Two Xerox Scientists Reach 100th Patent Mark

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Two Xerox scientists are following the words of two-time noble prize winner and chemist Dr. Linus Pauling perfectly. It was the famous chemist who said “The best way to have good ideas is to have a lot of them.”

Zhigang (Zeke) Fan, principal scientist at Xerox Research Center Webster and Nan-Xing Hu, lab manger at the Xerox Research Centre Canada have earned their 100th patent – a rare achievement in the scientific world.

Zeke Fan
Fan, a prolific inventor, also has 70 patent applications currently pending. His annual patent submission rate reached the double digits during the past 10 years, and he has co-authored more than 70 technical papers.

“Zeke’s drive to find answers will be important as Xerox expands its emphasis on business process and document management,” said Jim Larson, vice president and center manager of the Xerox Research Center Webster, “Zeke’s ability to dig deep for answers will undoubtedly contribute to Xerox’s progress as our efforts encompass both printing and service-based technology,” he said.

Fan currently is working on transportation-focused inventions such as developing faster ways to automate traffic violations and video recognition technology; projects launched after Xerox acquired Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) in February 2010.

Prior to this work, Fan patented inventions covering aspects of image processing and recognition, including his 100th patent, No. 7,719,722, entitled “System and method of half toning for multi-pass rendering.” Halftone image processing reduces the effects of visual mistakes as the passes of the laser create the image and speeds up the image processing.

Fan said he is inspired by the challenge of a constant learning process. “I enjoy working with other people and attending conferences because it’s a way to raise questions and find new solutions,” he said.

Fan received his master’s and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from Rhode Island University. His first project after joining Xerox in 1988 dealt with image segmentation, which optimizes image processing when different images like graphics and text appear on the same page.

Fan is a fellow of Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T). He served as an associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Image Processing from 2003 to 2009. He was the program co-chair for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th International Conference on Imaging Science and Hardcopy, and the conference co-chair for SPIE/IS&T Imaging and Printing in a Web 2.0 World (2010).


Nan-Xing Hu
Hu is only the seventh Canadian scientist at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada to accomplish this feat, and the 26th Xerox scientist world wide.

His 100th patent, No. 7,754,812, entitled "Adhesion Promoter” discloses a material formulation that works with production colour printers to improve book binding capabilities. Hu’s inspiration for the adhesion promoter came from customer need for expanded post-print applications using production colour devices.

Hu now manages the Key Component Materials Design & Synthesis lab, which is responsible for material design and process chemistry development for photoreceptors, fusers and printed electronics. Hu joined the Xerox Research Centre of Canada in 1994 as a member of the industrial research team.

“During his career at Xerox, Nan-Xing has demonstrated great technical depth and breadth. He has made an impressive set of materials contributions that have been implemented in company products”, said Hadi Mahabadi, vice president and centre director, Xerox Research Centre of Canada. “Nan-Xing is an extremely skilled chemist. His talent not only improves Xerox’s competitive offerings, but has added to the fabric of Canada’s entire scientific landscape.”

Hu’s extensive patent portfolio includes novel materials and processes for organic light-emitting devices, dyes for solid ink, long-life xerographic components, and printable electronics.

“Having the ability to create a useful product that makes a difference in people’s personal or professional lives gives me a great sense of accomplishment,” says Hu. “I am constantly driven by technical challenges and external competition. The diversity of Xerox’s culture and its people are a great inspiration, as is our management’s strong commitment to fostering innovation.”


About Xerox
Xerox Corporation is a $22 billion leading global enterprise for business process and document management. Through its broad portfolio of technology and services, Xerox provides the essential back-office support that clears the way for clients to focus on what they do best: their real business. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Xerox provides leading-edge document technology, services, software and genuine Xerox supplies for graphic communication and office printing environments of any size. Through ACS, A Xerox Company, which Xerox acquired in February 2010, Xerox also offers extensive business process outsourcing and IT outsourcing services, including data processing, HR benefits management, finance support, and customer relationship management services for commercial and government organizations worldwide. The 130,000 people of Xerox serve clients in more than 160 countries.