Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes (a) a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner; (b) a toner supply opening or port for discharging toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion; (c) a toner feeding member for feeding the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion toward the toner supply opening by rotation thereof, wherein a center of rotation of the toner feeding member is in an opening region of the toner supply port as seen in the longitudinal direction of the toner feeding member. A seal member seals the toner supply port and is configured to be rotatable with the toner feeding member and receives a drive force from a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charger for charging the drum; a developing member for developing an latent image on the drum; a developer accommodating portion; an engaging member for being supported by a receiving portion of a movable member provided in the main assembly when the engaging member is in the main assembly; a first guide provided on an upper portion of the frame; a second guide provided on a lower portion of the frame; a third guiding portion provided on a lower portion the frame; a driving force receiving member provided at a downstream end portion and receiving a driving force from a driving force transmitting member provided in the main assembly; and a positioning portion projected from the frame toward an upstream side in the inserting direction, and disposed coaxially with the drum, and wherein when the engaging member supported by the rec

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a latent image forming unit for forming a latent image on an image carrying body and a developing unit for visualizing the latent image formed on the image carrying body by using a developer. In the image forming apparatus, for the developing unit, a developer replenishment box is communicatively connected to a developing housing in which a developer is contained, and the developer replenishment box is disposed in an upstream of a latent image writing position P on the image carrying body. The developer replenishment box is contained in a process cartridge.

Abstract: To be able to insert bands of an arbitrary length into a machine unit, for example intermediate carrier bands given an electrophotographic printer device, the band is seated on tubes. The tubes are pushed into receptacles arranged in the machine unit. The band can then be slipped over the transport and guide drums arranged in the machine unit. Subsequently, the band is tensed and the tubes are pulled from the receptacles.

Abstract: To provide a charging apparatus including: a first charging unit for charging a body to be charged, the first charging unit including a magnetic brush that contacts the body to be charged; and a second charging unit that is provided on a downstream side of the first charging unit with respect to a moving direction of the body to be charged, the second charging unit including a magnetic brush that contacts the body to be charged, in which a contact width, with which the magnetic brush of the first charging unit contacts the body to be charged, is wider than a contact width with which the magnetic brush of the second charging unit contacts the body to be charged.

Abstract: A liquid developer electrophotographic apparatus and method for developing one or more successive color images on a previous color image formed on a latent image retaining body, wherein peeling off the prior color image is prevented by establishing a reversible electrophoretic transfer efficiency of toner particles in the prior toner image to be not greater than 60% in the liquid developer for the successive color image while applying an electrical potential difference between the latent image retaining body and a developing electrode for the successive developing step(s). A resin content of the toner particles forming the previous color image may be selected to achieve the reversible electrophoretic transfer efficiency of 60% or less.

Abstract: A developing device capable of obviating carrier deposition on an image carrier and uniformly distributing toner on a developer carrier is disclosed. A developer deposited on the developer carrier and moved away from a metering member rises in the form of a magnet brush, falls down, and again rises in accordance with the movement of the developer carrier. The toner of the developer is efficiently agitated in the axial direction of the developer carrier in a narrow zone between the first metering member and a developing zone.

Abstract: A transfer flow-in current which flows from a transferring device into an image carrier, a separation flow-in current which flows from a separating device into the image carrier, an aperture width in the recording member transporting direction of an aperture of the transferring device, and an aperture width in the recording member transporting direction of an aperture of the separating device are set so as to have the relationship: separation flow-in current=transfer flow-in current×(transfer aperture width/separation aperture width).

Abstract: A recording medium having a toner image formed thereon is moved to pass through a press contact portion between an endless belt being heated and an pressure roller pressed against the endless belt. When passing through the press contact portion, the toner image is fused and permanently affixed onto the recording medium. An oil application width O of an oil application roller is shorter than belt width B of the endless belt, and a maximum passing width P of a recording medium that may be supplied for the image formation, but is longer than a maximum image-forming width I within which an image may be formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing belt adapted to move circularly and cooperate with a pressing member to form a nip region for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium, capable of achieving a desirably enhanced durability even under high-temperature atmosphere. The fixing belt comprises a substrate formed of an endless-shaped electroformed sheet consisting essentially of a nickel-carbon alloy containing 0.05 to 0.12 mass % of carbon. The carbon content may be adjusted in proportion to the amount of a secondary brightening agent to be added to an electrolytic bath or to a cathode current density to be sent to the electrolytic bath. The secondary brightening agent may be 2-butyne-1,4-diol. In the fixing belt of the present invention, the substrate may have a surface provided with a releasing layer which may be formed as a single layer or multilayer made of a material having heat resistance and non-adhesive, such as silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, fluororesin, or their mixture.

Abstract: A printer includes, in its fixing device operable to fix toner particles onto a recording medium, a heating roller containing magnetic metal, a fixing roller disposed parallel to the heating roller, an endless belt containing magnetic metal bridged across the heating roller and the fixing roller. The printer also includes a press roller pressed to the fixing roller via the endless belt and the recording medium, and a coil core being operable to produce magnetic fields so as to cause both of the heating roller and the endless belt to generate heat with the magnetic metals contained therein.

Abstract: A structurally improved fusing roller assembly based on the heat pipe principle is provided. The fusing roller assembly includes a fusing roller and a heat pipe coaxially mounted inside the fusing roller. A resistance heater is helically wound around the exterior cylindrical surface of the heat pipe, and rests between the inner cylindrical surface of the fusing roller and the exterior cylindrical surface of the heat pipe. The heat pipe is hermetically sealed with a quantity of a working fluid contained inside. The surface of fusing roller can be instantaneously heated up to a target fusing temperature. The fusing roller assembly can be heated up to a target fusing temperature within a shorter period of time without need for warm-up and stand-by period, so that power consumption decreases.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an elastic roller for forming a nip portion for binding and conveying a recording material, the elastic roller including a elastic layer and a parting surface layer, wherein an area which is not passed by the recording material in the nip portion includes an exposed area where a elastic layer of the elastic roller is exposed, and wherein the exposed area includes a portion where a diameter of the exposed area is equal to or less than a maximum diameter of an area of the parting surface layer. The image forming apparatus prevents a rotary body or a pressuring body from contaminating their surfaces for a long time.

Abstract: An image feeding apparatus for feeding sheets by separating sheets one by one by a separating device has a pickup arm and a stopper. The uppermost document of stacking documents to be copied contacts and downwardly press down the pickup arm, and then the pickup arm and the uppermost document downwardly press down the stopper so as to make a passage of the uppermost document. After the uppermost document passes through, the stopper ascents by gravity in response to elevation of the pickup arm. The stopper can be reliably operated by a simple and low-cost construction.

Abstract: A manual paper feeding apparatus comprises a tray for manual paper feeding, a paper feed roller to feed the paper fed manually from the tray, a separation roller which is pressed to contact the paper feed roller, rotated at the pressed contact position in the direction reverse to the paper feed roller, and separates the sheets of paper one by one, a power transmission device to transmit power to the paper feed roller and separation roller, and a reversing device which is provided in the power transmission device, and rotates the paper feed roller in the direction reverse to the paper feeding direction, based on that the paper fed between the paper feed roller and separation roller is pulled in the direction reverse to the manual feeding direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a book device corresponding to at least one narrative story, including a spine, at least three pages pivotably connected to the spine, a sound producing apparatus, and a plurality of switch elements which activate the sound producing apparatus to play desired audio segments corresponding to a particular story element. Each of the pages contains illustrative material, such as text and/or pictures, and at least one of the pages is partially transparent, so that illustrative material on subsequent pages is visible to the reader through the transparent portion of the page. In another embodiment, the illustrative material is not affixed to the pages themselves, but takes the form of inserts which may be removed and interchanged, with the book device able to determine which story corresponds to the particular inserts being used and play the desired audio segments corresponding to that story.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for collecting end-user opinions of applications and data in a wireless communications network. The system identifies the end-user who has downloaded software applications and/or data to a wireless device and collects end-user opinion preferably through the transmission of a targeted questionnaire to the wireless device.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus and method for reproducing information comprises an identification information provider for providing an identification information. A receiver receives broadcast information including broadcast identification information. The receiver includes a comparer for comparing the provided identification information with the broadcast identification information; and a sorter for sorting out received broadcast information in which the provided identification information matches the broadcast identification information. The sorted out information is then output from the apparatus.

Abstract: A noncontact transmitting apparatus includes first and second noncontact transmitting units mounted on a main device and an attachment device, respectively. The second noncontact transmitting unit is removably attachable to the first noncontact transmitting unit for enabling noncontact signal transfer between the main device and the attachment device. Each of the noncontact transmitting units includes a power coil and a signal coil. The power coil is wound on a first core to supply power from the main device to the attachment device by electromagnetic induction. The first cores of the first and second noncontact transmitting units face each other at a first position when the attachment device is loaded on the main device. The signal coil is wound on a second core for signal transfer between the main device and the attachment device by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: A method is described comprising: receiving a synchronization packet transmitted form a first device; receiving a data packet transmitted from the first device, the data packet being offset from the synchronization packet by a particular amount of time; and identifying the first device based on the amount of time from which the data packet is offset from the synchronization packet. Also disclosed is a method implemented on a first wireless device comprising: transmitting a synchronization packet to a second wireless device; and transmitting a first data packet to the second wireless device, the first data packet being offset from the synchronization packet by a first amount of time, wherein the first amount of time from which the first data packet is offset from the synchronization packet identifies first wireless device to second wireless device.

Abstract: A method for controlling transmission power in a radio system and in a WCDMA system network in particular for maximizing cell capacity. An acceptable transmission power margin and an optimum power level, which may change specifically for each connection and service class, are determined for the transmission power. Transmission power is adjusted using power control steps utilizing an incoming power control command and previous power control steps. The power control step size is adjusted as a sum of a fixed and a variable dynamic step size where the dynamic value is obtained on the basis of the measured value and the target value of the signal-to-noise ratio. Information on the network state can be obtained by comparing AC and LC data and the cell capacity can be maximized by controlling the amount of transmission power calculated by the mobile station before the final power transmission.

Abstract: When using a magnetic alternating field to prompt portable electronic tickets, such as smart cards, it is important that the prompting is effected reliably and independent of the position thereof. In order to generate an essentially isotropic magnetic alternating field over a set time interval, one embodiment of the invention involves the use of an antenna array comprising two or three frame antennas. A switching unit supplies, in a sequentially alternating manner, a unit of information to each of the frame antennas so that a quasi-isotropic magnetic alternating field, which is considered over the period of time, is radiated by said frame antennas. This results in reliably prompting tickets that are located in the surrounding area of the antenna arrays.

Abstract: A system and method for noise and spurious cancellation in a filter system having a phase shift network for attenuating and canceling an unwanted spurious RF signal component. A signal splitter splits an input signal into a primary and a secondary component. The phase shift network attenuates and phase shifts the secondary signal component by 180 degrees relative to the primary prefiltered signal in such a way that a sideband spur directly cancels with the filtered output primary signal in a subsequent combining stage.

Abstract: A multi-carrier power amplifying arrangement has a number of amplifying devices, each of which includes a main amplifier and a linearizing device. Furthermore it includes a device signal for adding the adding output signals from the amplifying devices in phase, a device for detecting the average phase error of the amplified signals and for providing a compensating control signal. The compensating control signal is provided to each amplifying device at least to compensate for the average phase error.

Abstract: An error amplifier circuit reduces distortion in an amplified signal by reflecting a feedback signal into the amplified signal using an output transformer. A first amplifier generates a reference signal corresponding to the input signal from which the amplifier output signal is derived. This reference signal represents the desired waveform for the amplified signal. An error sense element generates an error signal based on the difference between the reference and amplified signals. The error sense element preferably imparts high common-mode rejection to the error signal. A second amplifier generates the feedback signal based on amplifying the error signal, and an output transformer generates a compensated amplified signal by coupling the feedback signal into the amplified signal. The output transformer increases the reflected load impedance seen by the error amplifier, thus relieving it from driving the feedback signal into the potentially low load impedance driven by the compensated amplified signal.

Abstract: Electric fields A, B and C are inputted to an antenna 20, and corresponding digital values AAD, BAD and CAD obtained from an A/D converter are stored in memories A6, B7 and D12, respectively. An operational circuit 9 obtains a non-linearity corrected input power level conversion table from the input power levels of the electric fields A, B and C and the corresponding digital values AAD, BAD and CAD, and stores the obtained table in a memory C8. The electric field C is the electric field under which the receiver circuit is not linearly operated. A controller reads out the input power level at the time of input of each electric field from the memory C8, and displays the read-out input power level on a input power level display 10. Thus, adverse effects, on linearity, of saturation caused by high input power level electric field input to an antenna or of noise at the time of low input power level electric field input are improved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for comparing the amplitudes of two electric signals Iout and Qout are disclosed. The method includes a step wherein powers conveyed by the signals Iout and Qout are compared. One feature of the method and apparatus is that it is not necessary to storing the maxima of the signals to be compared when these signals are out of phase with respect to each other. One application of the method or apparatus is for the correction of differences in amplitude between I, Q signals that are separated in phase by 90° inside QAM, QPSK or QBSK demodulators.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention is composed of a first section for carrying out wireless communication with a multichannel signal and a second section having a plurality of channel units each process a predetermined frequency signal as a channel signal. The wireless communication apparatus is arranged to have a plurality of variable attenuators each provided for corresponding one of the channel signals received from each channel unit of the second section, a combiner for combining outputs from the respective variable attenuators together and outputting the resultant combined signal to the first section, and a control unit for controlling the degree of attenuation of the individual variable attenuators according to the variation of the number of the channel signals.

Abstract: A radio card sized for insertion into an electronic device. The radio card includes a housing; a radio circuit disposed within the housing; an internal antenna coupled to the radio circuit; at least one external antenna contact, disposed on the housing, coupled to the radio circuit; an electrical interface, disposed on the housing at a location physically separate from that of the at least one external antenna contact; and the at least one external antenna contact and the electrical interface automatically engaging the electronic device upon insertion of the radio card into the electronic device.

Abstract: In a method for the selection of a local antenna from among a number of local antennas that are spatially distributed in a diagnostic magnetic resonance apparatus, a target volume for the imaging is excited to emit magnetic resonance signals. The magnetic resonance signals are received with the local antennas. A characteristic quantity in the magnetic resonance signals respectively received by the local antennas is determined, this characteristic, for each antenna, quantity representing a measure for the distance of the target region from that local antenna. The local antenna is selected that is located closest to the target region, from among the multiple local antennas, dependent on the characteristic quantity.

Abstract: A diversity receiver for receiving digital signals has a soft-decision decoder in each of its receiving sections, to provide confidence values for the received decoded digital values, and combines the values from the receiving sections in dependence upon the confidence values. The receiver is especially suitable for use with COFDM, and has two sections, the outputs of which are applied to a soft-decision combiner which combines the signals in dependence upon confidence values received from the demodulators. The output is then applied to a Viterbi decoder. The combining can simply involve switching but preferably involves averaging. Synchronisation and squelching can be provided. The system can be used with frequency diversity, spatial or polarisation diversity, or with antenna pattern diversity, in which case it can constitute an automatic rotator. The system automatically switches between different types of diversity reception, e.g.

Abstract: A power system and method for communicating power to a power receiver employing wireless energy transmission. The power system includes a power transmission unit, which transmits energy as a directional power beam, and a power receiver system which receives the transmitted energy. The power receiver system is preferably incorporated in a surface vehicle and includes a receptor capable of receiving a wireless energy beam and transferring the electrical energy to the storage device. The power receiver system further includes a translocator for transmitting a communication signal to the power transmission unit corresponding to the location of the power receiver system and thereby activating the power transmission unit. The power transmission unit receives and locks onto the signal and preferably tracks the power receiver system location during energy transmission. The communication signal is transmitted until the energy is no longer needed by the power receiver system.

Abstract: To provide a portable telephone output limitation management device in which use of a portable telephone set is automatically limited in a site where the use of the set is limited and in which causes of non-response and other various information can be transmitted to an originating party who called the use-limited portable telephone set. The portable telephone output limiting management device issues a radio wave signal of the output limiting command information from an antenna. On reception of the output limiting command information from the antenna, the portable telephone set enters into the output limiting mode to halt direct exchange with a base station and sends out the information on the fact that the set has entered into the output limiting mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing collect call service are disclosed.

Abstract: In a mobile system and a mobile management system, when an emergency notification that an urgent car 3 is approaching is transmitted from a base station 5 to a general owner-driven car 1, the distance between the general owner-driven car 1 and the urgent car 3 is calculated on the basis of the current position of the general owner-driven car 1 and the current position of the urgent car 3 under the control of a CPU 11. If the distance is within a predetermined value, the base station notifies the driver of the general owner-driven car that the urgent car is approaching.

Abstract: This invention provides an audible remote screening function or device for use with an answering device or machine and may also combine this screening function with an ability for remote operational control of an answering device or machine. Preferred forms of the invention provide for remote call screening of an answering device or machine, or remote call screening of an answering device or machine together with remote operational control of an answering device or machine, with the capability to remotely operate and/or remotely screen calls (incoming or pre-recorded) of that of an answering device or machine from a remote area or room via the remote function or device.

Abstract: A reception forcing method is used in a mobile communication system which includes a managing center. The method includes the steps of registering in advance identification information which is related to each caller permitted to make a forced reception in the managing center, originating a call from a caller by adding identification information of the caller when making a forced reception at a destination subscriber, and forcing a reception at the destination subscriber by avoiding a screening function of the destination subscriber regardless of whether or not the screening function of the destination subscriber is turned ON, if the identification information of the caller is registered in the managing center.

Abstract: A wireless access protocol-capable telephone provides the ability to conference call numerous individuals. While maintaining the conference call, the telephone user simultaneously uses the wireless access protocol browser to perform data communication. The user then relays the information accumulated from the data communication back to the conference call.

Abstract: There is disclosed a network telephone system which registers subscriber information necessary to monitor a call upon a request for call transfer by a first subscriber who has made dial-up connection, notifies the first subscriber that there is an incoming call from a second subscriber, and makes a call setup for voice in accordance with an instruction from the first subscriber.

Abstract: Cellular radiotelephone communication systems and methods downlink digital coded speech from a cellular radio exchange to a cellular radiotelephone base station and uplink downsampled (i.e. undersampled relative to the Nyquist rate of two samples per symbol) radiotelephone signals from the cellular radiotelephone base station to the cellular radio exchange. The downsampled radiotelephone signals are demodulated at the cellular radio exchange and the digital coded speech is modulated at the cellular radiotelephone base station. Diversity demodulation may be used at the cellular radio exchange, to diversity demodulate the downsampled radiotelephone signals at the cellular radio exchange.

Abstract: Spectrum monitoring measurements are made by microcell base stations in a layered cellular network, while not serving calls or engaged in processing calls. The microcell base station transmits a first control message from to a microcell mobile station, to increase the duration for the mobile station to reside in the camping state on a control channel of the microcell base station. The microcell base station transmits a second control message from the microcell base station to the microcell mobile station, to increase the duration for the mobile station to reside in a call origination state while attempting to access a control channel of the microcell base station. Then, to perform the spectrum monitoring measurement, the base station's transmitter is turned off, the receiver is retuned to the frequency to be monitored, a signal strength measurement taken on that frequency, the receiver is retuned back to its assigned frequency, and the transmitter is turned back on, all in a short time interval.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus is disclosed for tracking deployment of cellular telephone network sites and providing real-time characteristic information about the deployment to one or more users. The system includes a plurality of computers interconnected in a network for use in tracking the deployment of the cellular telephone sites, the plurality of computers each having one or more processors, a memory device for storing one or more sets of instructions to be executed and a storage device coupled to the one or more processors, at least one computer being operative to execute the one or more sets of instructions. The method includes providing a user interface accepting project variables entered into a computer; color coding changes that are made to the variables; in real-time, determining cellular telephone site deployment characteristics based on current project variables; and providing the deployment characteristics to an output device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) communication system offering a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), for determining the base station subsystems involved in a paging on a routing area level. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for setting up and/or updating the device. The set-up and/or the update of the device takes place in a GPRS service node, for example, after the receipt of a message on a set-up, a release or a modification of virtual connections. For this purpose the information contained in the message are evaluated and compared with already existing information. Another possibility is the evaluation of information in data packets, which, too, are compared with already existing information. Subsequently the information is, if required, updated and stored.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for registering and operating a wireless telephone in a roaming service area in which the wireless telephone is not registered for roaming services. When a wireless telephone is operated in a such a roaming service area, the roaming service provider whose services the wireless telephone must utilize in order to operate in the roaming service area informs the user of the wireless telephone through a recorded or live message that the wireless telephone may be used in the roaming service area if the user of the wireless telephone purchases and uses a prepaid utilization account offered by the roaming service provider. If the user purchases a prepaid card and loads a balance into a prepaid utilization account, a prepaid services system of the roaming service provider establishes a pseudo-telephone number for use by the wireless telephone in the roaming service area.

Abstract: A portion of a traffic channel message is detected and decoded to determine if a rapid handover procedure may be used. A first portion of the traffic channel includes information data and CRC data. The CRC data is decoded, and if the CRC determines the message is valid, the mobile station may proceed directly to handover.

Abstract: Resources are reserved or otherwise allocated in a mobile radio communications system in an efficient and timely fashion. In general, the amount of resources that will likely be necessary to support a connection with a mobile station is predicted before those resources are actually required. More specifically, an unknown value of a dynamic connection parameter, like a number of radio paths likely to be involved in supporting the connection, is predicted. In the handover context, these radio paths might correspond to paths with different base stations (as in hard and soft handover) or to paths with different base station sectors (as in softer handover). The underlying resources are allocated using the predicted connection parameter and may include, for example, data processing and memory hardware resources, software resources, radio resources, etc.

Abstract: In a system handling communication between base transceiver stations (BTS1-BTS12) and base station controllers (BSC) of a cellular radio network the transmission capacity is composed of a predetermined number of capacity units (T0-T31). At least one capacity unit (TCH) can be allocated to a given base station group which comprises at least two base transceiver stations. Said capacity unit is allocated to a certain base transceiver station in the base station group when the instantaneous volume of traffic handled by said base transceiver station requires temporary allocation of additional capacity, and said capacity unit is again released so as to be allocatable to the base station group when the instantaneous volume of traffic handled by said base transceiver station no longer requires temporary allocation of additional capacity.

Abstract: A fuzzy channel allocation controller assuring a quality of service and used in a hierarchical wireless communication system. A system with the fuzzy channel allocation controller is provided, and a threshold for allowing a call entering into the system is adaptively adjusted according to system condition so that the calls are sustained in a predetermined quality. Furthermore, in allocating channels, the loads of the macro cell and micro cells are balanced so that the system has a higher channel utility. This system having a macro cell and a plurality of micro cells which includes a base station interface module, a resource estimator, and a performance estimator and a fuzzy channel allocation processor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing interference in a wireless communication system. A base transceiver station transmits and receives over a first frequency band and a second frequency band. The maximum range of the first frequency band can be smaller than the maximum range of the second frequency band. Alternatively, the maximum range of the first frequency band can be larger than the maximum range of the second frequency band. Further, the maximum range of the second frequency band can vary based upon factors such as the capacity of the first frequency band and the amount of interference on the first frequency band. A control channel for the second frequency band which is measured for determining whether to handoff from the first frequency band to the second frequency band can be transmitted within the first frequency band.

Abstract: Implementing control signallings in a telecommunication system comprising at least one terminal and one telecommunication network, the telecommunication network comprising at least one access network and one or more core networks. Within a certain time, the terminal determines the detected control signalling needs and transmits a request for maintaining a radio connection to the telecommunication network if several control signallings are to be carried out. The control signallings are carried out successively between the terminal and one or more core networks without releasing the radio connection between the terminal and the access network.