32nd week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 30 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120201496 | SYMMETRICAL BRANCHING ORTHO MODE TRANSDUCER (OMT) WITH ENHANCED BANDWIDTH - An Ortho Mode Transducer (OMT) comprising a main guide configured with a set of ports and at both ends for communicating a band of frequencies. The ports and are placed at a predetermined distance from each other to form a taper section. Branching waveguides are disposed around the main guide for extracting polarization signals from the main guide. Coupling apertures are disposed apart along the periphery of the main guide for coupling the branching waveguides to the main guide. The coupling apertures are aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the main guide and extended to the taper portion of the main guide, which enhances bandwidth performance without the need for additional extraneous impedance matching elements. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201497 | DEVICE FOR AN OPTICAL-FIBER CONNECTION - Device for the coaxial connection of fiber-optic cables, comprising a single-piece coupling housing ( | 2012-08-09 |
20120201498 | LATCHING OPTICAL DIGITAL AUDIO CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - An optical digital audio connector including a ferrule radially disposed over an optical fiber, an outer shell, having a first end and a second end, disposed over the ferrule, the outer shell having an extension extending from the first end of the outer shell, wherein the outer shell and extension have at least one axial slot, the at least one axial slot starting proximate the second end of the shell and axially extending through the outer shell and extension to facilitate radial movement of the outer shell and the extension, and a latching feature structurally integral with the extension, wherein the latching feature is a ramped surface forming a peak, the peak raised a distance from the outer surface, is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201499 | FERRULE WITH ALIGNMENT PIN CHANNELS - An optical ferrule comprising: (a) a body defining an end face; (b) one or more channels extending from said end face through said body, each channel adapted to receive an optical fiber; and (c) first and second alignment pin channels defined in said end face, each alignment pin channel having a center point, said center points being disposed along a first axis, said first alignment pin channel having a first cross section essentially the same as that of an alignment pin and being adapted to receive said alignment pin, said second alignment pin channel having a second cross section elongated along said first axis. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201500 | SPLICED OPITCAL CABLE ASSEMBLY - A spliced optical cable assembly is reinforced at a spliced portion of coated optical fibers to have adequate strength. The spliced optical cable assembly includes: a pair of optical fiber cables in which high-strength fibers are aligned in the longitudinal direction around coated optical fibers. The outer circumference of the coated optical fibers being covered by sheaths. The spliced optical cable assembly further includes a connecting portion in which the pair of optical fiber cables are connected and the coated optical fibers extend from the sheaths. Glass fibers exposed from the coating of the coated optical fibers spliced to each other. The connected portion is covered and formed into an integral unit, together with the high-strength fibers exposed from the sheaths, by a reinforcing tube placed over the optical fiber cables and caused to contract so that both ends of the reinforcing tube engage the sheaths of the respective optical fiber cables. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201501 | OPTICAL CABLE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN OPTICAL CABLE - An optical cable comprises a tight-buffered optical cable and a protective sleeve which surrounds the tight-buffered optical cable. An intermediate layer surrounds the protective sleeve has tension-resistant elements. Furthermore, the optical cable contains a cable sheath which surrounds the intermediate layer, and a transitional area facing its inner surface. In this transitional area, the material of the cable sheath is mixed with the tension-resistant elements of the intermediate layer. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201502 | SIDE PUMP FIBER, METHOD OF MAKING SAME, AND OPTICAL DEVICES USING SAME - A side pump fiber and a method of making a side pump fiber are provided. A plurality of pump fibers can be joined to a side of a signal fiber, at different locations. The method includes creating a lengthwise, tapered, concave pocket cut in a pump (or side pump) fiber, inserting the signal fiber in the pocket cut, and then coupling the side pump fiber to the center fiber at the pocket cut. Optical amplifiers and lasers, as examples, can be made using the above method and side pump fibers. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201503 | FIBER DISTRIBUTION HUB WITH MODULAR TERMINATION BLOCKS - A fiber distribution hub includes a cabinet; a termination region positioned within the interior of the cabinet; at least one termination module mounted in at least one opening defined at the termination region; fiber optic connectors coupled to termination adapters of the termination module; intermediate fibers extending rearwardly of the fiber optic connectors; and a multi-fiber connector terminating the intermediate fibers. The termination module includes a housing enclosing the termination adapters. One or more termination modules can be incrementally added to the fiber distribution hub. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201504 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING RARE EARTH (RE) DOPED OPTICAL FIBER USING A NEW CODOPANT - The present invention provides a method of making rare earth (RE) doped optical fiber using BaO as co-dopant instead of Al or P commonly used for incorporation of the RE in silica glass by MCVD and solution doping technique. The method comprises deposition of particulate layer of GeO | 2012-08-09 |
20120201505 | IMAGE REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND IMAGE REPRODUCING METHOD THEREOF - In an image reproducing apparatus capable of performing group reproduction, a related image determination unit determines whether an image read by an image reading unit is an image included in a plurality of related images, which are related to each other, and if it is determined by the related image determination unit that the image read by the image reading unit is an image included in the plurality of related images, a representative image detection unit detects a representative image from a plurality of images constituting the plurality of related images including the read image, and a display processing unit causes a display unit to display the representative image detected by the representative image detection unit. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201506 | MOVING IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, MOVING IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A moving image display processing apparatus, method and system is disclosed for displaying a moving image having frames and including additional information related to the moving image. The additional information is a plurality of representative frames from the moving image, each representative frame being a still image representing a group of sequential frames, and an implicative image associated with at least one frame in the group of sequential frames other than the representative frame. The representative frames are displayed in a predetermined sequence such that implicative images are displayed between the representative frames. The moving image and the additional information can be received from different information providers and the additional information may be available for use for a predetermined period of time. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201507 | PORTABLE INFORMATION TERMINAL APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, COMPUTER-PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM - A portable information terminal apparatus generates a first signal, based on the user's operation, that causes a recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information. A second signal based on the user's operation, causes the recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information. A third signal based on the user's operation causes the recording/reproducing apparatus to preset the program for unattended recording. A fourth signal based on the user's operation causes the recording/reproducing apparatus to convert the recorded program to video data in a predetermined file format. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201508 | INFORMATION DEVICE - A DVD player for obtaining, storing and displaying information from a remote server, the device has a modem for establishing communication sessions with the remote server. A memory coupled to the modem stores the obtained information, and a display is coupled to the memory for displaying the stored information. The DVD player automatically and periodically communicates with the remote server for obtaining the information. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201509 | INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING BIDIRECTIONAL OPERATIONS - In order to watch existing contents by using different information apparatus, the contents are converted into formats suitable for respective information apparatus to be implemented, but implementation of interaction for bidirectionality is not solved. In order to implement watching the contents in all information receiving apparatus, a playback/capture content processing device, a content conversion unit, a content analysis processing unit extracting an operation object of a remote controller from converted video information, a distribution processing unit, and an interaction analysis/control unit are provided. The interaction analysis/control unit acquires operation information of a remote controller device in an information receiving apparatus side, preserves matching information with the operation object extracted by the content analysis processing unit in real time on a database, and controls content information of the playback/capture content processing device in real time. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201510 | MOVING IMAGE REPRODUCING APPARATUS, MOVING IMAGE REPRODUCING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM - One disclosed aspect of the embodiments relates to a technique, when a moving image file is divided and divisional moving images are reproduced simultaneously in a plurality of display areas, for allowing a user to easily search for a desired scene in the entire moving image more quickly. A moving image reproducing apparatus divides a moving image to generate a plurality of divisional moving images and reproduces the divisional moving images simultaneously. If the user issues an instruction to divide a first divisional moving image that is being reproduced and generate a plurality of second divisional moving images, in response to the instruction, the apparatus acquires a reproduction position of the first divisional moving image. The apparatus starts reproduction of the plurality of second divisional moving images at a position corresponding to the acquired reproduction position. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201511 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RENDERING TEXT ONTO MOVING IMAGE CONTENT - A method for rendering text onto moving image content. The method comprises receiving a request to translate dialog associated with moving image content, transmitting an interface, transmitting a time-stamped transcription, and receiving a translation of the dialog. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201512 | Method and apparatus for executing software applications - Consumer electronic devices, such as e.g. high-definition movie players for removable storage media such as optical discs, may provide possibilities for advanced interactivity for the user, implemented as software applications. A question arising generally with such software applications is what the life cycle of such an application is, and who may control it. The invention provides a method for executing software applications within a playback device for audio-video data, wherein data from a first removable storage medium are read for a software application to be executed within said playback device, and the data comprise an indication defining a termination condition for the application. Based on said termination code and depending on how the medium holding the application is ejected, the application is terminated or may survive. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201513 | Method and apparatus for executing software applications - Consumer electronic devices, such as e.g. high-definition movie players for removable storage media such as optical discs, may provide possibilities for advanced interactivity for the user, implemented as software applications. A question arising generally with such software applications is what the life cycle of such an application is, and who may control it. The invention provides a method for executing software applications within a playback device for audio-video data, wherein data from a first removable storage medium are read for a software application to be executed within said playback device, and the data comprise an indication defining a termination condition for the application. Based on said termination code and depending on how the medium holding the application is ejected, the application is terminated or may survive. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201514 | INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM STORING TEXT-BASED SUBTITLE, AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING TEXT-BASED SUBTITLE - An information storage medium storing subtitle text-based information, and a method and apparatus utilizing same, process a subtitle The information storage medium includes: dialog information which contains script text information of the subtitle and information specifying an output type of the script text; and presentation information which contains style information used to convert the script text into a bitmap format through rendering. With this structure, the amount of data required for a subtitle and the amount of data that should be processed when a subtitle is output may be greatly reduced. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201515 | DIGITAL CONTENT RECEIVING APPARATUS, DIGITAL CONTENT RECEIVING METHOD AND DIGITAL CONTENT RECEIVING/TRANSMITTING METHOD - A recording/reproducing apparatus, for recording/reproducing video content comprises a recording/reproducing portion, which is configured to record the video content into a recording medium, and to reproduce the video content recorded in the recording medium, wherein determination is made if video content to be reproduced at high-speed includes video content or not, which can be displayed in 3D, when reproducing the video content recorded in the recording medium at the high-speed, and upon basis of that determination, a method of high-speed reproduction is changed. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201516 | PICTURE CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD OF THE SAME - A picture control device configured to convert and output a bit-rate of an input picture data stream having an input bit-rate, includes: a first decoder configured to decode the input picture data stream; an encoder configured to encode the output of the first decoder with a plurality of converted bit-rates; an output unit configured to output the picture data encoded with a first bit-rate by the encoder, for recording; a second decoder configured to decode the same picture data encoded at a second bit-rate by the encoder; and a control unit configured to determine the second bit-rate based on the first bit-rate. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201517 | EDITING DEVICE, EDITING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An editing device includes a setting unit which sets a role for each device as an editor, in a group of devices as a plurality of editors in which a hierarchical structure is constituted by a director and one or more workers, and an executing unit which executes editing processing corresponding to an editing operation, when each device as the plurality of editors performs the editing operation which has been defined in advance on the basis of the role set by the setting unit. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201518 | COMPUTER DEVICE, METHOD, AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR AUTOMATING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, 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. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201519 | GENERATING MONTAGES OF VIDEO SEGMENTS RESPONSIVE TO VIEWING PREFERENCES ASSOCIATED WITH A VIDEO TERMINAL - Methods, video terminals, and systems are disclosed for generating a montage of video segments for display by a video terminal. At least one video viewing preference associated with the video terminal is identified. Metadata associated with video segments in at least one video file is searched to identify video segments that correspond to the identified at least one video viewing preference. A montage of the identified video segments is generated for display by the video terminal. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201520 | VIDEO REPRODUCING APPARATUS, VIDEO REPRODUCING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A video reproducing apparatus includes a decoding unit performing decoding of coded video signals of multiple viewpoints, a load detecting unit detecting a process load on the decoding unit, and a control unit controlling the decoding unit in accordance with the detected process load and reducing a load of the decoding from a viewpoint with a low degree of priority. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201521 | Provision of Supplemental Processing Information - Supplemental processing information ( | 2012-08-09 |
20120201522 | HIGH PRESSURE SMOKE MACHINE - There is provided a smoke generating device for use with a vaporizing material. The smoke generating device includes a housing defining an inner chamber configured to receive the vaporizing material, and a heating element disposed within the housing. A capillary is disposed within the inner chamber and is in thermal communication with the heating element. The capillary includes opposed first and second end portions, with the first end portion being disposable in the vaporizing material and the second end portion defining an opening in fluid communication with the internal chamber. The capillary is configured to convey the vaporizing material to the heating element. An inlet conduit in fluid communication with the inner chamber and fluidly connectable to a pressurized fluid source, and an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the inner chamber and configured to convey vapor from the inner chamber. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201523 | ELECTRIC DEVICE FOR THE EVAPORATION OF VOLATILE SUBSTANCES - The present invention refers to an electric evaporation device with adjustable evaporation intensity, wherein a shield member ( | 2012-08-09 |
20120201524 | CYLINDRICAL CANISTER HOUSING WITH INTEGRAL HEAT TRANSFER - A housing for transporting a generally cylindrical canister configured to store at least one of a pressurized gas and a pressurized liquid. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section that is movable with respect to the first housing section from a first operating condition to a second operating condition. A heat transfer element is coupled to at least one of the first and the second housing sections to define at least a portion of a boundary of a generally cylindrical volume. The canister is generally fixed from movement with respect to the first and the second housing sections when the second housing section is in the first operating condition, and the canister is movable with respect to the first and the second housing sections and configured to be removed from the generally cylindrical volume when the second housing section is in the second operating condition. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201525 | HEATING APPARATUS - A heating apparatus includes a ceramic heater including a plurality of ceramic plates having a plate shape, and a housing including an inlet hole and an outlet hole, the housing in which the ceramic heater is installed. The ceramic plates are disposed vertically in the housing in a parallel manner and the outlet hole is disposed in an upper portion of the housing, such that when a fluid flows through a flow path formed along the ceramic plates, bubbles, generated by the fluid heated by the ceramic plates, ascend toward edges of the ceramic plates. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201526 | Camera for capturing moving images - Provide a camera capable of effectively suppressing image blurring even when high frequency vibrations are imposed. The present invention is a camera for capturing moving images furnished with an image-blur prevention function, including an imaging unit ( | 2012-08-09 |
20120201527 | MONITORING CAMERA AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - A monitoring camera and an operation method thereof are provided. The monitoring camera includes a light sensor, a voltage comparing unit and a reference voltage generating unit. The light sensor senses an environment brightness of the monitoring camera and generates an induced current accordingly. The voltage comparing unit generates a sensing voltage according to the induced current and compares the sensing voltage and a reference voltage to obtain a first comparison result, so that the monitoring camera can determine whether to perform at least one of a plurality of mode switching operations according to the first comparison result. The reference voltage generating unit outputs the first reference voltage and determines whether to reduce the first reference voltage according to the first comparison result. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201528 | STEREOSCOPIC IMAGING APPARATUS - A stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes: an objective optical system that forms a subject as a real or virtual image. Light beams of the subject, emitted in different paths of the objective optical system by independent optical systems, are imaged again as a parallax image, which is converted into an image signal. A control unit moves a front-side principal point of each of the imaging optical systems, so that the ratio of the length of a perpendicular line from that front-side principal point to the optical axis of the objective optical system with respect to the length of a line connecting the point at which the perpendicular line and the optical axis intersect and the focal point of the objective optical system becomes constant. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201529 | SHUTTER ASSEMBLY - A shutter assembly includes a plurality of shutter blades movable between an open position and a closed position, a drive ring having first and second oppositely-facing sides, at least one of the shutter blades being movably coupled to the first side, and a first permanent magnet coupled to the second side of the drive ring. The shutter assembly also includes a first solenoid selectively energizable to alternately attract and repel the first permanent magnet along an arcuate path beneath the first solenoid, thereby transitioning the plurality of shutter blades between the open and closed positions. The shutter assembly also includes a sensor assembly configured to detect a location of the first permanent magnet along the path. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201530 | LIGHT QUANTITY ADJUSTMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A light quantity adjustment device includes: an aperture mechanism that varies an aperture opening through drive of aperture blades to restrict a quantity of light that passes through the aperture opening; and an ND filter inserted in and removed from an optical path on a light incident side or a light exit side of the aperture opening. The ND filter has a distribution of transmittance in which the transmittance differs in a direction of interposition of the ND filter in the optical path of the aperture opening, and includes a recessed portion formed by recessing a center portion of a distal-end region of the ND filter on a side of interposition in the optical path of the aperture opening in a direction opposite the direction of interposition. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201531 | CAMERA ACCESSORY - An accessory mount can be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs being hindered by any of three camera body-side tabs at the camera body mount, as long as the accessory mount is inserted into the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The first tab, the second tab and the third tab extend over varying lengths along the circumferential direction. The first tab extends over a greatest length along the circumferential direction among the first through third tabs. The third tab extends over a smallest length along the circumferential direction among the first through third tabs. The accessory mount includes a restricting member disposed near the third tab, a fitting portion used to align an optical axis of the accessory mount with an optical axis of the camera body, and a lock pin hole through which a lock pin, retractably disposed at the camera body, is inserted so as to lock the camera accessory in a fully mounted state. The restricting member is disposed at a position assumed on a side substantially opposite from the lock pin hole across the fitting portion. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201532 | CAMERA ACCESSORY, CAMERA ACCESSORY MOUNT, CAMERA BODY AND CAMERA BODY MOUNT - A camera accessory can be detachably engaged with a camera body that includes a camera body mount, and is equipped with an accessory mount assuming a bayonet structure with a first tab, a second tab and a third tab set over intervals in a circumferential direction running along a circumference of a circle and projecting from the circumference along a radial direction. The accessory mount can be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs being hindered by any of three camera body-side tabs at the camera body mount, as long as the accessory mount is inserted into the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The accessory mount includes a restricting member disposed near the third tab. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201533 | Reference-Based In-Band OSNR Measurement on Polarization-Multiplexed Signals - There is provided a method for determining an in-band noise parameter, such as the Optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (OSNR), on an optical signal-under-test (SUT) propagating along an optical communication link and comprising a data-carrying signal contribution of any arbitrary degree of polarization and a noise contribution. A spectral shape trace of signal contribution in the SUT is estimated using a reference optical spectrum trace of a reference signal which comprises a signal contribution that is spectrally representative of the signal contribution of the SUT and a noise contribution which is at least approximately known. The signal contribution is mathematically discriminated from said noise contribution in the SUT using the spectral shape trace and the test optical spectrum trace. The in-band noise parameter is then determined at least from the mathematically discriminated noise contribution. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201534 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION APPARATUS AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - An optical transmission apparatus includes an optical transmitter that outputs a signal light corresponding to a wavelength of a WDM light, a multiplexer that multiplexes lights input to the plurality of input ports, and that outputs a light generated through the multiplexing from the one or more output port, an optical amplifier that amplifies the light output from the multiplexer; and an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) transmitter that inputs branching off part of the light output from the optical amplifier by a splitter and multiplexes, with the signal light, ASE in a wavelength band corresponding to an unused wavelength adjacent to the signal light included in the branched-off light. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201535 | Multiplexing in an Optical Transport Network (OTN) - In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a plurality of signals at a plurality of ports, each of the signals having a protocol type; mapping each of the signals to one or more time slots of one of a plurality of Low Order Optical Transport Network (OTN) containers; mapping the Low Order OTN containers to a High Order OTN container; mapping the High Order OTN container to a High Order OTN envelope for communication over an OTN; and, in connection with the mapping of the High Order OTN container to the High Order OTN envelope, for each of the signals, inserting into the High Order OTN envelope information identifying the port that the signal was received at, the protocol type of the signal, the Low Order OTN container that the signal was mapped to, and one or more of the time slots that the signal was mapped to. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201536 | Method and System for Realizing Multi-Directional Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexing - A method and system for realizing multi-directional reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer are provided, and the system includes: N optical preamplifiers, N demultiplexing units and M optical crossbar switches; the method includes: amplifying optical signals sent from N directions respectively, and dividing the optical signals in each direction into M groups of optical signals with different wavelengths; then transmitting N groups of demultiplexed optical signals with same wavelength in each direction to the same optical crossbar switch, and each optical crossbar switch receiving N groups of optical signals with same wavelength; each optical crossbar switch outputting the inputted optical signals from the corresponding output interfaces according to configuration information, wherein M and N are positive integers. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201537 | OPTICAL PACKET SWITCHING SYSTEM, OPTICAL PACKET SWITCHING DEVICE, AND OPTICAL PACKET TRANSMITTER DEVICE - An optical packet switching device is provided with: a first input unit and a second input unit for receiving optical packet signals having destination information and information of a wavelength in use; an optical switch unit for routing the optical packet signals; a branching unit for branching the received optical packet signals; an analyzer unit for analyzing the header of the branched optical packet signals so as to detect the destination information and the information of the wavelength in use; and an output competition determination unit for checking for temporal competition of the optical packet signals based on the destination information and for determining whether the optical packet signals should be transmitted or discarded based on the information of the wavelength in use when there is competition. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201538 | OPTICAL PACKET SWITCHING SYSTEM AND OPTICAL PACKET TRANSMITTER DEVICE - An optical packet transmitter device includes: a detection unit for detecting packet-length information and priority information from a received Ether signal; a setting unit for setting, according to the degree of priority, a division factor by which the Ether signal is divided and a wavelength used for an optical packet signal to be transmitted; a header generation unit for generating a header containing destination information, the packet-length information, the priority information, and information of wavelength in use of the Ether signal; a transmission processing unit for dividing the Ether signal according to the set division factor and generating a plurality of packet signals; a header insertion unit for inserting the generated header in at least one packet signal; and an electrical/optical converter unit for converting the plurality of packet signals into optical packet signals of a plurality of wavelengths according to the set wavelength in use. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201539 | PHOTONIC ROUTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOOP AVOIDANCE - A photonic network includes a plurality of nodes each supporting add and drop of at least Y wavelengths, a plurality of optical links interconnecting the plurality of nodes, the plurality of optical links support up to X wavelengths and Y≦X, an optical routing protocol configured to compute a loop-free path through the plurality of nodes on the plurality of links, the loop-free path is computed for one of the X wavelengths or a group of the X wavelengths using routing constructs adapted to a photonic domain, and optical components at each of the plurality of nodes configured to selectively block at least one of the X wavelengths based on the computed loop-free path. A photonic routing method and photonic node are also disclosed. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201540 | OPTICAL PACKET SWITCHING SYSTEM AND OPTICAL PACKET SWITCHING DEVICE - An optical packet switching device is provided with: a first input unit and a second input unit for receiving an optical packet signal having destination information and priority information; a first demultiplexer and a second demultiplexer for branching the optical packet signal; an optical switch unit for routing one of branched optical packet signals; a first analyzer unit and a second analyzer unit for analyzing the header of the other branched optical packet signal so as to detect the destination information and the priority information; and an output competition determination unit for checking for temporal competition of a plurality of optical packet signals based on destination information and for determining whether the optical packet signals should be transmitted or discarded based on priority information when there is competition. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201541 | ROUTING, WAVELENGTH ASSIGNMENT, AND SPECTRUM ALLOCATION IN WAVELENGTH CONVERTIBLE FLEXIBLE OPTICAL WAVELENGTH-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING NETWORKS - There is provided a method in a wavelength convertible flexible optical wavelength-division multiplexing (WC-FWDM) network. The network has a plurality of optical nodes interconnected by a plurality of optical fibers. The network is for providing an overall spectrum divisible into a set of consecutive wavelength slots. At least one optical node has at least one wavelength converter for wavelength conversion. The method includes determining a channel route through the network commencing at a source node and ceasing at a destination node. The determined channel route is selectively tunable responsive to selected ones of a plurality of routing methods. The routing methods are so selected responsive to a routing policy having one or more objectives of minimization of channel blocking, minimization of a number of wavelength converters used in the network, and minimization of physical distance traversed by a channel, and minimization of operating wavelengths of a channel. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201542 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FIBER ACCESS PHYSICAL LAYER UNBUNDLING USING MULTIPLE UPLINK CARDS - A system, an unbundling optical line terminal (OLT), and a method are described herein that allow at least two service providers (SPs) to use individual fibers of an optical distribution network (ODN). In one embodiment, the unbundling OLT includes one or more wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network (WDM-PON) line cards and one or more SP uplink cards that enable multiple SPs to each utilize one uplink port to access individual wavelengths of one or more passive optical networks (PONs). In another embodiment, the unbundling OLT includes one or more point-to-point line (p2p) line cards (e.g., p2p fiber Ethernet line cards) and one or more SP uplink cards that enable multiple SPs to each utilize one uplink port to access one or more individual fibers. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201543 | OPTICAL BRANCHING UNIT, OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND OPTICAL MULTIPLEXING METHOD - An optical-branching unit enables suppression of deterioration of the transmission characteristic of a survivor signal without executing complex control of constant-power output. Optical-amplification means amplifies and supplies a input optical signal, and when not receiving the optical signal, amplifies and supplies amplified spontaneous emission that the optical-amplification means generates. Detection means detects whether the optical signal is input to the optical-amplification means. When the optical signal is not input to the optical-amplification means, control means sets gain that determines the magnitude of amplification in the optical-amplification means to a predetermined value greater than gain at the time the optical signal is input to the optical-amplification means. Add/drop-multiplexing means receives the output light from the optical-amplification means and other output light and multiplexes an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength in the output light from the optical-amplification means and an optical signal of a specific wavelength in the other output light. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201544 | ACCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING ETHERNET SIGNAL AND MOBILE COMMUNICATION SIGNAL - An access system and method for transmitting Ethernet signals and mobile communication signals. The system includes a near-end host unit and remote-end user units. Through the near-end host unit, the Ethernet signals and mobile communication signals can be combined. The near-end and remote-end host units are connected through four pairs of twisted pairs. The combined Ethernet and mobile communication signals are sent to a user terminal for providing broadband access service and wireless access service. Premises network resources can be used without re-laying category 5 cables, so the investment is less and it is quick and convenient to provide service. Furthermore there needs to be added only one host unit beside the optical network unit equipment, and replace the user terminal simultaneously. Power is not needed to be taken at the user's home. The placement position of the terminal is flexible without being limited by the power-taking positions. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201545 | Multifunction Receiver-On Chip For Electronic Warfare Applications - What is provided is a receiver-on-a-chip comprising a monolithic integrated circuit that reduces the receiver to a cigarette-pack-sized assembly mountable directly at an antenna element, with a much-increased operational bandwidth and instantaneous bandwidth, increased dynamic range and with a two-order-of-magnitude decrease in size and weight. Moreover, because of the elimination of all of the I/O drivers and attendant circuitry, power consumption is reduced by two-thirds, whereas the mean time before failure is increased to 10,000 hours due to the robustness of the monolithic integrated circuit and use of fiber optics. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201546 | PRE-EQUALIZATION OPTICAL TRANSMITTER AND PRE-EQUALIZATION OPTICAL FIBER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A pre-equalization optical transmitter includes: an RZ conversion circuit for generating an RZ-type input data sequence based on an NRZ-type input data sequence and a clock that is twice the speed of the NRZ-type input data sequence; a digital filter for generating pre-equalized data by a convolution operation between the RZ-type input data sequence and a desired transfer function corresponding to the wavelength dispersion of an optical fiber transmission path; D/A converters for performing D/A conversion on the pre-equalized data to output analog pre-equalized data; and a vector modulator for modulating light from a laser light source based on the analog pre-equalized data to output an RZ-type optical signal. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201547 | FIXING DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a shearing unit, a detection unit, and a controller. The fixing unit fixes a toner image in place on a printed surface of a recording medium. The shearing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path to at least partially shear toner from the fixed toner image, so as to create a shorn image area that exhibits a different image density than that of an intact, unshorn image area on the printed surface of the recording medium. The detection unit is disposed at least partially downstream from the shearing unit along the media conveyance path to measure the image densities of the shorn and unshorn image areas. The controller is operatively connected to the fixing unit and the detection unit to adjust one or more operational parameters according to a difference between the measured image densities. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201548 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A situation is prevented in which a sheet on which an image has been formed with a first printing material is contained in a sheet-containing unit with the front and back of the sheet being inverted, and as a result, image formation using a second printing material is performed on a surface of the sheet different from the surface thereof on which the image has been formed. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201549 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An image forming apparatus includes a specifying unit configured to, when a user operation for instructing checking of printing is performed during printing, specify, according to a type of carbonless copy paper of a page being printed, carbonless copy paper for checking corresponding to the carbonless copy paper being printed, and an output unit configured to output the carbonless copy paper being printed and the carbonless copy paper for checking specified by the specifying unit. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201550 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes a fixing roller, a heating member, a pressure roller, a first temperature detecting element that detects a temperature of a contact region of the fixing roller that comes into contact with a paper, and a second temperature detecting element that detects a temperature of a noncontact region, and in which energization control of the heating member is carried out by the first one, and energization control is stopped when a temperature detected by the second reaches a prescribed temperature, the device including a conduction shutoff portion that, shuts off the energization where the temperature of the contact region has reached an upper limit, wherein, in which a center of the paper in an axial direction of the fixing roller has been aligned with a reference position of the fixing roller, the paper is transported, and the first one and the shutoff portion are placed symmetrically. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201551 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller which carries developer and contacts the photosensitive member, and a control device which is configured to apply, to the developing roller, a developing bias having a direct current component and an alternating current component overlapped with each other so as to supply developer from the developing roller to the photosensitive member. The control device is configured to execute either one of a first mode in which an amplitude of the alternating current component of the developing bias is set with a first set value and a second mode in which the amplitude of the alternating current component of the developing bias is set with a second set value larger than the first set value, based on whether or not a temperature of the developing roller is a first predetermined value or larger. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201552 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF REDUCING IMAGE DENSITY IRREGULARITY - In an image forming apparatus, a first controller forms a first image pattern on an image bearer and determines a first image formation condition based on a detection result of density of a toner image. The first controller then controls a toner image forming device based on the first image formation condition. A second controller forms a second image pattern different from the first image pattern on an image bearer and determines a second image formation condition based on a detection result of density of a toner image. The second controller then controls a toner image forming device based on the second image formation condition. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201553 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member; a first charging member for electrically charging the image bearing member; a second charging member, provided downstream of the first charging member with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member, for electrically charging the image bearing member; an applying device for applying a voltage to the first charging member and the second charging member; a detecting device for a DC current passing through the second charging member; and a controller for controlling, when an AC voltage and a DC voltage are applied to the second charging member while a DC voltage is applied to the first charging member, the DC voltage applied to the second charging member so that an absolute value of the DC current detected by the detecting device is within a predetermined range. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201554 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD OF ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY - An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing a sequential variation of graininess and keeping imaging quality. An exposure unit exposes the photoconductor to a light beam to form an electrostatic latent image. A development unit develops the electrostatic latent image with a toner. A change unit changes a height of toner image by changing an exposure spot area of the light beam on the photoconductor. A formation unit forms test patterns corresponding to different exposure spot areas on a recording sheet. A read unit reads the test patterns. A control unit detects graininess of each test pattern based on information about the test patterns read by the read unit, determines an exposure spot area where the graininess becomes good relatively, and controls the height of toner image on the photoconductor by setting the exposure spot area determined so as to be an exposure spot area for image formation. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201555 | Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Method - An image forming apparatus of the invention includes; a cleaning member that collects liquid developer by cleaning a developer carrier; a first transporting path that moves the liquid developer collected by the cleaning member; an oscillating member that applies vibration to the liquid developer transported from the first transporting path; a developer supply unit that stores the liquid developer transported from a first transporting mechanism; a second transporting mechanism that includes a second transporting path that transports the liquid developer stored in the developer supply unit to a developer storage in a developing unit; and a control unit that adjusts a toner charge current applied to the toner charging unit and controls vibration applied to the oscillating member on the basis of the adjusted toner charge current. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201556 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a developing apparatus, a developing bias supply power source, a control section for controlling a developing bias, a density sensor, and an arithmetic section. When an image density adjustment operation is performed, the arithmetic section determines a print-time developing bias in accordance with a detection result obtained by detecting, by the density sensor, a plurality of image density adjustment toner images formed by changing a developing bias. The print-time developing bias is set by the control section when printing is performed. also, In a case where a previous print-time developing bias falls within at least a low range of a predetermined range of the developing bias, the arithmetic section determines the print-time developing bias to a value between a reference developing bias for a target image density and the previous print-time developing bias. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201557 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section including a developing device; a toner-cartridge holding section configured to detachably house a toner cartridge that stores a toner supplied to the developing device and includes a storage medium which stores information concerning the toner; a reading device configured to read the information stored in the storage medium; a toner detecting section configured to detect that the toner is supplied to the developing device; a toner-density comparing section configured to compare densities of the toner and a carrier after the detection by the toner detecting section; and a storage device configured to store information concerning use in the reading device and the storage medium if the toner-density comparing section determines that the toner density reaches a predetermined value. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201558 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a belt member for heating an image on a recording material; a heater means heating the belt member; a supporting portion, provided on an inner surface of the belt member, for detachably supporting the belt member; a temperature detecting member contacted to the inner surface of the belt member and elastically supported by the supporting portion; a controller for controlling energization to the heating means on the basis of an output of the temperature detecting member; and an inclined surface, provided to the temperature detecting member, for guiding the temperature detecting member toward an inside of the belt member in contact with the belt member during a mounting operation of the belt member to the supporting portion. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201559 | CALIBRATED REFLECTION DENSITOMETER - A printer apparatus | 2012-08-09 |
20120201560 | Apparatus and Method for Destroying an Encoder Wheel - Image recording devices, such as electrophotographic devices, laser printers, copiers, and fax machines, often have a cartridge that utilizes an encoder wheel assembly in addition to or instead of a chip for determining toner load. It may be desirable to alter the encoder wheel or part of the cartridge, either by the printer or the cartridge, to permit a deliberate end of life function situation that requires the replacement of the cartridge, encoder wheel, or encoder wheel assembly components. This thereby controls the remanufacture or replacement of the toner cartridge in a way that is desirable to the manufacturer and prevents unauthorized refilling of the cartridge. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201561 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum chargeable by a charging device; a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on the drum, wherein the developing device includes a carrying member for carrying and conveying toner to a position where the toner opposes the drum and a screw; a transfer device for transferring a toner image formed on the drum; an exposure device for lowering a potential of the drum by exposing the drum to light; and a controller for effecting, in a period in which the screw is rotated to supply the toner to a portion of the carrying member where the toner is not carried, such a control that the toner is not moved from the carrying member to the drum by electrically charging the drum and that an exposure amount of the drum is smaller than an exposure amount during image formation. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201562 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT PREVENTS IMAGE DELETION - An image forming apparatus that can prevent image deletion in carrying out image formation upon turning-on of power supply after main power supply is turned off before the image forming apparatus goes into a sleep state. A movable member is moved between a shielding position at which it shields a photosensitive drum from a charger and a retracting position at which the photosensitive drum and the charger are opened to each other. When power supply is turned on, a time period for which the photosensitive drum is rotated by a driving unit is controlled according to the position of the movable member detected by a movable member sensor. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201563 | Image Forming Apparatus, Latent Image Carrying Unit, and Developing Unit - Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrying drum on which a latent image is formed; a charging section that includes a corona charger charging the latent image carrying drum and an air flow duct formed in the corona charger so as to be long in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrying drum so that air flows in the corona charger; a developing section that is disposed above the air flow duct in the vertical direction, is formed so as to be shorter than the air flow duct in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrying drum, and develops the latent image formed on the latent image carrying drum by a liquid developing agent including toner and a carrier liquid. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201564 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - At the start of paper conveyance, a gate is turned upwards to a first position to thereby close a sixth conveying path and establish communication between a first conveying path and a second conveying path so that the paper having passed through a fixing unit starts to be conveyed from first conveying path to second conveying path. At the same time, air is exhausted from an exhausting mechanism arranged upstream of a cooling mechanism. When a first paper sensor detects the leading end of the paper, a cooling fan starts to rotate at a predetermined rotational rate to start blowing air at a predetermined volume of cooling airflow. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201565 | SEAL MEMBER FOR PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF MICRO-POWDER FROM ROTATING BODY - Disclosed is a seal member for micro-powder, wherein the sealing properties of toner which is micro-powder for a developing roller or the like, such as an electro-photographic image processor or copying machine have been improved. Specifically disclosed is a seal member ( | 2012-08-09 |
20120201566 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided that receives a rotating force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and transmits the rotating force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum through a drum flange. The drum flange has (i) a first regulated portion capable of being regulated by a first regulating portion, (ii) a second regulated portion capable of being regulated by a second regulating portion, (iii) a connecting portion that is connected with the coupling member so that a rotational axis of the coupling member is inclineable relative to a rotational axis of the drum flange, and (iv) a gear portion that transmits the rotational force from the coupling member to the developing roller. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201567 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum frame, a movable developing frame taking a position where the roller contacts the drum, and a force receiver having first and second force receivers for receiving first and second external forces. The second force receiver moves relative to the developing frame. The second force receiver takes a stand-by position retracted from an operating position when the first force receiver receives the first external force, and moves from the stand-by to the operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position. The distance the second force receiver moves from the stand-by to the operating position is larger than the distance the first force receiver moves by the first external force. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201568 | DEVELOPING ROLLER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is a developing roller in which: even when the roller is stored under a high-temperature, high-humidity environment over a long period of time, bleeding is suppressed; and the fusion of toner to its surface upon repeated output of images under low temperature and low humidity is suppressed. The developing roller includes: a mandrel; an elastic layer on an outer periphery of the mandrel; and a surface layer on an outer periphery of the elastic layer, in which: the surface layer contains carbon black and a polyester-polyurethane resin containing a specific structure; and the surface layer has a storage modulus E′ as measured at a temperature of 0° C. and a frequency of 10 Hz of 5 MPa or more and 20 MPa or less. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201569 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided for forming an image on a recording material. An opening is provided to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, with first and second openable members being movable between closed positions in which portions of the opening are closed and open positions in which portions of the opening are opened. A movable member is movable between a set position inside the main assembly and an outward position in which the movable member, having passed through the opening, is located at an outermost position. The movable member is capable of supporting a plurality of cartridges, side by side, with each of the cartridges including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201570 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member having an a-SiC upper charge injection inhibition layer and an a-SiC surface layer, which is superior in adhesiveness, suppresses the surface deterioration, is superior in sensitivity characteristics and charging characteristics, and can keep an adequate image-forming capability for a long period of time. The upper charge injection inhibition layer contains 10 atom ppm or more and 30,000 atom ppm or less of the Group 13 atoms or the Group 15 atoms of the Periodic Table with respect to silicon atoms in the upper charge injection inhibition layer, and the ratio (C/(Si+C)) of the number of carbon atoms in the upper charge injection inhibition layer with respect to the sum of the number of silicon atoms and the number of the carbon atoms in the upper charge injection inhibition layer is 0.10 or more and 0.60 or less; and the sum of the atom density of the silicon atoms and the atom density of the carbon atoms in the surface layer is 6.60×10 | 2012-08-09 |
20120201571 | Synchronized Drive Unit And Image Forming Apparatus Having The Synchronized Drive Unit - A synchronized drive unit, including a drive member including a pulley; a driven member including a pulley; a relay member including to transmit a power; and timing belts hung around the drive and driven members through the relay member with tension and rotates the drive and driven members in synchronization, wherein each of the timing belts is formed of plural narrow timing belts parallely placed in a rotational axis direction of the pulley and the narrow timing belts are located on the driven member so as to counteract their eccentric components each other. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201572 | ROLLER FOR IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE ROLLER - A roller includes a shaft including reinforcing fiber and a binder resin; and an elastic body surrounding an outer surface of the shaft, wherein an average length to average diameter ratio (L/D) of the reinforcing fiber is from about 15,000:1 to about 50,000:1. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201573 | STIR-TRANSPORT MEMBER, DEVELOPMENT DEVICE PROVIDED THEREWITH, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A stir-transport member is formed on a circumferential surface of a rotation shaft with a first spiral blade, and a second spiral blade formed to overlap the region of the first spiral blade and is opposite the first spiral blade in phase and having a smaller radial-direction height than the first spiral blade. Sections of the spiral blades along the cross longitudinal direction thereof have trapezoidal shapes. The first spiral blade have a plurality of first swell portions, a part of each corresponding to a bottom of the trapezoidal shape and is more swollen than the other portions. The second spiral blade have a plurality of second swell portions, a part of each corresponding to the bottom of the trapezoidal shape and is more swollen than the other portions. The first spiral blade cross the second spiral blade at least at one of the first swell portions per turn. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201574 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device comprises a first and a second developer conveyance path. A first conveyance member is provided in the first developer conveyance path in a freely rotatable manner and has a helical blade. A developing roller supplies the developer in the first developer conveyance path to a photoconductor drum. A developer collection path guides two-component developer left on a surface of the developing roller from the first developer conveyance path. A developer surface adjustment window comprises a predetermined level for allowing excess developer exceeding the level of the window to be guided from the first developer conveyance path to the developer collection path. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201575 | Developing Device and Image Forming Apparatus Including the Same - A developing device includes a developing roller, toner supplying roller, regulation blade, and casing. The developing roller faces an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, and supplies toner to the image carrier. The toner supplying roller faces the developing roller, and supplies the toner to the developing roller. The regulation blade faces the toner supplying roller at predetermined distance. The casing houses the developing roller, toner supplying roller, and regulation blade. The casing includes a toner catching support member facing the developing roller or the toner supplying roller between the regulation blade and the image carrier. The developing device further includes a toner catching member, which is arranged along a longitudinal direction of the toner catching support member and catches toner that drops from the developing roller, and a vibration generating portion, which vibrates the toner catching member. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201576 | DEVELOPER SUPPLY DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A developer supply device is provided, which includes a casing including a developer storage section at a bottom portion therein and an opening formed at an end thereof away from the developer storage section, development agent chargeable with a predetermined polarity, stored in the developer storage section, and a transfer board that is disposed in the casing and configured to transfer the development agent stored in the developer storage section when a multi-phase alternating-current voltage is applied to transfer electrodes of the transfer board. The development agent includes a mother particle having, around an outer surface thereof, an electrically insulating layer without a polar group having a charge polarity identical to the predetermined polarity, and an external additive, absorbed to around the mother particle in an easily desorbable manner, which is an electrically insulating fine particle having a charge polarity identical to the predetermined polarity. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201577 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS - A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member; and a magnetic member provided inside the carrying member and having magnetic poles arranged circumferentially, wherein on a center axis of the carrying member outside an end of the magnetic member, there is a region in which a magnetic flux density of a first magnetic polarity converges toward zero; and wherein a ratio of a volume, per unit length, of a portion of the magnetic member which has a surface magnetic pole of a second magnetic polarity which is different from the first magnetic polarity in a longitudinal end portion to that in a longitudinally central portion is smaller than a ratio of a volume of a portion of the magnetic member which has a surface magnetic pole of the first magnetic polarity in a longitudinal end portion to that in a longitudinally central portion. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201578 | INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER BELT, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER BELT - An intermediate transfer belt configured to receive a toner image formed by developing, with a toner, a latent image on an image bearing member, the intermediate transfer belt including a base layer and an elastic layer laid on the base layer, wherein the elastic layer includes spherical resin particles and a layer formed of an elastic body, and has a concavo-convex pattern in a surface of the elastic layer, wherein the spherical resin particles are arranged in a plane direction in the surface of the elastic layer, and wherein the intermediate transfer belt has glossiness of 35% or higher as determined based on reflected light at 85° on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201579 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a first roller, a second roller, an endless belt, a third roller, a heater, a cooler, and a belt tensioner. The second roller is parallel to the first roller. The endless belt is looped for rotation around the first and second rollers. The third roller is opposite the first roller via the belt. The heater is in at least one of the rollers to heat the roller to in turn heat the belt. The cooler is inside the loop of the belt between the first and second rollers to cool the belt. The first and third rollers press against each other to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. The belt tensioner is in contact with the belt to tension the belt in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the belt. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201580 | METALLIC NANOPARTICLE REINFORCED POLYIMIDE FOR FUSER BELT WITH HIGH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY - A fuser belt for an electrostatographic device and methods for making the fuser belt can include the use of a polyimide and a plurality of copper nanoparticles. The use of copper nanoparticles can result in a fuser belt having a lower heat capacity and a higher thermal conductivity than conventional fuser belts. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201581 | HEATER AND IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS HAVING THE HEATER INSTALLED THEREIN - The image heating apparatus includes first and second lines having a first and second heat generation blocks, the first and second lines being disposed at different positions in a transverse direction, wherein the first and second lines are arranged so that a whole of first heat generation block in the first line and a whole of second heat generation block in the second line overlap with each other in the longitudinal direction, and a whole of second heat generation block in the first line and a whole of first heat generation block in the second line overlap with each other in the longitudinal direction. By the virtue of the present invention, it achieves to be capable of suppressing a temperature rise in a non-sheet feeding area in a case of printing a sheet smaller in size than a maximum size supported by the image heating apparatus. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201582 | HEATER AND IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - The image heating apparatus includes a heater that achieves even heat-generation distribution and suppression of a non-sheet feeding portion temperature increase when an image is printed on a sheet whose size is smaller than a maximum size for the apparatus, and an endless belt, wherein plural heat-generation resistive members having positive temperature coefficients are connected in parallel are provided between first and second conductive members provided along a longitudinal direction of a substrate; plural heat-generation blocks including the plural heat-generation resistive members connected in parallel, are arranged in series along the longitudinal direction; and in the plural heat-generation resistive members included in one of the heat-generation blocks, a heat-generation resistive member arranged at an end portion in the longitudinal direction has a resistivity value higher than that of a heat generation resistive member arranged at a center in the longitudinal direction, or an interval between heat generation resistive members is larger in the end portion. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201583 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable image heating member for heating an image on a recording material, a magnetic flux generator for generating magnetic flux for heating the image heating member, an adjustor for adjusting the magnetic flux distribution so that the magnetic flux acting on an end portion region of the image heating member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the image heating member is decreased, a changing portion for changing a sheet passing position of the recording material with respect to the rotational axis direction within a set range, and a switching portion for switching, when the adjustor is actuated and sheets of the recording material are continuously passed, the set range from a range in which the sheet passing position does not overlap with the end portion region to a range in which the sheet passing position overlaps the end portion region. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201584 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A recording sheet has an unfixed toner image that is formed thereon, and is conveyed to a fixing device. A surface reforming device of the fixing device performs surface reformation for the surface of the toner on the recording sheet by, for example, plasma irradiation or the like, thereby generating a polar group of a hydrophilic property on the surface of the toner. Next, the recording sheet is conveyed to a laser irradiation portion by a recording sheet conveyance device to be irradiated with a laser, in which the toner is fused to be fixed to the recording sheet. The toner on the recording sheet is subjected to surface reforming treatment, thus having increased affinity (adhesion force) with the recording sheet, so that it is possible to secure favorable fixability without pressing. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201585 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERY OF A FUNCTIONAL MATERIAL TO AN IMAGE FORMING MEMBER - The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to an image forming apparatus comprising: a) an imaging member, and b) a delivery member in contact with the surface of the imaging member, wherein the delivery member has a surface layer comprised of an elastic material impregnated with a functional healing material, and the functional healing material is transferred onto the imaging member by diffusion through the elastic material to the surface of the imaging member. Embodiments also pertain to an improved electrophotographic imaging member comprising a very thin outer layer on the imaging member surface, where the outer layer comprises functional healing materials that act as a lubricant and or a barrier against moisture and/or surface contaminants. The improved imaging member exhibits improved xerographic performance, such as reduced friction and deletions in high humidity conditions. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201586 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet processing apparatus of the invention has: an ejecting unit that is capable of receiving a sheet on which a toner image has been heated and fixed, and ejecting the sheet for a predetermined normal ejecting time; and a processing unit that processes the sheet ejected by the ejecting unit according to obtained sheet information, wherein the ejecting unit ejects the sheet for an ejecting time longer than the normal ejecting time. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201587 | PRINTING OPERATION ASSISTING DEVICE - A printing operation assisting device for assisting a printing operation performed by a solder printer configured to print a solder cream on a substrate surface, including: a measure determining portion configured to determine a remedial measure against a deterioration of a print quality specified on the basis of print-result information obtained from an inspecting machine configured to inspect a print result by the printer, in accordance with a kind of the print-quality deterioration; and a measure issuing portion configured to issue a command relating to the remedial measure determined by the measure determining portion to at least one of the printer and its operator, wherein the measure determining portion is configured to determine a remedial measure against a certain print-quality deterioration and to redetermine another remedial measure different from the previously determined remedial measure where the deteriorated print quality is not improved by execution of the previously determined measure. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201588 | TAPE CASSETTE - A tape cassette that includes a generally rectangular box-like housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall defining a periphery of the housing, a first and second cavities extending from the bottom wall and disposed between a tape containing area and the periphery at opposite ends of a diagonal of the generally rectangular box-like housing, at least one tape wound and mounted within the housing in the tape containing area, the at least one tape including a first tape disposed in a first area, the first tape having a hole at a center of winding, and the first area being one of two areas formed by dividing the housing with respect to a line connecting the first and second cavities, and a third cavity that extends in the hole of the first tape from the bottom wall. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201589 | INTERFACE FOR A COMPUTER - An interface for retrofitting to a portable computer such as a notebook or laptop computer, the interface for covering the keyboard and having a plurality of jumbo buttons, each jumbo button for covering more than one key of the keyboard. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201590 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DECURLING MEDIA IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - Embodiments described herein include an upstream measurement module, a curler downstream of the upstream measurement module, and a print station downstream of the curler. The upstream measurement module includes a transport on which media is tacked to flatten the media and a curl sensor to generate a curl signal corresponding to a media curl of the media on the transport. The curler curls the media in response to the curl signal to reduce a magnitude of the media curl. The print station includes a marking unit to dispose a marking material on the media and a transport to transport the media past the marking unit, wherein the first and second transports apply a substantially equivalent hold down force to the media. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201591 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A WEB MEMBER AND APPLYING TENSION TO THE WEB MEMBER - A method for adjusting tension to a media web in a printing system includes identifying a tension level between the media web and at least one roll that is in contact with the media web. The tension level is identified with reference to a slip condition between the media web and the at least one roll. The identified tension is stored in a memory in the printing system. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201592 | STICK-SHAPED MATERIAL EXTRUDING CONTAINER - A stick-shaped material extruding container for performing forward and backward movements of a stick-shaped material without trouble and prevent detachment of the stick-shaped material by an impact. A movable body having a piston-like extruding portion, closely attached within a filling member, is arranged within a container. The stick-shaped material is loaded in the filling member so as to be closely attached to the filling member and the piston-like extruding portion. When the stick-shaped material is pushed by a forward movement of the piston-like extruding portion to appear from an opening of the container, a sucking action is generated due to decompression between the piston-like extruding portion and the stick-shaped material by a backward movement of the piston-like extruding portion to retract the stick-shaped material, and the decompression prevents falling off of the stick-shaped material from the container. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201593 | ROLLER APPLICATOR FOR MASCARA - A roller applicator for mascara including a rod on which a cylindrical roller is mounted formed of porous material able to absorb the fluid mascara by capillary action. Advantageously the roller rotates about the rod. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201594 | MOVEABLE TAB - A tab system including a tab for attachment to a component, the tab having a display portion proximate to a first edge of the tab and a pair of attachment portions. Each attachment portion is located on a corner of the tab along a second edge opposite from the first edge. Each attachment portion includes curved or angled, generally parallel upper and lower edges, or, alternately each attachment portion includes a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart outwardly-extending legs. | 2012-08-09 |
20120201595 | Outer Race Connection - An outer joint portion ( | 2012-08-09 |