38th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 16 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090231332 | PROCESSING 3D GRAPHICS SUPPORTING FIXED PIPELINE - Techniques, apparatus and system for processing 3D graphics are provided. A graphics processor includes a fixed pipeline code generator to convert an application programming interface (API) supporting a fixed pipeline into first microcodes, a shader pipeline code generator to convert an API supporting a programmable pipeline into second microcodes, and a shader pipeline to process the first or second microcodes by using a shader program. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231333 | SENDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGES OVER A NETWORK - A benefit is obtained for sending digital information over a network. The digital information is representative of three-dimensional images which include photographic images. The receiving computer renders the images from the received digital information, and a viewer at the receiving computer can interactively choose a viewpoint or perspective to view the images on a display of the receiving computer. The benefit to the sender can be monetary compensation and/or increased recognition of the sender, for example. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231334 | METHOD OF ALTERING A MESH MODEL USING MODEL INDEPENDENT DIRICHLET PARAMETRIZATION - A method of altering a computer generated mesh model of a design feature by a computer user to improve a feature design process is provided including providing a mesh model; forming a plane; defining an alteration area of the plane; forming a 2D mesh on the plane including a plurality of mesh nodes independent of the mesh model nodes within the alteration area; defining a partial differential equation to be numerically solved using the 2D mesh; numerically solving the partial differential equation using said 2D mesh to obtain solved 2D mesh node values; using the solved 2D mesh node values to obtain new values for each mesh model node including the portion of the mesh model to be altered; and, graphically regenerating the design feature using the mesh model nodes including the new values to form an altered portion of the mesh model. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231335 | PREDICTION OF CARDIAC SHAPE BY A MOTION MODEL - The invention relates to a system ( | 2009-09-17 |
20090231336 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE DIGITAL SPECIFICATION OF HEAD SHAPE DATA FOR USE IN DEVELOPING CUSTOM HAIR PIECES - The present invention is a system and method for specifying custom hair pieces using three-dimensional digital acquisition devices. The system and method described herein uses electronic data acquisition techniques to electronically model a customer's head and hair line characteristics and to electronically record specifications for a custom hair piece. The electronic data containing certain head shape data and hair piece specifications is then electronically transmitted to a hair piece manufacturer for completion of the hair piece. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231337 | Method and Apparatus for Surface Inflation Using Mean Curvature Constraints - Method and apparatus for the interactive enhancement of 2D art with 3D geometry. A surface inflation tool may be used to create a 3D shape by inflating the surface that interpolates the input boundaries. The surface inflation tool may, for example, obtain a closed 2D boundary as input, triangulate the area within the boundary to generate an initial surface, and inflate the surface while maintaining a fixed boundary. Using the mean curvature specified at boundary vertices as a degree of freedom, the tool may control the inflated surface efficiently using a single linear system. Embodiments handle both smooth and sharp position constraints. Position constraint vertices may also have curvature constraints specified for controlling the inflation of a local surface. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231338 | Method and Apparatus for Surface Inflation Using Surface Normal Constraints - Method and apparatus for the interactive enhancement of 2D art with 3D geometry. A surface inflation tool may be used to create a 3D shape by inflating the surface that interpolates the input boundaries. The surface inflation tool may, for example, obtain a closed 2D boundary as input, triangulate the area within the boundary to generate an initial surface, and inflate the surface while maintaining a fixed boundary. Using surface normal values and/or mean curvature values specified at boundary vertices as constraints, the tool may control the inflated surface efficiently using a single linear system. Embodiments handle both smooth and sharp position constraints. Position constraint vertices may also have constraints specified for controlling the inflation of a local surface. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231339 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PRODUCT FOR GRAPHICALLY DISPLAYING PROJECT STATUS INFORMATION - Management graphical display computer software and system associated with a project, and method of providing such graphical display to a user is described. The graphical display presents project information in a way that allows the user to view project status and information comprising at least three distinct project attributes in the form of a colored, shaded, or patterned project status triangle. Each vertex on the triangle represents a quantified project attribute measured on a radar graph having three axes, each axis corresponding to one of three project attributes. The optional addition of color, shading, or a pattern to the triangle can be correlated to a fourth quantified project attribute. The resulting unique triangle represents a given project condition in four dimensions. The user can quantitatively compare a reference triangle, such as an average of similar projects, to one or more current status triangles representing current or alternative plans overlaid on the same axes, each status triangle defining a distinct project condition. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231340 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GRAPHICALLY DISPLAYING DATA - A method of graphically displaying data on a graphic representation, such as the map, to a user in order to enable the user to select a service that meets one or more predetermined user-defined criteria, wherein the service includes one or more parameters, such as price, that influences the selection of the service by the user and the graphic representation includes first point, second points and other points, the method comprising the steps of identifying a first point on the graphic representation that is associated with the service and a first predetermined user defined criterion; identifying a plurality of second points on the graphic representation that are associated with a second predetermined user-defined criteria and the service; determining a mathematical function relating to the one or more parameters; the first point; and the or each second point in order to interpolate a mathematical surface matching one or more parameters at the or each second points; displaying the mathematical surface to the user to enable selection of a second or other point based on a required value for the one or more parameters by means of the mathematical surface. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231341 | DISPLAY OF TRENDS AND ANTICIPATED TRENDS FROM MITIGATION - An electronic display ( | 2009-09-17 |
20090231342 | Method and apparatus for electrical power visualization - A method and apparatus for providing a visualization of power for display. The method establishes a power visualization scale based on a color saturation and intensity range for a hue and a range of power to be visualized, and generates a display image for at least one measured value of power as a level of color saturation and intensity for the hue based on the power visualization scale. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231343 | Exact Geometry Operations on Shapes Using Fixed-Size Integer Coordinates - Techniques for improving efficiency and accuracy of computer-aided design are provided. In one aspect, a method for generating a computer-based representation of a design having one or more shapes is provided comprising the following steps. Each of the shapes in the design is represented with one or more trapezoids, wherein a fixed number of non-vertical lines are used to define an x-coordinate of a left and right base and sides of each trapezoid with intersection points being formed between the non-vertical lines that define the sides. The x-coordinates and intersection points are used to divide the trapezoids into disjoint trapezoids, wherein each disjoint trapezoid is defined by a combination of the same non-vertical lines that are used to define one or more of the trapezoids. An order is assigned to the x-coordinates and intersection points, wherein the x-coordinates and intersection points in the assigned order are representative of the design. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231344 | Dynamic selection of update methods - A method in a computer modeling environment having generative component features forming a model is provided. A generative component (GC) feature is created with a method. User input modifying an aspect of the model that affects the GC feature is received. An update method for the GC feature is determined dynamically based on the user input, the properties of the GC feature and input properties of available update methods to obtain a selected update method. The GC feature is updated based on the selected update method to obtain an updated GC feature. The updated GC feature is stored in a computer readable medium. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231345 | ELECTRONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND DEVICE WITH LINKED RANDOM GENERATORS - A method for deterministic film grain addition, e.g. to video signals compressed in a way that the grain is lacking. The method of electronic image processing comprises: determining a first random value (R | 2009-09-17 |
20090231346 | Diagnostic System for Visual Presentation, Animation and Sonification for Networks - A diagnostic system for visual representation, animation and sonification for networks that requires far less knowledge and can be used even by experts to reduce the time for analysis since it makes pattern analysis much more possible. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231347 | Method and Apparatus for Providing Natural Facial Animation - Natural inter-viseme animation of 3D head model driven by speech recognition is calculated by applying limitations to the velocity and/or acceleration of a normalized parameter vector, each element of which may be mapped to animation node outputs of a 3D model based on mesh blending and weighted by a mix of key frames. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231348 | Image Processing with Highly Threaded Texture Fragment Generation - A circuit arrangement and method support a multithreaded rendering architecture capable of dynamically routing pixel fragments from a pixel fragment generator to any pixel shader from among a pool of pixel shaders. The pixel fragment generator is therefore not tied to a specific pixel shader, but is instead able to utilize multiple pixel shaders in a pool of pixel shaders to minimize bottlenecks and improve overall hardware utilization and performance during image processing. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231349 | Rolling Context Data Structure for Maintaining State Data in a Multithreaded Image Processing Pipeline - A multithreaded rendering software pipeline architecture utilizes a rolling context data structure to store multiple contexts that are associated with different image elements that are being processed in the software pipeline. Each context stores state data for a particular image element, and the association of each image element with a context is maintained as the image element is passed from stage to stage of the software pipeline, thus ensuring that the state used by the different stages of the software pipeline when processing the image element remains coherent irrespective of state changes made for other image elements being processed by the software pipeline. Multiple image elements may therefore be processed concurrently by the software pipeline, and often without regard for synchronization or serialization of state changes that affect only certain image elements. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231350 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING A PHYSICAL VIEW OF A DEVICE - An apparatus and methods are disclosed for displaying a physical view of a monitored device. The apparatus for displaying a physical view of a device is provided with a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the steps of displaying a physical representation of a device, generating a plurality of grid lines in association with a predetermined portion of the physical representation of the device, and displaying an icon configured to convey information regarding a status of the device, wherein the icon is displayed within an area defined by the plurality of grid lines. These modules in the described embodiments include a rendering module, a grid module, and a status module. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231351 | SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE HAVING DATA ROTATION/INTERLEAVE FUNCTION - An object of the present invention is to provide a memory device and a memory application device which can reduce memories and reduce burden on processings by reading out predetermined bit data stored in plural memory addresses as data output from the memory device. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231352 | User Interface Controls for Managing Content Attributes - A computer-implemented method includes displaying a content item having at least one attribute that is changeable in value, maintaining a history of image states, each image state in the history corresponding to a change in at least one attribute value relative to another image state, and based on the maintained history of image states, generating multiple modified image states such that a quantity of modified image states is different from a quantity of image states in the maintained history. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231353 | SCREEN DISPLAY METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - An image forming apparatus is connected to an information processing apparatus via a network. The image forming apparatus transmits setting information contained in a setting screen to the information processing apparatus and receives customized setting information generated by the information processing apparatus based on the setting information, whereby the setting screen is customized by the customized setting information. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231354 | A Color Controller for a Luminaire - A color controller for a luminaire constituted of: a thru-converter operative to convert an input signal to at least one luminaire drive signal; an illumination sampler arranged to sample an output from the luminaire and generate a representation thereof; and a feedback controller arranged to receive the output representation and generate the updatable conversion factor in cooperation with calibration luminance and color values, wherein the thru-converter operation is responsive to a trigger signal for defining a first and a second mode, the first mode for generating the luminaire drive signal for the luminaire responsive to the input signal being a frame luminance signal and target color signals and wherein the conversion to the at least one luminaire drive signal is responsive to an updatable conversion factor, and the second mode for generating the luminaire drive signal for the luminaire responsive to the feedback controller. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231355 | COLOR TRANSFER BETWEEN IMAGES THROUGH COLOR PALETTE ADAPTATION - An image adjustment includes adapting a universal palette to generate (i) an input image palette statistically representative of pixels of an input image and (ii) a reference image palette statistically representative of pixels of a reference image, and adjusting at least some pixels of the input image to generate adjusted pixels that are statistically represented by the reference image palette. In some embodiments, a user interface for controlling the image adjustment includes a display and at least one user input device, the user interface displaying a set of colors indicative of the regions of color space represented by a palette and receiving a selection of one or more regions of the color space, so that the image adjustment adjusts those pixels of the input image lying within the one or more selected regions of the color space. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231356 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR SELECTION OF OPTIONS FROM OPTION GROUPS AND METHODS RELATING TO SAME - A system providing a graphical user interface for the selection of options from option groups and method for implementing the same. A graphical user interface enables a user to see the results of applying virtual makeup to an image of a person's face. The interface may enable a user to select the color of the makeup to be applied through a circular region with a series of option tabs. The outer portion of the circular region, or the flywheel, may have multiple color segments. The color segments are arranged so that adjacent color segments may be perceived to be most similar. The inner portion of the circle may present the history of the colors previously chosen and may have an uncolored center circle, and a series of uncolored circles surrounding the center circle. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231357 | MECHANISM FOR COLOR-SPACE NEUTRAL (VIDEO) EFFECTS SCRIPTING ENGINE - A first command is retrieved from a script containing one or more commands written for a first color space. The first command is associated with zero or more input buffers and zero or more output buffers. The first command has zero or more parameters. A behavior of the first command in the first color space and in a second color space is determined. The behavior comprises one of unique behavior, transparent behavior, and different behavior. The first command has the unique behavior when the first command only operates in the first color space. The first command has the transparent behavior when the first command generates similar results in the first color space and in the second color space. The first command has the different behavior when the first command generates different results in the first color space and in the second color space. Using the behavior of the first command, an operation associated with the first command is processed. The operation is processed in a preferred format based on current formats of the input buffers. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231358 | Hybrid Telecom Network-structured Architecture and System for Digital Image Distribution, Display and Projection - A hybrid and telecom-structured image display and projection system implementing a desired image display and projection solution that is fast, cheap to manufacture, low-power, light-weight, scalable in size and resolution, fast-switching and capable of a broad range of mode characteristics of light for implementing dimensional display and projection, flexible, rigid-flat, or rigid-conformal as needed. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231359 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPOUND FEATURE CREATION, PROCESSING, AND IDENTIFICATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH A DATA ANALYSIS AND FEATURE RECOGNITION SYSTEM - Methods and systems for creation, processing, and use of compound features during data analysis and feature recognition are disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention functions to apply a new level of data discrimination during data analysis and feature recognition events such that features are more easily discerned from the remainder of the data pool using processing techniques that are more conducive to human visualizations, perceptions, and/or interpretations of data. This is accomplished using an example tool that allows previously processed and identified features (hereafter “known features”) to be aggregated so as to aid the system in recognizing abstract data features, preferably using Boolean operators and user-assigned hit weight values across desired cluster ranges surrounding analyzed data elements. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231360 | Method for combining display information from graphic subsystem of computer systems and equipment for carrying out that method - A method and equipment are provided that combine display information from a graphic subsystem including at least two computer systems. The respective operational systems of the computer systems are set so that the background of the display work-surface of each operational system has a defined and solid colour, and the output resolution in the computer systems is set appropriately. The output signal for the monitor in each of the computer systems is transformed into a series of individual image points and, at the same time, the horizontal and vertical positions of each individual image point are determined in the source image, and each determined point is saved in a source image map the content of which, is gradually transcribed to renew all the image points, independently and asynchronously of the output of the other computer systems, but synchronously with the relevant output for the monitor of the corresponding computer system. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231361 | RAPID LOCALIZED LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT FOR VIDEO MATRIX SWITCHING SYSTEM - Systems and methods are provided for selecting a subset of Unicode characters and overlaying the Unicode characters on graphical images, videos or other media that are displayed on a user interface. The Unicode characters may include both ASCII characters and non-ASCII characters. Tools are provided for dynamically modifying and selecting image patterns, symbols or icons that represent non-ASCII and ASCII character fonts. Applications are provided for editing, verifying and managing the image patterns, symbols or icons that represent character fonts. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231362 | Method of Reproducing Microscope Observation, Device of Reproducing Microscope Observation, Program for Reproducing Microscope Observation, and Recording Media Thereof - A plurality of data of still image for screening and zooming shot at maximum magnification to perform magnified observation with regard to a plurality of divided areas obtained by dividing a shoot target area in a microscopic image such that a portion of a peripheral portion of each of the dividing areas is overlapped to each other, and a plurality of data of still image for focusing shot by respectively shifting focus in each of the divided areas, are created. From data of tiled still image for screening and zooming and data of edited still images for focusing, which are obtained by applying a predetermined processing to the data of still image, an animated image for screening, an animated image for zooming, and an animated image for focusing are created, and an animated image reproducing motion of a microscopic image in actual microscope observation is displayed on a computer screen. And, when a mouse cursor is located on a specific region of the animated image, a comment balloon about the specific region is displayed. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231363 | DATA MULTIPLEXER ARCHITECTURE FOR REALIZING DOT INVERSION MODE FOR USE IN A LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED DRIVING METHOD - A liquid crystal display device includes a gate driver for generating a first scan signal voltage and a second scan signal voltage, a source driver for generating a first polarity data voltage and a second polarity data voltage, and a liquid crystal display panel having a first pixel set and a second pixel set. Each first and second pixel set includes a first pixel and a second pixel. Both the first pixel of the first pixel set and the second pixel of the second pixel set display grey level based on the first polarity data voltage in response to the first scan signal voltage. Both the second pixel of the first pixel set and the first pixel of the second pixel set display grey level based on the second polarity data voltage in response to the second scan signal voltage. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231364 | DISPLAY SYSTEM CAPABLE OF AUTO-REGULATING BRIGHTNESS AND BRIGHTNESS AUTO-REGULATING METHOD THEREOF - A display system includes a display panel, an imaging unit, an auto-focusing controller, a calculating unit, a memory unit and a regulating unit. The imaging unit is configured for capturing images. The auto-focusing controller is configured for determining parameters of the imaging unit suitable for the current ambient light condition by processing the captured images. The calculating unit is configured for calculating a brightness value of the current ambient light condition, using the determined parameters. The memory unit is configured for storing an array comprising a collection of brightness values associated with a collection of driving voltage values respectively. The regulating unit is configured for retrieving a driving voltage value in an array associated with the calculated brightness value, and adjusting the display panel using the retrieved voltage value. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231365 | LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DRIVING DEVICE AND DRIVING METHOD - The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display driving device and driving method. The driving device comprises a liquid crystal display screen, a gate driver, a data driver and a timing controller. The timing controller is connected with the gate driver, the data driver and the timing controller, and is used for generating a grey level data signal and an internal logic synchronization signal in accordance with an input signal, and generating a gate scanning control signal, a data input control signal and a backlight source control signal in accordance with the internal logic synchronization signal and timing of data transmission channels, such that the backlight source is turned-off between the end time of the gate scanning control signal of the last line of the present frame and the start time of the gate scanning control signal of the first line of the next frame. The present invention controls the backlight source to be turned-off between two frames so as to make the liquid crystal display screen generate periodic black pictures, thereby the blur of the motion image due to the persistence of vision is effectively improved, and the picture quality is improved. Meanwhile, the power consumption of the backlight source is reduced, since the backlight source is turned-off between two frames. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231366 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming method including: ejecting an ink containing a pigment, water, a water-soluble solvent and polymer particles onto a recording medium; and removing adhered ink solid from a nozzle face of a head that ejects the ink, wherein the ink satisfies the following Formula (1): | 2009-09-17 |
20090231367 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM THAT CAUSES THE APPARATUS TO EXECUTE THE METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes ink cartridges, image forming units, an ink-remaining-amount manager, a maintenance determiner, an information writer, an ink-amount estimator, and a maintenance-executability determiner. If an ink near-empty or empty state occurs in one of the ink cartridges due to image formation, the ink-amount estimator estimates an amount of ink required to execute the maintenance on the other ink cartridges based on the at least one of the need for and the type of maintenance determined by the maintenance determiner. If the maintenance-executability determiner determines that the maintenance is unexecutable on at least one of the other ink cartridges based on the required ink amount and a remaining ink amount, the maintenance-executability determiner determines that the unexecutable ink cartridge is at an ink near-empty or empty state and stops writing or updating information indicative of a spent state on the memory of the unexecutable ink cartridge. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231368 | Inkjet head, method of detecting ejection abnormality of the inkjet head, and method of forming film - There are provided n number of line-type inkjet nozzles ( | 2009-09-17 |
20090231369 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - A inkjet recording apparatus includes a first inkjet head which ejects color ink having one of a hydrophobic property and an aqueous property; a second inkjet head which ejects colorless ink having the remaining the other property; and an ejection controller which controls the first inkjet head to eject the color ink on an image region and controls the second inkjet head to eject the colorless ink on an ejection region contacting the image region with a boundary therebetween. The ejection controller controls the first and second inkjet heads so that the colorless ink ejected from the second inkjet head reaches a second minute segment in the ejection region, the second minute segment adjacent to a first minute segment in the image region with the boundary interposed therebetween, before the color ink ejected from the first inkjet head reaches the first minute segment in the image region. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231370 | PRINTING SYSTEM, INKJET PRINTER, AND PRINTING METHOD - A printing system includes an inkjet head and a decompressor. The inkjet head has nozzles configured to eject ink to a concavo-convex print surface a medium. The decompressor is configured to reduce a pressure in an area between the medium and the nozzles to be a pressure value lower than atmospheric pressure. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231371 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING VOLTAGE TO NOZZLE IN INKJET PRINTER - A power supplying apparatus for a plurality of nozzles included in a thermal inkjet printer is provided. The thermal inkjet printer is capable of providing a plurality of printing modes. The power supplying apparatus includes a look-up table, a selecting module, and an adjustable voltage supply. The look-up table stores plural sets of control signals corresponding to the plurality of printing modes. The selecting module first receives a command representing that a user selects one printing mode among the plurality of printing modes as a final printing mode. The selecting module then selects one set of control signals stored in the look-up table as a set of final control signals based on the command. The adjustable voltage supply supplies at least one voltage to the plurality of nozzles based on the final control signal selected by the selecting module. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231372 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SETTING SIGNAL FOR MICRO VIBRATION - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes liquid chambers in which a liquid is filled, nozzles communicating with the liquid chambers, a signal generator generating a signal of potential change, and elements operating in accordance with the potential of the signal to be applied to cause a change in pressure in the liquid chambers. The signal generator generates a signal for micro vibration of a free surface of the liquid to be exposed from the nozzles such that the liquid is not ejected. The signal for micro vibration has a first potential change portion at which a potential changes from a first potential to a medium potential between the first potential and a second potential, a subsequent constant potential portion at which the potential is maintained constant at the medium potential, and a subsequent second potential change portion at which the potential changes from the medium potential to the second potential. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231373 | CHARGE LEAKAGE PREVENTION FOR INKJET PRINTING - Charge leakage prevention and voltage drift prevention on a droplet ejection device for an inkjet printer. In one method to prevent charge leakage on a droplet ejection device with a switch and a piezoelectric actuator, the method includes controlling the switch to drive the piezoelectric actuator with the waveform input signal during a droplet firing period, and controlling the switch to drive the piezoelectric actuator with a constant voltage level during a non-firing period. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231374 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ALIGNING ARRAYS OF PRINTING ELEMENTS - A method and apparatus for aligning the printing of dots generated by at least one array of printing elements of a printing apparatus. The method includes the steps of printing a calibration test pattern, scanning the printed calibration test pattern, determining at least one calibration value based on the scanned calibration test pattern, and adjusting the alignment of the array of printing elements based on the determined calibration value. The step of scanning the printed calibration test pattern further includes automatically positioning a camera relative to the printed calibration test pattern and imaging a detail of the printed calibration test pattern within the field of view of the camera. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231375 | System And Method For Compensating For Weak, Intermittent, Or Missing Inkjets In A Printhead Assembly - A system enables surrounding inkjets to be used to compensate for missing, intermittent, or weak inkjets without requiring additional passes of the image substrate or slowing the printing process. The system includes a printhead firing signal generator configured to generate a plurality of inkjet firing signals with reference to a set of predetermined firing signal parameters, and a firing signal adjustment circuit configured to modify at least one predetermined firing signal parameter to increase a first mass of liquid ink ejected by an inkjet proximate a defective inkjet in response to a signal identifying the defective inkjet. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231376 | Correction Value Setting Method, Liquid Ejecting Apparatus, Printing System and Storage Medium Having Program Stored Thereon - A correction value setting method includes: generating, based on a first correction value that has been set in advance and is used in correcting a density of an image to be printed on a first medium, a second correction value that has a larger correction amount than the first correction value and a third correction value that has a smaller correction amount than the first correction value; printing respectively a first pattern to which the first correction value is applied, a second pattern to which the second correction value is applied, and a third pattern to which the third correction value is applied, on a second medium that differs in type from the first medium, by ejecting liquid from a head including a plurality of nozzles that eject liquid; and setting, based on the first pattern, the second pattern, and the third pattern that have been printed on the second medium, one of the first correction value, the second correction value, and the third correction value, as a correction value used in correcting a density of an image to be printed on the second medium. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231377 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND INKJET RECORDING METHOD - An inkjet recording apparatus has: an inkjet head which ejects ink so as to record an image on a recording surface of a recording medium; a drum-shaped member which includes a drum, holds an edge of the recording medium, and conveys the recording medium in close contact with a circumferential surface of the drum; an intermediate conveyance body which holds an edge of the recording medium while moving the recording medium in rotation, and transfers the recording medium to the drum-shaped member; and a conveyance guide which guides a non-recording surface of the recording medium which is moved in rotation by the intermediate conveyance body, wherein the conveyance guide has a back tension application device which produces a force to act on the recording medium in an opposite direction to a direction of movement of the recording medium. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231378 | METHOD FOR INCREASING PRINTHEAD RELIABILITY - A method of reducing intermittent weak or missing (IWM) jet failures in a phase change ink imaging device comprises fluidly connecting a positive pressure source to a print head assembly of a phase change ink imaging device. The print head assembly includes a plurality of ink jets for emitting ink drops onto an ink receiver. The method includes activating the pressure source to deliver a positive pressure pulse to the print head assembly. The pressure pulse is delivered at substantially a purge pressure. The pressure pulse has a pulse duration such that the pressure pulse bulges ink from the plurality of ink jets without emitting ink from the plurality of ink jets. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231379 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - There is provided a liquid ejecting head including a plurality of pressure generating chambers, a first substrate having a reservoir unit, and a second substrate having a compliance unit, the second substrate being combined with one surface of the first substrate via an adhesive layer. The reservoir unit has a first area and a second area whose width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the pressure generating chambers is smaller than a width of the first area, the compliance unit is provided to seal the reservoir unit and the surrounding of the compliance unit is fixed by the adhesive layer, and a width of the compliance unit corresponding to the second area of the reservoir unit is formed so as to be larger than the width of the second area. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231380 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PREDICTING - There are provided an inkjet printing apparatus and a method of predicting which can perform an accurate ink remaining amount detection. An inkjet printing apparatus is for performing printing onto a print medium by using a print head including an energy generating element generating energy used for ejecting ink from an ejection opening. The apparatus has a print head temperature detecting unit, an atmosphere temperature detecting unit and a predicting unit. The predicting unit drives the energy generating element at the time a difference between the temperature of the print head before driving the energy generating element and the atmosphere temperature detected by the atmosphere temperature detecting unit is less than a predetermined temperature. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231381 | Print control method - A print control method comprising the steps of measuring a battery remainder index correlating with a remaining capacity of a battery in a printing unit operating on the battery, specifying a number of remaining printable copies of the printing unit on the basis of the battery remainder index, and outputting the number of remaining printable copies. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231382 | Systems and Methods For Reducing Process Direction Registration Errors Of A Printhead Using A Linear Array Sensor - Systems and methods are provided for detecting process direction registration errors in a printer. The errors are detected by analyzing a metric of a dash minimum response obtained from a test pattern. The test pattern contains dashes. At least one dash is shifted in the process direction in relation to another dash. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231383 | DOUBLE LASER DRILLING OF A PRINTHEAD INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ATTACHMENT FILM - A method of fabricating an apertured polymeric film. The method comprising the steps of: (a) masking a polymeric film with a first mask having first laser transmission zones defined therein; (b) laser-ablating first apertures through the polymeric film using the first mask; (c) masking the film with a second mask having second laser transmission zones defined therein, each second zone being aligned with a corresponding first aperture, and each second zone having greater perimeter dimensions than the corresponding first aperture; and (d) reaming the first apertures by laser-ablating the polymeric film using the second mask, the reamed first apertures defining second apertures in the film. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231384 | PRINTHEAD INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ATTACHMENT FILM HAVING DIFFERENTIATED ADHESIVE LAYERS - A laminated film for attachment of printhead integrated circuits to an ink supply manifold. The film has a plurality of ink supply holes defined therein and film comprises: a central polymeric film; a first adhesive layer for bonding a first surface of the film to the ink supply manifold; and a second adhesive layer for bonding a second surface of the film to the printhead integrated circuits. The central polymeric film is sandwiched between the first and second adhesive layers. A first melt temperature of the first adhesive layer is at least 20° C. less than a second melt temperature of the second adhesive layer. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231385 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF DOT COUNTING IN AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A method and apparatus of dot counting. The apparatus includes a nozzle portion having a length corresponding to a width of a printing medium, a dot counting unit to group head nozzles by position and to count a discharged dot count per line for each group, a control unit to determine whether the group has been used to print using the discharged dot count per line, a counter to count a number of times that the group is used to print based on the determination result, and a memory to store a sum of the counted numbers of times, in which the control unit controls the counter to count the number of times that the group is used to print with respect to each line of image data when the image data is created by a head chip, and a sum of the counted number of times is stored in the memory. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231386 | DROPLET EJECTING DEVICE - A droplet ejecting device has a droplet ejecting head, a rotating member, a recovery unit, and a negative pressure generating unit. The rotating member is disposed so as to oppose a nozzle surface of the droplet ejecting head, and is a conveying body that conveys a recording medium. The recovery unit has a suction hole provided at a region of the rotating member on which the recording medium is not loaded, and recovers, from the suction hole, liquid that becomes a mist at a time when the droplets are ejected from the nozzles. The negative pressure generating unit generates negative pressure at the recovery unit. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231387 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus having a non contact type heater for heating a recording medium on which liquid is ejected via a liquid ejecting head, the heater having a heat generating surface and the heater being arranged in parallel to the liquid ejecting head along a transport direction of the recording medium. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a mist suctioning unit for suctioning floating mist generated by ejection of the liquid. The mist suctioning unit includes a nozzle plate in which nozzle orifices for ejecting the liquid are formed, the nozzle plate being provided on the liquid ejecting head, an electrode member provided at a marginal portion of the heat generating surface, and an electric potential difference generator for generating an electric potential difference between the electrode member and the nozzle plate to electrostatically absorb the mist on the marginal portion of the heat generating surface. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231388 | WASTE INK ABSORBENT MEMBER, AND WASTE INK CONTAINER AND INK JET RECORDING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH WASTE INK ABSORBENT MEMBER - To provide a waste ink absorbing tank, capable, even in the case of utilizing an ink of a high coagulating property, of causing a waste ink absorbent member to efficiently absorb such ink. A waste ink absorbent member has a hole portion corresponding to an introducing position of the waste ink, and the hole portion is opened on a lateral face of the absorbent member. The waste ink, introduced into the hole portion moves in one direction toward the waste ink absorbent member and absorbed therein. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231389 | Ink Jet Printer and Printing Method - An ink jet printer comprising a conveyor belt unit | 2009-09-17 |
20090231390 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of heads each of which discharges liquid droplets, a base member to hold the heads arranged thereon, and a liquid supply member provided on each head to extend in a direction in which the heads are arranged, and to form a common channel for distributing and supplying liquid to the heads. The liquid supply member includes a first supply opening to receive ink in the liquid supply member, a second supply opening to supply ink to the head, and an annular seal member and provided between the liquid supply member and the head to connect the first and second supply openings by sealing a connection portion between the liquid supply member and the head. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231391 | LIQUID JET HEAD AND A LIQUID JET APPARATUS - A liquid jet head includes: a pressure generation element; a nozzle plate which is provided with a nozzle opening; a pressure generating chamber plate in which a pressure generating chamber for communicating to the nozzle opening is formed; and a nozzle communication plate in which a communication through hole for communicating the one pressure generating chamber with a plurality of nozzle openings is provided between the nozzle plate and the pressure generating chamber plate, so that, for example, a plurality of the nozzle openings can be disposed in a lined-up direction of the pressure generating chambers at a predetermined pitch smaller than a lined-up pitch of the pressure generating chamber. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231392 | LIQUID DISCHARGING HEAD WITH INCREASED STRENGTH AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE LIQUID DISCHARGING HEAD - A liquid discharging head includes a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid, a channel member formed of a metal plate, and a contacted member for being contacted by the channel member. The channel member includes a plurality of liquid chambers, each of which is connected to one of the plurality of nozzles, and a separation wall for separating adjacent liquid chambers from each other. The separation wall includes a center portion and a contact surface. The center portion is provided at a center of the separation wall in a long direction of the separation wall. The contact surface contacts the contacted member, and is tilted in a cross-section of at least the center portion of the separation wall taken in a short direction of the separation wall. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231393 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING APPARATUS MANUFACTURING METHOD - A recording apparatus includes a first recording head. The first recording head includes a first nozzle plate. The first nozzle plate includes a first group of nozzle holes and a first positioning hole configured to position the first recording head. A second recording head is adjacent to the first recording head in a first direction. The second recording head includes a second nozzle plate. The second nozzle plate includes a second plurality of nozzle holes and a second positioning hole configured to position the second recording head. The first positioning hole and the second positioning hole are aligned in a straight line extending in the first direction. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231394 | LIQUID EJECTION RECORDING HEAD - A liquid ejection recording head includes an element substrate provided with a plurality of ejection energy generating elements for generating energy for ejecting liquid, an ejection outlet array comprising a plurality of ejection outlets for ejecting the liquid, and bubble generation chambers for generating bubbles by the ejection energy generating elements. The element substrate includes a first liquid supply port provided, by being penetrated through the element substrate, along an arrangement direction of the ejection outlets and includes a plurality of second ink supply ports disposed between a lateral end of the element substrate and the bubble generation chambers. Each of the bubble generation chambers communicates with the first liquid supply port through a first liquid supply passage and communicates with the second liquid supply ports through a second liquid supply passage. The element substrate has a thermal resistance against heat flowing from the ejection energy generating elements along a direction which is perpendicular to an ejection outlet array direction and which is in parallel to a surface of the element substrate on which the ejection energy generating elements are formed. The thermal resistance, per unit length with respect to the ejection outlet array direction, at both end portions of the ejection outlet array is larger than that at a central portion of the ejection outlet array. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231395 | METHOD OF DRIVING PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR AND METHOD OF DRIVING LIQUID EJECTION HEAD - A method of driving a piezoelectric actuator has the step of driving a piezoelectric actuator including a diaphragm, a lower electrode formed on one surface of the diaphragm, a piezoelectric film formed in epitaxial growth or oriented growth on an opposite side of the lower electrode to the diaphragm so as to be preferentially oriented in a (111) direction, and an upper electrode formed on an opposite side of the piezoelectric film to the lower electrode, by application of an electric field in a direction opposite to a direction of polarization of the piezoelectric film. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231396 | LIQUID JET HEAD AND A LIQUID JET APPARATUS - An upper surface of a piezoelectric layer in an area opposed to a pressure generating chamber and a side surface of the piezoelectric layer in an arrangement direction of the piezoelectric elements are covered with an upper electrode. In addition, on one end in a longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric layer extends up to an adhesive area of a flow passage forming substrate to which a circumferential portion of a piezoelectric element preserver of a joining substrate is adhered, and the lower electrode extends up to the outside of an end portion of the piezoelectric layer to form a terminal section in an end portion of the lower electrode. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231397 | LIQUID JET HEAD, A LIQUID JET APPARATUS AND A PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT - A piezoelectric layer is formed of a plurality of ferroelectric films containing lead (Pb), zirconium (Zr), and titanium (Ti) above a first electrode. A boundary portion between a first ferroelectric film closest to the first electrode and a second ferroelectric film formed above the first ferroelectric film has an area where the maximum value of a concentration of titanium with respect to zirconium is 80% or more. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231398 | Printing by Differential Ink Jet Deflection - For printing, the principle of the continuous deflected jet is used: a device ( | 2009-09-17 |
20090231399 | INK STORING SYSTEM AND INK DELIVERING SYSTEM - An ink reservoir mechanism includes a ink reservioring portion for directly reservoiring link to be supplied to an ink jet recording head, the ink reservoiring portion having a reservoiring volum which reduces with consumption of the ink and being provided with an air-liquid separation device; a negative pressure source, having a variable inner volume, for normally applying a negative pressure to the ink reservoiring portion through the air-liquid separation device; and a connection path for connecting the negative pressure source and the ink reservoiring portion through the air-liquid separation device. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231400 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH MINIMAL LEAKAGE - A laminated film for attachment of printhead integrated circuits to an ink supply manifold. The film has a plurality of ink supply holes defined therein and film comprises: a central polymeric web; a first adhesive layer for bonding a first surface of the film to the ink supply manifold; and a second adhesive layer for bonding a second surface of the film to the printhead integrated circuits. The central polymeric web is sandwiched between the first and second adhesive layers. A first melt temperature of the first adhesive layer is at least 20° C. less than a second melt temperature of the second adhesive layer. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231401 | PRINTER WITH GAS BUBBLE OCCLUSION RESISTANT CONDUITS - An inkjet printer with a printhead and a conduit connected to the printhead. The conduit defines a flow path for the printing fluid and has an internal cross section configured such that the surface tension of printing fluid within it favors gas bubble growth along the conduit length over radial bubble growth that would fully occlude the flow path. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231402 | INKJET RECORDING METHOD - An inkjet recording method includes forming an image on an inkjet recording sheet with an ink set, wherein the inkjet recording sheet includes: a support; and a colorant-receiving layer provided on the support, the colorant receiving layer including inorganic particles, a water-soluble resin and at least one boron compound selected from the group consisting of boric acid, borate and borax, in which the ratio of the boron compound to the water-soluble resin is from 5 to 14% by mass, wherein the ink set including at least one inkjet ink including at least the boron compound and a water-soluble dye, and wherein the image is formed on a side of the inkjet recording sheet at which the colorant-receiving layer is formed. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231403 | SIGNAL PROCESSING OF INDICIA FOR MEDIA IDENTIFICATION - A method of identifying a type of recording medium includes moving the recording medium relative to a sensor at a substantially uniform speed; processing a signal from the sensor to provide digitized data of the signal; identifying a plurality of peaks in the digitized data; determining at least one of the heights and widths of each of the plurality of peaks; determining a peak to peak distance between two adjacent peaks of the plurality of peaks; determining the position of a peak corresponding to the reference mark using a combination of parameters related to at least two of the peak heights, the peak widths, and the peak to peak distance; determining a configuration of a peak corresponding to the identification mark by locating a peak that is spaced apart from the position of the peak corresponding to the reference mark; and identifying the type of recording medium using the configuration of the peak corresponding to the identification mark. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231404 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND INKJET RECORDING METHOD - Clogging of an ink-jetting opening is more reliably prevented, by inkjet recording apparatus | 2009-09-17 |
20090231405 | APPLICATION APPARATUS AND INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - An application apparatus has: a supply device which supplies a liquid in which a treatment agent having a prescribed function is dissolved; an application device which applies the liquid supplied from the supply device, onto a medium; and a condensing device which condenses the liquid supplied to the application device from the supply device during a period until the liquid is applied to the medium. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231406 | IMAGE RECORDING COMPOSITION, IMAGE RECORDING INK SET AND RECORDING APPARATUS - An image recording composition including a curable material that is cured upon application of an external stimulus, and a cationic resin having a cationic functional group. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231407 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND INKJET RECORDING METHOD - An inkjet recording apparatus which ejects an ink so as to record an image on a recording medium has: a conveyance device which conveys a recording medium; a liquid deposition device which deposits a liquid onto a recording surface of the recording medium which is conveyed by the conveyance device; an intermediate conveyance body which moves the recording medium in rotation onto the recording surface of which the liquid has been deposited by the liquid deposition device while holding an edge of the recording medium; a conveyance guide which guides a non-recording surface of the recording medium which is moved in rotation by the intermediate conveyance body; and a pressure application device which applies a pressure differential between the recording surface and the non-recording surface of the recording medium which is moved in rotation by the intermediate conveyance body. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231408 | Heating resistor element component, thermal printer, and manufacturing method for a heating resistor element component - To reduce a plate thickness of an insulating film, a heating resistor element component is provided, which includes: a supporting substrate; an insulating film disposed on a surface of the supporting substrate; a plurality of heating resistors arranged at intervals on the insulating film; a common wire connected to one end of each of the plurality of heating resistors; and individual wires each connected to another end of each of the plurality of heating resistors, in which: the surface of the supporting substrate is provided with a concave portion in a region thereof, the region being opposed to heating portions of the plurality of heating resistors; and when the insulating film is superimposed on the supporting substrate, the insulating film includes a heterogeneous phase formed through irradiation of a phemtosecond laser at least in a region thereof, the region being opposed to the concave portion. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231409 | PRINT CONTROL DEVICE FOR A THERMAL PRINTER - A print control device for a thermal printer for detecting a failure in a component of the thermal printer to prevent an incorrect printing of an item to be printed which provides for a thermal resistor associated with each component of the printer to render the printer inoperative when the component becomes defective, and a MOSFET for each thermal resistor associated with a feeder, a driver and a group detector which prevents the printer from printing when the thermal resistor changes the effective resistance in the circuit with the MOSFET and the group detector and driver. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231410 | OPTICAL SCANNING DEVICE, OPTICAL SCANNING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, USING THE OPTICAL SCANNING DEVICE - An optical scanning device for guiding a light beam to a member to scan the member with the light beam, including a light source emitting the light beam; a light deflector deflecting the light beam; a focusing optical system including a plastic optical element molded using a die. The optical element has least two transfer surfaces formed by contacting with transfer surfaces of the die and including a light entrance surface and a light exit surface; and a third surface including a non-transfer surface formed without contacting a transfer surface of the die. The light beam passes through the optical element in such a manner that the optical axis center of the light beam extends in a direction parallel to the shorter side of the optical element while being shifted from the dimensional center of the optical element toward the third surface of the optical element. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231411 | Integrated web-based instant messaging apparatus used as a video phone - The present invention provides a method to perform real time audio and visual transmitting/receiving by using web-based instant messaging apparatus which is dedicated to visual telecommunication as a video phone. The device integrates all necessary hardware into one single portable size body, embeds all network communication software and preloads instant messaging carriers' application programs. The advantages of the invented apparatus are low manufacture costs, simple operational use, remote communication thru Internet, high mobility/portability, versatile video functions, and ease of use for personal or business purpose. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231412 | Telepresence Display Configuration - Telepresence display configuration useful for video conferencing. The telepresence display configurations include a video display and a mat. The mat is spaced apart from the video display and has an opening having an inner perimeter configured to frame a viewing surface of a video display. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231413 | ENHANCED VIDEO TELEPHONY THROUGH AUGMENTED REALITY - A method for enhancing video telephony that includes initiating a video telephone call from a first device to a second device, displaying a live video view by the first device, transferring video from the second device to the first device during the video telephone call, and overlaying the transferred video over the live video view displayed at the first device. The first device and the second device may be mobile devices. A portion of the transferred video may be selected and the selected portion displayed over the displayed live video view at the first device. The transferred video may be video taken from a camera on the second device. The transferred video may also be displayed over the live video view on a third device attached to the first device. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231414 | Conferencing and Stage Display of Distributed Conference Participants - A system comprises a stage area and an audience area with a line of sight view of the stage area. The system also includes a first display that reproduces a first video feed of a first perspective of a remote talent. The first video feed may appear, from the perspective of the audience area, to be within a first region of the stage area. The system further includes a first camera directed at the audience area and aligned so that its field of view corresponds to a line of sight from the first region to the audience area. The system additionally includes a second display viewable from a second region of the stage area and hidden from view of the audience area. The second display reproduces a second video feed of a second perspective, different that the first perspective, of the remote talent. The system also includes a second camera directed at the second region of the stage area and aligned so that its field of view corresponds to a line of sight from the second display to the second region. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231415 | Multiple Video Stream Capability Negotiation - Video send and receive capabilities of participants are determined by the respective machines determining available combinations, as well as preferences for the receivers. Receiver capabilities are forwarded to the source for computation of negotiated video capabilities through a logic intersection of the determined capabilities based on desired number of streams and resolutions. If a resolution of a send capability exists within the receive capability, the highest frame and/or bit rate may be selected for transmission. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231416 | Image pickup device - An image pickup device includes an optical system having a wide angle, wherein at least magnification chromatic aberration is large; an image sensor configured to read an image picked up through the optical system; and a magnification chromatic aberration correction unit configured to perform magnification chromatic aberration correction by performing coordinate conversion on the image read by the image sensor. The magnification chromatic aberration correction unit includes plural coordinate conversion parameters used for the magnification chromatic aberration correction, and switches the coordinate conversion parameter used for the magnification chromatic aberration correction in the event that there is a change in a light source or an illumination light. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231417 | Protective Glasses - The invention concerns eye protection glasses ( | 2009-09-17 |
20090231418 | IMAGE PROCESSOR FOR ENDOSCOPE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD FOR ENDOSCOPE - An image processor for processing endoscopic images is provided with a first masking processor for masking a useless marginal area of each frame of the endoscopic image that is output from an endoscope, a PIP processor for resolution conversion and PIP processing of the endoscopic image frames after the masking, and a second masking processor for masking a composite image output from the PIP processor. The PIP processor may be configured using a commercially available general-purpose IC for video output. Although a border between an image display area and a masked area of the endoscopic image gets rough as a result of the resolution conversion to increase the resolution of the image, the second masking processor masks the rough-edged border so as to sharpen the border, so the rim around the image display area is sharp and clear as the endoscopic image is displayed on the screen. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231419 | Endoscope Assembly and Method of Performing a Medical Procedure - An endoscope assembly includes (1) an endoscope that includes a tubular body, a retrograde-viewing imaging device disposed at a distal end region of the tubular body, and a channel extending through the tubular body; and (2) an instrument extending through the channel of the endoscope and exits from a distal opening of the channel. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231420 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGE COMBINING METHOD OF IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - In an image pickup apparatus, an original image selecting unit selects an original image from picked-up images acquired by an image pickup unit; a process image selecting unit selects a process image from the picked-up images; and an image combining instructing unit issues an instruction to combine the process image with the original image; an eye detecting unit detects an eye area. Further, a combining position setting unit sets a combining position in the original image based on a position of the eye area; an image processing unit processes the process image; an image combining unit combines the processed process image with the original image in the combining position, and generates a composite image; and a composite image display control unit performs control such that the composite image is displayed on a display unit. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231421 | Image processing apparatus and image processing method - An image processing apparatus includes a first spectrum estimating unit for reading the image information from a storage unit and estimating a spectrum of an object based on the read image information; a dye amount estimating unit for estimating dye amounts included in the object using the estimated spectrum; a second spectrum estimating unit for synthesizing a first spectrum using the estimated dye amounts; a spectrum subtractor for calculating a difference spectrum by subtracting the first spectrum from the spectrum; a dye amount correcting unit for correcting at least a part of the estimated dye amounts; a third spectrum estimating unit for synthesizing a second spectrum using the corrected dye amount; a spectrum adder for synthesizing a third spectrum by adding the second spectrum and the difference spectrum; and an image synthesizer for synthesizing a display image from the third spectrum. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231422 | MICROSCOPE EXAMINATION APPARATUS - The invention provides a microscope examination apparatus including a light source; an illumination optical system configured to guide light from the light source to a specimen; an objective lens configured to collimate return light from the specimen, the objective lens being provided in such a manner as to be displaceable at least in a direction intersecting an optical axis of the objective lens; an image-forming lens configured to image the return light from the specimen, which is collimated by the objective lens; an optical detector configured to detect the return light imaged by the image-forming lens; a microscope main body including the image-forming lens and the optical detector; and an objective-lens driving mechanism configured to drive the objective lens in a direction correcting image blur due to a displacement of the specimen. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231423 | VIDEO RECORDING DEVICE FOR A WELDER'S HELMET - A weld recording system mounted in or on a welding helmet is provided. The weld recording system includes a camera assembly unit, a power supply unit, a processor, and removable memory. The weld recording system interfaces with lens control circuitry, an optical sensor, a welding power supply, and a helmet position sensor. Logic is provided for the triggering and recording of video and audio signals, which are eventually stored in a file for future reference. Transmission of signals from one or more welders to a monitoring station for eventual display is presented. An image processing algorithm is provided to combine multiple images with varied exposure times into a visual image of the weld and its surroundings. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231424 | System and method for monitoring semiconductor device manufacturing process - A hotspot searching apparatus manufactures a small number of chips or regions on a semiconductor wafer under respectively different manufacturing process conditions, compares SEM images of their external appearances to output a point having large differences as a narrow process window, that is, a process monitoring point that should be managed in mass production, the narrow process window having a narrow manufacturing process condition (exposure condition) in the manufacturing of the semiconductor wafer, and sets the point as a measurement point by a CD-SEM apparatus, such that it extracts and determines plural circuit pattern parts having a narrow manufacturing process margin as the process monitoring point in a short time and a process monitoring point monitoring performs shape inspection or shape length measurement in detail at high resolution. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231425 | CONTROLLER WITH AN INTEGRATED CAMERA AND METHODS FOR INTERFACING WITH AN INTERACTIVE APPLICATION - A method for determining a position of a controller in a three-dimensional space is disclosed. The method includes an operation to calibrate a computer program to identify a group of recognized fixed points from a plurality of fixed points within the three-dimensional space using a depth camera integrated with the controller. Another operation activates use of the controller and depth camera during interface with the application. During use of the controller, image and depth data within the three-dimensional space is captured with the depth camera of the controller. In another operation the image and depth data is analyzed to find one or more of the group of recognized fixed points. In one embodiment, the previous two operations are repeated and changes of position of the controller are determined based on a change in position of the found ones of the group of recognized fixed points. The method also includes an operation to trigger an input command based on the determined change in position of the controller, wherein the input command causes an action by the application. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231426 | IMAGE RECORDING REPRODUCING DEVICE - An image recording/reproducing device is provided which, when a removable recording unit is mounted, can continuously use the unit while keeping previously recorded images and can improve convenience. A recording device | 2009-09-17 |
20090231427 | Method and Apparatus to Facilitate Using a Camera As Pertains to a Self-Storage Facility - Dim lighting can be provided in a given area that is monitored by a camera. Though such lighting is not bright enough to ensure capturing an image that can in turn be used with assurance to, for example, recognize the visage of a person in this given area, this dim lighting is nevertheless sufficient to permit using the camera's captured images for motion detection purposes. Accordingly, images from this camera are processed to detect motion in the given area. In response to detecting such motion, these teachings then provide for automatically providing an increased level of lighting in the given area that is sufficient to permit capturing a clear and distinct image in the given area with this camera. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231428 | Surveillance apparatus and program - A surveillance apparatus capable of connecting via a communication network with a video recording device that records a video signal output from at least one surveillance camera and obtains surveillance camera trouble information pertaining to the surveillance camera detected by the video recording device. The surveillance apparatus comprises a timetable storage unit in which a timetable compiled based upon a monitoring target operating-hours schedule is stored, a trouble information judging unit that judges surveillance camera trouble information obtained during monitoring target operating hours to be valid and judges surveillance camera trouble information obtained at a time outside the monitoring target operating hours to be invalid based upon the timetable and a trouble information reporting unit that reports the surveillance camera trouble information having been judged to be valid. The structure allows the surveillance camera trouble information to be reported in an optimal manner. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231429 | INFORMING A DRIVER OR AN OWNER OF A VEHICLE OF VISIBLE PROBLEMS DETECTED BY OUTSIDE VIDEO SOURCES - A method, system and computer program product for informing a driver or an owner of a vehicle of visible problems detected by outside video sources. An on-board vehicle subsystem may receive a video image of a section of the vehicle (e.g., tail light of vehicle) from an outside video source (e.g., another vehicle, parking lot surveillance system). The received video image may be compared with stored video patterns of various sections of the vehicle. The on-board vehicle subsystem may identify a stored video pattern that substantially matches the received video image. The driver of the vehicle may be alerted to a problem (e.g., broken tail light) if the differences between the identified stored video pattern and the received video image amount to a problem. | 2009-09-17 |
20090231430 | Device for Capturing an Image of the External Area of a Vehicle by Means of a Camera - In a device for capturing an image of the external area of a vehicle by means of a camera ( | 2009-09-17 |
20090231431 | DISPLAYED VIEW MODIFICATION IN A VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE NETWORK - In V2V or other networks in which multiple video cameras can share video data, a user may elect to modify a primary view by electronically “removing” obstructing objects from the primary view. The user begins by identifying the objects to be electronically removed from the simulated view, either by designating the boundaries of the objects or by identifying classes of objects to be removed. Pel locations associated with obstructing objects are identified in the primary data set. Video data provided by cameras other than a primary video camera is analyzed to identify common features in the primary and secondary views and to identify pels that correspond with object-associated pels in the primary view. A merged data set, consisting of pel data from the primary data set and from at least one of the secondary data sets, provides the video data presented in the simulated view. | 2009-09-17 |