Patents Examined by Linda B Smith
  • Sports camera mounting apparatus
    Patent number: 9244337
    Abstract: An apparatus for an attachable mount having a center plate with a mount for a camera is described. A first arm is coupled to a first end of the center plate and a second arm is coupled to a second end of the center plate. There is a catch coupled to an end of the first arm and a catch coupled to an end of the second arm. At least one of the catches is adjustable in distance from the center plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ORION INNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Orion Jacob Weihe
  • Powder container, developing unit, process unit, and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 9239565
    Abstract: A powder container that includes a container body to contain powder for image formation, a discharge outlet formed in the container body to discharge powder therefrom, a shutter movable between an open position to open the discharge outlet and a closed position to close the discharge outlet, and a seal member to be interposed between the container body and the shutter when the shutter is at the open position. In a state in which the shutter is at the open position, a downstream end of the seal member in an opening direction in which the shutter moves to open the discharge outlet is positioned downstream from a downstream end of the shutter in the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoh Tsuritani, Yoshiyuki Shimizu, Tomohiro Kubota, Manabu Hamada, Masato Tsuji
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9239542
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming stations, each including a developing device, a toner container containing a colored or special toner, and a replaceable supply-toner conduit extending from the toner container to the developing device; and a toner type identifier to identify a type of toner used in the supply-toner conduit of each of the plurality of image forming stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kasai, Makoto Yasuda, Mutsuki Morinaga, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Emiko Shiraishi, Yuichi Aizawa
  • Image heating apparatus
    Patent number: 9235167
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a rotating mechanism for rotating a belt unit in a direction for returning a belt into a predetermined zone; a displacing mechanism for permitting a first supporting member to be displaced in a direction for substantially equalizing forces, from the first supporting member, urging the belt toward a rotatable heating member at opposite end portions of the first supporting member with respect to a belt widthwise direction and to permit a second supporting member to be displaced in a direction for substantially equalizing forces, from the second supporting member, urging the belt toward the rotatable heating member at opposite end portions of the second supporting member; and a limiting mechanism for limiting the amount of the displacement permitted by the displacing mechanism within a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Hasegawa
  • Camera module and method for assembling the same
    Patent number: 9235107
    Abstract: Disclosed are a camera module and a method for assembling the camera module, the camera module including a cover part having an opening formed therein and a lens guide formed in the opening to prevent removal of a lens to an outside, a lens mounted to the opening of the cover part, and a back cap coming into close contact with the lens and mounted to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sangyeal Han, Sukwoo Son, Daeseung Kim, Heungsun Kim, Bumsig Cho
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9229405
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit configured to feed a sheet, an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on the sheet fed by the feeding unit, a measuring unit configured to measure the measurement image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit, and an adjustment unit configured to perform an adjustment operation on basis of a measurement result of the measurement image. In this case, the image forming unit forms the measurement image of a first side of the sheet and forms a setting aid image on a second side that is different from the first side, and the setting aid image shows information describing the direction of the sheet for setting in the feeding unit and information for prompting to set the sheet with the second side up in the feeding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohisa Itagaki
  • Blowing device, and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9228592
    Abstract: Provided is a blowing device including a blower that sends air, a blower pipe having an inlet that takes in the air sent from the blower, an outlet that is formed in an elongated opening shape parallel to the portion of the target structure in the longitudinal direction, and a body portion that connects the inlet and the outlet and to cause the air to flow therethrough, and plural flow dividing plates, each of the flow dividing plates having a distributing portion and a changing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruyo Ryuzaki, Yuki Nagamori, Kazuki Inami, Yasunori Momomura, Masafumi Kudo
  • Optical apparatus and image-pickup apparatus including the same
    Patent number: 9223146
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an image stabilizer configured to drive a first optical member in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis and to stabilize an image, a light amount adjuster that includes a plurality of blades, and is configured to change a diameter of an aperture configured to transmit a light flux, by rotating the blades, a driver configured to drive the light amount adjuster in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a controller configured to control a driving amount of the driver in accordance with a driving amount of the image stabilizer. The controller drives the image stabilizer and the light amount adjuster in equal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi Katano
  • In-vehicle camera
    Patent number: 9193308
    Abstract: An in-vehicle camera is provided which has a case and a lens, and which is attached in a vehicle interior so that the lens is exposed at a top face of the case and the top face is opposed to a windshield. The top face has an angular shape bent at a ridge line passing through the top face. The lens is positioned in the vicinity of the ridge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Syo Okuda
  • Developing apparatus and developing method
    Patent number: 9195140
    Abstract: A joint nozzle that delivers a developer, a rinsing liquid and nitrogen gas is disposed adjacent the spin center of a substrate in plan view. A controller operates electromagnetic switch valves to continue supply of the developer, while spinning the substrate, in a developing process, and to start supply of the rinsing liquid in a rinsing process, immediately after the supply of the developer ends, thereby achieving a shortened period of the developing process. A switching is made to a drying process by starting supply of the nitrogen gas immediately after completion of the rinsing process. Thus, even if the substrate has a large angle of contact, formation of droplets of the rinsing liquid is inhibited to prevent post-develop defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Mitsuhashi, Kenji Sugimoto
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9195164
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier which carries thereon a developer image, a holding roller which holds thereon developer attached on the image carrier, a collection device which collects the developer on the holding roller via at least the image carrier, and a control device which executes a holding control of applying to the holding roller a holding bias having a polarity opposite to the developer such that the holding roller holds developer and a collection control of applying to the holding roller a discharge bias having a polarity same as the developer such that the developer held on the holding roller is moved to the image carrier and the collection device collects the developer via the image carrier. The control device starts the collection control at a timing after a predetermined point of time according to an estimated charge amount of the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mayu Wakamatsu, Masatoshi Shiraki
  • Lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus capable of controlling aperture stop
    Patent number: 9197820
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an aperture stop unit that adjusts light intensity, a terminal configured so that a voltage is applied in a state of connecting to an image pickup apparatus, a drive circuit that drives the aperture stop unit, and a controller that controls the drive circuit, the controller controls the drive circuit in a drive mode that drives the aperture stop unit from a first position to a second position without driving the aperture stop unit to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kosaka
  • Fuser control device, fuser control method and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9188915
    Abstract: A fuser control device that controls a fuser that heats and fuses developer on a medium for an image formation on the medium includes the fuser including a heating member that rotates while contacting and heating the medium, and a rotation member that rotates and sandwiches the medium with the heating member; a heat supply part that supplies heat to the heating member; a temperature detection part that detects a temperature of the heating member; a heating controller that controls the heat supply part based on a detection result by the temperature detection part; and a rotation controller that controls a rotational speed of the heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiki Sato
  • Control flap
    Patent number: 9185275
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a processor; memory operatively coupled to the processor; a display operatively coupled to the processor; a camera that includes a lens, an active state and a dormant state; a housing that houses at least the processor and the camera and that includes a surface where the surface comprises an aperture aligned with the lens of the camera; a flap where, in a first orientation, the flap covers the aperture and where, in a second orientation, the flap exposes the aperture; and circuitry that determines the state of the camera based on the orientation of the flap. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Miles Osborne, David Wayne Hill
  • Developing device and image forming apparatus therewith
    Patent number: 9176427
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer container having first and second transport passages, for containing developer; a developer carrier for carrying, on its surface, developer inside the second transport passage; a first stirring/transporting member having a rotary shaft and a transport blade formed on its circumferential surface, for stirring/transporting developer inside the first transport passage; a second stirring/transporting member for stirring/transporting developer inside the second transport passage in a direction opposite to the first stirring/transporting member; a first developer passing portion for delivering developer from the first to the second transport passage; and a second developer passing portion for delivering developer from the second to the first transport passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi Tamaki, Hiroshi Yamazaki
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9170526
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a transmission mechanism transmitting a driving force in a transmission direction from a driving source to an output unit, the transmission mechanism including a movable gear configured to move between a transmission position where, when the driving source generates the driving force in a first rotational direction, and a clutch is in a rotating state, the movable gear is allowed to rotate without contacting a lock member, and a restriction position where, when the driving source generates the driving force in a second rotational direction, the clutch is in an idling state, the movable gear is restricted from rotating by contact with the lock member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Yohei Hashimoto
  • Computer-implemented system and method for notifying users upon the occurrence of an event
    Patent number: 9173009
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for notifying users on the occurrence of an event is disclosed. An embodiment further includes notifying selected users upon the occurrence of particular events in sessions using a variety of notification methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: GULA CONSULTING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
    Inventor: Kevin E. Kalajan
  • Cleaning blade, cleaning device, and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9164466
    Abstract: A cleaning blade includes a portion which comes in contact with a member to be cleaned, and the portion is configured of a member containing polyurethane rubber having a structure derived from polyester polyol in which a first diol component having 10 or more carbon atoms and a second diol component having 5 or less carbon atoms are condensed with dicarboxylic acid at a molar ratio (first diol component/second diol component) of 50/50 to 80/20, a structure derived from polyisocyanate, and a structure derived from a triol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tano, Yu Nakamura, Masato Ono, Noriaki Kojima, Tsutomu Sugimoto, Hiroaki Akamatsu, Yoshinori Takahashi, Kei Tanaka
  • Photoplethysmography device and method
    Patent number: 9149216
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring one or more light-absorption related blood analyte concentration parameters of a mammalian subject, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system comprises: a) a photoplethysmography (PPG) device configured to effect a PPG measurement by illuminating skin of the subject with at least two distinct wavelengths of light and determining relative absorbance at each of the wavelengths; b) a dynamic light scattering measurement (DLS) device configured to effect a DLS measurement of the subject to rheologically measure a pulse parameter of the subject; and c) electronic circuitry configured to: i) temporally correlating the results of the PPG and DLS measurements; and ii) accordance with the temporal correlation between the PPG and DLS measurements, assessing value(s) of the one or more light-absorption related blood analyte concentration parameter(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Oxitone Medical Ltd.
    Inventors: Leon Eisen, Alexander Kaminsky, Ilya Fine
  • Additional knurled ring for optical lens
    Patent number: 9152020
    Abstract: An additional knurled ring for an optical lens is composed of an annular portion and teeth distributed in a radial direction around the outside of the annular portion. The inner diameter and shape of the additional knurled ring match the outer diameter and shape of an adjusting ring of the optical lens. The additional knurled ring is movably connected with the outside of the adjusting ring of the optical lens. Since the additional knurled ring for the optical lens can be extended towards the front of the lens and beyond the front end of the optical lens, the interference of stray light with the imaging of the optical lens is blocked. Digital scale designations are engraved or printed on the outside of the additional knurled ring for optical lens, the position of the scale and the values of the designations are corresponding to the focal length, aperture, and focal range information of the optical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SHENZHEN PCHOOD TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Luo