24th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 40 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110142416 | ENHANCEMENT OF MAIN ITEMS VIDEO DATA WITH SUPPLEMENTAL AUDIO OR VIDEO - Apparatus and methods are provided to implement a technique for an interactive video system that allows a user to place supplemental items such as images on a main image being displayed. In one implementation, a user causes images of flying food to be displayed on top of a playing movie. Supplemental item data may be provided on the same media as is the main item data, e.g., on an optical disc, and control information may be provided on the media to control how supplemental item data is applied and presented. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142417 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR UPDATING ADVERTISING DATA FOR RECORDED VIDEO DATA - A method is disclosed including but not limited to, receiving a video data stream at a multimedia processor end user device; storing the video data stream at a digital video recorder; monitoring a playback of the stored video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; detecting an advertising trigger in the playback of the video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; logging a time for the trigger detected in the video data stream in a trigger log at the multimedia processor end user device; sending the trigger log including data to an advertising server so that the advertising verification system can correlate the time the trigger occurred with an advertising schedule; receiving a replacement advertising data stream from the advertising server based on the advertising trigger; and receiving a replacement advertising data stream during the playback of the video data. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142418 | BLOCKINESS AND FIDELITY IN WATERMARKING - A device to measure pressure is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device comprises at least one element comprising two layers ( | 2011-06-16 |
20110142419 | CHANGEABLE BLOCK LIST - A method comprises accessing encoded video data; accessing a list of watermarks to the encoded video data; determining syntax elements for current blocks of video data and syntax elements of currents blocks with the watermarks; removing watermarks that cause visible artifacts based on differences in the syntax elements between the current blocks and current blocks with watermarks, thereby creating filtered list of acceptable watermarks. The method can further include determining coding variable ranges for the current block and current block with watermarks from the list; comparing the coding variable ranges for the current blocks and current blocks with watermarks from the list; and filtering out watermarks that yield coding variable ranges outside the coding variable ranges of the current blocks. Additionally, the method can include determining bit lengths of the current blocks and current blocks with watermarks from the list; comparing bit lengths of the current blocks and current blocks with watermarks from the list; and filtering out watermarks that yield bit lengths not equal to the bit lengths of the current blocks. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142420 | COMPUTER DEVICE, METHOD, AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR AUTOMATING THE DIGITAL TRANFORMATION, ENHANCEMENT, AND EDITING OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL VIDEOS - A computer-implemented method is described for automatically digitally transforming and editing video files to produce a finished video presentation. The method includes the steps of receiving from a user a selection of video clips to be made into the finished video presentation, automatically trimming the selected video clips, and automatically assembling the trimmed video clips into the finished presentation. Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of receiving a master video clip and automatically replacing portions of the master video clip with the trimmed video clips. In addition audio and visual effects may be added to the finished video presentation. Computer apparatus for performing these steps is also described. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142421 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING POWER OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING RECEIVER - An apparatus and a method for managing power of a digital broadcasting receiver are provided. The apparatus includes a user setting unit for requesting power setting of the digital broadcasting receiver according to data input through a user interface, a pattern recognition unit for recognizing a use pattern through data input according to use of the digital broadcasting receiver, and for requesting power setting of the digital broadcasting receiver according to the recognized use pattern, and a power setting unit for setting the power of the digital broadcasting receiver by a request of the user setting unit and the pattern recognition unit. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142422 | Systems and Methods for Controlling Media Recording Devices Via A Media Recorder Proxy Device - Methods and systems are disclosed that include receiving data at a proxy device specifying a first command to record media content at a first media recording device. In one embodiment, a second command is sent from the proxy device to the first media recording device to record the media content. In response to the second command, the first media recording device records the media content in a first file format. In one embodiment, a third command is sent from the proxy device to a second media recording device to record the media content. In response to the third command, the second media recording device records the media content in a second file format that is different than the first file format. In one embodiment, the second file format is compatible with a portable device. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142423 | TELEVISION RECEIVER AND PROGRAM DATA RECEPTION METHOD - Using a remote control, a viewer specifies the channel and the date and time of a program that he/she wants to watch. A reception method selection unit determines, based on the date and time, whether the program is currently being broadcast or was broadcast in the past, and then selects a reception method. An SI information storage unit stores URL information of program distribution servers having past programs. The URL information is contained in the SDT in SI information transmitted together with a program. When the viewer chooses a past program, an IP data reception unit connects to the corresponding program distribution server based on its URL so as to transmit the date and time thereto, and receives the past program that the viewer wants to watch via IP network. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142424 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record a moving image signal in a recording medium, a setting unit configured to set a threshold based on a remaining recording capacity of the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control the recording unit to start recording the moving image signal, into a first moving image file in the recording medium, according to a recording instruction, wherein the control unit is configured to control the recording unit to divide the moving image signal into at least a second moving image file in the recording medium in the case that a size of the first moving image file has reached the threshold during recording of the moving image signal according to the recording instruction, and is configured to control the recording unit to delete the moving image file recorded first, from among the plurality of moving image files recorded after the recording instruction, if the remaining recording capacity of the recording medium is determined to have run out during recording of the moving image signal. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142425 | INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM, AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECORDING INFORMATION TO INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - A data recording medium by which, when encoding an externally input AV signal to an MPEG transport stream, the MPEG_TS can be quickly and efficiently converted to an MPEG program stream conforming to a DVD standard, is provided. An apparatus and method for recording to the data recording medium are also provided. A flag indicating that a first stream (such as an MPEG transport stream) is recorded in a constraint format enabling efficient conversion to a second stream (such as an MPEG program stream) is written to the management information (VOBI). By referencing this flag the recorder can easily determine if the recorded data was recorded in the specified constraint format without analyzing the data recorded to the data recording medium. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142426 | RECORDING MEDIUM, PLAYBACK DEVICE, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A pair of main-view and sub-view video streams and a graphics stream are recorded on a BD-ROM disc. Metadata is provided in each GOP in the sub-view video stream. The metadata includes offset information. The offset information specifies offset control for a plurality of pictures constituting a GOP. Offset control is to provide a left offset and right offset for the horizontal coordinates in a graphics plane to generate a pair of graphics planes, and to combine them separately with main-view and sub-view video planes. The sub-view video stream is packetized and multiplexed in a transport stream. A header of each TS packet includes a TS priority flag. TS packets containing the metadata have a different value of TS priority flag from TS packets containing sub-view pictures. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142427 | METHOD TO SEAMLESSLY INSERT AUDIO CLIPS INTO A COMPRESSED BROADCAST AUDIO STREAM - A method and computing system for seamlessly inserting a local audio clip into a primary audio stream. The method sends the primary audio stream to an audio output port, and determines main parameters for the primary audio stream. The method receives a request to insert an encoded local audio clip, locates an insertion point in the primary audio stream that coincides with an end of a frame boundary, and identifies a best matching encoded local audio clip for the main parameters. The method receives and sends the best matching encoded local audio clip to the audio output port, stores the primary audio stream in a buffer while sending the best matching encoded local audio clip, and resumes the sending of the primary audio stream when the sending of the best matching encoded local audio clip is complete. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142428 | MEDIA CONTROL ARRANGEMENT - A method and arrangement for controlling reproduction speed of media on a device is provided. A touch sensitive screen, wherein in a first operative mode a reproduction speed control signal is generated by displacing a pointing means on the touch sensitive screen, the displacement of the pointing means being responsive to a change in the reproduction speed of the media with a first ratio relative the displacement, the method including setting a second mode in which, the displacement of the pointing means is responsive to a change in the reproduction speed of the media with a second ratio relative the displacement. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142429 | HANDHELD LOW-VOLTAGE FOG EFFECTS SYSTEM - A fog effects system includes a control system, a fog fluid reservoir, an elongated insulator, an elongated electric heating element, an air supply subsystem, a fog fluid supply subsystem, and a handheld body. The control system can include a battery-operated power supply and a user-operable control. The heating element extends along the insulator. The control system electrically energizes the heating element during system operation. The air supply subsystem directs a flow of air along the heating element during system operation. The fog fluid supply supplies fog fluid to the flow of air. The heating element vaporizes the fog fluid, which is emitted from an end of the system. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142430 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TEMPERATURE SENSING IN A DEICER - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a deicer system for heating water within a fluid receptacle to prevent ice from forming including a main body configured to be positioned within the fluid receptacle, a heating element adapted to heat the water, a temperature sensor adapted to detect a temperature, and a control unit in communication with the heating element and the temperature sensor. The heating element is supported by the main body. The temperature sensor is thermally connected to the heating element. The control unit is adapted to determine a temperature of the water based at least in part on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The control unit is adapted to control the heating element based at least in part on the determined temperature of the water. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142431 | BUSINESS CARD CASE MOUNTABLE ON NOTEBOOK COMPUTER - A business card case is mountable on a notebook computer. The business card case has a receptacle for storing plural business cards. The business card case includes a protrusion part, a supporting part and a restriction structure. The protrusion part is inserted in a recess of a base of the notebook computer, so that the business card case is fixed on the notebook computer. The business card to be shot by an image pickup device of the notebook computer is supported on the supporting part. By adjusting the restriction structure of the business card case and rotating said upper cover of the notebook computer, a better shooting angle is defined between the image pickup device and the document. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142432 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A portable electronic device includes a main body defining a receiving cavity therein, a camera module received in the receiving cavity, and a movable moveable lens. The camera module includes a casing and a wide-angle lens unit received in the casing. The movable lens is received in the receiving cavity and spaced a distance from the camera module. The movable lens is movable between a first position where the wide-angle lens unit is covered by and optically aligned with the movable lens, thereby the movable lens and the wide-angle lens unit cooperatively constituting a telephoto lens, and a second position where the wide-angle lens unit is misaligned with the movable lens and exposed to an exterior. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142433 | Drop detection using lens position sensing of camera module - Systems and methods to achieve an auto-focus camera with a movable lens barrel having a mechanic shock detection capability combined with a re-initialization of the camera module have been disclosed. This re-initialization may comprise moving the lens barrel displaced by the shock to a home position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a motor with integrated position detection has been used. In a normal operation the position detection feature senses the actual position of the lens, e.g. during auto-focusing of the lens barrel, and provides this position information to a control unit which is controlling the movement of the lens barrel to a target position. In case of a mechanic shock, e.g. if the camera module drops to ground, the control unit detects an extreme rapid displacement of the lens barrel and initiates a re-initialization of the camera module. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142434 | Camera module having a low-friction movable lens - Systems and methods to achieve an auto-focus camera module having a precise bearing with low friction have been disclosed. Ball bearings are guiding a lens barrel. The balls of the ball bearings are running in guide slots and are held together by ball cages. Creeping of the balls is prevented by a positioning pin being deployed between a fixed part of a carrier of the camera module and a movable part of the lens barrel. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142435 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING REFLECTANCE AND DIFFUSE ELEMENTS FOR REALISTIC HUMAN MODEL RENDERING - Provided are an apparatus and method for estimating reflectance and diffuse elements as optical properties of skin to perform exact rendering on human skin. The apparatus includes a light source device equipping a plurality of light sources that control directions toward an object, a control unit controlling sequential switching of the light sources, and a photographing unit photographing images of the object. The photographing unit is a DSLR camera providing a video photographing function. The entire light sources are controlled to be sequentially switched for a second correspondingly to the number of frames of the photographing unit per second. The control unit and the photographing unit are controlled by a computer. The computer repeats operations of requesting to the control unit to perform a lighting operation, transmitting an image acquisition command to the photographing unit, and requesting the control unit to perform a lighting operation again. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142436 | Equipment Holster - Embodiments of the invention provide a holster for coupling a camera to an article of clothing, for example, a belt, of a wearer. The holster comprises a camera engaging base plate coupled to a retaining subassembly via a coupling pin. The holster is configured to permit rotation of the camera with respect to the retaining subassembly. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142437 | Header error control protected ten gigabit passive optical network downstream frame synchronization pattern - An apparatus comprising an optical line terminal (OLT) configured to couple to a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) and transmit a plurality of downstream frames to the ONUs, wherein each of the downstream frames comprises a plurality of forward error correction (FEC) codewords and a plurality of additional non-FEC encoded bytes that comprise synchronization information that is protected by Header Error Control (HEC) code. An apparatus comprising a processing unit configured to arrange control data, user data, or both into a plurality of FEC codewords in a downstream frame and arrange a physical synchronization sequence (PSync), a superframe structure, and a Passive Optical Network-identifier (PON-ID) structure in a plurality of additional non-FEC encoded bytes in the downstream frame, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the FEC codewords and the additional non-FEC encoded bytes in the downstream frame within a 125 microsecond window. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142438 | PROTECTION SWITCHING METHOD IN OPTICAL TRANSPORT NETWORK - In an optical transport network for packet transmission, at least one tunnel for providing an end-to-end connection between nodes is formed, and the tunnel includes at least one optical wavelength. A plurality of optical channels are allocated to each optical wavelength, and one optical channel is set up as an optical channel for protection switching for the tunnel. If a failure occurs in an optical channel in packet transmission, packets are transmitted through the optical channel for protection switching set up for the corresponding tunnel. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142439 | HIGH SPEED IN-SERVICE OPTICAL NETWORK TESTING - A method may include generating a signal at an initiating device. A channel in an optical path may be identified, with the optical path including at least two spans. Simulated polarization mode dispersion (PMD) is injected into the signal to generate a test signal. The test signal is transmitted on the channel and received at a destination device. PMD effects in the test signal are compensated, and a measurement of PMD for the test signal is determined based on the compensation, the PMD for the test signal including PMD for the channel and the injected PMD. A measurement of the PMD for the channel is determined based on the PMD for the test signal and the injected PMD. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142440 | MEASUREMENT OF POLARIZATION MODE DISPERSION OR DIFFERENTIAL GROUP DELAY OF AN OPTICAL PATH - A method may include generating first and second optical signals and modulating the first and second optical signals simultaneously to synchronize the signals. The method may include varying the polarization of the second optical signal and transmitting the first and second optical signals. The method may include receiving the first and second optical signals, wherein the signals traveled along a same optical path. The method may include determining a plurality of differential travel delays between the first and second optical signals over a period of varying polarizations and determining a differential group delay based on the maximum and the minimum differential travel delays. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142441 | OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR AND NETWORK DEVICE CONFIGURATION - A fiber-optic coupler may include a first optical fiber including an end portion to send or receive optical signals to or from an end portion of a second optical fiber. The coupler may also include a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) structure to align the end portion of the first optical fiber with the end portion of the second optical fiber. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142442 | DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT OF POLLING RATES IN AN ETHERNET PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK (EPON) - A system in an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) to dynamically manage polling rates in a passive optical network is provided herein. The system includes a Media Access Control (MAC) unit that is configured to receive a first message from an Optical Network Unit (ONU). The first message includes a status of an upstream queue of the ONU. The system includes a traffic monitor unit coupled to the MAC unit and is configured to receive the first message from the MAC unit and place the upstream queue of the ONU in an inactive mode if the status of the upstream queue indicates that the upstream queue is empty. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142443 | BURST MODE TO CONTINUOUS MODE CONVERTER - A system to convert upstream burst mode data into continuous mode data in a passive optical network (PON) is provided herein. The system includes a burst mode Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) that recovers a clock and burst mode data from an Optical Network Unit (ONU). The burst mode unit recovers the burst mode data based on a start time of burst mode data transmission by the ONU and a round-trip time between the ONU and an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The system further includes a continuous mode SerDes that is coupled to the burst mode SerDes. The continuous mode SerDes is configured to receive the recovered clock and recovered burst mode data from the burst mode SerDes and convert the burst mode data into continuous mode data by buffering and padding the burst mode data based on the recovered clock. The continuous mode Serdes is configured to transmit the continuous mode data to the OLT. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142444 | TWO AND THREE-STROKE DISCOVERY PROCESS FOR 10G-EPONS - The invention relates to a method to discover Optical Network Units (ONU) with different speed capabilities in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) by an Optical Line Termination (OLT), where logical links in the network are identified by Logical Link IDs, and the OLT can transmit and receive data with 1 Gbit/s-speed (1 G) and 10 Gbit/s-speed (10 G), and the discovery process is handled in the OLT by a Multi Point Control Process (MPCP), which exchanges messages as Data Units (MPCPDU) with the ONUs. This is achieved by extending the standard MPCPDUs in a way, that backward compatability is assured. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142445 | Systems and Methods for Polarization Mode Dispersion Mitigation - In one exemplary embodiment, a method comprises transmitting an optical signal via the optical line, measuring a relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal near a clock frequency (or half of that frequency) while varying a polarization of the optical signal between a first state of polarization and a second state of polarization, and using the relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal to determine and correct the DGD of the optical line. Another method comprises splitting an optical signal traveling through the optical line into a first and second portions having a first and second principal states of polarization of the optical line, converting the first and second portions into a first and second electrical signals, delaying the second electrical signal to create a delayed electrical signal that compensates for a DGD of the optical line, and combining the delayed electrical signal with the first electrical signal to produce a fixed output electrical signal. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142446 | OPTICAL TRANSMITTER ADAPTATION TO NETWORK TOPOLOGY - The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to efficiently switch from one modulation format to another modulation format based upon a current route or path through a network topology of a network communication system. According to various embodiments of the invention, a network topology map is generated identifying one of a plurality of paths upon which a data stream is transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver within a network, the transmitter transmitting the data in a respective one of a plurality of data modulation formats. One or more characteristics related to one of the plurality of optical paths is measured and, based upon such measurement, a desired modulation format is selected. Upon a change in the network topology, the process is repeated such that the modulation format is continuously optimized with respect to the network topology. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142447 | RF Signal Transport Over Passive Optical Networks - One embodiment provides an EPON for transporting RF signals. The system includes a reference clock, an ONU, and an OLT. The ONU includes a mechanism for receiving a frequency and phase-reference signal from the OLT, a mechanism for receiving an RF signal, an ADC for converting the RF signal into a digital signal using a sampling signal associated with the frequency and phase-reference signal, a mechanism for assembling at least a portion of the digital signal into a packet, a mechanism configured to timestamp the packet, and an optical transceiver. The OLT includes a mechanism for receiving the packet, a buffer, a delay mechanism configured to delay reading the received packet from the buffer for a predetermined amount of time, and a DAC for converting the digital signal included in the packet back to RF domain using a clock signal associated with the frequency and phase-reference signal. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142448 | PACKET ADD/DROP MULTIPLEXER AND DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD OF PACKET ADD/DROP MULTIPLEXER - A packet add/drop multiplexer and a data transmission method of a packet add/drop multiplexer are provided. The packet add/drop multiplexer includes: a line interface unit including a first line interface and a second line interface; a scheduling unit, configured to schedule a data frame of an input transporting side and send a data frame of an output transporting side through the second line interface; a branch unit, configured to encapsulate received data to a third Transmission Container (T-CONT) data packet and send the third T-CONT data packet to the scheduling unit, or decapsulate a first T-CONT data packet sent by the scheduling unit to recover data. In the packet add/drop multiplexer and the data transmission method of the packet add/drop multiplexer, a T-CONT data packet of a transporting side is used as a packet add/drop multiplexing structure of a packet scheduling entity, the data packet has a simple structure and a capability of self-synchronization, and the logic is simple when the data packet is processed. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142449 | Method And Apparatus For Polarization-Division-Multiplexed Optical Coherent Receivers - The singularity problem of the constant modulus algorithm (CMA) equalizer may be overcome by implementing the CMA equalizer as a two-stage equalizer, with the first stage being a modified version of a CMA equalizer and the second stage being a conventional CMA equalizer. The first stage may be made up of four sub-equalizers, of which only two of the sub-equalizers are independent, i.e., uncorrelated to each other. This first stage equalizer may compensate for PMD. The second stage equalizer is a conventional CMA equalizer made up of four sub-equalizers that are adjusted independently. This second stage equalizer may compensate for polarization-dependent loss (PDL) and any residual CD that is not fully compensated for by a CD compensator before the two-stage equalizer. Advantageously, as the determinant of the first stage never approaches zero, the singularity problem of a conventional CMA single-stage-only equalizer is avoided by the two-stage equalizer. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142450 | USE OF PRE-VALIDATED PATHS IN A WDM NETWORK - Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a method may include receiving a resource request for optical resources within a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network; comparing one or more parameters of the resource request to a list of pre-validated paths for the WDM optical network, each pre-validated path identifying an optically feasible label switched path between a source node and a destination node; determining that there is a pre-validated path on the list that matches the one or more parameters of the optical resource request; and sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142451 | Optoelectronic Switch Transmitter Using Millimeter Wavelength - An optoelectronic switch using millimeter wavelength (MMW) is provided. An r voltage pulse is applied to a device under test (DUT) for switching the photo-generated MMW power The DUT is operated under reverse bias. An optical light source with modulated MMW envelop is injected on to DUT for MMW power generation. Thus, based on change of the reverse bias, speed is violently changed and the MMW optoelectronic switch is thus obtained. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142452 | WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSION BY WAY OF TERATHERTZ WAVES - The invention relates to a method for the wireless data, transmission between a transmitter and a receiver, the data being modulated as signals onto an electromagnetic carrier wave in the range of 0.1 and 10 terahertz. The carrier wave emitted by the transmitter is concentrated in the direction of the receiver, the transmitter being oriented towards the receiver by means of an automatic adjusting device and the adjusting device using wireless communication between the transmitter and the receiver for said orientation. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142453 | OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An optical transceiver includes: a transmission unit configured to convert a first electrical signal into a first optical signal and transmit the converted first optical signal; a first power supply unit configured to supply power to the transmission unit; and a controller configured to control the first power supply unit, wherein the controller controls an operation of the first power supply unit according to whether or not the first electrical signal is inputted to the transmission unit. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142454 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION CONTROL APPARATUS - An optical transmission and reception control apparatus is provided. The present invention relates to an optical transmission and reception control apparatus for enabling smooth optical transmission and reception when a photo diode and/or a laser diode fail. The apparatus includes a plurality of laser diodes, a laser driver, a first switching unit, a plurality of photo diodes, an optical power amplifier, a second switching unit, an optical power detection module, and a control module. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142455 | CROSSTALK COEFFICIENT ESTIMATING APPARATUS AND CROSSTALK COEFFICIENT ESTIMATING METHOD - This invention relates to crosstalk coefficient estimating apparatus and crosstalk coefficient estimating method. The crosstalk coefficient estimating apparatus is used to estimate a crosstalk coefficient of crosstalk inflicted on one channel of an optical fiber transmission system comprising two or more channels. The crosstalk coefficient estimating apparatus comprises a complex conjugate unit, for obtaining a complex conjugate signal for signal in one polarization-state of another channel other than said one channel; a multiplying unit, for multiplying the complex conjugate signal obtained by the complex conjugate unit with signal in another polarization-state of the another channel; and a filter, for filtering the multiplication result of the multiplying unit to obtain a crosstalk coefficient of crosstalk inflicted on the signal in one polarization-state of said one channel, wherein a transmission function of the filter is set according to system parameters of the optical fiber transmission system. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142456 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING SIGNAL BEAM - A signal-light detection apparatus includes a polarization extractor that extracts a polarization component that is substantially in parallel with a specified axial direction from an input light, a polarization rotator that changes a relative angle between a direction of polarization of the input light and an axial direction of the polarization extractor, a photodetector that detects an optical power of the polarization component extracted by the polarization extractor, and a determination device that determines whether the input light includes a signal component, based on a variation in the optical power detected by the photodetector. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142457 | INTEGRATED TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE MODULES FOR A COHERENT OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - An integrated optical package includes a package mount including a plurality of electrical connectors. A digital electronic integrated circuit (IC) is electrically connected to the electrical connectors of the package mount via a first set of solder balls or bumps. An optical IC includes optical waveguide traces and one or more electrical contact points for electrically coupling the optical IC to the digital electronic IC via a second set of solder balls or bumps. One or more optical fibre pig-tails optically coupled to the optical waveguide traces of the optical IC. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142458 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus that reduces a time period during which no image is formed due to a margin in leading end portion, by calculating the margin in leading end portion from position information of an image and moving forward output timing of a /TOP signal according to the margin in leading end portion. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142459 | RECORDING MEDIUM DETERMINATION APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The timing of obtaining an output value for use in a determination of a recording medium is generated from a received ultrasonic wave and a waveform generated by delaying the ultrasonic wave, whereby it is possible to reduce an influence of a reflection wave from the peripheral members and an influence of a change in the environment to improve the accuracy of determination of the recoding medium. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142460 | TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a reception unit, an image forming unit, a drive unit, a detection unit, a prediction unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms an image based on image information received by the reception unit. The drive unit controls an imaging forming unit drive. The detection unit detects temperature within the image forming apparatus. The prediction unit predicts a transition of temperature within the image forming apparatus and an image formation time based on the image information and the temperature within the image formation unit. The control unit is responsive to detected temperature and predicted image forming time. The control unit switches between image forming modes and controls the image forming apparatus to form an image in a short image forming time. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142461 | ULTRASONIC WAVE CONTROL DEVICE AND RECORDING MATERIAL DETERMINING DEVICE - In a device for detecting a basis weight of a recording material, an initial measurement is performed by using ultrasonic waves that have passed through the recording material, and the recording material is roughly classified first. By changing the number of pulses of the driving signal in accordance with a result of the initial measurement, the basis weight of the recording material can be detected by using ultrasonic waves suitable for the recording material, so that the detection accuracy of the basis weight of the recording material can be increased. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142462 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a characteristic acquiring unit configured to acquire a characteristic of the medium, a fixing device including a heating member configured to heat the front surface of the medium and a pressing member configured to heat a rear surface of the medium, and a control unit configured to turn off, when the thickness or the basis weight of the medium is determined to be equal to or smaller than a predetermined value based on an acquired characteristic of the medium, heating power for the pressing member at start of a fixing operation by the fixing device and control the temperature of the pressing member during the fixing operation to the temperature between a second threshold temperature which is temperature lower than a temperature during standby of the fixing operation, and a first threshold temperature lower than the second threshold temperature. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142463 | BELT DEVICE, TRANSFERRING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A belt device includes an endless belt including at least a base layer and a coat layer, the coat layer formed on the base layer and configuring an upper most surface of the belt; a driving member that rotates the belt and that is provided at one end of the belt to bias an inner circumferential surface of the belt; and a driven member that rotates the belt and that is provided at other end of the belt to bias the inner circumferential surface of the belt. Wherein the base layer has a mirror specularity of 20-60. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142464 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus, an exposure device performs exposure on a non-image area of image pattern, performs an exposure on the image area in an exposure amount lower than the non-image area or does not perform exposure, and an exposure amount control device controls, with respect to pixels having the same density data, an exposure amount given by an exposure device to be smaller in a first portion, which is a thin-line of a width that is equal to or less than a predetermined number of pixels or which is an isolated dot of widths that are equal to or less than the predetermined number of pixels in two directions substantially orthogonal to each other, than in a second portion which is a line of a width exceeding the predetermined number or a surface of widths that exceed the predetermined number in two directions substantially orthogonal to each other. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142465 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developing chamber, an agitating chamber, a first conveying screw which is arranged in the developing chamber and conveys developer toward the agitating chamber, a second conveying screw which is arranged in the agitating chamber and conveys developer toward the developing chamber, a developing sleeve which bears developer supplied from the developing chamber and conveys the developer to the agitating chamber via a developing position opposed to a photosensitive drum, and a motor, which drives the developing sleeve, the first conveying screw and the second conveying screw, wherein stop timing of the developing sleeve is earlier than stop timing of the second conveying screw in accordance with image forming completion. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142466 | REDUCING RELOAD IMAGE QUALITY DEFECTS - An image forming apparatus includes a sensor that is configured to detect a property of a developer material, a transport unit that is operatively in contact with the developer material and that is configured to move the developer material toward a recording medium, and a controller that receives the property of the developer material from the sensor unit and sets a voltage of the transport unit, wherein the voltage is determined based on the property of the developer material received from the sensor. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142467 | HEATING CONTROLLING DEVICE, HEATING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM, AND METHOD - There is provided a heating controlling device having: a receiving section receiving heating instructions for plural heaters; and a controller that, when the receiving section receives a heating instruction to heat another heater while two or more heaters other than the heater for which the heating instruction is received are heating, stops heating of the heaters that are heating, after a first predetermined time period elapses from the control to stop heating, starts heating of the heater for which the heating instruction is received, and each time a number of second predetermined time periods elapses from the control to start heating, restarts heating, on the basis of predetermined priority rankings, of the heaters that were controlled to stop heating. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142468 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM USING THE SAME - Provided are an image forming apparatus, a fixing device, and an image forming system using the same, including: an image forming section for transferring a toner image onto a recording sheet; a first and second fixing rollers for thermally fixing the toner image on the recording sheet; a first and second temperature sensors each provided at a plurality of positions in a longitudinal direction of the fixing roller; and a rocking section for reciprocally shifting at least one of the fixing rollers in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller, wherein the temperature gradient of each of the fixing rollers is detected, a central position of reciprocal shift of one fixing roller which can be shifted is set such that the temperature gradient of the other fixing roller is cancelled, and then the one fixing roller is reciprocally shifted by the rocking section. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142469 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes: a fixing member that fixes a toner image on a recording medium; a pressure member that comes into pressure-contact with an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and thereby forms a fixing pressure portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the fixing pressure portion allowing the recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image to pass therethrough; a tension member that is arranged to face the pressure member with the fixing member interposed therebetween, and tensions the fixing member; a peeling member that is arranged at a position downstream of the fixing pressure portion in a recording medium transport direction and adjacent to the tension member, and peels the recording medium from the fixing member; and an exit guide member that guides the recording medium while keeping a temperature of the recording medium, after the recording medium passes through the fixing pressure portion. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142470 | Image forming apparatus and control method thereof - A method of controlling an image forming apparatus and method thereof including a medium feeder configured to load therein and to pick up and feed a printing-target medium; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the printing-target medium that is picked up and fed; and a fixing unit configured to fix the printed medium on which the image has been formed, the method including: heating the fixing unit such that a temperature of the fixing unit reaches a fixing reference temperature determined corresponding to the printing-target medium if an printing operation is started; sensing the temperature of the fixing unit corresponding to the start of the printing operation and compensating a pickup timing temperature corresponding to whether the sensed temperature thereof is higher or lower than a predetermined first reference temperature, the pickup timing temperature being a temperature for picking up the printing-target medium; and picking up the printing-target medium when the temperature of the fixing unit that is being heated reaches the compensated pickup timing temperature. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142471 | FUSER AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUSER - According to one embodiment, a fuser including a heating unit configured to heat a toner to be fused on a sheet medium and the sheet medium, a temperature detecting unit configured to detect temperature of the heating unit, and a control unit configured to stop power feed to the heating unit according to the temperature of the heating unit detected by the temperature detecting unit and a condition until completion of the fusing specified in advance. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142472 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD FOR FIXING DEVICE - First, a first temperature difference and a second temperature difference are calculated. The first temperature difference is a difference between (a) a first detected temperature that is a current temperature of the fixing member and (b) a difference of a control target temperature for the fixing member. The second temperature difference is a difference between (a) the first detected temperature and (b) a past temperature of the fixing member which past temperature was detected a predetermined time earlier than the current time. Then, by reading out, from a table prepared in advance, an amount of power to be supplied to a heating member which amount corresponds to a combination of the first temperature difference and the second temperature difference, the amount of power to be supplied to the heating member is determined. In accordance with this amount of power determined, an actual amount of power supplied to the heating member is controlled. This makes it possible to simply and effectively suppress a temperature ripple of the fixing member. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142473 | FIXING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes: a heating member configured to heat a toner image formed on a recording medium; a pressing member configured to come into press contact with the heating member and nip and convey a sheet in cooperation with the heating member; a first heat generation source configured to heat the heating member; a second heat generation source configured to heat the pressing member; a measured-temperature-information acquiring unit configured to acquire measured temperature information concerning measured temperatures of the heating member and the pressing member; a target specifying unit configured to specify, using the measured temperature information acquired by the measured-temperature-information acquiring unit, the heating member or the pressing member as a member, the measured temperature of which is equal to or lower than predetermined temperature and a temperature difference between the measured temperature and the predetermined temperature of which is larger; and a heating control unit configured to control the first heat generation source and the second heat generation source and set the rate of increase in the heat quantity to be given to the heating member or the pressing member specified by the target specifying unit larger. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142474 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a first surface of a medium, a fixing unit configured to have a heating member which heats the first surface of the medium, and a pressurizing member which is pressed in contact with the heating member via the medium to heat a second surface of the medium, and a supply unit configured to supply a used medium to the image forming unit, a control unit configured to, when the used medium is supplied from the supply unit, control a fixing setting temperature of the pressurizing member to a temperature equal to or lower than a temperature for fixing on the unused medium, and control a fixing temperature of the heating member to a temperature equal to or higher than a temperature for fixing on the unused medium. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142475 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL TEMPERATURE OF FUSER IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS BY USING POWER CAPSULE - A method of controlling a temperature of a fuser in an image forming apparatus includes generating a power capsule including a soft start period in which a power supply is gradually increased to improve a flicker characteristic, a full turn on period in which the power supply is maximum, and a soft end period in which the power supply is gradually decreased to improve the flicker characteristic. The power capsule is profiled to supply a constant amount of power and to satisfy a predefined requirement for flicker and harmonic characteristics of an image forming apparatus with respect to the fuser in the soft start period, the full turn on period, and the soft end period. The method includes detecting the temperature of the fuser and controlling the temperature of the fuser by performing a power control operation corresponding to the power capsule according to a temperature variation of the detected temperature of the fuser with respect to a reference temperature of the fuser. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142476 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device; a mode selecting unit for selecting one of a normal mode and a power save mode; and a fixing control unit. The fixing device includes a rotational member, a pressing member disposed to press against the rotational member for sandwiching and pressing a print medium with the rotational member after a developer image is developed on the print medium, and a heating portion for heating the rotational member. In the normal mode, a normal printing operation is enabled. In the power save mode, the printing operation is partially terminated to conserve power consumption. The fixing control unit controls the rotational member to rotate for a specific amount when the mode selecting unit selects the power save mode. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142477 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a power supply supplying a plurality of developing devices with a first voltage to develop toners on an image carrier, and a voltage divider supplying some of the developing devices not connected to the power supply with the first voltage or a second voltage. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142478 | HIGH VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - In a high voltage power supplying apparatus, a pulse generation unit generates a pulse signal with a predetermined frequency. A piezoelectric transformer outputs a voltage in accordance with the frequency of the pulse signal. A detection unit detects an output voltage of the piezoelectric transformer. A control unit controls the pulse generation unit to change the frequency of the pulse signal by a predetermined value towards a frequency corresponding to a target voltage until the output voltage becomes equal to the target voltage. A storage unit stores data indicating the frequency when the output voltage reaches the target voltage. The control unit controls the output voltage to be equal to the target voltage by variably controlling the frequency of the pulse signal by a value smaller than the predetermined frequency from the frequency corresponding to the data stored in the storage unit. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142479 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a first power source configured to supply power for driving a load to be used for image formation via a first power line, a load control circuit configured to control driving of the load, a control circuit configured to output control data for the load control circuit to control the load, a second power source configured to supply power for the load control circuit via a second power line provided separately from the first power line, a superimposing circuit configured to superimpose the control data output from the control circuit onto the second power line, and a separation circuit configured to separate the control data from the second power line, on which the control data is superimposed and sent, and to output the control data to the load control circuit. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142480 | HEATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heating device includes: a heating member heating a recording medium; a pressure member forming a heating pressure portion between the pressure member and the heating member by coming into pressure contact with the heating member, the heating pressure portion passing through the recording medium; a tensioning member placed to face the pressure member across the heating member to provide a tension to the heating member; and a cooling unit cooling the pressure member, the cooling unit including: an air blower generating an air flow; a circulator circulating the air flow along the pressure member; and a group of protruding portions provided on the circulator to guide the air flow. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142481 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a corona charge device to charge a photoconductor. The corona charge device includes first and second shielding members arranged to shield most of a space between a surface of the photoconductor and the corona charge device, and a guide member to guide outside air stream to an outside air inlet. The image forming apparatus prevents damage and contamination of the photoconductor due to byproducts of corona discharge. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142482 | SHEET FEEDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet feeding device includes a sheet tray, a main body, an ion generating device, a first duct, a second duct, and a fan. The main body is designed to accommodate therein the sheet tray in a state capable of being drawn out toward the front. The ion generating device is disposed on a rear side of the sheet tray in the main body and has an ion generating function. The first and second ducts are disposed in such a manner as to cover the ion generating device and are designed to define a flow path for guiding air taken therein from outside the main body to outside the main body again. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142483 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cylindrical or annular fixing member, an outer surface of which is brought into pressure contact with a conveyed sheet to fix an image onto the sheet; and a heating source for heating the fixing member to a specified target temperature. The fixing member includes a cylindrical or annular base material, a rubber layer with elasticity, and an outer layer for aiding release of the sheet. An end portion of the rubber layer and an end portion of the outer layer are each positioned inner than an end portion of the base material with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction on the base material. A filter member capable of trapping ultra fine particles generated from the rubber layer is provided on the base material in a position facing the end portion of the rubber layer along the circumferential direction. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142484 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142485 | CLEANING DEVICE, CHARGING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning device includes: a brush that has numerous bristles rotating and contacting to the surface of an image carrier, a removing member disposed so as to contact to the numerous bristles and removes a developer adhering to the numerous bristles by elastically deforming the numerous bristles and further returning the numerous deformed bristles back to normal, and a transport member disposed lower than the removing member in the gravitational direction and transports the developer removed with the removing member by rotating on an axis, wherein at least a part of the developer removed from the numerous bristles falls to a farther position than the axis of the transport member from the brush in the horizontal direction. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142486 | IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE - An image formation device includes an image carrier that holds developed images, a transfer body that transfers the developed images held by the image carrier to a recording medium, a cleaning unit that cleans developer on the transfer body, a developer container in which the developer removed by the cleaning unit is deposited, and a sucking unit that sucks the developer leaking from the developer container, the transfer body having at least a rotating member of which both ends are rotatably supported, and the sucking unit having a suction hole opening at least at one end of the rotating member. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142487 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND DISASSEMBLING METHOD OF THE PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an image-bearing member on which an electrostatic image is to be formed; a first frame; a bearing member, detachably mountable to the first frame, for rotatably supporting the image-bearing member; a first hole provided in the bearing member; a first wall, provided on the first frame, in which a second hole is provided; a second frame for rotatably supporting a developer carrying member on which a developer for developing the electrostatic image is to be carried; a second wall, provided on the second frame, in which a third hole is provided; and a connecting member including a shaft portion penetrating through the first hole, the second hole and the third hole and tightly engaging in the second hole, and including a flange portion, provided at an end portion of the shaft portion, for preventing the bearing member from being detached from the first frame. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142488 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a sheet includes a plurality of cartridge mounting portions for demountably mounting a cartridge each of which includes a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum into a developed image and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used for development of the electrostatic latent image; a single intermediary transfer member which is provided opposed to the drums and onto which the developed images are transferred from the drums; an image forming unit containing the cartridge mounting portions and the intermediary transfer member and movable between a first position for transferring, onto the sheet, the developed images transferred onto the intermediary transfer member from the drums and a second position for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridges relative to the cartridge mounting portion; an opening for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridges relative to the cartridge mounting portions of the unit taking the a second position; and an opening-closing member movable between a closing position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening, wherein when the unit takes the first position, the cartridges take attitudes in which the developer is supplied to the developing roller by the weight thereof, and when the unit takes the a second position, the cartridges take attitudes in which the developer is not supplied to the developing roller by the weight thereof. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142489 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a cartridge including process means actable on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the process cartridge being detachably mountable relative to the main assembly; an opening, provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge; an openable member, provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, for openably closing the opening; an exposure device, provided on the openable member, for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive member; the cartridge including a first unit, and a second unit pivotably connected with the first unit; a first positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein the exposure device is provided with a second positioning portion for positioning between the exposure device and the second unit of the cartridge by engagement with the cartridge by closing the openable member. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142490 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus includes a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive drums; a cartridge which contains a developer and which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge mounting portion for mounting the cartridge; a plurality of cleaning members for removing the developers remaining on surfaces of the electrophotographic photosensitive drums; a removed-developer accommodating container for accommodating the developers removed by the cleaning members, the removed-developer accommodating container being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, wherein the cartridges are disposed along a second direction, and the removed-developer accommodating container are adjacent to the cartridges and extends along the second direction so as to be overlapped at least partly with the cartridges as seen in the axial direction. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142491 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge detachably mountable to image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a protecting member, demountable in the axial direction of said developer carrying member from said frame; an accommodating portion accommodating the developer to be supplied to said developer carrying member; a sealing member sealing an opening for permitting the developer to be supplied from said accommodating portion to said developer carrying member; and a grip portion, provided at one longitudinal end of said sealing member, for being gripped when said sealing member is removed from said opening, said grip portion being movable between a first position on a movement locus of said protecting member when said protecting member is dismounted from said frame, and a second position outside the movement locus. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142492 | END COVER PART, METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, IMAGE CARRIER, IMAGE FORMING ASSEMBLY, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An end cover part which is used to close an end of a cylindrical body, and transmits a driving force of a rotatable driving shaft to the cylindrical body, includes a cover member having a tubular portion into which the driving shaft is to be fitted, and a to-be-fitted portion which is disposed in a flange-like manner in a periphery of the tubular portion, and which is to be fitted into an end portion of the cylindrical body; cut surfaces which are disposed respectively on an inner circumference of the tubular portion of the cover member and an outer circumference of the to-be-fitted portion and concentrically about a common reference central axis; and a recess as defined herein. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142493 | END COVER PART, METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, IMAGE CARRIER, IMAGE FORMING ASSEMBLY, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An end cover part is used to close an end of a cylindrical body, and transmits a driving force of a rotatable driving shaft to the cylindrical body, and the end cover part includes a cover member having a tubular portion into which the driving shaft is to be fitted, and a to-be-fitted portion which is disposed in a flange-like manner in a periphery of the tubular portion, and which is to be fitted into an end portion of the cylindrical body; and three cut surfaces which are disposed respectively on inner and outer circumferences of the tubular portion of the cover member and an outer circumference of the to-be-fitted portion, and concentrically about a common reference central axis. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142494 | POWDER MATERIAL AGITATOR AND CARTRIDGE - A powder material cartridge includes a shaft and a sheet-holding member. The shaft extends in a longitudinal direction and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The sheet-holding member is formed on the rotatable shaft and holds one end of the sheet member. The sheet-holding member includes a first portion that extends substantially parallel to the shaft and a second portion that extends at an angle with the shaft such that the second portion extends in a direction away from the shaft so that the sheet member includes a third portion that extends substantially parallel to the shaft and a fourth portion that extends at an angle with the shaft. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142495 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing device includes a fixing roller, a heat roller, an endless fixing belt wound around the two rollers to be driven to rotate, a nip forming member to form a nip while contacting the fixing belt at a position opposite the fixing roller, a pressing member to press the heat roller to separate it from the fixing roller, and a temperature detector to detect a temperature of the fixing belt at a position opposite the heat roller. The temperature detector is provided opposite or in contact with the fixing belt at a position, in parallel with the moving direction of the heat roller, on the outermost periphery of the displacement area of a surface of the fixing belt which displaces according to the approaching and departing movement of the heat roller. With such a simple structure, the temperature detector can detect the temperature of the fixing belt accurately. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142496 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus comprising: a fixing member for fixing a toner image onto a recording material; a pressure member for pressing the fixing member to form a nip portion by which the recording material is nipped and conveyed; an external heating portion, including a belt member, for heating an outer surface of the fixing member to heat the fixing member; a separation/contact portion which allows the fixing member and the external heating belt to abut each other or to be separated from each other; and a restricting portion for restricting the external heating belt from directing toward the fixing member by coming in contact with the outer surface of the external heating belt, when the fixing member and the external heating belt are separated from each other. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142497 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit detachably supported by a body frame to transfer an image on an image holding member to a recording medium. A driving unit installed on the body frame provides a rotational driving force to the transfer unit. A waste developing agent container is selectively attached to the body frame to store waste developing agent collected from the transfer unit. An engagement assembly is installed on the body frame to selectively engage the transfer unit with the driving unit to the transfer unit while at the same time allowing or blocking the installation of the waste developing agent container in the body frame in accordance with the state of engagement of the transfer unit. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142498 | REPLENISHER TONER CONTAINER - A low cost, robust and efficient replenisher toner container is provided and includes (a) a one-piece blow-molded container body having a wall defining an exterior surface of the body and an interior cavity within the body; (b) a first end, of the one-piece blow-molded container body, having a handle member; (c) a second end, of the one-piece blow-molded container body opposite the first end, including a single fill/dispense opening for filling the interior cavity with replenisher toner and for dispensing replenisher toner from the interior cavity; and (d) at least a one molded scoop member formed at the second end for efficiently delivering the replenisher toner being dispensed from the interior cavity into receiving components in the xerographic machine. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142499 | TONER CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an aspect of the invention, a toner cartridge includes a container body, a first cover, and a second cover. The container body contains toner and that has an opening portion provided on an outer face of the container body and a guide piece provided on the outer face. The first cover opens and closes the opening portion. The second cover is supported by the guide piece and that is movable in an noncontact state with a bottom portion of the first cover to cover the first cover when the container body is pulled out from an image forming apparatus. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142500 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, DEVELOPING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an embodiment, a developing device includes: a rotatable developing roller which has plural magnets forming magnetic poles; and a regulating member which includes a non-magnetic plate and a magnetic plate extending parallel to an axial direction of the developing roller and arranged facing the developing roller to regulate thickness of a developer layer on the developing roller, the magnetic plate being attached to a central part in the longitudinal direction of the non-magnetic plate to form a magnetic chain between the developing roller and the regulating member stronger at the central part than an end part. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142501 | DEVELOPMENT ROLLER INCLUDING A DEVELOPMENT SLEEVE, SURFACE TREATMENT DEVICE THAT TREATS AN OUTER SURFACE OF THE DEVELOPMENT SLEEVE AND WIRE MEMBER THAT ROUGHENS THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE DEVELOPMENT SLEEVE - A development roller, including a development sleeve disposed near a photo conductive drum, a magnetic roller disposed in the development sleeve, and a supplying device configured to supply a developer including a toner and a magnetic carrier to the photo conductive drum uniformly, the development sleeve having an outer surface on which the developer including the toner and the magnetic carrier is adsorbed by a magnetic force of the magnetic roller. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142502 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member; a conveying member; a transfer means; an attraction means, which is disposed upstream of the transfer means in a conveying direction of the transfer material, for attracting the transfer material onto the conveying member; and a winding means, which is disposed downstream of the transfer means in the conveying direction of the transfer material, for winding the conveying member, wherein a contact amount between the conveying member and the winding means corresponding to a first region where a width of the attraction means pressing the conveying member in the conveying direction is smaller than the contact amount between the conveying member and the winding means corresponding to a second region in which a width of the attraction means which presses the conveying member in the conveying direction that is smaller than the first width. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142503 | CONDUCTIVE ROLLER AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME - The conductive roller according to the present invention includes a roller body made of a thermoplastic elastomer composition supplied with conductivity having an outer cylinder constituting an outer peripheral surface of the roller body, an inner cylinder, having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer cylinder, concentrically arranged in the outer cylinder, and a plurality of platelike coupling portions reaching the inner periphery of the outer cylinder from the outer periphery of the inner cylinder, wherein a plurality hollow portions separated from one another by the coupling portions are provided between the outer periphery of the inner cylinder and the inner periphery of the outer cylinder, and each coupling portion is arranged to intersect with a plane passing through the central axes of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder so that adjacent hollow portions separated from each other by the coupling portion overlap with each other on the plane inwardly and outwardly in the radial direction in a section of the roller body in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142504 | Image forming apparatus and method thereof - Disclosed herein is an image forming apparatus and method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a rotating member provided close to a distal end of a guide surface used to guide a printing medium to be introduced into a fusing unit. The rotating member comes into rolling contact with the printing medium to prevent jamming of the printing medium due to matter adhered to the distal end of the guide surface. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142505 | HEATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heating device includes: a heating member that heats a recording medium; a pressure member that forms a heating pressure portion between the pressure member and the heating member by coming into pressure contact with the heating member, the heating pressure portion passing through the recording medium; a tensioning member that is placed to face the pressure member with the heating member interposed therebetween, and that provides a tension to the heating member; and a guide member that guides the recording medium having passed through the heating pressure portion, and that is movable between a first secure position and a second secure position. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142506 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller. The fixing roller and the pressure roller each have an elastic layer formed between a core bar and a release layer, which release layer serves as a surface of the fixing roller and the pressure roller. The pressure roller has a lower Asker-C hardness than that of the fixing roller, and has a greater micro rubber roller than that of the fixing roller. This prevents the surface of the pressure roller from deteriorating in a short period of time. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142507 | HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heating apparatus of the present invention includes a press member that undergoes driven rotation by contacting a heating member that rotates, the press member conveying a recording medium while nipping the recording medium between the press member and the heating member; a contact and separation mechanism that contacts the press member against the heating member and separates the press member away from the heating member; and a drive mechanism that rotationally drives the press member when the press member is separated from the heating member by the contact and separation mechanism. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142508 | FUSER MEMBER - The present teachings provide a fuser member, including a substrate and a release layer disposed on the substrate. The release layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes surrounded by a fluoroelastomeric shell layer and dispersed in a fluoroplastic. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142509 | HEATING FIXING ROLLER AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE HEATING FIXING ROLLER - Provided is a heating fixing roller which includes a tubular base member and a fluororesin layer provided on an outer circumferential surface of the base member directly or through an adhesive layer, the heating fixing roller being characterized in that the fluororesin layer contains phosphorus-doped tin oxide. The heating fixing roller has a surface resistance capable of stably and effectively preventing the occurrence of electrostatic offsets, and also has an excellent releasing property. Also provided is a process for producing the heating fixing roller, characterized by including the steps of applying a fluororesin dispersion containing an aqueous dispersion of phosphorus-doped tin oxide onto a tubular base member or an adhesive layer disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the tubular base member, and then sintering the fluororesin. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142510 | FIXING DEVICE - To provide a technique for preventing a temperature rise in a non-sheet passing areas in a fixing device. The fixing device includes: a heating rotational member that includes at least one roller and heats a toner transferred on a sheet; a pressing roller that nips and carries the sheet in cooperation with the heating rotational member; a heating device that heats the heating rotational member; and heat pipes arranged, on the inside of at least one of the roller of the heating rotational member and the pressing roller, in ranges on both the sides in an axial direction of the roller from positions closer to the center in the axial direction than both the ends of a minimum sheet passing range in the axial direction of the roller of the nipped and carried sheet to positions further on the outer sides in the axial direction than both the ends of a maximum sheet passing range. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142511 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR ADDING GLOSS TO IMAGE FORMED ON RECORDING PAPER - Provided is an image forming apparatus that includes a paper feeding unit configured to feed recording paper, a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image to the recording paper fed by the paper feeding unit, a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image transferred to the recording paper by the transfer unit on the recording paper, a thermal head having a plurality of heating units arrayed in a width direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording paper, and configured to add gloss by heating an arbitrary area of the recording paper on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing unit for each line, a setting unit configured to set a gloss addition area in the recording paper to which the gloss is added by the thermal head, a correction unit configured to correct the gloss addition area set by the setting unit so that numbers of heating units driven when the recording paper is heated by the thermal head are approximately equal in each line, and a control unit configured to control driving of the plurality of heating units based on the gloss addition area corrected by the correction unit. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142512 | IMAGING UNIT, DEVELOPING UNIT, PHOTOSENSITIVE UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an imaging unit, including: a developing unit having a developing roller and a first abutting member; a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive drum and a second abutting member, a gap between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller being set constant by bringing the first abutting member into abutting contact with the second abutting member; a cleaner configured to be disposed in a space between the first and the second abutting members in a separate state where the first abutting member is spaced away from the second abutting member; and a displacement unit configured to displace the cleaner from the space as the first abutting member is brought close to the second abutting member. In the displacement, the displacement unit causes the cleaner to slide on an abutting surface of at least one of the first and the second abutting members. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142513 | MEDIUM CLAMPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A medium clamping device includes a device main unit that includes: a first circularly moving body that has a surface circularly moving and harder than a recording medium; a second circularly moving body that has a surface moving circularly and harder than the recording medium passing between the both surfaces of the two circularly moving bodies; and a load applying section that applies a load to at least one of the first circularly moving body and the second circularly moving body, to sandwich the recording medium by the load with two moving bodies. The medium clamping device further includes: a support section that supports the device main unit and is secured to a fixed body; and an alleviating system that alleviates transmission of a shock from the device main unit to the fixed body and is incorporated in the support section. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142514 | MEDIUM CLAMPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A medium clamping device includes: a first circularly-moving body having a circumferential surface harder than a recording medium, a longer length in a direction orthogonal to a circularly-moving direction than the recording medium in a first direction; a second circularly-moving body where the recording medium passes between the surfaces of the two circularly-moving bodies in a second direction crossing the first direction; a load applying section applying a load to at least one of the two circularly-moving bodies to clamp the recording medium; a belt member surrounding the surface of at least one of the two circularly-moving bodies, at a place outside an area touching the recording medium when the recording medium passes; and a belt-member-protecting member which is aligned with the belt member in a recording-medium-passing direction, includes a portion closer to a recording-medium-passing path than the belt member to protect the belt member from contacting the recording medium. | 2011-06-16 |
20110142515 | MEDIUM CONVEYING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A medium conveying device includes an alignment member, a skew conveying member, and a removal member. The alignment member faces one end of a medium and aligns the medium while contacting with the medium when the medium is conveyed in a first direction. The skew conveying member conveys the medium in a second direction crossing to the first direction so that the one end comes in contact with the alignment member and that includes a drive member and a driven member opposed to the drive member and driven by the drive member. The removal member has a tip end coming in contact with a face of the drive member to remove a deposit on the face. The removal member is placed along a rotation direction of the drive member so that the tip end faces downstream of the rotational direction. | 2011-06-16 |