05th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 35 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090028513 | VIDEO DATA COPYING APPARATUS, VIDEO DATA COPYING METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - The present invention achieves an electronic device that, when copying video data from a high-capacity recording medium to a plurality of low-capacity recording media, prevents the video data from being divided at an unnatural position. With this electronic device, if the amount of space remaining in a copy destination recording medium is less than the size of the scene to be copied, the scene data is copied into a different copy destination recording medium in the case where the amount of time of the scene data that can be copied into the copy destination recording medium is less than or equal to a predetermined amount of time. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028514 | After-recording apparatus - An audio signal is compressively encoded into encoding-resultant audio data. A video signal is compressively encoded into encoding-resultant video data. An audio time stamp for audio-vide synchronous reproduction is added to every unit of the encoding-resultant audio data. A video time stamp for audio-video synchronous reproduction is added to every unit of the encoding-resultant video data. The time-stamp-added audio data and the time-stamp-added video data are multiplexed into main data. To a plurality of first after-recording-purpose data for at least one of (1) the encoding-resultant audio data and (2) the encoding-resultant video data which form the main data, time stamps for reproduction synchronous with a portion of the main data and identification information for identifying the plurality of first after-recording-purpose data are added to convert the first after-recording-purpose data into second after-recording-purpose data. The second after-recording-purpose data are made into bit streams without being multiplexed with the main data. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028515 | After-recording apparatus - An audio signal is compressively encoded into encoding-resultant audio data. A video signal is compressively encoded into encoding-resultant video data. An audio time stamp for audio-vide synchronous reproduction is added to every unit of the encoding-resultant audio data. A video time stamp for audio-video synchronous reproduction is added to every unit of the encoding-resultant video data. The time-stamp-added audio data and the time-stamp-added video data are multiplexed into main data. To a plurality of first after-recording-purpose data for at least one of (1) the encoding-resultant audio data and (2) the encoding-resultant video data which form the main data, time stamps for reproduction synchronous with a portion of the main data and identification information for identifying the plurality of first after-recording-purpose data are added to convert the first after-recording-purpose data into second after-recording-purpose data. The second after-recording-purpose data are made into bit streams without being multiplexed with the main data. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028516 | After-recording apparatus - An audio signal is compressively encoded into encoding-resultant audio data. A video signal is compressively encoded into encoding-resultant video data. An audio time stamp for audio-vide synchronous reproduction is added to every unit of the encoding-resultant audio data. A video time stamp for audio-video synchronous reproduction is added to every unit of the encoding-resultant video data. The time-stamp-added audio data and the time-stamp-added video data are multiplexed into main data. To a plurality of first after-recording-purpose data for at least one of (1) the encoding-resultant audio data and (2) the encoding-resultant video data which form the main data, time stamps for reproduction synchronous with a portion of the main data and identification information for identifying the plurality of first after-recording-purpose data are added to convert the first after-recording-purpose data into second after-recording-purpose data. The second after-recording-purpose data are made into bit streams without being multiplexed with the main data. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028517 | REAL-TIME NEAR DUPLICATE VIDEO CLIP DETECTION METHOD - There is provided a near duplicate video detection system. The system includes (a) a video clip acquisition module arranged to produce a video clip in machine readable data format defining a plurality of frames, (b) an image feature extractor in communication with the video clip acquisition module arranged to perform image feature extraction in respect of the frames and produce corresponding image feature extraction data in electronic format, (c) a feature vector generator in communication with the image feature extractor arranged to process the image feature extraction data to produce feature vector data in an electronic format corresponding to each of the frames, and (d) a summarization module responsive to the feature vector generator and arranged to convert the feature vector data into a summarization of the video clip in machine readable format. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028518 | PERSONALIZATION OF MASS-DUPLICATED MEDIA - A process and facility supports recipient-specific customization of mass-duplicated tapes. Video from a master tape is passed through a VBI encoder whose output feeds two or more overlay units, each associated with a tape recorder. Recipient-specific watermarking instructions and address information for each tape are fed to the VBI encoder where they are encoded into the VBI of the video. Each overlay unit reads the VBI and decodes the address, and if relevant for that unit, applies the overlays to the video, which is recorded by its associated recording deck. Optionally, each tape and overlay unit includes a barcode that is scanned into a database where associations between tapes and the overlays are stored. Alternatively, high-density barcode labels that include the overlay instructions are printed and applied to tapes. The barcodes are scanned into the overlay units and applied following the receipt of a timecode or other trigger. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028519 | Recording medium having data structure for manging reproduction of still pictures recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses - The recording medium includes a data structure with at least one playlist file stored in a playlist area of the recording medium. The playlist file includes at least one playitem, at least one sub-playitem and mark information. The playitem provides navigation information for reproducing at least one still picture from a first file. The sub-playitem is associated with the playitem and provides navigation information for reproducing audio data from a second file. The mark information includes at least one mark pointing to the still picture. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028520 | DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER COLLABORATION AND SIMILAR MEDIA SEGMENT DETERMINATION - In one embodiment, a method for performing actions with media information using a digital video recorder is provided. In one embodiment, a user may mark a media segment in media using a digital video recorder. Characteristics for the media segment are then determined. A second media segment in second media may then be determined. For example, the second media segment may have similar characteristics to the first media segment. In one example, an advertisement that is similar to the advertisement marked as the first media segment may be determined. An action may then be performed with the second media segment. For example, the second media segment may be removed from the second media. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028521 | AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING METHOD AND AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS - Recording reservation information of a plurality of programs is grouped and at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the basis of the reservation information is left on a recording medium. Therefore, a program information registration unit to register a plurality of items of recording reservation information as groups and a reserved program recording control unit to record the reserved programs onto the recording medium and leave at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the recording medium to delete the others on the basis of the reservation information. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028522 | AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING METHOD AND AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS - Recording reservation information of a plurality of programs is grouped and at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the basis of the reservation information is left on a recording medium. Therefore, a program information registration unit to register a plurality of items of recording reservation information as groups and a reserved program recording control unit to record the reserved programs onto the recording medium and leave at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the recording medium to delete the others on the basis of the reservation information. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028523 | AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING METHOD AND AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS - Recording reservation information of a plurality of programs is grouped and at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the basis of the reservation information is left on a recording medium. Therefore, a program information registration unit to register a plurality of items of recording reservation information as groups and a reserved program recording control unit to record the reserved programs onto the recording medium and leave at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the recording medium to delete the others on the basis of the reservation information. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028524 | AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING METHOD AND AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS - Recording reservation information of a plurality of programs is grouped and at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the basis of the reservation information is left on a recording medium. Therefore, a program information registration unit to register a plurality of items of recording reservation information as groups and a reserved program recording control unit to record the reserved programs onto the recording medium and leave at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the recording medium to delete the others on the basis of the reservation information. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028525 | AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING METHOD AND AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS - Recording reservation information of a plurality of programs is grouped and at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the basis of the reservation information is left on a recording medium. Therefore, a program information registration unit to register a plurality of items of recording reservation information as groups and a reserved program recording control unit to record the reserved programs onto the recording medium and leave at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the recording medium to delete the others on the basis of the reservation information. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028526 | INFORMATION RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - An information recording device ( | 2009-01-29 |
20090028527 | AUDIO/VIDEO (A/V) APPARATUS AND METHOD TO DISPLAY DEVICE INFORMATION - An audio/video (AN) apparatus to display device information and a method thereof. The AN apparatus includes a manipulator to input an output command for device information in a standby mode, and a controller to control displaying the device information including remaining memory capacity information in the standby mode when the output command is input through the manipulator. Accordingly, a user can easily check the device information regardless of a power state, unnecessary booting time can be reduced, and the device information can be easily checked using a single button. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028528 | AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO GENERATION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF GENERATING AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO SIGNALS - A camera configured to generate audio/video signals, the camera including a recording unit configured to record the audio/video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor configured to generate automatically meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals in response to the audio/video signals, a wireless communications processor configured to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium, and a communications interface configured to communicate the automatically generated meta data to a personal data processing apparatus and to receive user generated meta data from the personal data processing apparatus. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028529 | Managing Recording of Television Programs - Described herein are systems and methods for providing consumers with intelligent management of their personal or digital video recorders (DVRs) to efficiently utilize the data storage medium therein for recording television programs. This is made possible by the creation of a permanent log of previous-recorded content on the DVR based on common, unique content identification or associated metadata, which then allows the consumers to better manage DVR recording of selected content. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028530 | RECORDING APPARATUS, REPRODUCING APPARATUS, RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, RECORDING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A recording apparatus is disclosed. The recording apparatus includes a data input portion configured to input data, a first moving image signal recording portion configured to record, based on the input data, a first moving image signal having a first image quality attribute, a condition detector configured to detect that the input data satisfies a predetermined condition during recording of the first moving image signal, and a second moving image signal recorder configured to record, based on the input data, a second moving image signal having a second image quality attribute when the condition detector detects that the input data satisfies the predetermined condition. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028531 | INFORMATION RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - An information recording apparatus ( | 2009-01-29 |
20090028532 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR DRIVING A BRUSHLESS DC MOTOR - A delta type inverter is used in conjunction with a closed-loop motor controller to provide a control device for driving a three phase brushless direct current motor. The delta inverter has one-half of the solid state switching devices and diodes required by conventional bridge type inventers, thereby improved reliability, and enabling the motor control device to have reduced size, cost and weight. The closed-loop motor controller may include a torque loop for reducing torque ripple during operation of the motor. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028533 | Tank Heating System - The invention relates to a tank heating system, in particular for a urea tank of an internal combustion engine, comprising: a housing ( | 2009-01-29 |
20090028534 | Device for Heating an Air Stream in a Motor Vehicle - A heating device for heating an air stream in a motor vehicle has at least one heating layer, preferably consisting of electrically heatable material, and at least one air-throughflow layer through which the air stream can pass. The air-throughflow layer has a structure by which the air stream can be converted into a turbulent or diffuse flow. For this purpose, the structure of the air-throughflow layer preferably has a multiplicity of spacer threads, webs and wires, or the like. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028535 | WATERPROOF HOUSING - A waterproof housing is provided with an engaging member that can engage with rotary members provided respectively on a plurality of cameras. The rotary members can be rotated from the outside of the waterproof housing. Accordingly, the plurality of cameras can be stored and operated selectively in a single waterproof housing. For example, the engaging member can be configured in such a manner that a plurality of multiple recessed portions are provided concentrically so that each one of the plurality of rotary members can be fitted to any one of the recessed portion out of the multiple recessed portions. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028536 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING AN ACCELERATION TO DETERMINE A CAMERA DOME'S REQUIRED MOTOR HOLDING CURRENT - A system and method for reducing vibration in a dome camera security system is provided in which the heat produced by the motors is reduced as well. The dome camera system is equipped with an acceleration detecting circuit disposed in close proximity to the camera. The acceleration detecting circuit has an accelerometer for detecting accelerations in any of three directions (i.e., X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis). As a vibration is induced on the camera by external forces, such as wind or traffic, the acceleration detection circuit detects accelerations indicative of the vibrations and in proportion to the magnitude of the vibration on the camera. A controlling circuit adjusts the holding current of the motors in response to the detected accelerations, thereby increasing the ability of the motors to maintain a particular camera position. When vibrations are detected to be minimal or not present, the holding current can be reduced thus reducing heat production by the motors. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028537 | PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A photographing apparatus including: a photographing means that photographs a subject to obtain an image representing the subject by receiving an instruction to perform photographing; a camera shake correction means constructed to be driven in a direction different from the optical axis of the photographing means and corrects a camera shake induced blur of an image to be obtained by the photographing; and a correction system driving means that receives an instruction to perform main photographing and initiates driving of the camera shake correction means from a first predetermined position during a period from the time when the instruction to perform main photographing is given to the time when the subject is photographed, and drives the camera shake correction means to a second predetermined position during a period from the time when the driving is initiated to the time when the main photographing is performed. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028538 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSOR AND AUTOMATIC-FOCUS CAMERA USING THE SAME - A solid-state image sensor for automatic focus with highly precise automatic focus performance is realized at low cost. In the solid-state image sensor for automatic focus which has paired linear sensors (L | 2009-01-29 |
20090028539 | FOCUS ADJUSTING METHOD AND FOCUS ADJUSTING DEVICE - A focus adjusting method for adjusting focus by moving a focusing lens group of a photographing optical system, wherein the focus adjusting method includes a first search stage at which a focus search operation is performed based on an image formed in a large focus area while the focusing lens group is moved stepwise over an entire range of movement thereof from the near extremity to the far extremity, and a second search stage at which the focus search operation is performed, based on images formed in small focus areas, at front and rear close vicinities of the in-focus position while the focusing lens group is moved stepwise over a portion of the entire range of movement thereof. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028540 | AUTO-FOCUSING OPTICAL APPARATUS WITH FOCUS DETECTION AREA SETTING CAPABILITY - An optical apparatus is disclosed, with which focus detection areas of different size and/or position can be stored. The optical apparatus includes a first operating member which is operated changing at least one of a size and a position of a focus detection area, a memory storing a plurality of focus detection areas which differ from each other in at least one of size and position, a second operating member which is operated for setting one of the plurality of stored focus detection areas as a to-be-used focus detection area for detection of the focus state of an image-taking optical system. The apparatus further includes a controller performing storage and setting processes of the focus detection areas and a focusing control of the image-taking optical system. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028541 | Movable flash adapter - An adapter connected to a camera providing a rapidly movable support of a camera flash between flash positions favorable to a portrait and a landscape camera orientation, including a annular track, such as provided on a portion of an annular band mounted forward of the camera body, typically concentric with the lens axis. The arcuate portion provides a track on which a flash holder rides and is retained, wherein the flash holder includes opposing rolling members to engage parallel members of the arcuate portion therebetween and roll thereon as the flash holder moves from one location to another. By substantially surrounding the lens instead of the camera body, the present invention provides a flexible compact flash adapter which further protects the camera lens. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028542 | ACTIVE CAMERA APPARATUS AND ROBOT APPARATUS - An outer body of ball shell type has an opening. A camera is located in the outer body and receives an image from outside of the outer body through the opening. A camera support unit is located in the outer body and rotationally supports the camera along a first axis and a second axis mutually crossed at a center of the outer body. A first camera actuator is located in the outer body and rotationally actuates the camera around the first axis. A second camera actuator is located in the outer body and rotationally actuates the camera around the second axis. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028543 | APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING PIPE WITHOUT SUSPENSION OF WATER SUPPLY AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An apparatus for photographing a pipe without suspension of water supply and a system for controlling the same are disclosed. According to present invention, the interior of the pipe can be photographed by inserting the camera into the pipe and moving and rotating the camera without halting water supply, and information about the movement and rotation of the camera can be produced. A problem of discontinuance of using the whole pipe due to photographing of the interior of the pipe can be prevented. The camera can accurately photograph respective portions in the pipe by precisely moving forward/backward and rotating left/right or up/down. Since information about a practical position in the pipe with respect to the photographed image is provided, a user can accurately grasp a defect-position in the pipe, and can easily control the camera. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028544 | Microscope system and microscope observation method - A microscope system that shifts a plurality of observation locations that are set upon an observation subject in order onto an optical axis of an objective optical system, and for each of the observation locations, performs photography with an image-capturing device of an observation image of the observation subject a plurality of times as time elapses, includes: a drive unit that drives a stage upon which the observation subject is mounted, and the objective optical system, relative to one another two dimensionally indirections orthogonal to the optical axis; a position detection unit that detects at least one of positions of the stage and the objective optical system; and a correction unit that, based upon position information detected by the position detection unit, performs trimming correction upon a plurality of photographic images that have been photographed at each observation location as time elapses, so that the plurality of photographic images become images of a same observation region that includes the observation location. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028545 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A first cam gear (a shutter cam gear) and a second cam gear (a mirror cam gear) are driven to successively realize a first phase (a stop phase), a second phase (a live view phase), and a third phase (a shooting phase). | 2009-01-29 |
20090028546 | CAMERA MODULE - A camera module including a lens system with at least one lens is capable of capturing a still image and a moving picture. The camera module includes a housing containing the lens system with an opening on a surface thereof facing an object of the lens system. An aperture diaphragm can be selectively positioned between the object and the lens system for a still image and/or a moving picture. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028547 | CARTRIDGE TYPE ATTACHMENT LENS FOR A DIGITAL CAMERA - A cartridge type attachment lens arranged in front of a digital camera for receiving card lenses is disclosed. A cuboid shell is removably fixed on a camera lens. There is a battery and a lighting unit as a light source for the close-up photography in the shell. A plurality of parallel slots are disposed on one lateral side of the shell, and each slot extends inwards to form a sliding groove in the shell for accommodating the card lens. Multiple card lenses can be inserted the shell to form arbitrary permutation and combination. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028548 | Operation and construction method of network using multi-rate interface panel - The present invention provides a network at a low cost with a reduced number of components and simple management among networks anticipated to become more and more complicated, the network being capable of quick pass change upon service addition/change and failure occurrence. Namely, the present invention realizes a network configuration unnecessary for replacement of interface panels upon pass change, by using a multi-rate compatible interface panel capable of freely changing a signal type to be processed, under control of an upper level operation. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028549 | System and Method for Suppressing Beat Noise in Line Monitoring Equipment - A system and method for suppressing beat noise in line monitoring equipment. A wavelength dither generator wavelength modulates a carrier wavelength of a test signal laser transmitter. A test code is modulated on the dithered carrier wavelength to provide a test signal output of the line monitoring equipment. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028550 | System and Method Using Differential Loop Gain for Fault Identification in Line Monitoring Equipment - A system and method using differential loop gain for fault analysis in line monitoring equipment. Differential loop gain data is calculated from loop gain data, and fault analysis is conducted using differential loop gain data, e.g. by comparing the differential loop gain data to predefined fault signatures. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028551 | DYNAMIC DIGITAL DIAGNOSTIC ALERTS - Alerts, such as laser driver current alarms, are triggered in an optoelectronic device based on dynamic digital diagnostics, such as operating temperature. Optoelectronic devices may execute microcode structured to represent a formulaic relation between a first parameter (e.g., temperature) and an indicator value for a second parameter (e.g., laser driver current). The microcode may further be structured to cause the optoelectronic device to access the first parameter, calculate an indicator value for the second parameter based on the accessed first parameter using the formulaic relation, access the second parameter, and compare the indicator value with the second parameter to determine whether to trigger an alert. If the second parameter exceeds the indicator value, the alert may be triggered, and may be indicative of potentially imminent optoelectronic device failure. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028552 | System and Method for Wavelength Monitoring and Control - A system and method using for wavelength monitoring and control in a WDM optical communication system. An aggregate channel monitor detects crosstalk between channels in the aggregate signal. Channel spacing may be modified by an element management system in response to the output of the aggregate channel monitor. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028553 | Method and apparatus of detecting abnormal behavior in a passive optical network (PON) - Environmental conditions, such as temperature or wind load, may cause a fiber-optic link to expand or contract, resulting in upstream communications drift. Current methods compensate for such drift assuming it is caused by environmental conditions; however, these methods cannot determine abnormal behavior due to fiber faults that magnify the effect of environmental changes. An example embodiment of the invention provides a method and corresponding apparatus for detecting abnormal drift behavior in a passive optical network (PON) and may include monitoring a metric representative of drift of upstream communications for an optical network unit (ONU) in a PON. The example method may detect and report abnormal behavior in the PON that cannot be fully attributed to “normal” environmental conditions, and indicate a possible fiber cable fault. An ability to detect fiber link faults may allow a system operator to proactively maintain the physical fiber before service interruptions affect an end-user. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028554 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SAMPLED OPTICAL SIGNAL MONITORING - Monitoring an optical signal comprises sampling the optical signal from two or more distinct tap points to retrieve a sample set. Multiple such sample sets are obtained over time. A joint probability distribution or phase portrait of the sample sets is assessed for indications of optical signal quality. The tap distinction can be polarisation, for example to determine OSNR, or frequency. The tap distinction can be a time delay, which can enable diagnostic differentiation between multiple impairments, such as OSNR, dispersion, PMD, jitter, Q, and the like. Machine learning algorithms are particularly suitable for such diagnosis, particularly when provided a two dimensional histogram of sample density in the phase portrait. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028555 | OPTICAL FILTER - An apparatus and method are provided for filtering an optical signal by wavelength. An initially polarised signal is passed through a DGD element effective to alter the polarisation state of the components of the signal according to wavelength. A polarisation filter (polariser) is then provided to attenuate light having given polarisation states from the signal, thereby attenuating the wavelengths associated with said polarisation states. The invention finds particularly utility in the domain of vestigial sideband filtering, allowing the bandwidth of signals within a wavelength division multiplexed system to be reduced without introducing the deleterious effects associated with conventional wavelength filters. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028556 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING THE POWER LEVEL OF TWO OR MORE OPTICAL TRANSMITTERS - Methods and apparatus for monitoring the power level of one or more optical emitters are provided. In some embodiments, optical signals from two or more optical emitters are directed at different regions of a photo detector. The photo detector may include two or more spaced contacts that are adapted to receive different contributions of photo current from each of the optical signals. By monitoring the photo currents in the two or more spaced contacts, a measure of the optical power of each of the optical signals may be determined. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028557 | INSERTABLE EMI SHIELD CLIP FOR USE IN OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER MODULES - The embodiments disclosed herein relate an insertable shield clip for use in controlling electromagnetic interference in an optical transceiver module. The optical transceiver module may include a shell that houses first and second optical subassemblies and an enclosure that cooperates with the shell in defining a covering for the optical transceiver module. The shield clip may comprise a body composed of conductive material. The body may include first and second vertical side members. The body may also include first and second shield members that are each configured to receive a corresponding nosepiece of one of the first and second optical subassemblies. The body may further include a bottom member that interconnects the first and second vertical side members and the first and second shield members. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028558 | Method for providing visible light communication in a visible light communication system - A method of providing a visible light communication in a data link layer of a visible light communication system adopting an infrared communication link connection protocol includes: broadcasting a discovery exchange station identification (D-XID) frame; generating a visible frame to provide a visibility to a link for a specified waiting time period for responding to the broadcast D-XID frame; exchanging a set normal response mode (SNRM) frame and an unnumbered acknowledgement (UA) frame for requesting a link setting between the transmitting and receiving terminals; generating visible frames for a waiting time for receiving the SNRM frame and the UA frame; exchanging an information transfer frame (I-frame) and a receive ready (RR) frame, which is a response to the I-frame, between the transmitting and receiving terminals; and generating visible frames for a specified waiting period for receiving the I-frame and the RR frame. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028559 | Method and System for Designing a Network - A design of a network is determined to connect a plurality of central offices (COs) to a video hub office (VHO) using a plurality of fiber path pairs, respectively. In the design, each of the fiber path pairs is a lowest-cost, node-disjoint path pair between its respective one of the COs and the VHO independent of a cost of adding new fiber to the network. The design is modified to reduce the cost of adding new fiber to the network by re-routing traffic from at least one of the fiber path pairs to at least one other fiber path pair. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028560 | System and Method for Implementing Dynamic Scheduling of Data in a Non-Blocking All-Optical Switching Network - A non-blocking optical matrix core switching method that includes maintaining a schedule for routing data through an optical matrix core and receiving and analyzing reports from peripheral devices. The method determines whether the schedule is adequate for the current data traffic patterns and if the schedule is not adequate a new schedule is implemented. The new schedule is then transferred to the peripheral devices for implementation and the new schedule is transferred to the optical matrix core scheduler. Implementation of the new schedule as the schedule on the peripheral devices and the optical matrix core scheduler is then performed. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028561 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND NODE DEVICE FOR REALIZING SERVICE PROTECTION IN AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED OPTICAL NETWORK - A method for realizing service protection in the automatically switched optical network includes following steps: after any defect occurs on the working paths that carry the service, the first node and the last node of the working paths sends the requests to restore the paths setup in opposite directions, respectively; at least one intermediate node in the restoration path establishes a connection according to the restoration path setup request, and forwards the restoration path setup request hop by hop, until the setup of the recovering path is finished; the service is switched from the working paths to the restoration paths. A system for realizing service protection and a node device in an ASON is also provided. The paths restoration process can be faster obviously using this invention, and the restoration time can be shortened, and the work efficiency and reliability can be improved, and the service can be ensured to be restored. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028562 | BIDIRECTIONAL OPTICAL AMPLIFIER ARRANGEMENT - The invention relates to a bidirectional optical amplifier array (VA) which is preferably used in a passive optical network (PON) system, is disposed between a first line termination (OLT) and a second line termination (ONU), and is penetrated by an optical downstream signal (OSD) in one direction and an optical upstream signal (OSD) in the opposite direction. Said optical amplifier array is composed of a first part with two branching and combining units (D | 2009-01-29 |
20090028563 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION/RECEPTION DEVICE AND OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING THE SAME - An optical transmission/reception device includes at least one light emitting portion and at least one light receiving portion on the same substrate. The light emitting portion includes at least a lower multilayer reflector and an active layer provided on the lower multilayer reflector. A metal layer including a plurality of opening portions is provided in an upper portion of the light emitting portion. Each of the opening portions has a size smaller than a light emission wavelength of the light emitting portion. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028564 | Dual Broadcast and Narrowcast Systems and Methods - Various embodiments of dual broadcast and narrowcast systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises the steps of receiving optical narrowcast signals and converting the optical narrowcast signals to a radio frequency (RF) domain at a first photodiode, receiving optical broadcast signals and converting the optical broadcast signals to the radio frequency (RF) domain at a second photodiode, and combining the RF domain narrowcast and broadcast signals for transmission over a medium. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028565 | Monitoring mechanisms for optical systems - This application describes optical monitoring devices and applications in optical systems for monitoring various optical parameters of light, including the signal to noise ratio, the degree of polarization, and the differential group delay (DGD). | 2009-01-29 |
20090028566 | System and Method for Signaling Between Elements in an Undersea Optical Communication System and System Incorporating the Same - A system for signaling between elements in an undersea optical communication system including a cable signal generator. The signal generator includes line current modulation circuitry configured to impart modulation in line current provided on a power conductor of the transmission cable. A method of signaling between elements in an undersea optical communication system includes modulating a line current through an element and detecting the modulated current. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028567 | Method and Device for Tunable Optical Filtering - An optical device includes an optical splitter having an input port, a first output port, a second output port and a resonant structure including at least a resonator, the optical splitter being adapted to receive at the input port a WDM optical signal and to output at the first and second output ports, respectively, a first and a second portion of the optical signal, the second portion including the channels lying on a sub-grid of optical frequencies spaced by an integer multiple of the WDM frequency spacing; an optical combiner having a first input port, a second input port, an output port and adapted to receive at the first and second input ports, respectively, the first and the second portions and adapted to output them at said output port; a first optical path optically connecting the first output port of the optical splitter to the first input port of the optical combiner so as to propagate the first portion; a second optical path optically connecting the second output port of the optical splitter to the second input port of the optical combiner so as to propagate the second portion; and an optical filter optically coupled to the second optical path, wherein the optical combiner includes at least one resonant structure including at least a resonator. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028568 | Multi-protocol infrared receiver - A receiver includes a single infrared (IR) sensor, which is coupled to sense an IR signal carrying data and to produce an electrical signal responsively to the IR signal. The receiver further includes multiple receiver channels arranged to accept the electrical signal from the single IR sensor, each receiver channel configured to process the electrical signal in accordance with a different, respective IR remote control protocol so as to extract the data, and to output the extracted data to a host system. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028569 | Optimum DC bias for an electro-optic switch - A method for balancing optical transmission for a first ON state and a second ON state of an electro-optic switch having an RF input port and a DC port, in one implementation, comprises the steps of associating a positive RF voltage with the first ON state of the electro-optic switch, associating a negative RF voltage with the second ON state of the electro-optic switch, wherein absolute value of the negative RF voltage associated with the second ON state is approximately equal to the positive RF voltage associated with the first ON state, and balancing optical transmission of the first ON state and the second ON state by adjusting a voltage applied to the DC port to obtain minimum optical transmission in an OFF state of the electro-optic switch. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028570 | OPTICAL-TO-ELECTRICAL CONVERTER AND ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER THEREOF - An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal is disclosed. The ADC includes a detection module, a first P-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor, a first N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor, a first switch unit, and an output module. The first PMOS transistor and the first NMOS transistor form an inverter. The first switch unit is disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal of the inverter and is turned on/off according to a first control signal. The output module is coupled to the output terminal of the inverter for counting the time that an input voltage is greater than a reference voltage and generating a digital signal. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028571 | ELECTRICAL SIGNAL TRANSMISSION MODULE, METHOD OF TRANSMITTING ELECTRIC SIGNALS AND ELECTRICAL INSPECTION APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An electrical signal transmission module includes a plurality of optical signal lines and a plurality of electrical signal lines. The plurality of optical signal lines converting a first externally input electrical signal into an optical signal, transmitting the optical signal, converting the optical signal back into the first electrical signal, and outputting the first electrical signal. The plurality of electrical signal lines transmitting a second externally input electrical signal and outputting the second electrical signal. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028572 | FREE-SPACE OPTICAL RECEIVING APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THAT APPARATUS - A free-space optical receiving apparatus in one embodiment of the invention is provided with: a signal receiving light-sensitive element that converts an infrared signal to an electric current signal; a current-voltage conversion circuit that converts the electric current signal to a voltage signal; a shared processing circuit that amplifies this voltage signal, performs digital conversion on the voltage signal, and outputs a digital signal; and a mode conversion circuit that switches the shared processing circuit to a remote control mode when an infrared signal is received, and switches the shared processing circuit to an IrSimple mode when an IrSimple signal is received. The shared processing circuit converts the remote control signal to a digital signal when in the remote control mode, and converts the IrSimple signal to a digital signal when in the IrSimple mode. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028573 | MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS VIA AN OPTICAL SIGNAL DURING ADVERSE ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS - A communications system for wireless transceiving of information, comprising at least one multiple optical beam scanning array transceiver located in a satellite for wirelessly transceiving the information; and at least two terminals at diverse locations capable of wirelessly transceiving the information between the terminals and the satellite, and an apparatus for determining atmospheric conditions for use in adjusting the multiple beam scanning array transceiver parameters. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028574 | SELF-TESTING OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER - Systems and methods for an optical transceiver module to perform one or more diagnostic self-tests without the assistance of a host computing system. The optical transceiver module includes at least one processor, a persistent memory and a system memory. The persistent memory, which is coupled to the at least one processor, contains microcode. The microcode is loaded from the persistent memory to the system memory and executed by the at least one processor. The executed microcode causes the optical transceiver module to perform one or more diagnostic self-tests. The diagnostic result data of the one or more diagnostic self-tests is then stored in the persistent memory and is formatted for analysis. The formatted data may then be analyzed to ascertain the response of the optical transceiver to changes in its test environment. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028575 | Fiber Orientation for Optical Transceiver - A compact optical transceiver is provided in which a substrate provides for an alignment surface for optical fibers and a lens assembly provides the necessary optical paths for coupling to photodiode and photodetector structures. Appropriate electrical connections on the substrate enable the substrate to be directly connected to a printed circuit board, grid array socket, and the like. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028576 | Frequency-Domain Equalization of the Fiber Optic Channel - Systems and methods for frequency-domain compensation in optical communication systems. In pre-equalization embodiments, the transmitter transforms the data stream into a frequency domain signal and applies a compensation filter before transforming it back into a pre-distorted time domain signal. As the pre-distorted time domain signal propagates through the optical channel, optical dispersion effects counter the pre-distortion, producing an equalized signal at the channel output. In post-equalization embodiments, the receiver transforms the received signal into a frequency domain signal and applies a compensation filter before transforming it back into an equalized time domain signal. Pre-equalization may prove less expensive due to the square-law characteristic of photodetectors employed by most receivers. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028577 | OPTICAL REPEATER CONVERTING WAVELENGTH AND BIT RATE BETWEEN NETWORKS - An optical repeater which includes a wavelength converter and a bit rate converter. The wavelength converter converts a wavelength of an optical signal from a first optical network to a wavelength of a second optical network. The bit rate converter converts a bit rate of the optical signal from the first optical network to a bit rate of the second optical network. The optical repeater transmits the optical signal from the first optical network to the second optical network at the converted bit rate and wavelength. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028578 | Hybrid Optical and Electrical Fiber Optic Link Linearizer - Techniques and systems for reducing nonlinear distortions in an output optical beam from an optical transmitter by using both electrical pre-distortion compensation and optical compensation. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028579 | FIBER OPTIC LINK HAVING AN INTEGRATED LASER AND PHOTODETECTOR CHIP - A fiber optic communications link is disclosed that can include first and second nodes operably connected by a multi-mode optical fiber and that utilizes two distinct optical wavelengths for enabling the bidirectional transfer of data via the optical fiber between the first and second nodes. Each node can include an integrated transmitter/receiver chip that includes a substrate, an optical receiver or transmitter, a filter, and an optical transmitter or receiver. The transmitter of the chip at the first node can be configured to transmit, via the optical fiber, optical data on one wavelength for conversion to an electrical signal by the receiver of the chip at the second node. Simultaneously, the transmitter of the chip at the second node can be configured to transmit, via the optical fiber, optical data on another wavelength for conversion to an electrical signal by the receiver of the chip at the first node. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028580 | Optical reception apparatus and controlling method thereof - The optical reception apparatus of the invention branches into two an RZ-DQPSK optical signal input from an optical transmission path via an optical amplifier, respectively sends this to delay interferometers and photoelectric converters on a pair of arms, separately detects a number of generated errors for the signals propagating through the arms in an error-number detection circuit, obtains a difference in the respective number of generated errors in an error-number detector, and controls phase shift in the delay interferometers so that the difference is within a preset tolerance. By so doing, it is possible to realize excellent reception performance by suppressing the occurrence of the burst error. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028581 | Burst mode optical receiver and system and method therefor - A communications system includes an optical receiver for receiving optical signals and for converting the optical signals into electrical signals, a transimpedance amplifier (“TIA”) for filtering the electrical signals, a limiting amplifier coupled with the TIA, an automatic threshold control (“ATC”) coupled with the TIA for providing a reference voltage for the limiting amplifier. The ATC further includes a common emitter circuit and an emitter follower circuit, wherein logic high signals and logical low signals in the electrical signals are determined based on the reference voltage output from the ATC. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028582 | Image Forming Apparatus and Method of Setting the Same - An image forming apparatus can be so set as to allow or not to allow a low price consumable cartridge to operate with it. It can take a status where “00” is stored in the apparatus status recording memory thereof that allows it to be loaded with an ordinary toner cartridge or a low price toner cartridge supplied by the same manufacturer such that it operates normally when it is loaded with an ordinary toner cartridge but only limitedly when loaded with a low price toner cartridge and a status where 01 is stored in the apparatus status recording memory thereof so that it operates normally regardless if it is loaded with an ordinary toner cartridge or a low price toner cartridge. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028583 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Time required for setting a print mode in a print standby state is shortened, in performing recovering operation. In an attachment state of consumable units on an image forming apparatus, information of the consumable unit memorized in nonvolatile memories of consumable units is memorized in a second nonvolatile memory, and after the print mode is set in an unprintable state, recovering operation having possibility of replacing the consumable units is performed. Thereafter, whether the same consumable units as those before the unprintable state are attached to the image forming apparatus is determined. At this time, a signal based on the information of the consumable units memorized in the nonvolatile memory is transmitted to a bus connected to a plurality of nonvolatile memories, and when there is a reply of a part of the information in the nonvolatile memories to this transmission, it is determined that the same consumable units as those before the unprintable state are attached to the image forming apparatus. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028584 | Device That Enables Blanket Diagnostics And Proof For Web Presses - Example embodiments of systems and methods for performing blanket diagnostics and proofing are disclosed. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028585 | Interactive visual card-selection process for mitigating light-area banding in a pagewide array - Preferably, test-patterns print on separate, multiple print-medium cards, each including a ramp with colors graded along a certain direction—and, superimposed on the ramp, a candidate add-on colorant. Ramps preferably are printed in so-called “customer colors”, common in snapshots and particularly snapshot regions that include sky. Positions or amounts of the candidate add-on colorant canvass a likely range of values that optimize camouflaging or suppression of a banding artifact (due to seams in the pagewide array) that is extended along the same certain direction. For each seam and each “customer color” used, an operator holds up several cards for comparison, selecting the best one to three. Operators thus can evaluate candidate colorant patterns in context of many different tones of the sky and other customer colors. Preferably banding suppression is integrated with linearization: at each seam a series of linearization tables is smoothly interpolated between measurement-based tables for adjacent inkjet dice. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028586 | Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and control program therefor - An image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a control program therefor. The apparatus includes an image processing control unit to process image information sent from an external device, a carriage to move in a main scanning direction according to a control signal sent from the image processing control unit and having a nozzle to discharge an ink onto a recording medium, a conveyance unit to convey the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, and a conveyance failure detection unit to detect a status of the recording medium. The image processing control unit identifies a type of a conveyance failure among a plurality of types of conveyance failures based on the status of the recording medium output from the conveyance failure detection unit and sends a conveyance failure correction signal to perform an operation for retracting the carriage to a predetermined or desired position in the main scanning direction. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028587 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image based on image data onto a recording medium, a fixing device configured to thermally fix the toner image transferred onto the recording medium, a stack tray configured to stack a recording medium conveyed from the fixing device, and a controller configured to calculate based on the image data an amount of a toner on a top surface of the recording media stacked on the stack tray and an amount of a toner on a bottom surface of the recording media to be subsequently conveyed and discharged onto the stack tray and to control a recording medium discharge interval based on a result of calculating the amounts of the toners. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028588 | CONTROLLING TIMING FOR STARTING IMAGE FORMATION - Exemplary embodiments provide an apparatus, method, system, computer program and product, each capable of controlling a timing for starting image formation such that when forming a preceding image and a following image, a timing for starting formation of the following image is adjusted based on a timing for starting the preceding image. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028589 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus capable of minimizing color mis-registration due to runout of gears is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive bodies having transfer points to transfer images onto a transfer object, a driving source to drive at least two photosensitive bodies of the plurality of photosensitive bodies, and a driving gear train to transmit driving power from the driving source to the at least two photosensitive bodies. The driving gear train includes photosensitive body shaft gears respectively connected to the photosensitive bodies driven by the driving source, and connecting gears to transmit the driving power to the photosensitive body shaft gears. When any one of the photosensitive body shaft gears is set to a reference photosensitive body shaft gear, the number of teeth of the connecting gear, which is disposed at a j | 2009-01-29 |
20090028590 | IMAGE FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a control circuit which controls the electrifying to a first heater so that a temperature detected by a first temperature detection portion reaches a first target temperature and controls the electrifying to a second heater so that a temperature detected by a second temperature detection portion reaches a second target temperature, when warm-up is initiated, and, when the warm-up initiated, if an initial temperature of a rotary member is below a predetermined temperature, the control circuit sets the first target temperature to a temperature value greater than the first target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature and sets the second target temperature to a temperature value greater than the second target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature. In this way, hot offset and poor fixing can be prevented and a pre-heating operation time can be prevented from extending excessively. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028591 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a charging device for charging the photosensitive member; an exposure device for exposing the photosensitive member charged by the charging device in accordance with image information; a developing device for developing, with toner, an electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive member by the exposure device into a toner image; a transfer charger for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive member by the developing device onto an image receiving member in a transfer portion; a light discharger, provided between the transfer charger and the charging device with respect to a rotational direction of the photosensitive member, for electrically discharging by light the photosensitive member; a current detector for detecting a current flowing through the transfer charger; a corrector for correcting a charging bias voltage applied to the charging device on the basis of an output of the current detector provided when a portion of the photosensitive member charged by the charging device substantially without being subjected to a light discharging operation of the light discharger passes through the transfer portion and on the basis of an output of the current detector provided when a portion of the photosensitive member subjected to a light discharging operation of the light discharger and charged by the charging device passes through the transfer portion. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028592 | Exposure device, light emitting diode head, and image forming apparatus - An exposure device includes a light emitting element; and an eccentric cam for adjusting a distance between the light emitting element and a light receiving member. The eccentric cam includes a shaft portion and a cam portion arranged eccentrically relative to the shaft portion. The cam portion includes a circumferential surface having a convex surface in an axial direction of the eccentric cam and a circular arc in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028593 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a charging device to electrically charge a photosensitive member, an exposure unit to expose the charged photosensitive member to light, a development device to develop, with a developer, a latent image formed on the photosensitive member by the exposure unit, and a development bias voltage generating circuit to apply a development bias voltage to the development device. The development bias voltage generating circuit includes a transformer, a capacitor connected to one end of the transformer, first-fourth switching elements, a power source to supply a voltage to the first and third switching elements, and a control unit to control an on and off action of the first to fourth switching elements and independently control the voltages applied by the power source to the first and third switching elements. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028594 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members; a rotatable intermediary transfer member for carrying toner images transferred from the plurality of image bearing members in contact with the plurality of image bearing members; a transfer member for press-contacting to the intermediary transfer member to form a transfer portion, at which the toner images on the intermediary transfer member are to be transferred onto a recording material; and a control portion for controlling an image forming operation so that, during execution of a continuous image forming mode in which images are formed on a plurality of recording materials conveyed with a preset minimum interval, a recording material passes through the transfer portion and thereafter transfer of a toner image to be formed on a subsequent recording material from an image bearing member, located upstream of the transfer portion and most downstream of the plurality of image bearing members with respect to a rotational direction of the intermediary transfer member, onto the intermediary transfer member is started. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028595 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING CONTACTLESS TYPE TEMPERATURE SENSOR - A sealing member which is compressed by a contactless temperature sensor and a cover member of a fixing unit is provided between the sensor and the cover member. An opening portion for temperature detection is shut off from a space around the fixing unit by the sealing member, thereby preventing the air from flowing from the opening portion into the fixing unit. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028596 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a transporter for transporting a sheet; an image forming section for forming an image on the sheet being transported by the transporter with an ink; a liquid absorbent member; a cleaning liquid feeding section for feeding a cleaning liquid to the transporter via the liquid absorbent member to clean the transporter adhered with ink residues; and a cleaning liquid feeding controlling section for controlling the cleaning liquid feeding section to perform the cleaning liquid feeding operation, based on a condition of the image forming apparatus relating to evaporation of the cleaning liquid. This arrangement enables to properly clean a transport belt in an inkjet image forming apparatus, while preventing waste of the cleaning liquid and securing stable driving of the transport belt. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028597 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main-body and a process cartridge. A female connector is arranged on a developing roller shaft in the process cartridge. The female connector has an open-ended ring-like space formed between an outer ring and an inner ring. A plurality of track grooves are arranged on the circumference of at least one of the outer ring and the inner ring. One end of a cartridge driving shaft is supported in the apparatus main-body, while the other end thereof facing the process cartridge is movable in a radial direction. A male connector is arranged on the movable end of the cartridge driving shaft. A front portion of the male connector is a cylindrical spherical-body holding portion that rotatably holds a plurality of spherical bodies. When the spherical-body holding portion enters into the ring-like space, the spherical bodies slide along the track grooves. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028598 | Image Forming Apparatus Capable of Reducing Noise Energy Radiated Outside the Apparatus, Method of Designing Frame, and Computer Readable Medium - In an image forming apparatus, a frame as an interior member is provided so as to oppose an exterior cover as an exterior member for controlling noise from an apparatus main body. An opening that is made up of a number of aperture regions is provided for allowing sound that is radiated to the exterior cover and reflected, to transmit toward the apparatus main body. By providing an opening in the frame or the like, it is possible to reduce noise energy radiated outside the apparatus in a simple manner. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028599 | DEVELOPER CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A developer cartridge of an image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame having a developer chamber holding a developer therein, and a developer discharging port, a developer conveying unit rotatably installed on the cartridge frame to agitate and move the developer towards the developer discharging port, and an elastic damper to change the size of a developer discharge space defined by the vicinity to the developer discharging port according to a developer delivery pressure of the developer conveying unit. The damper contracts to increase a size of the developer discharge space and reduce the developer delivery pressure, when the developer delivery pressure increases above a normal pressure in the developer chamber. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028600 | Developer cartridge, developing device and image forming apparatus - A developer cartridge includes a storing portion that stores developer and has an opening, a shutter member that opens and closes the opening, and a seal member that seals between the shutter member and the storing portion. The seal member is so provided that both end portions thereof face each other. One end portion of the seal member has at least one angled portion provided inside both side end edges of the seal member in width direction of the seal member, and the other end portion has an angled portion along the angled portion of said one end portion. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028601 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts which process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable member moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028602 | Image-Forming Device - An image-forming device includes: a main body; at least one photosensitive member; a plurality of developing units; a transferring unit; a first holding unit; and a guiding unit. The photosensitive member has a support shaft. Each developing unit has a developer-accommodating section that accommodates developer. The developer-accommodating section has an opening in a top side thereof. Each developing unit further has a developer-carrying member that is disposed near the opening of the developer-accommodating section. The first holding unit holds the plurality of developing units that are arranged in a row along a first removal direction. The first removal direction is orthogonal to the support shaft of the photosensitive member. The first holding unit is accommodated at a first accommodating position in the main body. The guiding unit enables the first holding unit to move between the first accommodating position and a first removal position that is separate from the first accommodating position in the first removal direction. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028603 | BEAM DEFLECTOR, LIGHT SCANNING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A beam deflector having a base, the beam deflector including a polygon mirror to reflect a light beam, a mirror driving unit including a rotor shaft erected from the base and a rotor to support the polygon mirror and to rotate about the rotor shaft, a friction member to contact with and be separated from the rotor so as to obstruct and release rotation of the rotor, respectively, and a friction member driving unit to drive the friction member. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028604 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS WHICH CAN ELIMINATE STATIC ELECTRICITY - An image-forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a photosensitive layer, an exposure unit for irradiating the electrophotographic photoreceptor with light, a pressing member pressed against the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to remove a deposit from the photosensitive layer, and a static eliminating unit for eliminating the static electricity of the deposit to be removed by the pressing member. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028605 | Image forming apparatus, drive mechanism of image forming apparatus and manufacturing method of a worm gear set - An image forming apparatus has a plurality of image carriers, a common drive source which drives the plurality of image carriers and a drive shaft that is connected to and driven by the drive source. It also has a plurality of worm gears that are provided corresponding to the plurality of image carriers and are formed coaxially with the drive shaft, and a plurality of worm wheels that are respectively meshed with the respective worm gears and respectively transmit drive forces of the worm gears to the image carriers. The plurality of worm gears are made of a resin material, and the worm gears and the worm wheels drive the plurality of image carries by making use of the elastic deformation of the worm gears when the worm gears and the worm wheels are respectively meshed with each other. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028606 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A process cartridge includes a latent image carrier, a charging unit, a latent image forming unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a rotary brush contacting a curved surface of the latent image carrier to form a nip, and a brush housing including a first tip and a second tip, covering the rotary brush such that a place where the rotary brush contacts the latent image carrier is opened. A downstream end of the nip where the rotary brush contacts the latent image carrier in the rotation direction of the rotary brush is not higher than a center of curvature of the latent image carrier where the rotary brush contacts, and the first tip of the brush housing is downstream of the rotary brush, further toward the latent image carrier than a tangent to the surface of the latent image carrier at the downstream end of the nip. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028607 | COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND COLOR IMAGE FORMING METHOD - There is provided a tandem color image forming apparatus and the like, which is capable of suppressing the generation of black spots during a continuous image forming process, even though a non-magnetic single-component developer is used and a cleaner-less type is adopted. The color image forming apparatus is a tandem type that includes a plurality of image carriers and a cleaner-less type that does not include a blade cleaner, wherein the resistance per square centimeter of a base body of an image carrier using for at least a black developer among the plurality of image carriers, or the resistance per square centimeter of the base body through an intermediate layer is set in a range of 1×10 | 2009-01-29 |
20090028608 | ROTARY DEVELOPING UNIT AND TONER SUPPLY CONTAINER - A rotary developing unit includes: a first developing device; a second developing device; a toner supply container that is inserted between the first developing device and the second developing device to be attached to the first developing device; a first guide formed on the toner supply container; a second guide formed on the second developing device, that is configured to slide along the first guide when the toner supply container is inserted, and to be detached from the first guide before the toner supply container is attached to the first developing device; a first position fixing unit provided at the first developing device; and a second position fixing unit provided at the toner supply container, that is configured to fix a position of the toner supply container, before the second guide of the second developing device is detached from the first guide. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028609 | PATTERN FORMING APPARATUS AND PATTERN FORMING METHOD - A pattern forming apparatus includes an intaglio having a pattern of depressions, developing units which form a first potential difference with the intaglio, supply a liquid developer containing charged phosphor particles to the pattern and develop by aggregating the phosphor particles in the depressions, and a transfer roller which forms a second potential difference with the developed intaglio and a glass sheet arranged in opposed relation to each other and sequentially transfers the phosphor particles aggregated in the depressions to the glass sheet. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028610 | Electrophotographic Printing - This invention concerns an electrophotographic printing apparatus comprising an image-forming member having a surface on which a latent electrostatic image can be formed, a developer for depositing onto the surface of the image-forming member a layer of ink, the ink comprising charged ink particles and a carrier mediums a supply conduit connectable to an ink tank for supplying ink to the developer and an exit conduit connectable to the ink tank for delivering unused ink from the developer to the ink tank, the supply conduit, developer and exit conduit defining a flow path and a separator for separating the carrier medium from the ink particles, the separator connectable to the flow path to receive unused ink and to reintroduce carrier medium extracted from the unused ink to the flow path. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028611 | DEVELOPING SYSTEM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A developing system includes a developing unit, a mixing container, a rotary feeder, an air pump, and an airflow regulator. The developing unit is configured to convert a latent image into visible form using a developer. The mixing container is separated from the developing unit and is configured to hold and mix part of the developer after use. The rotary feeder is configured to dispense the developer from the mixing container to a delivery path. The air pump is configured to supply compressed air to deliver the dispensed developer to the developing unit through the delivery path. The airflow regulator is located where the rotary feeder connects to the delivery path, and is configured to prevent the compressed air from flowing toward the rotary feeder from the delivery path. | 2009-01-29 |
20090028612 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a configuration in which a plurality of developing units is provided, an influx of air into one developing unit from another developing unit can be blocked with a simple configuration. An operation section for a developing unit that is not in operation rotates a developer roll in the reverse direction to move developer accumulated on a pickoff pole, and fills a clearance formed between a housing and the developer roll with the developer so that the air flow of the developing unit that is not in operation is blocked. Accordingly, even if a difference in pressure between a developing unit that is in operation and a developing unit that is not in operation occurs, an air flow from the developing unit that is in operation to the developing unit that is not in operation is not apt to be formed, and an influx of air into the developing unit that is not in operation is blocked. | 2009-01-29 |