25th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 45 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100158494 | Radio Wireless Mesh Network System and Method for Photographic Camera Integration - Methods and by which photographic equipment having a wireless communication functionality may join a wireless personal area network which may be a mesh network. In various representative embodiments a photographic device may discover the existence of a wireless personal area network and may provide an indication to a node of the personal area network of its existence and thus a coordinator node or node of a personal area network may discover the photographic device. Methods by which specific events which must be substantially synchronized in time may be synchronized by information or data comprised in a superframe of a transmission of a node of a wireless personal area network. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158495 | AUTOFOCUS ASSIST LIGHTING USED FOR RANGEFINDING IN VERY LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS - Autofocus (AF) assist lighting can be useful as a camera rangefinder in low light conditions. When ambient light conditions are inadequate for determining camera-to-subject distance using through-the-lens autofocus (TTL-AF) procedures, the AF assist light is used to attempt to raise the light level enough that the camera-to-subject distance can be determined using TTL-AF. If a camera-to-subject distance is not determined when the AF assist light is used, a camera-to-subject distance based on tabulated values is determined using an empirical model of AF assist luminance increment versus distance. If a camera-to-subject distance can be determined using TTL-AF when the AF assist light is used, but the lighting conditions are inadequate, the camera-to-subject distance used for capturing an image is a weighted combination of the TTL-AF camera-to-subject distance and a camera-to-subject distance based on a set of tabulated values determined using an empircal model of AP assist luminance increment versus distance. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158496 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOCUSING A CHARGE COUPLED DEVICE LENS ON A SELECTED SURFACE OF AN OBJECT - A positioning system and method for focusing a charge coupled device (CCD) lens on a selected surface of an object to be measured is provided. The positioning system and method moves the CCD lens downwards to approximate an estimate Z-axis coordinate of the CCD lens, and moves the CCD lens upwards to find an accurate Z-axis coordinate of the CCD lens according to the selected surface of the object. The system and method further moves the CCD lens to a position corresponding to the accurate Z-axis coordinate to focus the CCD lens on the selected surface. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158497 | PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS - Provided is a photographing apparatus. The photographing apparatus may illuminate auto focus (AF) auxiliary light onto a subject without regard to an opening/closing of a flash because the flash may illuminate the light out of a main body even when the flash is received in the main body in a retracted position. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158498 | METHOD OF INTERVAL PHOTOGRAPHING UNDER A PLURALITY OF PHOTOGRAPHING CONDITIONS AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An interval photographing method with a plurality of photographing conditions includes setting at least one interval photographing condition in an interval photographing mode, obtaining an image at regular time intervals according to the at least one set interval photographing condition, classifying the image obtained at the regular time intervals by an index according to the at least one set interval photographing condition and storing the image, and combining the image stored by the index and converting the image into a motion picture. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158499 | Camera adapter support - A camera adapter support for supporting a camera in an orientation transverse to its traditional orientation includes a base member shaped and dimensioned for selective attachment to a head of a tripod. The base member includes a first end and a second end. A first upstanding member is secured to the first end of the base member. The first upstanding member includes a first end secured to the first end of the base member and a second end. The first upstanding member includes coupling structure which secures the base of the camera to the first upstanding member. A second upstanding member is secured to the second end of the base member, the second upstanding member including a first end secured to the first end of the base member for selective movement relative thereto and a second end. The second upstanding member includes a plate member and a second transverse plate coupled to the plate member. The second transverse plate is shaped and dimensioned for supporting a portion of the camera as it lies across the base member. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158500 | CAMERA MODULE AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING SAME - A camera module and a portable electronic device using same are provided. The camera module can be rotated to align with an aperture in the front of the device or an aperture in the rear of the device. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158501 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A vibrating device includes a dust-screening member shaped like a plate as a whole, a first vibrating member secured to the dust-screening member and configured to cause, when driven alone, the dust-screening member to undergo first standing-wave vibration, and a second vibrating member secured to the dust-screening member and configured to cause, when driven alone, the dust-screening member to undergo second standing-wave vibration. The first vibrating member and the second vibrating member are so positioned that the first standing-wave vibration and second standing-wave vibration produced by the first and second vibrating members, respectively, overlap each other, thus producing a travelling wave propagating in one direction and having nodes regions at an outer circumferential edge of the dust-screening member, the node regions having virtually no vibrational amplitude. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158502 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND LENS DEVICE - An image pickup apparatus having a construction which enhances the degree of freedom in layout and enables size reduction. The image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel, and an upper barrier group and a lower barrier group that open and close a front face of the lens barrel. The upper and lower barriers are rotated about respective upper and lower barrier rotary shafts disposed on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens barrel. A first spur gear and a second spur gear connected thereto are provided on a side of the lens barrel. A member transmits the rotation of the first spur gear driven by a motor to the lower barrier group, and another member transmits the rotation of the second spur gear to the upper barrier group. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158503 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND LENS DEVICE - An image pickup apparatus having a construction which enhances the degree of freedom in layout and enables size reduction. The image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel and a barrier section for opening/closing the front face of the lens barrel. A barrier rotary shaft is disposed on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens barrel. The barrier section comprises two barrier groups, and each of the barrier groups comprises a central barrier configured to be driven for rotation about the barrier rotary shaft, and an outer barrier configured to rotate about the barrier rotary shaft in a direction identical to a direction of rotation of the central barrier in accordance with the rotation of the central barrier in a state superposed on the central barrier. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158504 | Image pickup apparatus - An image pickup apparatus includes: a shutter device; an image pickup element adapted to sequentially acquire time-series images regarding object images passing through an exposure opening of the shutter device; and control section configured to control operation of the shutter device and operation of the image pickup element. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158505 | Diaphragm unit, lens barrel, and imaging apparatus - A diaphragm unit includes: a plate-like base member having an optical path hole formed therein; diaphragm blades overlapping with each other in an optical axis direction of an optical system, being supported by the base member so as to be movable in directions in which the diaphragm blades approach and depart from the optical axis along a plan perpendicular to the optical axis, and forming a diaphragm opening centered on the optical axis inside the optical path hole; and a driving mechanism adjusting the size of the diaphragm opening by moving the diaphragm blades. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158506 | Imaging apparatus - A light quantity adjuster includes: a blade member forming an aperture; a stepping motor that moves the blade member to open/close the aperture; and a control section that controls driving of the stepping motor, and increases a rotational speed of the stepping motor after a resistance acting on the stepping motor changes from static friction to dynamical friction in case of closing the aperture. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158507 | Diaphragm unit, light intensity adjusting device, lens barrel, and imaging apparatus - A diaphragm unit includes: a pair of straight-moving diaphragm blades and a pair of swing diaphragm blades overlapping with each other in an optical axis direction of an optical system and forming a diaphragm opening centered on the optical axis by moving in directions in which the diaphragm blades get close to and apart from the optical axis along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; a receiving member receiving the pair of straight-moving diaphragm blades and the pair of swing diaphragm blades; and a diaphragm driving mechanism adjusting the size of the diaphragm opening by moving the diaphragm blades. The receiving member has a pair of side surfaces facing each other in the optical axis direction. One and the other of the straight-moving diaphragm blades and one and the other of the swing diaphragm blades are disposed on one and the other of the side surfaces, respectively. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158508 | Camera Module - A camera module is provided with a lens part including a lens and a lens barrel, a holder coupled with the lens part and formed with a first conductive layer, and a printed circuit board electrically connected to the first conductive layer while supporting the holder. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158509 | Camera module - A camera module having a housing; a lens section mounted in the housing; an IR cut filter mounted in the housing so as to cut infrared rays from the incident light passing through the lens section; and an image sensor module composed of a double-sided flexible printing circuit board (FPCB) in which a window for transmitting the incident light passing through the IR cut filter is formed, an image sensor which is attached on one side of the double-sided FPCB so as to cover the window; and at least one electric part which is attached on the other side of the double-sided FPCB having the image sensor attached thereto, the image sensor module being coupled to the housing. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158510 | FOCUS CALIBRATION APPARATUS FOR CAMERA LENS FINE TUNING - A focus calibration apparatus allows fine adjustments to be made to the focal distance between a camera lens and sensor, in particular to take into account small changes in the mechanical tolerances such as when changing lenses. The calibration apparatus has a simple mechanism, like a focus ring, that a user can easily manipulate to simplify and speed the lens calibration process. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158511 | CAMERA MODULE AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING SAME - A camera module and a portable electronic device using same are provided. The camera module can be rotated to align with a first camera window and a first aperture in the front of the portable electronic device or a second camera window and second aperture in the rear of the portable electronic device. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158512 | Centrally Managed, Self-Survivable Wavelength Division Multiplexed Passive Optical Network - A centrally-managed, colorless, bi-directional wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) architecture. The WDM-PON architecture is self-survivable, and can protect network failures in, for example, distribution/feeder fiber, remote node and laser failure. The WDM-PON architecture requires only N-wavelength channels for N optical network units. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158513 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING SIGNAL PERFORMANCE AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING SIGNAL - Provided are an apparatus and method for measuring signal performance and an apparatus for selecting a signal. The apparatus includes a wavelength selector selecting a signal having a specific wavelength from an input signal, a time selector selecting a signal input at a specific time from the selected signal having the specific wavelength, and a performance measurer measuring signal performance for the signal of the specific wavelength that is input at the specific time and selected by the time selector. Thus, it is possible to measure signal quality of each wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)-time-division multiplexing (TDM) channel in a WDM-TDM hybrid environment. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158514 | NETWORK APPARATUS - A network apparatus includes: an input interface unit; a first and second line switching units cross-connecting output signals from the input interface unit; an output interface unit including a selection unit selecting outputs from the first or second line switching units; and a CPU. The line switching units each include: a control signal generation unit storing setting data in a memory and generating a line switching control signal based on the setting data; a memory error detection processing unit detecting a memory error and outputting error information; and a main signal processing unit writing setting data into a buffer when an error is not detected, and holding setting data stored in the buffer when the error is detected, and which performs cross-connection processing according to the setting data stored in the buffer. The CPU controls the selection unit according to the error information. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158515 | TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND TEST APPARATUS - Provided is a transmission system that transmits data, comprising a modulating section that modulates amplitude of a predetermined carrier signal according to the data to be transmitted; an electro-optical converting section that converts a modulated signal output by the modulating section into an optical signal; an optical fiber that transmits the optical signal; an optical-electric converting section that converts the optical signal transmitted by the optical fiber into a current signal; a current-voltage converting section that linearly converts the current signal into a voltage signal; and a demodulating section that demodulates the voltage signal. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158516 | Integrated Fiber Management for FTTx Architectures - According to the invention, a system for providing telecommunication services to a plurality of customer premises is disclosed. The system may include a central office and a first plurality of optical fibers. The central office may include a trunk line-out and a first optical line terminal. The first optical line may be in communication with the trunk line-out via at least a first optical line. The first optical line terminal may also include a first optical splitter, internal to the first optical line terminal, configured to split a first communication travelling across the first optical line into a first plurality of sub-communications. Each of the first plurality of optical fibers may receive one of the first plurality of sub-communications from the first optical line terminal and provides it to one of the plurality of customer premises. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158517 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOSSLESS SIGNAL HANDOVER - An optical communication system and method for performing signal handover from one aperture/antenna in the optical communication system to another. In one example, the system includes optical signal processing apparatus that determines a quality metric of the signals received by each aperture, and a frame alignment detection apparatus that detects a frame alignment signal (FAS) in the data stream of at least one of the received optical signals. Based on detection of the FAS and the quality metric, handover is performed from one aperture (e.g., one receiving a signal with a worsening quality metric) to another aperture that is receiving a signal with an improving quality metric. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158518 | MULTI-LANE SIGNAL TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING APPARATUSES - An optical communication system is provided. In particular, multi-lane signal transmitting and receiving apparatuses capable of transmitting and receiving a multi-lane signal using the same inverse multiplexing scheme even when optic modules having several transport lane numbers are selected according to a purpose of use are provided. Each OTUk capable of containing a client signal in a transport hierarchy signal (OTUk-Xv) is defined as a virtual container, and Y virtual lanes are allocated to respective virtual containers X, in which identification information for the allocated virtual lanes is inserted into an overhead area and a transport hierarchy multi-lane signal is transmitted in the form of OTUk-XvYd. A receiving stage extracts the identification information inserted into the overhead area of the transport hierarchy signal in the form of OTUk-XvYd, compensates for a skew of the received signals, and aligns virtual lane signals for each virtual container to restore an OTUk-Xv signal that is an original transport hierarchy signal. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158519 | Method, apparatus and system for transmitting and receiving client signals - The present invention provides a method, apparatus and system for transmitting and receiving a client signal. The method for transmitting a client signal includes, at the transmitting end, mapping a client signal to be transmitted to a corresponding low-order Optical Channel Data Unit (ODU) in a low-order ODU set, wherein low-order ODUs in the low-order ODU set having rates increased in order, and having rate correspondence relations with the client signals; mapping the low-order ODU to a timeslot of a high-order Optical Channel Payload Unit (OPU) in a high-order OPU set; and adding overheads to the high-order OPU to form an Optical Channel Transport Unit (OTU), and transferring the OTU to an Optical Transport Network (OTN) for transmission. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158520 | LAN EMULATION METHOD IN WDM-PON AND INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM - Provided are a local area network (LAN) emulation method and an information storage medium. The LAN emulation method provides a LAN emulation function in an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG)-based wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-passive optical network (PON) using a mode bit and a logical link identifier (LLID). | 2010-06-24 |
20100158521 | OPTICAL MIXER FOR COHERENT DETECTION OF POLARIZATION-MULTIPLEXED SIGNALS - An optical mixer that, in one embodiment, has a single optical hybrid optically coupled to a single polarization beam splitter. The optical hybrid mixes a polarization-multiplexed optical communication signal and a local-oscillator signal to generate four mixed signals, each corresponding to a different relative phase shift between the communication and local-oscillator signals. The polarization beam splitter separates each of the mixed signals into two polarization components, subsequent processing of which enables an optical receiver employing the optical mixer to recover the data carried by the communication signal. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158522 | SEED LIGHT MODULE BASED ON SINGLE LONGITUDINAL MODE OSCILLATION LIGHT SOURCE - A seed light module based on a single longitudinal mode oscillation light source is provided. The seed light module includes a multi-wavelength signal generation light source unit generating a continuous wave (CW) of different wavelengths, a multiplexer wavelength-division multiplexing the light output from the light source unit, a polarization beam splitter splitting the light of multiple wavelength components output from the multiplexer according to specific polarization components, phase modulators phase-modulating signals of a first polarization component and a second polarization component split by the polarization beam splitter onto a sine wave having a frequency and amplitude, a radio frequency (RF) signal generator generating the sine wave, a RF signal distributor distributing the generated RF signal, amplifiers amplifying the distributed RF signals, and a polarization beam combiner combining the lights phase-modulated by the respective phase modulators and providing the combined light as a seed light output. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158523 | METHODS OF TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING MULTICAST OR BROADCAST FRAME IN OLT AND ONU FOR WDM-PON, WDM-PON SYSTEM, AND OLT FOR WDM-PON - Provided are methods of transmitting and receiving a multicast or broadcast frame in an optical line terminal (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU) for a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-passive optical network (PON), a WDM-PON system, and an OLT for a WDM-PON. The method of transmitting a multicast or broadcast frame in an OLT for a WDM-PON includes converting and splitting a multicast or broadcast frame input using a single wavelength into a plurality of wavelengths, combining the split wavelengths, and outputting the multicast or broadcast frame. In this way, a multicast or broadcast frame can be transmitted and received, thereby providing a single copy broadcast (SCB) function in a WDM-PON. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158524 | UPSTREAM SOURCE LIGHT GENERATOR OF PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GENERATING UPSTREAM SOURCE LIGHT - Provided is an upstream source light generator of a passive optical network (PON) system. The upstream source light generator includes an amplification part configured to amplify injection light, and a reflection part configured to receive the amplified injection light and generate reflection light by reflecting the amplified injection light with different optical delays according to wavelengths of the amplified injection light. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158525 | MODULAR NETWORK TERMINALS AND METHODS TO USE THE SAME - Example modular optical network terminals (ONTs) and methods to implement the same are disclosed. A disclosed example ONT includes a base unit having an integral optical interface to optically couple the ONT to an optical network, and to convert an optical signal received from the optical network to form an electrical signal, a plug-in service module to distribute the electrical signal within a customer premises, and a modular interface connector configured to receive the plug-in service module and to couple the electrical signal from the base unit to the plug-in service module. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158526 | OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER SUITABLE FOR USE IN HYBRID, PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - Provided is an apparatus for connecting a wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (WDM-PON) to a time division multiplexing passive optical network (TDM-PON). In a hybrid, passive optical network which is a combination of the WDM-PON and the TDM-PON, the apparatus is formed at a subscriber side for matching the WDM-PPN and the TDM-PON. Accordingly, a passive remote mode can be implemented as a passive node not an active node. Therefore, the entire optical network can be efficiently operated. In addition, since the apparatus located on the subscriber side uses a wavelength-tunable light source, any dependency on the wavelength of a WDM-PON optical signal is removed. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158527 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING WDMA AND CDMA - In a PON system, an OLT periodically transmits a channel resource information block specifying a carrier wavelength and a spreading code on a first downstream channel to which a spread-spectrum spreader having a first spreading code is applied; one of ONUs receives the channel resource information block with a spread-spectrum despreader having the first spreading code and transmits a connection request to the OLT, using the carrier wavelength and the spreading code specified by the channel resource information block; the OLT having received the connection request transmits a new channel resource information block specifying a carrier wavelength and a spreading code to be used on an upstream data channel to the requester ONU through the first channel; and the requester ONU transmits data, using the carrier wavelength and the spreading code specified by the new channel resource information block. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158528 | System for routing and wavelength assignment in wavelength division multiplexing optical networks - A method for routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) in an optical network with improved heuristics for reducing the computational times required for the RWA. The method minimizes the number of wavelengths by packing the lightpaths using a minimum number of bins in a bin packing problem. Computational efficiency is enhanced by using several novel methods to determine shortest paths and eliminate arcs in a graph that represents the network topology. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158529 | METHOD FOR WAVELENGTH ASSIGNMENT IN A WDM NETWORK - In accordance with the present disclosure, a method of configuring a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) network is presented. The WDM network includes circuits that carry optical signals, with each signal corresponding to a wavelength. The WDM network includes nodes, with links connecting the nodes to one another. Each circuit includes at least one link and at least one node. The method comprises assigning each of the circuits to an optical signal, based on first and second criteria, and configuring the nodes based on the assignment. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158530 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING HIGH-SPEED COMMUNICATIONS OVER FIBER OPTICAL NETWORKS - Processing a received optical signal in an optical communication network includes equalizing a received optical signal to provide an equalized signal, demodulating the equalized signal according to an m-ary modulation format to provide a demodulated signal, decoding the demodulated signal according to an inner code to provide an inner-decoded signal, and decoding the inner-decoded signal according to an outer code. Other aspects include other features such as equalizing an optical channel including storing channel characteristics for the optical channel associated with a client, loading the stored channel characteristics during a waiting period between bursts on the channel, and equalizing a received burst from the client using the loaded channel characteristics. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158531 | CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WAVELENGTH-DIVISION-MULTIPLEXED TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - Provided is a channel assignment method in a wavelength-division-multiplexed transmission system. The channel assignment method includes obtaining information about signal modulation schemes from a plurality of optical transmitters, and assigning channels to the respective optical transmitters in consideration of the obtained information about the signal modulation schemes. Accordingly, in transmission of channels of different modulation formats, cross phase modulation is minimized, thereby reducing inter-channel interference. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158532 | WDM TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, OPTICAL ADD-DROP MULTIPLEXER AND WDM TRANSMISSION METHOD - There is provided a WDM transmission apparatus including a calculator being operable to calculate an optical signal level of a wavelength after wavelength demultiplexing based on information of OSNR, an amplifier controller being operable to compensate for the optical signal levels of all the wavelengths after wavelength demultiplexing to become a target level based on an optical signal level calculated by the calculator, and an deviation corrector being operable to correct a deviation of an optical signal level between each wavelength based on the optical signal level calculated by the calculator. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158533 | REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION - Signals from a remote control device may be received in a first viewing area and retransmitted to a second viewing area to control customer premises equipment (CPE) devices in the second viewing area. In some embodiments, signals are translated for compatibility with the CPE devices in the second viewing area. A repeater in the first viewing area may receive infrared signals encoded with a remote control command and retransmit the remote control command with an RF signal to a receiver in the second viewing area. The repeater may be incorporated into a multimedia processing resource such as a set-top box. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158534 | MULTIRATE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING LINE-CONFIGURATION OF MULTIRATE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS - There is provided the multirate communication apparatus including: an interface board to connect with a plurality of lines of different bit rates and processing transmission signals of the lines having a first line capacity; a port to mount a transmission module to transmit and receive the transmission signals; a line identifying unit to identify a line type of the transmission module mounted in the port; a plurality of signal processor to process transmission signals having a second line capacity obtained by dividing the first line capacity by a predetermined number; and a line-configuration controller to control a configuration of lines processed in respective the signal processor, based on an identification result of the line identifying unit; wherein the signal processor processes the transmission signals in accordance with the line type of the transmission module mounted in the port, base on a control by the line-configuration controller. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158535 | SMALL FORM-FACTOR PLUGGABLE TRANSCEIVER MODULE - A small form-factor pluggable transceiver module including a first optical transceiver device having a first circuit board, a second optical transceiver device having a second circuit board, and a third circuit board, disposed between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, having golden fingers hot-pluggable to an electronic equipment. The first circuit board preferably parallels with the second circuit board, and the third circuit board is preferably perpendicular to the first circuit board and the second circuit board. In addition, the third circuit board is preferably higher than the bottoms of the first circuit board and the second circuit board. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158536 | Optical Transceiver Assembly with Transmission-Direction Control - An optical transceiver assembly comprises a transmission system, a reception system and a coupling system which directs a part of the signals produced by the transmission system to the reception system. Said part of the transmission signals is detected by a photodetector matrix of the reception system, outside an useful zone of the matrix which is dedicated to the detection of the received signals. A transmission direction may therefore be determined in real time while the received signals are detected. A difference between the transmission direction and a reception direction of the transceiver assembly may then be precisely compensated for at each moment during a tracking step. The transceiver assembly may be a free space laser optical communication terminal. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158537 | PROPAGATION APPARATUS AND DISPERSION VALUE SETTING METHOD - A propagation apparatus includes a plurality of dispersion compensation execution units which accept a signal of a single wavelength from a wavelength-multiplexed signal which is received and execute dispersion compensation on the signal by inputting the accepted signal to a tunable dispersion compensator with an adjusted dispersion value, and a dispersion value calculation unit which acquires each dispersion value adjusted by the plurality of the dispersion compensation execution units, approximates the dispersion value of the wavelength assigned to a newly built line by using the acquired dispersion values whose signal error rates are in a tolerable range, and sets the approximated dispersion value as an initial value in the tunable dispersion compensator of the newly built line. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158538 | PROGRAMMABLE SIGNAL EMPHASIS FOR OPTICAL TRANSMITTERS - A method includes delivering an electrical signal over an electrical conductor to a transmitter module, which includes a memory holding compensation values corresponding respectively to different conductor lengths. One or more of the compensation values is retrieved from the memory of the transmitter module, and a waveform of the electrical signal is modified responsively to the retrieved compensation values. The electrical signal having the modified waveform is transmitted using the transmitter module over a communication link. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158539 | AMPLIFICATION CIRCUIT, DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFICATION CIRCUIT, AND OPTICAL TRANSMITTER - A plurality of inductors are connected in series between a load resistor and a first transistor, and a plurality of second transistors provided in parallel are connected to the plurality of inductors. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158540 | OPTICAL MODULE, MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, AND OPTICAL TRANSMITTER - An optical module including a first optical coupler; a second optical coupler; a first optical waveguide; a second optical waveguide; a first electrode provided on the first optical waveguide; a second electrode provided on the second optical waveguide; a short electrode shorter than the first and second electrodes and provided on the second optical waveguide; and a first high-frequency connector and a second high-frequency connector; wherein, the short electrode provided on the second optical waveguide is coupled to the second high-frequency connector; and the first electrode provided on the first optical waveguide is coupled to the first high-frequency connector. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158541 | Optical communication apparatus and optical communication method - An optical communication apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive an optical signal transmitted from an optical transmitting apparatus; a detector configured to detect a predetermined pattern signal included in the optical signal; a calculator configured to calculate, based on a waveform of the predetermined pattern signal, an amount of dispersion of the predetermined pattern signal; and a compensator configured to compensate for dispersion according to the amount of dispersion. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158542 | Detector module - A detector module for the reception of optical signals (SE) including a module housing having at least one electrical and at least one optical bushing, at least one electrical assembly connected to the electrical bushing, and at least one optical assembly connected to the optical bushing, the electrical and optical assemblies being arranged within the module housing, the optical and electrical assemblies being connected to one another via at least one optical interface, and the electrical assembly having at least one photodiode for converting the optical output signals of the optical assembly into electrical signals. The optical assembly has at least one collimator and on the output side transmits at least one beam comprising collimated electromagnetic rays running parallel to one another via a free-radiating connection as optical interface to the electrical assembly, and the electrical assembly receives the beam from the optical assembly via the free-radiating connection. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158543 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, HOST APPARATUS AND STAPLING CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus, a host apparatus and a stapling control method thereof, the method including displaying a plurality of selectable jobs; selecting a plurality of the selectable jobs to be stapled together; and stapling the selected jobs together while maintaining printing properties of each of the respective selected jobs. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158544 | FLEXIBLE DIAGNOSTIC SENSOR SHEET - A system of diagnosing a printer or photocopying system using a flexible diagnostic sheet is described. In the system, a thin diagnostic sheet including a plurality of sensors formed on the sheet is run through the paper path of the printing system. The printing system subjects the diagnostic sheet to the printing process, including the deposition of fuser oil and toner on the sheet. Sensors on the sheet record various parameters, including but not limited to the amount of fuser oil deposited and the charge on various toner particles. The information is transmitted to service personnel or the printer end user to enable timely repair of the printer. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158545 | ELECTOPHOTOGRAPHIC BORDERLESS PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method and apparatus for determining whether borderless printing can be done based on media type and desired gloss level is provided. Also provided is a method, printer, and system whereby a defect-free borderless print can be achieved regardless of media type and gloss level of the finished print, wherein the method includes pre-heating of the leading edge of the media before it enters a fuser area of the printer. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158546 | ELECTOPHOTOGRAPHIC BORDERLESS PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method and apparatus for determining whether borderless printing can be done based on media type and desired gloss level is provided. Also provided is a method, printer, and system whereby a defect-free borderless print can be achieved regardless of media type and gloss level of the finished print, wherein the method includes pre-heating of the leading edge of the media before it enters a fuser area of the printer. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158547 | PRINT JOB COST ESTIMATE METHOD AND SYSTEM - Automatically determining the cost of a printed job on a digital printing press before the job is run. A job control component in the digital front end of the printing press collects and stores the processing information from the job processing components from prior runs. A job-reporting component displays the stored and estimated processing information and automatically computes and displays the estimated cost of the job. The method includes determining a future toner cost using a toner cost, a future press usage cost, and a substrate cost based on historical toner consumption and then rasterizing the job to determine the total job cost. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158548 | FLEXIBLE NANOWIRE SENSORS AND FIELD-EFFECT DEVICES FOR TESTING TONER - A system, including an improved sensor, for determining toner particle uniformity is described. The sensor measures toner particle charge, typically be having the charge on the toner particle control a current flow through the channel of a thin film transistor. By measuring the charge on many toner particles, the system determines whether sufficient toner degradation has occurred that the toner should be replaced. The sensor is particularly suitable for being formed on a thin diagnostic sheet that is input through the paper path of a printing system. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158549 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a consumable supply remaining amount detection unit for detecting a remaining amount of a consumable supply; a printable length detection unit for determining a printable length of a medium printable with the remaining amount; a printable length determining processing unit for determining whether the printable length is smaller than a requested print length of the medium requested with print data; and a printing processing unit for performing a partial printing operation when the printable length determining processing unit determines that the printable length is smaller than the requested print length. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158550 | CORONA CHARGER INCLUDING SHUTTER - A charging device includes a corona charger, provided with an opening opposing a photosensitive member, for electrically charging the photosensitive member; a sheet-like member provided so that the sheet-like member can cover the opening; a movable device for moving the sheet-like member; and a regulating device for regulating a shape of the sheet-like member so that a central portion of the sheet-like member protrudes toward the corona charger with respect to a circumferential direction of the photosensitive member. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158551 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus includes an image-bearing member configured to bear an image, a transfer belt to which the image on the image-bearing member is transferred and configured to transfer the image onto a sheet, a first drive unit configured to drive the image-bearing member to rotate, a second drive unit configured to drive the transfer belt to rotate via a speed reduction member interposed therebetween, a detection unit configured to detect a circumferential speed of the transfer belt, and a control unit configured to control the first drive unit in accordance with the circumferential speed of the transfer belt detected by the detection unit. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158552 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A control part provides a first region in which an image is formed on an image carrier using only a dark-color toner. The control part provides a second region, which is adjacent to the first region, in which an image is formed using a dark-color toner and a light-color toner. The control part provides a third region in which an image is formed using only a light-color toner at the boundary of the first and second regions. The control part controls a latent-image forming unit, a light-color developing unit and a dark-color developing unit so as to form an image in which these regions are provided. The control part may provide a third region in which neither a light-color toner nor a dark-color toner is used at the boundary of the first and second regions. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158553 | BELT DRIVING MECHANISM, FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING SAME, AND BELT POSITION ADJUSTMENT METHOD USED THEREIN - A belt driving mechanism includes an endless belt wound around first and second belt supporters, rotated by a driving source, a pressure member that presses against the first belt supporter via the endless belt, a deviation detector to detect a deviation of the endless belt in its thrust direction, a cam mechanism including a rotary cam shaft extending the thrust direction of the endless belt and a first pressure change member of irregular shape, and a controller to changes a rotational position of the first pressure change member according to a detection result by the deviation detector. The first pressure change member has multiple different lengths of radii between a center portion of the cam shaft and its outer circumference and is attached to the cam shaft to press a first end portion of one of the first belt supporter and the pressure member. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158554 | COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming method includes forming toner images on first and second image bearing members; transferring a first toner image on the first image bearing member and a second toner image on the second image bearing member, in mutually superposed manner, onto a recording material; heating the first and second toner image thereby fixing the same to the recording material; detecting alignment marks on the first and second image bearing members in the course of a continuous job for continuously forming images; controlling relative positions of the first toner image and the second toner image, based on a result of detection of the alignment marks; and increasing a frequency of execution of the relative position control in the continuous job, as the recording material to be subjected to image formation in the continuous job has a smaller width in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of the recording material. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158555 | TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING METHOD OF FIXING DEVICE - In a fixing device, when sheets of small width size are continuously passed and temperature rises in both side parts, a temperature control unit stops print control of an auxiliary lamp. When the temperature rise in both side parts continues after that, a drive control unit shifts the fixing device to a wait mode and pre-runs the fixing device. Moreover, in a low-temperature environment, when temperature rises in both side parts when sheets Ps of small width size are continuously passed, the temperature control unit switches temperature control of the fixing device to three-stage control. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158556 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge is detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a main assembly electrical contact. The cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a memory; a cartridge electrical contact electrically connectable to the main assembly electrical contact; a contact including the cartridge electrical contact; and a support supporting the contact. The support includes first and second regulators of the contact member in widthwise and thickness directions, respectively, with a gap therebetween. Also provided is an opening permitting insertion of the contact into the support that opens in one direction perpendicular to the widthwise and thickness directions. The main assembly electrical contact includes a spring movable by a stroke in the contact thickness direction, and the gap of the second regulator W | 2010-06-24 |
20100158557 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cooling device that cools the inside of an image forming apparatus provided with a developer carrier that carries an image developed with a developer while being rotated. The cooling device includes: a counting unit that counts an accumulative number of rotation of the developer carrier; and a fan that cools the inside of the image forming apparatus. The cooling device further includes: a calculating unit that calculates the abrasion amount of the developer carrier in which the accumulative number of rotation counted by the counting unit is used as at least one variable; and a controlling unit that actuates the fan with cooling efficiency according to the abrasion amount calculated by the calculating unit. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158558 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member configured to form a toner image thereon, a corona charger located opposite the photosensitive member and including a discharging wire and a grid electrode, a bias applying unit configured to apply a bias to the corona charger, a cleaning unit configured to perform cleaning processing by sliding in a longitudinal direction of the grid electrode to rub an inner surface of the grid electrode, and an execution unit configured to execute a cleaning mode for performing the cleaning processing by the cleaning unit while applying a bias of a polarity equal to a normal charging polarity of toner to the grid electrode by the bias applying unit. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158559 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted to an apparatus main body to form an image on a recording medium, including: a cartridge supporting member, which moves between an inside position that is positioned inside the apparatus main body and a pullout position pulled out from the inside position to an outside of the apparatus main body, while detachably supporting the plurality of cartridges; in which the plurality of cartridges are arranged side-by-side and supported on the cartridge supporting member so that a longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of cartridges is orthogonal to a pullout direction in which the cartridge supporting member moves from the inside position to the pullout position, and a cartridge, which is heaviest among the plurality of cartridges, is supported most upstream in the pullout direction. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158560 | Image Forming Device Including Lock Member That Locks Cover Member with Respect to Casing - An image forming device includes a casing, a cover member pivotable with respect to the casing between an open position and a closed position, a lock member that selectively locks and unlocks the cover member in the closed position, and a knob movable from an original position toward the open position of the cover member. The lock member is moved to an unlocking position as the knob is moved from the original position toward the open position. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158561 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE BODY, METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONDUCTIVE BASE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic photoreceptor having high performance that hardly generates image defects such as black spots, color spots, and interference fringes is provided. The electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an undercoat layer containing metal oxide particles and a binder resin on an electroconductive substrate having a maximum height surface roughness Rz in the range of 0.8≦Rz≦2 μm, and a photosensitive layer disposed on the undercoat layer, wherein the metal oxide particles have a volume average particle diameter of 0.1 μm or less and a 90% cumulative particle diameter of 0.3 μm or less which are measured by a dynamic light-scattering method in a liquid containing the undercoat layer dispersed in a solvent mixture of methanol and 1-propanol at a weight ratio of 7:3. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158562 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a light scanning unit to irradiate light corresponding to image information, to the photoconductor so as to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developing unit arranged adjacent to an optical path of the light emitted from the light scanning unit and serving to feed developer to the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed so as to form a visible image. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158563 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158564 | DEVELOPING ROLLER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The invention relates to a developing roller capable of suppressing scattering of toner during a developing process and providing a further higher-quality electrophotographic image. The developing roller has a mandrel, an elastic layer provided on the circumference of the mandrel, and a surface layer provided on the circumference of the elastic layer. The surface layer contains a urethane resin serving as a binder and urethane resin particles dispersed in the binder, for forming convex portions on the surface of the surface layer. The surface of the urethane resin particle is partly covered with fine inorganic particles containing at least one element selected from silicon, titanium and aluminum and the urethane resin particles are in direct contact with the binder at the surface onto which the fine inorganic particles are not attached. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158565 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a drum, first and second guidable portions guidable by first and second guides when the cartridge enters or advances in the main assembly, first and second regulatable portions provided at leading and trailing sides of the cartridge with respect to the advancing direction and regulated by a first main assembly regulator when the process is advancing in the main assembly, first and second positionable portions to be positioned at first and main assembly second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of a main assembly urging member after the first and second regulatable portions pass the first and second regulators, respectively. The cartridge is mounted to the main assembly with the first and second positionable portions at the first and second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of the urging member. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158566 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TRANSFER DEVICE THEREOF - An image forming apparatus and a transfer device disclosed herein are configured to move positions of transfer rollers to perform different modes of printing operation, such as black-and-white and color printing. The image forming apparatus may include a plurality of photosensitive bodies, on each of which an image may be formed, and a plurality of transfer units. Each transfer unit includes a transfer roller arranged to correspond to an associated one of the photosensitive bodies and an elastic member configured to press the transfer roller to the corresponding photosensitive body. The image forming apparatus further includes a slider configured to move along a linear direction. The slider is configured to cause at least one of the transfer rollers of the transfer units move away from the corresponding photosensitive body. The slider may be driven by a drive unit. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158567 | SHEET PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A sheet processing device including a safety unit to prevent accidental operation of the sheet processing device. The sheet processing device can include a body to receive a processing unit to process a sheet of paper and a door provided at the body to be opened from or closed to the body. The sheet processing device can further include a sensing unit to sense the presence of the sheet of paper fed into the body, and a safety unit linked with the door, the safety unit being adapted to restrict the sensing unit or release the restricted sensing unit to control operation of the sheet processing device. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158568 | BELT MEMBER FEEDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable belt member; stretching means for stretching the belt member; steering means for stretching and steering the belt member, wherein the steering means includes a rotatable portion rotatable with rotation of the belt member, a frictional portion, provided at each of opposite axial end of the rotation portion, for slidable contact with the belt member, supporting means for supporting the rotatable portion and the frictional portion, a rotation shaft rotatably supporting the supporting means, and the steering means is capable of steering the belt member by rotation thereof by forces resulting from sliding between the belt member and the frictional portion, wherein each of the frictional portions is provided with an inclined surface which is inclined to be further from a rotational axis of the rotation portion axially toward an outside, and wherein the belt member is contacted to at least one of the inclined portions. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158569 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. The image forming apparatus may include a plurality of photosensitive media, a driving unit configured to rotate the plurality of photosensitive media, a detecting unit configured to detect a rotational state of each of the plurality of photosensitive media and a controller configured to control the driving member based on the rotational state detected by the detecting unit so that two adjacent photosensitive media among the plurality of photosensitive media stop with a phase angle difference therebetween that is capable of compensating for image registration errors. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158570 | CHARGE ELIMINATOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed are a charge eliminator and an image forming apparatus having the same. The charge eliminator includes a light source array and a light guide member. The light source array includes a plurality of point light sources. The light guide member includes an incidence face through which light generated from the point light sources is introduced. The light guide member guides the light introduced through the incidence face to the photoconductor. A diffusion pattern is provided at the incidence face of the light guide member to diffuse the light introduced through the incidence face. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158571 | CORONA CHARGER INCLUDING SHUTTER - A charging device includes a corona charger for electrically charging a photosensitive member; a sheet-like member for covering and uncovering an opening of the corona charger; regulating device for regulating a shape of the sheet-like member so that a central portion of the sheet-like member protrudes toward the corona charger with respect to a widthwise direction of the sheet-like member; and a winding-up device for winding up the sheet-like member such a surface of said sheet-like member as is remote from the photosensitive member is inside. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158572 | DEVELOPER HOMOGENIZER FOR MULTI-ENGINE PRINTING SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for homogenizing developer allow variations in image quality between marking engines to be reduced. The apparatus includes a developer homogenizer in communication with the marking engines which receives developer from the first marking engine and developer from the second marking engine and combines them. A first portion of the combined developer is returned to the first marking engine for forming images therewith and a second portion of the combined developer is returned to the second marking engine for forming images therewith. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158573 | DEVELOPER SUPPLYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A developer supplying apparatus can include a first chamber and a second chamber defined within a housing. Each of the first and second chambers may include an agitator disposed therein. A magnetic body may be disposed near the first chamber to receive toner from the first chamber. A controller can determine the level of developer received in the first chamber, and to based on the determined developer level control the operations of one or more of the agitators and the magnetic body in order to ensure sufficient supply of the developer in the first chamber to reduce the occurrences of image defects, such as, for example, auger marks. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158574 | DEVELOPING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed are a developing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing unit includes a partition frame provided separately from the housing of the developing unit. The partition frame is supported within the housing of the developing unit in such a manner to define a path of movement of developer within the housing through an opening formed in the partition frame. A removable sealing member is detachably arranged on the partition frame to prevent developer leakage during storage or transporting of the developing unit. The installation of the removable sealing member is made easier by the partition frame provided separately from the housing. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158575 | TONER CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE TONER CARTRIDGE - A toner cartridge for containing toner is provided with a lever for operating the toner cartridge, and a cover partly surrounding the lever. The cover forms an uncovering area where the lever is not covered, and a user can access the lever through the uncovering area. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158576 | DEVELOPING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed are a developing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing unit includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame supports thereon a first set of processing members and includes at least one jig hole for mounting to a jig. The second frame supports thereon a second set of processing members. Several connection parts provided in the first and second frames allow assembly of the developing unit that includes a rectilinear movement and a rotational movement of the first and second frames relative to each other during the coupling together of the connection parts so as to couple the first and second frames together. The relative movement in certain direction of the frames may be limited during the relative rotational movement of the frames. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158577 | Developer Supply Device - A developer supply device carrying charged developer along a developer carrying path to a supply target, including: a carrying substrate that includes a plurality of carrying electrodes arranged along the developer carrying path and is configured to carry the developer through an electric field generated by voltage application to the plurality of carrying electrodes. The carrying substrate comprises a vertical carrying substrate provided to stand to carry the developer upward in a substantially vertical direction. The developer is supplied to the supply target around an upper end portion of the vertical carrying substrate. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158578 | DEVELOPMENT ROLLER, DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, PROCESSING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device comprises a process cartridge. The process cartridge comprises a development roller. The development roller comprises a magnet roller and a developing sleeve | 2010-06-24 |
20100158579 | TONER TRANSFER ROLLER AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE USING THE SAME - The present invention provides a toner transfer roller which exhibits decreased toner charge (Q/M) and an enhanced toner transfer rate (M/A). Specifically, the present invention provides: a toner transfer roller for a negatively chargeable toner, comprising a rotating shaft and a polyurethane foam body layer provided to surround the rotating shaft, wherein the polyurethane foam body layer contains a charge control agent which is negatively chargeable with respect to polyurethane in triboelectric series; and a toner transfer roller for a positively chargeable toner, comprising said rotating shaft and said polyurethane foam body layer, wherein said polyurethane foam body layer contains a charge control agent which is positively chargeable with respect to polyurethane in triboelectric series. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158580 | METERING SKIVE FOR A DEVELOPER ROLLER - A metering skive for a developer roller which is adapted to shear and/or meter developer at a developer-skive interface while minimizing compression of the metered developer. The metering skive is adjustable to various shear angles and has a geometry which enables a portion of the developer flow to be sheared away toward a curved second surface of the metering skive while metering the developer flow in a manner which minimizes or reduces compression of the developer. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158581 | Developing Device - The developing device includes a developing roller, a layer thickness regulating blade, a first supporting member, a second supporting member, and a securing member. The developing roller has a surface on which a developing agent is deposited. The layer thickness regulates blade that slidingly contacts the surface of the developing roller to regulate a thickness of the developing agent thereon. The first supporting member has a first pinching part and a first securing part oriented in different directions to have a first angle formed therebetween. The second supporting member having a second pinching part and a second securing part oriented in different directions to have a second angle formed therebetween, the second pinching part being urged against the first pinching part. The securing member secures the first securing part and the second securing part while pinching the layer thickness regulating blade between the first pinching part and the second pinching part. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158582 | ION GENERATING DEVICE, CHARGING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An ion generating device is arranged such that a heater electrode is wired so as to heat (i) a creeping discharge area and (ii) areas where respective terminal sections of an induction electrode, a discharge electrode, and the heater electrode are provided. This allows prevention of dew condensation and nitric acid generation in the vicinities of the respective terminal sections. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158583 | INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER MEMBER - An intermediate transfer member is provided which enables to maintain superior secondary transferability and enhanced cleaning capability and is also capable of continuing to obtain toner images of superior text reproduction and high quality without causing lack of text images even when making prints of a large number of sheets (e.g., 160,000 sheets). The intermediate transfer member for use in an image forming apparatus having a device capable of transferring a toner image carried on the surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor primarily to an intermediate transfer member, and secondarily transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material, wherein the intermediate transfer member is provided with an elastic layer on the circumference of a resin substrate and further thereon a surface layer, the surface layer exhibits a layer thickness of 10 to 500 nm, the Young's modulus of the surface of the intermediate transfer member which is determined by a nanoindentation method is 0.1 to 5.0 GPa and is 0.0 to 2.0 GPa greater than the Young's modulus of the elastic layer which is determined by a nanoindentation method. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158584 | ELECTROCONDUCTIVE ENDLESS BELT AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An electroconductive endless belt can withstand repeated continuous operation, in particular has anti-setting properties, and has consistent gloss and electrical conductivity. An image-forming apparatus including the electroconductive endless belt is also provided. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158585 | BELT MEMBER FEEDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A belt feeding apparatus includes a rotatable belt member; first and second stretching members for stretching the belt member; and steering means for steering the belt member, the steering means supports the belt member at a position adjacent to the first stretching member and to the second stretching member with respect to a rotational direction of the belt member, wherein the steering means includes rotatable portion rotatable with rotation of the belt member, a frictional portion, provided at each of opposite axial end of the rotation portion, for slidable contact with the belt member, supporting means for supporting the rotatable portion and the frictional portion, and a rotation shaft rotatably supporting the supporting means, wherein the steering means moves the belt member in the rotational axis direction by the supporting means rotating by a force produced by sliding between the belt member and the frictional portion; wherein the frictional portion is disposed substantially at a position where a plane parallel with a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis and a circumference of an ellipse formed when a sum of a distance between the first stretching member and the frictional portion and a distance between the second stretching member and the frictional portion, and wherein a steering force applied to the frictional portion is larger than a resisting force produced upon production of a steering amount per unit length, at a side toward which belt member is deviated when the belt member deviates in the rotational axis direction by the unit length. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158586 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a movable belt; a transfer member opposed to the image bearing member with the belt therebetween; wherein the transfer member has a contact surface substantially parallel with a surface of the belt and contacted to the belt, and wherein when the belt is moving, the belt rubs the contact surface, and a toner image is transferred from such a part of image bearing member as is opposed to the contact surface; and a supporting member for supporting the transfer member, the supporting member being swingable. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158587 | FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed are a fusing device with improved temperature increase and fusing performance characteristics and an image forming apparatus having the same. The fusing device can include a heater to generate heat, a fusing belt arranged around the heater, a rotating member, a press member and a heat shield unit. The rotating member may be configured to come into contact with an outer periphery of the fusing belt. The press member may be configured to be press a portion of the fusing belt toward the rotating member to define a fusing nip between the fusing belt and the rotating member. The heat shield unit configured to surround the press member to reduce the amount of heat delivered to the press member. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158588 | FUSING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fusing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The fusing unit may include a heating roller, a fusing frame to which the heating roller may be mounted, a pivoting frame to mount to the fusing frame to be rotatable about the heating roller, and a plurality of pressure rollers to mount to the pivoting frame and to be elastically supported on an outer peripheral surface of the heating roller. When paper that undergoes serious curling beyond an appropriate level is used, the pressure rollers may rotate to allow paper having passed between the heating roller and the pressure rollers to move in a path rotated by an angle corresponding to a rotation angle of the pressure rollers. This exemplary embodiment may reduce paper jam. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158589 | WHITE-OUT FOR PAPER REUSE - A method of reusing a sheet includes receiving a sheet having a printed image, scanning a new image, determining whether the sheet is acceptable for reuse, covering at least one portion of the printed image on the sheet with a white-out toner via a white-out unit, fusing the white-out toner to the at least one portion of the sheet, printing a new image onto the sheet, and performing the receiving, scanning, determining, covering, fusing and printing operations on the sheet a plurality of times. A printing device for covering and printing over a printed image includes a receiving subsystem configured to receive a sheet, a processing module configured to determine whether the sheet is acceptable for reuse, and a fuser module configured to fuse a white-out toner. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158590 | WASTE POWDER RECOVERING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A recovery port, through which waste powder is recovered, is formed at one end of a waste powder recovery container. A conveying member for conveying the waste powder, which has been recovered through the recovery port, from one end to the other end is disposed inside the waste powder recovery container. The conveying member includes a first conveying portion positioned on a side of the recovery port, for conveying the waste powder to the other end, and a second conveying portion for dispersing in a widthwise direction the waste powder conveyed by the first conveying portion. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158591 | Printing Apparatus and Printer Driver - A printing apparatus that is capable of performing two-sided printing, includes: a sheet determining unit that determines whether a sheet size that has been instructed is smaller than a predetermined standard; a one-sided/two-sided determining unit that determines whether one-sided printing or two-sided printing has been instructed; and a printing/feeding control unit that, in a case where the sheet determining unit has determined that the sheet size is smaller than the predetermined standard and the one-sided/two-sided determining unit has determined that two-sided printing has been instructed, selects short-edge feeding for performing feeding of a sheet having an orientation in which short edges of the sheet are perpendicular to a feeding direction in the printing apparatus and performs printing on the sheet. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158592 | ORIGINAL PROCESSING APPARATUS - An original processing apparatus capable of enhancing original processing ability even in the case of continuously processing a plurality of originals. In a first processing unit of the original processing apparatus, MICR characters on an original conveyed along a conveying path are read and an image of a front side of the original is read. The original is then conveyed to a position short of a second processing unit, and the next original is fed to the conveying path. When control information including print information is created based on a result of the processing by the first processing unit, the original positioned short of the second processing unit is conveyed to the second processing unit where print information is printed on the original and an image of a back side of the original is read. | 2010-06-24 |
20100158593 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLUFFER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IN AN IMAGE PRODUCTION DEVICE - A method and apparatus for fluffer environmental control in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining a media type to be used for processing a print job, determining a target relative humidity for the determined media type, measuring an ambient temperature and relative humidity, determining whether air blown from a media stack fluffer needs to be heated based on the determined target relative humidity and the measured ambient temperature and relative humidity, wherein if it is determined that the fluffer air needs to be heated, heating the fluffer air to reach target relative humidity, and processing the print job. | 2010-06-24 |