Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an apparatus main assembly; an image forming unit; a fixing unit which has a pressure applying mechanism and a cam member; an opening and closing member which is attached to the apparatus main assembly to be capable of being opened and closed; a first gear which is provided at the apparatus main assembly; a second gear which is provided at the fixing unit; and a connection gear which connects the first gear and the second gear. The connection gear is configured to be detachable from between the first gear and the second gear and to be attachable being engaged with both the first gear and the second gear only in a case that the first gear and the second gear are respectively at a predetermined phase.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus is provided which satisfies various levels of demands on image distribution, both from image providers and from users. The image coding apparatus includes a coding block which codes predetermined image data. A separation unit separates the coded image data into basic data for reproducing contents of the coded image data as a visible image, and complementary data for complementing the basic data, so that the two pieces of data are distributed on different occasions. An adding unit adds information for independent copyright control to at least either one of the basic data and the complementary data.

Abstract: A decoding unit decodes coded data produced by a coding device capable of coding a captured video both in a first image quality and a second image quality different from the first image quality, or of coding the video in one of the first image quality and the second image quality. A display control unit displays the video of the first image quality or the video of the second image quality, as decoded by the decoding unit, on a display device. When both the coded data of the first image quality and the coded data of the second image quality are available, the display control unit displays information, indicating that the video currently displayed can be displayed in the other image quality, in a screen of the display device.

Abstract: A decoding unit decodes an encoded stream in which moving images are encoded. A display unit displays the moving images decoded by the decoding unit. An acquisition unit acquires tracking information indicating identification information, which is added within the encoded stream, that indicates whether a specific object is detected within a frame image included in the moving images. In reference to detection information acquired by the acquisition unit, a control unit skips or fast-forwards at least one frame image for which tracking of the specific object has failed.

Abstract: A motion vector detector detect a motion vector of each macroblock in an I frame. A control unit controls a quantization unit in such manner that the quantization scale in a quantization table referenced in the quantization processing is adaptively varied for a first macroblock whose motion vector detected is smaller than a prescribed threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which a nip portion is formed by a heating unit, which includes a flexible sleeve and a heater, and a pressure roller. The position of the heating unit is appropriately maintained by pressing the heating unit against the pressure roller using a pressure member so that the heating unit can contact two or more portions of a downstream side rim of a groove arranged on a frame that holds the heating unit, even when the pressure roller is rotated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: an apparatus main assembly; an image forming unit; a fixing unit which has a pressure applying mechanism and a cam member; an opening and closing member which is attached to the apparatus main assembly to be capable of being opened and closed; a first gear which is provided at the apparatus main assembly; a second gear which is provided at the fixing unit; and a connection gear which connects the first gear and the second gear. The connection gear is configured to be detachable from between the first gear and the second gear and to be attachable being engaged with both the first gear and the second gear only in a case that the first gear and the second gear are respectively at a predetermined phase.

Abstract: A motion vector holding unit 61 holds motion vector information with respect to a backward reference frame detected beforehand and received from a motion compensation unit 60. A motion vector calculation unit 63 calculates multiple motion vectors for each macro block defined in a coding target frame with reference to the motion vector information with respect to the backward reference frame held by the motion vector holding unit 61 according to each calculation mode of a set of different calculation modes. A motion compensation prediction unit 64 performs motion compensation using motion vectors obtained for each calculation mode, thereby creating predicted images. The predicted images are output to a coding amount estimation unit 65. The coding amount estimation unit 65 estimates the coding amount of the subtraction image, which is the subtraction between the predicted image and the original image, for each calculation mode.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus is provided which satisfies various levels of demands on image distribution, both from image providers and from users. The image coding apparatus includes a coding block which codes predetermined image data. A separation unit separates the coded image data into basic data for reproducing contents of the coded image data as a visible image, and complementary data for complementing the basic data, so that the two pieces of data are distributed on different occasions. An adding unit adds information for independent copyright control to at least either one of the basic data and the complementary data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and a shooting apparatus are provided that enable a user to recognize in real time image qualities of a plurality of regions while encoding an image in such a manner that a plurality of the regions have different image qualities. When a camera is in a shooting mode, an image transformation unit transforms an image in such a manner that the image quality level of each region set by a ROI region setting unit and an image quality setting unit can be visually recognized and generates in real time a through image to be displayed on a display device. A through image generated by the image transformation unit is sent to a display circuit via a switch and displayed on the display device.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus comprises a wavelet transform unit, a frame buffer, a quantization unit, a bit plane coding unit, an arithmetic coding unit, and a stream generating unit, and converts an original image into coded image data hierarchically by using these units. A copyright level management table manages copyright levels to be permitted to users who use the coded image data. A copyright level recording unit records copyright level information on the corresponding profile into a header or other areas of the coded image data in consideration of such factors as users and regions to be provided.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes: a sheet containing device for housing sheets; a sheet feeding roller that feed the sheets contained in the sheet containing device; a pushing member for pushing the sheets contained in the sheet containing device against the sheet feeding roller; a separation pad which is provided so as to be capable of abutting against the sheet feeding roller and separates the sheets one by one as the sheets are fed by the sheet feeding roller and the pushing member; and a sheet guide portion arranged between a pushing portion where the sheets are pushed against the sheet feeding roller by the pushing member and an abutting portion where the sheet feeding roller and the separation pad come into abutment against each other. As a result, a sheet feeding apparatus with reduced noise can be realized. In addition, an image forming apparatus with silent operation can be realized by using the sheet feeding apparatus.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus in which double-feeding of thin sheets can be prevented positively and a thick sheet can be fed positively. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising sheet feeding means abutting against a sheet contained in sheet containing means to feed out the sheet, and a separating inclined surface for separating and feeding the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means one by one, wherein the separating inclined surface can be shifted along a sheet advancing direction with the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means.

Abstract: A paper feeder has a sheet stacking surface for stacking sheets, a paper feeding roller which is in contact with the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking surface to feed sheets, a movable separation slope surface against which the stacked sheets abut and which is rotatable between a first position and a second position that differ in the inclination angle made between it and the sheet stacking surface, and a separation control cam for rotating the movable separation slope surface between the first position and the second position. The angle made by the movable separation slope surface and the sheet stacking surface is set to be smaller than the angle when the sheets are separated so that the forward end portion of the pile of sheets stacked will not deform and when the sheets are fed by the paper feeding roller, the angle is set to be the angle when the movable separation slope surface separates the sheets by using the separation control cam.

Abstract: A sheet feed roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of a sheet at the top of a stack of sheets supported on a sheet support and an inclined separation plane separates a sheet, fed forward by the sheet feed roller, from the other sheets of the stack of the sheets. A rotatable separation roller is disposed between the inclined separation plane and the sheet feed roller such that the separation roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of the sheet fed forward by the sheet feeding roller. The separation roller is movable depending on the rigidity of the sheet so that when the sheet being fed forward has low rigidity, the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the separation roller, but when the sheet being fed forward has high rigidity, the separation roller is moved upward thereby allowing the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the sheet feed roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus which has load transmitter for converting a load of a sheet applied to a rear end side in a sheet feeding-out direction of sheet stacker to a biasing force for biasing a leading end side of the sheet stacker toward sheet feeder.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus in which double-feeding of thin sheets can be prevented positively and a thick sheet can be fed positively. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising sheet feeding means abutting against a sheet contained in sheet containing means to feed out the sheet, and a separating inclined surface for separating and feeding the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means one by one, wherein the separating inclined surface can be shifted along a sheet advancing direction with the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus which has a sheet stacking surface for supporting sheets, sheet feeding device for feeding out the sheets supported on the sheet stacking surface, a movable separation inclined surface against which leading ends of the sheets supported on the sheet stacking surface abut and which is provided rotatably between a first position and a second position different in an inclination angle of the movable separation inclined surface with respect to the sheet stacking surface, and operation device for switching the movable separation inclined surface between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprises a sheet supporting means which is provided so as to be freely drawn out from the main body of an apparatus and supports sheets, a sheet feeding means abutting on the sheets supported by the sheet supporting means to feed the sheets, and a driving means for applying a driving force for feeding the sheets to the sheet feeding means, wherein the sheet supporting means is moved so as to be drawn out from the main body of the apparatus under the driving force of the driving means for driving the sheet feeding means while the sheets supported by the sheet supporting means are not present.

Abstract: An exhaust mechanism for use in an image development apparatus exhausts air from within the apparatus, taking advantage of an air flow generated by the heating of a fixing unit without the need for an air blower. The apparatus includes a transport path for allowing a recording medium, to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive body, is transferred, to pass therethrough, a transfer unit disposed below the photoconductive body for transferring the toner image to the recording medium, the fixing unit having a heater, and a partitioning plate which separates a space formed below the transfer unit from a space that accommodates the photoconductive body, a toner image forming unit, and the fixing unit, and which is provided with an opening for permitting air to flow near the transfer unit.