Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Yasuhiko Saka

Kenichi Takekawa

Kunio Hasegawa

Takahiro Ito

Takuma Nakamura

Mitsuo Hasebe

Shigeru Mita

Kohsuke Tsunashima

Abnormality diagnosing method in which a highly reliable abnormality diagnosis of an image forming apparatus can be initiated immediately following the delivery of the image forming apparatus to a user.

Abnormality diagnosing method, condition appraisal apparatus, image forming apparatus, management apparatus and management system

A coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus in which a designating device for designating a position in a flat or substantially flat two-dimensional coordinate inputting/detecting area of the coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus is judged as located in a predetermined range of the coordinate inputting/detecting area when an optical detection signal of an optical unit, that optically detects the designating device inserted into the predetermined range of the coordinate inputting/detecting area, exceeds a first predetermined threshold value. Whether or not the designating device has been inserted into the predetermined range of the coordinate inputting/detecting area is judged and coordinates of the position in the coordinate inputting/detecting area, designated by the designating device inserted in the predetermined range of the coordinate inputting/detecting area, are recognized in accordance with the optical detection signal of the optical unit. A second threshold value is used in recognizing the coordinates of the position in the coordinate inputting/detecting area, designated by the designating device inserted in the predetermined range of the coordinate inputting/detecting area. The second threshold value is set to be higher than the first threshold value used in judging if the designating device has been inserted into the predetermined range of the coordinate inputting/detecting area.

Coordinate inputting/detecting apparatus and method designed to avoid a trailing phenomenon

A coordinate input apparatus includes light sources, a reflecting member, light receiving members, a signal analyzing mechanism, and a coordinate determining mechanism. Each light source is fixed around a perimeter of a predefined input region at a fixing position different from others and is configured to emit light extending in a deltaic form centered at the fixing position and approximately in parallel to the input region. The reflecting member is fixed around the perimeter of the input region and is configured to recursively reflect the light so that the light returns towards the light sources. The light receiving members are fixed around the perimeter of the input region and are configured to receive the light recursively reflected from the reflecting member and to convert the light into an electric signal. The signal analyzing mechanism analyzes the electric signal to detect a position of an obstacle when the obstacle is placed in the input region and blocks the light. The coordinate determining mechanism calculates a center between coordinates of one and the other edges of the obstacle and determines the center as a coordinate of the position of the obstacle in the input region.

Method and apparatus for coordinate inputting capable of effectively using a laser ray

The coordinate-position input device comprises a substantially flat surface for specifying a desired position using a pointing tool. A reflecting member is provided around this surface. A light emitter emits a flux of light of desired thickness over the entire surface towards the reflecting member. The light flux is such that it is thicker near the reflecting member and becomes thinner and thinner as it goes away from the reflecting member. That is, the light flux diverges as it approaches the reflecting member.

Device for detecting and inputting a specified position

An overhead projector having scanning device for scanning an original image thereby generating electric signals corresponding to the original image, selecting device for selecting one of a thermochromic film and a thermographic paper, a first heating device for heating the film thereby erasing an image formed formerly in the film, a second heating device for heating the film in accordance with the electric signals transmitted from the scanning device to form an image corresponding to the original image in the film when the film is selected by the selecting device and for jheating the thermographic paper in accordance with the electric signals transmitted from the scanning device to print an image corresponding to the original image in the thermographic paper when the thermographic paper is selected by the selecting device, and

Color recorder overhead projector with color recorder

A color overhead projector including a thermochromic film, a color filter, erasing means for erasing an image formed on the film, reading means for reading a color image to be projected, writing means for writing the color image to be projected into the film, and projecting means for projecting the color image written into the film onto a screen by illumining the film via the color filter.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Yasuhiko Saka