Patents by Inventor Katsuhide Koga

Katsuhide Koga has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250093803
    Abstract: A sheet detection device includes a measurement unit for measuring a feature amount of a sheet conveyed by a conveyance unit, a pressing member movable between a first position separated from the measurement unit and a second position closer to the measurement unit than the first position, and a moving unit configured to move the pressing member, wherein the pressing member is arranged by the moving unit at the first position in a case where the measurement unit detects that the sheet has not been conveyed to a measurement position of the measurement unit, wherein the moving unit is configured to move the pressing member from the first position to the second position in a case where the measurement unit detects that the sheet has been conveyed to the measurement position of the measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: TAKAHIRO OONUMA, KATSUHIDE KOGA, HIROKI SATO, NORIO NEGISHI, KAZUSA MORIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20250093802
    Abstract: A sheet detection device includes a measurement unit configured to measure a sheet, and a power supply voltage controller configured to control supply of a power supply voltage to the measurement unit, wherein the power supply voltage controller is configured to start supplying the power supply voltage to the measurement unit when receiving a notification indicating that a mode for performing sheet measurement is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: HIROKI SATO, KAZUSA MORIMOTO, NORIO NEGISHI, TAKAHIRO OONUMA, KATSUHIDE KOGA
  • Publication number: 20250093804
    Abstract: A sheet detection device includes a measurement unit for measuring a feature amount of a sheet conveyed by a conveyance unit, a pressing member movable between a first position separated from the measurement unit and a second position closer to the measurement unit than the first position, and a moving unit configured to move the pressing member, wherein the pressing member is arranged by the moving unit at the first position in a case where the sheet has not been conveyed by the conveyance unit to a measurement position of the measurement unit, wherein the moving unit is configured to move the pressing member to the second position from the first position in a case where the sheet has been conveyed by the conveyance unit to the measurement position of the measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: KAZUSA MORIMOTO, TAKAHIRO OONUMA, HIROKI SATO, NORIO NEGISHI, KATSUHIDE KOGA
  • Publication number: 20250093805
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a measurement unit for measuring a feature amount of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit, a sheet detection sensor for detecting the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit, a pressing member movable between a first position separated from the measurement unit and a second position closer to the measurement unit than the first position, a moving unit configured to move the pressing member, an image forming unit configured to form, based on a predetermined image forming condition, an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit, and a controller, the controller is configured to stop conveyance of the sheet by the conveyance unit in a case where the sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: KATSUHIDE KOGA, KAZUSA MORIMOTO, NORIO NEGISHI, HIROKI SATO, TAKAHIRO OONUMA
  • Patent number: 12015742
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus for communicating with a database storing information on errors which have occurred in an image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire, from the database, information on an error to be analyzed and information on a related error which occurred before an occurrence of the error to be analyzed, and determine a causal part being a cause of the error to be analyzed, based on error timing information related to a timing of occurrence of the error to be analyzed and error timing information related to a timing of occurrence of the related error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhide Koga, Shinya Suzuki, Manabu Jimba
  • Publication number: 20240129412
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus for communicating with a database storing information on errors which have occurred in an image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire, from the database, information on an error to be analyzed and information on a related error which occurred before an occurrence of the error to be analyzed, and determine a causal part being a cause of the error to be analyzed, based on error timing information related to a timing of occurrence of the error to be analyzed and error timing information related to a timing of occurrence of the related error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: KATSUHIDE KOGA, SHINYA SUZUKI, MANABU JIMBA
  • Publication number: 20230195022
    Abstract: An apparatus is configured to obtain operating information related to an operation amount of an image forming apparatus through the communication circuit, obtain another operating information related to another operation amount of another image forming apparatus located in a same installation location at which the image forming apparatus is located, determine, based on the operating information and the another operating information, a replacement timing for replacing a consumable component used in the image forming apparatus, and output the replacement timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: KATSUHIDE KOGA, TAKAHIRO ONUMA
  • Publication number: 20190132485
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, which is configured to form measurement images for detecting color misregistration exhibited in a main scanning direction on an intermediate transfer belt in the order of: a measurement image of a reference color, a measurement image of a second color, a measurement image of the reference color, a measurement image of a third color, a measurement image of the reference color, a measurement image of a fourth color, and a measurement image of the reference color in a sub-scanning direction. The image forming apparatus is also configured to detect the measurement images for detecting color misregistration over an entire area of the intermediate transfer belt in the main scanning direction by a line sensor unit, and to correct color misregistration exhibited in the main scanning direction based on detection results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Katsuhide Koga, Takahiro Oonuma
  • Patent number: 9841699
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a light source that outputs a light beam having a light power based on a supplied driving current, a detection unit that detects the light power of the light beam, and a voltage holding unit that holds a charged voltage used to control the driving current. The optical scanning apparatus further includes a control unit that controls a charging unit so that the voltage holding unit is charged in a state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source, and controls the charging unit based on a detection result of the detection unit so that the voltage held in the voltage holding unit is controlled from the voltage of the voltage holding unit charged in the state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Patent number: 9740136
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a light source that outputs a light beam having a light power based on a supplied driving current, a detection unit that detects the light power of the light beam, and a voltage holding unit that holds a charged voltage used to control the driving current. The optical scanning apparatus further includes a control unit that controls a charging unit so that the voltage holding unit is charged in a state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source, and controls the charging unit based on a detection result of the detection unit so that the voltage held in the voltage holding unit is controlled from the voltage of the voltage holding unit charged in the state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Patent number: 9575430
    Abstract: The optical scanning apparatus correctly measures a gap between the laser beams of a plurality of the laser beams even when the scanning speed is changed and when the variation is caused, rightly corrects the variation. Thus, the optical scanning apparatus inputs detection signal BD_IN to the edge detecting unit at timing at which the laser beam is detected. During the enable gating, the count value representing the distance between the head laser beam and the end laser beam is counted in the counting unit. A plurality of speed ratio parameters according to the degree of changes in the scanning speed is input in the selector. The selector selects any one of the speed ratio parameters and multiplies by the count value by the multiplier, it is controlled to obtain the same multiplication result whichever scanning speed may be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Publication number: 20160334731
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a light source that outputs a light beam having a light power based on a supplied driving current, a detection unit that detects the light power of the light beam, and a voltage holding unit that holds a charged voltage used to control the driving current. The optical scanning apparatus further includes a control unit that controls a charging unit so that the voltage holding unit is charged in a state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source, and controls the charging unit based on a detection result of the detection unit so that the voltage held in the voltage holding unit is controlled from the voltage of the voltage holding unit charged in the state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Patent number: 9268253
    Abstract: A droop characteristic or an inverse droop characteristic may fail to be sufficiently corrected depending on the temperature of a semiconductor laser. An image forming apparatus includes a droop correction unit configured to supply a correction current of which an attenuation tendency or a gradual increase tendency changes according to data about the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Publication number: 20150338767
    Abstract: A droop characteristic or an inverse droop characteristic may fail to be sufficiently corrected depending on the temperature of a semiconductor laser. An image forming apparatus includes a droop correction unit configured to supply a correction current of which an attenuation tendency or a gradual increase tendency changes according to data about the temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Publication number: 20150338769
    Abstract: The optical scanning apparatus correctly measures a gap between the laser beams of a plurality of the laser beams even when the scanning speed is changed and when the variation is caused, rightly corrects the variation. Thus, the optical scanning apparatus inputs detection signal BD_IN to the edge detecting unit at timing at which the laser beam is detected. During the enable gating, the count value representing the distance between the head laser beam and the end laser beam is counted in the counting unit. A plurality of speed ratio parameters according to the degree of changes in the scanning speed is input in the selector. The selector selects any one of the speed ratio parameters and multiplies by the count value by the multiplier, it is controlled to obtain the same multiplication result whichever scanning speed may be selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Patent number: 8957932
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus according to this invention uses, as a correction value, the difference between a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of a single laser light source when only the single laser light source emits a laser beam, and a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of the single laser light source when the single laser light source emits a laser beam while the bias currents are supplied to the remaining laser light sources other than the single laser light source. The exposure apparatus uses the correction value to correct bias currents and switching currents determined by APC, and exposes the surface of an image carrier with laser beams output from the plurality of laser light sources based on the corrected bias currents and switching currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Publication number: 20130215211
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus according to this invention uses, as a correction value, the difference between a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of a single laser light source when only the single laser light source emits a laser beam, and a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of the single laser light source when the single laser light source emits a laser beam while the bias currents are supplied to the remaining laser light sources other than the single laser light source. The exposure apparatus uses the correction value to correct bias currents and switching currents determined by APC, and exposes the surface of an image carrier with laser beams output from the plurality of laser light sources based on the corrected bias currents and switching currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Patent number: 8502851
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus controls an output of a light source for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier. The optical scanning apparatus includes a correction amount control unit configured to variably control a light quantity correction amount of the light source according to a scanning position on the image carrier during one scanning operation with a beam generated from the light source, an output signal level changing unit configured to change a level of an output signal from the correction amount control unit, and a light quantity control unit configured to control a light quantity of the light source according to the scanning position based on a signal from the output signal level changing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Patent number: 8120633
    Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes, for example, a light source that outputs a light beam that has been pulse width modulated in accordance with input image data and a deflection unit that deflects the light beam so that the light beam scans the surface of an image carrier in the main scanning direction. The scanning optical apparatus furthermore includes a correction unit that corrects the pulse width and light amount applied to the light beam at each scanning position in the main scanning direction on the image carrier in accordance with focus error in the light beam at each scanning position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Patent number: 8107127
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a calibration mode in which a calibration image is formed on a print medium to correct image forming conditions. The image forming apparatus detects print medium information to determine, on the basis of the print medium information, whether the print medium is a sheet recommended as a print medium for use in the calibration mode. The image forming apparatus sets calibration conditions corresponding to the determined recommended sheet. The image forming apparatus corrects the image forming conditions on the basis of the set calibration conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohisa Itagaki, Mitsuhiko Sato, Tatsuya Goto, Katsuhide Koga