39th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 34 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140286576 | IMAGE FEATURE EXTRACTION DEVICE, IMAGE FEATURE EXTRACTION METHOD, AND IMAGE RECOGNITION DEVICE - An image feature extraction device according to an embodiment includes a gradient image calculator generates intensity gradient data with respect to two different directions based on intensity data of image data; and a gradient count unit calculates a covariance matrix for each partial area obtained by dividing the image data based on the intensity gradient data. The image feature extraction device according to the embodiment further includes a feature data output unit calculates two parameters related to a major axis and a minor axis of an ellipse expressed by the covariance matrix, quantizes a range of the logarithms of the parameters for each of the partial area using a predetermined division number, and outputs a feature vector which contains a value only at a dimension corresponding to the quantized range different from the other dimensions. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286577 | IMAGE REGISTRATION DEVICE AND OPERATION METHOD OF THE SAME - Provided is an image registration device including a first feature vector magnitude calculating unit calculating magnitudes of feature vectors corresponding to any one first feature point among feature points of a reference image to create a first magnitude value, a second feature vector magnitude calculating unit calculating magnitudes of feature vectors corresponding to any one second feature point among feature points of a target image to create a second magnitude value, a magnitude difference calculating unit receiving the first and second magnitude values and calculating a difference between the received first and second magnitude values to create a third magnitude value, a first threshold value creating unit creating a first threshold value on the basis of the first magnitude value and a magnitude ratio, and a magnitude difference determining unit receiving the third magnitude value and the first threshold value, and determining a magnitude difference. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286578 | Methods and Systems for Automated Image Slicing - A computer-implemented method can comprise accessing a plurality of pixels representing an image and identifying at least two scanlines in the plurality of pixels. By analyzing the scanlines, a computing device carrying out the method can determine if the image is suited for slicing and, if the image is suited for slicing, the device can determine a slicing strategy by analyzing pixel values of the at least two scanlines. Data indicating the slicing strategy can be used to carry out a resizing operation and/or to generate structured code based on the slicing strategy, such as HTML and CSS code to generate a resizable element corresponding to the image. The slicing strategy can be determined independent of input defining or adjusting boundaries between slices. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286579 | DETERMINING MAXIMALLY STABLE EXTERNAL REGIONS USING A PARALLEL PROCESSOR - Embodiments of the present invention includes a method of determining MSER on a processing system that includes a parallel processor such as a GPU, the method including method steps carried out in parallel. Embodiments of the present invention also include an apparatus that includes a parallel processor and that is operative to carry out the method, and also logic, e.g., executable instructions configured on a non-transitory computer-readable media operative to carry out the method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with such instructions. The method includes assigning to the pixels in an image metapixels of all connected pixels at a level, carrying out watershed in parallel on metapixels to determine catchment basins, and carrying out further steps, including steps executed in parallel to determine the MSER of the image. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286580 | ANALOG UTILITY METER READING - A method and apparatus to read an analog dial utility meter including a plurality of analog dials, where each dial includes a rotating dial indicator is provided. The apparatus is configured to analyze a digital image of the analog dial utility meter to determine a value of each dial of the utility meter. The method comprises receiving a digital image of the analog dial utility meter, and performing one or more processing and analysis steps to determine a meter reading of the utility meter. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286581 | CLASSIFYING OBJECTS DISPLAYED ON A DEVICE - A method, system, and/or computer program product classifies a plurality of objects displayed on a display device and displays the classified plurality of objects. The method comprises: selecting one object from a plurality of objects as a selected object; and classifying the plurality of objects, where classification of each of the plurality of objects is based on a degree of association with the selected object. Classifying the plurality of objects comprises: reading a feature setting for computation of the degree of association; specifying a plurality of features that are subject to the computation of the degree of association; computing, for each of the plurality of objects, the degree of association based on a difference in feature value from the selected object with regard to the plurality of features; and dividing the plurality of objects into a plurality of groups, where each group is based on the degree of association. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286582 | SIGNATURE REPRESENTATION OF DATA HAVING HIGH DIMENSIONALITY - A system and method for generating an m-dimensional signature vector in a computing device is provided. The signature vector may be generated from a plurality of key-value pairs, each comprising a unique identifier and an associated non-zero value. Each element of the m-dimensional signature vector is calculated based on a summation of a plurality of terms. Each of the terms is calculated from a respective key-value pair by generating a seed based on the key of the respective key-value pair and an element identifier associated with the vector element being calculated; generating a pseudo-random number from the generated seed; and multiplying the pseudo-random number by the value of the respective key-value pair, wherein m<2014-09-25 | |
20140286583 | IMAGE ENCODER AND IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM - According to one embodiment, an image encoder includes a sorter, a PCM (pulse code modulation) pixel inserter, an encoding unit and an output stream generator. The sorter accepts an input stream comprising a plurality of original pixels included in original image data in a raster scan order and changes arrangement of the original pixels to generate sorted data. The PCM pixel inserter outputs a PCM pixel in accordance with a predetermined PCM pixel insertion interval. The encoding unit conducts difference encoding processing by using the PCM pixel and the sorted data to generate encoded data. The output stream generator inserts the PCM pixel at a PCM insertion position in the encoded data corresponding to a coordinate of the original pixel to generate an output stream. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286584 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE ENCODING AND/OR DECODING AND RELATED COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - An embodiment for encoding digital images includes: partitioning the images into image blocks, subjecting the image blocks to transform into the frequency domain, and, possibly after thresholding resulting in lossy encoding, subjecting the image blocks transformed into the frequency domain to variable length coding to produce compressed encoded image blocks. Transform into the frequency domain may be, e.g., via wavelet transform, such as Haar wavelet transform, and variable length coding may be via Exponential-Golomb codes. An embodiment may also be adapted for transferring picture data over a bus in a system such as, e.g., a System-on-Chip (SoC) by generating compressed encoded image blocks for transfer over the bus and decoding compressed encoded image blocks transferred over the bus. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286585 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING AND DECODING IMAGE BY USING LARGE TRANSFORMATION UNIT - An image decoding method including determining coding units having a hierarchical structure for decoding an image using split information of a coding unit, determining at least one prediction unit for predicting a coding unit among the coding units using information about a partition type, determining at least one transformation unit for inversely transforming the coding unit using split information of the at least one transformation unit, wherein the split information of a coding unit, the information about a partition type and the information about a depth of the at least one transformation unit are parsed from a bitstream, parsing from the bitstream transformation coefficients generated by transformation according to the at least one transformation unit generated by dividing the coding unit, reconstructing residual of the at least one transformation unit by performing inverse quantization and inverse transformation on the parsed transformation coefficients, and performing intra prediction or inter prediction on the prediction unit to generate a predictor, and reconstructs the image based on the residual and the predictor. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286586 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING AND DECODING IMAGE BY USING LARGE TRANSFORM UNIT - A method of decoding an image includes performing entropy-decoding to obtain quantized transformation coefficients of at least one transformation unit in a coding unit of the image, determining a prediction mode of at least one prediction unit in the coding unit from information indicating a prediction mode for the at least one prediction unit, when the prediction mode is determined to be an inter prediction mode, not in an intra prediction mode, determining a size of the at least one transformation unit in the coding unit regardless of a size of the at least one prediction unit in the coding unit, performing inverse-quantization and inverse-transformation on the quantized transformation coefficients of the at least one transformation unit to obtain residuals, and performing inter prediction for at least one prediction unit in the coding unit to generate a predictor and restoring the image by using the residuals and the predictor. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286587 | INTELLIGENT MEDIA DECODING - A request to decode media data is received from an application running on a computing device. A decoder decision module in media processing software also running on the computing device receives the request and intelligently determines which of a plurality of media decoders to route the media data to for decompression. The plurality of media decoders may include a hardware media decoder and a software media decoder. The decoder decision module may consider a number of factors that may affect the efficiency of the decompression. These factors include the file format of the media data, limitations of the hardware decoder(s), the size of the media data, a state of the requesting application, load balancing considerations, and other factors. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286588 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A relatively higher resolution digitized image organized as a plurality of first kernel arrays, each with a plurality of pixels, is transformed into a corresponding relatively-smaller second kernel array of a relatively-lower-resolution image and an associated set of remaining pixels. Down-sampled pixels of the second kernel array are generated from linear interpolation of original pixels of the first kernel array. Associated interpolation coefficients incorporate perturbations to locations of the down-sampled pixels that are symmetric with respect to centers of the first and second kernel arrays. Down-sampled pixels of the second kernel array can be recombined with the associated set of remaining pixels to reconstruct the relatively higher resolution digitized image substantially without loss of associated information, or used directly to reconstruct an approximation thereof, with associated encoding and decoding processes adapted to reduce the susceptibility of image reconstruction errors caused by subsequent image compression. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286589 | METHOD FOR CODING A SEQUENCE OF DIGITAL IMAGES - A method codes a sequence of digital images, each image having the same image format and including a number of pixels with assigned pixel values. Motion parameters between first and second images are determined, where based on said motion parameters a motion compensation is performed for coding the sequence of images, where said motion parameters are included in the coded sequence of images. The motion parameters between a first image and a second image include a scalar field having scalar values for a plurality of image positions in the image format. The scalar field is determined such that gradient vectors derived from the scalar field correspond to motion vectors for the motion compensation. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286590 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING AND DECODING IMAGE BY USING LARGE TRANSFORM UNIT - An apparatus for decoding an image includes an entropy decoder that performs entropy-decoding to obtain quantized transformation coefficients of at least one transformation unit in a coding unit of the image, an inverse transformer that performs inverse-quantization and inverse-transformation on the quantized transformation coefficients of the at least one transformation unit to obtain residuals, and a restorer that performs inter prediction for at least one prediction unit in the coding unit to generate a predictor and restores the image by using the residuals and the predictor. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286591 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING AND DECODING IMAGE BY USING LARGE TRANSFORM UNIT - A method of decoding an image including performing entropy-decoding to obtain quantized transformation coefficients of at least one transformation unit in a coding unit of the image, performing inverse-quantization and inverse-transformation on the quantized transformation coefficients of the at least one transformation unit to obtain residuals, and performing inter prediction for at least one prediction unit in the coding unit to generate a predictor and restoring the image by using the residuals and the predictor. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286592 | IMAGE PROCESSING CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR REMOVING RINGING ARTIFACTS THEREOF - An image processing circuit and a ringing artefact removing method thereof are provided. The image processing circuit includes a deRing detection unit and a deRing filtering unit. The deRing detection unit receives a plurality of display data of an input frame and calculates a regulating reference value corresponding to each display data according to the display data and the display data at adjacent display positions. The deRing filtering unit is coupled to the deRing detection unit. The deRing filtering unit receives the display data and regulates the display data according the regulating reference values respectively corresponding to the display data to output a plurality of regulated display data. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286593 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESISNG METHOD, PROGRAM,AND IMAGING DEVICE - There is provided an image processing device including an image acquisition unit configured to acquire a first image obtained using a motion vector indicating motion between frames and a second image used as a reference image to obtain the motion vector; and an image generator configured to generate a third image by blending the first image with the second image by a predetermined blending ratio. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286594 | LAWN CARE LEAF AND DEBRIS COLLECTION SYSTEM - An air gill bag of a debris collection and disposal system (or lawn care leaf and debris collection system) for receiving a leaves, yard debris and other types of suitable debris for containment for subsequent disposal. The air gill bag comprises an elongated bag body which includes an open top, a closed bottom, a plurality of air gill cut strips, and a plurality of strength strips. In the preferred embodiment, the air gill cut strips and the strength strips form columns of perforated and non-perforated surface material. Such a configuration allows the propelled air directed into the bag to be ventilated through the bag and debris directed into the bag to be trapped, with the bag still retaining much of its durability and tear resistance despite presence of extensive perforations. The air gill bag is typically attached to the vacuum bag outlet of a machine blower using a dual attachment strap. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286595 | Safe and easy bagging tool a tool for safe and easy bagging of instruments to be sterilized - This invention, “Safe and Easy” bagging tool, is a very simple tool, made of flexible metal or plastic, about seven inches long, shaped somewhat like a flat funnel, that will hold a baggie open, (a self sealing envelope shaped paper and plastic bag used to hold and store surgical instruments to be sterilized.) so it will be easier to put the instruments into the baggie, and at the same time, it is acting as barrier between the baggie and the operators hand that is holding said baggie, preventing the chance of an exposure, from an accidental puncture or cut to the operators hand, from a sharp or pointed, instrument, being loaded into the bag. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286596 | PACKAGING MATERIAL, PACKAGE PRODUCED THEREFROM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING THE PACKAGE - The present invention provides packaging material for making packages, comprising a breakable film; and a substrate on which the breakable film is positioned, wherein the substrate comprises a chemically resistant and non-heat sealable (NHS) layer having a first surface and a second surface, and a heat sealable (HS) layer bonded to the first surface of the NHS layer, and the breakable film is laminated onto the second surface of the NHS layer, and wherein at least one die cut line to define a preformed hole is formed through the NHS and HS layers. The invention also provides a package produced therefrom and a method for constructing the package. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286597 | Easy Open and Reclosable Package with Discrete Laminate, with Die-Cut, Anchored to Second Side Panel - An easy-open and reclosable package includes a pouch including a discrete laminate including a tape including a base strip coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, and a panel section having a die cut defining a die cut segment, the panel section adhered by the PSA to the base strip; the panel section anchored to a first side panel; the second surface of the base strip anchored to the inner surface of a second side panel; and a product in the pouch. The die cut segment is so arranged with respect to the pressure sensitive adhesive that when the package is opened, the package can be reclosed by adhering the pressure sensitive adhesive to the first side panel. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286598 | SLIDING MEMBER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A sliding member is integrally formed of fluororesin as a whole, and a sliding surface to be slid with a slid member is made hydrophilic. A manufacturing method includes a step of exposing the sliding surface | 2014-09-25 |
20140286599 | AIR BEARING FOR USE AS SEAL - In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286600 | APPARATUS INCLUDING CAPILLARY AND LABYRINTH SEALS - Provided herein is an apparatus including a stationary portion having a thrust cup; a rotating portion having a sleeve configured to be rotatable with respect to the stationary portion; a first axially extending space defined by the thrust cup and the sleeve, wherein the first axially extending space includes a second portion positioned above a first portion of the first axially extending space; a capillary seal in the first portion of the first axially extending space; and a labyrinth seal, in the second portion of the first axially extending space. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286601 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING MOTOR INCLUDING PLASTIC - Provided herein, in some embodiments, is an apparatus including a plastic component; a stationary component including a thrustplate; a rotatable component including the plastic component affixed to a sleeve; and at least a first fluid dynamic bearing formed between the thrustplate and an opposing surface of the rotatable component. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286602 | ROLLING BEARING UNIT - A rolling bearing unit includes: a rolling bearing; a grease reservoir in which grease is reserved; an outer ring spacer disposed adjacent to an outer ring of the rolling bearing; and a bellows-shaped grease medium that connects a second side wall that defines the grease reservoir on the outer ring spacer side, to a step portion of the outer ring. The grease medium is disposed so as to be impregnated with a base oil contained in the grease. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286603 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A PHYSICAL PARAMETER OF AN OPTICAL SIGNAL - The invention relates to a method and device for controlling a physical parameter of an optical signal. According to the invention, a portion of the initial optical signal (SE) having passed through an optical waveguide from the input ( | 2014-09-25 |
20140286604 | ENDO-MICROSCOPIC PROBE BASED ON NON-RESONANT SCANNING METHOD USING OPTICAL FIBER - Disclosed is an endo-microscopic probe based on a non-resonant scanning method using an optical fiber which includes a housing configured to have a specific size, an optical fiber placed within the housing and configured to transfer a light source, a tubular piezoelectric element configured to surround the optical fiber within the housing, include a guide unit for guiding a movement of the optical fiber at the end of the tubular piezoelectric element, and provide a deformation value according to a deformation amount to the optical fiber through the guide unit using an external power source, and a lens unit placed within the tubular piezoelectric element, fixed to an end of the housing, and configured to transfer light output from an end of the optical fiber to a sample. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286605 | SELF-ALIGNED CHIP CARRIER AND PACKAGE STRUCTURE THEREOF - The disclosure relates to a chip carrier, suitable for being inserted into a corresponding substrate. The light emitting/receiving chip mounted on the chip carrier is disposed within the corresponding substrate and aligned to the waveguide embedded in the corresponding substrate with an appropriate distance. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286606 | HIGH-ORDER MODE FILTER - A high-order mode filter includes a slab region, a band-shaped projection elongated in an optical waveguide direction, a first optical waveguide including a disturbance element and a second optical waveguide. The disturbance element is formed by doping impurities into the slab region, thus indicating a lower refractive index than the slab region. Both the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide are alternately arranged. The first optical waveguide may include a disturbance element positioned close to the projection, while the second optical waveguide may include a disturbance element distanced from the projection in the slab region. The high-order mode filter causes a large high-order mode loss due to interference between a removable high-order mode and an intentional high-order mode at the connecting face between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, thus reducing reflected light and stray light. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286607 | Structures of Connecting Optical Waveguide Parts and Holding Parts of Holding Optical Input Members, and a Method of Producing the Same - A connecting structure includes an optical waveguide part, a holding part of holding an optical input member, and an adhering part adhering the optical waveguide part and holding part. The optical waveguide part includes an optical waveguide substrate including an optical waveguide. At least one of the holding part and optical waveguide part includes a recess and an adhesive face adjacent to the recess. The adhering part is provided on the adhesive face and in a single region distant from the optical waveguide substrate in a direction of thickness of the optical waveguide substrate. The recess is provided between the adhering part and optical waveguide substrate. A space is provided between an end face of the optical input member and an end face of the optical waveguide. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286608 | DEVICE FOR AN OPTICAL-FIBER CONNECTION - Device for the coaxial connection of fiber-optic cables, comprising a single-piece coupling housing ( | 2014-09-25 |
20140286609 | CONNECTOR WITH INTERFACE PROTECTION - An optical fiber assembly includes a housing with a mating face, a ferrule having a plurality of optical fibers, and a beam expanding element generally aligned with each optical fiber. A cover is slidably mounted on the housing adjacent the mating face. One of the housing and the cover includes a retention member. Another of the housing and the cover includes a guide and retention member. The guide and retention member interacts with the retention member to retain the cover to the housing and permit sliding movement of the housing relative to the cover. An assembly of connectors, a method of mating and a tool for mating are also provided. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286610 | MANAGED FIBER CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS - A communications connection system includes an adapter module defining at least first and second ports and at least one media reading interface mounted at one of the ports. The first adapter module is configured to receive a fiber optic connector at each port. Some type of connectors may be formed as duplex connector arrangements. Some types of adapters may include ports without media reading interfaces. Some types of media reading interfaces include contact members having three contact sections. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286611 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR FOR JACKETED CABLES - An optical connector for terminating a jacketed optical fiber cable comprises a housing configured to mate with a receptacle. The connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing, the collar body securing, at a first end, a ferrule. The collar body includes a gripping mechanism disposed in a second portion of the collar body. The collar body further includes a buffer clamp configured within a third portion of the collar body, the buffer clamp configured to clamp at least a portion of a buffer cladding of the optical fiber upon actuation. The optical connector also includes a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing. The backbone includes a mounting structure surrounding a central bore at one end of the backbone, the mounting structure having at least one pocket region configured to receive a slit portion of the cable jacket. A fiber connector termination and assembly tool is also provided. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286612 | COUPLING DEVICE - A coupling device couples a light guiding unit and a base board together. The coupling device includes a base and a lens unit. The base has a hole for receiving the light guiding unit. After an end of the light guiding unit has been inserted into an end of the hole, the end of the light guiding unit is guided through the hole toward the base board. The lens unit is positioned proximate to another end of the hole and adapted to focus a first light exiting the light guiding unit onto the base board, and/or focus a second light exiting the base board onto the light guiding unit. Therefore, the coupling device is easy to manufacture, precludes attenuation the propagating first and second lights, and enhances the quality of signal transmission. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286613 | RECEPTACLE CAGE, RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY, AND TRANSCEIVER MODULE ASSEMBLY - In a receptacle cage, a front EMI finger in a tubular shape serving as a first shield member is provided on the entire periphery of a substantially rectangular module slot. In addition, a gap between the peripheral edge of a slot of a cover, into which a plug connector for the optical module connected to a receptacle connector in a receptacle connector accommodating portion is inserted, and a peripheral surface of a plug connector and a gap between a lower surface of the cover and a surface, on which a printed wiring board is mounted, are shielded by an EMI gasket serving as a second shield member and an EMI gasket serving as a third shield member, respectively. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286614 | OPTICAL MODULE - An optical module includes: a flexible board having a first surface on which a component is mounted and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a bottom electrode part having a bottom surface on which a heat release electrode is provided, the bottom electrode part mounted on the first surface of the flexible board; and a heat release member configured to absorb heat from the bottom electrode part and release the heat to outside. The heat release member is arranged close to said second surface of the flexible board at a position where the bottom electrode part is mounted. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286615 | SPLICE PROTECTOR FOR FIBER OPTIC RIBBONS - A fiber optic cable assembly includes first and second fiber optic ribbons and a splice protector. The ribbons are spliced together such that the corresponding spliced fibers at the splice have a common lengthwise axis, widthwise axis orthogonal to the lengthwise axis, and thickness axis orthogonal to the lengthwise and widthwise axes. The splice protector supports the ribbons that are spliced to one another at the splice. The splice protector may include or even consist essentially of an adhesive that provides a flexible support for the splice. The splice protector may be at least half as flexible when cured over the splice as the first and second ribbons in bending about the widthwise axis. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286616 | Layer Having a Non-linear Taper and Method of Fabrication - A method for forming a non-linear thickness-profile in a first layer of a first material is disclosed. The method comprises forming an accelerator layer of a second material on the first layer and forming a mask layer disposed on the accelerator layer, wherein the mask layer enables the accelerator layer to expose the first layer to a first etchant in a first region, where the exposure time for each point along a first axis varies non-linearly as a function of distance from a first point on the first axis. Since the time for which the first layer is exposed to the first etch in the first region is non-linear, the thickness of the first layer in the first region changes non-linearly along the first axis. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286617 | LASER ASSEMBLY WITH SHOCK ABSORBER - Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an optical fiber having a distal end configured to emit a beam of energy. The apparatus also includes a tube including a tube channel. The distal end of the optical fiber is disposed in the tube channel. The apparatus further includes a shock absorber disposed on the tube and a cap disposed on the shock absorber. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286618 | LOW PROFILE COPPER AND FIBER OPTIC CASSETTES - A multi-port or multi-outlet cassette that may be configured as a low profile, high-density cassette. Selected embodiments include a bezel member having a projection positioned between each adjacent pair of outlets to help reduce crosstalk. A releasable latch mechanism may be included that is configured to selectively latch and unlatch the cassette to a patch panel. Embodiments configured for use with fiber optic cables may include a movable connector member. A cable connector may be mounted to the movable connector member to move therewith as a unit. Moving the movable connector member determines an angle of the cable connector relative to the panel. Angles may be selected to reduce stress on a cable connected to the cable connector. In particular, it may be desirable to position the cable connector such that it is orthogonal to the panel. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286619 | DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS DISPLAYING IMAGE - An image capture apparatus | 2014-09-25 |
20140286620 | VIDEO RECORDING APPARATUS AND CAMERA RECORDER - A video recording apparatus preferentially transmits important video data, while reducing user's operational burdens. An operating section receives operation instructions of a first recording video image. A video recording section records a second recording video image, and records the first recording video image in accordance with the operation instructions input to the operating section. An overlapping period detection section generates overlap information indicating temporal overlap between the recording video images, from an output of the operating section. The video recording section divides the second recording video image into blocks at timing based on recording operation of the first recording video image, and determines priority of the divided blocks based on the overlap information. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286621 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM - There is provided an information processing that acquires captured image data of a subject; and associates a plurality of time points of the image data and a plurality of time points of event information based on sensor time information, the event information acquired based on sensor information acquired in time series by a sensor apparatus and indicating occurrence of an operation of the sensor apparatus. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286622 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MOVING PICTURE CLIP AND/OR DISPLAYING CONTENT FILE LIST, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM FOR EXECUTING THE METHOD - A recording and reproducing apparatus for displaying a content file list, a content file list displaying method and a recording medium storing a program performing the method, which are capable of easily identifying a paused content file and memorizing a point of the content file which reproducing is paused and content of the content file at the paused point, are provided. The method includes: determining whether or not a paused content file exists; creating a content file list capable of identifying the paused content file with reference to the result of the determination; and displaying the created content file list. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286623 | METHOD FOR COPY PROTECTION - A method for copy protection in which an audiovisual or audio data is divided into a plurality of portions. The plurality of portions is at least partly scrambled and prepared so as to be stored on a record carrier in the scrambled order. This is done so that a physical position on the record carrier, e.g., a sector of the record carrier, where a respective portions of the divided data is stored depends on the scrambled order. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286624 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERSONALIZED MEDIA EDITING - A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to generate a media compilation based on content generated from a community of users. In the context of a method, input that visually simulates a desired type of content is received. The method includes identifying content that matches the input and generating a media compilation based on the identified content. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286625 | VIDEO PLAYBACK APPARATUS AND VIDEO PLAYBACK METHOD - A video playback apparatus that processes an obtained video and plays back the processed video, includes: a face recognition unit which detects the size and position of an image of a person in the video, which change over time; a generation unit which generates a playback video for playback, such that the image of the person shown in the playback video is of a predetermined size, by (i) determining a clipping range for a part of the video in response to a change in the detected position, and (ii) enlarging or reducing, in response to a change in the detected size, a partial video which is the part of the video shown in the clipping range; and a video playback unit which plays back the generated playback video. Here, the response time for the clipping range determination is longer than a response time for the partial video enlargement or reduction. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286626 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM FOR CREATING AND REPRODUCING LIVE PICTURE FILE - An apparatus for reproducing an image file and outputting audio data related to the image file at the same time is provided. The apparatus includes an audio editor configured to edit audio data having a predetermined time length in order to create edited audio data, and an encoder in configured to encode image data and the audio data edited by the audio editor in order to create a live picture file, wherein the live picture file includes at least one of an image data area including the image data, additional data header area including information related to additional data including the audio data, and an audio data area including the edited audio data. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286627 | IMAGING DEVICE, VIDEO CONTENT GENERATING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A CPU of an imaging device of the present invention causes an interval moving image to be captured for each interval photographing, selects frames to be stored as still images from among a plurality of frames constituting the interval moving image based on a face image, blurring, and the presence or absence of a change, and causes these selected still images to be stored in association with the interval moving image. When an amount of data exceeding that for a preset storage time length is recorded, the CPU first deletes low-grade interval moving images. Then, if this is not enough, the CPU deletes low-grade still images, and thereby retains an image file (a mixture of moving images and still images) within the desired time length. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286628 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image processing apparatus includes: an adjusting unit configured to perform a color adjustment process on an input image and generate an output image: a determining unit configured to determine an approximate expression which approximates conversion characteristics of the color adjustment process; and an outputting unit configured to output color adjustment information including information representing the approximate expression determined by the determining unit, wherein when the adjusting unit performs the color adjustment process on a partial region of the input image, the outputting unit outputs, as the color adjustment information, information including the information representing the approximate expression determined by the determining unit and region information representing the partial region. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286629 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING VIDEO CONTENT RECORDINGS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a digital video recorder (DVR) having a controller to record video content supplied by a media communication system, establish a threshold for utilization of a memory resource of the DVR, detect a utilization of the memory resource that exceeds the threshold, generate a notice describing the utilization of the memory resource at or after the time the threshold was exceeded, identify a communication identifier associated with a portable communication device, transmit the notice to the portable communication device according to the identified communication identifier, and receive a response message from the portable communication device that includes one or more instructions to manage the memory resource of the DVR. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286630 | INHALER COMPONENT - The invention relates to an inhaler component for the formation of a vapour-air mixture and/or a condensation aerosol by evaporation of a liquid material and optionally the condensation of the formed vapour, comprising: a housing, an electric heating element for the evaporation of a portion of the liquid material; a wick with a capillary structure, said wick forming a compound structure with the heating element and automatically supplying the heating element with the liquid material; a carrier plate, preferably a printed circuit board, which carries the compound structure and on which the heating element is electrically contacted; and a capillary gap, formed at least in part by the carrier plate, for automatically supplying liquid material to the compound structure in that an end section of the wick protrudes into the capillary gap. To improve the supply of liquid material to the compound structure, it is proposed that both the front side and the rear side of the carrier plate, at least in some sections, should form the boundary walls of the capillary gap. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286631 | HYDRONIC HEATER - An apparatus for heating a hydronic heating fluid comprising a casing body having an inlet and an outlet adjacent to the inlet and a fluid flow path between the inlet and outlets. The flow path extends along first and second substantially straight sections with a return bend therebetween. The apparatus further includes a heating element located within one of the first or second sections of the flow path. The second end may include a threaded heater bore aligned with the second section wherein the heating element is threadably insertable into the second section through the heater bore. The first end may include a pump in fluidic communication with the inlet, the pump being operable to draw the heating fluid in through the inlet and to discharge the heating fluid through the first section of the casing body. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286632 | FOCAL PLANE SHUTTER AND OPTICAL DEVICE - A focal plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; a blade opening or closing the opening; an electromagnet including an iron core and a coil for energizing the iron core; and a drive lever holding an iron piece capable of being adsorbed to the iron core, capable of moving such that iron piece is moved into and away from the iron core, and driving the blade, wherein a plating process is performed on the iron core and the iron piece, a Vickers hardness of a plating of the iron piece is greater than that of a plating of the iron core, and a difference in the Vickers hardness between the plating of the iron piece and the plating of the iron core is 100 HV or more. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286633 | TRANSPONDER AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - A transponder among a plurality of transponders that are connected with a client device via a plurality of optical couplers, the transponder includes a protection timer configured to be activated when an alarm indication signal transmitted from the client device is received, and a controller configured to control transmission of an optical signal to one of the plurality of optical couplers when the protection timer times out, wherein a timeout value of the protection timer is set to a value different from a timeout value of a protection timer included in another transponder. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286634 | TRANSCEIVER SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION DEVICE, RECEPTION DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD OF TRANSCEIVER SYSTEM - A transmission circuit of a transmission device transmits a signal to a reception circuit of a reception device via a plurality of signal paths included in a communication line. A first interface circuit is connected to the transmission circuit and one or more signal paths. A second interface circuit is connected to the transmission circuit and remaining signal paths expect for the one or more signal paths. A third interface circuit is connected to the reception circuit and the one or more signal paths. A fourth interface circuit is connected to the reception circuit and the remaining signal paths. An operation for transmitting and receiving the signal via the plurality of signal paths is changed to an operation for transmitting and receiving the signal via the remaining signal paths when the one or more signal paths enter a disconnected state. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286635 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION APPARATUS AND DUMMY LIGHT INSERTING METHOD - An optical transmission apparatus includes a wavelength multiplexing unit that performs wavelength multiplexing with respect to dummy light for each channel of WDM and dummy light for each sub-band including the channels in plural; and a selecting unit that measures for each sub-band and corresponding to intensity of the channel-specific dummy light, transmission characteristics at a reception end, and according to measurement results, selects for each of the sub-bands, any one among the channel-specific dummy light and the sub-band-specific dummy light. The wavelength multiplexing unit wavelength multiplexes any of the channel-specific dummy light selected for each of the sub-bands by the selecting unit. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286636 | Optical Transceiver Device - An optical transceiver device has an optical transceiver component, an O/E conversion substrate and a switch control substrate. The optical transceiver component is connected to the first, second optical fiber network equipments for the transmission of optical signal, respectively. The O/E conversion substrate is electrically connected to an in-line equipment at a first location for transmission of electrical signal, and may convert the received optical signal into the electrical signal or convert the received electrical signal into the optical signal. The switch control substrate is electrically connected with an optical switching switch and is connected with the in-line equipment at a second location to receive a control signal for the optical switch from the in-line equipment such that the optical switching switch operates at an normal mode or an bypass mode to guarantee normal network communication of the first, second optical network equipment. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286637 | WAVELENGTH-MULTIPLEXED OPTICAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE, WAVELENGTH-MULTIPLEXED OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, WAVELENGTH-MULTIPLEXED OPTICAL TRANSMISSION METHOD - Provided is a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical transmission device which is suitable of performing splitting, wavelength multiplexing, switching, and routing on an optical WDM signal in which optical signals having a spectrum close to a rectangle are arranged with a high density, and efficiency of spectral usage is ultimately high in units of wavelengths. A WDM optical transmission device according to the present invention is configured to cause flat portions of adjacent transmission bands on a wavelength spectrum overlap each other. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286638 | SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - Signal processing means includes carrier compensation means for compensating for a phase difference and a frequency difference between signal light and local light in relation to two polarization signals, so as to generate two carrier compensated signals, symbol determination means for demodulating the two carrier compensated signals on the basis of a signal arrangement of multi-value modulation, symbol rough-determination means for demodulating the two carrier compensated signals on the basis of a signal arrangement in which the number of multi-values of the multi-value modulation is reduced, selection means for selecting either of an output of the symbol determination means and an output of the symbol rough-determination means, and coefficient setting means for updating filter coefficients of polarized wave separation means by using an output selected by the selection means. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286639 | METHOD FOR DATA COMMUNICATION IN OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM, OPTICAL LINE TERMINAL, AND OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM - The present invention provides a method: sending a downlink message to an optical network terminal through a first port of an optical line terminal; receiving, from a second port of the optical line terminal, an uplink message returned by the optical network terminal; obtaining a second time of receiving the uplink message, and obtaining a first time when the uplink message reaches the first port; according to the first time and the second time, obtaining an equalized delay from the second port to the optical network terminal; and after the optical line terminal is switched from the first port to the second port, delivering, by the optical line terminal, the equalized delay from the second port, and performing data communication with the optical network terminal through the second port. In the present invention processing time is decreased to a maximum extent, and stability of the system is improved. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286640 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DESIGNING NETWORK - A network design method that determines a TDM transmission line for accommodating a given demand includes: extracting an available demand from among a plurality of provided demands; calculating a total bandwidth of the extracted available demand; sequentially selecting the plurality of demands; generating candidates for a combination of TDM transmission lines that accommodate the selected demand; and determining a combination of TDM transmission lines that accommodates the selected demand from among the candidates for the combination of TDM transmission lines. The generating process includes: extracting a TDM transmission line with a band utilization efficiency higher than a specified threshold from among TDM transmission lines including the selected demand as an available demand; and generating candidates for a combination of TDM transmission lines that accommodate the selected demand using the extracted TDM transmission line. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286641 | CODE SEQUENCE CONTROL OF INFRARED BLASTER - A code sequence relayed to an infrared blaster is monitored. If the code sequence approaches a violating sequence, the infrared blaster is controlled to emit infrared light with a corrected sequence that does not express the violating sequence. If the code sequence does not approach the violating sequence, the infrared blaster is controlled to emit infrared light with the code sequence. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286642 | ELECTRONIC COMPENSATION OF CROSS-PHASE MODULATION - An optical signal ( | 2014-09-25 |
20140286643 | EXTREMELY HIGH FREQUENCY (EHF) DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS, AND RELATED COMPONENTS AND METHODS - Extremely High Frequency (EHF) distributed antenna systems and related components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base unit for distributing EHF modulated data signals to a RAU(s) is provided. The base unit includes a downlink data source input configured to receive downlink electrical data signal(s) from a data source. The base unit also includes an E-O converter configured to convert downlink electrical data signal(s) into downlink optical data signal(s). The base unit also includes an oscillator configured to generate an electrical carrier signal at a center frequency in the EHF band. The base unit also includes a modulator configured to combine the downlink optical data signal(s) with the electrical carrier signal to form downlink modulated optical signal(s) comprising a downlink optical data signal(s) modulated at the center frequency of the electrical carrier signal. The modulator is further configured to send the downlink modulated optical signal to the RAU(s). | 2014-09-25 |
20140286644 | INFORMATION COMMUNICATION METHOD - An information communication method that enables communication between various devices is an information communication method of transmitting a signal using a change in luminance, and includes: determining a pattern of the change in luminance, by modulating the signal to be transmitted; and transmitting the signal, by a plurality of light emitters changing in luminance according to the determined pattern of the change in luminance, wherein the plurality of light emitters are arranged on a surface so that a non-luminance change area does not extend across the surface between the plurality of light emitters along at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the surface, the non-luminance change area being an area in the surface outside the plurality of light emitters and not changing in luminance. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286645 | LIGHTING FIXTURE AND VISIBLE-LIGHT-COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH SAME - A lighting fixture is configured to modulate light intensity of a light source ( | 2014-09-25 |
20140286646 | TRANSCEIVER AND INTERFACE FOR IC PACKAGE - An interconnect system includes a first circuit board, first and second connectors connected to the first circuit board, and a transceiver including an optical engine and arranged to receive and transmit electrical and optical signals through a cable, to convert optical signals received from the cable into electrical signals, and to convert electrical signals received from the first connector into optical signals to be transmitted through the cable. The transceiver is arranged to mate with the first and second connectors so that at least some converted electrical signals are transmitted to the first connector and so that at least some electrical signals received from the cable are transmitted to the second connector. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286647 | Method And System For A Low-Voltage Integrated Silicon High-Speed Modulator - Methods and systems for a low-voltage integrated silicon high-speed modulator may include an optical modulator comprising first and second optical waveguides and two optical phase shifters, where each of the two optical phase shifters may comprise a p-n junction with a horizontal section and a vertical section and an optical signal is communicated to the first optical waveguide. A portion of the optical signal may then be coupled to the second optical waveguide. A phase of at least one optical signal in the waveguides may be modulated utilizing the optical phase shifters. A portion of the phase modulated optical signals may be coupled between the two waveguides, thereby generating two output signals from the modulator. A modulating signal may be applied to the phase shifters which may include a reverse bias. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286648 | OPTICAL MIMO PROCESSING - A technique is provided for an optical multiple input multiple output (MIMO) processing system. The optical (MIMO) processing system includes an interface to a multi-mode fiber at a first end of the optical processing system; M first single-mode waveguides coupled to the interface; wherein the first waveguides are arranged to carry M first optical signals, respectively; N second single-mode waveguides at a second end of the optical processing system, wherein the second waveguides are arranged to carry N second optical signals, respectively, wherein the N second optical signals are associated with N modes carried by the multi-mode fiber; and an optical processing core arranged to transform the first optical signals into the second optical signals such that a correlation between the second optical signals is decreased compared to a correlation between the first optical signals using a plurality of optical couplers for coupling each of the M first optical signals with one another, such that each of the N second optical signals is a linear combination of all of the M first optical signals. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286649 | SIGNAL LEVEL DETECT CIRCUIT WITH REDUCED LOSS-OF-SIGNAL ASSERTION DELAY - A signal level detect circuit configured to assess an input signal with varying amplitude signal levels and to generate an indicator signal includes an input circuit configured to receive the input signal and to process the input signal, the input circuit including a first node on which the input signal is sampled; a comparator configured to compare the processed input signal to a signal level threshold and generate a comparator output signal; and an active discharge circuit configured to provide a first discharge current to the first node in response to the comparator output signal. The comparator output signal changes from a low output state to a high output state in response to the comparator input signal, and the active discharge circuit generates the first discharge current to discharge the sampled input signal on the first node after the comparator output signal changes to the high output state. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286650 | OPTICAL RECEIVER AND FREQUENCY OFFSET CORRECTION METHOD - An optical receiver includes: a frontend circuit configured to generate a baseband signal representing a received optical signal by using local oscillator light; a frequency offset estimator configured to estimate a frequency offset of the baseband signal; a frequency offset corrector configured to correct the frequency offset of the baseband signal according to an estimation result by the frequency offset estimator; a phase recovery configured to recover a modulated phase from the baseband signal for which the frequency offset is corrected; a data recovery configured to recover transmission data according to the modulated phase recovered by the phase recovery; and a controller configured to control an operation of the frequency offset estimator according to a phase error of the baseband signal for which the frequency offset is corrected. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286651 | OPTICAL RECEIVER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An optical receiver for coherent optical communication, includes: a splitting element that splits a signal light into two optical axes; optical hybrids each of which is coupled with the two split optical axes; a skew adjustment element that is arranged on one of the optical axes, and adjusts a difference between optical path lengths of the two optical axes between the splitting element and the optical hybrids; a carrier; an adhesive that is filled between the skew adjustment element and the carrier; and a void that is located at an end portion of an optical axis direction of the skew adjustment element in a region where the skew adjustment element and the carrier are opposed to each other, the void being not filled up with the adhesive. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286652 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit detachable from a main body, a sensor unit, a blocking member, a moving mechanism, and a determination portion. The sensor unit includes a light emitting element configured to emit an outgoing light toward the belt, a first light receiving element configured to output a first signal, and a second light receiving element. The blocking member includes a first window and a second window. The moving mechanism is configured to move the blocking member between a first position in which the outgoing light passes the first window and a second position in which the outgoing light passes through the second window. The determination portion is configured to, when the blocking member is in the second position, determine whether the belt unit is attached to the main body based on the first signal output from the first light receiving element. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286653 | METHOD FOR MEASURING LUBRICANT-INDUCED SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A method applicable to an image forming apparatus with a lubricant to be applied to a surface of a photoreceptor for measuring surface roughness of the surface of the photoreceptor after lubricant application, the method including: a first step of measuring a surface profile of the photoreceptor and obtaining first data indicating the surface profile; a second step of generating second data on the basis of the first data, the second data indicating arithmetic mean roughness Ra within a predetermined range; and a third step of calculating a difference value ΔRa between second data before lubricant application and second data after lubricant application obtained by performing the first and second steps both before and after the lubricant is applied to the photoreceptor. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286654 | FIXING DEVICE USABLE WITH AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing roller to fix a toner on a recording medium; a heater to heat the fixing roller; an alternating current (AC) power source to generate an AC electric power such that the heater heats the fixing roller according to the AC electric power; a unit interposed between the heater and the AC power source to selectively supply the AC electric power from the AC power source to the heater so as to control the heater to heat the fixing roller; a relay including a first relay contact point disposed on a first AC power supply line between the AC power source and the unit and a relay coil to open and close the first relay contact point; the relay selectively supplying the AC electric power from AC power source to the heater and the power control switch; a direct current (DC) power supplier to supply a DC power to the relay coil; and a thermoswitch interposed on a DC power supply line between the DC power supplier and the relay coil to control the supply of the AC electric power from the AC power source to the heater and the unit according to an temperature of the fixing roller. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286655 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - An image heating device includes a belt, a wire stretched from one widthwise end to the other widthwise end of the belt near a peripheral surface of the belt, a moving member movably fixed to one end of the wire, a biasing member, a detection unit, and a control unit. The belt heats an image on a sheet. The biasing member biases the moving member. The detection unit detects, from a biasing force of the biasing member provided when the wire is cut, that the moving member is moved. The control unit controls, according to an output of the detection unit with regard to detecting that the moving member is moved, whether or not to prohibit an image heating process. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286656 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - An image heating device includes a belt, a light emitting portion, a light receiving portion, and a control portion. The belt heats an image on a sheet in an image heating operation. The light emitting portion emits light from one widthwise end of the belt to the other widthwise end of the belt such that the light passes near a peripheral surface of the belt. The light receiving portion receives the light from the light emitting portion. The control portion controls, according to an output of the light receiving portion, whether or not to prohibit the image heating operation. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286657 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING TONER BAND - Disclosed herein is an image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member; an image forming section that forms a toner image on the image bearing member; a cleaning blade that makes contact with the image bearing member to remove toner on the image bearing member; and a control section that controls the image forming section to form a toner band on the image bearing member during a non-image formation period, the toner band being composed of toner to be provided to the cleaning blade, wherein the control section controls the image forming section to form the toner band on the image bearing member in such a manner that a toner concentration of the toner band on a downstream side in a rotational direction of the image bearing member is lower than an average concentration of the toner band. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286658 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses each of which is equipped with an image forming section and a control section are connected and which is configured such that each image forming apparatus can form an image on the same recording sheet, wherein the control section has a function to perform a first activation control to in tendem activate the plurality of image forming apparatuses and a second activation control to independently actuate each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. With this configuration, activation and stop are managed appropriately to each operating state, whereby wasteful power consumption is reduced. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286659 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image bearing member, a conveyance member configured to transfer the toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording material and to convey the recording material, a detection member configured to detect the toner image on the conveyance member, and a control portion configured to set a position of a toner image, to be formed by the image forming unit, relative to the recording material based on a result obtained by forming a test toner image so as to extend over the conveyance member and an end portion of the recording material, transferring the formed test toner image onto the conveyance member and the recording material, and causing the detection member to detect the test toner image transferred onto the conveyance member. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286660 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSES AND METHODS THEREOF - Image forming apparatus and methods are disclosed which include an intermediate transfer member to transfer images to media, an impression roller including a gripping device to receive the media, and a determination module to determine the length of the media held by the at least one gripper unit based on respective detections by first and second set of sensors. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286661 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes photoconductive drums arranged along a sheet conveyance direction, transfer bodies each disposed to face a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums, a fuser unit disposed downstream relative to a most downstream photoconductive drum in the sheet conveyance direction and configured to feed a sheet at a feeding speed lower than a feeding speed of the most downstream photoconductive drum, and a controller configured to, when the sheet is not in contact with any photoconductive drum but the most downstream photoconductive drum, perform a specific voltage applying mode to apply, to a most downstream transfer body in the sheet conveyance direction, a higher voltage than when the sheet is in contact with two or more photoconductive drums. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286662 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable image bearing member; a transferring member that forms a transfer nip portion with the image bearing member; a voltage application section that applies a voltage to the transferring member in such a manner that a certain amount of current flows through the transferring member; and a control section that sets a front-end current to a current that flows through the transferring member when a voltage having a polarity opposite to a transfer polarity and an absolute value substantially the same as or greater than an absolute value of a surface potential of the image bearing member is applied to the transferring member, the control section controlling the voltage application section in such a manner that the set front-end current flows through the transferring member when a front-end portion of a recording sheet in a conveyance direction passes through the transfer nip portion. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286663 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member of magnetism-adjusted alloy configured to heat a toner image on a sheet; an excitation coil configured to generate a magnetic flux for electromagnetic induction heating of the rotatable heating member; a voltage source configured to supply an AC current to the excitation coil; a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the rotatable heating member at a first peripheral speed in an operation in a first image heating mode and configured to rotate the rotatable heating member at a second peripheral speed lower than the first peripheral speed in an operation in a second image heating mode; and a controller configured to control the voltage source in which a maximum current supplied to the excitation coil in the second image heating mode is smaller than a maximum current supplied to the excitation coil in the first image heating mode. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286664 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developer image forming portion configured to form a developer image on a recording medium; a fixing portion configured to fix the developer image to the recording medium; a transportation portion configured to transport the recording medium to form a second image on the recording medium; and a transportation speed setting portion configured to set a transportation speed of the recording medium when the fixing portion fixes the developer image to the recording medium. The transportation speed setting portion sets a first transportation speed when the first image is fixed to the recording medium and a second transportation speed when the second image is fixed to the recording medium according to first developer used for forming the first image and second developer used for forming the second image. The first transportation speed is different from the second transportation speed. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286665 | FIXING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium includes an image forming unit that forms an unfixed toner image on a recording medium; a fixing unit that heats the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image and fixes the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium at a nip portion; a heating member and a pressurizing member that touches the heating member and forms the nip portion therebetween; a first blower that blows air to a non-sheet-passing area of a small-size recording medium in the heating member; and a second blower that blows air to a non-sheet-passing area of a small-size recording medium in the pressurizing member. Upon the temperature of the non-sheet-passing area of the heating member exceeding a threshold temperature, the first blower blows without the second blower blowing, then the two blowers start blowing together. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286666 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having: an endless fixing belt; a heating member heating the fixing belt; a support member maintaining the fixing belt substantially circular; a pressing member in contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip portion; a temperature sensor; a position detector; a storage storing temperatures and positions of the fixing belt detected by the temperature sensor and the position detector; and a control unit. The control unit is operable in a characteristic storing mode and in a fixing mode. In the characteristic storing mode, temperatures of the fixing belt associated with positions are detected, and the detected temperatures and positions are stored in the storage. In the fixing mode, temperatures of the fixing nip portion are predicted with reference to the temperatures and positions stored in the storage, and the heating member is controlled such that the predicted temperatures become a target temperature. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286667 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a control unit that performs two types of stop operations in which an image bearing member is rotated or is not rotated after forming an image. The control unit selects the stop operation according to operation time of the image bearing member. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286668 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An electronic apparatus includes a memory unit that stores procedure information that associates a function with a first procedure in accordance with which the electronic apparatus performs a process corresponding to the function in a standalone fashion, and a second procedure in accordance with which the electronic apparatus performs a process corresponding to the function in cooperation with an external apparatus and a display unit that displays one of an operation screen of the electronic apparatus having at least one operation button and an operation screen of the external apparatus having at least one operation button. The display unit displays the button associated with information related to the first procedure corresponding to the function if the operation screen of the electronic apparatus is displayed, and displays the button associated with information related to the second procedure corresponding to the function if the operation screen of the external apparatus is displayed. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286669 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CONTROL PROGRAM - An image forming apparatus includes a printing device to print images on sheets using a printing operation and to initiate a discharge of printed sheets from a sheet discharge port onto the discharge tray disposed for the image forming apparatus; a counter operatively connected to the printing device to count the number of printed sheets based on content of a print job; a controller to determine whether the number of printed sheets counted by the counter reaches a maximum sheet stacking capacity of the discharge tray, the maximum sheet stacking capacity being determined by a distance between the sheet discharge port and the discharge tray; and a reporting device to report that the discharge tray is full when the controller determines that the number of printed sheets counted by the counter reaches the maximum sheet stacking capacity. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286670 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING AN INFORMATION STORAGE DEVICE FROM FALLING FROM A REMOVABLE DEVICE - An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286671 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a main duct forming an airflow path of air blew by an air blower such that the air flows through the main duct from a first side to a second side in an extending direction of the airflow path, the main duct including a plurality of air outlets opening in a direction intersecting the extending direction and discretely disposed along the extending direction, and an image forming unit including a plurality of air inlets disposed apart from the plurality of air outlets such that the air flowing out from the plurality of air outlets is introduced into the plurality of air inlets, each air inlet formed such that a second-side end thereof in the extending direction is positionally shifted toward the second side in the extending direction, relative to a second-side end of a corresponding air outlet in the extending direction. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286672 | CLEANING MEMBER, TRANSFER DEVICE, INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning member includes a ridgeline part provided at one end of the cleaning member in a lateral direction of the cleaning member, the ridgeline part including a first ridgeline that extends in an axial direction of a member to be cleaned that rotates and second ridgelines provided at respective ends of the first ridgeline, each second ridgeline extending in a direction away from the member to be cleaned. The ridgeline part is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the member to be cleaned so that the ridgeline part and a corner portion on which the ridgeline part is formed press into the outer peripheral surface of the member to be cleaned and deform the member to be cleaned. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286673 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A development device includes a developer container that includes a developer chamber configured to contain a developer, a developer carrier configured to hold the developer on a surface of an outer periphery and configured to rotate about an axis, and faces an electrostatic latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a longitudinal sealing member configured to contact the surface of the developer carrier in the long-side direction and configured to provide a seal of the developer from between the developer container and the developer carrier, and a capture unit configured to capture the developer from between the longitudinal sealing member and the developer carrier. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286674 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THERMAL TRANSFER PRINT SHEET - An apparatus for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet includes an image forming unit configured to form a film pattern including a first pattern and a second pattern on a releasing sheet, the first and second patterns being arranged to at least partially overlap each other, the first pattern being formed of toner that includes a binder resin having a first thermoplastic resin, the second pattern being formed of toner that includes a binder resin having a second thermoplastic resin that is in a homologous relation to the first thermoplastic resin, and a fixing unit configured to apply heat and pressure to the film pattern such that the film pattern is formed as a thermal transfer film releasably supported on the releasing sheet. | 2014-09-25 |
20140286675 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier whose surface is moved in a specific direction, a charging device to charge the image carrier, an exposure device to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing a surface of the charged image carrier, a developing device to supply a developer to the image carrier on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, a transfer device to transfer a developer image formed on the surface of the image carrier onto an image forming medium, and a dielectric member that extends from the charging device to the vicinity of the image carrier and is disposed between the charging device and the image carrier surface part exposed by the exposure device, in which the charging device, the exposure device, the developing device and the transfer device are sequentially arranged around the image carrier along the movement direction of the surface of the image carrier. | 2014-09-25 |