Patents Examined by G. M. Hyder
  • Image forming apparatus to ensure workability in removing a sheet in a conveyance path
    Patent number: 10994956
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an apparatus main body, a conveyance unit, an opening/closing member, a discharge unit, and a stack tray. The conveyance unit conveys a sheet to the image forming unit. The opening/closing member opens and closes relative to the apparatus main body, and, where the opening/closing member is in an open state relative to the apparatus main body, allow making access to the conveyance unit. The discharge unit discharges the sheet on which the image is formed. The stack tray is turned between a first position for stacking sheets on the stack face, and a second position with an angle formed between an underside opposite to the stack face and a horizontal plane that is larger than an angle of the first position, and includes an engagement portion to engage with the apparatus main body in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Nakamura
  • Moveable MRI moving apparatus
    Patent number: 10987189
    Abstract: Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Sino Canada Health Engineering Research Institute (Hefei) Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol, John Saunders, Gong Zhang
  • Transfer device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10990040
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer unit and an adjustment unit. The transfer unit includes a transfer belt and a transfer roller. The transfer belt is wound around a rotating winding roller to circulate. An image is to be formed on the transfer belt. The transfer roller is disposed on an opposite side of the winding roller across the transfer belt. The transfer roller is configured to transfer the image on the transfer belt to a recording medium. The adjustment unit is configured to change an axial direction of the transfer roller to adjust parallelism between an axis of the transfer roller and an axis of the winding roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Hagiwara, Kentaro Iwamoto
  • Method and magnetic resonance imaging device for providing an MR-image, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium
    Patent number: 10989782
    Abstract: A method and a magnetic resonance imaging device, and a corresponding computer readable storage medium. The method includes acquiring a distortion function describing a frequency dependence of an amplitude or phase of an MR-signal received by a receiver part of the MRI-device, Fourier transforming K-space data acquired using this receiver part to image space data, generating compensated image space data by compensating for the frequency dependence by dividing the image space data or image space data derived therefrom in image space by the distortion function, and providing the MR-image as the compensated image space data or reconstructed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Stephan Biber, Kun Zhou, De He Weng
  • Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10976696
    Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Kazunari Murayama, Susumu Nittani, Atsushi Numagami
  • Method for controlling electrophotographic apparatus
    Patent number: 10976682
    Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling an electrophotographic apparatus including forming a first measurement image by performing first halftone processing on image data, forming a second measurement image by performing second halftone processing different from the first halftone processing on the image data, measuring densities of the first measurement image and the second measurement image, calculating a density difference between each of densities of the measurement images, determining whether the density difference satisfies a predetermined reference value, and applying a surface treatment on an electrophotographic photosensitive member if the density difference does not satisfy the reference value, during a non-image formation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiro Abe, Motoya Yamada, Toshiyasu Shirasuna, Hironori Owaki, Jun Ohira, Yuu Nishimura
  • Adult head-sized coil-based low-field MRI
    Patent number: 10973435
    Abstract: An ultra-low field pre-pulse Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PMRI) system for a head includes RF coils defining a bore for head access, a pre-pulse coil outside the RF coils, and a coil assembly including a main magnetic field coil and gradient coils outside the pre-pulse coil. The PMRI system includes a first cylindrical shield concentric with the RF coils and made from conductive materials. The first cylindrical shield partially encloses the RF coils and inside the pre-pulse coil for shielding the RF coils from environmental electromagnetic disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Schiff, Johnes Obungoloch, Joshua Harper, Srinivas Tadigadapa, Igor Savukov
  • Systems and methods for in-phase zero echo time magnetic resonance imaging
    Patent number: 10969451
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ZTE MRI are disclosed. An exemplary method includes obtaining Larmor frequencies of water and/or fat for a region of interest of a subject to be imaged at a pre-scan and setting a center frequency for an RF transceiver of the MR system at a value between the Larmor frequencies of water and fat. A ZTE pulse sequence is applied to the subject and MR signals in response to the ZTE pulse sequence are received from the subject. The received MR signals are demodulated with the center frequency and an in-phase ZTE image is generated from the demodulated MR signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Florian Wiesinger, Mathias Engstrom
  • Multi-component apparatus and method for isochronous communication therein
    Patent number: 10962618
    Abstract: In a method for isochronous communication of components of a multi-component apparatus, which communicate via peer-to-peer communication connections created by a switch, a periodic communication clock signal is provided by a control computer to all the components, with a communication window between two communication clock cycles of the communication clock signal, in which a communication information item of the isochronous communication is transferrable from a transferring component to at least one addressed component. A synchronization, in relation to the communication clock signal, between at least two of the components is produced by at least one synchronization message sent via the switch by one of the components to be synchronized to all the other components to be synchronized in a communication time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Werner, Nikolaus Demharter, Martin Nisznansky
  • DNP-NMR probe and method of using the same
    Patent number: 10955498
    Abstract: Attenuation of microwaves is reduced or prevented when vacuum windows are provided in microwave waveguides of a DNP-NMR probe. A DNP-NMR probe has an inner container and an outer container. The inner container has therein a sample tube containing a sample to which radicals are added. The outer container keeps a space between the outer container and the inner container in the outer container in a vacuum state. The outer container has an outer container waveguide that has a vacuum window at an inner end portion and guides microwaves. The inner container has a vacuum window facing the vacuum window of the outer container waveguide through vacuum, and guides microwaves transmitted from the outer container waveguide to the sample. The window-to-window distance between the vacuum window of the outer container and the vacuum window of the inner container is adjusted by means of adjustment bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignees: JEOL Ltd., Osaka University
    Inventors: Toshimichi Fujiwara, Yoh Matsuki, Hiroki Takahashi, Shinji Nakamura
  • Belt positioning structure, belt and roller unit, and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10955772
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a belt positioning structure including a belt roller, a belt, a projection, and a first rotating body. The belt roller is rotatable about a roller axis. The belt is wound around the belt roller. The projection is provided so as to protrude from an inner peripheral surface of the belt. The first rotating body regulates the projection from moving in a first direction approaching the belt roller along the roller axis. The first rotating body is rotatable around an axis. At least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the first rotating body faces a side surface of the projection on the first direction side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takehiro Meguro
  • Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
    Patent number: 10955510
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates, from a first image influenced by a magnetic field distortion, a second image in which the influence of the distortion is corrected, receives a first area setting in the second image and calculates, by a method of the calculation depending on an imaging purpose, an excitation area in the imaging based on the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Shinoda, Yoshimori Kassai, Yoshiteru Watanabe
  • Monitoring an MR magnet using vibrations
    Patent number: 10955501
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance system includes a magnet device, which is arranged in an outer housing and an inner housing located therein. A monitoring method includes determining a value of a vibration amplitude of the outer housing or an intermediate housing located between the inner housing and the outer housing at a vibration frequency; providing a transmission ratio between the vibration amplitude and the operating parameter at the vibration frequency; and determining a value of the operating parameter as a function of the determined value of the vibration amplitude by means of the transmission ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Dietz, Andreas Krug, Christopher Stroehlein, Karsten Wicklow
  • MRI RF coil assemblies with RF coil elements that allow wireless communication data transmission and related methods and systems
    Patent number: 10948557
    Abstract: RF coil array assemblies include an RF coil array with a plurality of coil elements. The coil elements each have an RF conductor that defines an RF path. The coil elements operate in an RF mode for at least one of transmitting RF excitation signals or receiving MRI image signals on the RF conductors. The RF coil array assemblies also include at least one wireless module connected to the RF coil array, the at least one wireless module including a wireless transceiver operative at a wireless communication frequency band and attached to at least some of the coil elements to provide input and output signals to the at least one wireless module. At least some of the coil elements can concurrently transmit or receive wireless communication data and the RF excitation signals or the received MRI image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Dean Darnell, Allen W. Song, Trong-Kha Truong
  • Image forming apparatus and method for image forming
    Patent number: 10948863
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming device, a sensor, and a processor. The image forming device is to form an image on recording medium. The sensor is to irradiate light to the recording medium and detect an amount of light transmitted through the recording medium and an amount of light reflected from the recording medium, resulting in a control of a printing operation of the image forming device based the amount of light transmitted through the printing medium and the amount of light reflected from the printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Tomishima
  • Image forming unit and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10948845
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an image forming unit including: an image carrier; a charger; a latent image forming unit; a developing roller; and a regulating member. The charger charges the image carrier. The latent image forming unit forms a latent image on the image carrier. The developing roller is arranged to face the image carrier and develops the latent image with a developer including a carrier and a toner. The regulating member regulates a layer thickness of the developer of a surface of the developing roller. The regulating member extends in a direction approaching the developing roller. A magnetic force exerted by the developing roller at a tip end of the regulating member in an extending direction is 55 mT or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsunori Mizuta
  • Image forming apparatus and method for controlling same, and storage medium
    Patent number: 10948865
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus to which a finisher is connected, a power source control unit shifts the image forming apparatus to a power saving state. The image forming apparatus is inhibited from being shifted to the power saving state when it is detected that a sheet for which a binding process is to be performed is set in the finisher. The image forming apparatus may be permitted to be shifted to the power saving state when it is not detected that the sheet is set in the finisher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Hikichi
  • Image forming apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium that select, from among a plurality of paper feed sources, one that satisfies a selected condition
    Patent number: 10921740
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storing unit that stores information associated with a sheet type of a sheet and a sheet feed source, of a plurality of sheet feed sources, a selection unit that selects a sheet feed source from the plurality of sheet feeding sources based on at least a sheet type designated by a job and the stored information, and a feeding unit that feeds a sheet from the selected sheet feed source. The image forming apparatus also includes an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet fed by the feeding unit, and a detector that detects a sheet type of the sheet fed from one of the plurality of sheet feed sources by the feeding unit. The storing unit stores the sheet type detected by the detector as the information indicating the sheet type of sheet stored in the sheet feeding source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidemi Sasaki
  • Replaceable unit for an image forming device having magnets of varying angular offset for toner level sensing
    Patent number: 10921746
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet and a second magnet are connected to the shaft and rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet pass near at least a portion of an inner wall of the housing forming the reservoir during rotation of the first and second magnets. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet varies depending on an amount of toner in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Robert Watson McAlpine
  • Systems and methods for providing gradient power for an MRI system
    Patent number: 10921403
    Abstract: Power systems and circuitry for generation of gradient magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems are discussed herein. Embodiments may include the use of multiple gradient amplifiers that share a high-frequency power distribution unit, that may perform power distribution and power supply roles. The high-frequency power distribution unit may allow the use of a single power supply to drive multiple gradient amplifiers via a shared power bus. The gradient amplifiers may make use of modern semiconductor materials that provide high-frequency, high voltage performance, and may be implemented using single semiconductor bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Viswanathan Kanakasabai, Jayanti Ganesh, Juan Antonio Sabate