Patents Represented by Attorney Oliff and Berridge, PLC
  • Patent number: 7869099
    Abstract: For an automatic image diagnosis, toned images or residual toner existing on the photoconductive surface of a photoreceptor may be scanned with light energy provided by the raster scanning system. The light energy, which may be reflected from the photoreceptor surface, may be disturbed due to scattering/absorption in toned or damaged surface regions. The light energy may be directed to image sensors to obtain a spatial image map of the photoreceptor surface in conjunction with pixel clock information present for the raster scanning system. The evaluation may be made based on the spatial image map. Diagnostic and maintenance may then be applied to correct the defect and/or adjust a tone level for a latent image formed on the photoreceptor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Dale R. Mashtare
  • Patent number: 7680432
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having removable/replaceable process cartridges is provided. One of the removable/replaceable process cartridges may be removed/replaced from a panel which is different than a panel from which the other removable/replaceable process cartridges may be removed/replaced. One of the removable/replaceable process cartridges may be associated with an exposure device which is only used to expose a portion of that process cartridge while the other removable/replaceable process cartridges may be associated with at least one other exposure device. An image forming apparatus may include two or more different types of exposure devices (e.g., laser based, light emitting diode based, etc.). An image forming apparatus may include a plurality of guide members for guiding portions of an exposure device arranged on a panel of the image forming apparatus such that when the door or panel is arranged on the image forming apparatus, the exposure device is guided into position by the guide members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Soichiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7673996
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes: an imaging portion that takes an image of an object; an optical element that is disposed halfway on an optical path between the object and the imaging portion, and that branches the optical path; a projection portion that projects image light onto the object through the optical element; a dust prevention cover that includes an opening on an optical axis between the object and the optical element, and that covers at least the optical element to protect the optical element from dust; and a transparent dust prevention member that is provided in the dust prevention cover to close the opening, and that has a reflection surface preventing reflection light, which is obtained by receiving the image light from the projection portion and reflecting the image light, from being incident on an entrance pupil of the imaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Abe
  • Patent number: 7528992
    Abstract: If a false edge will possibly occur at a portion in an image where the input pixel value. Iin is equal to the value (Rj+F), where j=N, S, M, or L, the noise value N is generated when the input pixel value Iin is around the value (Rj+F). The noise value N has a value equal to a product of a random number, the value “rate”, and the value “coefficient”. The value “rate” becomes the maximum value (1) when the input pixel value Iin is equal to the value (Rj+F), and becomes zero (0) when the input pixel value Iin is smaller than or equal to the value (Rj+F)?Range and when the input pixel value Iin is greater than or equal to the value (Rj+F)+Range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kuno
  • Patent number: 7502084
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes first and second substrates which are arranged to face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and first and second electrodes which are provided on the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is driven by electric fields generated between the first and second electrodes. A reflective display region for reflective display and a transmissive display region for transmissive display are provided in each of a plurality of subpixel regions. A main direction of an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes in the transmissive display region is different from a main direction of an electric field between the first and second electrodes in the reflective display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Joji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7227237
    Abstract: A high fill-factor photosensor array is formed comprising a P-layer, an I-layer, one or more semiconductor structures adjacent to the I-layer and each coupled to a N-layer, an electrically conductive electrode formed on top of the P-layer, and an additional semiconductor structure, adjacent to the N-layer and which is electrically connected to a voltage bias source. The bias voltage applied to the additional semiconductor structure charges the additional semiconductor structure, thereby creating a tunneling effect between the N-layer and the P-layer, wherein electrons leave the N-layer and reach the P-layer and the electrically conductive layer. The electrons then migrate and distribute uniformly throughout the electrically conductive layer, which ensures a uniform bias voltage across to the entire photosensor array. The biasing scheme in this invention allows to achieve mass production of photosensors without the use of wire bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: JengPing Lu, Kathleen Dore Boyce, legal representative, James B. Boyce, deceased
  • Patent number: 7224263
    Abstract: An IG key monitor sends out an anti-theft instruction to a GAIN switching part, in case that an IG key SW (ignition key switch) was turned to an OFF state. The GAIN switching part receives the anti-theft instruction from the IG key monitor, and then, switches detection sensitivity of an acceleration sensor to second detection sensitivity (which is detection sensitivity available for inclination judgment of a vehicle, and for example, is approximately ±2 G). An inclination judgment part judges whether or not a vehicle is inclined on the basis of a detection result of the acceleration sensor whose detection sensitivity was switched as described above, and outputs an anti-theft alarm through an alarm part, in case that an output of the acceleration sensor exceeds 0.1 G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Hiroaki Maehara
  • Patent number: 7221897
    Abstract: A method for plastic sheet manufacturing whereby a layered body including a film is made to pass through a nip portion formed by a pair of belts, each having a joint portion, causing the layered body to be integrated to manufacture a plastic sheet. Before integration, the position of each of the joint portions is detected and the timing at which the layered body enters the nip portion is controlled in accordance with the detected positions. A plastic sheet manufacturing apparatus implements the plastic sheet manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Egusa, Tetsuro Kodera
  • Patent number: 7221689
    Abstract: A laser apparatus capable of emitting laser beams of a plurality of different wavelengths includes: a solid-state laser medium which emits light of a plurality of different peak wavelengths; a resonance optical system which resonates the emitted light of the plurality of different peak wavelengths and converts respective light to oscillate the laser beams of the plurality of different wavelengths; and a ¼ wave plate for a wide band, which is placed in the resonance optical system and has a property of providing a uniform phase difference to the light of the plurality of different peak wavelengths to be converted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamada, Yasutoshi Takada
  • Patent number: 7211936
    Abstract: The invention provides a resonator piece, a resonator, an oscillator and an electronic device that can prevent in advance defects from arising in the electrodes and whose frequency characteristics of the resonator piece and CI value are stable. The resonator piece can include a base portion in which a base portion electrode portion is formed, resonating arm portions, groove portions including groove electrode portions, side surface electrode portions, groove electrode-use connection electrode portions, and side surface electrode-use connection electrode portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Tanaya, Fumitaka Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7209380
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic memory device capable of performing reading operation with lower power consumption and at high read precision and a method of reading the magnetic memory device. Sense bit lines (21A, 21B) are provided in a bit line direction for each pair of magnetoresistive devices (12A, 12B) constructing a storage cell (12) and a read current is supplied. The read currents passed through the pair of magnetoresistive devices (12A, 12B) flow to the ground via a sense word line (31). Further, by providing a constant current circuit (108B) commonly for plural sense word lines (31), the sum of a pair of read currents passing through the pair of magnetoresistive devices (12A, 12B) in one storage cell constant, and information is read from the storage cell (12) on the basis of the difference between the pair of read currents. By sharing the constant current circuit (108B), variations in the sum of the pair of read currents can be reduced, and power consumption can be also reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Joichiro Ezaki, Yuji Kakinuma, Keiji Koga, Shigekazu Sumita
  • Patent number: 7205990
    Abstract: A power supply circuit which generates a power supply for a circuit which drives a source electrode and a gate electrode provided in a display, includes a first booster circuit which outputs a third potential boosted based on a difference between first and second potentials, a potential regulator circuit which outputs a fourth potential being a constant potential generated based on a difference between the first and third potentials, and a second booster circuit which outputs a fifth potential boosted based on a difference between the first and fourth potentials. The first and fourth potentials are supplied to a source electrode driver circuit, and the first and fifth potentials are supplied to a gate electrode driver circuit. A voltage supplied to the gate electrode driver circuit may be generated by using a voltage conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hisanobu Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 7206068
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image onto a recording medium; a controlling unit that controls the toner image forming unit such that a test image is formed on the recording medium; a sheet transfer unit that transfers the recording medium having the toner image formed thereon by the toner image forming unit; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image formed by the toner image forming unit onto the recording medium; an image detecting unit, disposed downstream from the image fixing unit along the sheet transfer unit, that detects the test image formed on the recording medium; and a calibration unit that performs a color calibration process based upon the test image detected by the image detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7203035
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head has at least either an electromagnetic transducer or a magnetoresistive device, and a sheet-shaped heater for generating heat when energized. The heater has a heating part and a lead part connected in series to the heating part. The lead part has a sheet resistance lower than that of the heating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Soji Koide, Nobuya Oyama, Norikazu Ota, Tetsuro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7193821
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film magnetic head and a method of manufacturing the same in which a magnetic sensitive layer can be formed as a single magnetic domain while adapting the head to higher recording density and, further, which can display a higher resistance change rate. While narrowing the magnetic sensitive layer, a vertical bias magnetic field having both sufficient intensity and uniformity can be applied to the magnetic sensitive layer. As a result, it can be promoted to form the magnetic sensitive layer as a single magnetic domain while adapting the head to higher recording density, so that reading operation can be performed more stably. Particularly, in the case of passing sense current in the thickness direction to an MR film, a higher magnetoresistive change rate can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 7183696
    Abstract: A thin film piezoelectric element has a laminate including a piezoelectric film and a pair of electrode films placed so as to sandwich the piezoelectric film in between, a resin film formed so as to cover the laminate, and an electrode formed on the resin film and electrically connected to the electrode film. The resin film is formed so that a thickness of a region where the electrode is formed is larger than a thickness of a region corresponding to a displaced portion of the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamazaki, Ken Unno, Kenichi Tochi, Masahiro Miyazaki, Shigeru Shoji
  • Patent number: 7178780
    Abstract: A mold used to form a magnetic member includes a mold body having a mold opening, a mold support that supports the mold cavity, and a mold insert. The mold insert is disposed in the mold opening of the mold body to form a mold cavity. The mold insert is coated with a coating to protect the mold body from chemical attack and abrasive wear of the mold material. The coating comprises an electroless nickel layer formed on or over the mold insert, and a chromium nitride layer formed on or over the electroless nickel layer. The mold insert can be formed of beryllium-copper (Be—Cu).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Mastro, Christopher D. Blair, Jennifer R. Wagner, Jay Schneider
  • Patent number: 7150511
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a bidirectional recording section, a check pattern recording section that forms check patterns different in record position of backward recording relative to forward recording when each check pattern having vertical ruled lines are recorded, a density data detection section that acquires density data of each check pattern, a density amplitude detection section that extracts partial in each partial segment from the density data of each check pattern, detects minimum and maximum values of each partial data, and detects a difference between the minimum and maximum values as a density amplitude value, an amplitude difference detection section that detects a difference between the density amplitude values of adjacent partial segments as an amplitude difference value in each check pattern, and a best pattern determination section that determines a best check pattern in which the variation amount of the density data is the smallest in each check pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Oguri, Tetsuya Kato
  • Patent number: 7144171
    Abstract: A device for packaging and applying a substance constituting a cosmetic or a care product containing at least one volatile hydrocarbon solvent can be closed hermetically and includes at lease two elements, at least one of which is made of a plastics material. The elements are suitable for moving relative to each other in order to enable the substance to be applied. The plastics material is selected in such a manner that the element(s) is/are not subject to significant mass variation when put into prolonged contact with the vapor of the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Gilles Blondeel, Marion Prunier
  • Patent number: 7091073
    Abstract: In contrast to conventional semiconductor components formed on a silicon substrate, the present invention aims at providing a transistor component functioning as a semiconductor component by being placed on an insulating substrate made of plastic and the like. The transistor component according to the present invention comprises a silicon grain 100A with a drain area 402 and a source area 401 formed via a channel area 403, an oxidation film 101 covering the surface of the silicon grain 100A, a gate electrode 300A connecting with the channel area 403 via the oxidation film 101, and a drain electrode 200A electrically connecting with the drain area 402, and a source electrode 400A electrically connecting with the source area 401.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Inoue