| 13th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 21 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20100079529 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - An image recording apparatus including a recording head, a feeding mechanism feeding a recording medium such that a second surface is opposed to the head, a first-area determining portion determining a first area, a second-area determining portion determining a second area, a contact-position determining portion determining a contact position on a first surface at which position a roller contacts the first surface, a feed controller capable of controlling feeding of the medium such that where the second surface is opposed to the head, the recording on the second surface is implemented with the second area skipped, and a judging portion determining whether the contact position is included in the first area at the moment of initiation of a skip operation. The feed controller controls an acceleration or a speed at which the medium is fed in the skip operation, on the basis of the determination made by the judging portion. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079530 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a formation unit that forms an image on a recording medium by inkjetting, a suction conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium to the formation unit while adhering the recording medium by suction onto a guide surface which is a conveyance path, and a conditioning unit that conditions one surface of the recording medium before feeding the recording medium to the suction conveyance unit, wherein the conditioning unit controls a rate of moisture absorption of the one surface of the recording medium and causes the recording medium to bend such that the center portion of the recording medium separate from the guide surface of the suction conveyance unit. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079531 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a formation unit that forms an image on a first surface of a recording medium; a suction conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium to the formation unit while suctioning the recording medium onto a guide surface; a switchback conveyance unit that inverts the recording medium on whose first surface an image has been formed to allow a second surface of the recording medium to be used as an image formation surface, and conveys the recording medium to the suction conveyance unit; and a conditioning unit that conditions the first surface of the recording medium, wherein the conditioning unit controls a rate of moisture absorption of a surface of the recording medium and causes the recording medium that is fed to the suction conveyance unit via the switchback conveyance unit to bend such that the center portion thereof separates from the guide surface. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079532 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - A table made of a planar member has a suction groove for sucking and holding a recording medium on a surface thereof. A part of the sucking groove is perforated to form a suction hole. The suction hole is connected to a vacuum pump. The table includes three position determining pins that are in contact with two mutually orthogonal sides of a recording medium. The position determining pins are configured to ascend and descend by driving of an air cylinder between a descending position in which an upper end of the position determining pins is lower than a surface of the table and a position determining position in which the upper end of the position determining pins is higher than the surface of the recording medium mounted on the table. It is therefore made possible to provide an image recording apparatus capable of executing highly accurate image recording by preventing deformation of the recording medium. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079533 | ON-CHIP HEATER AND THERMISTORS FOR INKJET - A chip used for dispensing a fluid such as ink provides ink-dispensing ejectors having an ink cavity over a supporting substrate, and further provides a heater for heating the ink in the cavity. The heater can be interposed between the substrate and the ink cavity to provide direct heating of ink as it is being dispensed Various embodiments further comprise the use of the heater structure as a temperature probe to measure the temperature of the ink in the ink cavity. Other embodiments provides a chip having both a temperature probe and a heater as separate structures interposed between the ink cavity and the substrate. Further described is a temperature probe and/or heater which traverses a majority of a width of a substrate, and surrounds each drop ejector on at least two sides. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079534 | MARKING ELEMENT REGISTRATION - A method of measuring a relative offset between a first array of marking elements and a second array of marking elements in a printer; a registration target; and a printer are provided. The method includes printing a target by printing a first group of pixels using a plurality of marking elements from the first array and printing a second group of pixels using a plurality of marking elements from the second array; scanning the target to measure an optical characteristic of the target as a function of position along the target; and identifying a position at which an extreme in the optical characteristic of the target occurs. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079535 | INSPECTION DEVICE FOR LIQUID EJECTING HEAD - Provided is an inspection device for a liquid ejecting head including: a first vibration plate which is positioned at a position opposite to the nozzle openings of the liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid from the nozzle openings such that the liquid ejected from the nozzle openings of the liquid ejecting head lands thereon; a first piezoelectric element bonded to the first vibration plate; and a detecting unit which is connected to the first piezoelectric element so as to detect an electrical variation in the first piezoelectric element, wherein the detecting unit inspects the ejection state of the nozzle openings based on a voltage variation in the first piezoelectric element by the liquid landing onto the first vibration plate. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079536 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE SYSTEM FOR APPLYING FOAM TO PRINTHEAD - A printhead maintenance system for maintaining a printhead having an ink ejection face is provided. The maintenance system comprises: (a) a foaming system for providing liquid foam on the face, (b) a foam transfer surface for receiving the foam from said face, (c) a transport mechanism for feeding said transfer surface through a transfer zone and away from said printhead, and (d) a valve configurable in first and second positions, the first position for establishing fluid communication between said printhead and an ink supply system and the second position for establishing fluid communication between said printhead and said foaming system. The transfer zone is adjacent to and spaced apart from said ink ejection face. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079537 | HEAD CAP AND INK-JET PRINTER - A head cap, including: a bottom plate portion which has a bottom surface opposed to a liquid-droplets ejecting surface of a liquid-droplets ejecting head and through which a through hole is formed; a projecting portion which functions as a side wall, which extends from the bottom plate portion so as to define a recessed portion with the bottom plate portion, and whose distal end contacts with a surrounding of a liquid-droplets ejecting area formed in the liquid-droplets ejecting surface so as to enclose the liquid-droplets ejecting area; a liquid holding member which covers at least a part of the bottom surface and which holds a liquid by a holding force determined on the basis of a frictional force with respect to the liquid and a capillary force, wherein the liquid holding member includes (a) a first area contacting with an opening portion of the through hole in the bottom surface and (b) a second area located further from the opening portion than the first area, and wherein the holding force of the first area is larger than that of the second area. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079538 | HEAD CAP, LIQUID-DROPLETS-EJECTION-HEAD RECOVERING MECHANISM, AND LIQUID -DROPLETS EJECTION PRINTER - A head cap, including: a cap including (a) a bottom plate portion and (b) a projecting portion which functions as a side wall, which extends from the bottom plate portion so as to define a recessed portion with the bottom plate portion, and whose distal end contacts with a surrounding of a liquid-droplets ejecting area formed in a liquid-droplets ejecting surface of a liquid-droplets ejecting head so as to enclose the liquid-droplets ejecting area; a holder configured to support the cap; a groove formed in at least one of a first surface of the bottom plate portion which is opposed to the holder and a second surface of the holder which is opposed to the bottom plate portion so as to partly constitute an air communicating channel that communicates the recessed portion and an outside with each other; and a channel wall provided between the first surface and the second surface so as to enclose the groove as seen in a direction perpendicular to one of the first surface and the second surface by contacting with at least one of the first surface and the second surface. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079539 | DROPLET EJECTING DEVICE - A droplet ejecting device includes: a droplet ejecting head having a nozzle surface at which plural nozzles that eject droplets are formed; an applying member applying a cleaning liquid to the nozzle surface; a wiping member disposed so as to be spaced apart from the applying member, and moving relative to the nozzle surface while contacting the nozzle surface, and wiping-off the cleaning liquid applied to the nozzle surface; and a unit for moving that moves both the the droplet ejecting head, and the applying member and the wiping member, relative to one another. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079540 | MAINTENANCE METHOD OF LIQUID EJECTION HEAD AND LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS - A maintenance method of a liquid ejection head including a nozzle forming surface where a plurality of nozzles having a polygonal planar shape including a plurality of corners which each have two sides and an angle between the two sides are formed, includes the step of causing a relative movement of a sweep member and the head so as to sweep the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head in such a manner that the sweep member is moved in a direction making an angle within π/8 radian with respect to a direction in which any of the sides extends. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079541 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects a liquid onto a liquid ejection surface of an ejection target member; a scanning unit which scans the liquid ejecting head relative to the ejection target member; and a driving force transmission mechanism which transmits driving force of a rotary driving force source to the scanning unit through a belt, wherein a liquid absorbing material which absorbs and retains mists of a liquid floating in an inner space of the liquid ejecting apparatus is disposed on the belt. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079542 | INCLINED FEATURE TO PROTECT PRINTHEAD FACE - A printhead has a substrate with a mounting surface for a printhead die. The printhead die includes a first face bonded to the mounting surface of the substrate and a second face opposite the first face. The second face including at least one array of marking elements disposed along a marking element array direction. An edge of the printhead die is substantially parallel to the marking element array direction. An inclined surface is positioned proximate to, but not overlapping the edge of the printhead die, wherein a distance from the inclined surface to the mounting surface of the substrate at a first location is greater than a distance from the inclined surface to the mounting surface of the substrate at a second location, the first location also being nearer the edge of the printhead die that is substantially parallel to the marking element array direction than the second location. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079543 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from nozzles; a first nozzle group that is formed of nozzles for ejecting the liquid; and a second nozzle group that is disposed on both sides of the first nozzle group in a nozzle arrangement direction, and is formed of nozzles for ejecting liquid droplets having the same characteristics as liquid droplets of the first nozzle group and ejecting a smaller amount of the liquid than an amount of the liquid droplets ejected from the first nozzle group. An aperture size of each nozzle constituting the second nozzle group is smaller than that of each nozzle constituting the first nozzle group. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079544 | DROPLET EJECTION APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The droplet ejection apparatus includes: a droplet ejection head which has a plurality of nozzles arrayed two-dimensionally, droplets of liquid being ejected from the nozzles and deposited onto an image-rendering medium to form dots on the image-rendering medium; and a relative movement device which moves the droplet ejection head and the image-rendering medium relatively to each other in a relative movement direction, wherein: the droplet ejection head has a nozzle arrangement in which, out of the plurality of nozzles, a row of nozzles sharing a same liquid supply flow channel is divided into M (where M is an integer greater than one) nozzle group blocks and positions of all of the nozzles within each nozzle group block are shifted in the relative movement direction so as to provide a predetermined positional difference in the relative movement direction to the positions of the nozzles between the M nozzle group blocks, and the nozzle arrangement in which the nozzles are arrayed two-dimensionally is configured such that, between dots formed on the image-rendering medium by adjacent nozzles within a certain one nozzle row, at least one dot formed by a nozzle within another nozzle row is arranged so that the dots formed by the adjacent nozzles within the one nozzle row are arranged with an interval of N (where N is an integer greater than one) dots; the droplet ejection apparatus comprises M ejection drive devices which independently perform ejection control on the respective M nozzle group blocks; and the ejection drive devices carry out ejection drive on the nozzles within the same nozzle group block at ejection timing of a same phase, and also carry out ejection drive on the nozzles in different nozzle group blocks at different ejection timings with a phase difference corresponding to the positional difference. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079545 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus for a printer forms images by injecting inks on a printing paper being fed on a feeding path. The image forming apparatus comprises a head holder surface provided on the feeding path with being opposed to a surface of the feeding path and a plurality of ink heads for injecting inks from injection ports thereof. Here, the injection ports of the plurality of ink heads are projected outward from the head holder surface. The image forming apparatus can achieve further downsizing and multifunctional capability and improve quality of higher pixelated printed images. In addition, the image forming apparatus can prevent negative effects such as ink injection failures or defacement of printed matters due to ink mists made on injecting ink. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079546 | DROPLET JETTING HEAD, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DROPLET JETTING HEAD, AND DROPLET JETTING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH DROPLET JETTING HEAD - A droplet jetting head that is obtained by bonding a first substrate | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079547 | INKJET PRINTHEAD AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Provided are an inkjet printhead and a method of manufacturing the same. The inkjet printhead may include a substrate having an ink feed passage, a chamber layer formed on the substrate and a plurality of ink chambers fillable with ink supplied from the ink feed hole. The printhead may also include a nozzle layer formed on the chamber layer, which includes a plurality of nozzles through which the ink is ejected and a glue layer interposed between the substrate and the chamber layer. The glue layer may include a cross-linked photoresist composition including photoresist. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079548 | INKJET PRINTHEAD AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An inkjet printhead to prevent clogging of nozzles and spreading of ink during ejection, and a method of manufacturing the inkjet printhead. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate, a substrate, a passage forming layer formed on the substrate, and a nozzle layer formed on the passage forming layer and including a material including an epoxy group or a hydroxyl group, wherein the epoxy group or the hydroxyl group is protected by an alcohol-protecting group. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079549 | INKJET PRINTER WITH SMALL DROP SIZE - An inkjet printer configured for ejecting ink droplets having a volume in the range of 1 to 2.5 pL, the printer comprising: a printhead having a plurality of nozzles assemblies, each nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet, the nozzle opening having a maximum dimension in the range of 4 to 12 microns; and a bend actuator for ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle opening by generating a positive pressure pulse in the ink during bending of the actuator; and an ink supply system configured for supplying ink to the printhead at a positive hydrostatic pressure in the range of 1 to 300 mm H | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079550 | EFFICIENT INKJET NOZZLE ASSEMBLY - An inkjet nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; a pair of electrical contacts positioned at one end of the assembly and connected to drive circuitry; and a thermal bend actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening, the actuator comprising: an active beam connected to the electrical contacts and extending longitudinally away from the contacts, the active beam defining a bent current flow path between the contacts; and a passive beam fused to the active beam, such that when a current is passed through the active beam, the active beam heats and expands relative to the passive beam resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein the actuator has a working face for generating a positive pressure pulse in the ink during the bending of the actuator, the working face having an area of less than 800 square microns. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079551 | SUBSTRATE FOR LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD USING SUCH SUBSTRATE - The invention provides a substrate for a liquid discharge head having a heat generating resistor layer, wiring electrically in contact with the heat generating resistor layer, an insulating protection layer that covers the heat generating resistor layer and the wiring, and a liquid passage that are formed in order on an insulating layer formed on a base plate. The insulating protection layer being a layer formed by radical shower CVD. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079552 | PIEZOELECTRIC FILM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME, PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE, AND LIQUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS - A piezoelectric film of a perovskite oxide represented by a general expression (P) below and has a pyrochlore free single phase perovskite structure with a/b≦1.06. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079553 | LIQUID EJECTION HEAD DRIVE CIRCUIT, LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF PROTECTING LIQUID EJECTION HEAD DRIVE CIRCUIT - The liquid ejection head drive circuit includes: a drive voltage application device which applies drive voltage between a drive electrode and a common electrode of a piezoelectric element arranged in a liquid ejection head; a detection device which detects a current flowing in a common line which is electrically connected to the common electrode; an abnormal insulation determination device which determines a status of abnormal insulation of the piezoelectric element according to a detection result of the detection device; and a current limitation device which limits the current flowing in the common line within a prescribed range where the abnormal insulation determination device is enabled to determine the status of abnormal insulation, when the current flowing in the common line exceeds a reference value which is determined so that at least one of the detection device and the drive voltage application device is prevented from being overloaded. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079554 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, LIQUID EJECTION HEAD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator which includes a piezoelectric device constituted of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric body and an upper electrode arranged on a diaphragm, the method includes: a polishing step of polishing the piezoelectric body; and a first heating step of heating the piezoelectric body to a temperature which is not lower than a Curie point of the piezoelectric body and performing re-polarization of the piezoelectric body having been polished in the polishing step. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079555 | LEAD-CONTAINING PEROVSKITE-TYPE OXIDE FILM AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE USING A LEAD-CONTAINING PEROVSKITE-TYPE OXIDE FILM, AS WELL AS LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS USING A PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE - Provided is a lead-containing perovskite-type oxide film having principally (100) and/or (001) orientation and containing lead as a chief component, which is over 2 μm thick and exhibits such hysteresis characteristics that two coercive fields are both positive. A method of producing such an oxide film, a piezoelectric device including such an oxide film, and a liquid ejecting apparatus provided with such a piezoelectric device are also provided. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079556 | Inkjet Printer - An inkjet printer comprising: a printhead having a plurality of nozzles assemblies, each nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; and a bend actuator for ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle opening by generating a positive pressure pulse in the ink during bending of the actuator; and an ink supply system for supplying ink to the printhead; and means for varying a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to the printhead, wherein increasing the hydrostatic ink pressure increases a volume of the ejected ink droplets, and decreasing the hydrostatic ink pressure decreases a volume of the ejected ink droplets. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079557 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME, AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting head includes: a passage forming board which is provided with pressure generating chambers respectively communicating with nozzle openings for ejecting a liquid; piezoelectric elements which are provided on one surface of the passage forming board to cause a pressure variation in the pressure generating chambers; terminals which are provided on the one surface of the passage forming board to be conductively connected to the piezoelectric elements and each have an inclined connection surface on a surface opposite to the passage forming board; and a wiring board which is electrically connected to the connection surfaces of the terminals and has a wiring layer supplying a driving signal for driving the piezoelectric elements. Each of the connection surfaces is higher on a side of the piezoelectric elements than on an opposite side of the piezoelectric elements with respect to a predetermined reference surface. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079558 | PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT, LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A piezoelectric element includes in a laminated state a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode formed on a first surface of the piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode formed on a second surface of the piezoelectric layer which is opposite to the first surface. The piezoelectric layer has a film thickness of 5 μm or less, and has a flat portion formed as a second surface in parallel with the first surface, and a lateral portion inclined downwardly from the flat portion towards the first surface. The second electrode has a central portion formed in parallel with the flat portion, and a slope portion inclined downwardly from the central portion towards the flat portion. The inclination angle of the slope portion to the flat portion is gentle as compared with the inclination angle of the lateral portion to the first surface. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079559 | Fluid Circulation System - Various apparatus and methods are disclosed in which fluid is circulated across one or more print heads. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079560 | VARIABLE RATE FUSER RELEASE FLUID APPLICATION - According to various illustrative embodiments, an apparatus, method, and system for variable rate fuser release fluid application are described. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a supply of release agent material. The apparatus also comprises a release agent metering roller supported for contact with the supply of the release agent material. The apparatus also comprises a variable speed drive arranged to effect movement of the release agent metering roller in an endless path at different surface velocities. The apparatus also comprises a donor roller supported in contact with the release agent metering roller and a fuser roller of a contact fuser, the donor roller arranged to convey release agent material from the release agent metering roller to the fuser roller at various rates depending on a surface velocity of the release agent metering roller, wherein the variable speed drive is operative independently of the fuser roller. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079561 | VARIABLE RATE FLUID FILM RELEASE IN AN INK JET PRINTER - An apparatus for ink jet printing, as well as corresponding method and system are described. The apparatus includes a source of fluid film, a fluid film metering roller supported for contact with the source of fluid film, a variable speed drive arranged to effect movement of the fluid film metering roller in an endless path at different surface velocities, a donor roller supported in contact with the fluid film metering roller, an ink jet printhead configured to emit ink, and a print assembly rotatably supported in the apparatus, the print assembly having a print assembly surface coupled to the donor roller, the print assembly configured to receive ink from the ink jet printhead and produce an image on media using the ink, wherein the donor roller is configured to convey the fluid film from the fluid film metering roller to the print assembly surface at various rates depending on a surface velocity of the fluid film metering roller, and at least one of the following: an amount of fluid film left on the donor roller, a film thickness of the fluid film on the fluid film metering roller, and a speed ratio between the fluid film metering roller and the donor roller, wherein the variable speed drive is operative independently of the print assembly. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079562 | LIQUID DROPLET EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING LIQUID DROPLET EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes: a supply-use tank that is sectioned by an elastic film into a liquid chamber and a gas chamber; a supply-use flow path that interconnects the supply-use tank and a recording head; and a pump that pumps the liquid stored in the liquid chamber to the recording head via the supply-use flow path by supplying the liquid from an external tank to the liquid chamber of the supply-use tank. The flow path is controlled to supply the liquid to the liquid chamber in a state where the supply-use flow path is closed, cause the elastic film to press against an inner wall of the gas chamber, thereafter open the supply-use flow path, release the elastic film from the pressing state, and supply, with the pump, the liquid from the external tank to the recording head via the supply-use tank and the supply-use flow path. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079563 | Melt Reservoir Housing - An ink storage and supply assembly includes at least one ink reservoir configured to hold a quantity of liquid ink and to communicate the ink to at least one printhead of an imaging device. A housing at least partially encloses the at least one ink reservoir and includes a top, a bottom, and a plurality of side walls extending vertically between the top and the bottom of the housing. The plurality of side walls are spaced from the at least one reservoir to define a first air gap between each of the side walls and the at least one reservoir. At least one the side walls includes an inner wall and an outer wall spaced from each other to define a second air gap therebetween. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079564 | Water Base Ink for Ink-Jet Recording, Ink Cartridge, and Ink-Jet Recording Apparatus - The water base ink for ink jet recording of the present invention is a water base ink for ink-jet recording containing a coloring agent, water, a penetrant, and a surfactant; wherein the penetrant includes diethylene glycol n-hexyl ether (A); the surfactant includes at least one surfactant (B) selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfonate, alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkyl carboxylate, and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate; a weight ratio (B/A) of (B) with respect to (A) is not less than 0.10; and the (A) is contained in the ink in an amount of 1.0% by weight to 2.5% by weight. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079565 | INK RECOVERY DEVICE - An ink recovery device is disclosed. The ink recovery device, configured to retrieve ink being sprayed out from an inkjet printer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a recovery unit, which retrieves the ink; a storage, which is connected to the recovery unit and stores the retrieved ink; and a vibrating unit, which vibrates the stored ink. The ink recovery device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can effectively retrieve ink being sprayed out for the maintenance of an inkjet head and immediately reuse the retrieved ink while maintaining the properties of the ink. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079566 | INK-JET HEAD, INK-JET PRINTER, AND INK-JET RECORDING METHOD - Disclosed is an inkjet recording method wherein an image is formed on a recording medium by spraying an ink containing at least a photopolymerizable compound onto the recording medium through a nozzle of an inkjet head. This inkjet recording method enables to perform a stable image recording by suppressing formation of a precipitate in the head. This inkjet recording method is characterized in that in an inkjet head, which is used for forming an image on a recording medium by spraying an inkjet ink containing at least a photopolymerizable compound through a nozzle, the surface of at least a part of metals constituting the internal member of the inkjet head which is in contact with the inkjet ink is subjected to a passivation treatment or an insulation coating treatment. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079567 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid containing chamber that contains liquid; a depressurizing unit that brings the liquid contained in the liquid containing chamber to a boil at reduced pressure; and an air open valve that opens an inner chamber space of the liquid containing chamber to air after the boiling of the liquid at reduced pressure. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079568 | Active Energy Beam-Curable Ink and Ink-Jet Recording Method Using Active Energy Beam-Curable Ink - An active energy beam-curable ink contains an active energy beam-curable resin and a photocation polymerization initiator; wherein, as the active energy beam-curable resin, a multifunctional epoxy compound, an oxetane compound and 33 to 55% by weight of a monofunctional alicyclic epoxy compound are contained. Accordingly, it is possible to stably discharge the active energy beam-curable ink from an ink jet head, and the ink having a high hardness and high adhesion after curing is provided. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079569 | FLUID EJECTING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - A fluid ejecting device includes a transporting member for transporting a medium in a transporting direction, a fluid ejecting head for ejecting fluid containing a color material onto the medium, an irradiating unit provided on the downstream side of the fluid ejecting head in the transporting direction to cure the fluid by irradiating the fluid on the medium with ultraviolet rays, and a charge applying member for applying charges to the color material of the fluid on the medium before irradiation of the fluid with the ultraviolet rays. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079570 | Apparatus for electrostatic coating - The present invention generally relates to an electrostatic coating apparatus for spraying a stream of particles onto a medium, and in particular to an apparatus equipped with a powder coating suspension device such as a multivolume chamber, or a air stream creation device. What is also contemplated is the use of a plurality of variable openings in the enclosure, used in conjunction with a plurality of conductors, to dispose a stream of particles onto a moving medium in successive layers. In yet another embodiment, the stream of particles is directed in a directional electrical field created by electrodes placed adjacent to directional shields. The present disclosure relates to an in-line industrial device able to coat paint, starch, thermoplastic materials, or any other powder material onto a medium by successively controlling a plurality of parameters. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079571 | DRAWING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - A drawing device includes a drawing element irradiating laser light to a label surface of a recording medium according to drawing data of tracks to compose a desired pattern and draw it on the label surface. The drawing device further includes a juncture specifying element that specifies a juncture portion between drawing start and end positions according to the drawing data and a non-drawing portion specifying element that specifies a non-drawing portion corresponding to the drawing data not to direct the irradiation of the laser light in accordance with the drawing data. The drawing device includes a control element controlling the drawing element to carry out movement processing so the drawing start position in each of a plurality of the tracks moves relative to the desired pattern to be drawn in order for at least a part of the specified juncture portion to be received in the specified non-drawing portion. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079572 | DIODE-LASER MARKER WITH ONE-AXIS SCANNING MIRROR MOUNTED ON A TRANSLATABLE CARRIAGE - Apparatus for marking a bitmap image on tape includes a source of a modulatable laser-beam. The beam is directed to an oscillating mirror on a carriage translatable across the width direction of the tape. The oscillating mirror directs the beam to a focusing lens mounted on the carriage. The focusing lens is arranged to focus the beam to a focal-spot on the tape. As the carriage is translated, the focal-spot is swept reciprocally in a wave-like path across the tape. Modulation of the beam is arranged such that pixels of a plurality of rows of the bitmap image are printed in one traverse of the carriage. The tape is advanced incrementally and repeated traverses of the carriage are made to complete printing of the bitmap image. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079573 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIDEO TELEPHONY BY CONVERTING FACIAL MOTION TO TEXT - A video telephony system includes an electronic device having communications circuitry to establish a communication with a second electronic device. The second electronic device may include an image generating device for generating a sequence of images of a user of the second electronic device. The first electronic device may receive the sequence of images as part of the communication. Based on the sequence of images, a lip reading module within the first electronic device analyzes changes in the second user's facial features to generate text corresponding to a communication portion of the second user. The text is then displayed on a display of the first electronic device so that the first user may follow along with the conversation in a text format without the need to employ a speaker telephone function. The sequence of images may be displayed with the text for enhanced video telephony. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079574 | Multi-media controlling system, device and method for controlling data transmission and processing - A multi-media equipment controlling system, a device and method for controlling data transmission and processing are disclosed. Controlling data corresponding to multiple media type streams is sent to a controlled terminal equipment, the controlled terminal equipment controls multi-media equipments generating corresponding media type stream respectively, according to the controlling data corresponding to the media type streams. Thus the invention can perform corresponding controlling to the multi-media equipments corresponding to the multiple media type streams. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079575 | Processing Aspects of a Video Scene - Embodiments are configured to provide video conferencing functionality including using pre-processing and/or post-processing features to provide a video signal, but the embodiments are not so limited. In an embodiment, components of a video conferencing system can operate to provide a video signal based in part on the use of features of a pre-processing component and/or post-processing component. In one embodiment, a video conference device can include a pre-processing component and/or post-processing component to that can be used to compensate for bandwidth constraints associated with a video conferencing environment. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079576 | DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A display system is disclosed as including first and second visual display units (VDU's), each for displaying visual images for viewing; a first digital video camera for capturing images of a first individual viewing images displayed by the first VDU; at least second and third digital video cameras for capturing, each from a different angle, images of a second individual viewing the second VDU; in which the first digital video camera is connectable with the second VDU for transmitting the captured images to the second VDU for display; and the first VDU is connectable with either of the second and third digital video cameras for display of images captured by either of the second and third digital video cameras; means for identifying the position of the centre point between the eyes of the captured images of the first individual against a capture window of the first digital video camera; and means for selectively connecting the first VDU with the second digital video camera or the third digital video camera in accordance with the identified position of the centre point between the eyes of the first individual. A visual display apparatus is also disclosed as including a visual display unit supported by a table, the table including a closable opening; a reflector movable relative to the table between a first position in which the reflector closes the opening and a second position in which the opening is open and images displayed by the visual display unit are reflectable by the reflector for viewing; and an end of the reflector is slidably and swivellably movable relative to the table for movement between the first and second positions. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079577 | CONCEALED REGIONS COMPLEMENTING SYSTEM OF FREE VIEWPOINT VIDEO IMAGES - A sender produces a background video image | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079578 | Apparatus, method and computer program product for three-dimensional image processing - An apparatus for processing a three-dimensional image includes a specified value acquiring unit that acquires characteristics of a stereoscopic display unit as specified parameters, the stereoscopic display unit displaying a multi-viewpoint image created by mapping each pixel position included in a plurality of viewpoint images according to the characteristics; an observation value acquiring unit that acquires observation parameters indicating observation values of a stereoscopic image displayed on the stereoscopic display unit; a calculating unit that calculates conversion information indicating inverse mapping of the mapping based on the specified parameters; an observation value converting unit that converts observation parameters into converted parameters of the same dimension as the viewpoint images based on the conversion information; and a control unit that controls image processing on a viewpoint image corresponding to each pixel position of the stereoscopic image with respect to each of the viewpoint images based on the converted parameters. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079579 | IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS FOR GENERATING THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE HAVING HIGH VISIBILITY - An image generating apparatus includes: a correction unit configured to correct point information indicating correspondence between a plurality of pieces of point information indicating feature points of subjects in an image and a plurality of pieces of distance information of the respective pieces of point information so as to reduce the pieces of distance information belonging to a distance range that is longer than a distance indicated by a specific distance information included in the pieces of distance information; an image information generation unit configured to generate image information for expressing a three-dimensional image based on the point information corrected by the correction unit; and a display unit configured to display the three-dimensional image based on the image information generated by the image information generation unit. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079580 | Apparatus and method for biomedical imaging - This is an imaging system configured and optimized for capturing two dimensional images of a desired section of body tissue and converting these images into three dimensional virtual environment images. These three dimensional virtual environment images are then viewed at multiple immersive omnidirectional viewing angles. The viewing angles are then choreographed into a desired sequence to create a fly through sequence through the cellular layers of a desired section of body tissue. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079581 | 3D CAMERA USING FLASH WITH STRUCTURED LIGHT - An imaging device capable of capturing depth information or surface profiles of objects is disclosed herein. The imaging device uses an enclosed flashing unit to project a sequence of structured light patterns onto an object and captures the light patterns reflected from the surfaces of the object by using an image sensor that is enclosed in the imaging device. The imaging device is capable of capturing an image of an object such that the captured image is comprised of one or more color components of a two-dimensional image of the object and a depth component that specifies the depth information of the object. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079582 | Method and System for Capturing and Using Automatic Focus Information - Methods and digital image capture devices are provided for capturing and using automatic focus information. Methods include building a three dimension (3D) focus map for a digital image on a digital image capture device, using the 3D focus map in processing the digital image, and storing the digital image. Digital image capture devices include a processor, a lens, a display operatively connected to the processor, means for automatic focus operatively connected to the processor and the lens, and a memory storing software instructions, wherein when executed by the processor, the software instructions cause the digital image capture device to initiate capture of a digital image, build a three dimension (3D) focus map for the digital image using the means for automatic focus, and complete capture of the digital image. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079583 | ACTOR-MOUNTED MOTION CAPTURE CAMERA - The present invention relates to computer capture of object motion. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to capturing of facial movement or performance of an actor. Embodiments of the present invention provide a head-mounted camera system that allows the movements of an actor's face to be captured separately from, but simultaneously with, the movements of the actor's body. In many embodiments, multiple cameras are provided mounted on a bracket for placement on the head of an actor. In some embodiments, the cameras record grayscale images of an actor's face, which has been marked with dots of makeup. In many embodiments, the cameras record images of an actor's face from at least two angles. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079584 | 2D/3D switchable autostereoscopic display apparatus and method - A two dimensional/three dimensional (2D/3D) switchable autostereoscopic display apparatus and method to selectively display a 2D image and a 3D image using two displays and a convertible lens. When outputting the 2D image, the 2D/3D switchable autostereoscopic display apparatus may control a first display to output a white image/white light, control a second display to output an image, and control an electrical diffuser lens of the convertible lens to be switched off and the white image to be diffused so as to operate as a backlight. When outputting the 3D image, the 2D/3D switchable autostereoscopic display apparatus may control the first display to output an image, control the second display to be switched off to be in a transparent state, control the electrical diffuser lens of the convertible lens to be switched on to be in the transparent state, and control the lenticular lens to output the 3D image. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079585 | INTERACTIVE THEATER WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - A method for providing differing image streams to audience members in an interactive theater setting. The method includes positioning optical filters such as shuttered glasses between audience members and a display surface. During a display period, two or more image streams are provided on the display surface with the optical filters operating to transmit a first image stream. The method includes modifying an operating state of a subset of the optical filters during the display period to transmit a second image stream. The image streams may be provided by a set of projectors that operate concurrently to project the image streams upon the display surface such as over the same portion of the surface. Modifying the operating state may be in response to user input from audience members such as manual switching of operating state or channel by the user with a device linked to the filter or glasses. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079586 | VIDEO SIGNAL SELECTOR AND MEDICAL IMAGE FILING SYSTEM THEREWITH - A video signal selector has a selector switch for selectively outputting one of an endoscopic video signal and an ultrasonic video signal, and a selector control circuit for controlling the selector switch. The selector switch selects the endoscopic video signal by default. The selector control circuit switches the selector switch to the ultrasonic video signal in response to input of an ultrasonic image capture command for commanding to save an ultrasonic image. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079587 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - A small diameter of an endoscope is maintained, and both normal imaging with a visible light and fluorescence imaging can be performed. An endoscope system is provided in which a plurality of imaging devices that detect a reflected light of an illumination light reflected by a somatoscopy part or an emitted light emitted by the somatoscopy part are arranged in series in a distal end portion of an endoscope, each of the plurality of imaging devices includes a light splitting device that deflects 90° a part of the reflected light or the emitted light and transmits a part of the reflected light or the emitted light and an image pickup device that detects the reflected light or the emitted light deflected 90°, a rearmost imaging device includes an optical path changing device that deflects 90° the reflected light or the emitted light and an image pickup device that detects the reflected light or the emitted light deflected 90°, and an observation optical member is provided in which the light splitting device and the optical path changing device are arranged in series. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079588 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - Provided is an image processing apparatus comprising a recording section that records information identifying diseases in association with polarization characteristics of disease positions having a disease; an image acquiring section that acquires a polarized image captured at an observed position by an endoscope, the polarized image being captured using light having a plurality of different polarization states; a determining section that determines the disease by comparing (i) the polarization characteristic of the observed position acquired from the polarized image to (ii) the polarization characteristics recorded in the recording section; and a notification section that notifies a user with information specifying the disease determined by the determining section. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079589 | Imaging Apparatus And Mode Appropriateness Evaluating Method - An imaging apparatus incorporating a plurality of scene modes is provided with: an automatic appropriate mode determining portion that, while shooting of a moving image is in progress, automatically determines at least one scene mode appropriate for a shooting scene of the moving image; and a scene mode comparison portion that compares a currently selected scene mode with the at least one scene mode automatically determined by the automatic appropriate scene mode determining portion, and that thereby confirms whether or not the currently selected scene mode corresponds to any one of the at least one scene mode automatically determined by the automatic appropriate scene mode determining portion. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079590 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEO-BASED ROAD CHARACTERIZATION, LANE DETECTION AND DEPARTURE PREVENTION - A method and system for video-based road departure warning for a vehicle on a road, is provided. Road departure warning involves receiving an image of a road in front of the vehicle from a video imager, and detecting one or more road markings in the image corresponding to markings on the road. Then, analyzing the characteristics of an image region beyond the detected markings to determine a rating for drivability of the road corresponding to said image region, and detecting the lateral offset of the vehicle relative to the markings on the road based on the detected road markings. A warning signal is generated as function of said lateral offset and said rating. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079591 | WINDOW OF INFRARED SURVEILLANCE CAMERA - Disclosed therein is a window of an infrared surveillance camera, which can prevent that the window gets damp even though there is a difference in temperature between the inside and the outside of the surveillance camera due to a long time operation of the surveillance camera. The window includes: an illumination window mounted on a light path in front of an IR LED arranged around a camera module; a first lens window formed separately from the illumination window and mounted on an image introducing path in front of a lens of the camera module; an intercepting member having an assembly face where the illumination window and the first lens window are airtightly and closely combined with each other, the intercepting member being mounted between the illumination window and the first lens window for preventing that infrared rays are introduced from a light irradiation zone, where the IR LED is mounted, to a photograph zone, where the camera module is mounted; a combining ring assembled in front of the intercepting member for simultaneously restricting the illumination window and the first lens window; and a second lens window assembled to the combining ring and spaced apart from the first lens window through the combining ring so that a sealed air layer is formed between the second lens window and the first lens window. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079592 | Method for Monitoring a Predetermined Photographed Area Via A Website - A method for monitoring an area with digital cameras via the Internet is disclosed which uses a database and server to provide user interface to the camera and storage capabilities. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079593 | SURVEILLANCE CAMERA ASSEMBLY FOR A CHECKOUT SYSTEM - A surveillance camera assembly for a checkout system which captures images of a checkout environment. The surveillance camera assembly includes a panoramic mirror and a camera for capturing images of a checkout environment. The camera sends the images to a security computer. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079594 | UNATTENDED SURVEILLANCE DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - The unattended surveillance device may include a housing to be positioned for unattended surveillance, a video camera associated with or carried by the housing to capture video, and an image processor carried by the housing and cooperating with the video camera. The image processor extracts moving objects in the foreground of the captured video, generates a profile image or sequence of profile images of the extracted moving objects, compresses the sequence of profile images, and generates a surveillance information packet based upon the compressed sequence of profile images. Also, a wireless transmitter or transceiver may be associated with the image processor to transmit the surveillance information packet to a surveillance monitoring station. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079595 | TELEVISIONS WITH REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION - Described herein are systems and methods that reduce power consumption for a television that includes an LCD display. Power conservation systems and methods described herein alter video information in one or more inactive portions of a display area such that the altered video information decreases power consumption. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079596 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY TESTING DISPLAY DEVICE - A method for automatically testing display device. The method includes steps of: capturing an image; acquiring a horizontal strip of a to-be-tested image which includes at least a portion of each of the color interval column of the image; comparing a standard deviation A of RGB values of pixels in a vertical sample with a standard deviation B of RGB values of pixels an adjacent vertical sample to obtain samples of each color interval from many samples taken; taking pixels from many vertical samples of each color interval to calculate a mean value of the RGB values of each color interval respectively, determining a color corresponding to each of color intervals, and determining an interval sequence of the to-be-tested image and the code sequence of the color intervals; and determining an image format corresponding to the code sequence according to the image format table which records a plurality of image formats corresponding to the interval sequences of the color intervals of the images. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079597 | Methods and Apparatus for Determining the Operating State of Audio-Video Devices - Methods and apparatus for identifying the operating state of an audio-video (AV) device are described. Example methods and apparatus include monitoring messages transmitted via a data bus in a first AV device, wherein the data bus is communicatively coupled to a processor and an AV network controller of the first AV device, and wherein the AV network controller is further communicatively coupled to a second AV device external to the first AV device. The example method also involves extracting messages associated with an operation of the second AV device from the monitored messages, analyzing the extracted messages for data associated with an operating state of the second AV device, and sending a command to the AV network controller to request data missing from the extracted messages and associated with the operating state of the second AV device. Additionally, the example methods and apparatus include identifying the operating state of the second AV device by analyzing the extracted messages and a response from the second AV device associated with the command. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079598 | Robust Stereo Calibration System and Method for Accurate Digital Image Correlation Measurements - A stereo calibration method is proposed to calibrate an interface's shape and position when the measurement system is in one media and measures deformation and strain of an object that is submerged in a different media. After the interface's shape and position are modeled by parameters, an explicit model of object points as measurement is established taking account of refraction happening at the interface. Efficiency and convergence are assured by using measurement of object points to acquire initial estimates for refraction angles at the interface. Then, an optimization method is performed to get the optimized value of interface parameters. Last, based on the resulting interface parameters, 3-dimensional positions of object points in all the subsequent measurement could be reconstructed accurately. Therefore, the distortion induced by refraction in the measurement is corrected. Numerical simulations of the proposed calibration process confirm that it is both robust and accurate for a range of experimental conditions, even in the presence of Gaussian noise in the measurement. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079599 | TERMINAL DEVICE, CONNECTABLE POSITION INFORMATION DISPLAY METHOD AND PROGRAM - A terminal device includes: a communication means radio communicatable to access points; a storage means for storing a database associating identification information and position information of an access point connected with the communication means in association with each other; a position information acquiring section that acquires current position information; and a control section that causes a display section to display related information of the access point based on the database when the communication means does not detect a connectable access point. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079600 | Printer CPU With VLIW Processor - A controller is provided having an interface for receiving data and a very long instruction word (VLIW) processor connected to the interface for processing the received data to generate processed data. The VLIW processor has four processing units each connected by a cross bar switch and each interconnected to their nearest neighbors to form a ring, each processing unit providing two inputs to, and taking two outputs from, the crossbar switch. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079601 | METHOD FOR ENABLING AUTO-FOCUS FUNCTION, ELECTRONIC DEVICE THEREOF, RECORDING MEDIUM THEREOF, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT USING THE METHOD - A method for enabling an auto-focus function, an electronic device thereof, a recording medium thereof, and a computer program product using the method are provided for the electronic device having a function of capturing images. In the present method, whether the electronic device is in a static state is first detected. If the electronic device is remained in the static state for a first time period, an auto-focus function is enabled and the electronic device is switched to the focusing mode. As a result, a user no longer needs to start the auto-focus function manually, and convenience and fluency of capturing images can be increased substantially. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079602 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALIGNMENT OF AN OPTICAL ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMAGE SENSOR - A method is described for positioning an image sensor at a point of best focus for a lens. The lens has an optical axis and the image sensor is moved to a plurality of positions along the optical axis. The image sensor captures an image of a target image at each of the plurality of positions through the lens. A measure of blur in the image captured is derived at each of the plurality of positions from pixel data output from the image sensor. A relationship is derived between blur and position of the image sensor along the optical axis. The image sensor is then moved to a position on the optical axis that the relationship indicates as the point of best focus where the image sensor is fixedly secured relative to the lens. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079603 | Motion smoothing in video stabilization - A motion stabilizing techniques are described. A frame of video is represented at least by frame position information. Savitzky-Golay filtering may be applied on frame position information. The resulting filtered video may have reduced visible jitteriness. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079604 | OPTICAL APPARATUS - An optical apparatus includes a lens frame | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079605 | Sensor-Assisted Motion Estimation for Efficient Video Encoding - An apparatus comprising a sensor assisted video encoder (SaVE) configured to estimate global motion in a video sequence using sensor data, at least one sensor coupled to the SaVE and configured to generate the sensor data, and a camera equipped device coupled to the SaVE and the sensor and configured to capture the video sequence, wherein the SaVE estimates local motion in the video sequence based on the estimated global motion to reduce encoding time. Also included is a method comprising obtaining a video sequence, obtaining sensor data synchronized with the video sequence, converting the sensor data into global motion predictors, using the global motion predictors to reduce the search range for local motion estimation, and using a search algorithm for local motion estimation based on the reduced search range. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079606 | Motion Stabilization - Stabilization for devices such as hand-held camcoders segments a low-resolution frame into a region of reliable estimation, finds a global motion vector for the region at high resolution, and uses the global motion vector to compensate for jitter. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079607 | Method and system for managing an imaging device by an electronic device located remotely to the imaging device - A method and system enables the control of an imaging device by an electronic device located remotely to the imaging device. The method includes displaying a media captured by the imaging device at the electronic device using at least one of Bluetooth basic rate technique and Bluetooth enhanced data rate technique. The method also includes controlling, by the electronic device, properties of the imaging device that are associated with capturing of the media using at least one of Bluetooth low energy technique, the Bluetooth basic rate technique and the Bluetooth enhanced data rate technique, thereby controlling capturing of the media by the imaging device and corresponding display of the media at the electronic device. Further, the method includes controlling of display features of imaging device using at least one of audio video remote control profile and audio video control transport protocol. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079608 | Method And Apparatus For Super-Resolution Imaging Using Digital Imaging Devices - A super-resolution image is generated from a sequence of low resolution images. In one embodiment, the image shift information is measured for each of the low resolution images using an image stabilization component of an imaging device. The shift information is used to generate the super-resolution image. In another embodiment, the blurs are calculated for each of the low resolution images and are used to generate the super-resolution image. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079609 | Apparatus and method of obtaining high resolution image - Disclosed is a high resolution image obtaining apparatus and method. The high resolution image obtaining apparatus may divide an input image frame into a background region and foreground region and apply an optimized resolution enhancement algorithm to each region, thereby effectively obtaining a high resolution image frame with respect to the input image frame. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079610 | PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTROL METHOD, IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD, AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A photographic apparatus comprising:
| 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079611 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND AD CONVERSION GAIN ADJUSTING METHOD - A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which unit pixels outputting processing target signals are arranged in a horizontal direction and scanning lines are wired such that the processing target signals can be read out in order in a vertical direction within a repetition unit of an array of the unit pixels in the horizontal direction; an AD conversion unit including comparing units that compare a reference signal supplied from a reference-signal generating unit and the processing target signals, and counter units that perform count operation, the AD conversion unit performing AD conversion processing based on output data of the counter units; and a driving control unit that performs control to read out the processing target signals in order in the vertical direction and controls the reference-signal generating unit and the AD conversion unit such that AD conversion gains are individually adjusted in order to correct an output amplitude characteristic difference within the repetition unit during AD conversion processing. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079612 | Method and apparatus for processing images acquired by camera mounted in vehicle - An apparatus processes an image acquired by a single camera mounted in a vehicle, the image imaging a field of view on and along a road on which the vehicle runs. In the apparatus, from the acquired image, a region indicative of a target vehicle is extracted. Based on an illuminance of the image around the target vehicle in the image, a correction region is calculated whose illuminance should be corrected. The correction region includes both the region indicative of the target vehicle and a vicinity of the region. A region of halation being predicted in the calculated correction region is calculated. The illuminance of the region of halation being predicted is corrected so that no or less halation is caused in the region of the halation being predicted. An image in which the corrected region of halation is overlapped on the acquired image is outputted. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079613 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - An image capturing apparatus including an image input unit configured to input an image to be captured; a face detecting unit configured to detect a face of at least one photographic subject included in the input image; a face-attribute detecting unit configured to detect attribute information of the detected face; a degree-of-friendliness computing unit configured to evaluate a degree of friendliness between a plurality of photographic subjects based on a correlation between items of attribute information of detected faces of the plurality of photographic subjects, the items of attribute information being detected by the face-attribute detecting unit, and outputting an evaluation value H | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079614 | IMAGE CORRECTION APPARATUS, IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR IMAGE CORRECTION PROGRAM - An image correction apparatus comprises an image capture unit configured to capture image data, a separator unit configured to separate the image data into luminance data and color-difference data, a conversion unit configured to convert the color-difference data into a set of amplitude values in a spatial frequency domain, a light-source state detector configured to detect a light-source state when the image capture unit captures the image data, a correction unit configured to correct the set of amplitude values based on the light-source state so that a predetermined amplitude value is decreased, an inverse-conversion unit configured to inversely convert the set of the amplitude values which is corrected by the correction unit to produce corrected color-difference data, and a corrected image generator configured to generate corrected image data from the corrected color-difference data and the luminance data. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079615 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing method comprises obtaining a color input image obtained by taking an image using an optical system | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079616 | IMAGING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND PROGRAM - An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device generating an image signal on a subject image; a shooting control mechanism dividing an exposure to be made to the imaging device in an exposure period into a plurality of times of exposures; an adding mechanism adding individual image signals obtained by the plurality of divided exposures in sequence to generate a sum image signal; an amplification control mechanism amplifying the sum image signal using a predetermined amplification factor in a first period in the exposure period to generate an amplified image signal; and a display control mechanism displaying, on a display section, the amplified image based on the amplified image signal in the first period, and displaying, on a display section, an image based on the sum image signal in a period other than the first period in the exposure period. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079617 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an object image, a selection unit configured to automatically select a sensitivity of the image sensor from a predetermined selectable range, and an image processing unit configured to execute correction processing in which a signal of an image captured by the image sensor which has the sensitivity selected by the selection unit is amplified. When the image processing unit is set to execute the correction processing, the selection unit sets an upper limit of the selectable range lower, compared with the upper limit thereof when the image processing unit is not set to execute the correction processing. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079618 | LIGHT SOURCE ESTIMATION DEVICE, LIGHT SOURCE ESTIMATION SYSTEM, LIGHT SOURCE ESTIMATION METHOD, DEVICE FOR SUPER-RESOLUTION, AND METHOD FOR SUPER-RESOLUTION - An imaging device condition determination section determines whether a condition of an imaging device is suitable for obtaining light source information. When it is determined to be suitable, a light source image obtaining section obtains a light source image by the imaging device. A first imaging device information obtaining section obtains first imaging device information representing the condition of the imaging device at a point in time when the light source image is obtained. A second imaging device information obtaining section obtains second imaging device information representing the condition of the imaging device at a time of actual image capturing. A light source information estimating section estimates light source information at the time of image capturing by using the light source image and the first and second imaging device information. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079619 | Automatically transmitting images from an electronic camera to a service provider using a network configuration file - A network configuration file is generated at a host computer and downloaded to a digital camera. This file contains instruction information for communicating with a selected destination via a communications interface. The digital camera includes a “send” button or LCD icon which allows the user to easily transmit one or more images via a wired or wireless communications interface to a desired destination, which among other possibilities may be an Internet Service Provider or a digital photofinishing center. When the user selects this option, the communications port settings, user account specifics, and destination connection commands are read from the network configuration file on the removable memory card. Examples of these settings include serial port baud rate, parity, and stop bits, as well as account name and password. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079620 | IMAGING APPARATUS, VARIABLE SPEED IMAGING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM THEREOF - In an imaging apparatus, a continuous shooting speed change controlling section ( | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079621 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND DISPLAYING SCREEN NAIL IMAGES - An exemplary image processing method and apparatus, and an exemplary digital photographing apparatus, may develop and display a screen nail image and a face screen nail image rather than a full resolution image. The screen nail image may be generated using RAW data output from an image sensor, a predetermined face region of the screen nail image may be detected, and the face screen nail image may be generated from the screen nail image using coordinates of the detected face region. Thus, power consumption and processing time delay caused by processing all parts of a full resolution image may be minimized, and a quality of the full resolution image may be conveniently checked. As a result, a user may conveniently select and store an image in high-speed still picture photographing. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079622 | Imaging device, setting-value changing method, and computer program product - An imaging device includes an imaging element that takes an image of a target object and output an image signal corresponding to the image; a storage unit that stores therein a zero-point adjustment reference value; a brightness detecting unit that detects a brightness of the target object; and a reference-value changing unit that changes the zero-point adjustment reference value when the brightness detected by the brightness detecting unit is equal to or lower than a threshold. A zero point in a level of the image signal output from the imaging element is adjusted by using the zero-point adjustment reference value stored in the storage unit. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079623 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A digital camera includes a CCD for image capturing a subject and obtaining a reference image thereof, a lens optical system, a zoom drive unit, and an AF drive unit for performing an optical zoom action, a facial detection portion for detecting a face from the reference image captured by the CCD, and a control unit for calculating, as a set magnification ratio, a maximum magnification ratio according to which the face detected by the facial detection portion is included in an angle of view of the image capturing unit, performing zoom magnification processing up to the set magnification ratio, and causing the CCD to image again and obtain a magnified image. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079624 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus includes a motion vector detecting unit configured to detect, for each field of a signal, a motion vector in each of a plurality of vector detection areas within the field, a determining unit configured to determine, for each field, a group area obtained by grouping the motion vector detection areas based on the motion vector detected by the motion vector detecting unit, a geometric center calculation unit configured to obtain, for each field, a geometric center of the group area, a determination unit configured to determine group areas that correspond to each other in fields that are in consecutive relation in terms of time by comparing the geometric centers of the group areas obtained for each field in consecutive relation. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079625 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND PROGRAM - An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor, an optical element disposed in front of the image sensor, and a foreign substance information generation unit that generates foreign substance information for a still image from a foreign substance image obtained by sensing a foreign substance that adheres to the optical element with the image sensor, and generates foreign substance information for a moving image by performing reduction processing on the foreign substance image in accordance with the driving method of the image sensor when shooting a moving image. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079626 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - The image processing method includes a step of acquiring an image generated by image pickup through an optical system, and a step of performing image restoration processing on the image using an image restoration filter created such that its filter values have a two-dimensional distribution based on aberration information of the optical system. The image restoration filter is a filter in which a position of a cell having a maximum absolute value among the filter values is shifted with respect to a position of a center cell of the image restoration filter by a shift amount according to one of an amount of distortion of the optical system and an amount of chromatic aberration of magnification of the optical system, and which reduces a blur component of the image and at least one of a component of distortion and a component of chromatic aberration of magnification of the image. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079627 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - Provided is an image processing apparatus comprising an image acquiring section that acquires an image captured through an optical system having an optical transfer function that depends at least on distance to an object point, the optical system holding spread of light from the object point substantially constant regardless of the distance to the object point; an image processing section that applies a correction process for correcting the spread of light to the image, based on the optical transfer function of the optical system; and an image generating section that generates a composite image by superimposing, onto each other, a plurality of corrected images generated by the image processing section applying, to the image, different correction processes corresponding to different optical transfer functions. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100079628 | IMAGING APPARATUS - A CCD image sensor has an imaging surface composed of an effective pixel area and OB areas, and first and second light receiving element groups on even-numbered and odd-numbered columns respectively in the imaging surface. These light receiving element groups have separately-controllable exposure times, and they are set to low and high sensitivities. An imaging device includes this CCD, a memory storing defective pixel information of the OB areas, an OB clamping circuit for applying an OB clamp processing to the light receiving element groups, and an image processing circuit for generating image data from the output signals of the light receiving element groups after the OB clamp processing. Referring the defective pixel information, a CPU sets one of the light receiving element groups having more OB defective pixels to low sensitivity, and the other having less OB defective pixels to high sensitivity. | 2010-04-01 |
