Patents Issued in April 29, 2008
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Patent number: 7366433Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include an image acquiring section for acquiring the image to be printed, an attribute information acquiring section for acquiring attribute information of the recording sheet to be used for printing the image acquired by the image acquiring section from the IC tag attached to the recording sheet and storing the attribute information, a printing control section for controlling the operation of printing the image so as to make the image match the attributes of the recording sheet on the basis of the attribute information acquired by the attribute information acquiring section and an image printing section for printing the image under the control of the printing control section.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takaaki Suzuki, Takaharu Ouchi
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Patent number: 7366434Abstract: A method and apparatus to clear the accumulation of toner particles from a doctor element by periodically reversing a bias field between a doctor element and a developer member. The developer member may be biased to a first electrical potential while the doctor element may be biased to a second electrical potential. The second electrical potential may be higher than the first electrical potential. The doctor element and the developer member may be biased from a single voltage supply and a voltage dividing circuit. A bias reversing circuit may cause the second electrical potential to fall, at least temporarily, below that of the first electrical potential when power from the voltage supply is removed. The bias reversing circuit may also cause the first electrical potential to fall with a longer time constant than that of the second electrical potential when power from the voltage supply is removed.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Gregory L. Ream, Michelle K. Morris, William A. Menk, Jr.
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Patent number: 7366435Abstract: A fixing controller that utilizes an induction-heating (IH) fixing technique and a 2-CPU fixing technique is provided to reduce the control workload on the main CPU, and to perform a fine control operation, taking advantage of the temperature flexibility that is naturally achieved by the IH fixing technique. In this fixing controller utilizing the IH fixing technique and the 2-CPU fixing technique, the main CPU that controls an entire image forming apparatus only transmits a power control signal as a control instruction to the IH CPU in an IH control circuit. Accordingly, in this fixing controller, IH control is performed by the IH CPU.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tohru Nagatsuma, Hiroyuki Takahashi
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Patent number: 7366436Abstract: An image processing unit A has a unit main body 2 and a panel 1 that is supported movably with respect to the unit main body 2 and is equipped with a control component 5 and/or a display component 6, and has a panel support mechanism C that supports the panel 1 such that the control component 5 and/or the display component 6 can be changed from an upward orientation to a lateral orientation facing the side with respect to the unit main body 2, in conjunction with the movement of panel 1 toward the side.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Takaya Akiyama, Shinichi Nakanishi, Takashi Tamura
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Patent number: 7366437Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer belt that is formed of an endless belt; a plurality of image forming units that are so arranged as to be aligned in a transfer belt conveyance direction; a plurality of toner supply containers that are detachably fitted, on one end side in the direction orthogonal to the transfer belt conveyance direction, in correspondence with the plurality of image forming units; an optical sensor that is provided in opposition to the transfer belt; and a cleaning member that is biased toward the one end side in the direction orthogonal to the transfer belt conveyance direction and that cleans a detection surface of the optical sensor in conjunction with replacement operation for one particular toner supply container among the plurality of toner supply containers.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Inui, Chisato Hatakeyama
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Patent number: 7366438Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a toner image forming section for forming toner images on the image bearing member, whereby the toner image forming section forms a detection patch on the image bearing member; a transfer member for contacting the image bearing member to form a transfer nip portion, and electrically transferring the toner image to the recording material in the transfer nip portion; a detector for detecting the detection patch; a controller for variably controlling a toner image forming condition based on the detection result of the detector; and a toner removing section for forming a cleaning electric field to remove toner adhering to the transfer member when the inter-toner image area passes through the transfer nip portion. The electric field electrostatically moves the toner adhering to the transfer member to the image bearing member.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2007Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasushi Takeuchi, Yuichi Ikeda, Jun Tomine
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Patent number: 7366439Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a cartridge detachably mountable in an electrophotographic image-forming apparatus body and composed of styrene-based resin compositions at least in part, characterized by including the steps of: (1) dividing the cartridge into at least two parts; and (2) bonding at least one of the divided parts with another one of the divided parts and/or a component other than the divided parts by use of a terpene solvent.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Anan, Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 7366440Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge and a developer cartridge are independently attachable. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a first developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer used by the roller, a developer receiving port for receiving the developer from the developer cartridge into the first developer accommodating portion when the process cartridge is mounted to the apparatus, a cleaning member for removing the developer from the drum, first and second removed developer accommodating portions for accommodating the developer removed from the drum by the cleaning member, and a developer feeder device for feeding the developer from the first to the second portions. When the process and developer cartridges are mounted to each other, the developer cartridge is disposed above the first developer accommodating portion and at a side of the second removed developer accommodating portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadashi Horikawa
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Patent number: 7366441Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image bearing unit, a developing unit, and first and second positioning members. The image bearing unit includes a photoconductor, and a photoconductor case accommodating the photoconductor. The developing unit detachably combined with the image bearing unit includes a developer case containing a developer, a developing roller carrying the developer. The first and second positioning members are respectively disposed at each side of the photoconductor case and the developer case when the photoconductor case and the developer case are attached in combination, and is configured to position the developing roller and the photoconductor so as to regulate a gap formed between the developing roller and the photoconductor to a predetermined distance.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventor: Satoshi Hatori
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Patent number: 7366442Abstract: A fixing device is provided with a fixing roller and a pressure roller that presses against the fixing roller, and is configured such that an endless belt that is wound around a plurality of belt support rollers presses against the fixing roller and the fixing roller is heated via the endless belt by heat from a heating means mounted inside at least one of the plurality of belt support rollers, wherein the pressure roller is configured to be capable of relatively pressing against and moving apart from the fixing roller and the endless belt is configured to be capable of relatively pressing against and moving apart from the fixing roller.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Kunihiko Ishii, Chisato Hatakeyama, Hiroshi Ito
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Patent number: 7366443Abstract: A constant-velocity joint includes an outer ring formed with an annular space therein having an opening at one end thereof. The annular space is defined by a radially outer wall and a radially inner wall. One of the radially inner and outer walls is formed with three axially extending track grooves circumferentially spaced apart from each other by 120 degrees. A cage is inserted in the annular space with one end thereof protruding from the opening of the annular space. A second shaft is provided on the one end of the cage. Balls are retained by the cage and adapted to roll in the track grooves. At least one of the outer ring and the cage is formed of a synthetic resin.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: NTN CorporationInventors: Masaaki Ohashi, Satoru Fukuzawa
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Patent number: 7366444Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a first detecting device that detects a first detection objective and generates a pulse signal having a prescribed voltage, and a second detecting device that detects the second detection objective and generates a pulse signal having the same width and a prescribed voltage. A time measuring device measures a time difference between a time when one of the first and second detecting devices firstly generates a pulse signal and a time when the other one of the first and second detecting devices firstly generates a pulse signal after measuring start. A phase calculation device calculates a difference in phase between the monochrome photoconductive member and mono color photoconductive member in accordance with the time difference. Driving speed of one of the first and second driving motors is controlled so that the phase difference decreases to a prescribed level.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company LimitedInventor: Toshiaki Takane
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Patent number: 7366445Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, wherein a toner image is formed on the image bearing member and is transferred onto a recording material, thus forming an image on the recording material; a shaft for rotating the image bearing member, wherein the shaft is provided with a first projection and a second projection, and the image bearing member is provided with a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion which are engageable with the first projection and the second projection, respectively, and wherein the first engaging portion is abuttable to the first projection at downstream and upstream sides of the first projection with respect to a rotational direction of the shaft, and the second engaging portion is abuttable to the second projection at a downstream side of the second projection, and wherein a gap is provided between the second engaging portion and the second projection at an upstream side of the second projection.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigeru Hoashi, Kazuo Chadani
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Patent number: 7366446Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a photosensitive drum driving unit, a developing roller driving unit, and a driving control unit. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum. The developing roller is disposed facing the photosensitive drum and supplies a developing agent to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image to developing agent image. The photosensitive drum driving unit rotatably drives the photosensitive drum. The developing roller driving unit rotatably drives the developing roller. The driving control unit controls the photosensitive drum driving unit and controls the developing roller controlling unit so that a circumferential speed ratio of the developing roller with respect to the photosensitive drum becomes a circumferential speed ratio which corresponds to a circumferential speed of the photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishiInventors: Fumikazu Sato, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 7366447Abstract: Flanges are pressed into opposite ends of a photoreceptor drum. A noncontact charging roller is arranged so as to face, but have no direct contact with, the photoreceptor drum. On both end portions of the noncontact charging roller, spacers are provided for maintaing a gap between the photoreceptor drum and the noncontact charging roller. The spacers are of tape form and wound around the noncontact charging roller. Winding positions of the spacers are distant by more than an effective projection length of each of the flanges from respective opposite ends of the charging roller.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Mukai, Syohji Tomita, Hiroshi Onda, Atsuyuki Katoh, Hiroshi Ishii, Yoshinobu Okumura
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Patent number: 7366448Abstract: A charging member is disclosed having a support and at least one cover layer provided on the support., The cover layer has an outermost layer of the cover layer placed at the outermost surface of the charging member; the outermost layer contains i) composite particles composed of first metal oxide particles coated with carbon black, ii) second metal oxide particles and iii) a binder.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Canon Kasei Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomohito Taniguchi, Masaaki Harada, Hideyuki Takagi, Toshihiro Otaka, Yoshimasa Sawada
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Patent number: 7366449Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer container that includes an opening and holds a developer; a first screw that stirs and conveys the developer, and that supplies the developer to a developing roller; a second screw that stirs the first developer, and that conveys the developer to a direction opposite to a direction to which the first screw conveys the developer; and a partition wall that partitions between the first screw and the second screw. The partition wall includes a guiding member that guides, to a position within a range in which rotation of the first conveying unit reaches, a part of the developer that is supplied to the developing roller and is returned after being used for development from the developing roller, and at least a part of the guiding member is an adhesion surface to which a sealing member for sealing the opening is adhered.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hideki Zemba
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Patent number: 7366450Abstract: A cartridge includes a case that accommodates a consumable therein, a land area that protrudes from a surface of the case, and a recess that is formed on a reverse side of the surface at a position corresponding to the land area, a reverse side of a deepest portion of the recess being the land area, wherein the deepest portion of the recess is toward the land area with respect to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tsutomu Suzuki
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Patent number: 7366451Abstract: A developer feeding screw, which includes a shaft and a helical shape portion around said shaft, for feeding a developer in a direction of an axis of said shaft by rotation about the axis, said feeding screw, the improvement residing in that: a sectional configuration of said helical shape portion in a plane including the axis satisfies: Z(r)=kln(ro/r) where z(r) is a height of said sectional configuration at radius r with z(ro)=0 (ro is an outer radius of the helical configuration): r is a radius (0<r?ro) k is a constant.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Katsunori Yokoyama
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Patent number: 7366452Abstract: A developer supply container supplies a developer to a process cartridge detachably mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge contains an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a charging member for charging the drum. The developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion, a developer supply opening for supplying the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to the cartridge, a container closing member for opening and closing the developer supply opening, a first container guide guidable by an apparatus main assembly guide, a second container guide guidable by the main assembly guide, a container force receiving portion for receiving a force for opening the supply opening by movement of the closing member by engagement with a cartridge engaging portion provided in the cartridge, and a first container positioning portion engageable with a first main assembly positioning portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akiyoshi Fujita, Atsushi Numagami, Takahito Ueno
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Patent number: 7366453Abstract: A development subsystem is used to develop developer having semiconductive carrier particles and toner particles. The development subsystem includes a developer housing, for retaining a quantity of developer having semiconductive carrier particles and toner particles, a first magnetic roll having a stationary core with at least one magnet and a sleeve that rotates about the stationary core of the first magnetic roll, a second magnetic roll having a stationary core with at least one magnet and a sleeve that rotates about the stationary core of the second magnetic roll, and a motor coupled to the first and the second magnetic rolls to drive the rotating sleeves of the first and the second magnetic rolls in a direction that is against the direction of a photoreceptor that rotates in proximity to the first and the second magnetic rolls. The first and the second magnetic rolls carry semiconductive carrier particles and toner particles through a development zone formed by the first and the second magnetic rolls.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Michael D. Thompson, James M. Chappell, Steven C. Hart, Patrick J. Howe, Ajay Kumar, Steven R. Leroy, Paul W. Morehouse, Palghat S. Ramesh, Fei Xiao
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Patent number: 7366454Abstract: The long magnet includes a magnet block made of a mixture of rare earth magnetic powder, thermoplastic resin particles, fluidity additive, pigment, wax and charge control agent, and a reinforcing member to reinforce the magnet block. At least part of the reinforcing member is arranged inside of the magnet block.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Makoto Nakamura, Mieko Kakegawa, Sumio Kamoi, Tsuyoshi Imamura, Kyohta Koetsuka, Noriyuki Kamiya
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Patent number: 7366455Abstract: The image fixing apparatus includes a heater having a heat generating resistor on a substrate, a heater holder for holding said heater, and a backup roller for forming a nip portion in cooperation with said heater, wherein said heater holder has, in a direction along a short side of said heater, a contact area facing said resistor forming area and coming into contact with said heater, and non-contact areas provided on both sides of the contact area and not coming into contact with said heater, and the contact area has a width equal to or larger than the resistor forming area. With this configuration, it is possible to provide the image fixing apparatus capable of restraining a stress applied to the heater and an image heating apparatus capable of restraining a rise in temperature of a sheet non-feeding portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Iwasaki, Hiroaki Sakai, Akira Kato, Tomoyuki Makihira, Masafumi Maeda
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Patent number: 7366456Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first heater that heats a heating member, a second heater that heats a support member, and a third heater that heats a facing member. The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing belt wound around between the heating member and the support member, and a facing member arranged so as to face the fixing belt. A paper is passed through a nip portion between the facing member and the fixing belt and a toner image is fixed on the paper by applying heat and pressure to the toner of the toner image. Only the first heater is energized during the fixing operation. All the three heaters are energized at the time of startup operation and during a standby state.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Takahiro Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 7366457Abstract: The image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices corresponding to a plurality of colors includes at least a predetermined color for developing an electrostatic image as toner images, an image bearing member bearing thereon the toner images developed by the plurality of developing devices, and a collecting device for collecting residual toners on the image bearing member after the toner images of the respective colors formed on the image bearing member have been respectively transferred onto a recording material.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuaki Ono
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Patent number: 7366458Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on an image carrier and transferring the toner image to a recording medium including a developing device, cleaning device, first toner conveyer, second toner conveyer, third toner conveyer, and a controller for controlling whether the toner removed by the cleaning device is to be conveyed by the second toner conveyer on the basis of an amount of new toner conveyed to the developing device by the third toner conveyer.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tetsuya Ishikawa, Hirotaka Kabashima, Toru Komatsu
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Patent number: 7366459Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising a case that accommodates an image forming unit; a sheet cassette that is capable of moving relative to the case; and a cover disposed above the sheet cassette, wherein the cover covers a side of the case in which the sheet cassette is removably set in the case, the cover is capable of opening and closing, and a slot, through which a sheet is capable of being inserted, is formed between the cover and the sheet cassette with a lower end of the cover defining an upper end of the slot.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Soichiro Nishimura
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Patent number: 7366460Abstract: Data is shared between multiple enterprise data sources and mobile clients in a distributed system such that requests from a mobile client for enterprise data are received, the appropriate enterprise data sources that contain the requested data are determined, and the enterprise data is retrieved from the determined enterprise data sources. Data maintained at a mobile client is shared with multiple enterprise data sources. The mobile clients send requests to an application server for synchronization of data records maintained at the mobile client with corresponding data records at the enterprise data sources. The client request includes metadata that identifies enterprise data sources for the requested data records and that specifies a relational correspondence between the requested data. The mobile client data records and the corresponding data records of the enterprise data sources are compared to identify any data conflicts between the two sets of data records. Any identified data conflicts are resolved.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Dexterra, Inc.Inventors: Robert O'Farrell, Mark D. Kirstein, Robert Gryphon, Brian Browder, Stan Liu, Patrick O'Farrell, Geoff O'Farrell, Alison Clark, Brian Philbin, David Loren Shoup
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Patent number: 7366461Abstract: Recordings of broadcast audio content often contain errors (e.g., noise, signal loss, interference, talkover). A method and apparatus are provided for improving the quality of such a recording. Multiple recordings of a broadcast audio program are identified, and are aligned according to some time index of the program, such as the beginning, midpoint or end of one of the recordings. Samples of each recording are taken and compared. If a majority (or plurality) of the samples agree (e.g., they match within an allowable threshold of variance), one of them is used to generate or populate a new recording. If there is no majority (or plurality), one of the samples may be chosen at random, on the basis of which recording has most often been in the majority (or plurality), or on some other basis. Or, the method may be repeated or extended to obtain samples of other recordings.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Inventor: Wendell Brown
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Patent number: 7366462Abstract: Techniques to seamlessly switch reception between multimedia programs are described. For “continued decoding”, a wireless device continues to receive, decode, decompress, and (optionally) display a current program, even after a new program has been selected, until overhead information needed to decode the new program is received. After receiving the overhead information, the wireless device decodes the new program but continues to decompress the current program. The wireless device decompresses the new program after decoding this program. For “early decoding”, the wireless device receives a user input and identifies a program with potential for user selection. The identified program may be the one highlighted by the user input or a program anticipated to be selected based on the user input. The wireless device initiates decoding of the identified program, prior to its selection, so that the program can be decompressed and displayed earlier if it is subsequently selected.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Ramaswamy Murali, Gordon Kent Walker, Rajiv Vijayan
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Patent number: 7366463Abstract: A radio signal relay device such as satellite is used to cover several relatively small geographical regions with relatively narrow beams as well as a relatively large geographical region with a single beam. This relatively wide beam permits legacy equipment to be used. A transmitting device in a beam transmits a signal to the relay device, which in turn retransmits the signal to a receiving device. The transmitting devices, relay device, and receiving devices synchronize communication by using a particular mode of communication which includes a band of carrier frequencies and a protocol. In addition to communicating like mode signals from a transmitter to a receiver, the relay device may be used in a dual mode communication system to translate signals from the one mode to another. A translator may direct a transmitter to modulate a signal on a different carrier frequency, convert one protocol into another protocol, or both.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2000Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Stephen F. Archer, Richard H. Johnson
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Patent number: 7366464Abstract: An access point operates in an 802.11 wireless communication network communicating with a client station, and includes a smart antenna for generating directional antenna beams and an omni-directional antenna beam. An antenna steering algorithm scans the directional antenna beams and the omni-directional antenna beam for receiving signals from the client station. The signals received via each scanned antenna beam are measured, and one of the antenna beams is selected based upon the measuring for communicating with the client station. The selected antenna beam is preferably a directional antenna beam. Once the directional antenna beam has been selected, there are several usage rules for exchanging data with the client station. The usage rules are directed to an active state of the access point, which includes a data transmission mode and a data reception mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Interdigital Technology CorporationInventors: Ana Lucia Iacono, Arty Chandra, Daniel P. Steinbach, Inhyok Cha, James C. Otto, Kevin P. Johnson, Stanley Gutowski, Kai Liu, Angelo Cuffaro, Janet Stern-Berkowitz
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Patent number: 7366465Abstract: An RFID circuit comprises an RF carrier signal source, and a hybrid coupled thereto operable to generate first, second and third phase-shifted RF carrier signals. The circuit further comprises first, second, and third mixers coupled to the hybrid each operable to multiply one of the first, second and third respective carrier signals and a backscattered modulated carrier signal and generate first, second and third baseband signals, respectively. The circuit further comprises first, second, and third delay lines respectively coupled to the first, second, and third mixers and operable to generate first, second and third delayed baseband signals. The circuit further comprises logic coupled to the first, second, and third mixers and the first, second, and third delay lines and operable to detect substantially simultaneous data transitions in at least two of the first, second, and third baseband signals, and generating a reconstructed signal having a data transition in response thereto.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Sirit Technologies Inc.Inventors: Bernard Barink, Loek J. d'Hont
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Patent number: 7366466Abstract: A wireless communication device that is attached or included in an electronic object, such as a portable computer, having its own separate communication system. The separate communication system has an antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless communications, and is powered by a power supply included in the object. Since the separate communication system can only communicate when powered, a separate passive wireless communication device is provided for wireless communication that does not require power from the power supply to communicate. The wireless communication device is interfaced with the existing antenna of the separate communication system so that the wireless communication device and separate communication system share a common antenna to reduce cost. The antenna may also be interconnected to a controller associated with the object so that the controller can directly communicate to the wireless communication device.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLCInventors: Ian J. Forster, Peter Robert George Horrell
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Patent number: 7366467Abstract: A dedicated short range communications system can warn mutual approach between vehicles having mobile stations installed thereon through dedicated short range communications. Each mobile station includes: a data processing unit that performs data processing of radio transmission signals received by and to be sent from its own mobile station; and an other station allocation determination unit that determines, based on a frame control information slot of the received signal, whether a message data slot of the received signal is allocated to another mobile station. Each mobile station further includes: a message data slot allocation request unit that requests, in an activation slot of the radio transmission signal to be sent, the base station to allocate a message data slot to its own mobile station; and a warning command unit that generates a warning command when a message data slot of the received signal is allocated to another mobile station.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mamoru Takikita
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Patent number: 7366468Abstract: The invention provides an image communication apparatus in which an image input unit for entering image and a portable communication unit capable of wireless connection with a public wireless network are constructed in separate manner and are rendered capable of mutual wireless communication.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shigeo Yoshida
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Patent number: 7366469Abstract: A method for communicating data in a wireless communications system having a base station communicating to at least one of a plurality of terminals over a set of carrier frequencies, the method comprising periodically monitoring the carrier energy level of each said carrier frequency received at a given terminal to identify a list of optimal frequencies over which the carrier energy level is strong enough to maintain a viable transmission from said base station to said given terminal, wherein said viable transmission provides a given coding gain; and simultaneously transmitting a given set of packet data from said base station to said given terminal over a plurality of frequencies from said list of optimal frequencies identified for said given terminal.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: AT&T Corp.Inventors: Joel I. Javitt, J. Frederick Stevenson
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Patent number: 7366470Abstract: An Inter-modulation distortion measurement and correction method which could be applied over a communication channel that is a combination of either or both analog and digital channels. This method is applicable for a communication system between a modem pair.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2000Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Allan Green, Vedavalli Gomatam Krishnan, Singang Qiu
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Patent number: 7366471Abstract: Two separate radio frequency networks may be operated within interference distance from one another in a way which mitigates the possibility of interference. Using received signal strength indicator data, the nature of the interference may be determined without actually demodulating the interfering signal. The timing of the interfering signal and its characteristic features may be determined. Using that information, together with the probability that any given slot will actually be occupied by an interfering transmission, a statistics package may be developed which gives an indication of the probability of a transmission from the interferer at any given time. That package may be transmitted to other nodes in the same network. When a first node wishes to transmit information to a second node, the first node may analyze the statistics package received from the second node. The first node may thereby make a determination about when to actually initiate the transmission to the second node.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2000Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Duncan M. Kitchin
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Patent number: 7366472Abstract: The invention relates to a method of rendering telecommunication devices ineffective, by creating a substantially radio frequency radiation-free environment by providing an interference generating pattern (IGP) adjacent to the environment in a position between the environment and a source of radio frequency radiation signals so as to substantially reduce, or interfere with such signals thus preventing typical operation of the wireless telecommunications devices. The IGP is generally one that is non-conductive and is or includes a diffraction grating. The IGP is positioned adjacent the environment between the environment and a source of radio frequency radiation signals. Preferably, the IGP is provided as a support member configured in the shape of a diffraction grating, and includes a paint or coating of a non-conductive material having a high dielectric constant thereon.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Inventors: Al Messano, Alan Ross
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Patent number: 7366473Abstract: A method and apparatus for diversity switching control are generally described herein. According to one embodiment, a diversity control network is introduced which effectively reduces the number of coaxial cables required to interface with N antennas from the conventional N cables, to N/2 thereby providing significant cost saving.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Xintian E. Lin, Qinghua Li, Allen W. Bettner
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Patent number: 7366474Abstract: In a detector device 10 of the invention, a wave detection module 20 receives and detects radio wave in a predetermined frequency band, which is used by a target wireless communication device for telecommunication. An extraction module 30 extracts a pattern representing a time-series variation in presence or absence of the detected radio wave. An identification module 40 compares the extracted pattern with inherent patterns of radio wave transmitted from plural devices, which use the radio wave in the predetermined frequency band and include the target wireless communication device, and thereby identifies the propagation environment of the radio wave transmitted from the target wireless communication device. A display module 50 displays a result of the identification by changing lighting statuses of LEDs. When smooth telecommunication of a wireless communication device is interrupted, this arrangement of the invention desirably identifies the reason of the interrupted communication.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Buffalo Inc.Inventors: Takashi Ishidoshiro, Yoshiiku Sonobe
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Patent number: 7366475Abstract: A mobile station (MS) and method for estimating received signal strength of a radio signal from a neighboring cell in a cellular radio telecommunication network. The MS measures the received signal strength of the radio signal over a plurality of frames, and calculates an average received signal strength. During an idle frame, the MS receives a synchronization channel (SCH) signal, and determines a channel estimate for the SCH using a known extended training sequence. The extended training sequence is then modified with the channel estimate, and the modified extended training sequence is subtracted from the received SCH signal to obtain a residual signal. The MS calculates a residual energy of the residual signal, and subtracts the residual energy from the average received signal strength of the radio signal to obtain an estimated received signal strength of the radio signal from the neighboring cell.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)Inventor: Rajaram Ramesh
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Patent number: 7366476Abstract: The object of the present invention to provide a transmission power control method which controls a transmission power of a downlink common channel so that the transmission power is adapted to a radio state of each mobile station, and thereby makes it possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption, reduce interference to other mobile stations, and increase a downlink capacity. The transmission power control method includes (A) acquiring reception quality information of a downlink for a mobile station, (B) measuring a time difference between when an uplink signal is received from the mobile station and when a downlink signal to be transmitted to the mobile station occurs, (C) comparing the measured time difference with a predetermined threshold, and (D) setting a transmission power of a downlink common channel for mobile stations in accordance with the reception quality information, when the time difference is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.Inventors: Minami Ishii, Takehiro Nakamura, Takuya Sato
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Patent number: 7366477Abstract: This invention describes a method for a redundancy version implementation of an uplink (UL) enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) in mobile communication systems by calculating a redundancy version number (RVN) as a function of a connection frame number (CFN), a maximum number of processed HARQs (hybrid automatic repeat requests) NARQ, and a number of redundancy versions NRV. Instead of signaling a RV parameter outband in UL, the RVN is determined by the network element using simple rules which ensures that the same RVN is never used successively for the same HARQ process, and that all possible RV numbers are used for one HARQ process.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventors: Benoist Sebire, Esa Malkamäki
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Patent number: 7366478Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) apparatus includes receiver analog circuitry that receives an RF signal and provides at least one digital signal to receiver digital circuitry that functions in cooperation with the receiver analog circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry are partitioned so that interference effects between the receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry tend to be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Donald A. Kerth, Richard T. Behrens, Jeffrey W. Scott, G. Diwakar Vishakhadatta, G. Tyson Tuttle, Vishnu Shankar Srinivasan
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Patent number: 7366479Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile communication terminal including a separate antenna for receiving multimedia public broadcasting signals. The mobile communication terminal has a sender/receiver antenna, a diversity antenna for performing a diversity function, a diplexer connected to the sender/receiver antenna for outputting signals from the sender/receiver antenna, a satellite antenna detachably mounted on the mobile communication terminal for receiving multimedia public broadcasting signals or satellite broadcasting signals. A receiving/transmitting signal processing section is provided for processing signals transmitted from the sender/receiver antenna, the diversity antenna and the satellite antenna.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ju-Hyung Lee, Wan-Jin Choi, Joung-Sub Shin
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Patent number: 7366480Abstract: In the radio communication device of the present invention, a first carrier transmission modulation wave outputted from a first signal generator 101 is amplified by a first power amplifier 103 and transmitted from a first antenna element 107 through a first duplexer 105. A second carrier transmission modulation wave outputted from a second signal generator 102 is amplified by a second power amplifier 104 and transmitted from a second antenna element 108 through a second duplexer 106. Then, transmission modulation waves with the first and second carriers are subjected to spatial power combining after being transmitted from the two antenna elements 107 and 108 that permit diversity reception. As a result, the radio communication device, which uses two or more carriers (carrier waves), can achieve highly efficient power amplification with a small-sized low-cost circuit means.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshihisa Amano
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Patent number: 7366481Abstract: A polar loop based radio telecommunication apparatus which has a phase control loop for controlling the phase of a carrier outputted from an oscillator for transmitter, and an amplitude control loop for controlling the amplitude of a transmission output signal outputted from a power amplifier circuit, wherein precharge means is provided on a forward path from a current source, through the power amplifier circuit, to a detection circuit, forming the amplitude control loop, for rapidly increasing a control voltage for the power amplifier circuit to a power threshold upon starting transmission.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2007Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignees: Renesas Technology Corporation, Tipcom LimitedInventors: Kazuhisa Okada, Kazuhiko Hikasa, Patrick Wurm
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Patent number: 7366482Abstract: Either linear operating mode or saturation operating mode is set as the operating mode of a high-frequency power amplifier on the basis of an operating mode set signal. The gain of a variable gain amplifier provided in front of the high-frequency power amplifier and values of output voltage and bias current supplied from a supply voltage/bias current control circuit to the high-frequency power amplifier are switched. The gain of the variable gain amplifier in the saturation operating mode is formed so as to be higher by a predetermined value than that in the linear operating mode. Accordingly, the high-frequency power amplifier operates in the designated operating mode, so that the output transmission power range can be widened.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Hara, Mamoru Arayashiki