| 09th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 46 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20110052172 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS WITH BUILT-IN FLASH - An image pickup apparatus includes a motor, a shutter charge mechanism which rotates the motor in a first direction to perform a charge operation of a shutter, a flash pop-up mechanism which rotates the motor in a second direction to move a flash to an up state, a state detector which detects the up state of the flash, a clutch mechanism which cuts off a transmission between the motor and the flash pop-up mechanism when the motor rotates in the first direction, and cuts off a transmission between the motor and the shutter charge mechanism when the motor rotates in the second direction, and a controller which controls the motor to rotate in the first direction to drive the shutter charge mechanism when the state detector detects the up state of the flash after the motor rotates in the second direction to drive the flash pop-up mechanism. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052173 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - In continuous shooting processing, the defocus amounts of respective focus detection areas and the reliabilities of the defocus amounts are detected from information of the focus detection areas. Weightings are determined based on the reliabilities and defocus amounts. If the detection of defocus amounts is not completed in one shooting operation during continuous shooting, weightings are determined using defocus amounts detected in a shooting operation preceding the current one during continuous shooting. If there is no defocus amount that has been detected in a shooting operation preceding the current one, weightings are determined to weight a photometry area at a predetermined position of the field. A correct exposure for shooting is determined by calculating the weighted average of photometric values obtained in a plurality of photometry areas using the determined weightings. Continuous shooting can be performed with a correct exposure without decreasing the continuous shooting speed. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052174 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND EXPOSURE CONTROL METHOD - An image sensing apparatus has focus state detection areas, photometry areas, a defocus amount obtaining unit that obtains a defocus amount of each focus state detection area, a photometry unit that obtains a photometric value of each photometry area, and a determination unit that determines a weighting coefficient for each photometry area. The photometry areas includes a first photometry area, corresponding to any of the focus state detection areas, for which the weighting coefficient is determined using a defocus amount of the corresponding focus state detection area, and a second photometry area for which the weighting coefficient is determined using the weighting coefficient for the first photometry area or the defocus amount of the focus state detection area corresponding to the first photometry area. The second photometry area includes one or more photometry areas, and, in a field area, the number of photometry areas below a first area for obtaining a photometric value in the first photometry area is greater than that above the first area. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052175 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING WEIGHTING VALUES IN LIGHT METERING - A method for adjusting weighting values in light metering is provided. An input image is divided into multiple metering zones. The input image includes a number of pixel data, and the metering zones correspond to a number of exposure weighting values. It is determined whether the color of each pixel datum of the input image is skin color. For each metering zone, an amount of the pixel data determined as the skin color is calculated. The corresponding exposure weighting values of the metering zones are adjusted according to the calculated results. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052176 | CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS - A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052177 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - An image sensing apparatus comprises: a mirror which reflects light coming from a photographing optical system at a mirror down position; a mirror support member which rotatably supports the mirror; a contacting member against which the mirror support member contacts at the mirror down position; a rotatable first lever member; and a second lever member to which the contacting member is secured, and which is rotatably held by the first lever member, wherein when the mirror moves to the mirror down position, the mirror support member contacts against the contacting member, the second lever member then rotates relative to the first lever member and contacts against the first lever member, and by rotating the first lever member, the first and second lever members rotate without changing a relative positional relationship, so as to adjust a position of the contacting member with respect to the mirror support member. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052178 | HANDS-FREE CAMERA HOLDER - Embodiments of hands-free camera holders according to the present disclosure can enable a user to obtain the exact picture they want by giving them complete control of the camera position. A hands-free camera holder can include a camera support member, e.g., a platform, that is connected by way of an adjustable frame. In optional embodiments, the user can connect to the frame by way or a collar/harness. By using a switch, or trigger means, that is connected to the camera, to take the picture, the framing of the picture is not disturbed, whether activated by the user or an assistant. The separate switch concept/means can also enable individuals with disabilities to use other parts of their body to operate the camera. Using adaptive technology, any reliable movement can be used as a trigger for the camera. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052179 | MOUNTING DEVICE FOR SECURITY CAMERA - Disclosed herein is a mounting device for a security camera. In the mounting device, a mounting plate means is fastened and then a cover means is fitted into the mounting plate means when the security camera is mounted to a building, thus enabling easy and convenient installation. The mounting device includes a mounting plate means and a cover means. The mounting plate means includes a mounting plate having a plurality of mounting holes at regular intervals to mount the mounting plate means to a wall, and a pocket part integrally provided on a predetermined portion of the mounting plate and having an insert space. The cover means includes a body having on a central portion thereof a coupling sleeve, with a camera coupling means being coupled to the coupling sleeve. An insert part is integrally provided on the body and fitted into the insert space. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052180 | LIGHT BLOCKING PLATE, CAMERA MODULE HAVING SAME, AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME - An exemplary light blocking plate includes a light pervious substrate, a filter film formed on the light pervious substrate, and a metal film layer formed on the light pervious substrate and the optical filter film. The metal film layer defines a through hole to expose a central portion of the optical filter film. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052181 | LENS SYSTEM, INTERCHANGEABLE LENS APPARATUS, AND CAMERA SYSTEM - It has conventionally been difficult to reduce the size of a fast lens system having an F number of about 1.4 to 2.4. In a lens system of the present invention, a positive lens element is disposed closest to an object side. A diaphragm is disposed in a widest air space in the lens system. The lens system of the present invention satisfies the following conditions: | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052182 | LENS BARRIER DEVICE - A lens barrier device | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052183 | AF/ZOOM SHUTTER WITH TWO BLADES FUNCTION - A miniature camera module comprising: a module frame comprising a surface with a conduit passing through the surface, thereby allowing light to pass through the surface via the conduit; a first blade coupled to the module frame and configured to rotate about a first axis between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first blade does not eclipse the conduit at all when in the open position and the first blade at least partially eclipses the conduit when in the closed position; a first solenoid coupled to the module frame; and a first pin coupled to the first solenoid, wherein an actuation of the first solenoid causes the first pin to rotate the first blade from the open position to the closed position. In some embodiments, the module includes additional blades, solenoids and pins. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052184 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image sensing apparatus comprises a shutter driving member which drives a shutter blade; a shutter spring which urges the shutter driving member; a shutter charge unit which charges the shutter spring, and is switched between an over-charged state and a travel prepared state; a driving unit which drives the shutter charge unit; a retaining unit which, when the shutter charge unit is set in the travel prepared state, retains the shutter driving member in a state in which the shutter spring is charged; a determination unit which determines whether or not the apparatus is executing a continuous shooting operation; and a controller which, when it is determined that the apparatus is executing the continuous shooting operation, controls to drive the shutter charge unit to the travel prepared state without stopping the shutter charge unit in the over-charged state after the charge operation of the shutter spring is complete. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052185 | CONVERSION ADAPTOR APPARATUS AND INTERCHANGEABLE LENS SYSTEM - A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052186 | TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - A transmission apparatus switches to a line of one standby system upon occurrence of a fault on any one of n lines of a working system. The transmission apparatus includes a switching controller that when switching from a line of the working system to a line of the standby-system upon the occurrence of the fault and executing a given command to put the line causing the fault in a given state of line switching according to the given command, causes the working system to maintain the state of line switching according to the given command even after restoration from the fault. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052187 | TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXED DETECTOR FOR A MAGNETO-OPTICAL CURRENT TRANSDUCER - A system monitors alternating current and includes a magneto-optical current transducer (MOCT) adapted to modulate an optical signal corresponding to magnitude of the alternating current. Beam splitters are in communication with the MOCT which are in turn connected to respective channels. Each channel includes an LED that is powered by a constant current source. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052188 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMAL LAUNCH POWER COMPUTATION IN MESHED OPTICAL NETWORKS - The present invention provides methods and systems for efficiently computing optimal optical launch powers for meshed optical networks. The present invention can be utilized to find optimal launch powers for multiple wavelengths in a meshed dense-wave division multiplexed (DWDM) system. Generally, the present invention ensures Q exceeds a threshold for OSNR, and then the launch powers are optimized based on nonlinear penalties. If Q is below the threshold, DWDM equipment changes/additions are incorporated to provide adequate OSNR. The present invention provides a computationally efficient mechanism to optimize launch powers in 10 Gb/s, 40 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s, etc. highly-meshed optical networks. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052189 | OPTICAL DEVICE FOR REARRANGING WAVELENGTH CHANNELS - An optical device for rearranging wavelength channels in an optical network is disclosed. The optical device has a wavelength selective coupler having one input port and a plurality of output ports coupled to a plurality of input ports of an optical grating demultiplexor such as an arrayed waveguide grating. The wavelength channels in each of the input ports are dispersed by the demultiplexor and are directed to a plurality of output ports of the optical grating demultiplexor. As a result, at least one wavelength channel at each of the input ports of the optical grating demultiplexor is coupled into a common output port. The optical device is useful in passive optical networks wherein a same demultiplexor is used for simultaneous multiplexing and demultiplexing of wavelength channels. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052190 | Discovery of an Adjacent Network Element within a Network Data Plane - The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for discovery of network elements, which are adjacent within the network data plane but may or may not be adjacent in the network control plane. In one embodiment of the present invention, digital network elements, with a plurality thereof having a lambda switching capability (hereinafter “LSC”) interface, is provided. A digital network element with an LSC interface originates and sends a local advertisement to its immediate control neighbor. Using this LSC originated advertisements; a neighboring network element may be discovered that is adjacent on the network data plane. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052191 | Modular High-Capacity Switch - A modular optical switch includes a set of optical switch modules connected in a mesh, a master controller for the whole optical node and a switch-module controller for each of the optical switch modules. The optical switch modules receive optical signals from, and transmit optical signals to, edge nodes based on connection requests received from the edge nodes. The master controller acts to select a path, using a simple or compound time-slot matching process, through the mesh of switch modules for each optical signal related to a connection request. Advantageously, the optical switch modules are fast switching, enabling the use of time-sharing schemes such as TDM, and the modular optical core node is made practical by efficient path selection at the master controller. A hybrid modular switch may include both optical and electronic switch modules, a master controller, and a switch-module controller for each of the switch modules. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052192 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STORING OPTICAL DATA - An optical data storage system and method of use thereof are presented. The optical data storage system includes one or more optical buffer modules connected in series. Each optical buffer module includes a cross connect. Each cross connect is connected, by a pair of inputs and outputs, to an optical data storage unit, for example, a fiber delay line, by a pair to either an optical packet network or a cross connect of a first adjacent buffer module in the series, and by a pair to a cross connect of a second adjacent buffer module in the series. The buffer module also includes a read signal output line which is connected to a read signal input line of the second adjacent buffer module for transmitting a read signal. A control module within each buffer module directs the passage of data through the cross connect. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052193 | NETWORK DESIGN APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PRODUCT - A network design apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive network information that indicates nodes connected by optical transmission paths and path information that indicates paths between the nodes; an design unit configured to perform, based on the network information and the path information, wavelength dispersion compensation design using a constraint condition that a path whose span count is larger than a span count of another path that does not satisfy a transmission condition does not satisfy the transmission condition; and an output unit configured to output a result obtained by the design unit. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052194 | NODE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF RECEIVING OPTICAL SIGNAL THEREOF, AND RING NETWORK SYSTEM - A ring network system includes a plurality of node apparatuses that are sequentially connected through a transmission medium that is formed in a ring form. In the ring network system, the remaining node apparatuses, except for a first node apparatus of the plurality of node apparatuses pass an optical signal that is transmitted from the first node apparatus, and a second node apparatus corresponding to a destination of the optical signal among the remaining node apparatuses, extracts the optical signal while transferring the first optical signal to a next node apparatus of the second node apparatus. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052195 | OPTICAL DATA COMMUNICATION USING OPTICAL DATA PATTERNS - An optical data system and method for optically transmitting data. The system includes an optical transmitter. The optical transmitter includes a pattern mapper, a light source, and a light limiting device. The pattern mapper maps a data string to a pattern of light pulses. The pattern of light pulses corresponds to a two-dimensional array that is representative of the data string. The light source emits light toward a plurality of optical cables. The light limiting device is coupled to the pattern mapper and interposed between the light source and the optical cables. The light limiting device includes a plurality of light switches to selectively transmit the pattern of light pulses into the optical cables to form the light packet. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052196 | Narrow-band DPSK apparatus, system, method - System, apparatus and methods are provided for optical communication which tolerates the tight filtering effects from concatenation of reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexers (ROADMs). An exemplary system includes a receiver configured to receive a Narrow-Band Differential-Phase-Shift-Keyed (NB-DPSK) optical signal. The receiver includes a Delay Line Interferometer (DLI) with a path length difference of less than approximately one bit period and a detector for detecting DLI output to form an electrical signal. The bandwidth of the NB-DPSK optical signal is less than approximately one-half of a first bit rate of a transmitter from which the NB-DPSK optical signal is received. The electrical signal is processed to decode transmitted data. A corresponding transmitter amplifies a first input signal having a first bit rate; and drives a DPSK modulator after amplification to generate the NB-DPSK optical signal, which has a bandwidth less than approximately one-half of the first bit rate. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052197 | Compression of generated optical continuum utilizing higher-order-mode fiber - An arrangement for providing pulse compression at the output of an optical continuum source (advantageously used in spectral slicing applications) includes a section of higher-order mode (HOM) fiber configured to exhibit a predetermined dispersion in at least a portion of the predetermined wavelength range and an effective area greater than 40 μm | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052198 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE, TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION MODULE, OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, AND WAVELENGTH DISPERSION COMPENSATION METHOD IN OPTICAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE - An optical transmission device includes: a variable dispersion compensator to give chromatic dispersion and output an input light, a branching unit to branch the light output from the variable dispersion compensator to a first part and a second part, a reproduction unit to reproduce an electric signal from the first part of the input light, a monitor unit to perform reproducing processing on the electric signal from the second part of the input light, control the variable dispersion compensator based on a result of the reproducing processing, and has a sensitivity to a variation of the chromatic dispersion which is higher than the sensitivity to the variation of the chromatic dispersion of the reproduction unit. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052199 | Time-Coherent Global Network - A network of global coverage, scalable to hundreds of petabits per second, comprises bufferless switch units each of dimension n×n, n>1, arranged in a matrix of ν columns and ν rows, ν>1, interconnecting a maximum of ν×n edge nodes. Each edge node has ν upstream channels to ν switch units in ν different columns and ν downstream channels from ν switch units in ν different rows. All upstream channels to a switch unit are time-locked to the switch unit, thus enabling coherent switching at the switch unit. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052200 | MULTI-MODE MULTIPLEXING USING STAGED COUPLING AND QUASI-PHASE-MATCHING - A mode-selective add/drop unit for a mode division de/multiplexing device includes an optical ADU waveguide adapted for coupling to an input optical waveguide. The optical ADU waveguide includes at least one region providing optical signal coupling between the ADU waveguide and a multi-mode waveguide; and, one or more phase matching regions for controlling a relative or absolute phase difference between an electromagnetic wave (EMW) carried in the ADU waveguide and the multi-mode waveguide. The mode-selective add/drop unit may further include a transition region connecting the coupling region and a phase matching region, wherein a shape of a transition region is governed by a polynomial function, exponential function, logarithmic function, trigonometric function or, any combination of these functions. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052201 | MODULAR COLORLESS AND DIRECTIONLESS MULTI-DEGREE RECONFIGURABLE OPTICAL ADD/DROP MULTIPLEXER NODE WITH IN-SERVICE UPGRADEABILITY - In a dense wavelength division multiplexed optical network, an upgradeable, modular, colorless, directionless, reconfigurable add/drop multiplexer having a small form factor. By using wavelength selective switches and couplers, the above features are achieved without the need for photonic cross connects. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052202 | HDMI OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER - An HDMI optical transceiver comprises an optical bench, at least one light emitter disposed on the optical bench, at least one first fiber assembly, at least one photodetector disposed on the optical bench and at least one second fiber assembly. The optical bench has a surface, at least one first groove recessed from the surface and at least one second groove recessed from the surface. The light emitter has a light-emitting surface. The first fiber assembly is disposed at the first groove of the optical bench and comprises a first sleeve fixed at the first groove and a first optical fiber which is disposed in the first sleeve and aligned with the light-emitting surface. The photodetector has a light-receiving surface. The second fiber assembly is disposed at the second groove of the optical bench and comprises a second sleeve fixed at the second groove and a second optical fiber which is disposed in the second sleeve and aligned with the light-receiving surface. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052203 | CONTROL UNIT HAVING A DEVICE FOR OPTICAL DATA TRANSMISSION - The invention relates to a control unit comprising a data transmission device, comprising at least one module ( | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052204 | Intentionally Skewed Optical Clock Signal Distribution - Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for distributing an intentionally skewed optical-clock signal to nodes of a source synchronous computer system. In one system embodiment, a source synchronous system comprises a waveguide, an optical-system clock optically coupled to the waveguide, and a number of nodes optically coupled to the waveguide. The optical-system clock generates and injects a master optical-clock signal into the waveguide. The master optical-clock signal acquiring a skew as it passes between nodes. Each node extracts a portion of the master optical-clock signal and processes optical signals using the portion of the master optical-clock signal having a different skew for the respective extracting node. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052205 | Combined optical and electrical interconnection module and method for producing same - A combined optical and electrical interconnection module includes a flat cable comprising an optical transmission line and an electrical wire, and a printed circuit board including a light receiving module for receiving optical signals and/or a light sending module for sending optical signals and an optical waveguide for the optical signals to be transmitted therethrough or an optical block for bending the optical paths of the optical signals. The printed circuit board is electrically and optically connected to both ends or one end of the flat cable. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052206 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND OPTICAL NETWORK DEVICE FOR SYNCHRONIZING TIME OF A PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - The present invention relates to optical communications and discloses a master clock time synchronization method, slave clock time synchronization method, system and optical network device in a Passive Optical Network (PON) for the purpose of resolving time synchronization in Ethernet over Gigabit PON Encapsulation Method (GEM) mode. The PON master clock time synchronization method includes: predefining a rule for matching packet time stamp generating points; sending a first clock packet carried in a first downstream frame; acquiring time at a packet time stamp generating point that matches the frame data of the first downstream frame at the PON Media Access Control (MAC) layer and regarding the acquired time as the time the first clock packet is sent; and sending a second clock packet in a second downstream frame, where the second clock packet carries the time the first clock packet is sent. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052207 | Wavelength control method and optical transmission device - An optical transmission device in which: a first cyclic filter with a fixed transmission wavelength characteristic and a second cyclic filter with a variable transmission wavelength characteristic are combined, and the transmission wavelength characteristic of the second cyclic filter is changed according to a target wavelength, to thereby control the relative phase relationship of the transmission wavelength characteristics of the first and second cyclic filters. Moreover a light source is controlled according to a monitored value of the transmittance of the second cyclic filter with respect to the control target light, to thereby match the wavelength of the control target light with the target wavelength. Consequently, it is possible, with a simple configuration using a combination of two cyclic filters, to variably control wavelength at arbitrary wavelength intervals at a high level of precision. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052208 | OPTOELECTRONIC WIRING FILM AND OPTOELECTRONIC WIRING MODULE - In one aspect of the invention, the optoelectronic wiring film may include an optical waveguide; a ground wiring; and a source wiring supplying power and being provided in the same wiring layer as the ground wiring, wherein the source wiring has a comb-shaped portion and the ground wiring has a comb-shaped portion, a gap between the source wiring and the ground wiring is substantially constant, and the comb-shaped portion of the source wiring and the comb-shaped portion of the ground wiring face each other so that the gap between the source wiring and the ground wiring meanders. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052209 | High-Speed Multi-Level Electronic Signal Generation for Optical Communications - A method of processing data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of binary electronic signals and generating an optical signal by a number of lasers that is equal to or greater than the number of binary electronic signals. The optical signal is generated at one of a plurality of intensity levels, and each intensity level represents a particular combination of bit values for the plurality of binary electronic signals. The optical signal is converted into an electronic signal having the plurality of intensity levels. An apparatus for processing data is provided that includes a plurality of lasers configured to emit light at a plurality of frequencies, and a plurality of modulators configured to receive a plurality of binary electronic signals and to modulate the light emitted by the lasers. An apparatus for transmitting data is provided that includes a photo receiver and an electronic signal generator. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052210 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE OPTICAL TRANSMISSION OF DATA - In a device and method for the optical transmission of data using a pulse-width-modulated LED ( | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052211 | Optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system including adaptive cross-talk cancellation - An optical communication system comprising a transmitter including a data register having a plurality of outputs, each output comprising a separate data channel, a plurality of signal processors, each signal processor corresponding to a data, a plurality of laser modules, each laser module coupled to an output of a corresponding signal processor, wherein each laser module modulates the modified signal from its corresponding data channel onto an optical carrier having a selected wavelength, and an optical multiplexer coupled to an output of all the laser modules. Each signal processor comprises a first input to receive a signal from the corresponding data channel and one or more additional inputs to receive a signal from one or more adjacent data channels, a control input to receive a control signal generated at a receiver based upon a monitored characteristic of the received signal from the corresponding data channel, and logic to modify a characteristic of the signal from the corresponding channel based upon the control signal and the signals from the one or more adjacent data channels. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052212 | Optical receiver - The present invention relates to an optical receiver, and particularly, to an optical receiver by which a DQPSK-modulated optical signal is demodulated to a multilevel phase-modulated signal. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052213 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR REDIRECTING INFRARED CONTROL CODES OVER A NETWORK FOR CONTROL AND PROCESSING - A networked bypass controller of the present invention receives IR codes transmitted from an IR transmitter (often a handheld device) and the controller is configured to either process the IR codes normally, or to perform actions, such as translation or association of the codes with stored function commands, on the IR codes transmitted. The networked bypass controller of the present invention can then send the resulting commands to one or more playout devices over a network to a device controller(s) for causing a response/change in an associated device(s). | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052214 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION WITH IMAGE PROCESSING - According to one embodiment, a visible-light communication apparatus includes an image input unit, a calculation unit, a preamble detection unit, a bit train detection unit, and a reception unit. The image input unit is configured to input image data generated by photographing a source of visible light carrying data. The calculation unit is configured to generate, from the image data, luminance data about an image at a designated position. The preamble detection unit is configured to detect a preamble at the head of the data, on the basis of the luminance data. The bit train detection unit is configured to detect the data bit train from the image data, in accordance with the preamble. The reception unit is configured to reproduce the data from the data bit train. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052215 | Blind Equalization Algorithms for Adaptive Polarization Recovery and PMD Compensation - A device and method are disclosed for blind equalization of an optical signal to implement adaptive polarization recovery, Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) compensation, and residual Chromatic Dispersion (CD) compensation in a digital coherent optical communication system. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052216 | Electronic dispersion compensation within optical communications using reconstruction - Electronic dispersion compensation within optical communications using reconstruction. Within a communication system that includes any optical network portion, segment, or communication link, etc., that optical component/portion of the communication system is emulated within the electronic domain. For example, in a communication device having receiver functionality, deficiencies that may be incurred by the at least one optical portion of the communication system are compensated in the electronic domain of the communication device having the receiver functionality by employing reconstruction logic and/or circuitry therein. Multiple decision feedback equalizers (DFE) circuitries, implemented in the electronic domain, may be employed to provide feedback from different portions of the receiver functionality in accordance with performing compensation of optical incurred deficiencies (e.g., dispersion, non-linearity, inter-symbol interference (ISI), etc.). Within a communication device's receiver portion, equalization and compensation is performed in the electronic domain as adapted for high speed applications and higher order modulation schemes. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052217 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a fixing part having a heater; a control part controlling ON/OFF of power distribution to the heater; a power source part generating a voltage for driving the control part; a main switch for turning ON/OFF power supply from outside to the power source part; and an interrupt signal generation part generating a periodical interrupt signal. The control part, based on the interrupt signal, controls ON/OFF of the power distribution to the heater, turns OFF power supply to the heater upon passage of predetermined time since disappearance of the interrupt signal, and judges that an error has occurred, when the control part is still driving after passage of driving stop time from when the main switch is turned OFF to when the control part stops its driving since the disappearance of the interrupt signal. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052218 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image data, includes: a power source for supplying power to various sections of the apparatus; a display section for displaying; and a control section for executing a controlling regarding operations of the apparatus, wherein the control section is provided with a normal power supply mode representing a state of normal power supply, and a power supply mode for operator part replacement representing the state of power supply different from said normal power supply mode, the power supply mode for operator part replacement to which an operator changes the state of power supply on changing a part or a unit of the apparatus. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052219 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum capable of bearing an electrostatic image, a development device having a developing sleeve capable of bearing a developer and a developer container capable of storing a magnetic toner, and a CPU controlling operation to discharge a developer having polarity opposite to a normally charged polarity to the photosensitive drum by enlarging a restoration electric field to force the developer having a normally charged polarity from the photosensitive drum to the development sleeve during image forming is not performed compared to that during normal image forming is performed, based on a weighted value (p×K) on an edge portion pixel number p of an edge portion of an output image. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052220 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member into a developer image; a transferring device for transferring the developer image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material; a temperature detecting device, disposed in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, for detecting a temperature; and a controller for controlling a forced consumption operation in which toner is forcedly consumed by the developing device without transferring the developer image from the image bearing member onto the transfer material. The controller is capable of controlling the forced consumption operation so that a frequency of the forced consumption operation or an amount of toner consumption per one forced consumption operation when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting device is higher than a predetermined temperature is more than that when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting device is lower than the predetermined temperature. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052221 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a latent image; a developing device, including a developer carrying member for carrying and feeding a developer including toner and a carrier to a developing position in which the developer opposes the image bearing member, for developing the latent image formed on the image bearing member; a discharging portion for permitting discharge of an excessive developer present in the developing device by supplying the developer into the developing device; a feeding member for feeding the developer in the developing device; a controller for controlling a forced discharging operation for discharging the excessive developer from the discharging portion by changing a driving condition of at least one of the developer carrying member and the feeding member; and a detecting device for detecting information correlating to flowability of the developer in the developing device. The controller is capable of controlling the forced discharging operation on the basis of a detection result of the detecting device. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052222 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having a development apparatus that includes: a developer storing part; a developer supply mechanism; and a surplus developer removing section; wherein the developer supply mechanism includes: a toner storing part; a carrier storing part; a developer conveying path and a conveying mechanism, both are arranged between the toner storing part and the developer storing part, and between the carrier storing part and the developer storing part; wherein the developer conveying path includes a toner ejection outlet through which a toner stored in the toner storing part is ejected and a carrier ejection outlet through which a carrier stored in the carrier storing part is ejected, and a supplying developer ejection outlet through which a supplying developer is ejected to the developer storing part; and wherein the conveying mechanism is adapted to convey the toner and the carrier while stirring them. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052223 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device comprises a developer unit that contains a developer including a color material and a magnetic powder, the color material being used to develop an electrostatic latent image held by an image holding member; a collecting unit that collects a part of the developer contained in the developer unit via a passage; and a measuring unit that measures a concentration of the color material included in the developer based on a magnetic property of the developer moving through the passage. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052224 | FAILURE DIAGNOSIS DEVICE, FAILURE DIAGNOSIS METHOD, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A first feature quantity computing unit that computes a first feature quantity representing an average of a plurality of driving loads recorded by a driving load of a fixing section recording unit of an image forming device that records the driving load acquired by a driving load acquiring unit that acquires the driving load, a second feature quantity computing unit that computes a second feature quantity representing a deviation of the plurality of the driving loads, and a diagnosis unit that performs failure diagnosis including estimation of a cause of a failure of the fixing section using the first feature quantity and the second feature quantity are used. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052225 | Image forming device - An image forming device includes: a collecting container that collects a waste toner; a rotation member that rotates and spreads a waste toner inside the collecting container; a torque detection unit that detects torque applied to the rotation member by a waste toner inside the collecting container; and a rotation direction switching unit that switches a rotation direction of the rotation member. When a torque value detected by the torque detection unit is more than a first threshold, the rotation direction of the rotation member is switched by the rotation direction switching unit. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052226 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, STORAGE MEDIUM AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus for performing image formation by using an electrophotographic process, the image forming apparatus including: a control section for judging existence of necessity of correction of process conditions in the electrophotographic process based on environment dependence characteristic information of a resistance value of a member that is used for the electrophotographic process and constitutes the image forming apparatus and environment change information in the own apparatus, and performing the correction based on the result of the judgment. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052227 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image on a sheet and a sheet feeding unit to feed the sheet to the image forming device. The sheet feeding unit includes an endless, dielectric belt disposed facing an upper surface of a sheet stack to contact and attract an uppermost sheet to the surface thereof and feed the sheet in the sheet feeding direction, and an electric potential pattern forming unit to form an electric potential pattern on the surface of the dielectric belt. The electric potential pattern has multiple potential holding sections of identical absolute values and opposite polarities disposed adjacent to each other at a uniform pitch. The electric potential pattern forming unit forms the electric potential pattern to have equal numbers of positive potential holding sections and negative potential holding sections. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052228 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BANDING COMPENSATION USING ELECTROSTATIC VOLTMETER BASED SENSING - A method and system for compensating for an image quality defect in an image printing system comprising at least one marking station, the at least one marking station comprising a charging device for charging the image bearing surface, an exposing device for irradiating and discharging the image bearing surface to form a latent image, a developer unit for developing toner to the image bearing surface, and a transfer unit for transferring toner from the image bearing surface to an image accumulation surface is provided. The method includes sensing the image quality defect on an image bearing surface by an electrostatic voltmeter (ESV) in the image printing system and determining the frequency, amplitude, and/or phase of the image quality defect by a processor. In one embodiment, the method includes compensating for the image quality defect by modulating the power of an exposing device during an expose process. In another embodiment, the method includes compensating for the image quality defect by modifying image content. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052229 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier and a detection unit. The image carrier is stretched around a plurality of rolls. The detection unit detects a density of a toner image formed on the image carrier, based on an amount of regularly reflected light from a surface of the image carrier. A detection length where the detection unit performs the detection in a movement direction of the image carrier is longer than a length, in the movement direction of the image carrier, of a deformation area where a deformation of the image carrier is caused. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052230 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An embodiment of an image forming apparatus may include a photosensitive member, a development unit, a transfer member, a sensor, and a correcting unit. The development unit may form a toner image on the photosensitive member. The toner image member may be transferred onto the transfer member. The sensor may detect light from a surface of the transfer member. The correcting unit may correct a toner density in a first area of the transfer member after transfer of a toner image of a test pattern to the first area. The correcting unit may correct the toner density on the basis of a difference between an output value of the sensor from a second area before the transfer of the toner image of the test pattern and an output value of the sensor from the second area after the transfer of the toner image of the test pattern. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052231 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DETECTING METHOD OF PATTERN IMAGE REGARDING IMAGE QUALITY ADJUSTMENT - An image forming apparatus includes: an obtaining unit that radiates light from a light-emitting unit onto the image carrier and that obtains an output value of a light-receiving unit having received the light reflected from the image carrier; a light amount setting unit that calculates a required light amount value and that sets a light amount adjusting value; a detecting unit that detects a pattern image on the image carrier and by judging whether an output value obtained by radiating light of the light amount adjusting value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a controller that controls image formation on the image carrier based on a detected result, wherein the detecting unit reduces the threshold when the required light amount value exceeds the limiting value depending on degree of the excess. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052232 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CORRECTING IMAGE CONCENTRATION - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a first detector including a first light emitting device, a first mixed-light receiving device and a first diffuse reflection light receiving device, a second detector including a second light emitting device and a second mixed-light receiving device, and a concentration correction unit. The first mixed-light receiving device detects a mixed light including regular and diffuse reflection light reflected from a transport member. The first diffuse reflection light receiving device detects the diffuse reflection light. The second mixed-light receiving device detects the mixed light. The concentration correction unit conducts concentration correction using detection results of the first and second detectors. A first correction pattern reflecting the regular and diffuse reflection light and detectable by the first detector and a second correction pattern reflecting only the regular reflection light and detectable by the second detector are formed different positions on the transport member. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052233 | DEVELOPMENT APPARATUS - In a development apparatus including conveying screws which circulates and conveys developer in a developer container as being rotated, a developing sleeve which bears and conveys developer in the developer container as being rotated, and a restriction blade which restricts developer quantity at the developing sleeve, the developer container includes a supply chamber to supply developer to the developing sleeve and a retrieval chamber to retrieve developer from the developing sleeve, and rotation speed of the conveying screws or rotation speed of the developing sleeve is changed so that Vsc/Vsl during image forming is not performed is to be smaller than that during image forming is performed, as Vsc denotes the rotation speed of the conveying screws and Vsl denotes the rotation speed of the developing sleeve. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052234 | ENHANCED FUSING OF RAISED TONER USING ELECTROGRAPHY - Printing of information with a distinct tactile feel can be accomplished by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing includes electrographic printing of raised images to selected areas of a receiver member using electrographic techniques so that they are fixed according to the properties of the raised print such as according to the mass per unit area or toner height. In one embodiment, by slowing down the process speed of the fuser to allow for a longer dwell so that the large toner particles and/or toner mass needed to make raised image will properly adhere to the print media without artifacts. To keep the energy requirements and the cost of the equipment down a speed switching technique is used that slows the process speed of the fuser so that the raised image is properly fused on a wide range of paper types. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052235 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING - Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of controlling the temperature of surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses useful in printing includes a belt including a first surface; at least one heat source for heating the first surface; a roll including a second surface; a temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature of the second surface; and a roll positioning device coupled to the roll for positioning the second surface of the roll in contact with the first surface of the belt to form a nip and increase the temperature of the second surface, and for positioning the second surface out of contact with the first surface to decrease the temperature of the second surface, in response to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052236 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a heat roller configured to heat a toner image formed on a sheet, and a thermistor arranged opposite to a circumferential surface of the heat roller and configured to detect a temperature of the circumferential surface of the heat roller without contacting the heat roller. The thermistor is located at a position above a horizontal plane including a rotational axis of the heat roller and on a downstream side, in a rotational direction of the heat roller, with respect to a vertical plane including the rotational axis of the heat roller, and closer to the vertical plane than the horizontal plane. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052237 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - In a fixing device, a pressing member rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation. A flexible endless fixing member rotates in accordance with rotation of the pressing member. A nip formation member is provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A first heat generator faces an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member. A second heat generator faces the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member, and is disposed adjacent to the first heat generator along the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052238 | FIXING DEVICE USING ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION HEATING METHOD - A fixing device which makes it possible to reduce power consumption during a non-fixing operation while reducing the time before fixing is started. A belt has a conductive layer provided thereon. A pressure roller is rotated in a state engaged with the belt to thereby cause the belt to be rotated in a driven manner. Exciting circuits each formed by a magnetic core and an exciting coil generate an eddy current in the conductive layer provided on the belt to thereby cause heat to be generated in the conductive layer. A plurality of the exciting circuits are arranged at different locations along a rotational direction of the belt, and a controller drivingly controls the exciting circuits in respective timings in a state where the belt and the pressure roller are disengaged from each other. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052239 | OPTICAL SENSOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An optical sensor includes: a light-emitting unit; a light-receiving unit that receives light radiated from the light-emitting unit and reflected from a detection target and that outputs an output value in response to the light received; and a correcting unit that corrects the output value of the light-receiving unit when receiving the light reflected from the detection target based on the output value of the light-receiving unit obtained by irradiating a detection area of the optical sensor with light without any light reflective objects being present in the detection area. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052240 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including plural sheet-feeding trays, and a control section that displays a schedule image to show an execution schedule of a job on a display section, wherein the control section displays a job execution schedule displaying column, and an un-executable job displaying column, both columns being included in the schedule image, wherein when a job represents a tray specifying job that specifies a sheet-feeding tray to be used among the plural sheet-feeding trays, and if the job is un-executable using the sheet-feeding tray specified by the job, the control section controls the un-executable job displaying column, not to display that the specified job is un-executable, even though the specified job is un-executable, and the control section further controls the job execution schedule displaying column to show that the job is not executable, while corresponding the job with the sheet-feeding tray specified by the job. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052241 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section which performs image formation according to execution of a job, a storage section which can store two or more jobs, a display section to perform display, and a control section by which the operations of the image forming section and the display section are controlled, and the job is stored and managed in the storage section, and which performs these two or more jobs in a prescribed order. According to the setting conditions and the operating state of each of jobs, before and after the job, in the execution order, this control section creates guidance and displays this guidance on the display section. According to, or referring to, the guidance, the user is guided to perform processes. Working efficiency is enhanced because the operator knows easily a process or timing required in order to operate without stopping print operation. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052242 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to visually recognize a suitable time when an operator should stay at the machine side, even if a reserved job includes a job continuous implementation impeding factor. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section to implement the reserved job; an operating section to accept operations for inputting a plurality of reserved jobs; a controlling section to extract a specific reserved job, which includes the job continuous implementation impeding factor, from the plurality of reserved jobs inputted through the operating section, so as to set discrimination information representing the job continuous implementation impeding factor into the specific reserved job; and a displaying section to display the specific reserved job to which the discrimination information is set and other reserved jobs to which the discrimination information is not set, on the same screen in a synopsis manner. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052243 | POWER OFF SEQUENCE OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A first power source unit supplies power to a first control unit accessing a storage unit. An image forming unit controlled by a second control unit is provided with a load for forming an image. A second power source unit supplies power to the load and the storage unit. A switch unit is operated to power on or off an image forming apparatus. The first control unit, upon receiving the status signal instructing power-off, causes the storage unit to shut down and transmits an instruction to cause the load to shut down to the second control unit. The second control unit, if a shutdown instruction is not received even when the status signal instructing power-off has been detected, performs control to stop the load and then stop the supply of power from the second power source unit. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052244 | FREQUENCY DAMPENING DUCT - This is an environmental unit useful in a xerographic system that reduces or eliminates pulsation and vibration in the system. This is accomplished by the use of flexible bladders on a wall of the air duct work pumping air into the print housing. When the vibration is abated, the banding problems on images are eliminated. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052245 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME, AND FIXING METHOD - In a fixing device, a metal member is provided inside a fixing belt to heat the fixing belt. A first lubricant is applied between the metal member and the fixing belt at a center portion of the fixing belt in an axial direction of the fixing belt that contacts a recording medium bearing a toner image. A second lubricant having a viscosity greater than a viscosity of the first lubricant is applied between the metal member and the fixing belt at lateral edge portions of the fixing belt in the axial direction of the fixing belt that do not contact the recording medium. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052246 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus which includes a fan to generate an air flow within the image forming apparatus, and a controller to drive the fan at a first speed corresponding to a first time period representing an image forming operation and to drive the fan at a second speed corresponding to a second time period corresponding to operations other than the image forming operation. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052247 | Cooling device and image forming device - A cooling device includes a cooling roller having a dual tube structure including an inner tube disposed inside an outer tube, an outside flow passage and an inside flow passage in which a cooling medium flows, and an opening that allows the outside flow passage to communicate with the inside flow passage, a cooling medium transport unit, and a rotating tube joint unit mounted to one end side of the cooling roller. One end of the outer tube is coaxially rotatably fitted to a first fitting section of the rotating tube joint unit. One end of the inner tube is coaxially fitted into and rotatably or fixedly supported to a second fitting section of the rotating tube joint unit, and the other end is coaxially fitted into and rotatably or fixedly supported to a fitting section on the other end of the outer tube. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052248 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A cooling device is disclosed. The cooling device includes a cooling section which is moveably provided with respect to an image forming device body between a first location and a second location, the second location being different from the first location, and which cools surroundings with a cooling medium to be supplied; a cooling medium supply section which is provided at the image forming device body and which cools the cooling medium to supply the cooled cooling medium to the cooling section; and a connecting member which connects the cooling section and the cooling medium supply section to circulate the cooling medium between the cooling section and the cooling medium supply section, wherein the connecting member includes a flexible member and is supported by a guiding member which guides an operation of tracking the connecting member in conjunction with movement of the cooling section. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052249 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed is a cooling device that includes a cooling part that is movably provided between a first position and a second position different from the first position with respect to an image forming apparatus main body and cools a periphery thereof with a cooling medium to be supplied; a cooling medium supply part that is provided in the image forming apparatus main body and cools and supplies the cooling medium to the cooling part; and a connecting member that connects the cooling part to the cooling medium supply part to circulate the cooling medium between the cooling part and the cooling medium supply part; wherein the connecting member is configured to include a flexible member and spirally provided with a moving direction of the cooling part as an axis center. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052250 | INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER BODY AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An intermediate transfer body is provided. An intermediate transfer body includes an intermediate transfer belt and a belt cleaning section including a cleaning blade. A plurality of projecting portions extending so as to have a predetermined angle with respect to a width direction of the intermediate transfer belt are provided on a surface of an elastic layer of the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaning blade is formed such that a width W | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052251 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a sheet feeding unit; an upper frame; a sheet feeding frame; and a lower frame. The upper frame includes: a pair of sheet-metal components, each of which is punched out in a right-left direction; and a first contact part facing a first direction. The sheet feeding frame is made of a resin component and is arranged between a space defined by the pair of sheet-metal components and includes a second contact part at a face facing the first direction. The lower frame supports the upper frame and the sheet feeding frame from below and includes a contacted part facing a second direction opposite to the first direction. A relative position in a front-rear direction between the upper frame and the lower frame is defined by contacting the contacted part with both of the first contact part and the second contact part. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052252 | BIAS CHARGING OVERCOAT - There is described a bias charging member that includes a conductive core and an outer surface layer on the conductive core. The outer surface layer includes a resin of aminoplast and one of polyol or nylon, a conductive additive and p-toluene sulfonic acid. There is also described a method of refurbishing bias charging members. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052253 | OPENING/CLOSING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - When closing a front cover opened in a case where a fixing lever is placed in a fixing position, a guide plate portion formed on the front cover raises the fixing lever together with a support shaft. When a connection pin of the fixing lever enters a cam groove provided in the front cover, the fixing lever obtains a closed state in which the fixing lever is connected to the cam groove. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052254 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body, a drawer, an image carrier, a developing unit which is provided to be movable with respect to the drawer, a contacting and spacing mechanism which is provided to at least one of the apparatus main body and the drawer, and which is configured to move the developing unit between a contacting position and a spacing position, a driving unit which is configured to drive the contacting and spacing mechanism, a cover, an interlocking mechanism which is configured to interlock with opening of the cover, wherein when the cover is opened, the interlocking mechanism performs a first operation of releasing the coupled state between the driving unit and the contacting and spacing mechanism, and a second operation of moving the developing unit to a drawn position while interlocking with the first operation. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052255 | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus - A process cartridge collectively accommodates at least a latent image carrier and a developer carrier carrying tonner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier and includes a side plate unit rotatably supporting the latent image carrier and the developer carrier. The side plate includes a bearing that rotatably supports a rotation shaft of the developer carrier; an elastic body that pushes the bearing against a rotation shaft of the latent image carrier; and a guiding unit that guides the bearing in a direction of the pushing. The guiding unit includes an abrasion preventing structure at a wall surface of the guiding unit that comes in contact with the bearing. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052256 | Image forming apparatus - A protruding portion that protrudes further toward a process cartridge than a contact portion coming in contact with a recording medium is provided at a contact terminal. A slide contact surface portion of the process cartridge is in a state of being in sliding contact with the protruding portion of the contact terminal by action of inserting the process cartridge, and the protruding portion is pressed in a direction being apart from the recording medium to limit contact between the contact terminal and the recording medium. The protruding portion fits in a fitting concave portion at a predetermined mounted position to make the contact terminal come in contact with the recording medium. The protruding portion is pulled out from the fitting concave portion by action of taking out the process cartridge to be in sliding contact with the slide contact surface portion. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052257 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVENIENT REPLACEMENT OF DEVELOPER CONTAINER - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image, at least one developer container replaceably provided in the image forming apparatus for containing developer, a housing for housing the image forming mechanism and the at least one developer container, and an operation device provided on the housing. The housing includes at least one openable portion opened for replacement of the at least one developer container. The operation device includes an instruction display part for indicating a message prompting opening of the at least one openable portion, and at least one developer-end display part for indicating depletion or near-depletion of the developer contained in any one of the at least one developer container. The at least one developer-end display part and the instruction display part are placed adjacent to each other and are viewable from a front side of the image forming apparatus. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052258 | Fixing roller for fixing unit, fixing unit, image forming apparatus, roller replacement aid for fixing unit, and method of replacing fixing roller in fixing unit - In a fixing unit in which at least one of a heating roller and a pressing roller is provided as a fixing roller and is replaceably supported along the axial direction of the fixing roller, a sliding member is formed integrally to the inside of the fixing roller, so that the sliding member slides on the outer circumference of a roller guiding shaft upon replacing the fixing roller. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052259 | PRESSURE ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR A FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heating member disposed with an internal heating source and a pressuring member that presses against the heating member. The fixing device is configured to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus body, and includes: brackets that retain the heating member; pressuring levers that retain the pressuring member and are movably supported in the brackets; urging means that push the pressuring levers in a direction where the pressuring member presses against the heating member; and cams that are rotatably supported in the brackets, contact the pressuring levers, and adjust the pressuring force of the pressuring member. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052260 | PRESSURE ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR A FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heating member disposed with an internal heating source and a pressuring member that presses against the heating member. The fixing device is configured to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus body, and includes: brackets that retain the heating member; pressuring levers that retain the pressuring member and are movably supported in the brackets; urging means that push the pressuring levers in a direction where the pressuring member presses against the heating member; and cams that are rotatably supported in the brackets, contact the pressuring levers, and adjust the pressuring force of the pressuring member. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052261 | Swing-gear mechanism and image forming apparatus having multiple speed modes - An image forming apparatus has a high-speed mode and a low-speed mode and includes a speed switch unit configured to select the high-speed mode or the low-speed mode by switching a rotation direction of a drive source. The speed switch unit includes a drive gear attached to a rotating shaft of the drive source; a first drive gear series transmitting a rotating power of the drive source upon rotation in a first direction to an image carrier; and a second drive gear series transmitting a rotating power of the drive source upon rotation in a second direction to the image carrier, the second drive gear series having a larger reduction ratio than the first drive gear series. The speed switch unit causes the drive gear to be selectively connected to the first drive gear series or the second drive gear series depending on the rotating direction of the drive source. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052262 | COMPOSITION FOR CONDUCTIVE ROLLER, CONDUCTIVE ROLLER, CHARGING UNIT, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CONDUCTIVE ROLLER - A rubber composition for a conductive roller that has at least an elastic layer above an outer periphery of a shaft member having conductivity is provided, the rubber composition including: a binary epichlorohydrin rubber; and a vulcanizing agent that contains at least sulfur, wherein the rubber composition does not contain a quinoxaline vulcanizing agent and a triazine vulcanizing agent. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052263 | OPTICAL SCANNER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An optical scanner includes a light source including light emitters, an aperture member collimating light beams from the light source, a deflector deflecting the light beams passing through the aperture member, and a scanning optical system condensing the deflected light beams onto a scanned surface to optically scan the surface in a main-scanning direction. The scanning optical system includes a resin scanning system having at least one resin scanning lens. At least one folding mirror/sheet glass is disposed between a scanning lens nearest to the deflector in the resin scanning system and the scanned surface. At least one scanning lens in the resin scanning system has an uneven birefringence distribution with respect to a sub-scanning direction. An optical conjugate image of the aperture member is formed between a lens surface nearest to the deflector in the resin scanning system and a lens surface nearest to the scanned surface with respect to the sub-scanning direction. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052264 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device includes: plural developing units; a rotary body, where the plural developing units are attached, that rotates so as to place one of the plural developing units in a developing position to develop a subject of development; a first driving unit that drives the rotary body; a second driving unit that drives at least one of the plural developing units; and a regulatory mechanism that regulates a position of the rotary body using a rotational force caused in the rotary body in accordance with driving by the second driving unit. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052265 | DEVELOPING DEVICE USABLE WITH IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device usable with an image forming apparatus, which has an improved configuration to allow smooth flow of developer stored therein. The developing device includes a housing in which a developer receiving chamber is defined, a partition to divide the developer receiving chamber into a first developer receiving chamber and a second developer receiving chamber, and a first developer delivery member arranged in the first developer receiving chamber to deliver developer in a first direction. The partition includes at least one opening to communicate the first developer receiving chamber and the second developer receiving chamber with each other, and a shield to block between the first developer receiving chamber and the second developer receiving chamber at an upstream position of the first direction so as to isolate the two developer receiving chambers from each other. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052266 | DETACHABLE TONER CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge that has an inner shutter and an outer shutter and is attached to and detached from a main body through a door disposed on a main body. The outer shutter moves to a position in which toner is allowed to be discharged through a toner outlet of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is loaded into the main body, and the inner shutter moves to an open position in which the toner outlet is opened by being interlocked in a closing operation of the door after the toner cartridge is loaded into the main body. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052267 | IMAGING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - In a single-body type imaging unit including a toner bottle provided with a drive shaft, and a print unit provided with a drive shaft, the toner bottle and the print unit are coupled to each other via an elastic member. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052268 | TONER CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A toner cartridge includes a toner reservoir for storing toner and a toner conveyor portion. The toner conveyor portion includes a toner discharge port for discharging toner stored in the toner reservoir to the outside and a toner conveying member for conveying toner to the toner discharge port. The toner conveyor portion includes an airtight cover that encloses the upper part of the toner conveying member located over the toner discharge port, a communication opening arranged near the toner discharge port to connect between the toner conveyor portion and the toner reservoir and a pressure relieve valve that opens and closes the communication opening in accordance with the pressure of the toner in the space enclosed by the airtight cover. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052269 | TONER CONTAINER - A toner container installed in an image forming apparatus includes a toner container main body having a predetermined length and in which toner is accommodated, a discharge port through which the toner is discharged from the toner container main body, a shutter which opens and closes the discharge port, a handle provided on the toner container main body, and a pressed portion provided on the toner container main body and which is pressed by the image forming apparatus to project the handle out from the image forming apparatus. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052270 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH - A developing device includes a developing container for accommodating a two-component developer; a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying the developer, a fixed magnet including a release pole for releasing the developer from the developer bearing member, being fixed to the inside of the developer bearing member; and a backflow prevention member that is a sheet-shaped member disposed along the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member so as to be upstream in the direction of rotation of the developer bearing member as viewed from the release pole, the backflow prevention member being disposed so that a proximal end portion thereof is fixed to an inside surface of the developing container, and a distal end portion thereof is in contact with or adjacent to the developer bearing member and facing downstream in the direction of rotation of the developer bearing member. | 2011-03-03 |
| 20110052271 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An anti-accumulation section is provided at a section where an inner surface of a developer container abuts a surface of a doctor blade on an upstream side of a rotation direction of a developing roller. An angle between a surface of the anti-accumulation section facing the developing roller and the surface of the doctor blade on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing roller is set to be larger than an angle between a circle concentric with a cross section of the developing roller perpendicular to an extending direction of the developing roller and the surface of the doctor blade on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing roller at the section where the surface of the anti-accumulation section facing the developing roller and the surface of the doctor blade on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing roller abut. This realizes, with a simple configuration, a developing device capable of forming images of high quality without nonuniform development. | 2011-03-03 |
