DISPLAY MEDIUM, AND DISPLAY DEVICE - A display particle includes: a colored particle including a polymer having a charging group and a colorant; and a reactive silicone polymer or a reactive long-chain alkyl polymer, the polymer being bound to or covering the surface of the colored particle. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201570 | Electrophoretic Light Modulator - An electrophoretic light modulator includes a plurality of similarly charged particles comprising a first optical characteristic. The electrophoretic light modulator also includes at least one reflecting surface comprising a second optical characteristic different that the first optical characteristic. The electrophoretic light modulator further includes a pair of electrodes that create an electric field that causes the plurality of charged particles to obscure or expose the reflecting surface based on the polarity of the electric field. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201571 | INTEGRATED FRONT LIGHT DIFFUSER FOR REFLECTIVE DISPLAYS - A reflective electronic display includes a front light assembly with a diffuser for enlarging the viewing cone of the display. The front light may include a substrate, a plurality of optical turning features, and a diffuser formed therebetween. The haze of the diffuser may be spatially non-uniform and switchable between two or more levels. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201572 | METAMATERIAL GRADIENT INDEX LENS - Examples of the present invention include a gradient index element formed from a material such as a metamaterial, the material having an index profile and an index gradient profile, where the index profile includes at least one discontinuity and the index gradient profile is substantially continuous. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201573 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPENSATION OF SELF-PHASE MODULATION IN FIBER-BASED AMPLIFICATION SYSTEMS - Methods and systems for compensation of Self-Phase Modulation | 2009-08-13 |
20090201574 | OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION MODULE AND LASER LIGHT SOURCE DESIGNED TO SUPPRESS PHOTODARKENING - The present invention relates to an optical amplification module having a construction which effectively suppresses photodarkening, and to a laser light source including the same. The laser light source comprises a light source for outputting light to be amplified, and an optical amplification module. The optical amplification module comprises two types of optical amplification media having different rare earth element concentrations, and a pumping light source. The low concentration medium and the high concentration medium are disposed in the propagation direction of pumping light such that the population inversion of the low concentration medium is higher than that of the high concentration medium. Hence, by arranging two types of optical amplification media with different rare earth concentrations such that the population inversion of the low concentration medium is higher than that of the high concentration medium, sufficient overall gain of the laser light source can be obtained while effectively suppressing photodarkening in the two types of optical amplification media. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201575 | HIGH POWER PARALLEL FIBER ARRAYS - High power parallel fiber arrays for the amplification of high peak power pulses are described. Fiber arrays based on individual fiber amplifiers as well as fiber arrays based on multi-core fibers can be implemented. The optical phase between the individual fiber amplifier elements of the fiber array is measured and controlled using a variety of phase detection and compensation techniques. High power fiber array amplifiers can be used for EUV and X-ray generation as well as pumping of parametric amplifiers. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201576 | OPTICAL FIBER AMPLIFIER AND A CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A fiber amplifier having two erbium doped fiber coils and a pump laser diode optically coupled, through a fiber array, to a planar lightwave circuit, is described. A photodetector array, a multiport free-space optical isolator, and a strip of thin-film gain flattening filter are attached to a side surface of the planar lightwave circuit, which has a tunable optical power splitter for variably splitting the optical pump power for the laser diode between the two erbium doped fiber coils, and variable tilters for correcting the gain tilt of the amplifier. The variable splitter and the tilters are thermally tunable Mach-Zehnder interferometers. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201577 | LIGHT SOURCE - An apparatus for providing light to molecules of a specimen in a fluorescence microscope includes a light emitting diode and an optical element including a phosphor. The molecules have a peak excitation wavelength. The LED emits light at a first wavelength; the phosphor is capable of receiving the light at the first wavelength and emitting light at a preselected second wavelength different than the first wavelength. The second wavelength is substantially similar to the peak excitation wavelength of the molecules. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201578 | Reducing Flare in a Lens Having a Dichroic Filter - In order to obtain an image with high color fidelity in an environment with a bright source in a field of view, flare must be minimized. An image device that reduces flare may include an absorptive UV cut filter positioned in an integrated optical system and a dichroic IR cut filter disposed on a lens in the optical system. The dichroic IR cut filter receives reflected light from one or more surfaces in the optical system at an angle of incidence larger than an angle of incidence of image light entering the dichroic IR cut filter, so that the reflected light is transmitted out of the system. The absorptive UV cut filter may be used to reduce UV-wavelength light reaching an image sensor of the image device. In this manner, the image device avoids processing undesirable wavelengths of light that is beyond the visible spectrum. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201579 | Microscope device and resolution method of microscope image - To provide a microscope device capable of resolving a microscopic pattern beyond optical resolution of the microscope device. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201580 | Methods for implement microscopy and microscopic measurement as well as microscope and apparatus for implementing them - The invention relates to a microscope that enables a phase object or surface pits and projections to be observed at a relatively low image-formation magnification of | 2009-08-13 |
20090201581 | Method and Apparatus Providing Improved Visual Capabilities of Optical Instruments - A color-filtering device for enhancing color from a binocular view includes a first variable color filter element a second variable color filter element: and a mechanical assembly for communication of axial rotation to the first and second filter elements. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201582 | Binoculars having center-focusing and individual-focusing functions - Binoculars having a center-focusing function and an individual-focusing comprise a telescopic base provided at an end thereof with a control sleeve which is connected to a left lens system in a left barrel and a right lens system in a right barrel through an adjusting portion disposed in the telescopic base. When a user pushes the control sleeve so that the control sleeve is forced to shift toward the adjusting portion, the user can rotate the control sleeve to simultaneously actuate the adjusting portion, so as to adjust focuses of the left and right lens systems. When the user pulls the control sleeve so that the control sleeve is forced to shift away from the adjusting portion, the user can rotate the control sleeve to simultaneously actuate the adjusting portion, so as to adjust a parallax between one and the other of the left and right lens systems. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201583 | POLARIZING FILM FOR WINDOW AND FRONT WINDOW FOR MEANS OF TRAVELING - There is provided a front window for means of traveling, which contains at least a base, a polarizing film, and a anti-reflection film, wherein the polarizing film contains at least an anisotropic absorber, and the anisotropic absorber has a reduction ratio of a parallel polarized light (s-polarized light) included in incident light of 90% or less. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201584 | PLASTIC POLARIZED LENS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME - To provide a plastic polarized lens which is excellent in processability and the like as well as in adhesion property of the polarized film, and a method of producing the same. In the plastic polarized lens of the present invention, layers comprised of thiourethane-based resins obtained by reacting (A) isocyanate compounds with (B) active hydrogen compounds are stacked on both sides of a polarized film comprised of thermoplastic polyester formed under a predetermined temperature condition. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201585 | OPTICAL SYSTEM AND OPTICAL APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An optical system includes a front lens group, a stop, and a rear lens group arranged successively in order from the object side toward the image side. The front lens group includes a solid material element having a refractive action. The rear lens group includes a diffractive optical element. The solid material element is formed on at least one transmissive surface of a refractive optical element. An Abbe number of a solid material of the solid material element with respect to the d line, a partial dispersion ratio of the solid material with respect to the g line and the F line, respective thicknesses of the solid material element and the refractive optical element when measured on the optical axis, and respective focal lengths of the diffractive optical portion of the diffractive optical element and the solid material element in air satisfy predetermined conditional expressions. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201586 | Optically variable element with partial transparent element - An optically variable element, in particular an optically variable safeguard element for safeguarding banknotes, credit cards and the like, and a security product and a foil, in particular an embossing foil or a laminating foil, having such an optically variable element. The optically variable element has a thin film for producing color shifts by means of an interference and/or a reflective layer. The optically variable element further has a transparent window and the thin film and/or the reflective layer is respectively in the form of a partial element, namely a partial thin film element or a partial reflective element, wherein the partial element or elements surround the surface region of the transparent window. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201587 | OPTICAL FILTER AND DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - An optical filter for a display device placed in front of a display panel | 2009-08-13 |
20090201588 | ILLUMINATING DEVICE, ILLUMINATING METHOD, IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE PROJECTING APPARATUS - An illuminating device is provided. The illuminating device includes a light source, a dividing unit, an optical unit and a light-distribution control unit. The dividing unit is configured to divide light emitted from the light source into light beams. The optical unit is configured to allow at least one of a travelling direction and a focal length of the light beams divided by the dividing unit to be variable. The light-distribution control unit is configured to control at least one of the travelling direction and focal length of light beams by acting on the optical unit. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201589 | Wide Field of View Head-Up Display System - A projection system, such as a system suitable for head-up displays in automobiles, includes a laser projection source ( | 2009-08-13 |
20090201590 | OPTICAL SYSTEM AND OPTICAL APPARATUS INCLUDING OPTICAL SYSTEM - An optical system used for an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup element is provided. The optical system includes a negative lens disposed furthest away on the enlargement conjugation side and satisfies the following condition: 80 degrees<2ω, where 2ω (degrees) denotes an angle of view of the optical system. In addition, the following parameters of the optical system are optimally determined: a lens open angle θ of a surface of the negative lens on the reduction conjugation side, an index of refraction Ndn and an Abbe number vdn of a material of the negative lens for a d-line, and a relative partial dispersion θgFn of the material of the negative lens for a g-line and an F-line. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201591 | ZOOM LENS SYSTEM AND CAMERA INCLUDING THE SAME - A zoom lens system includes a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power which moves during zooming, a third lens unit having a positive optical power which does not move for zooming, and a fourth lens unit having a positive optical power which moves during zooming. The first lens unit, the second lens unit, the third lens unit, and the fourth lens unit are arranged in order from the object side to the image side. A back focus of the zoom lens system and a focal length of the third lens unit are adequately set. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201592 | Imaging optical system and imaging apparatus comprising the same - The object-side lens group G | 2009-08-13 |
20090201593 | IMAGE PICKUP LENS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup lens includes, in order from an object side thereof: a first lens; a second lens comprising a surface facing the image surface side of the image pickup lens which is an aspheric surface; and a third lens. The aspheric surface has a concave shape facing the image surface side at a paraxial portion and has a convex shape facing the image surface side at the periphery. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201594 | OPTICAL FINGER NAVIGATION DEVICE WITH A FOLDED AIR LENS - A fingerprint navigation system with a folded air lens structure and a folded air lens. The system includes a light source, a folded air lens structure, a light reflector, and a navigation sensor. The folded air lens structure is aligned to direct light from the light source to an object surface. The folded air lens structure includes a first portion and a second portion. The light reflector is aligned to direct the light from the first portion of the folded air lens structure to the second portion of the folded air lens structure. The navigation sensor is calibrated to produce a navigation image corresponding to the light directed through the folded air lens structure and the folded air lens. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201595 | Swinging and tilting mechanism, lens barrel, and image capture apparatus - A swinging and tilting mechanism includes a lens, a lens holding frame that holds the lens, a fixed member, and an operation member. The fixed member includes a rotation support portion that rotatably supports the lens holding frame in at least one side surface in one direction perpendicular to an optical axis of an optical system, and a tilting support portion that supports the lens holding frame tiltably in a direction of the optical axis in at least one side surface in another direction perpendicular to the optical axis and the one direction. The operation member rotates the lens holding frame supported by the fixed member with the rotation support portion used as a support point, and tilts the same along the tilting support portion. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201596 | AERODYNAMIC SIDE MIRROR ASSEMBLY - A side mirror assembly is provided with a plurality of mirror members arranged in a longitudinal array to decrease the lateral profile of the side mirror assembly, and thereby potentially increase fuel economy, without sacrificing field of view for the driver. The mirror members are arranged with reflective surfaces angled with respect to a longitudinal axis running through the array, with the angles generally decreasing in a forward direction. An image of an object outside of the vehicle reflected by the mirror members is not reversed (i.e., the image is not a “mirror image” in which right and left sides are switched or flipped), thus increasing the ability of the driver to mentally process the image and respond in an appropriate manner. A method of manufacturing a side mirror assembly is also provided. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201597 | Busterbite - The invention concerns an attachment device for the mounting and fixation of lighting filters. The attachment device consists of at least three tags ( | 2009-08-13 |
20090201598 | Disc drive device - Embodiments of the present invention precisely measure clearance variation by temperature change using a value in a RW channel. In an embodiment of the present invention, an HDD measures resolution by signals in a RW channel. The measured resolution shows variations depending on temperature according to two factors. One factor is the clearance variation depending on the temperature and the other is the variation in operational property of the RW channel depending on the temperature. The HDD compensates for the temperature variation of the resolution according to the two factors. The HDD uses two kinds of sensed temperature. One corresponds to the temperature inside an enclosure in which head sliders are provided and the other corresponds to the temperature of the chip in which the RW channel is implemented. Sensing the drive temperature and the channel temperature independently achieves precise compensation for the variation in the measured resolution caused by clearance variation and channel property. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201599 | RECORDER AND RECORDING METHOD - A recorder of the present invention includes an optical disk drive section recording data on an optical disk, and a host section transferring data recorded on an arbitrary recording medium to the optical disk drive section to record the data on the optical disk, wherein the optical disk drive section intermittently records the data transferred from the host section on the optical disk. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201600 | THERMALLY ASSISTED MAGNETIC HEAD, HEAD GIMBAL ASSEMBLY, AND HARD DISK APPARATUS - A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole for writing and a near-field light generator provided near the main magnetic pole, the near-field light generator having a non-magnetic base metal layer, a non-magnetic upper metal layer, an intermediate insulating layer interposed between the base metal layer and the upper metal layer, and the base metal layer having a V-shaped groove and also the upper metal layer having a projection facing the deepest part in the groove of the base metal layer, in a vertical cross-section parallel to a medium facing surface. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201601 | Magnetic Data Eraser - A magnetic data eraser includes a power supply circuit, a receptacle for accommodating a magnetic recording medium or a device incorporating a magnetic recording medium, primary and secondary coils wound around an outer periphery of the receptacle. The primary coil is connected to the power supply circuit. The secondary coil is short-circuited. Excitation of the primary coil through energization by the power supply circuit generates an induced current in the secondary coil, thereby making an interaction between the primary and secondary coils. The interaction generates an alternating magnetic field, whereby the magnetic recording medium is degaussed, so as to erase magnetic data recorded in the medium. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201602 | LONG-TERM ASYMMETRY TRACKING IN MAGNETIC RECORDING DEVICES - A technique tracks head asymmetry of a magnetic recording device over time. In particular, a reference pattern having a known fundamental/reference frequency may be read from a reserved track of a magnetic recording medium to produce a response signal, and signal power may then be determined at the reference frequency and at a second harmonic component frequency of the reference frequency. Accordingly, head asymmetry for the device may be tracked based on a ratio of the signal power at the second harmonic component frequency to the signal power at the reference frequency. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201603 | MOVING MAGNET ACTUATION OF TAPE HEAD - In one embodiment, a tape read/write head supported by a lever is biased in a first position, using magnetic attraction between a magnet supported by the lever, and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnet centers itself, in the absence of a coil generated magnetic field, in the middle of a gap of the magnetic return path structure. In one aspect, the mass of the read/write head and one side of the lever may be balanced by the mass of the magnet and the other side of the lever. The lever and hence the tape read/write head carried by the lever, may be pivoted by conducting current through a coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. As a consequence, the lever pivots on a pivot axis as a function of the magnitude and direction of the current through the coil. The face of the magnet may be divided into portions of opposite magnetic polarity to facilitate a relatively pure torque to be developed substantially without a net force. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201604 | BALANCED LINKAGE ACTUATION OF TAPE HEAD - In one embodiment, first and second levers of a tape head actuator are balanced using first and second masses carried on first and second sides, respectively, of the first and second levers. The first and second levers are linked with a link member of the first mass which further includes a tape read/write head supported by the link member. In the illustrated embodiment, the levers are linked by the pivotally connected link members to form a four member linkage. The tape read/write head may be carried by the link member. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201605 | VIBRATION-ISOLATING SUPPORT DEVICE - A vibration-isolating support device is used for supporting at least one storage device. The vibration-isolating support device includes a frame to accommodating the storage device, a plurality of elastic washers, and at least two support elements. The frame has at least two side plates, and each side plate is opened with at least one key hole. The elastic washers are disposed in the key holes, so as to absorb vibration energy. At least one first pin is protruded from one side of the support elements, and meanwhile inserted into the elastic washer, such that the support elements are fixed on the side plates and support a bottom surface of the storage device. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201606 | INTERNALLY REPLENISHED ENCLOSURE - Internally replenished gas-containing enclosures and methods of internally replenishing an enclosure are described. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201607 | Patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus - It is made possible to provide a patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium that has smaller write magnetic field and the variation of magnetic characteristics in the bit regions, generates fewer reversed magnetic domains in the position control information regions of the head, and has excellent thermal stability. A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes: a nonmagnetic substrate; a soft magnetic base layer formed on the nonmagnetic substrate; a nonmagnetic intermediate layer formed on the soft magnetic base layer; and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer formed on the nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and including a stacked structure of a CoPt-based crystalline film having a Pt content in the range of 5 atomic percent to 35 atomic percent and a rare-earth and transition metal alloy amorphous film formed on the CoPt-based crystalline film. The CoPt-based crystalline film and the rare-earth and transition metal alloy amorphous film are exchange-coupled. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201608 | MAGNETICALLY BIASED TILTING ROLLER BEARING TAPE GUIDANCE - In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, a roller barrel of the tiltable roller bearing is biased in a first position on a pivot axis, using magnetic attraction between a movable magnet and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. The roller barrel is pivoted on the pivot axis by conducting current through a fixed coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201609 | FRICTION ENGAGED TILTING ROLLER BEARING TAPE GUIDANCE - In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201610 | TAPE GUIDE ROLLERS - A tape guide roller includes a first flange and a second flange separated by a barrel wherein at least one of the first flange and second flange comprise a soft material. The soft material can include acetal homopolymers, such as Delrin. It can also include soft metals, such as aluminum. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201611 | Perpendicular write head with tapered main pole - Prior art designs of single pole writers have been limited by premature saturation at the tip. This limits the head field that can be achieved without simultaneously widening the write profile. This problem has bee solved by means of a vertical main pole whose thickness has its conventional value a short distance from the tip but that tapers down to a significantly reduced value as it approaches the tip. A process for manufacturing this tapered tip design is also presented. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201612 | Magnetoresistive device of the CPP type, and magnetic disk system - The invention provides a magnetoresistive device of the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure, comprising a magnetoresistive unit, and a first shield layer and a second shield layer which are located and formed such that the magnetoresistive unit is sandwiched between them from above and below, with a sense current applied in the stacking direction, wherein said magnetoresistive unit comprises a non-magnetic intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed such that said nonmagnetic intermediate layer is sandwiched between them. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201613 | MAGNETIC HEAD WITH INTERCONNECT ELEMENT - A magnetic head in one embodiment comprises a plurality of components separated from each other by insulative portions; and at least one connective element coupling the components together. A magnetic tape head in another embodiment comprises a substrate; a closure separated from the substrate by an insulative portion; and at least one connective element coupling the substrate and closure together. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201614 | SPIN-TORQUE OSCILLATOR, MAGNETIC HEAD INCLUDING THE SPIN-TORQUE OSCILLATOR, AND MAGNETIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS - It is made possible to to provide a spin-torque oscillator that has a high Q value and a high output. A spin-torque oscillator includes: an oscillating field generating unit configured to generate an oscillating field; and a magnetoresistive element including a magnetoresistive effect film including a first magnetization pinned layer of which a magnetization direction is pinned, a first magnetization free layer of which a magnetization direction oscillates with the oscillating field, and a first spacer layer interposed between the first magnetization pinned layer and the first magnetization free layer. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201615 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESD PROTECTION - A technique that minimizes false triggering of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is disclosed. In an embodiment, the resistor-capacitor (RC) time constant of an ESD trigger element is reduced during normal operation minimizing the risk of false triggering. Circuit layout area is saved without the need of a timeout circuit associated with releasing a device maintaining a trigger state (i.e., a trigger latch). A RC time constant for triggering is set in an operational context according to conditions of usage and desired application of the ESD protection circuit. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201616 | CIRCUIT HAVING LOW OPERATING VOLTAGE FOR PROTECTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE FROM ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE - A circuit for protecting a semiconductor device from electrostatic discharge by protecting an internal circuit from electrostatic current flowing into an input/output pad includes a first discharge unit that discharges the electrostatic current to a first power supply line or a second power supply line. A second discharge unit protects the internal circuit from electrostaticity flowing from the input/output pad or the second power supply line. A power clamp unit discharges the electrostatic current, which is discharged to the first power supply line or the second power supply line by the first discharge unit, to the opposite power supply line. A trigger unit drives the first discharge unit and the power clamp unit with first and second detection voltages generated in response to a voltage drop of the discharged electrostatic current. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201617 | CIRCUIT BREAKER - Disclosed is a current-limiting circuit breaker including first and second mechanical switches connected in series with each other, a first diode, and a first snubber circuit, each connected in parallel across both ends of the first mechanical switch, and a second diode, and a second snubber circuit, each connected in parallel across both ends of the second mechanical switch. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201618 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT, OVERCURRENT PROTECTION CIRCUIT FOR THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A power supply circuit includes an output transistor including a source coupled to power supply voltage, and a drain from which output voltage is outputted; a first error amplifier powered by the power supply voltage and outputting a signal based on a potential difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage; a buffer transistor including a gate coupled to the output of the first error amplifier, and a source coupled via a constant current source to the power supply voltage and coupled to a gate of the output transistor; a current detection transistor coupled to the output transistor such that a gate and source are shared; and an overcurrent protection circuit configured to limit the drain current of the buffer transistor based on the increase of the drain current of the current detection transistor and thereby control the output current of the output transistor. | 2009-08-13 |
20090201619 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN IN-RUSH CURRENT LIMITING CIRCUIT - An in-rush current limiting circuit is disclosed. An apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes a power switch having a first, second and third terminals. A capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal is also included. The second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to the first terminal of a current source. The second terminal of the current source is coupled to a second input terminal of the in-rush current limit circuit. A power switch is also included. The first terminal of the power switch is coupled to the anode of a diode. The cathode of the diode is connected to the first terminal of the current source. The second terminal of the power switch is coupled to a second input terminal of the in-rush current limit circuit. The third terminal of the power switch is coupled to be responsive to a voltage across the current source circuit in response to a rate of change of voltage between first and second terminals of the power switch. | 2009-08-13 |