13th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 35 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120076429 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ESTIMATION OF COMPRESSION NOISE - Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining the compression noise present in an image or frame in a video sequence. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076430 | Methods and Systems for Noise Reduction and Image Enhancement - Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for image enhancement, wherein an input image may be separated into two images: a first image comprising image content, from the input image, which may be sharpened; and a second image comprising image content, from the input image, which may be attenuated. One aspect of the present invention relates to determining a value for a noise-control parameter that controls the amount of attenuation applied to the second image. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076431 | APPLICATION BASED ADAPTIVE ENCODING - A system and method for encoding dynamic image information for an image generated by a computer application executing on a processor. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise determining a first set of information describing a reference image. A second set of information may be determined for describing an image, wherein the second set of information comprises information indicative of movement between the image and the reference image. For example, a set of primary movement directions may be determined based at least in part on the computer application generating the image. Such set of primary movement directions may be utilized for analyzing the image relative to the reference images. The difference between the image and the reference image may, for example, be analyzed using at least one of the set of primary movement directions. A movement direction may, for example, be utilized to describe the image. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076432 | Median filtering method and apparatus - A median filtering apparatus and method for removing noise and improving an image quality with respect to all types of input images are provided. The median filtering apparatus may receive an input of N pieces of data, may form a data set including the N pieces of data, may calculate a difference array having an N×N size based on the N pieces of data in the data set, may sum component values for each column of the difference array, and may calculate an index of a column having a smallest value among sum values that are obtained by the summing operation and that are greater than or equal to a preset value. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076433 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes an obtaining unit, a separating unit, a processing unit and a combining unit. The obtaining unit obtains a depth value of a subject imaged on an input image. The separating unit separates the input image into a first component that is a component including a gradation and a second component that is a component other than the first component. The processing unit enhances the first component in accordance with the depth value to generate a processed component. The combining unit combines the processed component and the second component to generate a combined component. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076434 | FLUOROSCOPY APPARATUS, FLUOROSCOPY SYSTEM, AND FLUORESCENCE-IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Observation is performed with a fluorescence image having high quantitativeness by satisfactorily eliminating dependency on distance. Provided is a fluoroscopy apparatus including an illumination unit having a light source that radiates illumination light and excitation light onto an observation target site, a fluorescence-imaging unit that acquires a fluorescence image by imaging fluorescence generated at the observation target site by the radiation of excitation light, a white-light-imaging unit that acquires a reference image by imaging return light returning from the observation target site by the radiation of the illumination light, and an image-correction unit that obtains a correction fluorescence image by raising the luminance value of the fluorescence image to the power of a reciprocal of a first exponent obtained by a power approximation of a distance characteristic of luminance versus observation distance, for the fluorescence image, that obtains the correction reference image by raising the luminance value of the reference image to the power of a reciprocal of a second exponent obtained by a power approximation of a distance characteristic of luminance versus observation distance, for the reference image, and that obtains a corrected fluorescence image by dividing the correction fluorescence image by the correction reference image. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076435 | Signal Processors and Methods for Estimating Transformations Between Signals with Phase Deviation - A phase deviation method determines translation between a reference and suspect signal by analyzing a phase deviation surface created by computing a deviation metric for phase shift estimates and then analyzing a surface formed from the deviation metrics for an array of translation offsets. The phase deviation method analyzes the deviation surface to determine a translation offset that minimizes phase deviation. This method is applied at increasing levels of detail to refine the translation offset. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076436 | DIGITAL MICROSCOPE SLIDE SCANNING SYSTEM AND METHODS - Provided herein are systems methods including a design of a microscope slide scanner for digital pathology applications which provides high quality images and automated batch-mode operation at low cost. The instrument architecture is advantageously based on a convergence of high performance, yet low cost, computing technologies, interfaces and software standards to enable high quality digital microscopy at very low cost. Also provided is a method based in part on a stitching method that allows for dividing an image into a number of overlapping tiles and reconstituting the image with a magnification without substantial loss of accuracy. A scanner is employed in capturing snapshot images. The method allows for overlapping images captured in consecutive snapshots. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076437 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED CLAIMS PROCESSING - A claims and repair process including collecting accident information at birth of an accident, electronic communication to a remote site, and posting information for selecting repair and supplier parties, such as by a bid process. Any of a PDA, a mapping system, or a data collection system installed on the vehicle collects accident information at the accident site, on a tow truck, or at a facility. A PDA with a digital camera may be provided for collecting digital images. Wireless communications may be used to transfer accident information for expedited processing. A claims estimate may be made by a claims adjuster or claims wizard. An aggregate database may be employed by the claims wizard to facilitate damage assessment. The claims wizard may work interactively with a PDA device for improved data collection. Tow trucks may be dispatched to transport rental, damaged and repaired vehicles to reduce insured's involvement. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076438 | VISUAL LINE ESTIMATING APPARATUS - The visual line estimating apparatus | 2012-03-29 |
20120076439 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus for scaling an image including: an operation position determining section for determining a pixel operation position, which is either a pixel inserting or deleting position, based on a scaling ratio; an inserting/deleting section for inserting/deleting a pixel to/from the pixel operation position determined by the operation position determining section; an error calculating section for calculating a density difference as an error between densities in a vicinity of the inserted/deleted pixel via the inserting/deleting section, before and after the insertion or deletion; and an error allocating section for allocating the error, calculated by the error calculating section, to the inserted pixel and pixels in a vicinity of the inserted or deleted pixel, so that a pixel value, after allocation, of a pixel of an allocation destination, falls within an allowable range estimated from a pixel value of a pixel near the pixel of allocation destination. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076440 | RE-CLOSABLE CONTAINER WITH INTEGRATED FINGERS - Methods and apparatus for grasping an object using a re-closable bag with integrated finger sleeves. The re-closable bag includes a flexible side panel, an opening on a top end of the bag, and at least two flexible finger sleeves connected to the side panel. The opening includes a closure adapted, when closed, to seal the bag. The at least two flexible finger sleeves, when in a first position, are disposed between a first portion and a second portion of the side panel. Each finger sleeve in the two or more finger sleeves is adapted to accept at least a portion of a human finger. In some aspects, an object grasped using the finger sleeves can be retracted into the re-closable bag with integrated finger sleeves and stored within the bag. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076441 | STAND-UP BAG FOR POURABLE GOODS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE STAND-UP BAG - A stand-up bag for pourable goods includes a front wall, a back wall coupled to the front wall at a first side edge and an opposite second side edge, and a base fold, wherein the front wall, the back wall, and the base fold are manufactured from a film, and wherein the base fold provides a standing base and is coupled to lower edges of the front wall and the back wall. The bag further includes a bag top situated opposite from the base fold, a closure device, wherein the closure device is attached proximate the bag top, and a carrying handle on the first side edge between the base fold and the bag top, the carrying handle positioned a distance from the base fold and the bag top. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076442 | Side-guard for inside of a flexible bag - A side-guard system for inside of a flexible bag is provided, including a first substantially cylindrical rigid member and a second substantially cylindrical rigid member configured to nest inside the first substantially cylindrical rigid member, wherein, a flexible bag can be inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member with the open side of the bag hanging over and sandwiched in place between the first open top side the first substantially cylindrical rigid member and the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles of the second open to side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076443 | METHOD OF PREPARING A STABILIZED NITROCELLULOSE ARTICLE - A method for preparing a stabilized nitrocellulose article includes providing a nitrocellulose-containing mat of fibers. The nitrocellulose-containing mat of fibers is treated with a solution that comprises a solvent and a stabilizer to produce the article. The stabilizer is soluble in the solvent. The solvent dissolves the stabilizer and the nitrocellulose in the nitrocellulose-containing mat of fibers is substantially insoluble in the solvent at ambient pressure and temperature. An inflatable bag comprises a shell and the stabilized nitrocellulose article. The shell is formed from a foldable material and has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines an interior cavity of the inflatable bag. The stabilized nitrocellulose article is disposed upon the inner surface of the shell in the interior cavity and is foldable in conformity with at least one fold of the shell. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076444 | PIZZA PACKAGING - A packaging ( | 2012-03-29 |
20120076445 | SLIDE RAIL - A slide rail includes a first slide and a second slide received in the first slide. The first slide includes a first main plate and two first side parts symmetrically placed on two opposite sides of the first main plate. The second slide includes a main body, an extending body received in the main body, and a slide post. The main body includes a second main plate and two second side parts symmetrically placed on two opposite sides of the second main plate. The second main plate includes a fixed hole defined therein. The extending body includes a third main plate and two third side parts symmetrically placed on two opposite sides of the third main plate. The third main plate defines a rail therein. The slide post is passed through the rail and fixed to the fixed hole. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076446 | LATCH AND RELEASE DEVICE FOR SLIDE ASSEMBLY - A latch and release device for a slide assembly includes first and second rails slidably movable relative to each other. An engaging member includes a resilient arm and an engaging portion is connected to the resilient arm and faces the first rail. The engaging portion can be engaged with a latch which is fixed to the second rail to restrict the second rail to move relative to the first rail. An operation member includes a first end, a second end and a body which is pivotably connected to the second rail and the first end of the operation member contacts the resilient arm. When the second end of the operation member is shifted, the resilient arm is moved by the first end of the operation member to disengage from the latch. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076447 | BALL-SPLINE WITH ROTARY MECHANISM - A ball-spline with rotary mechanism is provided which is as small as possible in size, able to perform high-precision works on a small scale and also weighs less than ever, helping the downsizing of the component-placement systems. The ball-spline has a spline shaft, a slider movable along the spline shaft through balls, and bearings installed on the opposite ends of the slider for rotation relative to a machine bed. The holder has a pair of projections which extend through slots in the spacer parts and slots in the end-cap major body to fit into slots in a carriage. Fastening screws fit into threaded holes in the projections to fasten the holder to the opposite ends of the slider. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076448 | Keyless Bearing Sleeve for Subterranean Applications - A sleeve is retained to a shaft without the use of a keyway through at least one end connection that has a preferably flat face with one or more projections from the flat face. Rounded projections are preferred. The projections go into shape matching depressions on the sleeve. Alternatively the sleeve can have the projections and the end retainer can have the depressions. The end retainer is spring loaded for axial deflection in the event of an over-torque. If that happens there is planned for slippage until the condition is alleviated at which point the spring bias is able to again match a projection to a depression for continuing tandem driving of the shaft and the sleeve. The sleeve is preferably carbide and resides in a carbide bushing. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076449 | BEARING LUBRICATING OIL AND BEARING - A bearing oil contains a first monoester which is an ester of a branched chain fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms or a monounsaturated fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms and ethylhexyl alcohol. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076450 | Bearing Apparatus For A Wheel of Vehicle - A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub, and at least one inner ring, double row rolling elements, seals and a rolling bearing fit onto the inner circumference of the wheel hub positioned and secured by a retaining ring. The retaining ring is mounted at an inner side position of a bearing center line. A retaining ring groove, for mounting the retaining ring, is formed with a substantially rectangular cross-section. Outer side and inner side corner portions of the retaining groove are formed with circular arc cross-sections. Each corner portion has a radius of curvature. The radius of curvature of the outer side corner portion is larger than the radius of curvature of the inner side corner portion. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076451 | THRUST BEARING ASSEMBLY - A thrust bearing assembly having a plurality of rollers positioned in a cage is provided. A first race washer is positioned on a first axial side of the rollers and the cage, with the first race washer including a first axially extending flange axially overlapping the cage and the rollers, and having at least one protrusion extending in a direction away from the cage. A first retention band including a first axially extending band and a first retaining flange that extends radially from the first axially extending band is provided. The first retention band has at least one recess or opening and is complementary in size to the first race washer flange and engagable thereon. Engagement is accomplished via the at least one protrusion on the first axially extending flange engaging the at least one recess or opening in the first retention band. The first retaining flange has a width that is sized to overlap a portion of the cage on a second axial side. A second race washer and second retention band can be provided for a fully encapsulated thrust bearing assembly | 2012-03-29 |
20120076452 | SENSING DEVICE HAVING A LARGE DIAMETER D-SHAPED OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE - An optical sensor formed from an optical waveguide having at least one core surrounded by a cladding and a large diameter generally D-shaped portion is disclosed. Axial or compressive strain across the D-shaped cross section may be determined by measuring the change in polarization or birefringence of the light output from the sensor. A layer responsive to a parameter may be disposed on a flat portion of the D-shaped portion of the sensor. The refractive index of the layer changes and/or the layer applies a strain on the sensor in response to the parameter. Changes in the refractive index of the layer alters the light output from the sensor, which is measured over time and correlated to the parameter. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076453 | Intrusion Detection System for Use on Single Mode Optical Fiber Using a Simplified Polarimeter - A telecommunications optical fiber is secured against intrusion by detecting manipulation of the optical fiber prior to an intrusion event. This can be used in a non-locating system where the detection end is opposite the transmit end or in a locating system which uses Fresnel reflections and Rayleigh backscattering to the transmit end to detect and then locate the motion. The Rayleigh backscattering time sliced data can be stored in a register until an intrusion event is detected. The detection is carried out by a polarization detection system which includes an optical splitter which is manufactured in simplified form for economic construction. This uses a non-calibrated splitter and less than all four of the Stokes parameters. It can use a polarimeter type function limited to linear and circular polarization or two linear polarizers at 90 degrees. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076454 | OPTICAL MODULE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A an optical module includes a circuit board provided with an optical element selected from a light-receiving element and/or a light-emitting element; a lens where light from the optical element passes through; an alignment mark serving as an indicator for alignment with the optical element; and an optical waveguide formed to input/output light into/from the optical element through the lens. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076455 | OPTOCOUPLER - An optocoupler having an optical transmitter die, an optical receiver die, a light guide, a limiting element and a body is disclosed. The light guide is confined to upper portion of the body by using the limiting element. In one embodiment, the limiting element is a dielectric tape. In yet another embodiment, the limiting element is a pre-molded plastic attached to the lead frame via non-conductive epoxy. The use of the limiting element yields light guides having consistent shape. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076456 | Optical element and system using the same - A method for transmitting a signal in an optical system includes generating an optical signal along an optical axis for transmission through an optical element, positioning the optical element so that a surface discontinuity is positioned along the optical axis such that the optical signal defines a substantially radially symmetric intensity profile, and launching the optical signal into an input face of an optical fiber such that the intensity profile is substantially null proximate an optical axis associated with the optical fiber. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076457 | LIGHT GUIDE PILLAR - A light guide pillar is provided. The light guide pillar having an annular surface is a cylinder. The light guide pillar includes a reflective layer and a light incident structure. The reflective layer is disposed at part of the annular surface. The light incident structure is disposed at one end of the light guide pillar. The light incident structure is a structure with single ramp, dual ramps or a V-shaped groove. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076458 | OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR - An optical fiber connector includes a connector hold, an optical fiber connector body, an elastic member, and a number of optical fibers. The connector hold defines a receiving recess and a position slot in communication with the receiving recess. The optical fiber connector body is engaged in the receiving recess of the connector hold. The optical fiber connector body includes a positioning post corresponding to and received in the position slot. The optical fibers pass through the connector hold and are attached to the optical fiber connector body. The connector hold includes a slide block received in the position slot, one end surface of the slide block contacts the elastic member, and the other end of the slide block is engaged with a distal end of the positioning post. The slide block is sized and shaped conforming to the position slot. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076459 | Fiber Optic Cable Assembly And Methods - A fiber optic cable assembly including at least one fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, a plurality of connectors pre-terminating at least some of the optical fibers, at least two interconnection modules having respective couplers, and wherein at least some of the connectors of the pre-terminated optical fibers of the at least one fiber optic cable are received and held in a coupler of each of the at least two interconnection modules. The cable is pulled through the ducts, conduit, etc. with the interconnection modules being separated from each other. The interconnection modules are small enough so that it is practical for them to be covered by a protective grip or boot and pulled through ducts, conduit or the like. The interconnection modules are preferably provided with attachment elements for attaching the interconnection modules to each other after the cable pull is completed to form an integrated modular array. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076460 | HIGH FIBER COUNT PACKAGE INNER MODULE - Provided is an inner module for holding a plurality of connectors. The inner module includes a first cylindrical portion having a first outer wall spaced radially from a first inner wall to form an annular volume and a second cylindrical portion having a second outer wall spaced radially from a second inner wall to form an annular volume. The inner module also includes a connecting portion to connect the first cylindrical portion to the second cylindrical portion. Each of the first and second cylindrical portions have an opening in an axial direction having a width that is narrower than a distance between the first inner wall and the first outer wall. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076461 | ELECTRICAL SOCKET HAVING OPTICAL MODULE - An electrical socket ( | 2012-03-29 |
20120076462 | CABLE ASSEMBLY ADAPTED FOR OPTICAL TRANSMITTING - A cable assembly ( | 2012-03-29 |
20120076463 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR - An optical connector assembly includes: an optical connector having a connection portion at a top end thereof, the connection portion being connected to an optical module, the optical connector having a latch and a lever disposed on a side surface thereof, the latch securing connection between the optical connector and the optical module, the lever releasing the latch; a housing having a through-hole that incorporates the optical connector therein and an opening that is formed at a position at which part of the lever of the optical connector protrudes through the opening, the opening communicating with the through-hole; and a cover having the housing disposed therein, the cover having a plate-like protruding portion on an inner wall thereof, the protruding portion protruding toward the housing; wherein when the protruding portion is located at a position of the opening, the protruding portion presses the lever. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076464 | FIBER OPTIC CABLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PREVENT HYDROGEN INGRESS - Purging interior regions of a cable reduces or prevents hydrogen darkening of an optical fiber located in the cable. While hydrogen may permeate through an outer surface of the cable, fluid circulating through the cable purges the hydrogen from within the cable. This circulation of the fluid occurs between an inner tube containing the fiber and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076465 | LOW LOSS BROADBAND FIBER COUPLER TO OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE - An apparatus that comprises an optical-mode-converter. The optical-mode-converter includes a optical waveguide including a segment directly located on a substrate and a cantilevered segment located over said substrate and separated from said substrate by a cavity, and, said cantilevered segment includes a core surrounded by a cladding. The optical-mode-converter also includes a dielectric material filling said cavity and contacting said cantilevered segment over said cavity, wherein said dielectric material has a refractive index that is less than a refractive index of said cladding and that is no more than about 20 percent less than said refractive index of said cladding. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076466 | CABLE MANAGEMENT PANEL WITH SLIDING DRAWER AND METHODS - An optical fiber cable management panel includes drawer assemblies, each including a drawer slidable within a chassis. The drawer assemblies are secured together by a bracket that includes an interlock arrangement with the chassis. Such an interlock arrangement includes a non-threaded stud engaging a hole. Radius limiters may be part of the drawer assembly and include a cable entry aperture have a closed perimeter and a flared cable guide surface around most of, and preferably all of, the closed perimeter to allow for the entry of cables from all directions. A control mechanism controls movement of the radius limiter relative to the drawer assembly. The control mechanism includes a rotating member that has an axis of rotation transverse to the slidable motion of the radius limiter and normal to the radius limiter. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076467 | CABLE RESTRAINT - Techniques are disclosed that restrain cables in order to relieve excessive tensile force and to prevent breakage at a point of termination. In one example, a system includes a clip and a receiver configured to receive the clip. The clip includes a first member and a second member pivotally connected to each other by a hinge, the hinge located intermediate opposed ends of the first member and the second member, the hinge defining a groove for receiving a first portion of the cable. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076468 | RESIN COMPOSITION FOR FORMING OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE, RESIN FILM FOR FORMING OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE, AND OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE - [Problem] Provided include: a resin composition for forming an optical waveguide, the resin composition having high productivity and being capable forming a thick film with high accuracy excellent in transparency, heat resistance and toughness; a resin film for forming an optical waveguide; and an optical waveguide excellent in transparency, environmental reliability and heat resistance. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076469 | Electronic apparatus, reproduction system, reproduction method, and program - The present disclosure provides an electronic apparatus including, an acquisition portion configured to acquire video data having a plurality of picture data constituting a moving picture for reproduction of a three-dimensional moving picture, an operation portion configured to give an instruction for thin-out reproduction of the plurality of picture data acquired for three-dimensional moving picture reproduction, and a selection portion configured to select in turns the picture data for thin-out reproduction of the three-dimensional moving picture from the plurality of picture data acquired for three-dimensional moving picture reproduction, based on the thin-out reproduction instruction, wherein the selection portion selects the picture data of which the display position relative to the last-selected picture is subject to a limited change in the direction of depth. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076470 | CONTENT PROCESSING METHOD AND RECORDING APPARATUS - A content processing method includes receiving content and recording the content in a recording apparatus, recording first information to indicate a first period in which the content is displayed on a display apparatus and a second period in which the content is not displayed on the display apparatus during a period in which the content is recorded, in accordance with the content, and displaying, on the display apparatus, a selection screen which is provided to select any one of the first period and/or the second period as an objective for performing any one of a plurality of processes including a deleting process for deleting a part of the content or a writing process for writing a part of the content on a recording medium with respect to a part of the recorded content, by using the first information. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076471 | IMAGE CAPTURE AND MANIPULATION - Systems and techniques to provide image capture and manipulation. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes receiving an input stream including image data from a source, displaying the input stream in real-time including displaying a plurality of instantiations of the stream at a same time, each stream different, the step of displaying including applying a filter to each instantiation of the input stream, and receiving a prompt to select one of the instantiations of the stream. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076472 | RECEIVERS FOR TELEVISION SIGNALS - A television signals receiver for receives and stores television signals encoded at a variable data rate. Time information is generated based on the time of receipt of the signals that defines the duration of the television signals when output in decompressed form at a substantially constant data rate. The received signals are then written to a file on a hard disk | 2012-03-29 |
20120076473 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A SCAN - Systems and methods for a video scan are provided. The scan may be dynamically interactive and a function of characteristics of the programs in the scan (e.g., commercial breaks or the end of a program approaching) The scan may simultaneously display multiple scan windows for a plurality of programs, for example in a scan wizard. The scan wizard allows the user to simultaneously view a scan window and an information panel, select criteria for the scan from a criteria panel, and control the scan using a scan control panel. The scan may allow the user to record a program displayed in the scan without interrupting the scan (e.g., by using an additional tuner). The scan may display, within the scan interface, trick-play functions for appropriate scanned programs (e.g., recorded, cached and on-demand programs). The user may select and perform trick-play functions for a scanned program without exiting the scan mode. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076474 | VIDEO PLAYING DEVICE AND METHOD - A video playing device includes a playing unit, a selection unit, a comparison unit, and an acquisition unit. The playing unit is adapted to play a video stored in a memory which is further used for storing a unique identifier of each frame of the video. The selection unit selects two sequential frames of the video from the memory. The comparison unit compares the two selected sequential frame to determine whether the two selected sequential frames are the same, and generates an acquisition signal when it is determined that the two selected sequential frames are not the same. The acquisition unit acquires the unique identifiers of the selected frames from the memory in response to the acquisition signal. The playing unit is further adapted to play the video stored in the memory according to the acquired unique identifiers. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076475 | ION IMPLANTATION DEVICE AND A METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING BY THE IMPLANTATION OF BORON HYDRIDE CLUSTER IONS - A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a supply of molecules containing a plurality of dopant atoms into an ionization chamber, ionizing said molecules into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ions by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant molecules contain n dopant atoms, where n is an integer number greater than 10. This method enables increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy, while reducing the charge per dopant atom by the factor n. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076476 | HEAT TREATMENT APPARATUS AND HEAT TREATMENT METHOD FOR HEATING SUBSTRATE BY IRRADIATING SUBSTRATE WITH FLASHES OF LIGHT - A photodiode excellent in responsivity receives flashes of light emitted from flash lamps in the process of heating a semiconductor wafer by irradiation with flashes of light, and the waveform of the intensity of the flashes of light versus time is acquired using voltage data obtained from an output from the photodiode. Then, a temperature calculating part performs a heat conduction simulation using the acquired data to calculate the temperature of the semiconductor wafer irradiated with the flashes of light from the flash lamps. The temperature of the semiconductor wafer is computed using data corresponding to the intensity of the flashes of light obtained from the output from the photodiode. This allows the determination of the surface temperature of the semiconductor wafer irradiated with the flashes of light, irrespective of the waveform of the emission intensity of the flash lamps. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076477 | HEAT TREATMENT APPARATUS AND HEAT TREATMENT METHOD FOR HEATING SUBSTRATE BY IRRADIATING SUBSTRATE WITH FLASHES OF LIGHT - Radiant energy from a semiconductor wafer which is determined from the theoretical value of black body radiation and the actually measured result of an output from a photodiode are brought into correspondence with each other, and a table showing a correlation therebetween is acquired and stored on a magnetic disk. When a semiconductor wafer to be treated is irradiated with flashes of light from flash lamps, the photodiode receives radiant light emitted from the semiconductor wafer. A controller determines, from the output from the photodiode, the radiant energy emitted per unit time from the semiconductor wafer irradiated with flashes of light, based on the acquired table. The controller further determines the surface temperature of the semiconductor wafer from the determined radiant energy. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076478 | IMAGE STABILIZATION APPARATUS, IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE STABILIZATION METHOD - An image stabilization apparatus wherein a detection unit detects camera shake in first and second directions that are not parallel to each other and a calculation unit calculates first and second correction amounts for correcting the camera shake in the first and second directions, respectively, based on outputs from the detection unit. A control unit controls correction characteristics of the calculation unit so as to restrain correction of a movement corresponding to a panning operation in the first and second directions as the first and second correction amounts becomes larger, controls the correction characteristics of the second correction amount based on the first correction amount and controls the correction characteristics of the first correction amount based on the second correction amount and a correction unit corrects the camera shake based on the calculated correction amounts. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076479 | IMAGING UNIT - An imaging unit includes an incident-side reflecting surface provided in a casing and reflects object-emanating light, entering the casing in a thickness direction thereof, along a lengthwise direction of the casing; a movable lens group movable along the lengthwise direction of the casing; an exit-side reflecting surface reflecting the light in the thickness direction of the casing; an image sensor provided in the casing and receiving the light from the exit-side reflecting surface; a light shield frame between the movable lens group and the exit-side reflecting surface; and a light-shield-frame position adjustment mechanism provided in the casing, which maintains a constant distance between the movable lens group an the light shield frame when the movable lens group moves in a first moving range, and varies the distance between the movable lens group and the light shield frame when the movable lens group moves in a second moving range. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076480 | IMAGING UNIT - An imaging unit includes an incident-side reflecting surface provided in a casing and reflects object-emanating light, entering the casing in a thickness direction thereof, along a lengthwise direction of the casing; a movable lens group movable along the lengthwise direction of the casing; an exit-side reflecting surface reflecting the light in the thickness direction of the casing; an image sensor provided in the casing and receiving the light from the exit-side reflecting surface; and a plurality of light shield frames provided in the casing between the movable lens group and the exit-side reflecting surface, the light shield frames being arranged in the lengthwise direction of the casing and moving in the lengthwise direction of the casing when the movable lens group performs a power-varying operation. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076481 | LENS MOVEMENT CONTROL METHOD AND LENS MOVEMENT CONTROL APPARATUS OF CAMERA MODULE - A lens movement control method and a lens movement control apparatus of a camera module for preventing allophone of a Voice Coil Actuator (VCA) are provided. The lens movement control method of a camera module includes switching the camera module from a camera operation mode to a camera stop mode, generating a control signal for removing the occurrence of VCA allophone in the camera stop mode, moving a lens to a VCA allophone removal location based on the generated control signal, and powering-off the camera module to move the lens moved to the VCA allophone removal location to a bottom surface of the lens. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076482 | CAMERA SYSTEM - In a camera system according to the present invention, a lens controller obtains an exposure synchronizing signal that is generated by a camera controller from a camera body, causes a configuration formed of a first encoder, a second encoder and a counter to detect the position of a focus lens according to the obtained exposure synchronizing signal, and notifies the camera body of the detected position of the focus lens. The camera controller associates the position of the focus lens or the mechanism member obtained from the lens controller with an AF evaluation value based on the exposure synchronizing signal, and controls an autofocus operation of the camera system based on the position and AF evaluation value that are associated with each other. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of an autofocus operation with a contrast system. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076483 | IMAGING APPARATUS, CAMERA SYSTEM, AND ILLUMINATION APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus capable of imaging using an illumination apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire object luminance information, a calculation unit configured to calculate an exposure control value based on the object luminance information acquired by the acquisition unit, an exposure control unit configured to control exposure using the exposure control value calculated by the calculation unit, and an exposure fixing unit configured to set an exposure fixed state in which the exposure control value calculated by the calculation unit is fixed as the exposure control value to be used for exposure control, wherein the exposure fixing unit is configured to cancel the exposure fixed state when a state of the illumination apparatus is changed in the exposure fixed state. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076484 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes: an image-pickup lens; a shutter partitioned into a plurality of sections along a first direction and allowed to open and close for each of the plurality of sections; a stop adjusting an amount of light; and a drive section driving the shutter and the stop. The drive section controls the shutter in such a manner that any one of the sections of the shutter is opened and the remaining sections are closed, and drives the stop in such a manner that passage of a flux of light through the open section is limited to a larger extent in a second direction than in the first direction, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076485 | HIGH RESOLUTION PICTURE POLE - A picture pole system supports and protects a camera, typically a high resolution digital camera, at a height above the user. A cord may run from a trigger on a camera mounting frame along an extension pole to the user. The cord may permit the user, at one end of the pole, to take a picture with the camera, which is disposed at the other end of the pole. A focusing/stabilizing device may be attached to the pole near the camera. The focusing/stabilizing device may be placed against a subject to be photographed to provide a uniform focal length when taking pictures of multiple subjects, such as name plate data and/or manufacturer tag data in a chemical plant or refining industry. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076486 | CAMERA BLADE DRIVE DEVICE - In a camera blade drive device that includes a base plate | 2012-03-29 |
20120076487 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A portable electronic device includes a case, a camera lens module, and a support. The case has a lens hole. The camera lens is received in the case and corresponding to the lens hole. The lens hole has a first connection portion. The first connection portion is engaged with a second connection portion of an external device accessory. Therefore, the external device accessory can be configured on the case and work with the camera lens module. The support is connected to the case, and positioned on the periphery of the lens hole. The support is configured for supporting the external device accessory on the case. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076488 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REALIZING OPTICAL CHANNEL DATA UNIT SHARED PROTECTION RING - A method and a device for realizing an optical channel data unit (ODU) shared protection ring (SPRing) are disclosed by the present invention. The method includes: A first ODU of a first service transmitted in an optical line is taken as a protection granularity, where the first ODU is an ODUk that is directly multiplexed to the optical line; the first ODU is monitored, and a monitoring result is obtained; when the monitoring result indicates that a failure occurs, a switching is performed through cross of a second ODU of the first service, where the second ODU is an ODUm that is multiplexed to the first ODU, and m is smaller than or equal to k. Through the embodiments of the present invention, a protection switching speed may be accelerated. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076489 | Optical Amplifier Protection Switch - The rapid switching of optical fiber communication between one or two working optical amplifiers and one protect optical amplifier is accomplished using fast optical fiber switching and alarm detection circuits that protects the loss of communication due to amplifier failure. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076490 | METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING IMPAIRMENT INFORMATION, NODE, AND NETWORK SYSTEM - The embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communication technologies, and disclose a method for transmitting impairment information, a node, and a network system. The method for transmitting impairment information includes: receiving, by a first node on a path, first impairment information from a previous hop node, and updating the first impairment information to obtain physical impairment parameters of all or a part of available wavelengths at the first node; deleting a wavelength whose physical impairment parameter at the first node exceeds a preset range; and sending second impairment information to a next hop node of the first node when a residual wavelength still exists after the wavelength whose impairment parameter exceeds the preset range is deleted. The second impairment information includes a physical impairment parameter of the residual wavelength at the first node. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076491 | AVERAGE LENGTH MAGNITUDE DETECTING APPARATUS, AND METHOD - The present invention relates to an average length magnitude detecting apparatus and method, and an optical coherent receiver. The average length magnitude detecting method is adopted for detecting whether an average length of an averager used by a polarization crosstalk canceling apparatus in a receiver is long or short, comprising: determining a magnitude of a residual polarization crosstalk coefficient of the receiver; and determining an index that indicates whether the average length of the averager is long or short according to the determined magnitude of the residual polarization crosstalk coefficient. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076492 | METHOD FOR ROUTING INFORMATION OVER A NETWORK EMPLOYING CENTRALIZED CONTROL - A method and apparatus for centralized control of a network is described. The network includes a number of nodes. The method includes creating a database and storing the database on a master node of the network. The database contains topology information regarding a topology of the network. Each of the nodes is coupled to at least one other of the nodes, with the master node being one of the nodes. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076493 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPENSATING POLARIZATION MODE DISPERSION - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for compensating polarization mode dispersion. The method mainly includes: extracting an SOP (state of polarization) and a PMD (polarization mode dispersion) value of an optical signal, generating an SOP control signal according to the SOP, and adjusting the SOP of the optical signal through the SOP control signal; and generating a PMD control signal according to the PMD value, and through the PMD control signal, compensating a PMD of the optical signal whose SOP is adjusted. Through the embodiments of the present invention, a rapid change of the SOP can be adaptively tracked, a poor PMD compensation effect caused by a failure of a PMD compensation unit to track a change of the SOP is avoided, compensation performance of the PMD compensation unit is improved, and rapid PMD compensation may be achieved. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076494 | STACKING OF UNITS IN A PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - Using the conventional OMCI-model for handling stacking of additional ONUs to a main ONU (Optical Network Unit) connected to an OLT (Optical Line Terminal) in a PON (Passive Optical Network), when the main ONU is not provided with any chassis with physical slots for insertion of the additional units. Instead, the main ONU is initialized to be provided with a virtual chassis that includes a number of temporary virtual cardholders for assigning to an unknown connected stacked ONU, and a number of non-temporary virtual cardholders for assigning to a known stacked connected ONU. From a management perspective, the virtual cardholder corresponds to a physical cardholder/slot according to the conventional OMCI-model. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076495 | Method and Apparatus for Supporting Differentiated Performance for Multiple Categories of Packets in a Passive Optical Network - Embodiments of an apparatus including a user network interface configured to receive from a network a packet to be transmitted upstream over a PON are provided herein. The packet is marked with a first category type or a second category type. The apparatus further includes an upstream first in, first out (FIFO) queue configured to store the packet if the packet is marked with the first category type or the second category type. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076496 | Optical communication system, optical network management apparatus and optical network management method - An optical communication system includes a plurality of wavelength selective switches arranged on an optical network; and an optical network management apparatus configured to manage and control the optical network. In response to a path establishing request, the optical network management apparatus determines power consumption of each path that satisfies the path establishing request in the optical network based upon a wavelength being used at a connection port of each of the wavelength selective switches, selects a route based upon the determined power consumption of each of the path, and sets the selected route in the optical network. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076497 | Method and Apparatus for Loading, Detecting, and Monitoring Channel-Associated Optical Signals - A method and apparatus for loading, detecting, and monitoring channel-associated signals are provided. Channel-associated signals are identified with spread spectrum codes in the electrical domain, and after being modulated to an optical service signal at respective loading points separately, the channel-associated identification signals are transmitted in the optical channel along with the optical signal. At any downstream detecting point, passing optical signals can be converted through photoelectric conversion, and the channel-associated identification signals are de-spread. By detecting the channel-associated signals, it is possible to learn about whether the upstream loading point work normally, whether the optical channel operates normally, etc., and thereby to find possible failures, solve problems, and monitor quality parameters of optical signals in real time, and improve reliability of the optical signal transmission. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076498 | HYBRID ANALOG-DIGITAL PHASED MIMO TRANSCEIVER SYSTEM - A transmitter supporting multiple-input, multiple-output communications is provided. The transmitter includes a signal processor, a plurality of feed elements, and an aperture. The signal processor is configured to simultaneously receive a plurality of digital data streams and to transform the received plurality of digital data streams into a plurality of analog signals. The number of the plurality of digital data streams is selected for transmission to a single receive antenna based on a determined transmission environment. The plurality of feed elements are configured to receive the plurality of analog signals, and in response, to radiate a plurality of radio waves toward the aperture. The aperture is configured to receive the radiated plurality of radio waves, and in response, to radiate a second plurality of radio waves toward the single receive antenna. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076499 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMISSIONS VIA RF OVER GLASS - A system and method are provided for controlling the transmission of RF signals that are to be carried as optical signals over an optical fiber network. Operationally, the optical signals are transmitted as “bursts” in accordance with a standard protocol. For the present invention, transmission control requires an ON/OFF control that incorporates a time delay. Specifically, a “burst” of signals (RF/optical) is initiated when power in the RF input signal passes a predetermined threshold. After an established turn-on time that is set by the time delay, the ON/OFF control activates a laser diode for transmission of the “burst.” Further, the present invention provides control for constant optical output power from the laser diode. Importantly, the laser diode is OFF when a “burst” is not being transmitted. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076500 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF RADIO-FREQUENCY SIGNALS - A system for the distribution of radio-frequency signals includes a main unit associated with at least a first radio communication set, at least a remote unit associated with at least a second radio communication set installed in a preset area, for the radio coverage of the area, and a communication channel associated with the main unit and with the remote unit, wherein the main unit ( | 2012-03-29 |
20120076501 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING BANDWIDTH OF A PLUG AND A CORRESPONDING RECEPTACLE - Described herein is an apparatus for improving bandwidth of a transceiver system e.g., a Universal Serial Bus (USB) micro-B connector. The apparatus comprises a first pair of lens units, each lens unit of the pair positioned on either side of an input-output (I/O) bus interface, the pair of lens units to send and receive optical signals respectively; a first housing to shield the first pair of lens units and for physically coupling the I/O bus interface and the first pair of lens units to a receptacle; and a key to grasp the first housing and to lock the first housing with the receptacle. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076502 | Reconfigurable DSP Performance in Optical Transceivers - A method for setting transceiver transmission parameters, in a transceiver having a plurality of components, to achieve the predetermined acceptable end-to-end bit error rate while reducing power consumption. In another aspect the invention relates to an optical transceiver system that uses digital signal processing to process the data stream sent through a fiber optical channel to compensate for transmission, reception and channel impairments to achieve the a predetermined end-to-end bit error rate and to alter its power dissipation to that sufficient to meet said end-to-end bit error rate. In one embodiment the optical transceiver system includes an optical transmitter; an optical receiver comprising an ASIC, FPGA, or other circuitry; and a controller in electrical communication with the optical receiver, wherein the controller controls power to portions of the ASIC so as to reduce power dissipation while meeting the end-to-end bit error rate. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076503 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR QUANTUM ILLUMINATION DETECTION FOR OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS AND TARGET DETECTION - A detection system including a receiver, a transmitter, and a processor for stealthy target detection or optical communications is described. Optical communications may be spread spectrum encoded communications over a bright background communication channel. The transmitter includes a quantum frequency entanglement source for outputting a signal beam and an idler beam, and transmission optics for directing the signal beam towards a remote surface. Photons in the idler beam are quantum-mechanically entangled in frequency with photons the signal beam. The transmitter includes a first spectrometer for measuring a frequency band associated with photons in the idler beam. The receiver includes a second spectrometer for identifying the frequency band associated with the photons in the received return beam. The system includes a processor configured to process the output of the spectrometers to determine the presence of a target in a target region or a message encoded in the received return beam. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076504 | LASER AMPLIFICATION SYSTEM - A high peak intensity laser amplification system and the method therein implemented are provided. In a first aspect of the invention, the laser system includes at least one optical member ( | 2012-03-29 |
20120076505 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF A LOCKER ETALON IN A TRANSMITTER OPTICAL SUBASSEMBLY - Thermal management of a locker etalon in a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA). In one example embodiment, a TOSA includes a case, a laser positioned within the case and electro-thermally connected to the case, a locker etalon positioned in the case and thermally connected to the case, and a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) positioned within the case and in thermal contact with both the laser and the locker etalon. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076506 | COHERENT OPTICAL RECEIVING APPARATUS AND COHERENT OPTICAL RECEIVING METHOD - A coherent optical receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes a coherent optical receiving unit to receive a whole of an optical multiplexed signal into which an optical signal is multiplexed, a tunable filter, a local oscillation unit, and a control unit. The coherent optical receiving unit, which includes a 90-degree hybrid circuit and an optoelectric conversion device, selectively detects an optical signal, which interferes with a local oscillation light outputted by the local oscillation unit, out of the optical multiplexed signal. The tunable filter, which is arranged in front of the optoelectric conversion device on an optical path on which the optical multiplexed signal flows, has a bandwidth within which a plurality of optical signals are included. The control unit makes a central wavelength of the tunable filter and a wavelength of the local oscillation light be changed together. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076507 | SINGLE PIN COHERENT RECEIVER - In a coherent optical receiver of an optical communications system, methods and systems for receiving a data signal x(t) modulated on an optical signal. A linearly polarized LO light is generated, which has a frequency of f | 2012-03-29 |
20120076508 | JITTER REDUCTION OF ELECTRICAL SIGNALS FROM LIMITING OPTICAL MODULES - Jitter reduction of electrical signals from limiting optical modules is described. In one example, a process includes receiving an amplitude limited electrical signal that has been converted from an optical signal, applying a filter to the received electrical signal, measuring an indication of jitter of the filtered signal, and selecting parameters of the linear filter based on the measured indication. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076509 | RECEIVER CHIP AND METHOD FOR ON-CHIP MULTI-NODE VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION - A receiver chip, system and method for on-chip multi-node visible light communication, the receiver chip comprising: an array of receiver cells comprising an array of photodetectors, each receiver cell comprises at least one photodetector and is to receive light through the at least one photodetector, and a logical layer for independently configuring at least one selected receiver cell as a communication receiving channel. The system comprises an array of receiver cells comprising an array of photodetectors, each receiver cell includes at least one photodetector and is to receive light through the at least one photodetector, a logical layer to independently configure at least one selected receiver cell as a communication receiving channel, and a processor to receive data from the logical layer and control the logical layer for configuration of the receiver cells. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076510 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming apparatus including: an image formation section for forming a toner image based on image data on a recording medium; a first fixing device for fixing the toner image formed by the image formation section; an accommodation section for storing the first fixing device or a second fixing device having different specifications than those of the first fixing device; and a peripheral member arranged on the periphery of the accommodation section to operate synchronously with the first fixing device or second fixing device; wherein, when the first fixing device accommodated in the accommodation section has been replaced by the second fixing device, a status of the peripheral member is switched in conformity to specifications of the second fixing device. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076511 | CONSUMABLE UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A unit installable in an apparatus and a method of managing a unit installed in an apparatus are provided. The unit includes a container for a consumable, and a chip mounted to the container. The chip includes a first memory to store data that is accessible and decodable by the apparatus to authenticate the unit. The chip includes a second memory to store recycling prevention information. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076512 | SENSOR, CONVEYING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sensor includes: a light emitting part that emits light; a light receiving part that receives reflected light, which is emitted from the light emitting part, is reflected, and returns; and plural arranged fiber bodies that are disposed on a front side of at least one of the light emitting part and the light receiving part and operate as a filter limiting an emission angle or a light receiving angle. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076513 | CONVEYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A conveying apparatus or an image forming apparatus includes: a housing including an opening and closing member that can be opened and closed; a conveying path that conveys an object to be conveyed, at least a part of the conveying path being provided adjacent to an inner side of the opening and closing member; a first detector that detects whether the object is present in a predetermined region and outputs a detection signal corresponding to a result of the detection; and an interlocking mechanism that causes, when the opening and closing member is opened, the first detector to change at least one of a position and a structure of the first detector in mechanically association with movement of opening of the opening and closing member, and to output a detection signal which is the same as a detection signal output when the object is present in the predetermined region. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076514 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO TRACK UNUSED MEDIA - In one embodiment, data is discerned, the data indicative of a first quantity of unused media contained within a roll. Prior to a plot being printed on the roll, a second quantity of unused media expected to be in the roll after the plot is printed is discerned using the data. Printing of a machine-readable marking on the roll, along with the plot, is caused, the marking being indicative of the second quantity. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076515 | REPLENISHING CONSUMABLE AT SERVICE TIME IN PRINTER - A receptacle in the printing system can hold either a first consumable stored in a first replaceable unit (RU) [customer-RU (CRU)], or a second consumable stored in a second RU. A marking engine prints selected print jobs having corresponding data at corresponding times on corresponding receivers, and a monitoring system records the data and times for a plurality of the jobs. A cost-estimating unit responsive to a received schedule including a plurality of service times uses the recorded corresponding data and the recorded corresponding times to estimate respective costs of installing the first and second RUs in the receptacle at a selected one of the service times. A decision unit decides which RU should be installed in the receptacle at the selected service time using the costs. An interface responsive to the decision unit indicates that the selected RU should be installed in the receptacle at the selected service time. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076516 | INDICATING CONSUMABLE REPLENISHMENT TIME - A printing system for indicating when to replenish a consumable includes a front end for providing a plurality of print jobs to be printed, each job having corresponding data. A marking engine uses a consumable to print selected jobs at corresponding times on corresponding receivers. A monitoring system records the corresponding data and corresponding times for a plurality of the jobs on the marking engine. A life-estimating unit estimates the end of life of the consumable using the recorded corresponding data and recorded corresponding times. An interface responsive to the life-estimating unit indicates that the consumable should be replenished. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076517 | EFFECTIVELY USING A CONSUMABLE IN TWO PRINTERS - In a multi-printer system with two marking engines, the jobs printed are monitored and the remaining lives of consumables in replaceable units (RUs) in the engines are estimated. A decision unit responsive to the estimated lives of the consumables determines that the first RU in the first marking engine should be moved to the second marking engine at a selected service time, so that a remaining amount of the consumable in the first RU is not discarded. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076518 | EFFECTIVELY USING TWO CONSUMABLES IN SINGLE PRINTER - A printing system for indicating a replaceable unit (RU) should be removed from a marking engine so that the consumable in the replaceable unit is not discarded includes a receptacle for holding the RU and a marking engine for using the consumable in the RU to print selected jobs. The jobs printed are monitored. A scheduling system responsive to a personnel schedule indicating service times and to the monitored print data selects a service time at which the RU should be removed from the receptacle and another at which it should be reinstalled in the receptacle, so that consumable in the RU is not discarded. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076519 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming portions which respectively has a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, an exposure device, a development device, and a primary transfer roller which transfers a toner image developed to the drum to an intermediate transfer belt, for example, surface potential (On-image Vback) of a part overlapping a toner image to be formed at the image forming portion at the downstream of the belt movement direction from the image forming portion is set to be smaller than surface potential (i.e., Center Vback) of another part among surface potential (i.e., fog removal potential) of a non-image part of the photosensitive drum disposed to the image forming portion. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076520 | TONER CARTRIDGE STORING CONTROL DATA FOR AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus mounted with a toner cartridge having a memory unit includes a toner cartridge which stores a plurality of control data depending on toner in the memory unit, an acquisition unit which selects one of the plurality of control data in the memory unit and acquires image formation-related information and a setting unit which sets image formation parameters on the basis of the image formation-related information. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076521 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet through a fixing nip and applying heat and pressure to the recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a heater including a resistance heater part and a supporting member, the resistance heater part having a positive resistance-temperature characteristic in a temperature range above a predetermined level, and the supporting member being insulative and supporting the resistance heater part such that the resistance heater part applies heat to the recording sheet; a current detector detecting a current supplied to the resistance heater part; and an abnormality determiner determining whether the resistance heater part has an abnormality, based on an initial current detected by the current detector at a predetermined time after a beginning of power supply to the resistance heater part and before the temperature of the resistance heater part reaches the predetermined level. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076522 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a controller capable of performing a printing control and a cleaning control. In the printing control, developer images carried on the image carriers are transferred toward the opposing surface or a recording sheet by applying a transfer current between each of the image carriers and the transfer device. In the cleaning control, developer collected by the cleaning rollers is transferred toward the image carriers and the transfer device and collected by the cleaning device by applying a transfer current between each of the image carriers and the transfer device and switching an electric field established between the image carrier and the corresponding cleaning roller. The controller is configured to control the transfer current such that an average absolute value of the transfer current in the cleaning control is smaller than that in the printing control. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076523 | PRINTER - A printer having operational modes including a sleep mode, includes, an operation display unit, a sleep-mode setting-value table in which a warm-up time from the sleep mode and an estimated amount of power consumption per certain unit of time in the sleep mode are stored in association with values for setting items to set up conditions of the sleep mode, and a first setup unit. The first setup unit is configured to, when setting up the conditions of the sleep mode, extract the estimated amount of power consumption and the warm-up time in reference to the sleep-mode setting-value table by using, as a key, values of the setting items inputted through the operation display unit, and display the extracted estimated amount of power consumption and warm-up time in the operation display unit. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076524 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier rotates in a predetermined direction; a correction image forming unit forming correction images on the image carrier in the predetermined direction; and a cleaning roller configured to clean the correction images on the image carrier. With respect to all values ranging from 1 to an arbitrary value n, a positive integer N which satisfies following expression for each of n exists: (T×N+L)/n≦R/V≦(T×(N+1)−L)/n, where R represents a circumferential length of the cleaning roller, L represents a length of each of the correction images in a moving direction of the image carrier, T represents a formation interval of the correction images in the moving direction of the image carrier, and V represents a ratio of a peripheral speed of the cleaning roller to a moving speed of the image carrier. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076525 | TRANSFER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, having: a transfer device that adjusts a second charge amount so that a first charge amount of charges which flow toward a core from the region of a conductive layer which comes into contact with a power feeding member when a voltage is applied to the power feeding member from a power source becomes greater than the second charge amount of charges which flow toward the region which comes into contact with an intermediate transfer body from the core. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076526 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member rotatably supported in a body of the image forming apparatus, and bearing a developer image; a developing device including a developing container, a developing member, and a transporting member, the developing container containing a developer, the developing member disposed so as to oppose the image bearing member, the developing member having thereon the developer in the developing container and rotating to develop a latent image, the transporting member transporting the developer in the developing container while stirring the developer, the developing device being unremovably supported with respect to the body of the image forming apparatus; and a damping member disposed with respect to an axial direction of a rotational axis of the developing member so as to be situated at an end portion of the developing container in the axial direction, and restraining vibration of the developing container. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076527 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device is provided, which includes an interlocking mechanism that causes a cleaning unit to clean with a cleaning surface thereof a detection surface of a detection sensor for reading each detection pattern formed on an outer surface of a sheet-feeding endless belt, in conjunction with movement of a drawer, which holds a plurality of process cartridges, between an attachment position where a photoconductive drum included in each process cartridge faces an up-facing side of the outer surface of the endless belt and a replacement position where at least one of the process cartridges is outside a main body housing of the image forming device. | 2012-03-29 |
20120076528 | CLEANING UNIT, CLEANING DEVICE, CHARGING DEVICE, ASSEMBLY, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning unit includes a shaft that is rotatable; an elastic layer that is spirally wound around and fixed to the shaft, the elastic layer contacting and cleaning the object to be cleaned; a pressed portion that protrudes from each end portion of the elastic layer in an axial direction of the shaft, in a part of the each end portion with respect to a width direction of the elastic layer; and a pressing member that is arranged at an end portion of the shaft in the axial direction, the pressing member pressing the pressed portion between the pressing member and the shaft. | 2012-03-29 |