| 05th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 38 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120027338 | OPTICAL SENSOR MODULE - An optical sensor module is provided which reduces variations in optical coupling loss between a core in an optical waveguide unit and an optical element in a substrate unit and which reduces the optical coupling loss. The optical waveguide unit including vertical groove portions for fitting engagement with the substrate unit and the substrate unit including fitting plate portions for fitting engagement with the vertical groove portions are produced individually. The fitting plate portions in the substrate unit are brought into fitting engagement with the vertical groove portions in the optical waveguide unit, so that the substrate unit and the optical waveguide unit are integrated together. The vertical groove portions in the optical waveguide unit are in an appropriate position relative to a light-transmissive surface of the core. The fitting plate portions in the substrate unit are in an appropriate position relative to the optical element. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027339 | OPTICAL BUS FOR OPTICAL SIGNAL BROADCASTING - An optical bus is described for optical signal broadcasting. The optical bus can include a substrate and input optical waveguides formed on the substrate. First and second sets of output optical waveguides can also be formed on the substrate. Optical power splitters on the substrate can have an input and multiple outputs. The optical power splitters can be optically coupled to an input optical waveguide and can split an input optical beam into multiple output optical beams. The optical bus can include a waveguide shuffle network formed on the substrate. The waveguide shuffle network can include intersecting optical waveguides and can optically couple outputs from each of the optical power splitters to the first set of output optical waveguides and optically couple different outputs from each of the optical power splitters to the second set of output optical waveguides. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027340 | Semiconductor Through-Wafer Electrical Signal-Carrying Waveguide - A through-wafer electrical signal communication apparatus and method utilize a semiconductor substrate having first and surfaces and a continuous peripheral edge. The first surface supports active integrated circuit components. An electromagnetic waveguide supports data communication through the semiconductor substrate. The waveguide has an electrically conductive waveguide boundary structure surrounding a waveguide interior region formed by a portion of the semiconductor substrate. The waveguide is sized and configured to propagate electromagnetic waves of selected wavelength and propagation mode from a first waveguide end to a second waveguide end. A signal launching structure radiates electromagnetic waves into the first waveguide end. A signal pickup structure receives electromagnetic waves from the second waveguide end. The apparatus and method may utilize one or more of the waveguides. The waveguides may include a real waveguide, one or more virtual waveguide formed using light energy, and/or a hybrid waveguide comprising real and virtual waveguide structures. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027341 | LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - According to one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a substrate, a light emitting layer, a first conductivity type layer, a first and a second distributed Bragg reflector layer. The first conductivity type layer is provided between the substrate and the light emitting layer. The first reflector layer is provided between the first conductivity type layer and the substrate. First and second layers are alternately stacked therein. The second layers have refractive index different from that of the first layers. The first reflector layer has a center wavelength substantially same as emission wavelength of emission light. The second reflector layer is provided between the light emitting layer and the first reflector layer. Third and fourth layers are alternately stacked therein. The fourth layers have refractive index different from that of the third layers. The second reflector layer has a center wavelength longer than the center wavelength of the first reflector layer. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027342 | CATION-POLYMERIZABLE RESIN COMPOSITION AND CURED PRODUCT THEREOF - Provided is a cationically polymerizable resin composition which has a low viscosity, is easy to work, and is extremely rapidly cured upon irradiation with light to give a cured product excellent in optical transparency, flexibility, thermal stability, and post-heating bendability. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027343 | WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEX OPTICAL REGENERATION SYSTEM AND WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEX OPTICAL REGENERATION METHOD - An optical regeneration system for regenerating a degenerated signal light, comprising a regeneration device having at least one of a soliton converter, a pulse roller, a Kerr-shutter and a soliton purifier. The solilton converter uses an anomalaous-dispersion fiber (ADF) having a fiber length up to three times the soliton frequency, and the pulse roller is provided with a pulse roller fiber having high non-linear characteristics. The Kerr-shutter comprises an optical LO (local oscillation) generator for generating an optical LO on an OPLL (optical phase locked loop), a phase comparator for detecting the phase difference between an externally-input signal light and an optical LO, and a control unit for regulating the repeated frequency of an optical LO based on the phase difference. The soliton purifier has a soliton fiber disposed between two optical fibers. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027344 | LIGHT GUIDING BEND WITH CURVED SLITS - A light guide ( | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027345 | BODY HAVING A DEDICATED LENS FOR IMAGING AN ALIGNMENT FEATURE - A body is configured for alignment to a substrate having an alignment feature. The body includes an alignment structure defining a viewing surface, and a dedicated lens adapted to focus an image of the substrate's alignment feature through an optically-clear material of the body and onto the viewing surface. In the fiber optic context, a lens body is provided for optically coupling a substrate's OED to a corresponding optical fiber. The lens body further includes at least one active lens adapted to cooperate optically with a respective OED. The dedicated lens is positioned externally to any optical path. An optical subassembly includes a substrate having at least one perceptible alignment feature provided in a predetermined spatial relationship to the OED, and a lens body secured to the substrate such that the image of the substrate's alignment feature appears aligned relative to the viewing surface. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027346 | INTERPOSER WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURES - An optical interposer for optically coupling light between an OED supported on a substrate and an optical fiber, the interposer comprising: (a) an interposer of an optically-clear moldable material comprising at least the following features: (b) a port for receiving a ferrule containing at least one optical fiber, the port comprising an interface surface positioned to optically couple with an end face of the optical fiber; (c) an active lens adapted to optically couple with an OED, the active lens and the interface surface optically coupled along an optical path in the interposer; (d) a protrusion extending backward from the port, the protrusion defining a first register surface, the first register surface being a certain distance from the optical path such that, when a second register surface of a ferrule containing the optical fiber contacts the first register surface, the ferrule is aligned with the port such that the port can receive a front portion of the ferrule if the ferrule is pushed forward. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027347 | GRATING COUPLED CONVERTER - A chip includes a grating coupler and an optoelectronic converter. The grating coupler is patterned to extract a first fraction of incident light and to transmit a second fraction of the incident light as an output optical signal from the chip. The optoelectronic converter receives the first fraction of the incident light from the grating coupler and produces an electrical signal from light received. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027348 | Optical Apparatus for Forming a Tunable Cavity - An optical apparatus includes an optical fiber formed of a core surrounded by cladding, in which the optical fiber includes an end portion. In addition, an optical layer composed of a material having a relatively high refractive index is positioned on the end portion, in which the optical layer includes a non-periodic sub-wavelength grating positioned in optical communication with the core. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027349 | LENS - A lens is described which includes a substrate having a first side and an opposite second side. A first guided mode resonance grating is supported by the first side of the substrate and a second guided mode resonance grating is supported by the second side of the substrate. The second guided mode resonance grating can be offset from the first guided mode resonance grating. The second guided mode resonance grating can shape and reflect a wave front of an incident optical beam within the substrate towards the first guided mode resonance grating. The first guided mode resonance grating can redirect the reflected incident optical beam out of the second side of the substrate. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027350 | OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE COUPLING DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - The present disclosure provides optical waveguide coupling devices and associated methods. In one example, an optical waveguide coupling device can comprise a dielectric grating coupler, a first optical waveguide attached to a first surface of the dielectric grating coupler, and a second optical waveguide attached to a second surface of the dielectric grating coupler. The second optical waveguide can be oriented opposed to the first optical waveguide allowing for communication therebetween via the sub-wavelength grating. Additionally, the dielectric grating coupler can comprise a first dielectric material; a sub-wavelength grating attached to the first dielectric material, the sub-wavelength grating having a higher refractive index than the first dielectric material; and a second dielectric material optically coupled to the sub-wavelength grating. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027351 | Laser Assembly With Shock Absorber - Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an optical fiber having a distal end configured to emit a beam of energy. The apparatus also includes a tube including a tube channel. The distal end of the optical fiber is disposed in the tube channel. The apparatus further includes a shock absorber disposed on the tube and a cap disposed on the shock absorber. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027352 | SEMICONDUCTOR LASER MODULE AND OPTICAL MODULE - The present invention provides a semiconductor laser module in which a coupling efficiency does not easily vary even though a displacement amount varies by the effect of welding. The semiconductor laser module comprises: a semiconductor laser element | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027353 | OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME - An optical fiber connector includes an optical fiber coupling portion and an optical element portion attached to the optical fiber coupling portion. The optical fiber coupling portion includes a first engaging surface and a through hole exposed at the first engaging surface. The through hole receives an optical fiber. The optical element portion includes a second engaging surface engaged with the first engaging surface and a lens portion aligned with a central axis of the through hole. A method for making the optical fiber connector is also provided. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027354 | BACKPLANE STRUCTURE ALLOWING SETTING OF EQUAL PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATION DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO BLADES ARBITRARILY INSERTED INTO A PLURALITY OF FIXEDLY ARRANGED SLOTS - A backplane, a method for making a backplane, and optical communication apparatuses. The backplane includes: a plurality of optical elements each selected from the group consisting of: (i) optical fibers, (ii) optical waveguides, and (iii) a combination thereof, where the plurality of optical elements have the same length, where the plurality of optical elements form at least one bundle, where the elements are bundled at both ends of the at least one bundle such that end portion lengths of the plurality of optical elements differ from each other, thus forming a broadcast-star topology, and where the plurality of optical elements is connected such that communication distance between at least two blades that can be inserted into the back plane is constant. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027355 | Architecture for a Fiber Optic Network - The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic network architecture that uses outside plant fan-out devices to distribute optical signals between fiber distribution hubs and multi-service terminals. The network architecture can also include collector boxes positioned at selected locations of the network architecture. Additionally, patching systems can be used in facilitating upgrading the capacity of the fiber optic network. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027356 | MATING OF OPTICAL FIBERS HAVING ANGLED END FACES - A method for mating optical fibers, a fiber optic connector, and a fiber optic subassembly are provided in which mating fibers have angled end faces joined by index matching fluid, but in which the angled end faces of the fibers are positioned relative to one another in rotationally misaligned relationship. Applicants discovered unexpectedly that optical fibers can be spliced, to provide satisfactory optical connections, without the need for matched cleaves, and without the need for precise rotational alignment of the cleaves, provided that angled end faces are provided on both the launch and receive fibers and that index matching gel is provided between the angled end faces. Thus, the fibers are mated in positions other than in the precise rotationally aligned position previously believed essential to adequate optical performance. Angled end faces may be positioned less than 165 degrees out of phase. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027357 | OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR - An optical fiber connector is disclosed. The optical fiber connector comprises a form having a curved surface with a first end near the bottom surface of the form. The curved surface is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the form at the first end. A first plurality of active optical fibers are positioned along the curved surface of the form in a side-by side arrangement with the tips of each of the first plurality of optical fibers adjacent to the first end of the curved surface. The ends of each of the first plurality of active optical fibers have been striped down to cladding and the cladding of each optical fiber contacts the cladding of the adjacent optical fibers. An inner cover is attached to the form thereby capturing the first plurality of active optical fibers between the curved surface of the form and an inside curved surface in the inner cover. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027358 | METHOD FOR PREPARING A FERRULE ASSEMBLY - A method for preparing a ferrule assembly avoids polishing while providing adequate control over fiber end protrusion and co-planarity. A distal end of the fiber is prepared before securing the fiber in a ferrule, and before or after inserting the fiber into the ferrule. The prepared fiber is manipulated to provide a desired spatial relationship between the fiber end and the ferrule's end face, and then secured to maintain the desired spatial relationship. Preferably, the fiber end is prepared using a laser cleaving technique to provide a suitable end without abrasive polishing. An interferometer may be used to obtain measurements, during manipulation of the prepared fiber within the ferrule, that indicate whether the prepared fiber is satisfactorily positioned. In accordance with other aspects of the invention, a ferrule assembly prepared in accordance with the method, and a connector or other optical package including such a ferrule assembly are provided. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027359 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR CONNECTION SYSTEM - An optical connector includes: an engaging member having a pair of elastic pieces that can be engaged with locking portions on both sides of a receiving-side optical connector; and a movable tubular housing externally fitted to the engaging member, wherein the pair of elastic pieces approaches each other by an engagement with the locking portions on both sides of the receiving-side optical connector, and thereby, the housing becomes movable forward with respect to the portion of the engaging member that engages with the locking portions, and wherein an engagement state between the elastic pieces and the locking portions on both sides of the receiving-side optical connector is maintained as the pair of elastic pieces abuts an inside of the housing thereby regulating a movement in a direction of being separated from each other when the housing has moved forward with respect to the engaging member. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027360 | COLLAR BODY FOR FIELD TERMINABLE OPTICAL CONNECTOR - An optical fiber connector for terminating an optical fiber is provided. The optical fiber connector includes a housing configured to mate with a receptacle. The connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing and retained between the housing's outer shell and a backbone. The collar body includes a swivel head coupled to a front end portion of the collar body, where the swivel head is configured to receive a ferrule. The swivel head is configured to pivot with respect to the front end portion of the collar body by a controlled amount upon a side pull force being placed on the connector and/or optical fiber. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027361 | ARRAY CABLE ASSEMBLIES - An array cable includes radius guides at a tap point of the cable to take up slack for loose fibers at the tap point. The tap point is enclosed in a flexible enclosure that allows the assembly to be pulled through constricted space such as air handling spaces. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027362 | DELATCH DEVICE HAVING BOTH PUSH AND PULL OPERABILITY FOR USE WITH AN OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER MODULE, AND A METHOD - An optical transceiver module is provided with a delatch device that is configured for pushing and pulling an optical transceiver module into and out of a cage. The delatch device includes an elongated handle having at least one strength member integrally formed therein or secured thereto that provides the handle with a sufficient moment of inertia to prevent the handle from bending or buckling when a force is being applied to the elongated handle to push an optical transceiver module into a cage. The elongated handle allows a module to easily be inserted into a cage by a user without the user having to directly access the front face of the module. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027363 | OPTICAL ELECTRONIC CONNECTING DEVICE WITH DUAL MODULES - An optical electronic connecting device with dual modules includes a first module and a second module. The first module meets the specification of a Small Form-Factor Pluggable connector. The first module includes a first main body, a plurality of first terminals, and a first metallic casing. The second module meets the specification of a RJ connector. The second module includes a second main body, a plurality of second terminals, and a second metallic casing. The first module and the second module are stacked together and respectively have a metallic casing. The optical electronic connecting device with dual modules has a simplified configuration, can be produced easily with lower cost, and therefore can be sold at lower price. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027364 | OPTICAL MODULE - An optical component of an optical module has a junction surface facing an optical connector and a pair of side surfaces apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to a connection direction of the optical connector. A support member has a pair of sidewalls facing the side surfaces of the optical component respectively and concave/convex portions provided in the sidewalls and concave or convex toward the side surfaces of the optical component. The side surfaces of the optical component are fixed to the sidewalls of the support member via an adhesive, and the adhesive is also applied on surfaces of the concave/convex portions of the sidewalls. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027365 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A light receiving holder includes an abutting portion and a welded portion and the welded portion includes a ring-shaped projection which extends from the welded portion and whose cross-section is smaller as it is closer to the tip of the projection. A cap of a casing constituting a light receiving unit is received in a through-hole of the light receiving holder. The projection is brought into contact with a flange of the casing. Current is supplied between a lower electrode and an upper electrode to resistance-weld the projection to the flange. At this time, an angle is provided between a facing face of the lower electrode and a facing face of the upper electrode so that the light receiving holder is welded to the light receiving unit while an angle of the light receiving unit relative to the light receiving holder is adjusted. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027366 | Optical Fiber Cable Having A Deformable Coupling Element - Disclosed is an optical fiber cable that includes optical fibers and a deformable coupling element enclosed within a buffer tube. The coupling element is formed from a deformable yet substantially incompressible material that is capable of releasably and intermittently coupling the optical fibers to the buffer tube in various orientations. The design of the coupling element layer permits coupling of the optical fibers to the buffer tube without the use of a compressive cushioning layer and yet permits localized movement the optical fibers relative to the buffer tube to account for disparate thermal expansion and to accommodate optical fiber placement. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027367 | Optical Fiber Cable Having Raised Coupling Supports - Disclosed is an optical fiber cable that includes optical fibers and a deformable coupling element enclosed within a buffer tube. The coupling element is formed from a deformable yet substantially incompressible material and features a number of raised members projecting toward the optical fibers. The design of the coupling element layer permits coupling of the optical fibers to the buffer tube without the use of a compressive cushioning layer. This arrangement distributes the compressive force applied to discrete points along the outer perimeter of the optical fiber element. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027368 | HOLLOW CORE FIBER POWER COMBINER AND DIVIDER - A method for manufacturing a hollow core fiber power combiner or divider is provided. The method includes forming a hollow core fiber bundle by assembling a plurality of small core diameter hollow core fibers inside a large diameter inner capillary. The method further includes inserting a support structure inside each of the plurality of small core diameter hollow core fibers and collapsing the large diameter inner capillary on the plurality of small core diameter hollow core fibers having the supported structure inserted to form a fused small core fiber bundle. The method further includes combining the fused small core fiber bundle with a large core diameter hollow core fiber. The structure of the hollow core fiber power combiner and divider is also provided. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027369 | GI TYPE OPTICAL FIBER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A GI type optical fiber of the present invention is a GI type optical fiber having a core component and a cladding component disposed around the outer periphery of the core component, the core component includes a polymer containing at least 55 wt % chlorostyrene monomer and a dopant, and the cladding component includes a polymer of a monomer containing at least 35 wt % methyl methacrylate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a GI type optical fiber in which chlorostyrene is used as the predominant component of the monomer that constitutes the core component, and therefore has excellent transparency and good flexibility, and allows high-speed communication. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027370 | OPTICAL DEVICE - An embodiment of the invention relates to an optical device ( | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027371 | VIDEO SUMMARIZATION USING VIDEO FRAMES FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES - The video summarization system and method supports a moving sensor or multiple sensors by mapping imagery back to a common ortho-rectified geometry. The video summarization system includes at least one video sensor to acquire video data, of at least one area of interest (AOI), including video frames having a plurality of different perspectives. The video sensor may be a moving sensor or a plurality of sensors to acquire video data, of the at least one AOI, from respective different perspectives. A memory stores the video data, and a processor is configured to cooperate with the memory to register video frames from the AOI, ortho-rectify registered video frames based upon a common geometry, identify events within the ortho-rectified registered video frames, and generate a video summary of selected events shifted in time within a selected AOI based upon identified events within the ortho-rectified registered video frames. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027372 | CAMERA FOR MOUNTING - An apparatus includes housing, a camera lens, a video recorder, a mounting rail, and a mount. The video recorder is located within the housing for recording images captured by the camera lens. The mounting rail is located on the housing and is received by the mount. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027373 | HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING INTERACTIVE FUNCTION AND METHOD THEREOF - A head-mounted display device having an interactive function is provided. The head-mounted display device includes a play unit, a display unit and a sensor unit. The play unit plays a portion of an image on the display unit. The display unit displays the image being played. The sensor unit senses a movement and a movement direction of the head-mounted display device. The play unit further adjusts the displayed portion of the image being played according the movement and the movement direction of the head-mounted display device. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027374 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROL OF MULTIPLE MULTIMEDIA TUNERS - A system and method for signal virtualization, such as television signals. Signal source components such as television tuners supply television signals to be converted to computer-readable signals. Recording modules receive the converted computer-readable signals for implementation as data signals. A host server receives the data signals for serving to one or more frontend session components. A storage component of the host server (e.g., a hard disk) optionally stores one or more of the data signals in respective data files corresponding to respective video programs. A playback module receives the data signals from the host server and implements the data signals as television signals to be displayed on a television monitor component. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027375 | Video Reproductions Apparatus and Video Reproduction Method - According to one embodiment, a video reproduction apparatus includes a processor and a controller. The processor is configured to perform signal processing on a video signal including a plurality of videos, The controller is configured to determine that a battery usable time of glasses for viewing the plurality of videos is shorter than a reproduction time of a content corresponding to the video signal, and to stop output of a video signal on which the signal processing has been performed by the processor and to display a warning message for replacement or charging of a battery of the glasses when determines that the battery usage time of the glasses is shorter than the reproduction time of the content corresponding to the video signal. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027376 | REPRODUCING APPARATUS, REPRODUCING METHOD, AND PROGRAM THEREFOR - A reproducing apparatus includes a reproducing section that reproduces 3D contents stored on a content-recording medium; and a display controller that displays a 3D content in 2D images during a predetermined time period after the completion of a jumping operation in the case where the jumping operation has been performed on the 3D images of the 3D content during the reproduction performed on the 3D images of the 3D content by the reproducing section. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027377 | PLAYBACK APPARATUS AND PROGRAM CONTENT TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING SYSTEM - Program content is easily selected on a playback apparatus having a plurality of program content recording locations. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027378 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF AN OPTICAL DISC RECORDING APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM ON WHICH THE CONTROL PROGRAM IS RECORDED - On a host computer ( | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027379 | VIDEO PROCESSING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Video processing methods include correlating a video frame in a video stream with event data in a data stream based on a video frame time stamp and an event data time stamp, the time stamps being based on a time scale that is independent, and recording the correlation in a database. Other video processing methods include receiving a query for a video frame and searching for event data in a database. The database has an event data table and a video data table used in locating the video frame. Further video processing methods include receiving a query to retrieve a video clip for each of a plurality of plays, searching for event data in a database, locating the video clip for each of the plurality of plays, and compiling the video clips into a compiled video stream lacking video frames that do not satisfy the query. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027380 | AUTOMATICALLY BOOKMARKING DIGITAL CONTENT - Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods relating to bookmarking digital content. In one such embodiment, a method of bookmarking digital content is described. The method involves locating digital content and obtaining navigation information associated with the digital content. From this navigation information, bookmark information is calculated. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027381 | RECORDING/READING APPARATUS, METHOD OF GENERATING TAG LIST FOR RECORDING/READING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL UNIT FOR RECORDING/READING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, there is provided a control block including a read control processor for reading designated content, a time information processor for processing time information. A controller returns, to a user terminal, a response signal, and information indicating a second absolute time point when an operation is executed in response to a request signal generated by the user terminal at a first absolute time point. The controller stores time difference information indicating a time difference between the first and the second absolute time points. When responding to a further request signal sent from the requester via the network, the controller sets, as tag time information, time information obtained by correcting, using the time difference information, a current relative time period for which the designated content is read. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027382 | PICTURE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME - A picture processing apparatus and a control method of the same are provided. The picture processing apparatus includes a receiver which receives scrambled transport streams constituting different kinds of pictures; a storage unit; a demultiplexer which seizes payload unit start identification (PUSI) contained in a header of the transport stream, and outputs packetized elementary stream (PES) start information and PES interval information about an interval between a first transport stream having a PUSI equal to 1 and a second transport stream having a PUSI equal to 1; and a controller which stores the received transport streams in the storage unit, determines the kind of pictures on the basis of a picture size determined from the PES interval information, and indexes a location where the pictures are stored on the basis of the PES start information. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027383 | ONE-TOUCH RECORDING OF A PROGRAM BEING ADVERTISED - A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. A one-touch recording option is provided. An icon is displayed to the viewer telling the viewer that an advertised program is available for recording at a future time. The viewer presses a single button on an input device causing the receiver to schedule the program for recording. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027384 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing device includes: a display control unit causing a displaying unit to show an editing area; a receiving unit receiving a command from a user; an editing unit placing, in the editing area, one or more images selected according to a selection command received by the receiving unit; an encoding unit which provides a result of encoding data to be encoded after the receiving unit receives a predetermined command to generate the result of encoding all the data to be encoded including image data corresponding to the one or more images accommodated in the editing area; and an encoding control unit which causes the encoding unit to start encoding partial data before the receiving unit receives the predetermined command, the partial data being at least a part of the data to be encoded. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027385 | PROGRAM RECORDER, PROGRAM RECORDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND RECORDED PROGRAM MANAGING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a recording management system including, a retaining module configured to independently retain, information on a program recorded by a first recorder and information on a program recorded by a second recorder independent of the first recorder, a list creating module configured to create a combined recorded program list, the combined recorded program list including a combination of the information on the program recorded by the first recorder and the information on the program recorded by the second recorder that are retained by the retaining module, and a managing module configured to create a list of the programs reproducible by a reproducer from the combined recorded program list retained by the list creating module in response to a request from the reproducer for the list of the programs reproducible by this reproducer, the managing module sending back the generated reproducible program list to the reproducer. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027386 | IMAGE REPRODUCING APPARATUS - An image reproducing apparatus is an apparatus in which a BD player and a VC player are integral with each other. The image reproducing apparatus includes a panel switch unit for operating the BD player and the VC player, a mode set switch for selecting a BD reproduction mode or a VC reproduction mode, a sub microcomputer for controlling the operation of the BD player, and a VCP microcomputer for controlling the operation of the VC player. The sub microcomputer includes a DA converter which converts the digital signals into analog signals so as to transmit the converted analog signals to the VCP microcomputer when determined to be the VCP reproduction mode. The VCP microcomputer includes an AD converter which converts the analog signals transmitted from the DA converter into digital signals and a reproduction control unit which starts the operation of the VCP based on the converted digital signals. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027387 | VIDEO CONTROLLER AND VIDEO CONTROLLING METHOD - A video controlling method is for a controller to perform when the controller receives a user instruction that designates a reproduction start position of a video content for reproducing the video content stored in a server device by a display device. The method includes: performing, when the position of the video content at the start time of the reproduction is ahead of the designated position, instructing the display device so that the reproduction of the video content pauses, and instructing the display device to perform reproduction after the instruction designating the reproduction start position is issued to the display device. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027388 | ADAPTIVE HEAT PUMP RESISTANCE HEAT CONTROLLER - An electrical heating apparatus includes a primary heating stage heat pump, a secondary heating stage resistance heating circuit having a plurality of heating elements, an adaptive resistance heat controller and a two-stage thermostat. The adaptive resistance heat controller is connected to the two-stage thermostat heat pump and resistance heating circuit. The adaptive resistance heat controller includes a duty cycle monitor that monitors the duty cycles of the thermostat primary and secondary stages. The controller selectively energizes one or more of the plurality of heating elements in response to changes in the duty cycles so as to provide adaptive heating control to meet actual heating demand while reducing overall peak energy consumption. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027389 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AIR FLOW - Apparatus and method for controlling air flow of a drying unit. The apparatus includes a housing mounted below the dryer unit and a frame member coupled to the housing member. The frame member functions to intersect and deflect the air flow in a direction away from a floor surface. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027390 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image capture apparatus comprises an inclination detection unit which detects an inclination of the image capture apparatus, a display unit which displays the inclination of the image capture apparatus, and a predetermined reference orientation set for the image capture apparatus, a still state determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus is in a still state, if a variation of the inclination falls within a predetermined range, and a reference orientation setting unit which sets the reference orientation of the image capture apparatus, wherein the reference orientation setting unit does not set the reference orientation if the still state determination unit determines that the image capture apparatus is not in the still state. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027391 | IMAGE BLUR CORRECTION APPARATUS AND CAMERA - The invention provides an image blur correction apparatus including: a tabular base portion; a movable portion that holds an image pickup device and that is movable with respect to the base portion; and a voice coil motor that has a permanent magnet arranged on a face of the base portion that faces the movable portion, and a coil arranged in a region of the movable portion facing the permanent magnet, and that generates a force that moves the movable portion by an electromagnetic force. The base portion is composed of a magnetic body. A tabular second magnetic body portion composed of a magnetic body that, when viewed from the incident light axis direction, occupies a region surrounding the external shape of the permanent magnet is arranged on the base portion side of the permanent magnet. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027392 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE PICKUP METHOD - A three-dimensional image pickup apparatus for capturing a three-dimensional image which includes a left-eye image and a right-eye image includes: a first imaging unit having a first optical system and operable to take the left-eye image; a second imaging unit having a second optical system and operable to take the right-eye image; and a controller operable to control the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit. The first optical system and the second optical system individually include a convergence angle changing unit capable of optically changing a convergence angle and a focal length changing unit capable of optically changing a focal length. The controller, when controlling the focal length changing unit to change the focal length, controls the convergence angle changing unit based on a predetermined constant convergence angle tracking curve to keep the convergence angle constant before and after the change of the focal length. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027393 | ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT - An electronic equipment includes a digital focus portion that adjusts an in-focus state of a target image by image processing, and a unit adjustment amount setting portion that sets a unit adjustment amount in adjustment of the in-focus state based on distance information of the target image. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027394 | LENS APPARATUS INCLUDING FOCUS OPERATION DEVICE AND FOCUS OPERATION DEVICE - A lens apparatus includes: an optical member; a driving unit; a position detector; a rotary operation portion; a projection portion to be rotated interlockingly with the operation portion; an operation portion rotation detector; a driving controller for controlling the driving unit based on an amount of an operation of the operation portion; rotatable first (second) pins; first (second) side locking units; and a lock controller for controlling both the locking units based on a position of the optical member and a rotating direction of the operation portion. The projection portion is provided between the first regulation pin and the second regulation pin. The first regulation pin and the second regulation pin are elastically connected to each other. The lock controller locks the first (second) side locking unit when the focus unit reaches a first (second) end while the operation portion is operated toward the first (second) end. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027395 | External Photographic Wireless Communication Device and Method - An external photographic wireless communication device for connection to a camera body having a hot shoe connector for connecting to the camera body and a hot shoe connector for connecting to one or more accessory devices. Each of the hot shoe connectors includes a plurality of contacts. The device includes a tapping connection from a synchronization connector between the two hot shoe connectors and a processing element. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027396 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE, CONNECTION DETECTION METHOD AND CONNECTION DETECTION SYSTEM - Disclosed herein is an electronic device connected to a camera main body and having an actuator, the electronic device including: a detection terminal adapted to come into contact with a terminal used by the camera main body to detect the connection to the electronic device when the electronic device is connected to the camera main body; a detection section adapted to detect the voltage of the detection terminal; a connection detection section adapted to detect the connection status to the camera main body based on the change in the voltage detected by the detection section; and a control section adapted to control the operation of the actuator based on the connection or disconnection to or from the camera main body detected by the connection detection section. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027397 | MICRO SHUTTER HAVING IRIS FUNCTION, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND MICRO CAMERA MODULE HAVING THE SAME - A micro shutter with an iris function includes a base plate with a transparent portion formed in a circular shape corresponding to an image sensor which allows light to pass through; a plurality of rollup blades which block the light, arranged in a regular polygon at a circumference of the transparent portion on the base plate to cover the transparent portion, and each of the plurality of rollup blades to have a fixing portion fixed to the base plate and a moving portion rolled up toward the fixing portion; and a controller electrically connected with the base plate and the plurality of rollup blades which controls unrolling degrees of the plurality of rollup blades. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027398 | LENS MODULE AND CAMERA - A lens module includes: a lens forming an image of an object; a lens holder to hold an outer peripheral side of the lens to allow reciprocal movement in an optical axis direction of the lens; a housing at least one end side of which is opened, which includes a cylindrical receiving part having an inner surface, one surface of which, at a lateral side, contacts one surface of the lens holder at the lateral side perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and which receives the lens holder in the receiving part to allow reciprocal movement in the optical axis direction of the lens and in a sliding state; and an actuator part including a movable part which is displaced by a displacement amount corresponding to a level of an applied drive voltage and reciprocates the lens holder received in the housing between a first position and a second position in the optical axis direction. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027399 | Electronic Device Having Selectively Strengthening Glass Cover Glass - Embodiments disclosed therein generally pertain to selectively strengthening glass. More particularly, techniques are described for selectively strengthening cover glass, which tends to be thin, for electronic devices, namely, portable electronic devices. In certain embodiments, selectively strengthening glass, such as cover glass, can be used to provide optical barriers (or channels) internal to the glass. The electronic devices can also provide for camera integration behind the cover glass. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027400 | FAST OPTICAL RECEIVER FOR UNENCODED DATA - The invention relates to a method and an optical receiver implementing this method suitable for robustly receiving unencoded optical data. The method set the threshold for the receiver using values relating to the high and low values of a binary signal. However, for some data patterns these values may not be accurately determined, such as for extended periods of constant high or low values being transmitted. In this case the method, in one embodiment, assumes that the extinction ratio of the signal is substantially constant and is thereby able to track the threshold for the signal. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027401 | RELATING TO SIGNAL PROCESSING - A method of sampling a radio frequency signal comprises: receiving the radio frequency signal; modulating an optical signal with the radio frequency signal and an oscillator signal to generate a modulated signal; applying a filter to the modulated signal to generate an intermediate frequency signal, the filter having an intermediate pass band and an intermediate roll-off, the intermediate pass band and the intermediate roll-off in combination defining a intermediate frequency band having a first bandwidth; and sampling the intermediate frequency signal at a sampling frequency using a number of optically interleaved analogue-to-digital converters. The oscillator signal and the sampling frequency in combination are arranged such that the intermediate frequency band is defined between consecutive multiples of half of the sampling frequency. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027402 | In-Band Optical Frequency Division Reflectometry - An apparatus comprising an optical transmitter coupled to an optical fiber, and an optical receiver coupled to the optical fiber, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a test signal data pattern and user data into the optical fiber, and wherein the receiver is configured to receive a reflection of the test signal data pattern. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting the transmission of an optical test signal data pattern into an optical fiber, wherein the test signal data pattern creates a radio frequency (RF) tone, and detecting a reflection of the RF tone in the optical fiber. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027403 | COMMUNICATION CLOCK TRANSPORT METHOD AND DEVICE - A method and apparatus for timing an output signal based on timing of an input signal is provided. A method includes determining a first clock rate derived from the input signal during a first time interval measured by a reference clock. The method also includes signal processing logic to determine a second clock rate during a second time interval based on an error signal that is calculated as a difference between the first clock rate multiplied by the second time interval and a previous value of the second clock rate multiplied by the first time interval. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027404 | PHASE NOISE COMPENSATION IN COHERENT OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027405 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING TIME IN A PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - A method and apparatus for synchronizing time in a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) in which an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) sends a downstream frame including a Physical Control Block downstream (PCBd) field and a payload field to an Optical Network Unit (ONU); the OLT determines a time value associated with a certain bit in the PCBd field of the downstream frame; and the OLT sends an Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) message defined by a GPON protocol carrying the time value to the ONU, wherein the ONU uses the time value to adjust a local time of the ONU. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027406 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING DISPERSION, OPTICAL SIGNAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - The present invention discloses a method for detecting dispersion, overcoming disadvantages of complex configuration and insensitivity to a tiny dispersion of the method and device for detecting dispersion in the prior art. The inventive method includes: obtaining a signal within a predetermined bandwidth range from an optical signal received; obtaining an operated value of power via an operation on the signal within the predetermined bandwidth range; and obtaining amount of system dispersion according to a corresponding relation between the operated value of power and the amount of system dispersion. A device for detecting dispersion is disclosed, including a photoelectric filter operational unit and a processing unit, where an output of the photoelectric filter operational unit is connected to an input of the processing unit. The device for detecting dispersion of the present invention is applicable to an adaptive dispersion compensation system. An optical signal transmission system is further disclosed. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027407 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SENDING UPSTREAM TRANSFER FRAME IN PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - The present disclosure relates to the Passive Optical Network (PON) technology, and a method for sending an upstream transfer frame in a PON is provided, so as to improve flexibility of a system and satisfy a requirement that an error probability is reduced as low as possible. The method includes: after success of link, sending a preamble according to an allocated time slot, sending a burst synchronization delimiter, and then sending successively a burst header, a Gigabit-Capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) Transmission Convergence (GTC) frame header, and GTC frame data. In the sent synchronization delimiter, the number of non-zeros is the same as the number of zeros, and in a delimiter sequence, the number of non-zeros on odd bits is equal to the number of zeros on even bits, and the number of non-zeros on even bits is equal to the number of zeros on odd bits. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027408 | DIRECTIONLESS AND COLORLESS RECONFIGURABLE OPTICAL ADD/DROP MULTIPLEXER - The invention relates to a directionless and colorless reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) for a number of clients comprising:
| 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027409 | FEMTOCELL-BASED MESH NETWORK WITH OPTICAL INTERCONNECT FOR 4-G MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS - A network architecture for integrating a 4G wireless mesh network (WMN) with a 3-G network in order to effectively support multimedia communication is described. In one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless mesh network system comprises a plurality of routers each having a wireless optical interface; at least one base station having Internet backhaul and connecting to a wireless optical device; a computer media storing instructions for assigning at least one of the plurality of routers to act as an Internet gateway via said base station; wherein said assigned router and said base station communicating via a link between wireless optical interface of said assigned router and the wireless optical device connected to said base station, and said link is line-of-sight. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027410 | METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AND RECEIVING A PHASE POLARIZATION MODULATED SIGNAL - In the field of communications transmission, a method, a device, and a system for generating and receiving a phase polarization modulated signal are disclosed. The device for generating the phase polarization modulated signal includes: a Laser Diode (LD), a time division demultiplexer, a phase precoding module, a phase modulating module, a polarization precoding module and a polarization modulating module. The device for receiving the phase polarization modulated signal includes: an optical splitter, a polarizer, a phase demodulating and receiving unit, a Polarization Beam Splitter (PBS), a balanced receiver, a power divider, an exclusive OR, a delayer and a data interface processing unit. Therefore, problems in the prior art that a Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (DQPSK) signal cannot bear and transmit information at a higher rate and that non-linear effect is strong during transmission are solved, and transmission performance of an optical signal is improved. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027411 | PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK USER TERMINAL AND METHOD OF POWER SUPPLY CONTROL AND POWER SUPPLY STATE REPORTING FOR THE SAME - The present disclosure discloses a passive optical network (PON) user terminal comprising a passive optical network interface unit (PONIU) having access to a PON system, a service data distribution unit (SDDU) connected to the PONIU for distributing service data, a plurality of service processing units (SPUs) for receiving and accordingly processing the service data distributed by the SDDU, a power source for providing power to the above units, and a power supply control unit (PSCU) for controlling the activating/deactivating of the energy-saving power supply to the SPUs, the SDDU, and the PONIU. The present disclosure further provides a method for controlling the PON power supply and for reporting the power supply state. The present disclosure allows control of the energy usage of the PON user terminal to save power when a service in the PON user terminal is not used or when the user terminal uses a backup power source to supply power. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027412 | Electronic Compensation of Nonlinearity in Optical Communication - In various embodiments, electronic apparatus, systems, and methods include electronic compensation of nonlinearity in optical communication. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027413 | High-Speed Transmission System for Optical Channels - A method and apparatus for transmission of data on bandwidth limited fiber optic channels. A multilevel signaling alphabet having multiple levels of optical intensity are used to transmit signals on optical channels. In order to counteract the decrease in signal to noise ratio resulting from the use of a multilevel signaling alphabet over a bilevel signaling alphabet trellis encoding of the data to be transmitted is employed. To counteract intersymbol interference due to signaling faster than the Nyquist Rate, equalization methods such as Tomlinson-Harashima preceding and decision feedback equalization are employed. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027414 | Transparent Clocks in Access Networks - An apparatus comprising a device at an access node (AN) comprising an interface, a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) engine, and a timestamp module, and a second device at a customer premise node coupled to the AN and comprising a second interface, a second PTP engine, and a second timestamp module, wherein the device at the AN is configured to send a PTP event message to the device at the customer premise node to implement a transparent clock (TC) scheme, wherein the PTP engine is configured to trigger the timestamp module to send a timestamp to the customer premise node when the PTP event message transverses the interface, and wherein the second PTP engine is configured to trigger the second timestamp module to create a second timestamp when the PTP event message transverses the second interface. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027415 | BURST MODE OPTICAL MEDIA CONVERTER WITH FAST ANALOG CONVERSION - A media converter for interfacing an optical fiber bus to an electrical interface of an electronic device is described. The media converter includes an interface circuit configured to convert electrical signals received from a transmitting channel of the electrical device in a voltage doublet format to positive logic electrical pulses and convert received electrical signals for application to a receiving channel of the electrical device from positive logic electrical pulses to a voltage doublet format, a DC coupled receiver comprising an optical interface operable for receiving optical signals from the optical fiber data bus, the receiver operable for converting the optical signals to positive logic electrical pulses for application to the interface circuit, a laser diode operable to transmit optical signals onto the optical bus, and a laser diode driver operable for receiving the positive logic electrical pulses from the interface circuit and converting the electrical signals to signals compatible for operating the laser diode. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027416 | NETWORK INTERFACE DEVICE FOR OPTICAL PREMISES SIGNALS AND NETWORKS - A network interface device (NID) demarcates an access network and a premises network. The NID receives a broadband signal via an access network and transmits optical device signals to pieces of premises equipment. The broadband signal may be a single-mode fiber (SMF) optical signal transmitted over an SMF cable. In these embodiments, the NID may include a transponder including a first stage to convert the SMF signal to an intermediate electrical signal and a second stage to convert the intermediate electrical signal to a premises optical signal. In other embodiments, the broadband signal may be a very high bit rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) or other type of electrical signal and the NID's transponder may convert the VDSL signal to the premises optical signal. The NID may further include a multiplexer to multiplex the premises optical signal into the optical device signals for delivery to premises devices via corresponding premises device ports and plastic optical fiber cables. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027417 | OPTICAL POWER DIVIDER - An optical power divider includes a body having a first side and a second side. The first side includes at least one cylindrical input lens and the second side includes an array of output lenses. The at least one cylindrical input lens is configured to expand input light along a first axis to be directed to a plurality of the output lenses arranged along the first axis and the output lenses are configured to focus the light received from the input lenses into respective output beams of light. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027418 | Equalizer for an Optical Transmission System - An equaliser ( | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027419 | FRAME/SYMBOL SYNCHRONIZATION IN COHERENT OPTICAL OFDM - One aspect provides an optical communication system. The system includes an optical-to-digital converter, a frequency estimator and a symbol synchronizer. The optical-to-digital converter is configured to receive an optical OFDM bit stream including an OFDM symbol bearing payload data and a symbol header preceding the OFDM payload data. The frequency estimator is configured to determine a carrier frequency offset of the payload data from the symbol header. The symbol synchronizer is configured to determine a starting location of the payload data within the bit stream by cross-correlating a synchronization pattern within the symbol header with a model synchronization pattern stored by the symbol synchronizer. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027420 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OPTICAL DUO BINARY SIGNALS WITH FREQUENCY CHIRP - This present disclosure provides an optical transmission method and system. The system includes a pre-coder for pre-coding an input signal into a first pre-coded signal, an encoder/separator coupled to the first pre-coded signal and arranged to encode the first and second pre-coded signals into a first encoded signal with 0 degree phase shift and a second encoded signal with 180 degree phase shift, and an optical modulator for providing optical modulation to the first and second encoded signals with a light source such that the intensity of an output optical duo-binary (ODB) signal with frequency chirp has identical logic sequence as the input signal. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027421 | Four Wave Mixing Suppression - Methods, systems and computer program products for countering the effects of four wave mixing are described. In one implementation, a controller can be used to shift an operating wavelength of an optical transmitter away from a zero-dispersion wavelength through which signals of the optical transmitter are transmitted. The controller can perform the shifting process while allowing sufficient margin for division multiplexing and minimal dispersion. The controller may determine an appropriate offset to be used for shifting the operating wavelength without subjecting the signals to a significant increase in undesirable effects such as dispersion, crosstalk and signal distortion which can impact the overall bit-error rate. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027422 | Image Forming Device Capable of Preventing Foreign Matters From Entering Developing Unit - An image forming device includes a support member movable between an accommodated position within a main casing and a pulled-out position outside the main casing, developing units, toner cartridges, and a cover member. Each toner cartridge includes a casing and a shutter. The casing accommodates toner therein and is formed with an opening for supplying the toner to the corresponding developing unit. The opening faces in a first direction when the toner cartridge is accommodated in a corresponding cartridge accommodating section in the support member. The shutter is movable between an opening position for exposing the opening and a closing position for closing the opening. The cover member is movable between an opening posture for exposing a first side of the corresponding cartridge accommodating section in the first direction and a closing posture for opposing the first side of the corresponding cartridge accommodating section. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027423 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, REPLACEMENT TONER CARTRIDGE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, REPLACEMENT TONER CARTRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, REPLACEMENT TONER CARTRIDGE MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus is provided with: an obtainer which obtains first information indicating a new toner cartridge having just been loaded thereon or a toner cartridge to be replaced with a new one and second information indicating the current condition under which a fusing process is performed for image forming; a determiner which determines the right type of a replacement toner cartridge to be loaded in place of the toner cartridge causing the first information obtained by the obtainer, based on the second information also obtained by the obtainer; an output portion which outputs an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined by the determiner; a detector which detects a new toner cartridge having just been loaded thereon; and a fusing processor which performs a fusing process under the optimal condition based on the amount of the toner supplied from the detector's detected new toner cartridge which is a replacement toner cartridge delivered according to the delivery instruction outputted by the output portion. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027424 | REPLACEMENT TONER CARTRIDGE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, REPLACEMENT TONER CARTRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, REPLACEMENT TONER CARTRIDGE MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A replacement toner cartridge management apparatus is provided with: a receiver which receives first information indicating that a toner cartridge has been replaced with a new one and second information indicating that the remaining amount of toner contained in a toner cartridge reaches a predetermined value, from one or more than one image forming apparatus which the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus can access via a communication circuit; a determiner which determines the right type of a replacement toner cartridge to be loaded in place of the toner cartridge causing the first information or the second information, depending on which is received by the receiver, the first information or the second information; and a transmitter which outputs an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined by the determiner. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027425 | MEDIUM DETECTION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A medium detection device includes: a sensor lever configured to rotate corresponding to a travel of a recording medium; a sensor configured to detect the rotation of the sensor lever; a stopper having a guide surface inclined with respect to the movement direction of the sensor lever and configured to stop movement of the sensor lever upon the rotation of the sensor. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027426 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit forming an image on a recording paper, a registration roller transporting the recording paper to the image forming unit, a post-registration roller detection unit provided at a down stream side of the registration roller in a direction in which the recording paper is transported, the post-registration roller detection unit detecting the recording paper transported by the registration roller and a control unit adjusting a timing in which the image forming unit forms the image on the recording paper based on a timing at which the post-registration roller detection unit detects the recording paper. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027427 | SHEET FINISHER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SHEET FINISHING METHOD - A sheet finisher according to an embodiment includes: a fold roller which folds a central area of a sheet bundle to form a fold line on the sheet bundle; a fold reinforcing roller which moves along a direction of the fold line while pressing the fold line of the sheet bundle to reinforce the fold line; and a drive unit which includes a motor and transmits a drive torque of the motor to the fold reinforcing roller, so that the drive torque can be changed, to move the fold reinforcing roller along the fold line. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027428 | SHEET FINISHER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SHEET FINISHING METHOD - There is provided a sheet finisher including a fold roller which folds the center of a sheet bundle and forms a fold line in the sheet bundle; a roller unit which is provided with an upper roller and a lower roller and which moves the upper roller and the lower roller along a fold line direction, while nipping and pressing the fold line by the upper roller and the lower roller to reinforce the fold line; and a jam release handle which separates the upper roller and the lower roller in a thickness direction of the sheet bundle and weakens or removes pressure between the upper roller and the lower roller when the upper roller and the lower roller stops in a state of pressing the fold line. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027429 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND OUTPUT SETTING METHOD OF CONSUMED STATUS OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus which uses a consumable item is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a consumed status detecting unit which detects a value of the consumed status of the consumable item, a determining unit which determines whether to output an exchange message of the consumable item by comparing the value of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit with a predetermined value, an exchange message output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the exchange message, and a consumed status output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027430 | MEASURING DEVELOPER DENSITY IN AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM - An apparatus for measuring developer density in an electrophotographic system. A first electrode and a second electrode are disposed to define a working volume between them through which developer moves without contacting the first electrode, wherein the electrodes are electrically insulated from each other by the working volume. A voltage source selectively applies an AC bias across the electrodes. A measuring device measures the current across the electrodes while the bias is applied. A processor is adapted to automatically determine the density of the developer in the working volume based on the measured current and the applied bias. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027431 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPER TONER CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENT - Developer toner concentration in an electrophotographic system is measured. Two sensors, one before and one after the toning zone in the direction of rotation of the development member, each include respective electrodes that form a respective capacitance between the respective electrode and the development member. A voltage source selectively applies respective AC biases across the sensors and the respective currents across the sensors are measured. A controller causes an electrostatic latent image to be produced on the photoreceptor and causes the development member to rotate and the photoreceptor to move. While the development member is rotating, the processor receives the measured currents and computes toner concentration using the respective received currents and the pixel data. The developer flow rate can be adjusted, or toner added to the developer, in response to the determined toner concentration. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027432 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPER FLOW RATE MEASUREMENT - Developer flow rate over a rotatable development member in an electrophotographic system is measured. An electrode and the development member define a capacitive working volume between them through which developer moves. A voltage source electrically connected to the electrode and the development member selectively applies an AC bias across the working volume, and a meter measures the currents across the working volume while the bias is applied. A controller causes the development member to stop supplying toner to the photoreceptor, and to rotate. While the development member is rotating, the controller records the current measured by the meter. Developer flow rate is computed using the measured current. The developer flow rate can be adjusted in response to the computed flow rate. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027433 | RESONANT-FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT OF ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPER DENSITY - Developer density is measured in an electrophotographic system. First and second electrodes are disposed to define a working volume between them through which developer passes without contacting the first electrode, wherein the electrodes are electrically insulated from each other by the working volume. One terminal of an AC voltage (current) source having a selected frequency is connected to one of the electrodes. An inductor is connected in series (parallel) with the voltage source, so that the source provides the AC bias (current) across the electrodes through (across) the inductor. The AC is applied and the current (voltage) across the electrodes is measured. The density of the developer in the working volume is automatically determined using a processor responsive to the measured current (voltage) and the applied bias (current). | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027434 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF OPTIMALLY CONTROLLING TONER CONCENTRATION OF DEVELOPER - An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier; an image information obtaining unit; a latent image forming unit; a developer carrier; a developing device to develop the latent image by adhering toner onto the latent image carried on a latent image carrier; a toner replenishing device to replenish toner to the developing device; and a controller to adjust a toner replenishment amount by controlling drive of the toner replenishing device based on the image information. When the drive of the developing device is stopped, information relating to unreplenished portion of the toner replenishment amount excluding the already replenished amount from the toner replenishment amount based on the image information is stored in a nonvolatile memory, and the drive of the toner replenishing device is controlled using the stored information relating to the unreplenished portion of the toner replenishment amount when the drive of the developing device is resumed. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027435 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a two-component developing devices for each of a plurality of photoreceptors and a motor for the developing device. A transmission can assume a coupled state where the transmission transmits driving force of the motor to the developing device and a separated state where the transmission does not transmit the driving force of the motor to the developing device. A toner agitating mechanism stirs toner inside the developing device. A permeability sensor detects permeability inside the developing device and outputs a signal according to a ratio of the toner to the carrier. A coupling judging section judges that the coupling state exists when a variation of a signal value outputted by the permeability sensor equals or exceeds a predetermined value and judges that the separated state exists when the variation of the signal value outputted by the permeability sensor is lower than the predetermined value. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027436 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of photosensitive drums; a plurality of scorotron chargers provided for the plurality of photosensitive drums, respectively, a voltage application circuit commonly connected to the plurality of scorotron chargers, a plurality of wires provided for the plurality of scorotron chargers, respectively; a plurality of grid electrodes provided for the plurality of scorotron chargers, respectively; at least one of current detecting units provided for at least one of the plurality of grid electrodes, respectively, and at least one of the current detecting units detecting grid current which flows into at least one of the grid electrodes, respectively; and a control device configured to control the voltage application circuit such that at least one of the grid currents detected by at least one of the current detecting units become equal to or higher than a reference value. | 2012-02-02 |
| 20120027437 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus, includes: at lease one photosensitive element; a plurality of chargers configured to charge the at lease one photosensitive element; a voltage applying circuit commonly connected to the plurality of chargers and configured to apply a voltage to the plurality of chargers; a current detecting unit configured to detect a current sum of current that flows to the plurality of chargers from the voltage applying circuit; and a control device configured to control the voltage applying circuit so that the current sum detected by the current detecting unit becomes equal to or larger than a reference value. | 2012-02-02 |
