03rd week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 22 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090015541 | BACKLIGHT DRIVING METHOD OF LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE, BACKLIGHT DRIVING DEVICE, AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE - There is provided a method of driving a backlight of a liquid crystal display device capable of eliminating leakage of light from adjacently-placed light emitting blocks. A gray level and maximum gray level of an input video signal are inputted for every light-emitting block. An output average gray level is calculated and a lighting control signal corresponding to converted luminance is outputted. The drivers responding to the lighting control signal makes LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) emit light. An average gray level from an output from sensors is calculated. An average gray level, based on an average gray level and a light leakage rate, by taking light leakage into consideration. A gray level correcting signal is outputted in the light-emitting block based on the above output average gray level. An output average gray level is corrected in response to a gray level correcting signal. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015542 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE BACKLIGHTING OF A FLAT SCREEN - Electronic circuit designed to control the level of lighting produced by light diodes in a flat screen. The circuit uses a PDM modulator in order to generate a control signal (Vc) with a number of pulses by period that depends on the desired level of lighting. The advantage is to reduce the energy in the low frequencies. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015543 | Frame-shifted backlight-scaled display system and frame-shifted backlight scaling method - In a backlight scaling method and system, the pixel values of a first frame are counted to obtain a first histogram of this frame simultaneously when the first frame is inputted to the data driver ICs, and a first backlight luminance generated according to the first histogram is applied to the backlight driver for the backlight scaling for a second frame when the derived second frame is inputted to the data driver after the pixel values of the second frame is recalculated by the first backlight luminance. In the same way, when the derived second frame is inputted to the data driver, the original pixel values of the second frame are counted to obtain a second histogram of this frame and to generate a second backlight luminance for the third frame, and so on. Because the backlight luminance for each frame is generated according to the histogram of the previous frame, only small amount of pixel buffers for the processing is required. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015544 | Backlight modulation circuit and method thereof - An exemplary backlight modulation circuit ( | 2009-01-15 |
20090015545 | Imaging apparatus and operation method of the same - To provide a low-voltage-driven, low-power-consumption, electrophoretic imaging device and an operation method of the same. An electrophoretic imaging device includes an electrode in contact with an electrophoretic dispersion liquid in which particles are dispersed, and a holding electrode disposed on a side of the electrode opposed on a side thereof in contact with the electrophoretic dispersion liquid with an insulating layer interposed between the electrode and holding electrode. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015546 | Electro-optic display device - There is provided an electro-optic display device which can be used in a folder type or in a roll type. The electro-optic display device comprises a substrate including an electro-optic layer having charged color particles and including a gate line and a data line; a timing controller for generating a control signal according to a signal applied from an external unit; and a driving integrated circuit disposed on one side of the substrate, the driving integrated circuit having a gate driver and a data driver for receiving the control signal from the timing controller and for respectively driving the gate line and the data line. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015547 | Electronic Device with Physical Alert - An electronic device ( | 2009-01-15 |
20090015548 | Image projection system - Provided is an image projection system including a screen, an input terminal, an image processing unit, an image projector, and invisible light ray-shielding member, characterized in that: the screen has a pattern-printed sheet having reflection patterns for transmitting positional information by reflecting invisible light rays or absorption patterns for transmitting positional information by absorbing invisible light rays; the input terminal has an invisible light ray-applying portion, detects a reflected light ray of an invisible light ray, which is applied from the invisible light ray-applying portion and reflected from a specific site of the pattern-printed sheet, reads positional information of any one of the reflection patterns or any one of the absorption patterns, and outputs the positional information to the image processing unit; the image processing unit converts the positional information input from the input terminal into image information A, and transfers the image information A to the image projector; the image projector converts the image information A transferred from the image processing unit into visible light rays, and projects the visible light rays on the screen; and the invisible light ray-shielding means is placed in front of or inside the image projector, and removes the invisible light ray from the visible light rays to be projected. The present invention can provide the image projection system in which, even when a screen is large, the positional information of the screen can be simply input in a non-contact fashion with high accuracy, and image information converted from the input positional information can be further converted into visible light rays to be projected. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015549 | Accepting User Input - The invention is directed to an improvement in mechanisms and techniques for accepting user input. An apparatus for accepting a user input is described comprising a display, and a plate and a control knob positioned over the display. A portion of the display is visible through the plate, and a portion of the control knob is optically transparent such that information displayed by the display is visible through the control knob. In some examples, the control knob functions as both a rotary input and as a push button input. The control knob may function as a push button input through a transfer of force through the plate to a pressure sensing switch associated with the plate. The control knob may function as a rotary control through drive gears, belts, or interaction with a light emitter and detector. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015550 | Responsiveness Control System for Pointing Device Movement with Respect to a Graphical User Interface - Improved techniques that enable control of responsiveness to user movement of a pointing device with respect to a graphical user interface are disclosed. According to one embodiment, by controlling responsiveness, a friction effect can be imposed at predetermined regions of the graphical user interface. According to another embodiment, by controlling responsiveness, a gravitational effect can be imposed at predetermined regions of the graphical user interface. According to still another embodiment, by controlling responsiveness, frictional and gravitational effects can be imposed at predetermined regions of the graphical user interface. The responsiveness control, e.g., frictional effect and/or gravitational effect, can be used to enhance user interaction with the graphical user interface. For example, user controls, such as buttons, boxes, borders, boundaries, etc., can be more easily navigated and selected by users when the regions associated with such user controls are provided with modified responsiveness control (e.g., frictional effect and/or gravitational effect). | 2009-01-15 |
20090015551 | Integrated structure for directional wheel support and signal trigerring - The present invention includes a directional wheel which has a roller movable under a force. The roller has two sides forming a first and a second leaning portions that are held by a first and a second support structures. The first support structure and the second support structure have respectively a first moving end and a second moving end movable by the first leaning portion and the second leaning portion. A first contact and a second contact are provided respectively in the moving range of the first and second moving ends to connect the first and second moving ends to generate signals. The first and second leaning portions keep two sides of the direction wheel in a balanced manner in regular conditions. The directional wheel is movable under a force to synchronously move the first and second support structures in the direction of the force to generate a corresponding signal. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015552 | Operation system, pointing device for 3-dimensional operations, and operation method - An operation system used for operating a pointer on a display screen includes a first transmitting section, a first receiving section, a measuring section, and an outputting section. The first transmitting section transmits radio waves of a millimeter band. The first receiving section receives the radio waves transmitted from the first transmitting section, a distance between the first transmitting section and the first receiving section being changeable. The measuring section measures an amplitude of the radio waves received by the first receiving section. The outputting section outputs an operation signal for executing an operation of the pointer on the display screen in a depth direction in accordance with a change of the amplitude of the radio waves measured by the measuring section. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015553 | IMAGE DISPLAYING APPARATUS, IMAGE DISPLAYING METHOD, AND COMMAND INPUTTING METHOD - A disclosed image displaying apparatus comprises: a photographing unit configured to photograph an image on a screen; a projection image generating unit generating the image to be projected on the screen; an image extracting unit extracting identification information from the image photographed by the photographing unit, the identification information concerning object or figure information; an object recognizing unit recognizing attribute information from the identification information concerning the object information extracted by the image extracting unit; a figure recognizing unit recognizing characteristic information from the identification information concerning the figure information extracted by the image extracting unit; and an operation processing unit operating the projection image generating unit based on the attribute information and characteristic information. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015554 | SYSTEM, CONTROL MODULE, AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING A COMPUTER WITH OPTICAL TRACKING OF AN OPTICAL POINTER - A control module is used with a projector projecting an image frame having at least one icon from a computer onto a screen, and an optical pointer projecting an optical cursor onto the screen, and obtains a close-loop optical track of the optical cursor based on positions of the optical cursor in a series of images of the projected image frame and the optical cursor captured by an image capturing device, selects an image portion of one captured image based on the close-loop optical track of the optical cursor to serve as a standard sample image, compares the standard sample image with the image frame to determine an image block from the image frame most similar to the standard sample image, and generates a control signal based on the image block to control the computer to execute a command associated with at most one icon contained in the image block. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015555 | INPUT DEVICE, STORAGE MEDIUM, INFORMATION INPUT METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - An optical input device has a display screen, a portion of the display screen being shielded from light by an operating member to implement input processing based on a plurality of input modes. The input device includes an input detection unit including a display unit that displays predetermined input information, and a control unit. The input detection unit detects an area and/or brightness of a light-shielded portion formed on the display screen by the operating member by approaching the display unit. The control unit provides display control of the display unit and input control on the basis of the detected area and/or brightness. The control unit compares the detected area and/or brightness with a predetermined threshold value to select a desired input mode from among the plurality of input modes. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015556 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERACTING WITH AN APPLICATION - Disclosed is a system by which a user of a device may input data. The system provides a method for users to become familiar with standardized entry of data and interacting with a user interface. By restricting the keys used in the system to those universally found on typical mobile phones, users can more rapidly adapt to interacting with various function. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015557 | Responsiveness Control Method for Pointing Device Movement With Respect to a Graphical User Interface - Improved techniques that enable control of responsiveness to user movement of a pointing device with respect to a graphical user interface are disclosed. According to one embodiment, by controlling responsiveness, a friction effect can be imposed at predetermined regions of the graphical user interface. According to another embodiment, by controlling responsiveness, a gravitational effect can be imposed at predetermined regions of the graphical user interface. According to still another embodiment, by controlling responsiveness, frictional and gravitational effects can be imposed at predetermined regions of the graphical user interface. The responsiveness control, e.g., frictional effect and/or gravitational effect, can be used to enhance user interaction with the graphical user interface. For example, user controls, such as buttons, boxes, borders, boundaries, etc., can be more easily navigated and selected by users when the regions associated with such user controls are provided with modified responsiveness control (e.g., frictional effect and/or gravitational effect). | 2009-01-15 |
20090015558 | Mouse capable of detecting a pulse - A mouse capable of detecting a pulse includes: a) a housing having electronic elements therein for fulfilling the functions of the conventional mouse, an infrared pulse sensor being disposed at the internal side of the housing for detecting the change of a slight amount of blood within the blood vessel of a user's thumb that is caused by the pulsation such that the pulse signal of the user is available; b) a control switch disposed at the internal side of the housing for turning on or off the infrared pulse sensor; c) a noise canceling circuit and a filtering shaping amplifying circuit coupled to the pulse sensor; and d) a microprocessor adapted to calculate the number of the heartbeat according to the pulse signal inputted by the filtering shaping amplifying circuit, the heartbeat signal being transmittable from a signal output terminal to a signal input terminal of a computer. Accordingly, the heartbeat signal is then received by a central processing unit (CPU) of the computer so that the user's physiological state is displayable on a display. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015559 | INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL TRACKBALL OPERATION - Input devices and methods are provided in which a sensing system is adapted to detect motion of an object on a surface and a processing system is coupled to the sensing system. The processing system is adapted to effect movement of a display pointer on a display in a first direction in response to motion of the object on the surface and effect continued movement of the display pointer in the first direction in response to the object being removed from the surface. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015560 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A DISPLAY OF A DEVICE | 2009-01-15 |
20090015561 | Switch with a display capable of tree-type searching by a single unit - A switch with a display capable of tree-type searching by a single unit, which enables easy operation, cost reduction and space saving, is provided. The switch with a display capable of tree-type searching by a single unit comprises an operational button | 2009-01-15 |
20090015562 | DISPLAY SYSTEM - A touch-panel-integrated liquid crystal display device (display system) includes a liquid crystal display device, and a touch panel input device, provided on a liquid crystal panel of the liquid crystal display device, which has upper and lower electrodes (conductive thin plates) for detecting a position via which information is inputted from the outside. The display system includes a liquid crystal display device driving section for driving the liquid crystal display device and a noise canceling signal generator (signal application section) for applying, to the touch panel input device, a noise canceling signal having an amplitude and a phase that are equal to an amplitude and a phase of a driving signal applied from the liquid crystal display device driving section to the liquid crystal panel. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015563 | STYLIZED INTERACTIVE ICON FOR PORTABLE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - Disclosed is a portable mobile communications device having an integrated interactive touch sensitive graphical icon protective cover over an LCD display. The protective cover is integrated into the housing of the portable mobile communications device and forms a graphical image or icon that only partially obscures the LCD display allowing visual access to the unobscured portion of the LCD display. A touch sensitive layer is integrated into the protective cover and coupled with a processor that is further coupled with the LCD display. A program executable by the processor interprets touch and position data sensed by the touch sensitive layer and provides feedback or responses based thereon via the LCD display depending on a current mode of operation of the portable mobile communications device. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015564 | Touch Force Detecting Apparatus For Infrared Touch Screen - An apparatus for detecting touch force of an infrared touch screen comprises a plate glass, a sensor, an infrared transmit and receive array, a signal processing circuit, and a micro-controller for controlling the touch screen. Said sensor is a mechanical force sensor, and its signal output port is connected with a input port of the signal processing circuit. An output port of the signal processing circuit is connected with an I/O interface of the micro-controller for control the touch screen. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015565 | PORTABLE TERMINAL - Disclosed is a portable terminal including a window for inputting information by a touching manner, a terminal body having a display module which is mounted therein and a window mounting portion for mounting the window at a front surface of the display module, and a coupling unit having one end inserted into the window and another end coupled to the window mounting portion so as to couple the window to the terminal body. The window and the terminal body are structurally coupled to each other, thereby providing stronger coupling force between the window and the terminal body. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015566 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INITIATING ONE-DIMENSIONAL SIGNALS WITH A TWO-DIMENSIONAL POINTING DEVICE - Scrolling or other user interface functions are provided in response to two-dimensional inputs produced by a touchpad or other input device. The user initially touches the touch sensor in an area near a periphery of the touch sensor and moves his or her finger along the periphery of the device, and then provides a subsequent motion of the finger across the touch sensor in a direction that departs from the periphery. The amount of scrolling produced on the computing system may be determined as a function of a distance moved by the user's finger. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015567 | Digital Stand Alone Device For Processing Handwritten Input - A standalone real time device to process handwritten text for further applications. The system includes a means for making visible markings on writing surface, accompanied with a motion detector for detecting the handwritten text. It also comprises a microprocessor for storing appropriate data and commands, an enhanced memory to provide storage space for information and data, and a power supply. The system further includes a display to provide visual feedback of processed data. Also, it further includes an audio reproduction device to provide audio feedback; and further includes wired or wireless communication means to transmit data to targeted devices via a transmission link in real time. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015568 | Method and Apparatus for Implementing Slider Detents - Improved techniques that enable slider detents to be implemented are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes determining when a user interface control displayed on a display screen has been selected. The user interface control is moved at a speed that is imparted by a pointing device. The method also includes displaying a position indication on the display screen that represents current positions of the pointing device and the user interface control, and determining whether the current position is in a zone of slowed movement. A first set of information is provided to the pointing device when the current position is in the zone of slowed movement. The first set of information reduces the speed. A second set of information is provided to the pointing device when the current position is not in the zone of slowed movement. The second set of information maintains the speed. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015569 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a display that displays a normal operational screen and information other than the normal operational screen; a display controller that operates to switch what is displayed between a normal operational screen and information other than the normal operational screen and display the data on the display; and a driving unit that drives the display to change a placement state of the display between one state where a normal operational screen is displayed on the display and another state where information other than the normal operational screen is displayed on the display. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015570 | ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICE, DRIVING CIRCUIT, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - Pixels include liquid crystal capacitors and holding capacitors having first ends connected to pixel electrodes and second ends connected to common electrodes corresponding to the first to 320th rows. A common electrode driving circuit includes TFTs for individual rows. In a partial mode, when a period in which a level of a scanning signal is high is long, a control signal Vg-c is brought to a high level during the period so that the TFTs are turned on. Since gate voltages are applied to the TFTs, a problem in that the gate voltages are reduced due to voltage leakage and the common electrodes are brought into high-impedance states is avoided. Alternatively, potentials of the common electrodes are fixed to a voltage of a common signal, which is a low-level when positive-polarity writing is specified to all the rows and a high-level when negative-polarity writing is specified to all the rows. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015571 | ACTIVE MATRIX TYPE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF - During a first selection period, a second main conductive terminal of a drive transistor and a display element are isolated, and at the same time, a control terminal of the drive transistor and the second main conductive terminal and a signal line are connected, and the signal line is supplied with a constant current capable of conducting the drive transistor, and during a second selection period, a connection of the second main conductive terminal of the drive transistor and the signal line is broken, and the signal line is supplied with a signal current corresponding to a current injected to the display element, and during a non-selection period, the second main conductive terminal of the drive transistor and the display element are connected, and the drive current of the drive transistor corresponding to voltage between both terminals of a capacitive element is supplied to the display element. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015572 | Data driver for display device, test method and probe card for data driver - A data driver of a display device includes: a DAC (Digital Analog Converter) outputting a drive signal for driving a signal line of a displaying unit; an amplifier amplifying the drive signal outputted by the DAC and outputting the drive signal to the signal line; a repair amplifier having an input and an output, wherein the signal line is separated by a breakage point into a connected data line connected to the amplifier and a disconnected data line not connected to the amplifier, and the input of the repair amplifier is connected to the connected data line and the output of the repair amplifier is connected to the disconnected data line; and a switch supplying the drive signal to the input of the repair amplifier for testing the repair amplifier. An output delay test for the repair amplifier can be performed under a condition similar to that of the amplifier. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015573 | Plasma display apparatus and semiconductor device - A plasma display apparatus having a plurality of display cells for prolonging the luminous brightness lifetime in the single-sided drive mode has a first sustaining electrode, a second sustaining electrode connected to reference potential and cooperating with the first sustaining electrode to perform sustain discharge through a discharge space of a display cell, and an address electrode, an electrical capacitance set up between the second sustaining electrode and the discharge space is larger than that set up between the first sustaining electrode and the discharge space. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015574 | Liquid crystal displays, timing controllers and data mapping methods - In a liquid crystal display (LCD), a liquid crystal panel includes a plurality of subpixels. Source drivers drive source lines of the liquid crystal panel and gate drivers drive gate lines of the liquid crystal panel. A timing controller generates combination pixel data using current pixel data and previous pixel data, and supplies the generated combination pixel data to the source drivers. The previous pixel data is generated by delaying the current pixel data by a first time period. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015575 | Method for Controlling a Display Panel by Capacitive Coupling - A method comprising emission periods during which a predetermined emission voltage which presents a first polarity, is applied and sustained at the control terminal of at least one driver of said panel, and depolarization periods during which a predetermined depolarization voltage which presents a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity, is applied and sustained at the control terminal of at least one driver of said panel, the address signals of the circuits of said panel being transmitted by capacitive coupling of the address electrodes to the control terminals of these circuits. The invention makes it possible to use conventional and inexpensive means of controlling the address electrodes. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015576 | Flat display and method for driving the same - A method for driving a flat display having multiple pixels is provided. Firstly, whether a display mode of the flat display is a normal mode or an impulse-driving mode is determined according to a control signal. Next, the pixels are driven according to a data signal and a first set of reference voltages when the display mode is the normal mode, such that the relationship between the gray level and the light intensity of the pixels is a first gamma curve. Afterwards, the pixels are driven according to the data signal and a second set of reference voltages when the display mode is the impulse-driving mode, such that the relationship between the gray level and the light intensity of the pixels is a second gamma curve, and a second normalization curve is close to a first normalization curve. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015577 | Driving method of flat panel display apparatus - A driving method of a flat panel display apparatus of a line-sequential driving system in which the display apparatus has N first wirings extending in a first direction, M second wirings extending in a second direction different from the first direction, and image display portions formed in overlapped regions of the first wirings and the second wirings, and the first to Nth first wirings are sequentially selected. A predetermined voltage is applied to each of the M second wirings for a period of time until the first first wiring is selected after the Nth first wiring was selected. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015578 | LIGHT EMITTING DISPLAY DEVICES - An active matrix electroluminescent display device has power supply lines ( | 2009-01-15 |
20090015579 | MECHANICAL RELAXATION TRACKING AND RESPONDING IN A MEMS DRIVER - The invention comprises systems and methods for adjusting a driving voltage based on relaxation information of a movable reflective layer of an interferometric modulator. In one example, a device for driving a MEMS device having a movable reflective layer comprises a sensing unit configured to generate information related to one or more of time, environmental exposure, and frame rate of a movable reflective layer of at least one MEMS device, and a driver circuit configured to apply voltages to drive said at least one MEMS device, said voltages being based at least in part on said information. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015580 | User selectable run-time for display device and method of reducing power consumption for display device - A portable display device includes at least one power input port, a battery power supply, an image display region powered by one of the at least one power input port and the battery power supply, a control system for determining receipt of external power by the at least one power input port and for determining current capacity of the battery power supply, and a selection system for selecting a run-time period for displaying images within the image display region, wherein the control system provides a first control signal to the selection system for the selection system to provide a user with a maximum available run-time period based upon the determined receipt of the external power and the determined current capacity of the battery power supply. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015581 | IMAGE PROCESSOR, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM - To increase the number of object for which position, posture, and so forth are regularly updated even when a viewpoint position and a viewing direction are constantly changed in a virtual three-dimensional space, while keeping deterioration in smoothness of a display image unnoticeable. An image processor for producing and displaying a display image showing a picture obtained by viewing a virtual three-dimensional space where a viewpoint and a plurality of display target objects are disposed, from the view point, comprises an object selection unit ( | 2009-01-15 |
20090015582 | Short term residential spaces in a geo-spatial environment - A method, apparatus, and system of short term residential spaces in a geo-spatial environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a community network of user profiles, each profile associated with a specific geographic location, generating a first residential space identifier associated with a first user profile, and generating a first display view to include a three-dimensional map view embodied by the community network, the first residential space identifier, and the first user profile represented at a location in the three-dimensional map view associated with the specific geographic location of the first user profile. In addition, the method may also include simultaneously representing other user profiles adjacent to the first user profile in the three-dimensional map view. The method may also include simultaneously representing other user profiles adjacent to the first user profile of the user profiles in the three-dimensional map view. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015583 | DIGITAL MUSIC INPUT RENDERING FOR GRAPHICAL PRESENTATIONS - A graphical presentation is produced at a display of a host computer such that a scene description is rendered and updated by a received digital music input, wherein the digital music input is matched to trigger events of the scene description and actions of each matched trigger event are executed in accordance with action processes of the scene description, thereby updating the scene description with respect to objects depicted in the scene on which the actions are executed. The updated scene description is then rendered. The system provides a means for connecting a graphics API to a musical instrument digital interface (e.g., MIDI) data stream and producing a presentation. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015584 | Image processing program and image processing apparatus - Multilayer polygon data for constructing multilayer polygonal models and a height map including height data values, arranged in a two-dimensional array, each of which indicates the height of each position provided on a three-dimensional object to be drawn, are read from a storage device. Then, the height of a layer of the multilayer polygonal models is compared to the height data value of a position provided on the height map, so as to determine a visible region provided on the layer of the multilayer polygonal models. And then, the visible region which is determined as described above and provided on the layer of the multilayer polygonal models is drawn in a predetermined color. Thus, it is possible to easily draw, in three-dimensional image processing, a three-dimensional object, such as an accumulation of snow, soil, sand, or bricks, positioned in the virtual space, regardless of the shape of the object. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015585 | RASTER IMAGE DATA ASSOCIATION WITH A THREE DIMENSIONAL MODEL - A method and system for associating a raster image data with a three dimensional model includes taking raster image data associated with an environment, selecting a three dimensional rendering model, and associating the raster image data with the three dimensional rendering model, so that the three dimensional rendering model can use the raster image data as an object within the three dimensional rendering model. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015586 | Method and system for modeling variable-node finite elements and application to nonmatching meshes - The present invention relates to a method and system for modeling non-matching finite element meshes using variable-node finite elements in the finite element method. More specifically, a method and recording medium for modeling a variable-node finite element for application to non-matching meshes using the finite element method performed via a computer and using the existing four-node linear quadrangular element, eight-node secondary quadrangular element, nine-node secondary quadrangular element, and eight-node hexahedral element, wherein the finite element analysis method includes: a first step of confirming the number of nodes added to boundary surfaces of the non-matching meshes; a second step of dividing the boundary surfaces of the non-matching meshes into partial boundary surfaces divided by means of the added nodes; a third step of dividing the non-matching meshes into partial regions based on the partial boundary surfaces divided in the second step; a fourth step of performing a point interpolation based on the nodes affecting each partial region divided in the third step; and a fifth step of integrating each of the partial regions through numerical integration. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015587 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - A transmitter/receiver transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a desired region of a subject via an ultrasonic probe. A signal processor obtains a plurality of physical quantities from signals outputted by the transmitter/receiver having received ultrasonic echoes from the subject. A voxel-value generator generates a voxel value containing the plurality of physical quantities. An image generator generates a three-dimensional image by using the plurality of physical quantities including any of the rate, power value or dispersion of a blood flow contained in the voxel value and sequentially executing a rendering process on each voxel. A display controller controls a display to display the generated three-dimensional image. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015588 | IMAGE CREATING DEVICE, LIGHT ARRANGING METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND PROGRAM - A lighting model storage unit ( | 2009-01-15 |
20090015589 | Store Misaligned Vector with Permute - Embodiments of the invention provide logic within the store data path between a processor and a memory array. The logic may be configured to misalign vector data as it is stored to memory. By misaligning vector data as it is stored to memory, memory bandwidth may be maximized while processing bandwidth required to store vector data misaligned is minimized. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention provide logic within the load data path which allows vector data which is stored misaligned to be aligned as it is loaded into a vector register. By aligning misaligned vector data as it is loaded into a vector register, memory bandwidth may be maximized while processing bandwidth required to align misaligned vector data may be minimized. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015590 | DATA PROCESSOR AND GRAPHIC DATA PROCESSING DEVICE - An object of the present invention is to improve efficiency of transfer of control information, graphic data, and the like for drawing and display control in a graphic data processor. A graphic data processor includes: a CPU; a first bus coupled to the CPU; a DMAC for controlling a data transfer using the first bus; a bus bridge circuit for transmitting/receiving data to/from the first bus; a three-dimensional graphics module for receiving a command from the CPU via the first bus and performing a three-dimensional graphic process; a second bus coupled to the bus bridge circuit and a plurality of first circuit modules; a third bus coupled to the bus bridge circuit and second circuit modules; and a memory interface circuit coupled to the first and second buses and the three-dimensional graphic module and connectable to an external memory, wherein the bus bridge circuit can control a direct memory access transfer between an external circuit and the second bus. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015591 | IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS, IMAGE GENERATING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - There is provided with an image generating apparatus, including a storage having first and second buffers, a write buffer selecting unit selecting a buffer for each of areas to be written, a writing unit, a read buffer selecting unit selecting a buffer for each area of one frame to be readout, a reading unit read outing at regular intervals an image from each area. The write buffer selecting unit selects an other buffer than a buffer read out in a frame reading period for each area to be written in the period. The read buffer selecting unit selects in the period a buffer to which the writing was performed in an immediately preceding reading period for an area for which writing was performed in the preceding period, and a same buffer as a buffer readout in the preceding period for an area for which the writing was not performed. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015592 | DISPLAY WITH EFFICIENT MEMORY USAGE - A device is capable of displaying an image. The device includes a memory having a first memory portion for receiving a set of image data. A display has a viewport for displaying the set of image data in an image that fits within and fills the viewport. A processor is programmed for executing computer program instructions for receiving a zoom factor selected by a user; applying a zoom transformation to a first subset of the image data corresponding to points in a first region of the image that are displayed within the viewport after magnifying the first region based on the zoom factor; and displaying the zoom transformed first subset of the image data so as to fill the viewport, while a second subset of the image data representing points outside the first region have not been transformed. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015593 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CHANGING COLOR - Provided are a method and an apparatus for automatically changing a color of a user interface of an image displaying apparatus, and a computer readable recording medium storing a program for executing the method. The method of automatically changing the color includes: analyzing a color distribution of a predetermined image; determining a representative color based on the analyzed color distribution; and setting a color of a predetermined region in an apparatus displaying the image as the representative color. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015594 | AUDIO SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE SAME - A sound signal processing apparatus includes: an obtaining unit which obtains a sound signal discriminated for each frequency band; a color assignment unit which assigns color data, different for each frequency band, to the obtained sound signal; a luminance change unit which generates data including a changed luminance of the color data, base on a level for each frequency band of the sound signal; a color mixing unit which generates data obtained by totalizing data generated by the luminance change unit in all the frequency bands; and a display image generating unit which generates image data for display on an image display device from data generated by the color mixing unit. Because of mixing the data for each frequency band and displaying the data as the single image, the sound signal processing apparatus can display the frequency characteristics of plural channels with using the image of small number. Thereby, the user can easily understand the characteristics of plural channels based on the displayed image. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015595 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING DIGITAL MAP INFORMATION USING DISPLAYABLE MAP INFORMATION AS AN INTERMEDIARY - A system and method for converting digital map information using displayable map information as an intermediary. An embodiment of the present invention is generally related to systems for accessing, displaying, editing and using digital maps. The system can receive data into the viewer application in a first map format and then provide or output that data in a second map format. Different map formats can be interpreted and/or optionally displayed in a universal display format. Depending on the particular embodiment the universal display format can include item coordinates, or higher level descriptions of geometry and topology in the map. In accordance with an embodiment, a map format legend associated with a particular map format can then be used to interpret the universal display format, and output the data into that map format. A plurality of different map legends can be used to allow different map formats to be output. In this manner the system allows for easy and universal converting of map formats. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015596 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIEWING AND EDITING DIGITAL MAPS USING A PLUG-IN DATA ABSTRACTION LAYER FOR DIFFERENT DIGITAL MAP FORMATS - A system and method for viewing and editing digital maps using a plugin data abstraction layer for different digital map formats. An embodiment of the present invention is generally related to systems for accessing, displaying, editing and using digital maps. The system includes a viewer application together with a data abstraction layer and a plurality of different data abstraction interfaces. The data abstraction layer can be used to allow different map formats to be parsed and viewed. This allows the system to receive data in any of a variety of different input map formats. The map can then be edited, viewed, displayed on a display screen, or output. The map can also be used to create or display a map in a universal display format that is independent of the original format. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015597 | REORIENTING DISPLAY ON PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE - An electronic system includes an electronic display device and a communication port. Each display mode corresponds to a particular position of the communication port relative to a line of sight of a user. In one embodiment, the communication port is an infrared communication port. Each display mode corresponds to a particular display orientation. The electronic display device displays visual data in the particular display orientation corresponding to the display mode of the electronic system. In one embodiment, the electronic system is a palmtop computer system such as a personal digital assistant. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015598 | Technique for Determining a Minimum Size of Presentation Data - A presentation authoring tool is used to create presentation data for later projection, to determine a recommended font size for the created presentation data displayed on a display screen of a computer executing the presentation authoring tool. The user interface presents a display screen for receiving input of an expected viewing distance for the later projection of the presentation. The recommended font is determined based upon the expected viewing distance of the later projection having a projected font size viewable by a person, having a certain vision capability, at the expected viewing distance. The expected viewing distance may be a maximum viewing distance or a room depth of a room in which the later projection takes place. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015599 | DRAGGABLE MECHANISM FOR IDENTIFYING AND COMMUNICATING THE STATE OF AN APPLICATION - In a method and system for identifying and communicating a state of an application, a namespace is defined for a draggable mechanism. The draggable mechanism is located within an application window housing an application. Metadata identifying application state information is appended to a URL embedded within the draggable mechanism to reflect a first application state of the application. The metadata identifying the application state information is updated at a predetermined interval to reflect new application states. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015600 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD - An image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a moving unit configured to move a display position of an image displayed on a display screen; a setting unit configured to set a compressed image display area in the image; and a compression unit configured to, when a nondisplay area that is not displayed on the display screen is created in the image by the moving unit, compress the nondisplay area so that the nondisplay area fits within the compressed image display area and is displayed on the display screen. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015601 | Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof - Provided is an LCD device. The LCD device includes: an input unit, a backlight unit, a histogram analyzing unit, a data correcting unit, a liquid crystal panel driving unit, a duty ratio determining unit, and a lamp driving unit. The input unit inputs data corresponding to an image displayed on a liquid crystal panel, and the backlight unit includes a plurality of lamps. The histogram analyzing unit analyzes a histogram of data input from the input unit to generate a select signal according to a brightness state of the data. The data correcting unit corrects pixel data to be supplied to the liquid crystal panel using at least one of a plurality of gamma compensating characteristic curves. The liquid crystal panel driving unit drives the liquid crystal panel. The duty ratio determining unit generates a plurality of lamp-on signals. The lamp driving unit generates a lamp driving voltage corresponding to the lamp-on signal. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015602 | Contrast Ratio Enhancement System Using Asymmetrically Delayed Illumination Control - The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method that enhance contrast ratio of a display device using asymmetrically delayed illumination signal control. An exemplary embodiment comprises determining a pixel brightness level for a video frame, and delaying application of the illumination signal based on a change of the pixel brightness level. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015603 | Display device driving circuit of which power consumption is reduced, control method thereof, and display device using the same - A display device driving circuit includes: a grayscale signal output circuit, grayscale signal lines, a grayscale voltage output circuit, grayscale voltage lines, a digital-analog conversion circuit, a first to third switches. The grayscale signal output circuit outputs complementary signals as a digital grayscale signal. The grayscale signal lines receive the complementary signals. The grayscale voltage output circuit outputs analog grayscale voltages. The grayscale voltage lines receive the analog grayscale voltages. The digital-analog conversion circuit selects and outputs one of the analog grayscale voltages in response to the complementary signals. The first switch shuts off a first connection path between the grayscale signal output circuit and the digital-analog conversion circuit. The second switch shuts off a second connection path between the grayscale voltage output circuit and the digital-analog conversion circuit. The third switch connects a third connection path between one of a pair of the grayscale signal lines to the other. The pair transfers a pair of the complementary signals. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015604 | DISPLAY DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME - According to the invention, a compact and inexpensive with low power consumption memory and low access speed can be used for a panel controller and a deterioration compensation circuit of a display device. In a display device of a digital gray scale method, a plurality of pixels of a display panel are divided into first to n-th pixel regions (n is 2 or more) and a format converter portion of a panel controller converts the format of only video data corresponding to one of first to n-th pixel regions and writes the data to one of first and second video memories in each frame period. A display control portion reads out video data that is converted in format and corresponds to one of first to n-th pixel regions in which video data is written to the other of the first and second video memories in the preceding frame period, and transmits the data to the display panel. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015605 | MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE HAVING MEDIA FORCED PRINTHEAD CAPPER - A mobile telecommunications device is provided which has a printhead, a print media feed path for directing print media past the printhead, a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which it is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, and a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper such that a force provided by an edge of the media as it moves on the feed path is transferred to the capper to commence movement of the capper from the capped to the uncapped position prior to the media reaching the capper. In the uncapped position, the capper is displaced away from the printhead and is held in the uncapped position by the media such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015606 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM FOR DETECTING POSITION OF RECORDING PORTION - A recording apparatus is provided. The recording component includes a plurality of recording portions arranged in a first direction and moves relatively to a recording medium at a speed V in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The reading component reads an image recorded on the recording medium in a reading cycle T by a plurality of reading sections arranged at a predetermined pitch in the first direction. The control component controls, on the recording medium by the recording component, recordation of a detection mark having a size W in the first direction of twice or more than twice the predetermined pitch and a size L in the second direction in which L≧(n+1)·V·T (where n is an integer of 1 or more) and calculate a barycenter position of the detection mark in the first direction based on a reading result of the detection mark. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015607 | Method and Apparatus for Spoofing Imaging Devices - Techniques for spoofing an imaging device adapted for reading data from an electrical storage device to determine a volume of ink in an ink container include providing a replacement electrical storage device for use with the ink container, the replacement electrical storage device comprising memory locations; and responding, by the replacement electrical storage device, to reads of memory locations of the replacement electrical storage device by returning data to the imaging device which causes the imaging device to calculate an inaccurate initial volume of ink stored in the ink container. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015608 | INKJET IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Auxiliary nozzles to be used as substitutes for main nozzles formed near an ink feedhole in a print head. The main nozzles are used to perform printing when such nozzles are not defective. When a main nozzle has become defective and cannot normally jet ink, a corresponding spare nozzle is used to perform printing in place of the main nozzle. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015609 | INKJET IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An inkjet image forming apparatus includes an ink detection unit including a light-receiving unit and a light-emitting unit facing each other. The ink detection unit is located under a printer head including several nozzles discharging the ink. The controller transmits an enable signal to the ink detection unit, so that the ink is detected by the enable signal while ink droplets enter and pass the optical signal. The ink detection unit alternately performs a first operation to detect the ink by the enable signal and a second operation to non-detect the ink. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015610 | PRINTING APPARATUS, PRINTING SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME SYSTEM - The optimal number of print passes and a head-to-platen distance are set according to a content of an image to be printed and the user's request (emphasis is put on quality or speed, etc.) to thereby appropriately meet the needs for higher image quality and higher productivity and to perform printing with high reliability. To this end, it is made possible to select whether to execute processing for issuing an instruction to set the number of print passes and the head-to-platen distance according to discrimination of the content of the image. When the execution of the processing is selected, the number of print passes and the head-to-platen distance are appropriately set according to the content of the image (duty, etc.). Meanwhile, when it is not selected, the image is printed by one-pass print with the head-to-platen distance set larger, regardless of the content of the image. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015611 | INK JET PRINTING SYSTEM AND INK JET PRINTING METHOD - An image data signal value conversion is performed such that the volume of ink applied to image areas on a print medium to be printed by the overlapping portions of the printing element substrates is smaller than that applied to image areas on the print medium to be printed by other than the overlapping portions. Alternatively, the image data signal value conversion is performed such that the volume of ink applied to overlapping areas on the print medium to be printed by two consecutive printing main scans is smaller than that applied to other than the overlapping areas. For this reason, even when forming photographic images by using an elongate “joining head”, high-quality images with no density unevenness between overlapping areas and other areas on a print medium can be produced. Also in a serial type printing apparatus, uniform images with no seam stripes can be produced. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015612 | INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS AND INK JET PRINTING METHOD - The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method which are based on the multi-pass printing method using a print head having a plurality of nozzle rows and which enables a reduction in the number of nozzles to be simultaneously driven, allowing ink to be stably ejected. On the basis of the multi-pass printing method of dividing print data into a plurality of pieces by using mask patterns, the mask patterns are offset according to the positional relationship between the plurality of nozzle rows in the print head. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015613 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR PROVIDING DOT DATA TO A PRINTHEAD - Provided is a printer controller for providing dot data to a printhead. The controller is configured to modulate a peak power requirement of the printhead which includes a plurality of first nozzles and second nozzles supplied with a same colored ink. The nozzles are arranged in a plurality of sets, wherein each set of nozzles comprises one first nozzle and one corresponding second nozzle, each nozzle in a set being configurable to print a dot of ink onto a similar position on a print medium. The controller is configured to alternately select a first firing nozzle and a second firing nozzle from at least one set of nozzles, and to print dots onto the print medium using the selected firing nozzles. One set of nozzles is configured to print a column of same-colored dots down the print medium with each nozzle in the set contributing dots to the column. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015614 | INK JET PRINT HEAD, INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INK JET PRINT HEAD - The present invention is able to print high-grade images by reducing the adverse effect of misdirection of ink in the joining portion between adjacent nozzle lines. To achieve this, an ink jet print head includes a plurality of chips in each of which adjacent nozzle lines are formed. The relative positions of the chips are set depending on the amounts of misdirection of ink ejected from overlapping nozzles in the joining portion. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015615 | Liquid ejection control apparatus, liquid ejection control method and liquid ejection apparatus - A liquid ejection control apparatus which controls a liquid ejection mechanism having a plurality of nozzle groups made up of a plurality of nozzles, comprising: a correction data acquisition unit which acquires correction data for each nozzle group; an image data separation unit which inputs image data comprising a plurality of pixels and separates the image data into respective split image data, each comprising pixels which are to be formed for liquid ejection by the respective nozzle groups; a split image data correction unit which corrects the respective split image data, on the basis of the correction data for the nozzle groups to which the split image data respectively correspond; and an ejection execution control unit which executes liquid ejection by driving the respective corresponding nozzle groups, on the basis of the corrected split image data. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015616 | Liquid ejection control apparatus, liquid ejection control method and liquid ejection apparatus - A liquid ejection control apparatus which controls a liquid ejection mechanism having a plurality of nozzle groups made up of a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid, comprising: a usage ratio determination unit which determines a usage ratio between the plurality of nozzle groups when performing liquid ejection; a correction data generation unit which generates correction data corresponding to the determined usage ratio, by using respective correction data for correcting density of liquid ejection results corresponding respectively to a plurality of usage ratios between the nozzle groups; an image data correction unit which corrects prescribed image data on the basis of the generated correction data; and an ejection execution control unit which executes liquid ejection by driving the respective nozzle groups on the basis of the corrected image data and the determined usage ratio. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015617 | INKJET RECORDING DEVICE - An inkjet recording device having a line type recording head detects the conveyance speed of a recording medium (S | 2009-01-15 |
20090015618 | INKJET IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD TO CONTROL THE SAME - An inkjet image forming apparatus includes a negative pressure controller in an ink supply flow path that connects an ink storage and a print head. The negative pressure controller includes a valve to open and close the flow path to control a negative pressure applied to the print head. If there is a need to cool the ink heated by a maintenance operation performed on the print head or to cool the ink heated by a print job, a controller in the apparatus controls the valve of the negative pressure controller to release the negative pressure applied to the print head so that the print head is filled with low-temperature ink from the ink storage. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015619 | INK SUPPLY DEVICE AND INKJET IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An ink supply device to maintain temperature uniformity of ink via active heating and cooling of the ink, and an inkjet image forming apparatus having the same includes at least one thermoelectric element to adjust a temperature of ink to be supplied to an inkjet head. With heating and cooling of the thermoelectric element, preventing deterioration in image quality caused by a change of ink temperature and to achieve improved print quality is possible. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015620 | Printhead Auto-Alignment Detection System That Uses A Printed Printhead Alignment Pattern Containing Fluorescing Material - A printhead auto-alignment detection system includes a UV LED configured and positioned to transmit light in ultraviolet wavelengths onto a printed printhead alignment pattern formed using an aqueous ink having a UV fluorescing material. A sensor is configured and positioned to detect light in visible wavelengths emitted by the fluorescing material. A controller is communicatively coupled to the UV LED and the sensor. The controller is configured to execute program instructions for controlling the output of the UV LED and for reading a signal output of the sensor during a printhead alignment operation. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015621 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEFECTIVE NOZZLE DETECTION METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a water-repellent transfer belt, a pattern formation controller, a read unit, and a detection unit. The recording head has a plurality of nozzles aligned in a given direction, and ejects droplets of a liquid therefrom. The pattern formation controller directs each of the plurality of nozzles to eject the liquid to form a detection pattern on the transfer belt. The detection pattern has multiple droplets ejected from each of the plurality of nozzles sequentially arranged and spaced apart from each other both in the given direction and in a direction orthogonal to the given direction. The read unit includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and reads the detection pattern to output a read result. The detection unit detects a defective nozzle according to the read result. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015622 | Liquid property detection device, liquid container, image forming device, and liquid property detection method - A liquid property detection device includes: an electromotive force obtaining unit that obtains an electromotive force which is generated between two electrodes in a liquid container, the two electrodes formed by metals having respectively different ionization tendencies, and the liquid container containing a liquid so that the liquid is in contact with the two electrodes; a storage unit that stores a table showing correspondence between a property of the liquid contained in the liquid container and the electromotive force; a property determination unit that determines the property of the liquid contained in the liquid container on the basis of the electromotive force obtained by the electromotive force obtaining unit and the table stored in the storage unit; and an output unit that outputs information corresponding to the property determined by the property determination unit. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015623 | Liquid discharge apparatus, method for controlling the same, and program for controlling the same - Disclosed is a liquid discharge apparatus that allows a discharge head to discharge liquid to a predetermined object. The apparatus includes the following elements. A plurality of discharge heads are detachable independently. A head switching circuit switches a target discharge head to another target discharge head among the discharge heads in a set switching order to allow the target discharge head to discharge liquid. A monitoring circuit monitors liquid discharge conditions of the respective discharge heads. The liquid discharge conditions of each discharge head include the frequency of use of the discharge head and the presence or absence of a failure in the discharge head. A life determining circuit determines the life of each discharge head on the basis of the result of monitoring by the monitoring circuit. A target head setting circuit sets each of the discharge heads having a remaining life to the target discharge head and sets the switching order so that the frequencies of use of the target discharge heads are imbalanced. A notifying circuit provides a notification for urging replacement of the discharge head whose remaining life is lower than a predetermined value. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015624 | INK-JET IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an ink-jet head having a plurality of head chips arranged in a width direction of a printing medium while forming a row, a conveyer unit to extend to correspond to the ink-jet head below the ink-jet head, and a cleaning device which is movably installed on the conveyer unit to sequentially clean the head chips while moving along the conveyer unit. The cleaning device can clean a ling printing-type image forming apparatus while moving along the conveyer unit. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015625 | Printing Apparatus And Cleaning Mechanism Thereof - The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a cleaning mechanism thereof. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015626 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CLEANING LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD IN LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes two liquid discharge heads and a suction unit. Each of the two liquid discharge heads has a nozzle face on which at least one nozzle opening for discharging liquid is formed. The two liquid discharge heads are located so that the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads face each other. The suction unit is placed between the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads. The suction unit draws liquid on the nozzle faces between which the suction unit is placed. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015627 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND CAPPING METHOD IN LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting heads that ejects a liquid onto a target, a transport unit that transports the target, cap units that include caps which are provided opposite to the liquid ejecting heads with a transport path of the target interposed therebetween, and cover units that include cover members. The cap units are movable between a capping position where the caps come into contact with the liquid ejecting heads and a retreated position where the caps are separated from the liquid ejecting heads. The cover units are driven to move the cover members in association with the transport unit such that the cover members are disposed at a closing position where the caps are covered by the cover members when the target is being transported and the cover members are disposed at an opening position that does not cover the caps during a capping operation. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015628 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - An inkjet recording apparatus that enables a cap and a recording head stuck together to be easily separated is provided. The inkjet recording apparatus has a rotatably supported cap holder retaining a cap for covering ejection orifices in a recording head, and an actuator that moves the cap holder to bring the cap into contact with and away from the recording head. A first contact portion configured to seal an ejection orifice row and a second contact portion connected to the outer surface of the first contact portion and configured to be pressed against the ejection orifice surface are provided on a surface of the cap to be brought into contact with the ejection orifice surface. The actuator acts on the cap holder at a position to the second contact portion side of the rotational axis of the cap holder. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015629 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH CAPPEDPRINTHEAD MODULES - A printhead assembly includes an elongate carrier. A plurality of printhead modules is serially positioned on the carrier. Each printhead module includes an ink supply arrangement mounted on the carrier and a printhead chip mounted on the ink supply arrangement to be fed with ink from the ink supply arrangement. A plurality of capping devices is mounted on the carrier. Each capping device is displaceable with respect to the carrier between an operative position in which the capping device caps the printhead chip and an inoperative position in which the printhead chip is uncapped. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015630 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF WIPING LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD IN LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes two liquid discharge heads, a wiper unit, and an actuating mechanism. Each of the two liquid discharge heads has a nozzle face on which at least one nozzle opening for discharging liquid is formed. The two liquid discharge heads are located so that the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads face each other. The wiper unit is pressed against each of the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads at a position at which the wiper unit is placed between the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads. The actuating mechanism reciprocally moves the wiper unit relatively along the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015631 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH PROGRESSIVELY ENGAGING MAINTENANCE PAD AND PRINTHEAD - A printhead assembly is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead assembly includes a printhead having an ink ejection face defining a plurality of nozzle openings from which ink can be ejected. A maintenance station is operatively mounted to the printhead. The maintenance station includes a pad having a contact surface that can be brought into contact with the ink ejection face, and an engagement mechanism configured to progressively engage the contact surface with the ink ejection face. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015632 | WASTE LIQUID CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A waste liquid container for storing a waste liquid discharged from an image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a first container having a single waste liquid inlet into which the waste liquid enters and a second container communicating with the first container. The first and second containers are detachably attached to each other. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015633 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An images forming apparatus including a head part with an ejection port configured to eject ink, a discarded-ink tank configured to collect ejected or absorbed ink in order to restore a function of the ejection port, and a sensing device configured to sense the discarded ink collected in the discarded-ink tank, the sensing device including an absorber configured to absorb the ink and an optical sensor configured to sense the light received from the absorber is disclosed, wherein the apparatus uses ink having a characteristic such that the discarded ink is accumulated in a mountain-like shape in the discarded-ink tank, and the absorber is arranged at the location, at which discarded ink can be absorbed when a mountain top of the discarded ink accumulated in a mountain-like shape reaches a predetermined height so that the discarded ink flows along a slope of the discarded ink accumulated in a mountain-like shape to the absorber. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015634 | MODULAR INK JET PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH OBLIQUELY OVERLAPPING PRINTHEADS - A modular printhead assembly includes an elongate chassis. A plurality of elongate printhead modules is serially arranged along and engaged with the chassis. Each end of each printhead module is shaped so that each adjacent pair of printhead modules forms a complementary fit. Each printhead module includes an elongate printhead configured to eject ink. Each printhead is oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chassis. Each adjacent pair of printheads overlaps to enable continuous printing along the axis. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015635 | INK JET RECORDING METHOD - A method for discharging liquid from a recording head including a first discharge port configured to discharge a liquid, a second discharge port configured to discharge a liquid, an amount of which is smaller than an amount of the liquid discharged from the first discharge port, and a substrate including a first heating element corresponding to the first discharge port, a second heating element corresponding to the second discharge port and the liquid supply port, wherein a distance between the liquid supply port and the second heating element is longer than a distance between the liquid supply port and the first heating element, and wherein discharge of the liquid from the first discharge port is performed by a discharge method in which a bubble formed by the first heating element communicates with atmosphere and an amount of the liquid discharged from the second discharge port is less than 2 pico liters. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015636 | INKJET NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT WITH A STACKED CAPACITIVE ACTUATOR - An inkjet nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer includes a wafer substrate. A layer of drive circuitry is deposited on the wafer substrate, and subsequent etchant layers are deposited on the drive circuitry to define a nozzle chamber with walls and a roof structure defining an ink ejection port. The arrangement also includes a stacked capacitive actuator arranged in said chamber, said actuator having alternative electrode plates sandwiched between a compressible polymer, wherein activation of the stacked actuator draws the electrode plates together to compress the polymer storing energy therein, with subsequent de-activation releasing said energy to eject ink from the ejection port. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015637 | INKJET NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT HAVING A NOZZLE RIM TO FACILITATE INK DROP MISDIRECTION - Provided is an inkjet nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The arrangement includes a wafer substrate defining sidewalls and a roof portion to form an ink chamber, the roof portion further defining a nozzle aperture, as well as a heater element suspended inside the ink chamber for thermal expansion and subsequent ejection of ink from the chamber via the nozzle aperture. The arrangement also includes a nozzle rim defined about the aperture on the roof portion, said rim having an inner and an outer lip to facilitate ink drop misdirection during ink ejection to minimise cavitation corrosion of the heater element. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015638 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD - To achieve high-quality printing by controlling an ink-traveling direction by an electrostatic force so that the ink can be accurately applied on a printing medium, the ink ejected to areas outside edges of the printing medium is prevented from being attracted to the end portions in margin-less printing. This configuration includes: a platen, made of a conductive material, positioned immediately below the printing medium; an absorber positioned at a side of the edge; and a mesh conductive member disposed on the absorber. A first voltage is applied to the platen, causing polarization in the printing medium, and a second voltage higher than the first voltage is applied to the conductive member. Thereby, ink ejected outside the edges in the margin-less printing, travels straight-forwardly toward the conductive member without being attracted to the end portions, and is absorbed into the absorber via the conductive member. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015639 | INK JET RECORDING HEAD - An ink jet recording head includes ejection resistors for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink; warming resistors for generating thermal energy for heating the ink; ejection outlets, provided correspondingly to the ejection resistors, for ejecting the ink; and a recording element substrate provided with ink flow paths provided correspondingly to and for supplying the ink to the ejection outlets, the ejection resistors, the warming resistors, a first ejection outlet array portion including the ejection outlets, and a second ejection outlet array portion including the ejection outlets. An amount of one ink droplet to be ejected from an ejection outlet of the first ejection outlet array portion is different from that from an ejection outlet of the second ejection outlet array portion. The warming resistors are formed above the recording element substrate through the ejection resistors and an insulating layer with respect to a lamination direction of the recording element substrate and are disposed between the ejection resistors and the ink flow paths. The warming resistors include a first warming resistor disposed at the first ejection outlet array portion with a larger ejection amount and a second warming heat generating resistor disposed at the second ejection outlet array portion with a smaller ejection amount. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015640 | INKJET HEAD AND INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - An inkjet head includes a nozzle to discharge liquid droplets, a pressure chamber which is configured to communicate with the nozzle and filled with liquid, a supply section which is configured to communicate with the pressure chamber and supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber, a recovery section which is configured to communicate with the pressure chamber and recovers the liquid from the pressure chamber, a bypass channel which is independent of the pressure chamber and connects the supply section with the recovery section, a pressure-control liquid chamber which is connected at one end to the bypass channel and connected at the other end to the atmosphere, and a porous member which is contained inside the pressure-control liquid chamber. | 2009-01-15 |