49th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 39 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120308157 | DETERMINING PARAMETER VALUES BASED ON INDICATIONS OF PREFERENCE - Indications are received regarding which of plural outputs are preferred over others of the plural outputs. A continuous function is computed that satisfies constraints corresponding to the received indications and that satisfies a predefined criterion. Values of parameters are computed based on the continuous function, wherein the values of the parameters are useable in a process to generate an output. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308158 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING A BORDER OF AN IMAGE OF AN OBJECT - A system and method for measuring a border of an image of an object includes setting measurement parameters, selecting a start point, an end point, and a image capture direction, and marking isS=true, moving a CCD lens to a current point, capturing an image by the CCD lens, and obtaining sequential border points of the image. The method further includes determining if the sequential border points are fuzzy, performing an automatic focus function if the sequential border points are fuzzy, or further determining the border of the object has been completely captured if the sequential border points are clear, calculating accurate border points if the border of the object has not been completely captured, and determining a new start point to capture the next image of the object. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308159 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus includes an exaggeration unit configured to perform on an original image including a hand-drawn element an exaggeration process that expands the hand-drawn element to generate an exaggerated image; and a reduction unit configured to reduce the exaggerated image to generate a reduced image of a predetermined size smaller than a size of the original image. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308160 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING FORMATTED INFORMATION RELATED TO DEFECTS OF APPLIANCES - A method for producing formatted information related to at least one defect of at least one device within an imaging appliance chain. A processor may retrieve at least one variable characteristic of the at least one device. The at least one variable characteristic of the at least one device may be configured with a first value representing at least one setting of the at least one device. A first formatted information representing the at least one defect of the at least one device may be produced. The first formatted information may be based upon measured results related to the configured at least one variable characteristic. A second formatted information related to at least one variable characteristic of the at least one device having a second value may be produced based upon the first formatted information. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308161 | ELECTRONIC ALBUM EDITING SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC ALBUM EDITING METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC ALBUM EDITING PROGRAM - An electronic album editing system for editing an electronic album in consideration of categories into which images are classifies is provided. The electronic album editing system includes: a first storage section for classifying a plurality of images included in a first electronic album into a plurality of categories; a second storage section for classifying a plurality of images included in a second electronic album into a plurality of categories; a category selection section for selecting one category of the images stored in the second storage section; a range acquiring section for acquiring the range of the image information corresponding to the one category; a category detection section for detecting a category corresponding to the range similar to the acquired range using range information previously stored in the first storage section; and an editing section for storing the image classified into the detected category in the second storage section. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308162 | Media Editing - An apparatus | 2012-12-06 |
20120308163 | Wrap System - An embodiment includes a reusable gift wrapping system comprising fabric, a cord circumnavigating the outer border portion of the fabric; and a fastening member coupled to the cord. In an open position the fabric lies flat within a single plane and is unfolded. In a closed position the fabric is configured to enclose an object, does not lie flat within the single plane, and is folded. The fabric transitions from the open position to the closed position in response to a user pulling the cord away from the longitudinal axis. The fabric maintains the closed position in response to the user cinching the cord with the fastening member without having to tie the cord to secure the object within the portion of fabric. Other embodiments are described herein. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308164 | Accessory Carrier for Personal Digital Device - An accessory carrier to enclose and support for hands-free operation virtually any size of a personal electronic device in a soft, flexible case that is adapted to convenient and shock-absorbing support by or on a variety of objects, that provides for protection of the enclosed device if dropped, and protects the device from spills, grubby fingers, etc., all while permitting full touch operation of a touch sensitive display on the enclosed device through a transparent protective panel of the carrier. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308165 | Holder for Laundry and Method for Manufacturing Such Holder - Holder for laundry, in particular a laundry bag, manufactured from a woven textile, wherein the textile has a coarseness allowing said textile to breathe and wherein said textiles comprises first threads provided with an antibacterial agent, wherein the textile preferably comprises threads containing silver coated fibres. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308166 | EASY OPEN FLEXIBLE CONTAINER - An easy open flexible container including two webs of material sealed together to form a containment area. At least one of the two webs includes at least two layers and one of the two layers includes a slit or perforation. The easy open flexible container further includes a heat seal joining the at least two layers together. The heat seal positioned over or adjacent to the slit or perforation to form a tearable track for opening the easy open flexible container. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308167 | Suspension stop with reinforced sealing - A suspension stop device for a suspension arm of a vehicle, having a coil spring, having a stop bearing defining a rotation axis of the device and a bottom metal washer turning with respect to a top metal washer; a support piece for transmitting to the bottom washer forces exerted by the spring, the support piece comprising a support zone for the bottom washer; a cover covering the top washer and delimiting with the support piece a housing for the bearing, the cover being provided with a skirt covering a peripheral zone of the support piece and delimiting with the peripheral zone of the support piece an annular labyrinth, disposed radially outside the housing and connecting the housing to the outside; and an annular deflector delimiting with the skirt of the cover at least one top opening and with the support piece at least one bottom opening. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308168 | SLIDING BEARING - A sliding bearing | 2012-12-06 |
20120308169 | CROSSED-ROLLER BEARING - A crossed-roller bearing includes an inner ring having a first periphery and a first raceway groove formed on the first periphery, the first raceway groove being provided with a complete first raceway surface and a complete second raceway surface; an outer ring sleeved onto the inner ring and having a second periphery, an insertion hole, and a second raceway groove formed on the second periphery and corresponding to the first raceway groove, the second raceway groove being provided with a third raceway surface and a fourth raceway surface, a receiving space being jointly defined by the first, second, third, and fourth raceway surfaces; and a gasket, the insertion hole running through one of the third and fourth raceway surface to form a breakage therearound; a plurality of rollers mounted in the receiving space to fill the breakge; a gasket mounted in the insertion hole and fills the breakage. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308170 | BEARING ARRANGEMENT - A bearing assembly comprises at least one bearing that includes at least one outer ring having a recess at at least one circumferential position. A bearing support has at least one receptacle that receives the at least one outer ring. At least one engagement element is disposed on or in the bearing support and engages in the recess in an interference-fit manner to prevent the rotation of the outer ring relative to the bearing support. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308171 | BI-DIRECTIONAL TAPERED ROLLER BEARING ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED WEAR RESISTANCE - The wear resistance of a bi-directional tapered roller bearing is improved by applying a tribological coating to both the small and large end faces of the roller and to at least one of the rib faces of the bearing assembly. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308172 | DOUBLE ROW, TANDEM, ANGULAR CONTACT, BALL BEARING ASSEMBLY - The double row, tandem, angular contact ball bearing assembly uses snap cages for both rows of ball bearings. The use of snap cages reduces straddle between the rows and allows for improvements in spacing and increased load carrying capacity without increased outer dimensions of the bearing. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308173 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL MODULATOR AND SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL MODULATOR - A method for manufacturing a semiconductor optical modulator includes forming a p-type semiconductor layer on a main surface of a p-type semiconductor substrate; forming a pair of stripe-shaped masks on the p-type semiconductor layer, the stripe-shaped masks extending in a first direction along the main surface of the p-type semiconductor substrate and being spaced apart from each other; simultaneously forming a hole and a pair of stripe structures extending in the first direction by etching the p-type semiconductor layer through the stripe-shaped masks, the pair of stripe structures defining the hole; after removing the stripe-shaped masks, forming a buried layer in the hole; forming a core layer on the buried layer and the stripe structures; and forming an upper cladding layer on the core layer. The buried layer is made of a semiconductor material with a lower optical absorption loss than that of the p-type semiconductor layer. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308174 | WELL-BORE SENSING - A sensor system for use in a wellbore has a fiber-optic cable and a tool connected to the cable and moveable through the well bore. The tool in turn has an array of members arranged around a circumference of the tool and extending radially outwardly to contact an inner surface of the wellbore or a tube in the wellbore, and an array of Bragg grating fiber-optic sensors each configured such that movement of a respective sensing element results in a measurable value or change in the respective sensor. The sensors are arranged to sense a common physical parameter to be measured at a plurality of discrete positions around a circumference of the wellbore or the tube in the wellbore. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308175 | OPTICAL ISOLATOR USING PHASE MODULATORS - Various exemplary embodiments relate to an optical isolator in an integrated optical circuit including: a first optical modulator configured to provide a first periodic phase modulation on an input optical signal; a second optical modulator configured to provide a second periodic phase modulation on the modulated optical signal; and an optical waveguide having a length L connecting the first optical modulator to the second optical modulator; wherein the phase difference between the first and second periodic phase modulation is π/2, and wherein the length L of the optical waveguide causes a phase delay of π/2 on an optical signal traversing the optical waveguide. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308176 | Thermally Compensated Arrayed Waveguide Grating Assemblies - Arrayed waveguide grating can have one or both slab waveguides with relatively sharply folded optical paths and a mirror that provides the folding of the path. The folded optical paths through the slab waveguides can result in a more compact geometry of the waveguides through the device as well as smaller slab waveguides such that the device can be formed with a significantly smaller overall footprint. Also, arrayed waveguide gratings that cooperate with pivotable mirrors can adjust light passage through the waveguide in response to temperature changes to provide for thermally compensated operation of the device. Thus, very compact planar lightwave circuits filters are described that provide thermally compensated operation. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308177 | PROCESS FOR FABRICATING AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE COPLANAR WAVEGUIDE - An integrated circuit includes a silicon-on-insulator wafer and interconnect layer providing a support for a coplanar waveguide formed above a top side of the support. A through-silicon via is formed from a back side of the support and passing through the silicon-on-insulator wafer to reach the interconnect layer. A trench is formed from the back side of the support underneath the coplanar waveguide. The trench extends over at least an entire length of the coplanar waveguide. The trench passes through the silicon-on-insulator wafer to reach the interconnect layer and may have a substantially same depth as the through-silicon via. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308178 | OPTICAL PATH SWITCHING DEVICE - An optical path switching device comprises at least one movable carrier plate; at least two optical fiber connection sockets arranged on the movable carrier plate and each connected with an optical fiber; and a driving device mechanical coupled to the movable carrier plate, driving the movable carrier plate to carry one of the optical fiber connection sockets to a position corresponding to an optical fiber connection plug, whereby the optical fiber connection plug can be coupled to the optical fiber connection socket connecting with an intended optical path. The present invention switches the optical path in a purely-mechanical way without using any optical component. The present invention has advantages of simple structure, low cost and low signal loss. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308179 | Method and Apparatus for Colorless Add - An apparatus comprising a plurality of switches coupled to a plurality of corresponding colorless laser transmitters, an odd channel coupler coupled to each of the switches, an even channel coupler coupled to each of the switches, and an interleaver coupled to the odd channel coupler and the even channel coupler. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a coupler coupled to a plurality of colorless laser transmitters, a first interleaver coupled to the coupler, and a second interleaver coupled to the first interleaver. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising an odd channel coupler coupled to a plurality of first laser transmitters, an even channel coupler coupled to a plurality of second laser transmitters, and an interleaver coupled to the odd channel coupler and the even channel coupler. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308180 | Quad Small Form Factor Plus Pluggable Module for Medium Range Single Mode Fiber Applications - An apparatus is provided comprising a small form factor pluggable module having an optical connector configured to be coupled to a plurality of transmit and receive single mode optical fibers and an optical transmitter comprising a plurality of uncooled laser diodes configured to transmit optical signals to a plurality of transmit single mode optical fibers via the optical connector. The small form factor pluggable module is a quad small form factor pluggable plus (QSFP+) 40GBASE-SR4 module that has been converted for use with single mode fibers by substituting their vertical-cavity surface emitting laser diodes (VCSEL) with longer range uncooled laser diodes. Example replacement lasers may include uncooled Fabry-Perot (FP) laser diodes or Distributed Feedback (DFB) laser diodes. To connect the module to lower grade fibers, a single mode-to-multimode mode conditioning patch cord is provided with a plurality of inline physical offsets, one for each pair of fibers. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308181 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL COUPLED RESONATOR OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE ARRANGEMENTS AND SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS THEREOF - Two-dimensional coupled resonator optical waveguide arrangements and systems, devices, and methods thereof. Networks of coupled resonator optical waveguides are arranged so as to exploit topological properties of these optical networks. Such arrangement affords topological protection against disorders or perturbations in the network that may hinder or block photon flow. As a result of a disorder, photons traversing along edge states of the array are rerouted based on the disorder or perturbation. Photon routing in the network is accordingly protected against disorder or defects. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308182 | OPTICAL FIBER FILTER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An optical fiber filter device comprises: a first fiber pigtail assembly ( | 2012-12-06 |
20120308183 | Duplex Clip Assembly for Fiber Optic Connectors - This application describes several embodiments of a duplex clip assembly for use in aiding the insertion and removal of a pair of LC fiber optic connectors. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a clip body with a hood. The clip body has a central wall, upper tabs and lower tabs configured to loosely retain a pair of LC connectors such as to allow the clip body to move axially relative to the LC connectors. The hood is configured to engage a camming surface on the LC connector latches when the clip body is moved axially rearward relative to the LC connector. In a second embodiment, the assembly includes a duplex housing and a housing cover. The duplex housing retains the LC connectors such as to allow them to rotate. The housing cover has a hood protruding from the top configured to engage a camming surface on the LC connector latches. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308184 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BEND RADIUS CONTROL OF FIBER OPTIC CABLE ASSEMBLIES - A cable assembly, for example, a pulling grip for pulling a trunk cable assembly having a plurality of cable legs may include at least one pliable core for receiving the cable legs, the cable legs being wrapped at least one time around the at least one pliable core causing distal ends of the cable legs to be a distance from a furcation point, the distance being shorter than the length of the cable legs, the cable assembly further providing protection from exceeding a minimum bend radius and enabling a relatively short pulling grip. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308185 | UNDERWATER OPTICAL FIBRE CABLE - An underwater optical fibre cable includes two end portions, an extruded metal tube, at least one optical fibre and a polymeric sheath surrounding the extruded metal tube. The at least one optical fibre is housed in loose configuration in the extruded metal tube. The cable includes a controlled cathodic protection system connected to one of the end portions of the underwater cable and includes an anode bed arranged outside the underwater cable and an electric connection connecting the anode bed to the extruded metal tube of the underwater cable at one of the end portions of the underwater cable. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308186 | TRANSFER MEMBER ASSEMBLY - A transfer member assembly | 2012-12-06 |
20120308187 | Low Loss Aluminum Doped Optical Fiber for UV Applications - An optical system comprising: a light source providing light in 300-700 nm range; and an optical fiber optically coupled to the source; the optical fiber is structured to transmit the light provided by the source and comprises Al doped silica based core with 0 to 1 wt % of Ge and no rare-earth metal(s); and at least one silica based cladding surrounding the core. According to some embodiments the fiber includes: a core having a radius of no more than 2.0 μm and having a first index of refraction n | 2012-12-06 |
20120308188 | OPTICAL BACKPLANE ASSEMBLY - An optical backplane assembly ( | 2012-12-06 |
20120308189 | FIBER SPLICE ENCLOSURE - A fiber splice enclosure is provided. The fiber splice enclosure includes an enclosure, a cover, a chassis, and a cable port mounting plate for allowing entry and exit of cables. The cable port mounting plate is removably fastened to the enclosure and the chassis. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308190 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISTRIBUTING FIBER OPTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TO LOCAL AREA - A fiber optic drop terminal assembly includes a housing, a spool and a fiber optic distribution cable. The housing has a first exterior surface and an oppositely disposed second exterior surface. A plurality of ruggedized adapters is mounted on the first exterior surface of the housing. The ruggedized adapters include a first port accessible from outside the housing and a second port accessible from inside the housing. The spool is engaged with the second exterior surface and includes a drum portion. The fiber distribution cable is coiled around the drum portion. The distribution cable includes a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The second end is disposed inside the housing. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308191 | VIDEO RECORDING FAILOVER - Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for performing video recorder failover. In a particular embodiment, a system includes a first Network Video Recorder (NVR) configured to receive a video stream and record the video stream to a first long-term storage. The system further includes a second NVR configured to receive the video stream and temporarily stores an amount of the video stream in temporary storage. In response to a detection of a failure of the first NVR, the second NVR is configured to record the video stream to the second long-term storage and transfer at least a portion of the video stream stored in the temporary storage corresponding to the amount of time between detection of the failure and when the second NVR began recording the video stream to the second long-term storage. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308192 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTING VIDEOS FOR DISPLAY TO A PLAYER BASED ON A DURATION OF USING EXERCISE EQUIPMENT - Systems and methods for selecting for display to a player, based on a duration of using exercise equipment, videos are provided. The user equipment may monitor an exercise attribute of the user for a given period and compare the monitored attribute to a predetermined threshold corresponding to the attribute. Until the monitored attribute exceeds the predetermined threshold, the user equipment may present one or more media assets associated with a particular measure of quality. Once the predetermined threshold is exceeded by the monitored attribute, the user equipment may adjust the predetermined threshold and present one or more media assets associated with a higher measure of quality than the previously presented media assets. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308193 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD - According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus, which play 2D video data or 3D video data, includes a 2Dto3D converter and a display controller. The 2Dto3D converter generates 3D video frames corresponding to 2D video frames in the 2D video data. The display controller controls displaying the 3D video frames on a screen if 3D play of the 2D video data has been requested, and controls displaying 3D video frames in the 3D video data if play of the 3D video data has been requested. The display controller controls displaying the 2D video frames on the screen if a change of a play speed has been requested during the 3D play of the 2D video data. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308194 | DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS, RECORDING/REPRODUCTION SYSTEM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - Whether images are to be displayed in a display order or at a display speed is determined for each type of event for when images that are recorded in a recording unit in association with events detected by a detection unit, which are to be displayed by a display unit. The display order indicates whether the images are to be displayed in chronological order or in reverse chronological order. The display speed indicates a display speed at which the images are to be reproduced by the display unit. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308195 | FEEDBACK SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving a video at a computer device. The video includes a plurality of time codes corresponding to a plurality of video segments of the video. At least a portion of the plurality of video segments is played via a user interface operating on the computer device. A comment corresponding to a first video segment of the plurality of video segments is received via the user interface. The comment is associated with a first time code of the plurality of time codes, where the first time code corresponds to the first video segment. The comment is synchronized with playback of the video. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308196 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UPLOADING AND DOWNLOADING A VIDEO FILE AND SYNCHRONIZING VIDEOS WITH AN AUDIO FILE - A system and method of playing an audio file and a video file on a player are provided. The method includes the steps of selecting a video file, selecting an audio file, synchronizing the video file and the audio file, and playing the synchronized audio and the video files. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308197 | MEDIA DATA PLAYBACK DEVICE AND REPLAY METHOD THEREOF - A media data playback device is capable of simultaneously parsing and decoding two different sections of streaming media, where one section of the streaming media comprises a replay section. The device shows replay progress of the replay section on a progress bar and allows switching positions during replaying of the replay section. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308198 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD - Provided are an image display apparatus and method which enables a user to quickly and easily obtain information related to an image currently being reproduced. The image display apparatus includes: a setting module setting a plurality of sub regions into which a predetermined image frame of an image being played back are divided according to color; and a mapping module mapping one or more thumbnail images of one or more relevant contents related to the image to one or more sub regions selected from the sub regions. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308199 | Method And System For Displaying A Menu Which Has An Icon And Additional Information Corresponding To Stored Image Data, Wherein The Icon Can Display The Image Data With The Additional Information - A menu displaying system and method having an icon for editing image data in an AV (Audio and Video) device, the AV device having a recording medium capable of storing image data and audio data, and which is capable of reproducing image data and audio data. The method comprises steps for displaying icons and additional information corresponding to the image data stored at the recording medium, selecting one of the icons displayed, and reproducing image data corresponding to the selected icon. A corresponding program stored at the AV device having a recording media such as a hard disc drive, is then reproduced upon a menu screen such that image data stored at the AV device can be easily observed. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308200 | CONTIGUOUS MEDIA PLAYBACK - In one embodiment of the invention, a method for contiguous media playback comprises recording a first media content and storing the recorded first media content in a first media file; recording a second media content and storing the recorded second media content in a second media file; playing the first media file; determining if the second media content was recorded within a predefined window of and from a same channel as the recording of the first media content; determining a user preference for contiguous playback; and if the second media content was recorded within a predefined window of and from a same channel as the recording of the first media content and if the user preference is for contiguous playback, playing the second media file contiguous with the first media file. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308201 | REPRODUCTION APPARATUS - A reproduction apparatus includes a calculating portion that calculates a packet position corresponding to specified reproduction time based on header information contained in an image and sound file when reproduction time is specified by an operating portion, and a reproducing portion that starts reproduction of image and sound from a packet of the calculated packet position. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308202 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Provided is an information processing apparatus including a metadata acquisition unit for acquiring section metadata indicating an appearance section of each target object appearing in a video, a section information display unit for displaying, using the section metadata, section information visually expressing a section in which each target object appears among all sections constituting the video, and a reproduction control unit for causing to be reproduced, in a case one section is selected by a user from sections displayed as pieces of section information regarding a certain target object, a video frame of the selected section. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308203 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A depth map generating unit generates depth information indicating the depth of a subject in each pixel of frames of a moving image. An additional information generating unit generates additional information regarding a change between continuous frames. A reading and writing unit writes a depth map and the additional information on the recording medium and reads the depth map and the additional information from the recording medium. A depth map correcting unit corrects the depth map read by the reading and writing unit based on the additional information read by the reading and writing unit. The reading and writing unit performs overwriting with the depth map corrected by the depth map correcting unit on the recording medium. The present technology is applicable to an image processing apparatus that generates depth information indicating a sense of depth of a stereoscopic image. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308204 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A DISPLAY OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENT USING A TIMELINE-BASED INTERFACE - A touch screen control method for controlling a playback of multimedia content using a timeline-based interface includes detecting a selection at a specific location on the timeline; and selectively zoom-displaying an area around the location where the selection is detected the position on the timeline where the event trigger has occurred. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308205 | Method and mobile terminal for previewing and retrieving video - A method for previewing and retrieving a video is disclosed. The method includes: ( | 2012-12-06 |
20120308206 | DIGITAL NETWORK-BASED VIDEO TAGGING WITH TAG FILTERING - A method modifies a tag to be displayed during playback of a video distributed over a computer network. The method may be performed by a server computer on the computer network. The server computer may be part of or operate in conjunction with a social networking site. According to one example, the method compares content of the tag against a database of one or more keywords, such as, for example, profanity; detects at least one matching word in both the content of the tag and the one or more keywords; and performs a modification to data associated with the tag in response to detecting the at least one matching word. The modification may comprise removing a matching word from the content of the tag so that the tag is displayed in a modified form without the matching word during playback of the video. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308207 | REPRODUCING APPARATUS, REPRODUCING METHOD, REPRODUCING PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - For a large capacity recording medium, a user interface having high flexibility and enriched representation is accomplished. A flag that represents whether a play item has a multiple angle structure of which the play item is reproduced with a plurality of angles is described. In addition, a flag that represents whether the beginning of each decode unit is an angle switchable point is described. In a seamless multiple angle structure, the current angle can be switched without need to increase the number of interleave units. In a nonseamless multiple angle structure, with the flag, in a predetermined region on the rear end side of each angle, the current angle is prohibited from being switched. Thus, when a play item exits from the multiple angle, discontinuity in the reproduction can be prevented. In addition, with a flag that represents whether a sub play item should be reproduced not in synchronization with a main path, the sub play item of only audio data can be used as a BGM. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308208 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADVERTISEMENT INSERTION AND PLAYBACK FOR STB WITH PVR FUNCTIONALITY - A personal video recorder (PVR) enabled set-top box (STB) may be operable to store an advertisement and associated playback control information received from a media provider into a storage device in the PVR enabled STB, schedule the stored advertisement for viewing based on the associated playback control information. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to insert the stored advertisement into media content for one or more times based on the scheduling. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement and the media content in different transport formats. At a forward/reverse playback position during a PVR playback, the PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement when a play count associated with the stored advertisement is less than a count threshold at the forward/reverse playback position. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308209 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY RECORDING, EDITING AND COMBINING MULTIPLE LIVE VIDEO CLIPS AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHS INTO A FINISHED COMPOSITION - The present invention relates to a method of dynamically creating a video composition including the steps: a) recording a first real-world event as a first video clip using a video composition creation program residing on a portable device in response to a first user record input, the portable device comprising a camera lens, a processor, a memory device, and a display device that displays an image of the first real-world event perceived by the camera lens during the recording of the first real-world event; and b) selecting a transition using the video composition creation program in response to a user transition selection input, the video composition creation program automatically combining the first video clip and the selected transition to create the video composition; and c) the video composition creation program saving the video composition on the memory device as a single file in response to a user save input. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308210 | Previewing Effects Applicable to Digital Media Content - Systems and apparatus are described to perform methods including receiving input to apply attributes that represent modifications to appearance of content of the video segment, to a video segment. Multiple modified video segments are generated, each modified video segment being associated with a corresponding attribute applicable to the video segment. The appearances of the multiple modified video segments vary based on corresponding attributes. A selection of a modified video segment associated with a first attribute is received, and a first video segment is generated by associating the first attribute with the video segment. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308211 | Asynchronous personalization of records using dynamic scripting - The present disclosure provides a personalized record/video, and method to produce the record/video, that combines stock tutorial record/video information with personalized information. Personalized information can include data that is, for example, inserted, overlaid, or parameterized information (still images, video, audio, text or graphics, etc.); sorted sequence of images and sorted differences from one personalized script to another personalized script; and/or a personalized framework for creating a personalized script that generates an asynchronous video. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308212 | DEVICE FOR HEATING A FLUID - The invention relates to a device ( | 2012-12-06 |
20120308213 | Multi-setting circuits for the portable dryer - A dryer circuit includes a main circuit and a connection controller. The dryer circuit includes a power unit, a first and second heating units, a first and a second switches, a motor having a fan installed, a resistor, a first diode, and a second diode. The first and the second heating units are coupled to ground respectively through the first and the second switches. The resistor is coupled between the first heating unit and the motor. The first diode is coupled between the second heating unit and the motor. The second diode is coupled between the first heating unit and the motor and in series with the resistor. The connection controller controls the first and the second switches on or off for adjusting the power supplied to the motor, and the first and the second heating units at the same time. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308214 | PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS - An air conditioning apparatus is provided with an air plenum in fluid communication with an air inlet and an air outlet. A fan moves air through the air plenum. An interchangeable air conditioning core is removably installed within the air plenum and interposed between the air inlet and air outlet such that air moving along an air pathway is forced to proceed through the interchangeable air conditioning core. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308215 | DETECTION OF SUBSTRATE WARPING DURING RAPID THERMAL PROCESSING - Apparatus and methods for detecting substrate warping during RTP processing are provided. In one embodiment, one or more beams of light are provided above and across the substrate being processed. In this embodiment, the amount of beam blockage correlates to the amount of substrate warping. In another embodiment, a beam of light is reflected off of a substrate during processing. In this embodiment, the amount of movement of the beam correlates to the amount of substrate warping. In yet another embodiment, a region of a substrate is illuminated during processing. In this embodiment, images of the illuminated region are analyzed to determine the amount of substrate warping. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308216 | HEATING APPARATUS - An electrical heating apparatus includes a stationary housing having a lower base portion, an upper control portion, and a column portion extending from and rigidly connecting the base and control portions. The base and control portions define first and second parallel and horizontally spaced-apart vertical housing axes, and the control portion includes control circuitry and first and second direction controllers. First and second heating units each include a radiant heating element and a reflector, the heating elements adapted upon energization to radiate heat, and the reflector disposed and adapted to reflect the radiated heat from the heating unit. The heating units each engage the base and control portions of the housing, is engaged by one of the direction controller, and has a pivot axis disposed coaxial with and pivotable about one of the housing axes. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308217 | DEVICE FOR HEATING A FLUID - The invention relates to a device ( | 2012-12-06 |
20120308218 | SWITCHING POWER CONVERTER CURRENT LIMIT REFERENCE CIRCUIT - A switching power converter current limit reference circuit generates an output-referred input current reference (or an input-referred output current reference) which takes into account a converter's input voltage, output voltage, and efficiency, thereby enabling implementation of a DC, or average, input current regulation scheme. A reference current (Iref) is provided which represents the desired average current limit. Circuitry multiplies Iref and the complement of the converter's duty cycle D ( | 2012-12-06 |
20120308219 | CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS - A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308220 | CAMERA BODY AND INTERCHANGEABLE LENS MOUNTABLE TO THE CAMERA BODY - A camera body to which an interchangeable lens capable of changing zoom magnification is mountable. The camera body includes a sound pickup section that picks up sounds to generate audio data and a sound processor that changes settings relating to directionality of the sound pickup section in conjunction with the zoom magnification of the interchangeable lens. When the interchangeable lens is positioned to provide the minimum magnification of zoom, the sound processor sets the directionality of the sound pickup section to a directionality by which sounds in the widest region can be picked up based on the zoom range information. When the interchangeable lens is positioned to provide the maximum magnification of zoom, the sound processor sets the directionality of the sound pickup section to a directionality by which sounds in the narrowest region can be picked up based on the zoom range information. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308221 | STEREO CAMERA WITH PRESET MODES - A stereographic camera and a method of operating a stereographic camera are disclosed. The stereographic camera may include a left camera and a right camera having respective lenses and an interface for receiving a selection of a selected preset operating mode from a plurality of preset operating modes. A preset parameter memory may store a plurality of preset parameter sets, each of the plurality of preset parameter sets associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of preset operating modes, each of the plurality of preset parameters sets including an assumed minimum object distance and an assumed extreme object distance. An interocular distance mechanism may set an interocular distance between the left camera and the right camera based on, at least in part, the assumed minimum object distance and the assumed extreme object distance associated with the selected operating mode. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308222 | ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS - An assembly for supporting a photographing apparatus includes a first supporting member on which a photographing apparatus and a rotation shaft are installed, a second supporting member that supports the first supporting member such that the first supporting member is able to rotate around the rotation shaft, a driving unit that rotates the rotation shaft, a pinion installed on the rotation shaft, a rack gear engaging with the pinion, and at least one elastic member that applies elastic force to the rack gear. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308223 | ZOOM BUTTON STRUCTURE - A zoom button structure including a zoom button, a first middle band and a second middle band is provided. The first middle band has a first lock portion and a first body portion. The first lock portion extends from the first body portion and is located at a side of the zoom button. The second middle band has a second lock portion and a second body portion. The second lock portion extends from the second body portion and is located at the other side of the zoom button. Herein, the first lock portion and the second lock portion lock together and form an annular accommodating space. And the annular accommodating space surrounds and accommodates the zoom button. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308224 | Standby Restoration Signaling For Optical Networks - Systems and methods are described that provide a distributed restoration signaling protocol for shared mesh restoration with standbys for transparent optical networks. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308225 | Method for Establishing an Inter-Domain Path that Satisfies Wavelength Continuity Constraint - The present invention provides a method for establishing an inter-domain path that satisfies wavelength continuity constraint. The fPCE stores a virtual topology comprised by border nodes of all domains. The present invention uses parallel inter-domain path establishment method to decrease the influence from WCC. Compared with the sequential process way in prior art, it enhanced the resource utilization and decreased computation delay. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308226 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING NETWORK TIMING IN A MESH OPTICAL NETWORK - The disclosed methods and apparatuses provide a unique and cost efficient approach to using traffic channels of an optical mesh network, and sometimes optical supervisory channels, for carrying timing information (e.g., BITS timing signals), thus eliminating the need to use external BITS sources at remote add/drop nodes of a network. Planning the distribution of timing in such an optical mesh network includes identifying in the network a source node associated with an external timing source, identifying optical light paths between nodes in the network, and, for nodes other than the source node, selecting optical light paths originating either directly or indirectly from the source node to use to derive timing information. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308227 | DIGITAL COHERENT RECEIVER AND PHASE CONTROL METHOD - A digital coherent receiver includes a sampling phase detector to detect a phase of a sampled digital signal, and a phase adjustor to adjust the sampling phase of the digital signal based upon the detected phase. The phase detector includes filters to equalize the digital signal with different equalization characteristics; sensitivity monitoring phase detectors, each connected to one of the filters and outputting a phase detection signal representing the phase of the output signal from the associated filter together with a sensitivity monitoring signal representing the sensitivity of the phase detection; sensitivity correction coefficient generators, each generating a sensitivity correction coefficient for correcting the associated phase detection signal using a square sum of the sensitivity monitoring signals; and an adder to add the phase detection signals that have been corrected by the sensitivity correction coefficients, and output a phase signal. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308228 | OPTICAL LINE TERMINAL, BANDWIDTH CONTROL METHOD AND OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM - An example is a bandwidth control method employed in an optical line terminal including: determining a first time point at which a first optical network unit starts the processing of transitioning between the states in a case where the first optical network unit is to be transitioned between the states; transmitting a state control signal containing the first time point to the first optical network unit in order to control the first optical network unit to start the processing of transitioning between the states; and stopping allocating a bandwidth used to transmit a signal to the optical line terminal to a second optical network unit during a period from the first time point until it is determined that the first optical network unit has finished the processing of transitioning between the states. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308229 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR STABILIZING A COLOR CODING METHOD FOR OPTICAL TRANSMISSION OF DATA - A method for optically transmitting data between a transmitter and a receiver is provided, wherein a color coding method based on a plurality of elementary colors is provided for encoding and transmitting the data, wherein each elementary color is transmitted by a transmitter-side optical radiation source and is received on the receiver side by an optical radiation receiver. The method includes transmitting a training request message comprising calibration information formed on the transmitter side; forming a channel properties matrix by the receiver from the calibration information and storing the channel properties matrix in the receiver; calculating at least one compensation information on the basis of a reference channel properties matrix stored in the receiver and the reference channel properties matrix; and transmitting the compensation information from the receiver to the transmitter. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308230 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN OPTICAL RECEIVER HAVING DELAY PATHS - A control apparatus for controlling an optical receiver having delay paths comprises an optical variable attenuator configured to generate a variable signal and provide the variable signal to the optical receiver; a fine control voltage controller configured to generate a variable fine control voltage and input the variable fine control voltage to one path of the delay paths of the optical receiver; a photo-diode voltage monitor configured to detect a first voltage value and a second voltage value; a bit error rate (BER) checker configured to estimate a bit error rate (BER) according to a signal output from the optical receiver; and a controller configured to set a value of the variable signal and a value of the variable fine control voltage and to estimate the fine control voltage that makes the bit error rate a minimum according to the first voltage value and the second voltage value. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308231 | Light Path Priority in Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed Networks - Techniques are provided for using light path priority of service information in an optical network. At a node in the optical network, priority of service information is stored for a plurality of light paths used in the optical network. The node serves traffic in the optical network using the plurality of light paths based on the priority of service information. These techniques provide for prioritizing light paths (wavelengths) for scenarios such as restoration, congestion and resource contention. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308232 | FIBRE CHANNEL FORWARDER FABRIC LOGIN SEQUENCE - System and computer program product embodiments for fibre channel forwarder fabric login sequence in a fibre channel switch environment, where a Fibre Channel Forwarder (cFCF) is separated from a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder (FDF), are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, at a Fibre Channel Login (FLOGI) to a target device from an initiator device, a node address acceptance notification is held from reaching the initiator device until each of the zoning distributions have been considered to have been completed. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308233 | RECEIVER AND CROSS PHASE MODULATION REDUCTION METHOD - A receiver includes: an extraction circuit to extract a phase fluctuation component common to phase data of two polarization components that are separated in a coherent reception of a polarization multiplexing phase modulation optical signal; and a correction circuit to correct the phase data of the two polarization components in accordance with the phase fluctuation component. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308234 | CLOCK RECOVERY METHOD AND CLOCK RECOVERY ARRANGEMENT FOR COHERENT POLARIZATION MULTIPLEX RECEIVERS - Component signal values are derived from component signals and fed to at least one fixed equalizer which generates equalizer output signals. The signals are fed to phase error detectors generating phase error signals. The phase error signals are combined with further phase error signals derived by further error detectors receiving signal values from further equalizers and/or the component signal values directly from sample units. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308235 | Integrated Commercial Communications Network Using Radio Frequency and Free Space Optical Data Communication - A stabilized ultra-high bandwidth capacity transceiver system that combines an E-band (71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz) millimeter wave RF transceiver with an eye-safe adaptive optics Free Space Optical (FSO) transceiver as a combined apparatus for simultaneous point-to-point commercial communications. The apparatus has a high degree of assured carrier availability under stressing environmental conditions. The apparatus establishes and maintains pointing and stabilization of mmW RF and FSO optical beams between adjacent line of sight apparatuses. The apparatus can rapidly acquire and reacquire the FSO optical carrier link in the event the optical carrier link is impaired due to adverse weather. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308236 | APPARATUS FOR INTERFACING BETWEEN DUAL-CARRIER OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER AND WDM OPTICAL TRANSMISSION LINE - The present invention provides an interface apparatus between a dual-carrier optical transceiver and a WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) optical transmission line, including: an optical multiplexer configured to receive a first optical signal modulated by a first optical carrier and a second optical signal modulated by a second optical carrier from the dual-carrier optical transceiver, and multiplex the first optical signal and the second optical signal to output the signals to the optical transmission line; and an optical demultiplexer configured to receive the multiplexed optical signal from the optical transmission line and demultiplex the multiplexed optical signal to output the signals to the dual-carrier optical transceiver. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308237 | MITIGATING NOISE AND OBI IN RFOG NETWORKS - A bi-directional optical transceiver includes multiple single mode optical ports and a multi-mode optical port. A multi-mode optical combiner combines single mode optical signals received at the single mode optical ports into a multi-mode optical signal at the multi-mode optical port. Each single mode optical signal has a distinct optical mode that does not interfere with the optical mode of the other single mode optical signals. A photo detector detects a total optical power of the plurality of single mode optical signals in the multi-mode optical signal. An amplifier is coupled to receive an output of the photo detector. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308238 | DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM - A distributed antenna system includes a first antenna disposed covering a predetermined communication range, the first antenna carrying out a communication at least at a low-frequency band, and a plurality of second antennas disposed covering the predetermined communication range, the plurality of second antennas carrying out a communication at a high-frequency band. The distributed antenna system is operable to carry out a communication between the first antenna and the second antennas, and a mobile terminal located within the predetermined communication range by means of carrier aggregation using the low-frequency band and the high-frequency band. The distributed antenna system further includes a BB module equipped in a base station for carrying out a communication within the predetermined communication range, the first antenna and the second antennas being each connected to the one BB module via an RF module. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308239 | Active Tracking for Free-Space Optical Communication Systems - Systems and methods enabling nodes of a free-space optical communication system to maintain pointing alignment of their transmitted optical beams. A first node scans its optical antenna through a path centered on a target direction. The second node captures signal strength measurements during the scan, and sends those measurements to the first node. The first node separately measures signal strength of the optical signal being received from the second node. The two sources of information (locally measured and remotely measured) are used to compute angular errors. The first node uses the angular errors to adjust the target direction of its optical antenna. The second node may employ the same method (with roles reversed) to adjust its target direction. By cycling back and forth between to the two nodes, the target directions of the two nodes maintain alignment in spite of movements of the structures on which they are mounted. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308240 | OPTICAL TRANSMITTER, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME, AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - An optical transmitter includes an optical modulator having first and second waveguides to modulate carrier light at each of the waveguides using a driving signal with 2*n intensity levels (n is an integer 1 or greater); and a phase shifter to cause a phase difference between a first optical signal and a second optical signal output from the first waveguide and the second waveguide, respectively. A photodetector converts a portion of a multilevel optical modulation signal acquired by combining the first optical signal and the second optical signals into an electrical signal. A monitor detects a change in an alternating current component in the detected modulation signal. A controller controls at least one of a first bias voltage and a second bias voltage being supplied to the first waveguide and the second waveguide, respectively, so as to increase the power value of the alternating current component. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308241 | Process for Enhanced 3D Integration and Structures Generated Using the Same - An enhanced 3D integration structure comprises a logic microprocessor chip bonded to a collection of vertically stacked memory slices and an optional set of outer vertical slices comprising optoelectronic devices. Such a device enables both high memory content in close proximity to the logic circuits and a high bandwidth for logic to memory communication. Additionally, the provision of optoelectronic devices in the outer slices of the vertical slice stack enables high bandwidth direct communication between logic processor chips on adjacent enhanced 3D modules mounted next to each other or on adjacent packaging substrates. A method to fabricate such structures comprises using a template assembly which enables wafer format processing of vertical slice stacks. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308242 | TONER CONTAINER, TONER CONTAINER FRAME, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A toner container is removably installable in an image forming apparatus having a communication portion and a positioning hole. The toner container includes an electronic data storage device disposed on a surface of the toner container, to communicate with the communication portion in the image forming apparatus, the electronic data storage device having an engaged hole; and a positioning projection, formed in the surface of the toner container, to engage the engaged hole of the electronic data storage device and the positioning hole in the image forming apparatus. The positioning projection inserts into the positioning hole in the image forming apparatus with the positioning projection engaging the engaged hole in the electronic data storage device to determine an installation position of the toner container relative to the image forming apparatus and set the electronic data storage device relative to the communication portion in the image forming apparatus. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308243 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONNECTING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion; an image forming portion supporting frame having opposing first and second side surfaces; first and second frame supporting portions provided, in contact to a disposition surface of the apparatus, close to the first side surface; a third frame supporting portion provided, in contact to the disposition surface, close to the second side surface; and an auxiliary leg adjustable to a height where it does not contact the disposition surface and a height where it contacts the disposition surface. The auxiliary leg is provided in a side which is away from the third supporting portion in a direction of change of the center of gravity by mounting of the optional unit to the image forming apparatus. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308244 | SHEET IDENTIFICATION DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A sheet identification device includes plural detecting units, an estimating unit, and an output unit. The plural detecting units are provided along a transport path along which a sheet is transported by a transport unit, and detect passing of the sheet. The estimating unit estimates a length in a transport direction of the sheet as a detection target on the basis of individual detection results generated by the plural detecting units. The output unit outputs, if the length estimated by the estimating unit on the basis of at least one of the detection results is not a predetermined length, a signal indicating that a sheet having a length in the transport direction different from the predetermined length is being transported. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308245 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND OUTPUT SETTING METHOD OF CONSUMED STATUS OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An apparatus in which a plurality of consumable items are loadable to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a consumption status detecting unit to detect a respective consumption status of each of the consumable items, a consumption information output setting unit to set whether an exchange message for each of the consumable items is to be output, and a consumable item information output unit to output the exchange message, which is indicative of an exchange time of the respective consumable item, based on the respective consumption statuses detected by the consumption status detecting unit and the setting of the consumption information output setting unit. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308246 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a first image bearing member (drum); a second image bearing member (drum); a developing device for forming a toner image on the basis of an electrostatic latent image formed on the first drum; an electrostatic latent image forming portion for forming an electrostatic latent image mark on the first drum; a detecting portion for detecting a position of the electrostatic latent image mark; and an adjusting portion for adjusting, on the basis of a detection result of the position of the electrostatic latent image mark, superposition between the toner image formed on the first drum and the toner image formed on the second drum. An electrostatic latent image which is undetectable by the detecting means is formed between a formation region of the toner image on the first drum and a formation region of the electrostatic latent image mark on the first drum. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308247 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; developing devices, each of which includes a developer carrying member, having an electrode member, for carrying a developer, and a developer feeding member, having a core metal and a surface foam layer, for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member; a supporting member, supporting the developing devices, for sequentially rotating the developing devices to a developing position; and a controller for executing an operation for reducing non-uniform distributions of the developers in the developing devices on the basis of electrostatic capacities between the electrode members and the core metals, respectively. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308248 | ACTIVE BANDING CORRECTION IN SEMI-CONDUCTIVE MAGNETIC BRUSH DEVELOPMENT - An electronic development compensation method which is broadly applicable to SCMB development includes controlling image banding by actively correcting for mechanical development errors by modulating DC bias to a magnetic brush. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308249 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears a toner image, an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer unit, a primary transfer member, a cleaning member movable between a contact position and a non-contact position, a voltage application unit, a control unit, a current detection unit, wherein the control unit moves the cleaning member at the non-contact position, determines a transfer voltage based on a current value detected by said current detection unit when a predetermined voltage is applied from said voltage application unit to said primary transfer member before an image formation and in a condition where said cleaning member is at the non-contact position, and applies the transfer voltage to the primary transfer member in the image formation. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308250 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, includes an image bearer to bear a toner image; a transfer member to transfer the toner image; a transfer bias applicator to apply a transfer bias to the transfer member, the transfer bias applicator including a direct current voltage source to apply a direct current transfer bias constituted by a direct current voltage to the transfer member; and a superimposed voltage source to apply a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current voltage is superimposed on a direct current voltage to the transfer member; and a controller to switch between a direct current transfer mode during which the direct current transfer bias is applied to transfer the toner image and a superimposed transfer mode during which the superimposed transfer bias is applied to transfer the toner image while the direct current voltage source and the superimposed voltage source are off. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308251 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having: a toner image carrier; a transfer member; a transfer voltage applying device which applies a bias voltage to the transfer member; a voltage controller which performs constant voltage control on the transfer voltage applying device; a transfer contribution current detecting device; an antistatic member for removing static electricity from the record medium after transfer of a toner image; and an antistatic voltage applying device which applies an AC voltage to the antistatic member. The transfer contribution current detecting device measures current values during a current detection time, which corresponds to an integral multiple of a period of the AC voltage applied to the antistatic member, and detects a transfer contribution current value from the measured values, and the voltage controller controls the bias voltage applied to the transfer member based on the transfer contribution current value. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308252 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus can be used in areas having different power supply voltages, in which a failure of the apparatus can be detected so that reliability of the apparatus is improved. The apparatus includes a connection state switching part which switches connection of a first heat generating member and a second heat generating member, which generate heat by electric power supplied from a commercial power supply through a power supply path, between a serial connection state and a parallel connection state, and a current detection part which detects current flowing in the power supply path. The current detection part is disposed in the power supply path after branching toward the first heat generating member and the second heat generating member in the parallel connection state. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308253 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes: two rotatable members, for forming a nip, including a region where an outer diameter is increased from a longitudinal central portion toward a longitudinal end portion; a heater; and a controller for controlling a heat generation distribution of the heater. The controller is capable of controlling the heater so that the heat generation distribution of the heater is such that a heat generation amount at the longitudinal end portion is larger than that at the longitudinal central portion in a period from start of the heater until the recording material reaches the nip. A ratio of the heat generation amount at the longitudinal end portion to that at the longitudinal central portion is larger when a cumulative amount of use of the fixing apparatus is larger than a predetermined amount than when the cumulative amount of use is smaller than the predetermined amount. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308254 | Fixing Device Capable of Grounding Tubular Member - A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible tubular member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space; a heater; a nip member being in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tubular member and having an electrically conductive surface; a stay supporting the nip member and being electrically conductive and electrically connected to the electrically conductive surface; a backup member nipping the flexible tubular member in cooperation with the nip member; a supporting member supporting the nip member and the stay, the supporting member being movable relative to the backup member; and a first grounding member disposed to be in contact with the stay for grounding the stay, the first grounding member being supported to the supporting member such that the first grounding member is integrally movable with the supporting member. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308255 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE - A fixing device includes an endless belt with a resistance heating layer, a pressure roller fitting loosely in a belt circulation path, and a pressing roller pressing the pressure roller through the belt to form a fixing nip with a belt surface, and thermally fixes an unfixed image by passing a recording sheet through the fixing nip, comprises: a pair of annular electrodes provided circumferentially and sandwiching a sheet-passing region of the belt surface; a first power supply member pressurizing a given one of the electrodes; and a second power supply member positioned closer to the fixing nip than the first power supply member, also pressurizing the given one of the electrodes, and supplying power to the resistance heating layer in cooperation with the first power supply member, wherein the pressing force applied by the first power supply member is weaker than that applied by the second power supply member. | 2012-12-06 |
20120308256 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image on a recording material by heating the image carried on the recording material while conveying the recording material by a fixing nip; a first cooling portion for cooling one end region of the fixing portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction; and a second cooling portion for cooling the other end region of the fixing portion with respect to the direction perpendicular to the recording material conveyance direction. The first cooling portion and the second cooling portion are operable independently from each other. | 2012-12-06 |