Patents Issued in July 17, 2007
  • Patent number: 7245810
    Abstract: A secure fastener for joining fiber optic cables, is presented. The fastener includes a first segment having a first plurality of grooves to accommodate portions of the fiber optic cables, a first plurality of posts, a first plurality of apertures, and a first raised contoured portion and a second segment having a second plurality of grooves to accommodate portions of the fiber optic cables, a second plurality of posts, a second plurality of apertures, and a second raised contoured portion. The first plurality of posts of the first segment cooperates with the second plurality of apertures of the second segment and the second plurality of posts of the second segment cooperates with the first plurality of apertures of the first segment to secure the first and second segments to each other to form the fastener. The first and second raised contoured portions are configured to damage the fiber optic cables if the fastener is tampered with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: David Iffergan
  • Patent number: 7245811
    Abstract: For connecting an optical fiber having a fiber axis and an axial end portion provided with a chamfered surface having a predetermined angle with respect to the fiber axis, the optical connector includes an aligning member and a holding plate. The aligning member has a principal surface and a side surface adjacent to the principal surface. The aligning member has a fiber-receiving groove for receiving the axial end portion of the optical fiber. The fiber-receiving groove extends along the principal surface in a predetermined direction and has end portions each opening on the side surface. The holding plate is faced to the principal surface and covers the fiber-receiving groove. The holding plate has a first slant surface beside one of end portions of the fiber-receiving groove. The first slant surface has an angle with respect to the principal surface. The first angle is determined smaller than the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Jun Takeda, Yuichi Koreeda, Akihiro Onogawa
  • Patent number: 7245812
    Abstract: An optical fiber is optically coupled to a light-receiving/emitting element contained in an interface box. The coupling structure is composed of a cylindrical ferule water-tightly inserted into a through-hole formed in a wall of the interface box, a resilient grommet coupled to the ferule and a coupler having the light-receiving/emitting element. An optical fiber is inserted into coaxially formed center holes of the ferule and the grommet, and an axial end of the optical fiber is exposed at an axial end of the ferule. The coupler is coupled to the ferule so that the light-receiving/emitting element directly faces the exposed end of the optical fiber to establish an optical connection at a minimized connection loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Inamoto, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Ryotaro Kachu, Yujiro Miyata, Motomi Iyoda
  • Patent number: 7245813
    Abstract: A dust cap for an optical ferrule is provided that has a sleeve with a first end and second end, the second end having at least one depression configured to engage a portion of the end face of an optical ferrule. The dust cap prevents dirt and debris from contaminating the front face of the optical ferrule if the optical ferrule has open guide pin holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: US Conec, Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Brown, Darrell R. Childers
  • Patent number: 7245814
    Abstract: A line attenuation device for monomode fibers having at least one attenuating element with at least one graded-index multimode fiber section placed between two monomode fibers and coupled to at least one coreless silica fiber section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Philippe Chanclou, Monique Thual, Jean Lostec
  • Patent number: 7245815
    Abstract: Turf comprising a backing and artificial or natural turf fibers and fiber optic filaments extending from the backing between the turf fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Triexe Management Group Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin
  • Patent number: 7245816
    Abstract: In a method for designing an envelope detecting circuit for a video signal processing integrated circuit (IC), the number of peripheral components of the video signal processing IC is minimized by incorporating, into the video signal processing IC, a circuit device for detecting the envelope of an FM video signal and for controlling the envelope level. According to the IC designing method, the number of components can be reduced by designing all circuit elements constituting a circuit which detects the envelope of the FM video signal and which controls envelope level so that they are incorporated into the video signal processing IC at the time of designing the video signal processing IC. As a result, cost is reduced and, since mode control signal lines are reduced, the corresponding terminals of the microprocessor can be used for another purpose, thereby increasing the operating efficiency of the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chul-min Kim
  • Patent number: 7245817
    Abstract: A multimedia transfer apparatus is described comprising: a plurality of media readers; one or more encoder modules, configured to encode data read by the media readers in a specified encoding format; and a data communication interface configured to copy the encoded data to a media storage and playback apparatus. Also described is a computer-implemented method for transferring multimedia content comprising: reading first multimedia data from a first CD/DVD; encoding the first multimedia data to produce first encoded data in parallel with reading multimedia data from a second CD/DVD; encoding the second multimedia data to produce second encoded data; and transmitting the first and second encoded data to a multimedia storage and playback apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Digeo, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Nichols, Stephen G. Perlman
  • Patent number: 7245818
    Abstract: A moving image reproducing apparatus includes a CPU mounted with a real-time OS. When a set key is pressed, the CPU executes concurrently a transfer process of compressed image data and sound data from a magneto-optical disk to an SDRAM and a reproduce process of compressed image data and sound data stored in the SDRAM. Herein, the reproduce process includes a process of setting a command of transferring the compressed image data and sound data to an instruction list and a process of outputting the compressed image data and sound data stored in the SDRAM. Meanwhile, the transfer process includes a process of seeking a desired address on the magneto-optical disk by making reference to the instruction list and a process of writing desired data to a desired address in the SDRAM by making reference to the instruct on list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junya Kaku
  • Patent number: 7245819
    Abstract: Described herein is an exemplary system and related methods for cross-file DVR record padding playback. The exemplary system can recover program fragments lost by intentionally or unintentionally padding programs during recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Scott D. Sanders
  • Patent number: 7245820
    Abstract: A method for selecting a chapter boundary for a digital video recording is provided that includes examining cut-rates for the recording. A determination is made regarding whether a default chapter length has passed. A determination is made regarding whether the cut-rate for the recording at the default chapter length is low. The chapter boundary is selected at the default chapter length when the cut-rate for the recording at the default chapter length is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas McGee, Mauro Barbieri
  • Patent number: 7245821
    Abstract: When a reverse reproduction is instructed, an MPEG video stream is once decoded and is again recoded by an MPEG video encoder so as to generate a recoded data sequence which will be overwritten on a storage area in a hard disk. An MPEG video decoder reads out this recoded data sequence in a reverse time-series manner and decodes it successively, and then converts it to a video signal so as to be outputted to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 7245822
    Abstract: A recording/reproducing manage unit 25, in response to an instruction, records the images of program into the recording files in order by changing the target recording file in a predetermined interval. Then the unit 25, in response to another instruction, reproduces the recording files in its recorded order. Thereby a recording/reproducing device of broadcasting signals of the invention can complete reproduction of a program at almost the same timing as an end time of real broadcasting of the program, even if the reproduction is started a long time behind the starting of the real broadcasting of the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Satomi Shigaki
  • Patent number: 7245823
    Abstract: A recording medium and a recording apparatus store manufacturer information to support specific functions for each manufacturer and a method therefore. A reproducing apparatus reproduces the manufacturer information to support specific functions. When the recording apparatus modifies the contents of the recording medium, the manufacturer's identification code is recorded. The recording apparatus and the reproducing apparatus checks the identification code on the recording medium before using its own manufacture information item for some specific function. Also, a time required to determine whether the manufacturer information items are effective is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-jin Moon, Young-nam Oh, Tae-yun Chung, Jung-suk Kang, Pan-gie Park
  • Patent number: 7245824
    Abstract: An image indexing system comprising a video frame store, an averager which provides a first signal indicative of the average brightness level of each frame stored, an image splitter and averager which divides each frame into contiguous blocks of pixels, and provides for each block, a second signal indicative of its average brightness level, a comparator which compares each of the second signals with the first signal so as to produce in respect of each block a binary signal indicative of whether or not its brightness level, as indicated by the first signal, is greater or less than the average brightness level for the frame as indicated by the first signal, thereby to produce for each frame, an index signal comprising one binary bit for each block which serves to identify each frame for indexing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Ian Fletcher
  • Patent number: 7245825
    Abstract: The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi Kikuchi, Hideo Ando, Kazuhiko Taira, Yuji Ito, Hideki Mimura
  • Patent number: 7245826
    Abstract: An encoding/recording device encodes a video signal according to MPEG, encodes an audio signal with a predetermined method, and multiplexes the encoded video signal and the audio signal to produce a system stream. The encoding/recording device then records the system stream onto a recording medium. On receiving a pause instruction, the encoding/recording device suspends reception of the audio signal and the video signal in synchronization with a timing with which the video signal is received, and thereafter suspends encoding, multiplexing, and recording for the audio signal and the video signal with predetermined timings. On receiving a pause release instruction, the encoding/recording device resumes reception of the audio signal and the video signal in synchronization with a timing with which the video signal is received, and thereafter resumes the encoding, the multiplexing, and the recording with predetermined timings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Harumoto, Tomoyuki Okada, Shiro Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7245827
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus has a pack chamber loaded with an instant film pack which stores by stacking plural pieces of instant film sheets having an image recording section which is exposed and subjected to spreading of a developer to record an image and a developer pool provided on a front end side in a carrying direction from the image recording section, and that carries the instant film sheets stored in the instant film pack loaded in the pack chamber and that performs recording of the image on the instant film sheets, the image recording apparatus comprising: carrying rollers; an exposure section; developing rollers; a carrying roller holding section; and a developing roller holding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Takagi, Mutsumi Naruse, Yukitaka Takeshita
  • Patent number: 7245828
    Abstract: An optical transmitter that determines and controls the extinction ratio of an optical signal by modulating the duty cycle of the optical signal. The transmitter obtains a signal from the monitor circuit that represents optical power emitted by the electro-optic transducer during normal conditions in which the duty cycle of the optical signal is between a bias high and bias low modulation condition. The transmitter also obtains a signal from the monitor circuit that represents optical power emitted during the bias high modulation condition in which the time at the optical high power level in the eye diagram is greater. Also, the transmitter obtains a signal that represents optical power emitted by the electro-optic transducer during the bias low modulation condition in which the time at the optical low power level in the eye diagram is greater. Based on these signals, the transmitter then derives the extinction ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Finisar Coporation
    Inventors: Juergen Hauenschild, The'Linh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7245829
    Abstract: A network arrangement for aggregation of groups of tunable sources in a photonic network is disclosed. The network arrangement includes transmit edge elements having a plurality of tunable optical transmitters, an optical switch and a cyclic optical multiplexer, and receive edge elements having optical demultiplexers, optical switches and a plurality of optical receivers. A variety of arrangements are disclosed including protected and unprotected network architectures. The network arrangement disclosed is particularly useful for overcoming the problem of scaling a photonic network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Pia Sindile
  • Patent number: 7245830
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for scheduling transmission of data bursts in an OBS network are described. One embodiment is a router in an OBS network, the router comprising a grouper module for collecting a group of BHPs arriving during a BHP collecting period and classifying each BHP of the group of BHPs into corresponding baskets depending on the data channel scheduling window of its corresponding data burst; a classifier and channel assignment module for assigning data bursts to appropriate data channels; and a channel scheduler for constructing an interval graph representing data bursts corresponding to BHPs classified in a single one of the baskets having overlapping segments on each data channel as adjacent vertices and scheduling data bursts on each data channel based on a process that finds a maximum number of non-adjacent vertices on the interval graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent
    Inventors: Saravut Charcranoon, Tarek S. El-Bawab, Jong-Dug Shin, Hakki Candan Cankaya
  • Patent number: 7245831
    Abstract: Optical Packet Switching (OPS) is considered the most desirable switching technology for the ubiquitous optical networks that carry internet traffic. OPS could provide for great flexibility, capacity, efficiency, and bandwidth utilization that current switching strategies are not capable of providing. Despite its great appeal, OPS has been hampered by some major hurdles that prevented its practical implementation. Among such hurdles are optical buffering, optical processing/update of headers and to a lesser extent synchronization. This document introduces a novel technique for implementing packet switching in the optical domain. The new approach makes it possible to find efficient and cost effective solutions to the major problems that traditionally rendered optical packet switching (OPS) impractical. The new approach is applicable to any network topology. A complete suite of solutions to all aspects of optical packet switching that take full advantage of the basic novel approach are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University And Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventor: Ahmed A. El-Amawy
  • Patent number: 7245832
    Abstract: An optical bus 30 optically connects each board of a signal processing section 22 and each board of a transmission/reception section 40 for transmitting an optical signal output to the optical bus 30 by each board of the signal processing section 22 to each board of the transmission/reception section 40 in a non-block state. In contrast, the optical bus 30 transmits an optical signal output to the optical bus 30 by each board of the transmission/reception section 40 to each board of the signal processing section 22 in a non-block state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomo Baba, Masao Funada, Takeshi Kamimura, Hidenori Yamada, Junji Okada, Shinya Kyozuka, Kazuhiro Sakai, Tsutomu Hamada, Shinobu Ozeki, Osamu Takanashi, Masaaki Miura, Takehiro Niitsu, Masashi Hisada, Kenichi Kobayashi, Akira Toshima
  • Patent number: 7245833
    Abstract: A photonic channelized receiver includes: an optical source, an optical combiner, an electro-optical modulator, an etalon, a wavelength splitter, and a set of detectors. The optical source produces a set of optical signals at spaced wavelengths, and the optical combiner combines the optical signals into a common beam. The electro-optical modulator modulates the common beam with an RF signal to produce sidebands offset from frequencies of the optical signals by the RF signal frequency. The etalon has a periodic transfer function that filters the modulated common beam such that the signals in the filtered, modulated common beam function as receiver channels corresponding to respective RF frequencies. The wavelength splitter separates the common beam into channel output signals whose intensities are a function of the frequency of the RF signal. The detectors measure the intensities of the channel output signals to determine the frequency of the RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Allan Volkening
  • Patent number: 7245834
    Abstract: An optical device includes a stack having a transparent block with a rear face fixed on a front face of an integrated chip support. A front face of the transparent block that is parallel to its rear face is affixed to a rear face of a converging lens. The lens has a convex frontal surface. A diaphragm is interposed and fixed between the block and the lens. A housing for the optical device is made of an opaque material. A peripheral wall of the housing encloses the stack. An annular front part of the peripheral wall bears on a periphery of the convex frontal surface of the lens so as to define a frontal opening located in front of a central part of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Emmanuelle Vigier-Blanc, Jonathan Hurwitz, Ewan Findlay
  • Patent number: 7245835
    Abstract: An optical transceiver device having digital and programmable control over transceiver components is disclosed. The optical transceiver module comprises a controller and an integrated post-amplifier/laser driver (“PA/LD”), which are included on a printed circuit board disposed in the module. Transmitting and receiving optical sub-assemblies for transceiving optical signals are also disposed in the module. A digital signal interface interconnects the controller with the integrated PA/LD. A microprocessor is interposed between the controller and the PA/LD and is connected to both components via the digital signal interface. Digital control signals produced by the controller are transmitted via the digital signal interface to the integrated PA/LD where they are converted to analog signals for use by a plurality of control amplifiers. Conversely, analog feedback signals produced by the control amplifiers are converted to digital signals and transmitted to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Giorgio Giaretta, Andreas Weber, Dan Case
  • Patent number: 7245836
    Abstract: Incident signal beam pulses are transmitted by an on-state region, and an optical path for the signal beam pulses is spatially switched in an optical switch. Signal beam pulses transmitted by the on-state region of the optical switch are detected at a pixel corresponding to a transmitting region of a photo-detector equipped with a plurality of pixels. A timing computation unit acquires position information of a pixel at which a predetermined signal beam pulse has been detected, on the basis of a result of the detection conducted by the photo-detector, and computes timing of arrival of a predetermined signal beam pulse at the optical switch on the basis of the position information of the pixel and time when a region corresponding to the pixel is brought to an on-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mitsu, Makoto Furuki, Izumi Iwasa, Yasuhiro Sato, Satoshi Tatsuura, Minquan Tian, Makoto Naruse
  • Patent number: 7245837
    Abstract: A demultiplex unit demultiplexes the optical output of a Mach-Zehnder optical modulator and inputs the demultiplexed optical output to a wavelength detection unit. The wavelength detection unit detects the wavelength deviations in the ascending or descending part of the optical signal and inputs the wavelength deviations to a detection unit. The detection unit detects the sign and magnitude of chirping in the magnitude of wavelength deviation and inputs the sign and magnitude of chirping to a driving voltage control unit. The driving voltage control unit compares the detected sign and amount of chirping with the target sign and magnitude of chirping, and a driving voltage generation circuit provides the Mach-Zehnder optical modulator with a suitable driving voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hisaya Sakamoto, Toru Yamazaki, Rumiko Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7245838
    Abstract: Described herein is a printing platform having one or more marking modules for reproducing an image on a substrate; a print media source processing unit that supplies the substrate; a finisher that provides finishing capabilities for the substrate; and a platform manager that automatically removes electrical power from at least one component of the printing platform while other components continue to process print jobs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph A. Swift
  • Patent number: 7245839
    Abstract: A printer detects a roll radius of a recording paper roll once a day and measures the remaining amount of recording paper. Then the printer calculates the number of photo prints in the previous day as an actual consumption value from a difference in remaining amount of paper between the day and the previous day. The printer stores the actual consumption values in the form of a calendar cumulatively and creates a consumption record of the recording paper. Next, the printer estimates predicted consumption of the recording paper in a coming week based on the consumption record. And the printer predicts the time of occurrence of a paper-out condition based on the remaining amount of the recording paper and the predicted consumption. When it is predicted that the printer will be out of paper within a coming week, the printer displays a warning message on a LCD and urges a supervisor of the printer to prepare a new recording paper roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Teruyoshi Nakashima
  • Patent number: 7245840
    Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for accurately estimating the volume of toner consumption of a laser printer by subtracting the volume of toner consumption corresponding to overlapping areas between adjacent bits of video data sequentially input by the bit from an average volume of toner consumption per bit. The apparatus includes an effective video data generator receiving video data and generating effective video data, a first storing unit receiving and temporarily storing the effective video data, and a toner consumption calculator receiving the effective video data from the first storing unit and calculating the volume of toner consumption per bit. The toner consumption calculator calculates the volume of toner consumption per bit by sequentially receiving the effective video data by the bit and subtracting the volume of toner consumption corresponding to overlapping areas between a bit and its adjacent bits from an average volume of toner consumption per bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong-Gie Hwang
  • Patent number: 7245841
    Abstract: An image detector has an I/V converter for converting, into a voltage output., a current output as a result of a photoelectric element arranged in a traveling direction of an intermediate transfer belt having received light reflected from the intermediate transfer belt and light reflected from toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt; a peak-hold unit for holding an output voltage into which the light reflected from the intermediate transfer belt has been converted by the I/V converter; and a computation unit for detecting a difference between the output voltage of the peak-hold unit and an output voltage into which the light reflected from the toner images of respective colors has been converted by the I/V converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Akatsu, Junshin Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7245842
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: at least one image forming unit including an image bearing member bearing a latent image and a developing device configured to develop the latent image with a developer including a toner to form a toner image thereon; optionally an intermediate transfer configured to receive the toner image from the image bearing member; a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image to a receiving material; an image pattern measuring device configured to evaluate at least a formal property of a test toner image formed on the image bearing member or the intermediate transfer medium; an image quality predicting device configured to predict image qualities of the toner image to be formed on the receiving material on the basis of the evaluation data; and an image forming condition adjusting device configured to adjust image forming conditions on the basis of the image quality prediction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventor: Makoto Hino
  • Patent number: 7245843
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming device for forming a toner image on a recording material with transparent or white toner. A fixing device fixes the toner image on the recording material. A fixed toner image detection device detects the toner image fixed on the recording material. A controller variably controls a toner image forming condition of the toner image forming device on the basis of a detection result of the fixed toner image detection device, which detects a glossiness of the toner image. The toner image forming condition, which is variably controlled by the controller, is a weight of the toner per unit area of the toner image on the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Bessho
  • Patent number: 7245844
    Abstract: A printing system includes first and second marking engines. First and second fusers are associated with the marking engines, respectively. The printing system has a first mode of operation in which print media is fused by both fusers and a second mode of operation in which at least a portion of the print media is fused by the second fuser, which portion has not been previously fused by the first fuser. The second fuser has first and second fuser operating modes when the printing system is in the first and second modes of operation, respectively. The second fuser applies a first energy input to the print media in the first fuser operating mode and a second energy input, different from the first energy input, to the print media in the second fuser operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy C. de Jong, Bryan J. Roof, Anthony S. Condello
  • Patent number: 7245845
    Abstract: An apparatus for executing a printing process on the basis of a print job from an external apparatus, comprises a post-processing unit which can apply post-processing for printed paper sheets using paper sheets prepared independently of the printed paper sheets; a detector for detecting in the post-processing means that the paper sheets prepared independently of the printed paper sheets are set; determination means for determining whether or not print start trigger information is attached to the print job, which indicates an instruction to start printing in response to trigger information to start printing; and print control means for, (i) when a print job designated with the post-processing by the post-processing unit is received and it is determined that the print start trigger information is attached to the received print job, delaying a process of the print job until the detector detects that the paper sheets are set, and starting execution of the print job when the detector detects that the paper sheets
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Isobe, Koji Doi, Kenji Hiromatsu, Masashi Oyumi, Yukimasa Iseki
  • Patent number: 7245846
    Abstract: An oxidation catalyst unit for a wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus which filters a vapor produced at a fusing unit and a method thereof are provided. The oxidation catalyst unit and method includes a duct for guiding the carrier vapor produced at the fusing unit into the oxidation catalyst unit, a heater for heating the carrier vapor being guided along the duct, an oxidation catalyst carrying medium disposed behind the heater for catalyzing an oxidation reaction of the carrier vapor guided along the duct, and an absorbent filter for preventing entry of the carrier vapor into the oxidation catalyst in the form of liquid drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwoang-joe Seorl, Joong-hwan Choi, Young-joon Lee
  • Patent number: 7245847
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a rotatable brush that contacts upon or slides along a carrier of electrostatic latent images in order to apply an electric potential to the carrier of the electrostatic latent images, includes, an elastic foam body pressed by the bristles of the rotating brush provided downstream in a direction of a rotation of the rotating brush from a position of contact with the carrier of the electrostatic latent images, and a slide member pressed by the bristles of the rotating brush downstream in the direction of the rotation of the rotating brush from the elastic foam body, wherein the elastic foam body has a contact face that presses the rotatable brush, a discharge face that discharges developer or the like that enters the elastic foam body, and all faces other than the contact face and the discharge face are sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichi Takesawa, Hiroshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 7245848
    Abstract: An electrophotographic machine includes a dielectric member configured for carrying a toner image. A transfer roller engages the dielectric member and transfers the toner image to an image substrate. A transfer roller power supply biases and periodically reverse biases the transfer roller. A transfer roller cleaning brush having conductive bristles engages the transfer roller. An electrically conductive brush housing encloses the transfer roller cleaning brush and defines an opening through which the bristles contact the transfer roller. The brush housing is electrically charged to the same electrical potential as said transfer roller and is selectively discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Friedrich, George R. Walgrove, Gary B. Bertram, Ronald E. Auty
  • Patent number: 7245849
    Abstract: A image forming apparatus for providing an enlarged user work space. The image forming apparatus includes a printing module with a housing, a scanning module positioned above the printing module, a modular work surface positioned above the printing module, and a document handler positioned above the modular work surface. The modular work surface includes at least a unitary central work surface. The central work surface includes a top surface having a width dimension extending in a horizontal sheet feed direction, the width dimension of the top surface of the central work surface being larger than a width dimension of the housing of the printing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mark S. Penke, Donald A. Brown
  • Patent number: 7245850
    Abstract: The invention provides a photosensitive member cartridge, that has, for example, a case including a bottom wall, an upper wall, and side walls. A photosensitive drum and a transfer roller are rotatably disposed in a space surrounded by the bottom wall, the upper wall, and the side walls. The bottom wall extends below the transfer roller. A developer cartridge, having a developing roller, is set on the extending portion of the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Okabe, Shougo Sato, Tsutomu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7245851
    Abstract: In an electrophotographic apparatus having a blue (purple) semiconductor laser as a light source, the electrophotographic apparatus has an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging means, an exposure means, a developing means, a transfer means and a destaticizing means. The exposure means has a semiconductor laser and the destaticizing means having a light-emitting diode, wherein wavelength ?a (nm) of the semiconductor laser, wavelength ?b (nm) of the light-emitting diode and wavelength ?c (nm) at which the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a maximum spectral sensitivity satisfy the following relationship (1): ?a<?c<?b??(1) and any of the ?a, the ?b and the ?c is within the range of from 380 nm to 520 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Fujii, Masato Tanaka, Ryuji Higashi
  • Patent number: 7245852
    Abstract: A toner supply device is equipped with a coupling that has a toner supply opening on the side wall, a partition wall provided in this coupling integrally with a specific space provided on the inner wall and a hole larger than a toner supply opening on the side wall. A toner bottle containing toner is provided in the coupling with its cap portion inserted airtight into the partition wall detachably and an opening provided on its cap portion opposing to the hole on the partition wall for replenishing toner to a developing device from this opening through the hole and a toner supply opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriyuki Takuwa
  • Patent number: 7245853
    Abstract: A developer container includes a developer storage unit made of a flexible sheet material for storing developer, and a cap unit from which the developer is discharged. The developer storage unit includes a holding member that holds a folded state when the developer storage unit is folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Muramatsu, Nobuo Iwata, Junichi Matsumoto, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Takayuki Koike
  • Patent number: 7245854
    Abstract: A sheet storing portion storing a stack of recording sheets and sequentially supplying recording sheets to an image forming portion has a tray pullout frame that can be pulled out to the front side of the apparatus and a sheet tray provided in the tray pullout frame. The sheet tray stores recording sheets, and the tray pullout frame can be pulled out to a lateral side while the frame is mounted in the apparatus. The front part of the tray pullout frame can be open as the frame is mounted to the apparatus main body, so that the recording sheet transport path can be open and the apparatus can be restored upon a paper jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Miyaji, Masayuki Enta
  • Patent number: 7245855
    Abstract: An opening and closing device including: a fixed side member; a movable side member retained by the fixed side member to be opened and closed freely; a wire member that is fixed at one end thereof to one of the fixed side member and the movable side member; a rotary member that is provided in the other of the fixed side member and the movable side member, has the wire member wound therearound when the movable side member is closed, and rotates in such a direction as to draw out the wire member when the movable side member is opened; and an elastic member that is provided in the rotary member and accumulates an elastic force which causes the rotary member to rotate reversely to a direction in which the rotary member rotates when the wire member is drawn out, due to rotation of the rotary member at a time when the wire member is drawn out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yasumoto
  • Patent number: 7245856
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including tandem print engines is provided for forming an image on an image receiving substrata. The apparatus includes a first print engine and a second print engine downstream from the first print engine. The second print engine is slaved to the first print engine. The first print engine has a first photoreceptor and a first period of revolution. The second print engine has a second photoreceptor and a second period of revolution. The image processing apparatus further includes an intermediate inverter that inverts the image receiving substrate between the first print engine and the second print engine. The inverter determines a phase difference between a first seam signal from the first photoreceptor and a second seam signal from the second photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Furst, Daniel W. Costanza, Robert M. Lofthus, Mark A. Omelchenko
  • Patent number: 7245857
    Abstract: A belt driving apparatus for driving a belt has the belt hung around and between rollers, and has a meandering prevention member provided in each end part of each roller to restrict the meandering of the belt in the roller axial direction. A cut is formed to be open toward the roller end face and to extend in the roller axial direction, and a boss that fits into the cut is formed on the inner circumference of the meandering prevention member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Ishii, Hiroshi Ito
  • Patent number: 7245858
    Abstract: A gear mechanism is arranged in such a manner that, a driven gear, which is detachable with respect to a first rotating shaft around which the driven gear rotates, is moved in a fitting direction along the axis of the first rotating shaft, so as to be fit with the first rotating shaft, and consequently the driven gear engages with a driving gear that has been positioned. In this gear mechanism, when the driven gear is moved in the fitting direction and the driven gear and the driving gear are about to engage with each other, the driven gear and the first rotating shaft are arranged so as to separate from each other in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Okada, Shinji Sugita
  • Patent number: 7245859
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a rotary developing device including a casing having absolute value of the surface potential of not larger than 300 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Kabai, Satoshi Itaya, Mitsuhisa Kato