Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120075428 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes plural imaging units and a calibration unit. The imaging units capture an overlapping region. The calibration unit calibrates plural captured images and obtains plural calibrated images in which lens distortion in each of the captured images is corrected and corresponding positions of the captured images are aligned with each other horizontally and are adjusted to a surface perpendicular to a plane. The plural imaging units are arranged such that a baseline vector connecting optical centers of the imaging units is perpendicular to a normal vector of the plane. | 03-29-2012 |
20130188860 | MEASUREMENT DEVICE, MEASUREMENT METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to an embodiment, a second calculator calculates a three-dimensional position of a measurement position and error in the three-dimensional position using a first image, the measurement position, a second image, and a correspondence position. A selection unit determines whether there is an image pair, in which error in the three-dimensional position becomes smaller than the error calculated by the second calculator, from among image pairs of the plurality of images, when there is an image pair, selects the image pair, and when there is no image pair, decides on the three-dimensional position. Each time an image pair is selected, the second calculator calculates a new three-dimensional position of the measurement position and error using new first and second images each included in the image pair, and first and second projection positions where the three-dimensional positions are projected onto the new first and second images, respectively. | 07-25-2013 |
20140002448 | MEASUREMENT SUPPORT DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT | 01-02-2014 |
20140098222 | AREA IDENTIFYING DEVICE, AREA IDENTIFYING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - According to an embodiment, an area identifying device includes a projecting unit, an image capturing unit, a calculating unit, and an identifying unit. The projecting unit is configured to project a pattern so that the pattern performs a predetermined movement. The image capturing unit is configured to capture, in sequential order, multiple images of an area on which the pattern is projected, the image having a plurality of areas. The calculating unit is configured to calculate an amount of change of pattern appearances for each region in the multiple images. The identifying unit is configured to identify, as a reflective area, at least one area having a different amount of change of the pattern appearances from a reference amount of change of the pattern appearances based on the predetermined movement, among the amounts of change of the pattern appearances that are calculated by the calculating unit. | 04-10-2014 |
20140100814 | MEASURING DEVICE, MEASURING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - According to an embodiment, a measuring device includes a generating unit, an updating unit, and a calculating unit. The generating unit is configured to generate first position and orientation of an observing unit for observing a space containing a target object, an error model indicating a theoretical precision of observation, and three-dimensional shape data of the target object. The updating unit is configured to update space information that indicates a probability of the presence of the target object at each coordinate within the space, using the first position and the three-dimensional shape data. The calculating unit is configured to calculate a measurement quality increment for second position and orientation of a search area within the space using the error model and the space information, and set third position and orientation for which the calculated measurement quality increment satisfies a predetermined condition as new position and orientation, respectively. | 04-10-2014 |
20140104386 | OBSERVATION SUPPORT DEVICE, OBSERVATION SUPPORT METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to an embodiment, an observation support device includes an acquiring unit, a determining unit, and a generating unit. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire observation information capable of identifying an observing direction vector indicating an observing direction of an observing unit that observes an object for which a three-dimensional model is to be generated. The determining unit is configured to determine whether or not observation of the object in a direction indicated by an observed direction vector in which at least part of the object can be observed is completed based on a degree of coincidence of the observing direction vector and the observed direction vector. The generating unit is configured to generate completion information indicating whether or not observation of the object in the direction indicated by the observed direction vector is completed. | 04-17-2014 |
20140111097 | IDENTIFICATION DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to an embodiment, an identification device includes a controller, an acquiring unit, and an identifying unit. The controller controls turning on/off of a plurality of light emitting apparatuses via a network individually by using pieces of identification information of their respective light emitting apparatuses. The acquiring unit acquires images of the light emitting apparatuses in time-series. The identifying unit determines an installation position of each of the light emitting apparatuses by using the on/off control on the light emitting apparatuses and the images, and identifies each of the light emitting apparatuses determined by the installation positions corresponding to each of the light emitting apparatuses identified by the pieces of identification information with each other. | 04-24-2014 |
20140132600 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL GENERATING DEVICE - An example three-dimensional model generating device includes an emitting unit that emits a laser light and a first deflector that deflects laser light, whose emission direction rotates in a first rotation range, within a first scan plane. A second deflector deflects laser light, whose emission direction rotates in a second rotation range, within a second scan plane intersecting with the first scan plane. The detector detects a reflected light when laser light deflected from the first deflector is reflected from the target object or detects a reflected light when laser light deflected from the second deflector is reflected from the target object. The measuring unit measures a distance to the target object on the basis of the time taken since emission of the laser light to detection of the reflected light. The generating unit generates a three-dimensional model of the target object by using the measurement result. | 05-15-2014 |
20140132759 | MEASURING DEVICE, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to an embodiment, a measuring device includes a measuring unit, a capturing unit, an estimation unit, a calculator, and a detector. The estimation unit estimates, for each irradiated point, an estimated projection position on the image, using a direction and a distance of the irradiated point and calibration information based on calibration of a measuring unit and a capturing unit. The calculator calculates, for each irradiated point, an amount of change in reflection intensity and obtains a reflection intensity change point. The calculator calculates, for each estimated projection position, an amount of change in brightness and obtains a brightness change point. The detector detects a calibration shift between the measuring unit and the capturing unit by comparing the reflection intensity change point and the brightness change point. | 05-15-2014 |
20140133700 | DETECTING DEVICE, DETECTION METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to an embodiment, a detecting device includes a projecting unit, a calculator, and a detector. The projecting unit is configured to obtain a first projection position by projecting a capturing position of a captured image on a road surface, obtain a second projection position by projecting a spatial position in the captured image on the road surface, and obtain a third projection position by projecting an error position on the road surface. The calculator is configured to calculate an existence probability of an object on a line passing through the first and second projection positions so that an existence probability of the object between the second and third projection positions on the straight line is greater than between the first and third projection positions on the straight line. The detector is configured to detect a boundary between the road surface and the object by using the existence probability. | 05-15-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090146946 | DISPLAY AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A display is provided. The display includes at least one display cell having a display circuit; at least one light receiving cell including a light receiving element; a light emitting section operative to radiate light to the side of a display surface; and at least one transparent plate disposed on the front side in the display relative to a region in which the light emitting section is disposed and regions in which the display cell and the light receiving cell are formed, wherein an antireflection layer is formed on a most face-side surface of the display. | 06-11-2009 |
20090159901 | DISPLAY - A display includes: a substrate having a pixel region and a sensor region in which photo-sensor parts are formed; an illuminating section operative to illuminate the substrate from one surface side of the substrate; a thin film photodiode disposed in the sensor region, having at least a P-type semiconductor region and an N-type semiconductor region, and operative to receive light incident from the other surface side of the substrate; and a metallic film formed on the one surface side of the substrate so as to face the thin film photodiode through an insulator film, operative to restrain light generated from the illuminating section from being directly incident on the thin film photodiode from the one surface side, and fixed to a predetermined potential, wherein in the thin film photodiode, the width of the P-type semiconductor region and the width of the N-type semiconductor region are different from each other. | 06-25-2009 |
20110037732 | DETECTING DEVICE, DISPLAY DEVICE, AND OBJECT PROXIMITY DISTANCE MEASURING METHOD - A detecting device includes: an optical sensor array having light reception anisotropy; a detection driving section configured to drive the optical sensor array, picking up an image of a detected object, and generate a plurality of different detection images on a basis of the light reception anisotropy; and a height detecting section configured to receive the plurality of detection images input to the height detecting section, and detect a distance (height) from a sensor light receiving surface of the optical sensor array to the detected object on a basis of magnitude of a positional displacement occurring due to difference in the light reception anisotropy in image parts corresponding to one of a shadow and a reflection of the detected object, the image parts being included in the plurality of input detection images. | 02-17-2011 |
20120229217 | HIGH-FREQUENCY POWER AMPLIFIER - There is a need to provide a high-frequency power amplifier capable of reducing a talk current and reducing a phase deviation in output. The high-frequency power amplifier includes differently sized first through fifth power amplification transistors and impedance matching circuits for example. The high-frequency power amplifier changes a signal path to be used in accordance with a power specification signal. The high-frequency power amplifier uses a signal path from the first transistor to the second transistor in high power mode. The high-frequency power amplifier uses a signal path from the first transistor to the third transistor in medium power mode. The high-frequency power amplifier uses a signal path from the fourth transistor to the fifth transistor in low power mode. The high-frequency power amplifier is configured so that each of the signal paths includes the same number of stages of power amplification transistors and impedance matching circuits. | 09-13-2012 |
20130329172 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - An image display apparatus including an image display panel includes: a first color filter for passing light of a first primary and first auxiliary pixels for displaying the first primary; a second color filter for passing light of a second primary and second auxiliary pixels for displaying the second primary; a third color filter for passing light of a third primary and third auxiliary pixels for displaying the third primary; and fourth auxiliary pixels for displaying a fourth color; the first auxiliary pixels, the second auxiliary pixels, the third auxiliary pixels, and the fourth auxiliary pixels being arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a light shielding region disposed at least partly around the peripheral edge of each of the fourth auxiliary pixels. | 12-12-2013 |
20140333877 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - An image display apparatus including an image display panel that includes: a first color filter for passing light of a first primary and first auxiliary pixels for displaying the first primary; a second color filter for passing light of a second primary and second auxiliary pixels for displaying the second primary; a third color filter for passing light of a third primary and third auxiliary pixels for displaying the third primary; and fourth auxiliary pixels for displaying a fourth color; the first auxiliary pixels, the second auxiliary pixels, the third auxiliary pixels, and the fourth auxiliary pixels being arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a light shielding region disposed at least partly around the peripheral edge of each of the fourth auxiliary pixels. | 11-13-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080313221 | Document processor and computer readable medium - A document processor includes: a processing unit that performs a process instructed by a user to an electronic document; a first storing unit that stores at least one of keywords of an attribute element respectively for a plurality of attribute elements; a second storing unit that coordinates at least one attribute element of the plurality of attribute elements with a user, and that stores the at least one attribute element; a determining unit that determines whether or not the stored keyword is included in the processed electronic document; an attribute element specifying unit that specifies the attribute element of the plurality of attribute elements satisfying a prescribed condition on the basis of a keyword determined to be included in the electronic document; and an inquiry unit that inquires about whether or not the specified attribute element is allowed to be stored in the second storing unit. | 12-18-2008 |
20110188907 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes an endless belt-shaped fixing member, a rotary pressing member disposed opposite the fixing member, a stationary member, a friction reducer, and a activation device. The endless belt-shaped fixing member formed in a loop moves in a predetermined direction and fixes a toner image on a recording medium by heating and fusing the toner image. The stationary member is provided inside the loop and pressed against the rotary pressing member through the fixing member to form a nip between the rotary pressing member and the fixing member through which the recording medium bearing the toner image passes. The friction reducer disposed between the fixing member and the stationary member reduces friction generated therebetween. The activation device provided inside the loop of the fixing member moves the friction reducer to change a portion of the friction reducer that comes between the fixing member and the stationary member. | 08-04-2011 |
20130188991 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device comprises a rotatable fixing member to heat a side of a recording medium bearing an unfixed image; a heat source to heat the rotatable fixing member; a rotatable pressing member disposed opposite the fixing member to press against an outer side of the fixing member; a housing to accommodate the fixing member and the pressing member; a conveyance path defined internally within the fixing device to convey a recording medium therethrough and between the fixing member and the pressing member, and a shutter actuator to move the shutter to open and close the conveyance path. The housing holds the shutter and the shutter actuator. | 07-25-2013 |
20130209121 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted. | 08-15-2013 |
20140064804 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes a rotary fixing member, a heater, a pressing member, a nip formation member, a reinforcement member, a sliding sheet, and a holding member. The nip formation member is disposed at an inner circumferential side of the fixing member and pressed by the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nipping portion. The reinforcement member is stationarily disposed in an internal diameter area of the fixing member to support the nip formation member. The sliding sheet is disposed between the nip formation member and an inner circumferential face of the fixing member. The holding member is disposed at a member differing from the nip formation member to hold the sliding sheet in a state in which the sliding sheet is in close contact with a nipping face of the nip formation member facing the nipping portion. | 03-06-2014 |
20140072355 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member; a heating source configured to heat the fixing member; an opposing member configured to come into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip portion; and a shielding member configured to block heat from the heating source. The shielding member is configured to rotate about a position different from the center of the heating source so as to be movable between a shielding position and a retraction position. The shielding position is a position where the shielding member comes close to the heating source to block heat from the heating source to the fixing member. The retraction position being a position where the shielding member is retracted away from the shielding position. | 03-13-2014 |
20140079424 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body, a heat shield movably disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting the fixing rotary body to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed, and a temperature detector to detect a temperature of at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body. A controller, operatively connected to the heat shield and the temperature detector, determines a rotation angled position to which the heat shield is moved based on a size of the recording medium and the temperature of the at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body detected by the temperature detector. | 03-20-2014 |
20140079453 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. An overheating suppressor is interposed between the heater and the heat shield to shield the heat shield from the heater. The heat shield includes an intermediate portion spanning in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and movable between a shield position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater directly and a retracted position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater via the overheating suppressor. | 03-20-2014 |
20140079455 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device included in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotary body, a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body, a reflector disposed opposite the heater, and a heat shield disposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and includes a shield portion to shield heat radiated from the heater to the fixing rotary body. Heat reflectance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value smaller than heat reflectance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater. Also, heat absorptance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value greater than heat absorptance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater. | 03-20-2014 |
20140248072 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a support member disposed to support a nip formation member on an inner peripheral surface of a fixing belt. The support member includes a parallel portion that supports the nip formation member and extends parallel to a sheet transport direction in a nip portion, and a rise portion that extends from the parallel portion in a direction drawn apart from the nip portion. The rise portion is inclined to the parallel portion such that an inclination direction of the rise portion is substantially parallel to a virtual straight line connecting a center of rotation of the fixing belt and an inlet point of the nip portion or falls within a range of rotational angles of ±15° by which the virtual straight line is rotated around the center of rotation of the fixing belt. | 09-04-2014 |
20140270820 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A driver is connected to the heat shield to drive and move the heat shield within a circumferential moving span in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body. An abnormal temperature detector detects an abnormal temperature of the fixing rotary body that is not lower than a predetermined temperature. The abnormal temperature detector is disposed opposite a circumferential outboard span outboard from the circumferential moving span of the heat shield in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270831 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing rotary body and a heater for heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable circumferential direct heating span of the fixing rotary body where the heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body directly. A controller halts the heat shield instantly when a fault occurs during a print job. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270832 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body between a home position where the heat shield is disposed opposite the heater indirectly and a shield position where the heat shield is disposed opposite the heater directly to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A controller is operatively connected to the heat shield to move the heat shield to the home position when a print job is finished. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270833 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater for heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable circumferential direct heating span of the fixing rotary body where the heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body directly. A controller is operatively connected to the heater and the heat shield to move the heat shield after the controller turns on the heater as a print job starts so as to change an area of the direct heating span of the fixing rotary body. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270872 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A driver is connected to the heat shield to drive and move the heat shield between a shield position where the heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater and a retracted position where the heat shield is retracted from the shield position. A reinforcement is mounted on a long edge of the heat shield. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270875 | PRESSURE ADJUSTER, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A pressure adjuster for changing pressure between a plurality of opposed bodies pressed against each other includes a cam rotatable in a given direction of rotation and having a top dead center on an outer circumferential surface thereof that is distanced farthest from a rotation axis of the cam. A driver is connected to the cam to drive and rotate the cam. A cam rest contacts the cam and is connected to one of the plurality of opposed bodies. A cam regulation assembly is connected to the cam to regulate rotation of the cam at least when the top dead center of the cam passes a contact position where the cam contacts the cam rest. | 09-18-2014 |
20140341623 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation, a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator, and an opposed rotator contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. A heat shield interposed between the heater and the fixing rotator shields the fixing rotator from the heater. A support supports the heat shield. The heat shield includes a first section supported by the support and having a decreased thermal conductivity and a second section abutting the first section in an axial direction of the heat shield and having an increased thermal conductivity greater than the decreased thermal conductivity of the first section. | 11-20-2014 |
20140341624 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. A nip formation assembly presses against an opposed body via the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotary body and the opposed body, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A movable heat shield movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable axial span of the fixing rotary body. A stationary heat shield, interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater, is disposed outboard from a lateral edge of a heat generator of the heater in an axial direction of the fixing rotary body. | 11-20-2014 |
20140341625 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator heated by a heater and a pressing rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heat shield interposed between the heater and the fixing rotator is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotator to shield the fixing rotator from the heater in a variable axial shield span of the fixing rotator. The fixing rotator performs fixing rotation to convey the recording medium through the fixing nip while heating the recording medium and supplemental rotation other than fixing rotation. The heat shield moves to a decreased shield span position where the heat shield shields the fixing rotator from the heater in a decreased axial shield span of the fixing rotator during supplemental rotation thereof. | 11-20-2014 |
20140341626 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator heated by a heater and a pressing rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween. A heating span adjuster, interposed between the heater and the fixing rotator, is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotator. The heating span adjuster moves to a retracted position where the heating span adjuster allows the heater to heat the fixing rotator in an increased axial heating span of the fixing rotator after the heater starts heating the fixing rotator until the fixing rotator and the pressing rotator start conveying the recording medium through the fixing nip. The heating span adjuster at the retracted position is outboard from a circumferential, direct heating span of the fixing rotator where the heater heats the fixing rotator directly. | 11-20-2014 |
20140341627 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation assembly contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. An opposed rotator presses against the nip formation assembly via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the opposed rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A support, disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, supports the nip formation assembly. A heater, disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, heats the fixing rotator. A reflector, disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, reflects heat radiated from the fixing rotator onto the fixing rotator. The reflector spans a circumferential span of the fixing rotator where the fixing rotator is spaced apart from the support with a decreased interval therebetween. | 11-20-2014 |
20140356036 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a first heat generator and a second heat generator that heat a fixing rotator. A support is disposed inside the fixing rotator. A reflector is mounted on the support and interposed between the support and each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator to reflect light radiated from the first heat generator and the second heat generator toward the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a body mounted on the support and a shield portion projecting from the body toward the first heat generator and the second heat generator to shield the fixing rotator from the first heat generator and the second heat generator. The shield portion includes a wing disposed opposite a non-conveyance span of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof where a recording medium is not conveyed over the fixing rotator. | 12-04-2014 |
20140356037 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a first heat generator and a second heat generator that heat the fixing rotator, and a support disposed inside the fixing rotator. A reflector, interposed between the support and each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator, reflects light radiated from the first heat generator and the second heat generator toward the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a body mounted on the support and a shield portion projecting from the body toward the first heat generator and the second heat generator to shield the fixing rotator from the first heat generator and the second heat generator. An electric circuit is connected to the first heat generator and the second heat generator. A heat generation restrainer is provided in the electric circuit to restrict heat generation in the electric circuit. | 12-04-2014 |
20140356038 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes an endless belt or a fixing belt; a pressure member to contact an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed at an interior side of the fixing belt and contacting the pressure member via the fixing belt; a heat source disposed at an interior side of the fixing belt to heat the fixing belt with radiant heat, a plurality of shielding members disposed between the heat source and the fixing belt and movable between a shielding position where the shielding member shields a non-sheet passing area on the fixing belt from the radiant heat from the heat source and a retracted position; and a controller to move the plurality of shielding members between the shielding position and the retracted position at a predetermined time. | 12-04-2014 |
20150055994 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and an opposed rotator disposed opposite the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A nip formation pad is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The nip formation pad includes a base, a first thermal conductor sandwiched between the base and the fixing rotator and having a first thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the base, and a bulge projecting from the first thermal conductor toward the opposed rotator at a downstream end of the first thermal conductor in a recording medium conveyance direction. | 02-26-2015 |
20150110531 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator pressed against a nip formation pad via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. The nip formation pad includes an increased thermal conduction portion having an increased thermal conductivity and a decreased thermal conduction portion having a decreased thermal conductivity and being inboard from the increased thermal conduction portion in the axial direction of the fixing rotator. The increased thermal conduction portion is disposed opposite a non-conveyance span of the fixing rotator where the recording medium is not conveyed and includes an inboard edge inboard from a lateral edge of the recording medium toward a center of the recording medium in the axial direction of the fixing rotator by a predetermined first distance. | 04-23-2015 |
20150125193 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a nip formation pad disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, and a pressure rotator pressed against the nip formation pad via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A support is disposed opposite the pressure rotator via the nip formation pad to support the nip formation pad against pressure from the pressure rotator. The nip formation pad conducts heat in a thickness direction thereof perpendicular to an axial direction of the fixing rotator and a recording medium conveyance direction. The nip formation pad includes a multi-conductivity layer having a thermal conductivity varying in the axial direction of the fixing rotator and a support side layer contacting the support and having a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the support. | 05-07-2015 |
20150185671 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a first heater disposed opposite and heating at least a center of a fixing belt in an axial direction thereof and a second heater disposed opposite and heating at least a lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. A power supply supplies power to the first heater and the second heater. A controller that controls the power supply includes a calculator to calculate an elapsed time elapsed after at least one of the first heater and the second heater starts heating the fixing belt. The controller controls the power supply to supply power to the first heater and the second heater such that a power density of the second heater is greater than a power density of the first heater when the elapsed time calculated by the calculator is smaller than a predetermined time. | 07-02-2015 |
20150261157 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes: a fixing member that is rotatable and in an endless shape; a heat source that heats the fixing member; a nip forming member that is arranged inside the fixing member; and a pressurizing member that is pressurized to be in contact with the nip forming member through the fixing member, to form a fixing nip. The fixing device fixes an unfixed image on a recording medium by passing the recording medium that carries the unfixed image through the fixing nip. The nip forming member includes a base layer, and a high thermal-conductive layer that is arranged on a surface layer of the base layer on a fixing nip side, and that has higher thermal conductivity than the base layer, and in the high thermal-conductive layer, a low thermal-conductive portion is arranged near an end portion in an axial direction of the fixing member. | 09-17-2015 |
20150268597 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. An overheating suppressor is interposed between the heater and the heat shield to shield the heat shield from the heater. The heat shield includes an intermediate portion spanning in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and movable between a shield position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater directly and a retracted position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater via the overheating suppressor. | 09-24-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120217702 | JAM PROCESSING ASSISTING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE JAM PROCESSING ASSISTING DEVICE - A jam-processing assisting device that performs a jam removal process for removing a sheet jammed at a carriage roller by rotating the carriage roller includes: a motor that drives the carriage roller to rotate; a rotation-direction detecting unit that detects a direction of rotation in which the motor is required to rotate for removing a jam; and a motor-driving controlling unit that drives the motor to rotate in the direction that has been detected. The rotation-direction detecting unit determines, based on a detection of a pulling-out direction in which the jammed sheet is pulled by an external force, the pulling-out direction that has been detected as the direction of rotation of the motor and drives the motor in the direction that has been determined. | 08-30-2012 |
20130078021 | ELECTRIC MOTOR SYSTEM AND MOTOR CONTROL METHOD - An electric motor system includes a brushless direct-current motor, a driver circuit, a position sensor, and a control circuit. The motor has an output shaft for transmitting torque. The driver circuit supplies power to the motor according to a control signal input thereto. The position sensor measures an angular, rotational position of the motor shaft. The control circuit controls operation of the motor. The control circuit includes a position sensor terminal, a reference terminal, a differential calculator, a controller, and a gain adjuster. The position sensor terminal receives a feedback signal. The reference terminal receives a reference signal. The differential calculator generates an error signal representing a difference between the measured and targeted rotational positions. The controller generates the control signal based on the error signal through a combination of control actions. The gain adjuster is connected to the controller to adjust a gain of each control action. | 03-28-2013 |
20130193894 | MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE, MOTOR CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A motor control device includes a detecting unit configured to detect rotation of a motor to be controlled and output a rotation detection value related to the rotation; a drive control unit configured to perform drive control to rotate the motor at a control target value increasing with time based on the rotation detection value; and an abnormality detection unit configured to perform an abnormality detection process for detecting an abnormality in the drive control based on the rotation detection value and a predetermined threshold. The drive control unit performs control to stop rotation of the motor when the abnormality is detected. | 08-01-2013 |
20130200836 | MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, MOTOR CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A motor control device includes a motor lock state determining unit configured to determine whether a motor is in a rotation lock state; a position hold state determining unit configured to determine whether the motor is in a position hold state; a lock detection invalidation determining unit configured to invalidate the determination of the lock state when the motor is in the position hold state and when a predetermined condition is satisfied; a position error correction unit configured to correct an error of a target stop position of the motor when the determination of the lock state is invalidated; and a motor control unit configured to change a rotation direction of the motor in a time shorter than a time in which the motor lock state determining unit determines the lock state when the motor is in the position hold state after the error is corrected. | 08-08-2013 |
20130200838 | MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE, AND MOTOR CONTROL METHOD - A motor control device to execute speed control and position control of motor simultaneously, includes a target position information provider, a target speed information provider, a detected position information detector, a processor to add position feedback information, position feed-forward information, speed feedback information, and speed feed-forward information for output as motor control information, based on the target position information, the setting target speed information, and the detected position speed information, a control voltage generator operatively connected to the processor to generate a control voltage to drive the motor in accordance with the motor control information, and a motor driver operatively connected to the control voltage generator and the motor to control rotation of the motor based on the control voltage. | 08-08-2013 |
20140049199 | MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE, MOTOR CONTROL METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A motor control device supplies a drive control signal to a drive circuit that drives a motor at a constant period using a motor drive signal based on the drive control signal, and shuts off the motor drive signal when a count value counted by a counter that reset the count value if a state of the motor changes exceeds a threshold corresponding to a plurality of driving periods of the motor. The motor control device includes: a control unit that controls a setting unit to set a rotational direction of the motor to a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction reverse to the first rotational direction at the constant period alternately, when a drive mode of the motor is a position holding mode to drive the motor so as to hold a rotational position of the motor. | 02-20-2014 |
20150077027 | LOAD TORQUE ESTIMATION APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, LOAD TORQUE ESTIMATION METHOD AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - A load torque estimation apparatus inputs a controlling value for controlling the electric motor and an actually measured value of a rotational speed of the electric motor to a model to estimate load torque of the electric motor; and derives a mechanical time constant of the electric motor corresponding to the load torque estimated by the estimation part. The load torque estimation apparatus updates the mechanical time constant included in the model by using the mechanical time constant corresponding to the load torque estimated at an (n−1)th control period (where n denotes an integer greater than or equal to 2) and estimates the load torque of the electric motor at an nth control period by inputting the controlling value and the actually measured value acquired at the nth control period to the model acquired through the updating. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077028 | LOAD TORQUE ESTIMATION APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, LOAD TORQUE ESTIMATION METHOD AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - A load torque estimation apparatus estimates load torque of an electric motor. The apparatus includes an estimation part configured to input a controlling value for controlling the electric motor and an actually measured value of a rotational speed of the electric motor to a model and estimating load torque of the electric motor; and a derivation part configured to derive a mechanical time constant of the electric motor corresponding to the actually measured value of the rotational speed of the electric motor. The estimation part is configured to update, according to a timing of acquiring the actually measured value of the rotational speed of the electric motor, the mechanical time constant included in the model by using the mechanical time constant corresponding to the acquired actually measured value and estimate the load torque of the electric motor by using the updated model. | 03-19-2015 |
20150110525 | ELECTRIC MOTOR SYSTEM AND MOTOR CONTROL METHOD - An electric motor system includes a brushless direct-current motor, a driver circuit, a position sensor, and a control circuit. The motor has an output shaft for transmitting torque. The driver circuit supplies power to the motor according to a control signal input thereto. The position sensor measures an angular, rotational position of the motor shaft. The control circuit controls operation of the motor. The control circuit includes a position sensor terminal, a reference terminal, a differential calculator, a controller, and a gain adjuster. The position sensor terminal receives a feedback signal. The reference terminal receives a reference signal. The differential calculator generates an error signal representing a difference between the measured and targeted rotational positions. The controller generates the control signal based on the error signal through a combination of control actions. The gain adjuster is connected to the controller to adjust a gain of each control action. | 04-23-2015 |
20150130385 | MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, MOTOR CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A motor control device includes a motor lock state determining unit configured to determine whether a motor is in a rotation lock state; a position hold state determining unit configured to determine whether the motor is in a position hold state; a lock detection invalidation determining unit configured to invalidate the determination of the lock state when the motor is in the position hold state and when a predetermined condition is satisfied; a position error correction unit configured to correct an error of a target stop position of the motor when the determination of the lock state is invalidated; and a motor control unit configured to change a rotation direction of the motor in a time shorter than a time in which the motor lock state determining unit determines the lock state when the motor is in the position hold state after the error is corrected. | 05-14-2015 |