16th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 20 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110091149 | POLING STRUCTURES AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING ELECTRO-OPTIC ACTIVITY IN ORGANIC NONLINEAR OPTICAL MATERIALS FOR ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICES - Poling structures and methods utilizing an electrostatic field generated from a polar dielectric material, including pyroelectric and ferroelectric materials, to produce electro-optic activity in organic nonlinear optical materials. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091150 | EVANESCENT WAVE MULTIMODE OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE AND SENSOR WITH CONTINUOUS REDISTRIBUTION OF OPTICAL POWER BETWEEN THE MODES - There is provided an evanescent wave multimode optical waveguide sensitive to a chemical species or to a physical parameter. The optical waveguide comprises a core and a cladding having a cladding refractive index lower than that of the core for guiding light to be propagated in the optical waveguide. The cladding defines with the core an optical waveguide providing mode coupling. A chemical indicator is provided in the cladding for causing a variation of the optical absorption of the cladding as a function of the chemical species or the physical parameter. The cladding is interrogated by the evanescent wave of the propagated light. The mode coupling causes unabsorbed light power to be redistributed among the multiple modes while light propagates along the optical waveguide. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091151 | INTEGRATED SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL DEVICE - An integrated semiconductor optical device includes first and second semiconductor optical devices. The first semiconductor optical device includes a first core layer, a first upper cladding layer including a first ridge portion, a first buried layer surrounding the first ridge portion, and a first adjusting layer provided between the first buried layer and the first ridge portion. The second semiconductor optical device includes a second core layer, a second upper cladding layer including a second ridge portion. The first semiconductor optical device and the second semiconductor optical device are arranged next to each other in a predetermined axis direction. The first core layer is joined to the second core layer by a butt joint method at a joint boundary between the first and second semiconductor optical devices. The first adjusting layer has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the first core layer and higher than a refractive index of the first buried layer. The first adjusting layer extends in the predetermined axis direction. The first adjusting layer has a constant width from one end facet to the joint boundary. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091152 | Suspension board with circuit and producing method thereof - A suspension board with circuit includes a circuit board including a metal supporting board, an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting board, and a conductive layer formed on the insulating layer; and an optical waveguide provided in the circuit board. The optical waveguide is provided with a positioning portion for positioning the optical waveguide and a near-field light generation portion for generating a near-field light by a light applied from the optical waveguide. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091153 | Device, System and Method for Optical Fiber Networks - The present invention relates to a device, system and method for construction of and use in optical fiber networks, such as an Air Blown Fiber (ABF) system. An optical device comprising a housing having arranged therein an optical fiber attachment is provided. Further, an optical transceiver having a port adapted for coupling light to/from an optical fiber attached to the optical fiber attachment, and an electrical interface connected to the optical transceiver are arranged in the housing, and the housing has a form factor adapted for air blown fiber systems. Further a method for constructing a fiber network is provided by blowing an optical device through a duct and connecting the optical device to a docking station. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091154 | Connecting structure and method able to make the signals transmit between multi-mode and single-mode fibers - A connection structure and a method are provided for being able to make the signal of multi-mode fiber accepted by the single-mode fiber or to make the signal of single-mode fiber accepted by the multi-mode fiber. The present invention uses the core of the cladding of the single-mode fiber corresponding to that of multi-mode fiber in end-to-end relationship or uses the cladding of the single-mode fiber connects with that of multi-mode fiber in side-to-side relationship. Therefore, for users, it will not be necessary to use light-electricity converter between single-mode fiber and multi-mode fiber. In this way, the present invention can help to save the material cost and simplify the arrangement of the transmission line. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091155 | IN-LINE FORWARD/BACKWARD FIBER-OPTIC SIGNAL ANALYZER - An optical connector having a plurality of directional taps and connecting between a plurality of optical waveguides (e.g., such as a connector between a waveguide that is part of, or leads from, a seed laser and/or an initial optical-gain-fiber power amplifier, and a waveguide that is part of, or leads to, an output optical-gain-fiber power amplifier and/or a delivery fiber), wherein one of the directional taps extracts a small amount of the forward-traveling optical output signal from the seed laser or initial power amplifier (wherein this forward-tapped signal is optionally monitored using a sensor for the forward-tapped signal), and wherein another of the directional taps extracts at least some of any backward-traveling optical signal that may have been reflected (wherein this backward-tapped signal is optionally monitored using a sensor for the backward-tapped signal). | 2011-04-21 |
20110091156 | ENVIRONMENTALLY RUGGED FREE-SPACE FIBER WAVEGUIDE CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF - Various embodiments of free-space fiber waveguide connectors, feed-throughs and GRIN lens assemblies and methods of bonding GRIN lenses in, and aligning waveguide fibers to, such connectors, feed-throughs and assemblies. In one embodiment, a free-space fiber waveguide connector includes: (1) an insert having a waveguide fiber bonded in a fiber mount attached proximate one end of the insert and an angle-faced GRIN lens attached proximate an opposing end of the insert and (2) a lens collar attached to the GRIN lens, the one end defining a reference plane and a virtual axis of the GRIN lens perpendicular to the reference plane, the fiber mount adjustable to a reflection from a reflective surface bonded parallel to the reference plane. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091157 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL MACRO-CHIP INCLUDING OPTICAL INTERCONNECTS - A multi-chip module (MCM), which includes a three-dimensional (3D) stack of chips that are coupled using optical interconnects, is described. In this MCM, disposed on a first surface of a middle chip in the 3D stack, there are: a first optical coupler, an optical waveguide, which is coupled to the first optical coupler, and a second optical coupler, which is coupled to the optical waveguide. The first optical coupler redirects an optical signal from the optical waveguide to a first direction (which is not in the plane of the first surface), or from the first direction to the optical waveguide. Moreover, the second optical coupler redirects the optical signal from the optical waveguide to a second direction (which is not in the plane of the first surface), or from the second direction to the optical waveguide. Note that an optical path associated with the second direction passes through an opening in a substrate in the middle chip. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091158 | CONNECTOR UNIT - Provided is a connector unit capable of surely positioning and cone ting a plurality of optical fiber plugs in a short time and easily releasing the connected state of the optical fiber connectors even if the quantity of the optical fiber connectors is increased. The connector unit ( | 2011-04-21 |
20110091159 | Push-Pull Fiber Optic Connectors and Methods for Making the Same - Push-pull fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies having a latch that is actuated by a cam surface are disclosed. The fiber optic connectors include a ferrule and a housing having the latch. A shroud fits over a portion of the housing and allows the craft to grab the shroud and push the shroud and hence the fiber optic connector into a suitable adapter or the like. Likewise, the craft can grab the shroud and pull on the same to remove the fiber optic connector out of the adapter or the like. The cam surface is disposed on a decoupling member, wherein the decoupling member is attached to the shroud so the components can move together. Methods of making the push-pull fiber optic connector are also disclosed. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091160 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR WITH LESS CROSSTALK BETWEEN THERMINALS THEREOF - An optical connector comprises an insulative housing defining a mating port, at least one grounding contact disposed on the housing, and exposed into the mating port; an optical module movably retained in the housing along a front-to-rear direction and adapted for transmitting optical signal; and a metallic resilient member located behind the optical module to constantly urge the optical module forwardly. The resilient member is electrically connected with the grounding contact and thus grounded through the grounding contact. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091161 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR WITH AN IMPROVED RESILIENT MEMBER PRESSING ONTO AN OPTICAL MODULE THEREOF - An optical connector comprises an insulative housing defining a mounting cavity; an optical module accommodated in the mounting cavity and capable of moving therein along a front-to-rear direction, the optical module defining a horizontal central line along a middle portion thereof in the front-to-rear direction; at least one fiber coupled to the optical module; and a resilient member located behind the optical module, and having a first abuting portion engaged with the insulative housing, and two second abuting portions extending forwardly from the first abutting portion and pressing onto the optical module. The two second abuting portions are spaced away from each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091162 | CONNECTOR HAVING AN FLOATABLE OPTICAL MODULE - A connector ( | 2011-04-21 |
20110091163 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR - A connector comprises a housing, a lever and a lock portion. The housing receives terminals. The lever, rotatably attached to the housing, is configured to be rotatable between a first position, where an initial stage of fitting to a counterpart connector is established, and a second position, where the fitting thereof is completed. The lock portion, capable of locking the lever at the second position, is slidably attached to a body portion of the lever, and configured to be slid between a lock position and a lock release position. The lever is provided with a positioning latch-portion configured to latch the lock portion. The positioning latch-portion is provided with a concave latch-portion and a convex latch-portion configured to be elastically displaced to be engaged in or disengaged from the concave latch-portion. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091164 | Hardened Low Back Reflection Optical Fiber Physical Contacts and Connectors Containing Such Contacts and Method for Making the Same - A fiber optic connector for use with a fiber optic network having at least one predetermined operating wavelength is provided. First housing contains at least one optical fiber. The optical fiber has a free end forming a physical contact. The physical contact is coated with a protective film. The optical thickness of the protective film is at least 0.10 of the operating wavelength of the fiber optic network. Preferably, the physical contact is thermally shaped. Also preferably, the optical fiber is attached to a quick connect device forming a termini. The physical contact of the optical fiber can be readily coated with the protective film by placing the termini in a vacuum chamber. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091165 | Fiber Optic Connectors and Structures for Large Core Optical Fibers and Methods for Making the Same - Fiber optic connectors and other structures that can be easily and quickly prepared by the craft for termination and/or connectorization in the field are disclosed. More specifically, the fiber optic connectors and other structures disclosed are intended for use with glass optical fibers having a large core. In one embodiment, the fiber optic connector includes a ferrule having a bore sized to receive an optical fiber and a buffer layer at a front end face of the ferrule. Methods of making the fiber optic connectors and other structures are also disclosed. The methods disclosed allow “rough cutting” of the optical fibers with a buffer layer thereon by the craft. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091166 | Fiber Optic Connectors and Structures for Large Core Optical Fibers and Methods for Making the Same - Fiber optic connectors and other structures that can be easily and quickly prepared by the craft for termination and/or connectorization in the field are disclosed. More specifically, the fiber optic connectors and other structures disclosed are intended for use with glass optical fibers having a large core. In one embodiment, the fiber optic connector includes a a body having a portion with a retaining structure for securing an optical fiber and a front portion having a passageway sized to receive an optical fiber and a buffer layer through a front end. Methods of making the fiber optic connectors and other structures are also disclosed. The methods disclosed allow “rough cutting” of the optical fibers with a buffer layer thereon by the craft. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091167 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR - An optical connector body is formed by an optically-transparent resin molding. The optical connector body includes an optical fiber insertion hole formed parallel to a board surface, a wall with which an optical fiber provided at a front of the optical fiber insertion hole contacts, and an internal reflection surface adjacent to and in front of the wall. The internal reflection surface is formed at a bottom surface of a bottomed hole opened from outside in the optical connector body. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091168 | OPTO-ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLIES AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS AND METHODS - There is provided an opto-electrical assembly. The assembly comprises an optical carrier and one or more optical elements and possibly also electrical elements, such as optical flip-chip die, attached to the optical carrier, and configured for electrical and optical communication with the optical carrier. The assembly further comprises a flexible electrical and optical connectors attached to the optical carrier, and configured to provide electrical and optical communication between the one or more optical and electrical elements and further circuitry. Wherein the flexible connectors are configured to allow for relative movement of the optical carrier and further circuitry during use of the assembly. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091169 | FIBER OPTIC FURCATION ASSEMBLY - The invention relates to a fiber optic furcation assembly ( | 2011-04-21 |
20110091170 | FIBER DISTRIBUTION HUB AND CABLE FOR USE THEREWITH - A fiber distribution hub includes a swing frame pivotally mounted to an enclosure. The enclosure defines a cable port and at least a first interface region. The swing frame defines a splitter region, a termination region, and a storage region. Splitter modules can be oriented and positioned so that splitter pigtails extending from each of the splitter modules extend directly downwardly through a vertically extending channel. A cable clamp can be mounted to the enclosure at the cable port to secure one or more cables to the enclosure. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091171 | Optical-Fiber Cable Having High Fiber Count and High Fiber Density - Disclosed is a reduced-diameter optical-fiber cable that possesses a high fiber count and a high cable fiber density. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091172 | Fiber Optic Cable Assemblies and Securing Methods - Fiber optic cable assemblies and related components, securing methods, and fiber optic cable preparation methods for securing of a fiber optic cable to a retention body and/or fiber optic connector are disclosed. An end portion of the fiber optic cable is prepared and inserted into a retention body or the like for securing the cable to the same. In one embodiment, a partially exposed portion of a strength component and a portion of a cable jacket are secured to a retention body while another portion of the strength component remains secured to the cable jacket. In this manner, the fiber optic cable is secured to the retention body while the strength component and the cable jacket also remain secured to each other for providing strain relief. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091173 | Fiber Optic Jumper Cable with Bend-Resistant Multimode Fiber - A fiber optic jumper cable having a central axis includes a bend-resistant multimode optical fiber generally arranged along the central axis. A tensile-strength layer surrounds the bend-resistant optical fiber. A protective cover surrounds the tensile-strength layer and has an outside diameter D | 2011-04-21 |
20110091174 | Flat Drop Cable with Center Strength Member - The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic cable including an outer jacket having an elongated transverse cross-sectional profile defining a major axis and a minor axis. The transverse cross-sectional profile has a maximum width that extends along the major axis and a maximum thickness that extends along the minor axis. The maximum width of the transverse cross-sectional profile is longer than the maximum thickness of the transverse cross-sectional profile. The outer jacket also defines first, second and third separate passages that extend through the outer jacket along a lengthwise axis of the outer jacket. The third passage has a transverse cross-sectional profile that is elongated in an orientation extending along the major axis of the outer jacket. The first, second and third passages are generally aligned along the major axis with the third passage being positioned between the first and second passages. The fiber optic cable also includes a plurality of optical fibers positioned within each of the first and second passages and a tensile strength member positioned within the third passage. The tensile strength member has a transverse cross-sectional profile that is elongated in the orientation extending along the major axis. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091175 | SINGLE MODE OPTICAL FIBER WITH IMPROVED BEND PERFORMANCE - Methods and apparatus relate to optical fibers suitable for use in sensing applications exposed to radiation environments. The fibers include a core of pure silica or chlorine doped silica surrounded by a fluorinated silica cladding. These glasses for the core and cladding utilize dopants that resist radiation-induced attenuation. A two step process for forming the cladding can achieve necessary concentrations of the fluorine by performing a soot deposition process in a different environment from a consolidation process where the soot is sintered into a glass. Concentration of fluorine doped into the cladding layer enables obtaining a numerical aperture that confines a mono-mode of the fiber to resist bend-induced attenuation. Dimensions of the fiber further facilitate bending ability of the fiber. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091176 | HOLEY FIBERS - A holey fiber with significantly large effective core area is provided. The holey fiber comprises a core portion and a cladding portion at the circumference of the core portion. The cladding portion has plurality of holes distributed to shape triangular lattices around the core portion; wherein d/Λ is less than or equal to 0.42, the diameter of the holey fiber is larger than or equal to 580 μm, an effective core area is larger than or equal to 15000 μm | 2011-04-21 |
20110091177 | Double Clad Optical Fiber Having Ring Core Surrounding Core For High Power Operation - Optical fiber apparatus having a wavelength of operation, that comprises an optical fiber including a core comprising an active material for providing light having the operating wavelength responsive to the optical apparatus receiving pump optical energy having a pump wavelength; a cladding disposed about the core; at least one region spaced from the core; and wherein the optical fiber is configured and arranged such that at the wavelength of operation the optical fiber can propagate a plurality of modes and wherein the optical fiber comprises a fundamental mode that is primarily a mode of the core and at least one higher order mode (HOM) that is a mixed mode of a selected mode of the core and of a selected mode of the at least one region. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091178 | DOUBLE CLAD OPTICAL FIBER HAVING RING CORE SURROUNDING CORE FOR HIGH POWER OPERATION - An optical fiber apparatus having a wavelength of operatic comprises an optical fiber comprising a core; a pump cladding disposed about the core for receiving pump optical energy having a pump wavelength; and a second cladding disposed about for tending to confine pump optical energy to the pump cladding. The core can comprise a rare earth material for providing optical energy having the wavelength of operation responsive to the optical fiber receiving the pump optical energy, and the fiber can further comprise at least one ring core spaced from the core, the ring core defined by inner and outer diameters and comprising the cross sectional area therebetween. The ring core can comprise an absorbing material for absorbing optical energy having the wavelength of operation. At the wavelength of operation the optical fiber can comprise a fundamental mode that is primarily a mode of the core and at least one higher order mode (HOM) that is a mixed mode of a selected mode of the core and of a selected mode of the ring core, the selected modes being of the same azimuthal order. The mixed mode can be suppressed relative to the fundamental mode. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091179 | SPLICE HOLDER - The invention relates to a splice holder ( | 2011-04-21 |
20110091180 | FIBER OPTIC ENCLOSURE WITH TEAR-AWAY SPOOL - A fiber optic enclosure includes a housing and a cable spool assembly disposed on an exterior surface of the housing. The cable spool assembly has a first tear-away end and a second tear-away end. The first and second tear-away ends include at least one area of weakness extending from an inner diameter of the cable spool assembly to an outer diameter of the cable spool assembly. A mounting plate is rotationally engaged with the cable spool assembly such that the cable spool assembly and the housing selectively and unitarily rotate about an axis of the mounting plate. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091181 | Coated Optical Fibers and Related Apparatuses, Links, and Methods for Providing Optical Attenuation - Coated optical fibers and related apparatuses, links, and methods for optically attenuating light directed to or from optical fibers are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical fiber includes an optical fiber end. The optical fiber end may be a source end and/or a detector end, and may be angle-cleaved. A coating material is disposed on at least a portion of the optical fiber end and configured to optically attenuate a portion of light directed to the optical fiber end. The material type of the coating material and/or the thickness of the coating material may be selectively controlled to control the amount of optical attenuation. The thickness of the coating material may also be controlled to provide the desired thickness of coating material onto at least a portion of the optical fiber end. The coating material may also be selectively patterned to improve the bandwidth of a multi-mode optical link. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091182 | TELEVISION VIEWER INTERFACE SYSTEM - A television viewer interface system provides a viewer interface that allows the viewer to access different functions of a system. A highlight bar is responsive to the user's commands and is used to indicate the current menu item that can be selected by the user. Information is presented in a successive disclosure format where the user navigates through menus by moving the highlight bar to the right to obtain more information or to the left to see less information and return to the previous location. The background colors of each set of menus remains consistent throughout the user's experience such that the user intuitively knows what menu area he is in through the color cues. The invention provides indicators that tell the user that more information is available in a particular direction for a menu item. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091183 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND DATA TRANSFER METHOD - According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus is configured to play back video content data. The information processing apparatus comprises a display device and a control module. The display device is configured to display video of video content data being played back. The control module is configured to display a graphical user interface including a first button associated with the video content data being played back and a second button indicative of an electronic device on a screen of the display device, and to transfer the video content data, which is associated with the first button and is being played back, to the electronic device in response to a pointing operation by a user for associating the first button with the second button. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091184 | CONTENT REPRODUCTION APPARATUS AND CONTENT REPRODUCTION METHOD - A content reproduction apparatus ( | 2011-04-21 |
20110091185 | PLAYBACK APPARATUS, PROGRAM, AND PLAYBACK METHOD - When playing an AV Clip recorded on a BD-ROM, a judgment is made, for each elementary stream, which of a plurality of predetermined conditions the elementary stream satisfies. The plurality of predetermined conditions include (a) a condition that a playback apparatus has a capability of playing the elementary stream, (b) a language attribute of the elementary stream matches a language setting of the playback apparatus, and (c) a channel attribute of the elementary stream is surround sound and the playback apparatus has a surround output capability. The playback apparatus assigns a priority to each elementary stream based on which conditions the elementary stream satisfies, selects an elementary stream having a highest priority, and plays the selected elementary stream. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091186 | RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING SYSTEM - A recording and reproducing apparatus ( | 2011-04-21 |
20110091187 | RESUME POINT FOR DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYBACK - A system (and method and computer readable medium) are disclosed for configuring a digital media device to resume playback of content stopped at a first digital media playback device to resume at a second digital media playback device. The configuration detects a stop in play of content stored on a digital media storage device and determines digital media playback preference selections for the content played on the first digital media playback device. The configuration generates a playback preference file and determines a stop location for content, the stop location corresponding to a resume point for the content on the second media playback device. The configuration writes the playback preference file and the stop location to the digital media storage device. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091188 | PLAYBACK APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF PLAYBACK APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, a control method of a playback apparatus includes performing a first process when second video data is subjected to an image quality enhancement process, the first process includes writing first data of one frame of the decoded video data in an intermediate video surface region of a memory, causing a first processor to perform an image quality enhancement process for the first data in the intermediate video surface region, writing, in the first back buffer region of the memory, second data corresponding to the first data subjected to the image quality enhancement process, and outputting the second data, and performing a second process when the decoded video data is not subjected to the image quality enhancement process, the second process includes writing third data of one frame of the decoded video data in a second back buffer region of the memory, and outputting the third data. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091189 | BROILER FOR COOKING APPLIANCES - A broiler assembly for a cooking appliance, the cooking appliance having an oven cavity and the broiler assembly is disposed within the oven cavity. The broiler assembly includes a reflector having first and second sides, side retainers coupled to a respective one of the first and second sides, and at least one carbon emitter heating element mounted to the side retainers. The at least one carbon emitter heating element includes a carbon filament disposed within a lamp. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091190 | HEATER PARTICULARLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE HVAC SYSTEM - A motor vehicle HVAC unit includes a housing, preferably a fan, preferably a coolant evaporator for cooling air to be supplied to the vehicle interior, at least two electric resistance heaters for heating the air to be supplied to the vehicle interior and at least one delay circuit, preferably two delay circuits. The at least two electric resistance heaters are suppliable with electric current, and a device is provided for supplying current to at least one of the at least two electric resistance heaters with a time delay relative to another electric resistance heater, and during the turning on or supplying current to the electric resistance heaters a small maximum current peak requirement is to occur at low technical expenditures. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091191 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND FOCUS CONTROL METHOD FOR THE IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus which includes a focus detection unit performing focus detection in a contrast system, and a display unit displaying the image obtained from an imaging unit in live view display is provided. The imaging apparatus includes a setting member setting a contrast AF calibration mode, a calibration amount obtaining unit for obtaining a difference amount between a focus position selected by a photographer and an in-focus position by the focus detection unit as a contrast AF calibration amount when the focus position is selected by the photographer in the contrast AF calibration mode, a storage unit storing the contrast AF calibration amount, and a focus control unit performing in-focus control by adding the contrast AF calibration amount to the in-focus position by the focus detection unit at the time of shooting while performing the in-focus control based on a result of the focus detection by the focus detection unit. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091192 | FOCUS DETECTING APPARATUS AND IMAGING APPARATUS - Disclosed in a focus detecting apparatus comprising: a micro lens array ( | 2011-04-21 |
20110091193 | LENS ACTUATING MODULE - A lens actuating module. The module includes a housing and a lens barrel. received in an accommodating space of the housing and having a lens therein. A driving unit applies a driving force to the lens barrel such that the barrel can be moved up in an optical axis direction by a pulling force of contraction of an SMA (shape memory alloy) wire fixed to the housing. A rotary member is interposed between the housing and the lens barrel. A preload unit pulls the lens barrel in the optical axis direction such that the lens barrel can move down to an original position, and pulls the lens barrel in a direction to perpendicular to the optical axis to maintain a contact of the lens barrel with the rotary member. The lens barrel is moved by the contracted or extended amount of the SMA wire, thus realizing a simple structure and miniaturization. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091194 | INTERCHANGEABLE LENS, CAMERA BODY, AND CAMERA SYSTEM - An interchangeable lens ( | 2011-04-21 |
20110091195 | Camera holder and shutter activation device - A camera holder and activation device enables a user to take pictures from vantage points spaced from the user's head. A frame defines a camera support position and an attachment device removably mounts the camera to the frame at the camera support position. An extension member such as a monopole is connected to the frame, whereby the frame may be so spaced from a user that the user cannot directly view a contemplated picture via a picture-framing element of the camera. A shifter member is movably mounted to the frame and is provided with a projection extending towards the camera support position so that motion of the shifter member brings the projection into contact with a shutter button of the camera mounted to the frame at the support position. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091196 | AERIAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR CAPTURING AN IMAGE OF A TARGET - An aerial support structure for capturing an image of a target via a camera mounted thereon includes a support platform, a frame mounted to the support platform and a beam movably attached to the frame. A camera platform suspends and is axially spaced from the support platform by a plurality of support cables. An actuator is mounted to one of the support platform and the frame, and the actuator is associated with each of the plurality of support cables. Operation of the actuator causes the beam to move with respect to the frame, thereby moving the camera platform relative to the support platform. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091197 | OPTICAL ASSEMBLY AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An optical assembly and/or a photographing apparatus including a lens mounting member on which at least one lens is mounted; a transfer portion for moving the lens mounting member; a guide member for guiding a movement of the lens mounting member; a base member on which the transfer portion and the guide member are arranged; and a lens cap apparatus having at least one barrier for opening and closing an optical path passing through the at least one lens, wherein the lens cap apparatus is configured to open and close the barrier by contact with the guide member when the lens cap apparatus is moved closer to or farther from the base member. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091198 | APERTURE UNIT AND LENS BARREL INCLUDING THE SAME - An aperture unit includes three or more diaphragm blades, a base plate that supports the diaphragm blades, a drive lever connected to the diaphragm blades, and an aperture motor that rotates the drive lever, wherein, in a range from a reference aperture value to a specific aperture value, a polygonal aperture is formed by aperture edges of two or more of the three or more diaphragm blades that linearly move in a first direction and an aperture edge of at least one of the three or more diaphragm blades that linearly moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and wherein, in a range from the specific aperture value to a closed aperture state, an aperture is formed by aperture edges of two diaphragm blades that move in opposite directions. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091199 | CAMERA MODULE - An exemplary camera module includes a barrel, a holder, and a compressed resilient spring member. The barrel includes a first cylindrical part and a first threaded part. The first threaded part includes external threads. The barrel further includes a first surface facing the object side. The holder includes a second cylindrical part and a second threaded part. The second threaded part includes internal threads. The holder further includes a second surface facing the image side. The barrel is coupled to the holder via the internal threads and the external threads. A fit between the internal threads and the external threads is a clearance fit. The resilient spring member is sandwiched between the first surface of the barrel and the second surface of the holder. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091200 | PLATE DEVELOPER WITH A CONFIGURABLE TRANSPORT PATH - A development device ( | 2011-04-21 |
20110091201 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REALIZING INTERACTION OF OPTICAL CHANNEL DATA UNIT PROTECTION TANGENT RINGS - A method for realizing interaction of optical channel data unit (ODUk) protection tangent rings are provided. A node used for protection of the ODUk and a receiving unit, a sending unit, a protected receiving unit and a protected sending unit on the node are selected. A connection between a receiving service unit and the protected sending unit with the same transmission direction on the node is established, or a connection between a sending service unit and the protected receiving unit with the same transmission direction on the node is established. Two virtual nodes are established on the node if the node is an intersection node, and connections between the receiving service unit and the protected sending unit, and between the sending service unit and the protected receiving unit are established respectively in each direction of both directions through one of the virtual nodes. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091202 | Method for Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching Routing to Support Wavelength Switched Optical Network Signal Characteristics and Network Element Compatibility Constraints - An apparatus comprising a network element (NE) configured to support routing-associated signal compatibility constraint information that is associated with the NE using Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) and an open shortest path first (OSPF) routing protocol, wherein the signal compatibility constraint information comprises a modulation type list, a Forward Error Correction (FEC) type list, a bit rate range list, and an acceptable client signal list, and wherein the signal compatibility constraint information is associated with a resource block (RB) pool for a plurality of NEs. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a transmitter unit configured to transmit signal compatibility constraints via GMPLS OSPF routing, wherein the signal compatibility constraints comprise a modulation type list, a FEC type list, a bit rate range list, and an acceptable client signal list. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091203 | SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF DETECTING A NON-FUNCTIONAL BATTERY BACK-UP UNIT (BBU) OF AN OPTICAL NETWORK TERMINAL - A system for and method of for detecting a non-functional battery back-up unit (BBU) of an optical network terminal is presented. The system and method may include receiving power outage data associated with a plurality of customer sites, receiving, from each of the plurality of customer sites, discharge time data associated with a battery via a network, calculating a mean discharge time based on the discharge time data, comparing the discharge time data associated with each battery to the mean discharge time, determining that each battery that is associated with discharge time data that indicates a discharge time value that is less than the mean discharge time is faulty, and outputting a data signal that indicates that a battery is faulty. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091204 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEPLOYING AN OPTICAL DEMODULATOR ARRANGEMENT IN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - The present application describes methods and systems for use in a communications network. More specifically, a method of deploying an optical demodulator arrangement having at least one interferometer in a network that transmits an optical signal is provided. The optical signal may include one or more on-off-keyed signals and one or more DMPSK signals. In some embodiments, the DMPSK signal is a DQPSK signal. The network may include one or more of fiber spans carrying the signals. The interferometer may have a first optical path and a second optical path and a time delay is formed between the first and second optical paths. The method may involve determining a cross-talk penalty that results from cross-phase modulation between the channels, and determining a time delay value for the interferometer. The time delay value may be determined based at least in part on determined the cross-talk penalty. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091205 | MULTI-INTERFACE PROTOCOL ANALYSIS SYSTEM - A device may include a first module to capture information relating to network traffic passing through a first interface in a network device. A second module may capture information relating to network traffic passing through a second interface in the network device. A control module may be configured to transmit control commands to the first module and the second module, the control commands instructing the first module and the second module to capture information relating to network traffic passing through the first interface and the second interface, respectively. The control module may be further configured to receive the captured information from the first module and the second module, correlate the received information from the first module and the second module; and provide the correlated information to a user. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091206 | IN-BAND OPTICAL NOISE MEASUREMENT USING DIFFERENTIAL POLARIZATION RESPONSE - A method comprises: acquiring, for a number nSOP of varied State-Of-Polarization analysis conditions of the input optical signal, nSOP polarization-analyzed optical spectrum traces; mathematically discriminating said signal contribution from said noise contribution within said optical signal bandwidth using said polarization-analyzed optical spectrum traces, said mathematically discriminating comprising: obtaining a differential polarization response that is related to the optical spectrum of said signal contribution by a constant of proportionality; estimating the constant of proportionality of a differential polarization response to the optical spectrum of said signal contribution; estimating the optical spectrum of said noise contribution from said input optical signal, within said optical signal bandwidth using said constant of proportionality and said differential polarization response; and determining said in-band noise parameter on said input optical signal from the mathematically discriminated noise contribution. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091207 | Power Monitoring Photodiode Array with Integrated, Current Sourced Reference Photodiode - A photodiode array includes a plurality of monitoring photodiodes capable operating in a voltage mode configuration each able to provide a voltage indicating an intensity of an incident light. Integrated with the monitoring photodiodes is a reference diode configured to produce reference voltages in response to reference currents supplied to that diode. The monitoring photodiodes and the reference diode may be integrated and have the same current-voltage characteristics and the same temperature, for example by fabricating them on the same substrate. The reference diode is supplied with the reference currents in dark manner, meaning without incident light impinging on the reference diode. The resulting reference voltages, the reference source currents, and the measured photo-voltage from the monitoring photodiodes are than used to determine an optical power value at any temperature within the operation temperature range. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091208 | TESTING OPTICAL NETWORKS - A device may include a communication interface to communicate with an optical line terminal and a processor. The processor may set an optical path from the optical line terminal to an optical network terminal, the optical path including one or more optical network elements. In addition, the processor may obtain, from the optical line terminal, a status reading of the optical network terminal when the optical path is set. Further, the processor may obtain, from the optical line terminal, a power reading at the optical network terminal when the optical path is set. The processor may record the status reading and the power reading. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091209 | SELECTOR IN SWITCHING MATRIX, LINE REDUNDANT METHOD, AND LINE REDUNDANT SYSTEM - There is provided a line redundant method for implementation of line switching in a switching matrix, including the bridge step of outputting a data signal to a plurality of redundant lines in the switching matrix, and the selector step of selecting only a data signal, of a plurality of data signals input from another switching matrix other than the switching matrix through the plurality of redundant lines, which is input through a redundant line required in the switching matrix, and not selecting the data signals input to the switching matrix through the lines other than the required redundant line. A line redundant system for implementing this method is also provided. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091210 | Coupled Seed Light Injection for Wavelength Division Multiplexing Passive Optical Networks - An apparatus comprising a first optical transmitter configured to couple to a second optical transmitter, a first optical receiver, and a seed light source, wherein the first optical transmitter and the first optical receiver are part of a first passive optical network (PON) and the second optical transmitter and a second optical receiver are part of a second PON, and wherein at least one of the first optical transmitter and the second optical transmitter is an injection locked laser transmitter. Also disclosed is a method comprising feeding a seed light to a plurality of injection locked laser transmitters in a plurality of PONs using only one broadband light source (BLS), wherein each PON comprises an optical line terminal (OLT) transmitter and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) transmitters. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091211 | OPTICAL LINE TERMINAL CAPABLE OF ACTIVE BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION FOR PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM - In a GPON system conforming to ITU-T Recommendations G.984.3, an optical line terminal is provided which has an active bandwidth allocation function that preferentially puts small bandwidth signals in a particular segment of a frame, e.g., at a head of the frame, to prevent fragmentations that may occur particularly when allocating small bandwidths of about 100 kbits/s. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091212 | PACKET TRANSFER DEVICE - An optical multi-drop path is set to a downstream direction, an optical path between adjacent nodes is set to a upstream direction, a packet sorting unit is provided for appropriately controlling packet streams in the downstream direction and upstream direction, and one-to-one or one-to-N communication can be performed not only between servers and clients but also between the clients even when a multi-drop transmission is used in the downstream direction. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091213 | PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM AND WAVELENGTH ASSIGNMENT METHOD - In a PON system with WDM, at the time of initial setting, each ONU negotiates with an OLT, and automatically acquires a wavelength which can be used by the ONU. One wavelength for negotiation of assigned wavelength is fixed as a default, and a newly connected ONU first uses the wavelength. The OLT | 2011-04-21 |
20110091214 | Cascased Injection Locking of Fabry-Perot Laser for Wave Division Modulated Passive Optical Networks - An optical network unit (ONU) comprising a first optical fiber, a first optical circulator coupled to the first optical fiber, a first seed light injected laser coupled to the first optical circulator, wherein the first optical circulator is positioned between the first seed light injected laser and the first optical fiber, and a second seed light injected laser coupled to the first optical circulator and the first seed light injected laser, wherein the first optical circulator is positioned between the second seed light injected laser and the first optical fiber. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a seed light signal, amplifying the seed light signal using seed light injection locking, thereby producing an amplified seed light signal, and producing an optical signal using the amplified seed light signal and seed light injection locking, wherein the optical signal has about the same wavelength as the seed light signal. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091215 | MICROWAVE TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD AND DEVICE IN MICROWAVE TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - In the field of signal processing technologies, a microwave transmission apparatus, a signal processing method and device in a microwave transmission apparatus are provided, which are capable of improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the service signal and the reliability of the communication signal, and increasing the distance between an indoor unit (IDU) and an outdoor unit (ODU). In the technical solutions, a signal processing method in a microwave transmission apparatus includes: directly multiplexing at least a service signal and a non-service signal, and converting the multiplexed electric signal into a multiplexed optical signal; and sending the multiplexed optical signal to an ODU. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091216 | LONG RANGE SELECTIVE RFID USING LASER PHOTODETECTION WAKEUP - A data transfer system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader having a radio frequency transmitter and receiver and a laser. The data transfer system also includes a RFID tag on a container which has a first photosensitive device coupled to an electronic circuit in the tag which is in a first state when light from the laser is not striking the photosensitive device and in a second state when light from the laser is striking the photosensitive device such that the RFID tag transmits a signal only when a light beam from the laser is striking the photosensitive device. The tag may be passive, semi-passive (battery assisted passive-BAP), or active. If the tag is BAP then the laser light causes the tag to wake up so that it can respond to the RF signal from a RFID reader. The radio frequency transmitter provides power to the RFID tag sufficient to transmit a signal to the receiver which can be decoded by the RFID reader when the RFID reader is 40 feet or more away from the RFID tag. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091217 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING MULTIPLE RADIO SIGNALS OVER OPTICAL FIBER - A method and apparatus for transporting three or more radio signals of the same frequency, such as multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radio signals, over optical fiber on a single optical carrier using a phase quadrature double sideband frequency translation technique is disclosed. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091218 | BROADBAND RADIO TRANSCEIVER WITH OPTICAL TRANSFORM - A broadband receiving apparatus includes an antenna to receive a radio signal having a plurality of modulation frequencies. An amplifier drives a laser source from the broadband radio signal to produce an optical signal having a plurality of spectral components. A diffraction grating transforms the optical signal into its spectral components. An array of photo-detectors converts the spectral components into electronic signals corresponding to the plurality of modulation frequencies. A transmitting apparatus includes an array of coherent laser emitters driven by electronic signals corresponding to a plurality of modulation frequencies to produce optical signals corresponding to a plurality of spectral components. A diffraction grating inverse transforms the spectral components into a composite optical signal. A photo-detector converts the composite optical signal into a composite electronic signal including the plurality of modulation frequencies. An amplifier amplifies the composite electronic signal for transmission as a broadband radio signal. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091219 | LASER DRIVERS FOR CLOSED PATH OPTICAL CABLES - Simplified laser drivers for closed path digital optical cables and digital optical cables including the simplified laser drivers. The laser driver can include less transistors than conventional laser drivers for optical communication cables. The laser can include a bias source and modulation source. The bias source can have a single constant current bias point for all laser diodes. The modulation current source can have a single temperature coefficient for all laser diodes. The laser driver can exclude, for example, any one of or combination of temperature compensation of the modulation or bias current sources, external programming of the modulation or bias current sources, power control based on output of the laser diode, and/or control based on feedback received from a monitor device or other sensor within the cables. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091220 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CHANNEL AGGREGATION AND GUARD CHANNEL INDICATION FOR VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION - A method, apparatus, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for supporting visible light communication (VLC) exchanges bitmaps for capabilities field exchange in a media access control (MAC) layer during link establishment and association with other VLC-enabled devices. An aggregation bitmap is generated to indicate whether a visible light communication (VLC) transmitter of a first device uses at least one aggregated band that comprises multiple active frequency bands. The aggregation bitmap is transmitted in a capabilities information exchange (CIE) signal to a second device. A guard bitmap that identifies a set of guard frequency bands is also generated and transmitted in the CIE signal. Each guard frequency band indicates leakage transmission from the VLC transmitter. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091221 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SETTING TIMING OF PHASE MODULATION OF xPSK TRANSMITTER - A method is provided for setting a timing of phase modulation by a target phase modulator within an optical transmitter which performs 2 | 2011-04-21 |
20110091222 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a body housing in which an opening is formed for providing removal/mounting access of a removable cartridge; a door member for selectively closing the opening. The removable cartridge includes a cartridge status chip in which predetermined information relating to the removable cartridge is recorded. The door member of the image forming apparatus and the removable cartridge may each be provided with respective contact terminal or terminals that engage when the door member is closed with the removable cartridge received in the body housing of the image forming apparatus. The controller of the image forming apparatus uses the electrical continuity information of the contact terminal or terminals in order to determine the closure status of the door member and to control the operation of the image forming apparatus accordingly. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091223 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND OUTPUT SETTING METHOD OF CONSUMED STATUS OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus which uses a consumable item is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a consumed status detecting unit which detects a value of the consumed status of the consumable item, a determining unit which determines whether to output an exchange message of the consumable item by comparing the value of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit with a predetermined value, an exchange message output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the exchange message, and a consumed status output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091224 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD CAPABLE OF CHANGING IMAGE FORMATION CONDITION BASED ON DETECTION RESULT OF REFERENCE IMAGE - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer that bears a toner image and a reference toner image, a toner amount detector that detects an amount of toner in the reference toner image, a detected toner amount correction device that corrects the amount of toner detected by the toner amount detector in accordance with a prescribed condition of a previous image formed just before formation of the reference toner image, and a controller that changes a condition of formation of subsequent toner images based on the corrected toner amount. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091225 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a coil; a rotatable image heating member for generating heat by a magnetic flux generated by the coil to heat an image on a recording material; a voltage source for applying a high frequency current to the coil; a temperature detecting member for detecting a temperature of the image heating member; control device for controlling electric power supply to the coil from the voltage source on the basis of an output of the temperature detecting member such that the temperature of the image heating member is maintained at a set temperature T; and protecting device for stopping the electric power supply to the coil when the output of the temperature detecting member indicates a predetermined abnormal temperature Te, wherein at least a part of the image heating member is made of a magnetism-adjusted alloy having a predetermined magnetic permeability decrease start temperature Tc′ and a predetermined Curie temperature, and wherein T≦Tc′2011-04-21 | |
20110091226 | Failure predictor, fixing device, image forming apparatus, and failure prediction system - A failure predictor for predicting failure of a fixing device including a first characteristics value extractor to extract a first characteristics value representing a time interval between each implementation of repair of a surface of one of a pair of rotary bodies, a second characteristics value extractor to extract a second characteristics value representing a change in a degree of glossiness on the surface of one of the pair of rotary bodies during a period of time between before and after repair of the surface of one of the pair of rotary bodies, a third characteristics value extractor to extract a third characteristics value representing a change in a current value of a drive motor, and a determination device to predict failure of the fixing device caused by the condition of the surface of one of the pair of rotary bodies using the extracted first, second, and third characteristics values. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091227 | Waste toner container and image forming apparatus incorporating same - A waste toner container that collects waste toner that is not used to form an image in an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus, and includes a waste toner collection opening to receive the waste toner output from the image forming unit, a toner amount detector to detect toner amount in the waste toner container, and a waste toner conveyance member disposed inside the waste toner container to convey the waste toner in the waste toner container. The waste toner conveyance member defines a waste toner conveyance direction exchange point, which is a boundary between two different toner conveyance direction regions in which the waste toner is conveyed in opposite directions, and the waste toner conveyance direction exchange point is disposed closer to the toner amount detector than is the waste toner collection opening. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091228 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING STRUCTURE - A developing device includes: a developing device main body that a developer chamber containing a developer is formed; a pressure application area forming unit that is provided in the developer chamber so as to form a pressure application area where pressure is applied to the developer in the developer chamber because of movement of the developer contained in the developer chamber; and a pressure regulating unit that regulates the pressure applied to the developer in the pressure application area in response to temperature of the developer in the pressure application area. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091229 | FUSING UNIT, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fusing unit includes a driving source, a fusing part which includes a heat source and is driven by the driving source to heat and press a transported printing medium to fuse an image transferred to the printing medium, an electric power supplying unit which supplies an electric power to the heat source, and a control unit which senses the torque of the driving source or a property value corresponding to the torque, and restricts or blocks electric power supplied to the heat source from the electric power supplying unit during a predetermined time if a change rate of the torque or the property value deviates from a reference value. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091230 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a coil; a heater, including an electroconductive layer of magnetism-adjusted alloy having a Curie temperature lower than a durable temperature of that image heating apparatus, for heating an image on a sheet; a magnetic core for directing a magnetic flux generated by that coil to that heater; a controller for controlling electric power supply to that coil so that a temperature of that heater is an image heating temperature sufficient to heat the image on the sheet, wherein the Curie temperature is higher than the image heating temperature; and a magnetic flux blocking member of non-magnetic metal having a resistivity smaller than that of the magnetism-adjusted alloy, wherein that magnetic flux blocking member is opposed to that coil with that heater therebetween, wherein that magnetic flux blocking member is in a first opposing region in which that coil is opposed to that heater, and a length L | 2011-04-21 |
20110091231 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device of the invention detects a temperature of plural positions of a heat roller by a multiple non-contact temperature sensor at the same time and controls the temperature of plural heat source members The non-contact temperature sensor and a contact temperature sensor detect the temperature of the same position. According to the detection result, maintenance is performed or a temperature conversion table is corrected, the non-contact temperature sensor is maintained with high precision, and the heat roller is controlled the temperature with high precision. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091232 | FIXING UNIT AND FIXING TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD - A fixing unit that heat-fixes the toner image onto the sheet, has an information acquisition section that acquires information concerning a factor causing the input voltage which is supplied to a heater for heating the heating roller to vary; a temperature setting section that sets a target temperature of the heater based on the information acquired by the information acquisition section; and a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the heater such that the heating roller becomes the target temperature set by the temperature setting section. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091233 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING POWER SUPPLY TO HEATING ROLLER AND PHASE CONTROL CIRCUIT CORRESPONDING TO THE APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method and an apparatus to control power supplied to a heating roller and a phase control circuit corresponding to the method or the apparatus. The phase control circuit may include an examination unit to compare levels of a sine wave having a predetermined first period and a switching signal to increase and decrease repeatedly according to a predetermined second period, and a phase control signal generation unit to generate a phase control signal having a non-zero in intervals of time sections including a time when levels of the switching signal and the sine wave which is in a decreasing section are equal to each other during a time period when the level of the sine wave is zero, and a time when levels of the switching signal and the sine wave which is in an increasing section are equal to each other during a time period when the level of the sine wave is zero. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091234 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD - A technique capable of preventing deterioration of image quality resulting from a band-shaped toner image created on a photosensitive surface in order to prevent so-called carrier attraction is provided. An image forming method involving an abutting and separation step that allows a first image carrier (YMC) and a second image carrier (K) to abut on an intermediate transfer body to form an image and thereafter that allows only the second image carrier to abut on the intermediate transfer body by separating the first image carrier from the intermediate transfer body; and then a collecting step that collects a toner band on the first image carrier in situ to conduct new image formation. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091235 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD TO DETECT TONER THEREOF - An image forming apparatus to detect the toner density of a patch pattern formed on a photosensitive medium or a transfer belt without a deviation in light intensity includes a density sensor including a light emitter to scan light onto at least one patch pattern formed as a toner image and a light receiver to receive light reflected from the at least one patch pattern and convert the received light to an electrical signal, a switch to turn on or off the light emitter, and a controller to maintain light intensity of the light emitter within a reference range by controlling on-time and off-time of the switch. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091236 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a transfer portion for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording material, the transfer portion including a transfer member for forming a transfer nip between itself and the image bearing member; and a fixing portion for fixing on the recording material the toner image transferred on the recording material, the fixing device including a fixing sleeve, a heater contacted to an inner surface of the fixing sleeve, and a pressing roller for forming a fixing nip between itself and the heater through the fixing sleeve. At least one of the fixing sleeve and the pressing roller is grounded through a first series circuit consisting of a rectifying element and a first resistance element and is grounded through a second series circuit, which is connected to the first series circuit in parallel, consisting of a capacitative element and a second resistance element. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091237 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes electrostatic latent image carriers, developer devices, an endless belt, a cleaning roller, a first motor, a first gear train, being coupled to the cleaning roller to rotate in a predetermined direction when the first motor rotates in a first direction and decoupled from the cleaning roller when the first motor rotates in a second direction, a second gear train, being coupled to the cleaning roller to rotate in the predetermined direction when the first motor rotates in the second direction and decoupled from the cleaning roller when the first motor rotates in the first direction, and a third gear train, being coupled to at least one of the developer devices when the first motor rotates in the first direction and decoupled from the at least one of the developer devices when the first motor rotates in the second direction. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091238 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In one embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing cover that is supported so as to be capable of moving relative to an image forming apparatus main body and opens/closes an opening portion of the image forming apparatus main body; and a unit installed so as to be capable of swinging on an image forming apparatus main body side of the opening/closing cover, in which when the opening/closing cover is opened/closed, the unit moves in a track that moves around a guide shaft of the unit, and in a track that moves so as to follow opening/closing of the opening/closing cover. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091239 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT - A process cartridge for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof. The process cartridge also includes a coupling member to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, with the coupling member capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The coupling member is also capable of taking a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the rotational force transmitting angular position. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091240 | DEVELOPING ROLLER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention can provide a developing roller which can form a stable image in wide ranging environments from a low temperature/low humidity environment to a high temperature/high humidity environment. The developing roller includes a surface layer comprising a silicon oxide film containing at least a carbon atom chemically bonded to a silicon atom, an oxygen atom chemically bonded to a silicon atom, and a fluorine atom chemically bonded to a silicon atom and/or a carbon atom, wherein the silicon oxide film has an abundance ratio of the fluorine atom to the silicon atom (F/Si), an abundance ratio of the oxygen atom forming a chemical bond to the silicon atom to the silicon atom (O/Si), and an abundance ratio of the carbon atom forming a chemical bond to the silicon atom to the silicon atom (C/Si) have values in particular ranges, respectively. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091241 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS HAVING A SPACER AND A LEAKAGE PREVENTER - A developing apparatus includes an organic photo conductor, an OPC frame part to support the organic photo conductor, a developing roller to develop a latent image formed on the organic photo conductor by supplying a developer, a developing roller frame part to support the developing roller, a developer storing part to store the developer and provided with a supplying opening through which the developer is supplied to the developing roller, a spacer removably interposed between the OPC frame part and the developing roller frame part and spacing the OPC frame part from the developing roller frame part such that the organic photo conductor and the developing roller do not contact each other, a leakage preventer removably attached to and sealing the supplying opening, and a connecting part to connect the spacer with the leakage preventer. Thus, the spacer and the leakage preventer are capable of being removed simultaneously. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091242 | DEVELOPER UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A developing unit and image formation device in which a developer carrier is reliably pressed towards and separated from an image carrier is described. A separation and pressing mechanism is provided for separating and pressing the developer carriers of developing cartridges installed in a drum unit onto image carriers. This separation and pressing mechanism has a pair of direct cam members. Each direct cam member has a release action portion that engages with the releasing projection of a developing cartridge when the developer carrier is to be separated from the image carrier. Each direct cam member may also have a pressing action portion that engages with the pressing projection of the developing cartridges when the developer carrier is to be pressed onto the image carrier. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091243 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including: an image carrier, rotating in a first direction and a second direction, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction; a transfer device for transferring the toner image; a cleaning device comprising a cleaning blade for cleaning the image carrier; and a cleaning blade exchanging section for exchanging the cleaning blade, wherein the apparatus works in such ways that, after the cleaning blade exchanging section has retracted the cleaning blade to a retracted position, the cleaning blade exchanging section rotates the image carrier in the second direction, whereby any foreign material, adhered onto the image carrier while the cleaning blade is exchanged, is moved upstream of the cleaning position of the cleaning blade, then the cleaning blade is pressed against the image carrier, and the image carrier is subsequently rotated in the first direction, so that the image carrier is cleaned. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091244 | Constant velocity joint and image forming apparatus - A constant velocity joint includes a first rotation body and a second rotation body. The first rotation body includes a cup unit, a shaft, and ribs that project from the cup unit and connect the cup unit to the shaft. One of the first rotation body and the second rotation body transmits a rotational driving force to other one of the first rotation body and the second rotation body through balls. The first rotation body is so formed that the cup unit and the shaft are formed into one piece using resin material. Moreover, the rib is so formed into one piece with the cup unit and the shaft using resin material. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091245 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An image forming method including electrostatic image forming step, developing step, transferring step, fixing step and oil application step for applying an oil to a fixing member, wherein the toner includes a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and the relationship (A | 2011-04-21 |
20110091246 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEVELOPER CONTAINER THEREFOR - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing units respectively including developer inlets, the developing units are arranged side by side in a first direction, a plurality of developer containers to contain developers to be supplied to the plurality of developing units and respectively including developer outlets, the developer units are arranged side by side in the first direction to face the plurality of developing units, and a plurality of developer supplying paths respectively to connect the developer inlets to the developer outlets, wherein the plurality of developer containers include first and second developer containers, and a position of the developer outlet of the second developer container is different from position of the developer outlet of the first developer container. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091247 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transportation member rotating to transport a medium or developer; a blade member disposed to abut against the transportation member for removing an object adhering to a surface of the transportation member; and a retaining member disposed on an upstream side of the blade member in a direction that the transportation member rotates and abutting against the transportation member for retaining the object adhering to the surface of the transportation member. | 2011-04-21 |
20110091248 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus provided with a hybrid development apparatus having a plurality of toner carriers, the image forming apparatus having the following constitution: a magnet roller incorporated in a developer carrier is rotated and adjusted and fixed at an appropriate magnetic pole position with respect to one toner carrier; the other toner carrier is moved around the magnet roller shaft having a certain gap therebetween and adjusted and fixed at an appropriate magnetic pole position; and gap members are provided on each toner carrier, and the gap members are brought into contact with an image carrier by a guide member and an bias member provided on the image forming apparatus, thereby maintaining a specific development gap. | 2011-04-21 |