Author: claimsbot

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of image forming units, one image forming unit being provided for each of a plurality of colors, and forming an image of the respective corresponding color;
a density detecting unit configured to detect a density of density detecting patches;
a processor;
memory having executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processor to operate as
a patch forming unit, which actuates the respective image forming units according to image forming conditions for the respective colors of the image forming units to form the density detection patches of the respective colors;
a condition correcting unit that controls the density detecting unit to detect the density of the density detecting patches of the respective colors, and corrects the image forming conditions based on respective deviations between the detected densities of the density detecting patches of the respective colors and target densities defined for each of the colors;
a patch re-forming unit that, for each color for which the respective deviation is greater than a threshold value, actuates the image forming unit corresponding to the color so as to generate a re-formed density detecting patch of the color using the respective image forming condition previously corrected by the condition correcting unit;
a condition re-correcting unit that is configured to control the density detecting unit to detect a density of the re-formed density detecting patch and re-correct the respective image forming condition of the color of the re-formed density detecting patch based on a deviation between the density of the re-formed density detecting patch and the target density of the color corresponding to the re-formed density detecting patch;
a preparation process unit that executes a preparation process to prepare for detection of the density by the density detecting unit before the density detecting patch is formed by the patch forming unit; and
a preparation process re-executing unit that re-executes the preparation process before the re-formed density detecting patch is generated by the patch re-forming unit; and

a cleaning unit that cleans the density detecting patch formed by the patch forming unit,
wherein the preparation process re-executing unit executes the preparation process at a same time that the density detecting patch is cleaned by the cleaning unit.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the patch forming unit forms the density detecting patches of the respective colors in a straight line with a fixed pitch while being arranged in a given order, and
wherein the patch re-forming unit generates the re-formed density detecting patches in a straight line with a fixed pitch while being arranged in the given order.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the image forming units comprises:
an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and
a developing member, to which development bias is applied, and which supplies developer to the image carrier according to the development bias,
wherein the image forming condition of the respective image forming unit is the development bias.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a base member, on which the density detecting patches are formed,
wherein the density detecting unit comprises:
a light emitting element; and
a light receiving element that receives light, which is emitted from the light emitting element and is reflected from a surface of the density detecting patch or a surface of the base member, and

wherein the preparation process comprises:
receiving the light reflected from the surface of the density detecting patch or the surface of the base member by the light receiving element; and
detecting an amount of the received light.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the preparation process further comprises:
a light amount adjustment process comprising adjusting an amount of the light emitted from the light emitting element so that the amount of the detected light becomes constant.
6. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of image forming units, each of which forms an image in a respective one of a plurality of colors;
a density sensor;
a processor;
memory having executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processor to operate as
a patch forming unit, which individually controls each of the image forming units according to an image forming condition associated with the respective color of the respective image forming unit to form a patch of the respective color;
a condition setting unit that controls the density sensor to detect the density of a patch, calculates a deviation between the detected density of the patch and a target density defined for the respective color, and corrects the image forming condition associated with the color of the patch based on the calculated deviation;
a controller that controls the patch forming unit to generate a patch for each of the plurality of colors and controls the condition setting unit to detect the densities of the respective patches, calculate the respective deviations, and to correct the respective image forming conditions associated with each of the plurality of colors, and
for each color for which the respective deviation is greater than a threshold value associated with the respective color, controls the patch forming unit to regenerate the patch for the color using the corrected image forming condition, and controls the condition setting unit to detect the density of the regenerated patch, recalculate the deviation, and re-correct the image forming condition associated with the color of the regenerated patch; and
a preparation process unit that executes a preparation process to prepare for detection of the density by the density sensor before the patch is formed by the patch forming unit,
wherein the controller controls the preparation process unit to re-execute the preparation process before the patch is regenerated by the patch forming unit; and

a cleaning unit that cleans the patch formed by the patch forming unit,
wherein the preparation process unit re-executes the preparation process at a same time that the patch is cleaned by the cleaning unit.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the patch forming unit generates the patches for each of the plurality of colors in a straight line with a fixed pitch while being arranged in a given order.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a conveyor belt, on which the patches are formed.
9. A method for adjusting color densities in an image forming apparatus comprising a density sensor and a plurality of image forming units, each image forming unit being associated with a respective one of a plurality of colors, the method comprising:
individually controlling each of the image forming units according to an image forming condition associated with the respective color of the respective image forming unit to form a patch of each of the plurality of colors;
detecting a density of each of the patches;
calculating a deviation between the detected density of each of the patches and a target density defined for the respective color;
correcting the respective image forming conditions associated with each of the plurality of colors based on the calculated deviations;
comparing the respective deviation for each color with a threshold deviation associated with the color;
for each color for which the respective deviation is greater than the threshold deviation,
regenerating the patch for the color using the corrected image forming condition;
detecting a density of the regenerated patch;
calculating a second deviation between the density of the regenerated patch and the target density associated with the color; and
re-correcting the image forming condition associated with the color based on the calculated second deviation;

executing a preparation process unit to prepare for detection of the density before the patch is formed by the image forming unit;
re-executing the preparation process before the patch is regenerated by the image forming unit; and
cleaning the patch formed by the image forming unit,
wherein the preparation process is executed at a same time that the patch is cleaned.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A functional film that is applied to a surface of a medical apparatus or a biomaterial, the functional film comprising a film of Ti-doped tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C:Ti film), wherein:
an atomic ratio of Ti to C in a composition of the film is equal to or greater than 0.03 and equal to or less than 0.09; and
the atomic ratio of Ti to C is equal to a number of Ti atoms occupying the film divided by a sum of a number of carbon atoms having an sp3 hybrid orbital and a number of carbon atoms having an sp2 hybrid orbital occupying the film.

2. The functional film according to claim 1, wherein a static contact angle \u03b2 of pure water at a surface of the film is equal to or less than 30 degrees.

3. The functional film according to claim 1, wherein a contamination index \u03b3 of a surface of the film, which is obtained through comparison with a surface of pure Ti, is equal to or less than 80%.

4. The functional film according to claim 1, wherein the medical apparatus or the biomaterial is formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of: Ti, Ti-based alloy, SUS316, Ni\u2014Ti shape memory alloy, polymer material, and ceramic material.

5. The functional film according to claim 4, wherein:
the medical apparatus or the biomaterial is formed of Ti;
a proportion of carbon atoms having an sp3 hybrid orbital occupying the film is equal to or less than 59%; and
the proportion is equal to a number of carbon atoms having an sp3 hybrid orbital divided by a sum of a number of carbon atoms having an sp3 hybrid orbital, a number of carbon atoms having an sp2 hybrid orbital, and a number of Ti atoms occupying the film.

6. The functional film according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the film is equal to or greater than 10 nm and equal to or less than 1 \u03bcm.

7. The functional film according to claim 1, wherein the medical apparatus or the biomaterial is made from metal.

8. The functional film according to claim 1, wherein the medical apparatus is a medical apparatus used in a living body.

9. The functional film according to claim 1, wherein the medical apparatus is a stent.

What is claimed is:

1. An ink-jet ink for ink-jet printing, consisting of:
from 0.1% to 5% by weight of at least one dye;
from 8% to 20% by weight of an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, and combinations thereof;
from 0.1% to 5% by weight of an aliphatic alcohol or aliphatic alcohol mixture;
from 0.1% to 1.5% by weight of at least one component independently selected from the group consisting of buffers, biocides, and metal chelators; and
from 68.5% to 91.7% by weight of water.
2. An ink-jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the aliphatic alcohol or aliphatic alcohol mixture comprises alcohols having from 3 to 9 carbon atoms.
3. An ink-jet ink as in claim 2 wherein the aliphatic alcohol is neopentyl alcohol.
4. An ink-jet ink as in claim 2 wherein the aliphatic alcohol is 3,5-dimethyl-1-hexyn-3-ol.
5. An ink-jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the organic solvent is 1,2-hexanediol.
6. An ink-jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the organic solvent is present in an amount from about 8% to about 13% by weight.
7. An ink-jet ink as in claim 1 wherein at least one of each component selected from the group consisting of buffers, biocides, and metal chelators is present.
8. An ink-jet ink as in claim 1 having a pH ranging from 3 to about 9.
9. An inkjet ink as in claim 8 having a pH ranging from 6.5 to about 8.
10. An ink-jet ink for ink-jet printing, comprising:
from 0.1% to 5% by weight of at least one dye;
from 8% to 20% by weight of an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, and combinations thereof;
from 0.1% to 5% by weight of an aliphatic alcohol or aliphatic alcohol mixture; and
from 0.1% to 1.5% by weight of at least one component independently selected from the group consisting of buffers, biocides, and metal chelators,
with the proviso that no surfactant is present in the ink-jet ink.
11. An ink-jet ink as in claim 10 wherein the aliphatic alcohol or aliphatic alcohol mixture comprises alcohols having from 3 to 9 carbon atoms.
12. An ink-jet ink as in claim 11 wherein the aliphatic alcohol is neopentyl alcohol.
13. An ink-jet ink as in claim 11 wherein the aliphatic alcohol is 3,5-dimethyl-1-hexyn-3-ol.
14. An ink-jet ink as in claim 10 wherein the organic solvent is 1,2-hexanediol.
15. An ink-jet ink as in claim 10 wherein the organic solvent is present in an amount from about 8% to about 13% by weight.
16. An ink-jet ink as in claim 10 wherein at least one of each component selected from the group consisting of buffers, biocides, and metal chelators is present.
17. An ink-jet ink as in claim 10 having a pH ranging from 3 to about 9.
18. An ink-jet ink as in claim 17 having a pH ranging from 6.5 to about 8.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A machine readable medium containing configuration instructions for performing a method for retrieving information accessible by posing a plurality of queries over a network to at least one target server, the method comprising the steps of:
transmitting a first one of the plurality of queries to a first one of a plurality of proxy server services for transmission to one of the at least one target servers;
transmitting a second one of the plurality of queries to a second one of the plurality of proxy server services for transmission to one of the at least one target servers; and
for each one of the plurality of queries, receiving from its corresponding proxy server service a reply from its corresponding target server, each of said replies comprising data which is at least part of said information; and
constructing a database view of the information using said data received from the proxy server services in reply to said plurality of queries.

2. The machine readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of:
selecting said plurality of proxy server services, said selecting comprising the steps of:
searching the network for proxy server services;
for each service found in the searching step, testing the service using test criteria; and
selecting those services meeting the test criteria.

3. The machine readable medium of claim 2, wherein the test criteria include retrieval time.

4. The machine readable medium of claim 2, wherein the test criteria include number of errors in a response to a test query.

5. The machine readable medium of claim 2, wherein the selecting step includes selecting a primary list of proxy server services meeting a first set of criteria and a secondary list of proxy server services meeting a second set of criteria.

6. The machine readable medium of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of ranking the selected proxy server services according to said test criteria, and wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the query to a best-ranked available one of said proxy server services.

7. The machine readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of queries is a random or pseudorandom dummy query.

8. The machine readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of pausing for a substantially unpredictable time interval before performing the transmitting step.

9. The machine readable medium of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting the queries to random ones of said proxy server services.

10. The machine readable medium of claim 1, further comprising the step of constructing at least one of said queries based on replies received in response to previous queries.

11. A method for retrieving information accessible by posing a plurality of queries over a network to at least one target server, the method comprising the steps of:
transmitting a first one of the plurality of queries to a first one of a plurality of proxy server services for transmission to one of the at least one target servers;
transmitting a second one of the plurality of queries to a second one of the plurality of proxy server services for transmission to one of the at least one target servers; and
for each one of the plurality of queries, receiving from its corresponding proxy server service a reply from its corresponding target server, each of said replies comprising data which is at least part of said information; and
constructing a database view of the information using said data received from the proxy server services in reply to said plurality of queries.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
selecting said plurality of proxy server services, said selecting comprising the step of:
searching the network for proxy server services;
for each service found in the searching step, testing the service using test criteria; and
selecting those services meeting the test criteria.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the test criteria include retrieval time.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the test criteria include number of errors in a response to a test query.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the selecting step includes selecting a primary list of proxy server services meeting a first set of criteria and a secondary list of proxy server services meeting a second set of criteria.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of ranking the selected proxy server services according to said test criteria, and wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the query to a best-ranked available one of said proxy server services.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of said plurality of queries is a random or pseudorandom dummy query.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of pausing for a substantially unpredictable time interval before performing the transmitting step.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting the queries to random ones of said proxy server services.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of constructing at least one of said queries based on replies received in response to previous queries.

21. A method, of configuring a client machine connected to a network, the method comprising transmitting configuration instructions through the network to the client machine for performing a method of retrieving information accessible by posing a plurality of queries over the network to at least one target server, the retrieval method comprising the steps of:
transmitting a first one of the plurality of queries to a first one of a plurality of proxy server services for transmission to one of the at least one target servers;
transmitting a second one of the plurality of queries to a second one of the plurality of proxy server services for transmission to one of the at least one target servers; and
for each one of the plurality of queries, receiving from its corresponding proxy server service a reply from its corresponding target server, each of said replies comprising data which is at least part of said information; and
constructing a database view of the information using said data received from the proxy server services in reply to said plurality of queries.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the retrieval method further comprises the step of:
selecting said plurality of proxy server services, said selecting comprising the steps of:
searching the network for proxy server services;
for each service found in the searching step, testing the service using test criteria; and
selecting those services meeting the test criteria.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the test criteria include retrieval time.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the test criteria include number of errors in a response to a test query.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the selecting step includes selecting a primary list of proxy server services meeting a first set of criteria and a secondary list of proxy server services meeting a second set of criteria.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the retrieval method further comprises the step of ranking the selected proxy server services according to said test criteria, and wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the query to a best-ranked available one of said proxy server services.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of said plurality of queries is a random or pseudorandom dummy query.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the retrieval method further comprises the step of pausing for a substantially unpredictable time interval before performing the transmitting step.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting the queries to random ones of said proxy server services.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein said retrieval method further comprises the step of constructing at least one of said queries based on replies received in response to previous queries.