Patents Issued in March 1, 2007
  • Publication number: 20070047894
    Abstract: A telecommunications cabinet includes an enclosure, a splitter mounted within the enclosure for splitting a fiber optic signal, a plurality of adjacently positioned adapter trays mounted within the enclosure, each tray being pivotable about an axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure and each adapter tray housing a plurality of adapters, the enclosure also including an excess cable storage structure for storing cables that are not connected by the adapters mounted on the adapter trays, the excess cable storage structure providing a termination location for fiber optic cables without providing a continuous optical path for the fiber optic signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Matt Holmberg, Cindy Walters
  • Publication number: 20070047895
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a closable housing defining an internal cavity, the housing having an open position and a closed position. A pivot tray is mounted within the internal cavity of the housing and is pivotable between a secured position and an unsecured position when the housing is in the open position. In the secured position, the tray defines a first compartment on a first side of the tray and a second compartment on a second side of the tray. Only the second compartment is accessible when the housing is in the open position and the pivot tray is in the secured position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Rutesh Parikh, William Allen
  • Publication number: 20070047896
    Abstract: A cabinet is provided for managing the connections between a feeder cable and a distribution cable wherein the distribution cable is a blown optical fiber. The cabinet includes shelves for holding splices between the feeder cable and the distribution cable. The shelves also include microduct holders for holding each of the microducts associated with the distribution cable. The cabinet also includes splicing between the feeder cable and a fiber optic splitter. Preferably a fiber termination is provided between the splice and the splitter. The cabinet also includes termination panel between the splitter outputs and distribution pigtails. A connector storage area is also provided. The distribution pigtails are spliced on spliced trays to the blown fibers passed through the microducts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Scott Kowalczyk, Douglas Ellens, James Solheid
  • Publication number: 20070047897
    Abstract: A bracket assembly includes a bracket including a flexible hinge, and a furcation assembly attached to the bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Terry Cooke, John Johnson, James Luther, Alan Ugolini
  • Publication number: 20070047898
    Abstract: A method for red-tuning the resonance frequency of a photonic crystal structure that includes a plurality of holes, using a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) system. Part of the photonic crystal structure is ablated using the NSOM system to form submicron scale debris on a top surface of the photonic crystal structure. The tip of the NSOM system is used to move a portion of the submicron scale debris across the top surface of the photonic crystal structure to partially fill at least one predetermined hole of the plurality of holes of the photonic crystal structure. The portion of the submicron scale debris partially filling the predetermined hole(s) may be annealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Chen-Hsiung Cheng
  • Publication number: 20070047899
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating nanoclusters, e.g., germanium nanoclusters, and/or a dielectric layer having the same are provided. The method may include forming a first silicon oxide layer on a silicon substrate; forming a germanium (GeO) layer on the silicon oxide layer; altering the germanium oxide (GeO) layer into a germanium dioxide (GeO2) layer and/or a first group of germanium (Ge) nanoclusters; and/or altering germanium dioxide (GeO2) into silicon dioxide (SiO2) such that a second group of germanium (Ge) nanoclusters may be formed. The nanoclusters, e.g., germanium nanoclusters, may have more homogeneous sizes and/or may be more evenly arranged the dielectric layer such that the nanoclusters, e.g., germanium nanoclusters, may be easily used in a semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Yoon-ho Khang, Anatoly Dvurechenskiy
  • Publication number: 20070047900
    Abstract: Embodiments of MEMS devices comprise a conductive movable layer spaced apart from a conductive fixed layer by a gap, and supported by rigid support structures, or rivets, overlying depressions in the conductive movable layer, or by posts underlying depressions in the conductive movable layer. In certain embodiments, both rivets and posts may be used. In certain embodiments, these support structures are formed from rigid inorganic materials, such as metals or oxides. In certain embodiments, etch barriers may also be deposited to facilitate the use of materials in the formation of support structures which are not selectively etchable with respect to other components within the MEMS device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Jeffrey Sampsell, Clarence Chui, Manish Kothari, Mark Miles, Teruo Sasagawa, Wonsuk Chung, Ming-Hau Tung
  • Publication number: 20070047901
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a data processing method. The method includes reading management information indicative of a playback and display procedure, acquiring a content from a certain storage position at a timing determined based on the management information, and performing playback and display of the content at a timing determined based on the management information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Hideo Ando, Haruhiko Toyama, Takero Kobayashi, Yasufumi Tsumagari
  • Publication number: 20070047902
    Abstract: A first playback apparatus instructs a server apparatus to suspend playback of content, and the first playback apparatus stores identification information of the content for which suspension of playback was instructed and suspension information indicating the location at which playback of content was suspended. In response to a request from a second playback apparatus, the first playback apparatus presents the second playback apparatus with the stored suspension information, and the second playback apparatus selects the content, which is to be played back, in accordance with the suspension information presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Ito, Takeshi Toyama, Makoto Kobayashi, Kyohei Inukai
  • Publication number: 20070047903
    Abstract: A method of controlling a personal video recorder and a personal video recorder using the same enable simultaneous operations of recording and time-shifting. The personal video recorder has a storage medium for storing a video stream received in real time and includes a key input unit for inputting at least one of a recording command and a time-shift command according to a user selection; a downloader for downloading, according to the recording command, the received video stream for storage in the storage medium; an uploader for uploading, according to the time-shift command, the video stream stored in the storage medium; and a controller for independently controlling the downloading via the downloader and the uploading via the uploader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20070047904
    Abstract: The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, comprising: a video recording unit for video recording a received broadcast program; a video recording indicator light for indicating visually whether the video recording is in progress or not; and a video recording indicator light control unit, being furnished as a part of a basic input/output system (BIOS), for controlling a turning on and off of the video recording indicator light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masatoshi KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20070047905
    Abstract: A method of performing time-shift function and television receiver having a tuner and a personal video recorder for storing broadcast programs of at least one channel enables a broadcast program of a currently tuned channel to be continuously and efficiently stored to enable time-shifting, regardless of an interruption by switching channels or changing input sources or even in the case of an inadvertent power-off condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Duck Ahn
  • Publication number: 20070047906
    Abstract: A recording apparatus receives, with respect to an identical program, high image quality digital broadcasting data and low image quality digital broadcasting data, records the high image quality program data and the low image quality program data in a recording medium. When a cellular phone device is connected to the recording apparatus, the recording apparatus transfers the recorded low image quality program data to the cellular phone device via a communication interface. The recording apparatus transmits, to the portable cellular phone device, management information of the end of playback and deletion of the first program data whose program is identical to that of the transferred second program data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Hagiwara, Takashi Onoda
  • Publication number: 20070047907
    Abstract: A broadcast receiver and a method for managing reserved recording information are disclosed. If a cell for a reserved recording list is added to an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), a user can easily check, modify, or delete all information associated with the reserved recording on the EPG, such that the user can conveniently manage the reserved recording information on the EPG. A method for managing reserved recording information of a broadcast receiver includes the steps of: a) receiving a reserved recording signal of a specific program; b) storing reserved recording information of the program on the basis of the reserved recording signal; and c) loading the stored reserved recording information, inserting the loaded reserved recording information into a pre-stored Electronic Program Guide (EPG), and creating an EPG-reserved recording list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Sung Kang, Seung Seo
  • Publication number: 20070047908
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit which records image data to a recording medium or reproduces image data from the recording medium, and a control unit which enables a first control mode for controlling the recording unit in response to a request from an external device if the apparatus can communicate with the external device, and disables the first control mode and enables a second control mode for controlling the recording unit in response to a request from a user. If the first control mode is disabled and the second control mode is enabled, the control unit determines whether a state of the recording medium is changed. If the state of the recording medium is changed, the control unit controls the recording unit so as to read the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20070047909
    Abstract: Content managed as a content directory is allowed to be selected from a playback apparatus on a network and the playback apparatus is allowed to play back the content. If playback of the content is suspended, the position at which playback was suspended is stored. This content is set in the content directory as virtual content. If this virtual content is selected, playback of the virtual content is resumed from the position at which suspension occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Takeshi Toyama, Hiroyasu Ito, Makoto Kobayashi, Kyohei Inukai
  • Publication number: 20070047910
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a moving-picture-stream replay apparatus includes a first-replay-start time acquisition section which acquires, in accordance with a replay speed N, a replay start time that indicates a time elapsing from a leading portion of the moving-picture stream data, a transmission section which transmits, to a server, a request signal to request compressed image data corresponding to about 1 second of a replay time of the moving-picture stream data, a storage control section which stores, into a memory, part of the moving-picture stream data sent in response to the request signal, a transfer control section which transfers the reference picture data to a decoder, and a next-replay-start time acquisition section which computes a next replay start time after the reference picture data is transferred to the decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Shunichi Chiba
  • Publication number: 20070047911
    Abstract: An information editing apparatus comprises a reproducing unit configured to reproduce audio-video information, a boundary detecting unit configured to analyze the audio-video information reproduced by the reproducing unit and detect a boundary point in the audio-video information, a chapter division specifying unit configured to specify chapter division according to the input of chapter division operation during the reproduction of the audio-video information by the reproducing unit, and a chapter setting unit configured to correct a chapter division point corresponding to the timing of specifying chapter division on the basis of the boundary point in the audio-video information detected before or after the timing of specifying chapter division at the chapter division specifying unit and set the corrected chapter division point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kosuke Haruki
  • Publication number: 20070047912
    Abstract: A playback apparatus includes an obtaining unit obtaining playback management information including a main playback path of a main stream set, a first sub playback path of a first sub-stream set, and a second sub playback path of a second sub-stream set. The first and second sub playback paths are allowed for a predetermined category. A selection-receiver receives a selection of streams as a first combination or a second combination. A reading unit reads the corresponding stream sets according to whether the first or second combination is selected. A playback unit plays back the main stream set and the first or second sub-stream set. The number of files that are readable at one time is predetermined. The sub playback paths are determined so that the number of the files that are readable at one time does not exceed the predetermined number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinobu Hattori, Motoki Kato
  • Publication number: 20070047913
    Abstract: A playback instruction data generator determines, for each type of exceptional and special playback, a portion of target content with specific details to be played back in exceptional and special playback of the target content, on the basis of a playback rule for the category of the target content, among playback rules defined for each category of content and for each type of exceptional and special playback, and generates playback instruction data in which portion-to-be-played information indicating that portion is associated with identification information identifying the target content. A data extracting unit extracts, from content specified by a user, a portion of the content with specific details indicated by the portion-to-be-played information for the type of exceptional and special playback specified by the user, the portion-to-be-played information being included in the playback instruction data and being associated with the identification information for the content specified by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kagawa
  • Publication number: 20070047914
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of managing data stored in a data storage unit is provided. Data stored in the storage unit is classified into data to be preserved and deletable data. The data is preserved or deleted on the basis of preservation setting and a preservation period of the data in the storage unit. The preserving and deleting of the data may be automatically or manually performed based on the remaining storage capacity of the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Jeong Park
  • Publication number: 20070047915
    Abstract: An image reproduction system configured by an image reproduction device that can accumulate a still image or a moving image for reproduction, and an information processing device that makes a setting to the image reproduction device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Nomura, Hiroki Masuda, Eriko Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20070047916
    Abstract: A portable AV player having a video unit detachably connected to a main body and has a display screen to display video, and a reproduction method thereof. The portable AV player includes a main body to reproduce audio data generated by decoding a stored compressed file, and a video unit detachably connected to the main body and displays video data generated by decoding the compressed file when combined with the main body. Accordingly, since a device size can be minimized whenever a user desires, portability can be increased, and unnecessary power consumption can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-soo Lee
  • Publication number: 20070047917
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that easily realizes a video recording and playback according to a taste of the user based on summary information prepared from voice/video information of TV broadcast programs. For this purpose, a seek bar is provided which, based on the summary playback information generated by the summary information generation unit for summary playback, distinguishes the time bands to be played back from the time bands to be skipped by displaying them in different colors. Also a control unit is provided which allows for changing the summary playback time and for selecting between the playback enable and disable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Akira Sasaki, Norikazu Sasaki, Kazunori Iwabuchi
  • Publication number: 20070047918
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording a moving picture is disclosed, whereby the moving picture captured by the apparatus is converted into a file and stored in a memory. The method for recording a moving picture includes capturing moving pictures to generate at least one moving-picture file, selecting the moving-picture files included in a interval among the generated moving-picture files, combining the selected moving-picture files, and storing the combined moving-picture files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Hong-joon Park
  • Publication number: 20070047919
    Abstract: A video encoding device capable of recording a plurality of videos at the same time is provided. It is a device capable of performing simultaneous compression encoding and recording of programs of at least one or more channels selected by using, for example, a video encoding method such as an MPEG-2 format, comprises an antenna, a tuner unit, a synchronizing signal generating unit, a recording channel control unit, a multichannel encoder, a recording unit, a monitor, a loudspeaker, a GUI and an overall control unit, and controls the recording channel control unit so that the encoding processing by the multichannel encoder is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Yoshida, Keisuke Inata
  • Publication number: 20070047920
    Abstract: A digital content reproducing apparatus is provided with a plurality of user operation interfaces, e.g., a linear content operation panel and an interactive content operation panel, a data monitor unit monitors information on digital contents, and upon occurrence of a change, the plurality of user operation panels are automatically and exclusively displayed in an operation panel display area. Accordingly, only usable operation keys can be displayed, user operation learning time can be shortened, since the panel rendering area is made small, a mouse motion distance can be shortened, and easy to use can be improved. Further, since the panel rendering area is made small, the image display area can be made relatively large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Machida, Nobuhiro Tsutsumi, Kouji Kamogawa
  • Publication number: 20070047921
    Abstract: A playing of method an optical disc player (10) comprises the steps of: detecting the playing status (s210) searching URLs corresponding to information which is not downloaded yet if the detected playing status is abnormal, yet (s230); downloading the information required in the normal status according to the searched-out URLs (S250) while the player is in the abnormal status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Declan Kelly, Bei Wang
  • Publication number: 20070047922
    Abstract: Synchronizing media data used in authoring a Blu-ray disc (BD) comprising: receiving a discontinuous input timecode associated with at least one stream of the media data, said discontinuous input timecode having at least one discontinuity, said at least one discontinuity having a start point and an end point; generating an output timecode that matches said discontinuous input timecode until the start point of said at least one discontinuity, and continue generating said output timecode sequentially from a timecode subsequent to the end point of said at least one discontinuity, if a user specifies a continuous output timecode; and generating an output timecode that matches said discontinuous input timecode until the start point of said at least one discontinuity, and continue generating said output timecode that matches input timecode from a timecode subsequent to the end point of said at least one discontinuity, if a user specifies a discontinuous output timecode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: DON EKLUND, Sumit Malik, Raja Sahi, Tommy Choy
  • Publication number: 20070047923
    Abstract: Authoring a Blu-ray disc (BD), the method comprising: creating playable content structures; linking elementary stream data to the playable content structures; merging the elementary stream data into packetized elementary streams; and generating BD-ROM structures representing playable entities, wherein the playable entities provide information describing the packetized elementary streams and navigation scenarios of the BD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Don Eklund, Sumit Malik, Raja Sahi, Tommy Choy
  • Publication number: 20070047924
    Abstract: Authoring a Blu-ray disc (BD), comprising: generating a template code representing templatized navigation commands, the template code specifying a first object to be processed, wherein the templatized navigation commands are used to provide navigational control of the BD using playable content; converting the template code to generate multiple lines of low level code; and automatically placing the low level code at multiple positions on the BD to effect desired behaviors by the BD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Don Eklund, Sumit Malik, Raja Sahi, Tommy Choy
  • Publication number: 20070047925
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a playback apparatus capable of playing back moving picture data from a recording disc of a two-layer structure including a first recording layer storing a moving picture data item having a first resolution and a second recording layer storing a moving picture data item having a second resolution. The playback apparatus includes a battery to drive the playback apparatus and a processor to perform control of switching between playback of the moving picture data item stored in the first recording layer and playback of the moving picture data item stored in the second recording layer based on an amount of charge remaining in the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Araki
  • Publication number: 20070047926
    Abstract: The present invention provides a signal processing device for optical discs that is capable of more accurately check signal quality at a higher speed than the conventional technique, even if a playback RF signal is deteriorated. A short recording mark detecting unit 115 detects short recording marks in an RF signal read from an optical disc 101, the short recording mark counting unit 116 counts a first short recording mark number as the number of the detected short recording marks, an error number counting unit 110 counts errors in the RF signal, an error number converting unit 111 converts the number of the errors to a second short recording mark number equivalent to the number of the errors, and a signal quality judging unit 112 judges recording quality based on a total of the first and second short recording mark numbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Katsumi Morita, Masaharu Imura, Yoichi Ogura, Tsutomu Kai, Shinichi Konishi, Yorikazu Takao
  • Publication number: 20070047927
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing fan noise by controlling the drive current to the fan motor. In one embodiment the system approximates a linear drive using a number of transistors in parallel and sequentially deploying the transistors. In another embodiment, a scheme is used to activate and deactivate transistors in discrete steps thereby achieving the benefits of the linear controller topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: ASAHI KASEI MICROSYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mark Collins, Sumner Marshall
  • Publication number: 20070047928
    Abstract: A motor speed control integrated circuit which controls a rotational speed of a motor by controlling the amount of current flowing through a drive coil of the motor. The integrated circuit comprises a first input terminal to have an analog speed-specifying signal in analog amount specifying the rotational speed of the motor input thereto; a second input terminal to have a digital speed-specifying signal in digital amount specifying the rotational speed of the motor input thereto; a reference voltage circuit that generates a reference voltage corresponding to the analog speed-specifying signal and/or the digital speed-specifying signal; a comparator that compares a speed voltage corresponding to the actual rotational speed of the motor and the reference voltage; and a control signal generator that generates and outputs a control signal for controlling the amount of current flowing through the drive coil based on the comparing result of the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Ogino, Takashi Harashima
  • Publication number: 20070047929
    Abstract: A DC brushless fan motor driving circuit has a Hall PWM signal generator, a speed signal generator, a PWM driver and a full-bridge switching circuit. The Hall PWM signal generator obtains a Hall sine wave signal from an external Hall sensor and converts the Hall sine wave signal to a varied Hall PWM signal. The speed signal generator is connected to an external PWM input signal to set speed of a fan motor and a low speed voltage to determine a present speed setting signal. The speed signal generator further obtains the varied Hall PWM signal to compare the present speed setting signal to generate a SPWM signal to the PWM driver. The PWM driver outputs a SPWM signal to the full-bridge switching circuit and then coil current is formed close to a sine wave signal to decrease the electromagnetic noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: ADDA CORP.
    Inventor: Hsin-Mao Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20070047930
    Abstract: A hair dryer that includes a nozzle with a plurality of concentric layers including an outer, protective layer, a perforated metal layer and an inner metal layer coated with gem stone powder wherein the gem stone layer is accessible through the perforations of the metal layer to provide a round styling appliance in addition to a blow dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Michael Cafaro
  • Publication number: 20070047931
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for heating a scented candle so as to release scent therefrom in the absence of an open flame. The device includes a housing for retaining the candle. The housing is fabricated from a material having a low thermal conductivity. The device further includes an electrical heater in thermal communication with the housing. The heater warms the candle, and the low thermal conductivity housing aids in retaining heat in the candle thereby causing scent to be released therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Crazy Mountain Imports, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Niemeyer
  • Publication number: 20070047932
    Abstract: An assembly for producing a weld coupling a first part of a workpiece to a second part of the workpiece. The assembly comprises a first incoherent light source that generates incoherent light energy and a first negative waveguide having an input end and an output end, the incoherent light energy from the first incoherent light source and that reflected by the first reflector entering the first negative waveguide at the input end, passing through the first negative waveguide and exiting the first negative waveguide at the output end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Scott Caldwell, Kenneth Nelson, Daniel Hershey
  • Publication number: 20070047933
    Abstract: A heater that includes a substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material having a first end and a second end, a first electrical conductor electrically connected to the first end of the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material, a second electrical conductor electrically connected to the second end of the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material, and an electrically insulating material surrounding the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material and electrically insulating the first end of the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material from the second end of the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material. The heater may be mounted to a surface of a fluid component and used to heat the fluid component, and where the heater includes an aperture that extends through the electrically insulating material, the heater may be placed between a fluid component and a fluid substrate and used to heat both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Celerity, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bower, Roger Chase
  • Publication number: 20070047934
    Abstract: A first holder is disposed to move in a direction of a first optical axis of a refractive optical system in which object light incident from a front thereof along the first optical axis is reflected by a prism in a direction along a second optical axis extending vertically to form an image on a CCD solid-state image-pickup element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Otaka
  • Publication number: 20070047935
    Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes: a CCD having an imaging surface; and an image-taking optical system having an objective lens. The apparatus further includes: a shake detector that detects a shake of the image-taking apparatus; and a correction lens disposed between the objective lens and the CCD and moving in parallel with the imaging surface to correct a blur in an image formed on the imaging surface caused by the shake of the image-taking apparatus. The apparatus further includes: an electromagnet disposed behind the CCD and driving the correction lens; a power transmission system that moves the correction lens by transmitting power from the electromagnet to the correction lens; and a correction-lens controller that causes, based on a detection result from the shake detector, the electromagnet to drive the correction lens such that an image whose blur due to the shake is corrected is formed on the imaging surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Kouhei Awazu, Atsushi Misawa
  • Publication number: 20070047936
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus e.g. a digital camera includes an optical path splitter for splitting a flux of light from an object guided through a photographing optical system into optical paths; an image sensor for photoelectrically converting the light passing along a first optical path of the optical paths; a driver for driving the image sensor on a plane intersecting with an optical axis of the photographing optical system; a shake detector for detecting a shake given to the image sensing apparatus; a driver controller for controlling the driver to drive the image sensor based on an output from the shake detector to correct an image blur of an object light image captured on a light receiving plane of the image sensor; an anti-shake optical system disposed on a second optical path different from the first optical path of the optical paths; and a mechanical linking mechanism for enabling driving of the anti-shake optical system in association with the driving of the image sensor by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Toshihiko Hirota
  • Publication number: 20070047937
    Abstract: A retractable lens (1) and a swingable lens retracting device (2) thereof are provided. The retractable lens has first, second and third lens groups (L1, L2, L3) constituting a photographing optical system. The swingable lens retracting device consists of a second lens group moving frame (21) and a second lens group holding frame (22) rotatably received in the second lens group moving frame via a pivot shaft (221). A pair of torsion springs (224) is mounted on respective opposite ends of the pivot shaft. When the retractable lens is retracted back to a retracted state, the second lens group is biased by the swingable lens retracting device to an off-axis space radially outside a common optical axis of the photographing optical system with its optical axis being orthogonal to the common optical axis. The transition between a retracted position and a photographing position of the second lens group is accomplished by the resilient restoring force of the torsion springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Chun-hung Huang
  • Publication number: 20070047938
    Abstract: The present invention provides the image taking apparatus which, in order to provide the image taking apparatus, while the focusing operation can be carried out, having more compact structure, has the image taking lens having a plurality of lenses, the solid-state image sensor, the substrate in which the solid-state image sensor is equipped and which has the terminal for external connection for sending and receiving the electric signal, and the casing formed of the light shielding member fixed to the substrate in such a manner to surround the periphery of the solid-state image sensor and the image taking lens, and in which at the time of focusing, a part or whole of the image taking lens is moved along the optical axis, and the image taking lens has the minimum effective diameter lens whose effective diameter is minimum, and the maximum effective diameter lens whose effective diameter is maximum on the most image side, and in the space generated in the minimum effective diameter lens periphery by the differen
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Suzuki, Masae Sato, Susumu Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20070047939
    Abstract: Although an area type focus detecting device for performing phase difference detection type multi point autofocus is used for high speed high precision autofocus of multi points in a wide region, there is a problem of cost increase due to the increase of the chip area. In accordance with the present invention, photoreceiving area of a specific pixel in an area sensor is made larger than the photoreceiving area of other pixels in the same area sensor. Thus, because the sensor sensitivity is improved and the increase of the chip area is suppressed to a minimum level, the low cost high precision area type focus detecting device can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Inoue, Hidekazu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20070047940
    Abstract: Provided is an image input device which includes a laser range finder and a camera, and is capable of automatically calibrating the laser range finder and the camera at an appropriate timing without using special equipment. The image input device includes the laser range finder which measures distance information of an object by using invisible light and the camera which measures color information of the object. In order to detect a calibration error between the laser range finder and the camera, an invisible light filter which blocks visible light and transmits invisible light is automatically attached to a lens of the camera by a switching operation between two kinds of lenses. By the camera to which the invisible light filter is being attached, a pattern of the invisible light projected onto the object from the laser range finder is photographed as a visible image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Kosei Matsumoto, Toshio Moriya, Tsuyoshi Minakawa
  • Publication number: 20070047941
    Abstract: An autofocus apparatus includes an imaging device that captures a subject image through a photographic lens; an AF area determining device that determines a range of image signals to be used for autofocus adjustment based upon image signals provided by the imaging device; a focus adjustment device that adjusts a focal point position achieved through the photographic lens by driving a focus lens so as to maximize contrast achieved with the image signals in the determined range; and a control device that controls the focus adjustment device, if the range of the image signals determined by the AF area determining device has been altered, so as to adjust the focal point position by using image signals in the altered range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukikazu Iwane, Shigeo Takahashi, Toshimi Watanabe, Toshiaki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20070047942
    Abstract: An auto-focusing device with voice coil motor for position feedback comprises a lens holder, a sensor holder, a permanent magnet set, a yoke and a base. The lens holder holds a lens barrel and is wound around with at least two coils wound in opposite directions. The sensor holder holds an image sensor. The permanent magnet set includes at least two permanent magnets stacked together with opposing poles to form a multi-pole permanent magnet set. The permanent magnet set is furnished on the periphery of lens holder and corresponds to the two coils on lens holder. The permanent magnet set is disposed on the yoke to form a close-loop magnetism so as to increase the density of magnetic lines and the efficiency of magnetic force, save power consumption, and extend the service life of device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Chi Chang, Hua Hsu, Paul Chao
  • Publication number: 20070047943
    Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus for automatically rotating an image and a display unit, and an information storage medium storing image information. The apparatus including a photographing unit which generates image data and a rotation sensing unit which generates rotational information of a rotation state of the photographing unit. When an object is photographed, the rotation information of the image is obtained and stored together, and when the image is displayed, the rotation is analyzed and the image and display unit are automatically rotated. When an image including moving picture information is watched, an image always optimized to be horizontal without additional work by a user can be seen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Joon-kyu Seo, Kil-su Eo