Abstract: An optical vector modulator includes an information generator that generates a plurality of N-bit streams at an output where each of the plurality of N-bit streams represents a desired modulation point in a signaling constellation. A memory look-up table having an N-bit address input retrieves a first and a second stored value that corresponds to the N-bit address input, where each of the first and the second stored value represent a respective one of a first and a second modulation vector of a desired modulation point in the signaling constellation. A first and a second digital-to-analog converter generates first and second analog signals, respectively, that correspond to respective ones of the first and second modulation vectors of the desired modulation points in the signaling constellation. A dual-drive interferometric modulator modulates the first and the second analog signals on the optical beam to obtain the desired modulation points in the signaling constellation.

Abstract: An optical receiver apparatus and methods for mitigating intersymbol interference (ISI) in a differentially-encoded modulation transmission system by controlling constructive and destructive transfer functions. The receiver includes a bandwidth control element for controlling transfer function bandwidth, a transfer phase controller for controlling transfer function phase and/or an imbalancer for imbalancing the transfer functions for compensating for intersymbol interference and optimizing the quality of the received optical signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical receiver that suppresses the saturation in the output without alleviating the bandwidth restriction of the current-to-voltage conversion gain. This optical receiver comprises an amplifier 4 for receiving a photocurrent IIN from a photodiode, and a plurality of trans-impedance elements connected in parallel between the input terminal and the output terminal of the amplifier 4. One trans-impedance element includes only resistor, while the other trans-impedance elements include semiconductor switches and resistors connected in series to the semiconductor switches so as to put the semiconductor switches therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coherent optical communication apparatus and method. According to the invention, the optical communication apparatus receives a modulated optical signal, which is generated by modulating an optical signal with a first electrical signal obtained by adding a second electrical signal carrying information to be transmitted and a reference electrical signal, and converts the modulated optical signal to a third electrical signal by coherent detection. Then the apparatus detects an amount of fluctuation of the reference electrical signal included in the third electrical signal, and compensates the second electrical signal included in the third electrical signal using the amount of fluctuation.

Abstract: A receiver scheme (10) for optical signals in Return-to-zero (RZ) systems comprises a conventional receiver (11) at the input of which is placed an all-optical decision element (12) realized with nonlinear optical elements. This allows obtaining a substantial increase in performance compared with a simple conventional receiver optimised for NRZ signals. In particular, an optical decision is made up advantageously of two non-linear optical loop mirrors (NOLMs) (15, 16) arranged in cascade with an optical amplifier (14) at the input and a pass-band filter (18) at the output. The loops lengths may be different, as may be the splitting ratios of the couplers of the NOLMs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus generates a color image on a transfer belt by superimposing toner images of respective colors generated by image forming units, and transfers the color image onto a transfer medium. The image forming apparatus includes a correction pattern forming unit configured to form a correction pattern for correcting color misalignment on the transfer belt, a detection sensor configured to detect the correction pattern formed on the transfer belt by the correction pattern forming unit, and a correction control unit configured to control a width of the correction pattern in response to an output of the detection sensor produced by detecting the correction pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authentication of materials used in imaging members and assemblies. Authentication of imaging materials ensure that compatible components are being used with the imaging members and assemblies. Embodiments provide a system and method for efficiently detecting whether materials being used in the imaging members and assemblies are compatible and authentic materials authorized for such uses.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method in the invention include a scanner unit, an image forming unit, and a discarding unit. When time during which a recording medium having an image formed thereon is discharged to a paper discharge tray has exceeded a set time set in advance, the recording medium is discarded to the discarding unit to prevent the recording medium from being inspected by a third party and secure confidentiality.

Abstract: In accordance with certain aspects, an adaptive system and method are implemented to estimate the level of consumable such as toner on a gauge that accommodates machine-to-machine variances, individual machine degradation over time, and otherwise correct over time for various inaccuracies by applying an error compensation that can be used in subsequent replenisher computations. Over the lifetime of the imaging machine, such as a copier or printer device, these error compensations can increase the accuracy of the particular machine, to accommodate various deviations from nominal constraint assumptions as a result of differences in one or more operating constraints.

Abstract: In accordance with certain aspects, an adaptive system and method are implemented to estimate the level of a consumable such as toner on a gauge that accommodates machine-to-machine variances, individual machine degradation over time, and otherwise correct over time of various inaccuracies by applying an error compensations can increase the accuracy of the particular machine to replenisher computations. Over the lifetime of the imaging machine, such as a copier or printer device, these error compensations can increase the accuracy of the particular machine to accommodate various deviations from nominal constraint assumptions as a result of differences in one or more operating constraints.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus including a toner cartridge for holding toner, an image supporting unit, on which an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a toner image is formed, a toner development unit for developing the latent image into the toner image with the toner, a detecting unit for detecting toner concentration of the toner image, and a control unit for controlling an amount of toner adhering to the latent image by adjusting a development bias voltage based on an output of the detecting unit. If control by the control unit based on the detection output of the detecting unit is insufficient, and consumption of the toner is out of a predetermined normal range, the control is carried out by estimating one of toner consumption amount and toner recovery amount in a direction that departs from the predetermined normal range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an overheat prevention device to control a heater based on a fusing temperature detected by a temperature sensor within a predetermined range when a controller generates an abnormal heater control signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt, a carriage, a reflection sensor, and a control unit. The transport belt transports a recording sheet in a sub-scanning direction. The carriage, mounting a recording head, reciprocally moves in a main scanning direction to record an image on the recording sheet. The reflection sensor, mounted on the carriage, receives light reflected from the transport belt to detect a leading edge of the recording sheet, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the received light. The control unit controls a contamination check process. The control unit instructs the carriage to move to a given position over the transport belt and to drive the transport belt for one rotation while maintaining the carriage at the given position. The control unit determines whether contamination exists on the transport belt based on the detection signal output from the reflection sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that has an optical device including an optical source that is driven corresponding to image data, a deflection unit that deflects an optical beam output from the optical source in a main scanning direction, and an optical element that reflects the optical beam onto a photosensitive drum; a detection device that is arranged outside the optical device and detects a positional shift of the optical beam in a sub-scanning direction defined as a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction; and a control unit that corrects the positional shift in the sub-scanning direction using an output from the detection device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a short warm-up time desired by a user, wherein a quick output section is provided, and when a quick output mode is set by the quick output section, warm-up completion temperature is set to be low, and thereby, warm-up time is made to be short.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet of recording medium, a sheet feed tray selecting unit, a medium size selecting unit that selects a first medium size, a medium type selecting unit that selects a medium type. A determining unit determines operation of the image forming unit based on a search result of a first sheet feed tray corresponding to the first medium size selected by the medium size selecting unit, a search result of a second sheet feed tray corresponding to the medium type selected by the medium type selecting unit, a selected tray selected by the sheet feed tray selecting unit, and resetting values specified for the operation of the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an exposure device, a development device, an image density detection device, a supply device for supplying a toner to the development device, a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of an image bearing member, a driving torque detection device for detecting a driving torque of the image bearing member, and a controller which drives the image bearing member while providing a predetermined electric potential difference between a region charged in the image bearing member and a developer support in case of non-image formation conducts a driving torque detecting operation with respect to the image bearing member by means of the driving torque detection device, and changes a reference value in response to the value of the driving torque detected.

Abstract: A level determination circuit 60 determines whether a voltage level Vref of an output variable signal is a previously set reference level Vref?m or higher. According to this determination result, a constant voltage output circuit 70 and a constant current output circuit 80 selectively operate. The constant voltage output circuit 70 outputs a transfer voltage Vout of a level corresponding to the voltage level Vref of the output variable signal. The constant current output circuit 80 outputs a constant current Iout of a level corresponding to the voltage level Vref of the output variable signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method includes a controller to set a reference fusing temperature according to the print pattern of an input image received from an image input unit. The input image is converted to bitmap data to recognize the print pattern. The reference fusing temperature is set higher as the transition rate of the converted bitmap data increases. When printing an image whose print pattern has a low transition rate, the apparatus reduces the time required to print the first page of the image, thereby improving the print speed over the conventional apparatus.

Abstract: When a main switch 11 is off, an electricity storage device 93 is charged with electric power of a commercial AC power supply 80. When the main switch 11 is on and warming-up of a fixing unit 35 is necessary, a halogen heater 51 in a heating roller 41 is actuated by the electric power of the commercial AC power supply 80 and a halogen heater 52 in the heating roller 41 is actuated by discharge electric power of the electricity storage device 93.

Abstract: The number of prints necessary for execution of a print job of a storage type, together with the surplus number of prints, is calculated. A difference B between an upper limit value A and the number C of prints is calculated during execution of a print job. When there is a print job of the storage type having the number of prints not lower than the difference B, notification that the upper limit value of the number of prints approaches is given to a user having issued the print job.

Abstract: When a USB memory 10 is attached to the USB port 8a and identification data of a user is inputted on a control panel 3, it is determined whether the identification data inputted coincides with identification data registered in advance. When a determination result of this determination is affirmative, a saving operation for saving, in the USB memory 10, image data in a hard disk drive 25 is permitted. However, when the determination result is negative, the saving operation is prohibited.

Abstract: Disclosed an image forming apparatus which has a plurality of functions, including: a display section to display operation screens corresponding to the respective plurality of functions; an operation section; a function group storage section to store a function group consisting of a plurality of functions related to one another among the plurality of functions; and a control section to display on the operation screen, when an operation screen corresponding to one function in the function group stored in the function group storage section is displayed, that the image forming apparatus has the remaining function in the function group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cassette attaching section, a media cassette, a loading plate and a first and second ground conducting route. The cassette attaching section includes a media supplying roller for supplying media. The media cassette is attachably and removably installed in the cassette attaching section. The loading plate is mounted in the media cassette and loads the media stacked up in the media cassette. The first ground conducting route makes static electricity discharge from the loading plate to a grounding portion of the cassette attaching section when the media cassette is attached to the cassette attaching section. The second ground conducting route conducts with the media and makes static electricity discharge to the grounding portion when a distance between the media supplying roller and the media is shortened after the first ground conducting route is conducted.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: plural image carriers; and plural exposure apparatuses that are arranged corresponding to the plural image carriers respectively. The exposure apparatus has a light emitting element member that exposes the image carrier and is arranged on a substrate. A predetermined exposure apparatus among the plural exposure apparatuses includes a heating unit that heats the substrate, and other exposure apparatus other than the predetermined exposure apparatus does not include the heating unit.

Abstract: A tool for rotating a drum from a first cartridge drum axle end, the first cartridge drum axle end having a predetermined shape, the tool comprising a tool body configured to provide structure to the tool; a first end defined by the tool body; a second end defined by the tool body, the second end positioned on an end on the tool body opposite to the first end; and a first impression made on the first end of the tool body, the first impression substantially matching the predetermined shape of the first cartridge drum axle end, wherein when the first cartridge drum axle end is inserted within the first impression, the tool allows the drum to be rotated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a case comprising an opening for feeding a recording sheet into an interior of the case; a cover comprising an actuator unit, the cover capable of being moved between a closed state in which the cover closes the opening, and an open state in which the cover is displaced forward in a conveying direction of the recording sheet so as to open the opening to the interior of the case, and the actuator unit indicating a displacement of the cover; and a detection unit which detects whether the cover is in the open state or the closed state based on the displacement of the actuator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member and a main body with an internal conveyance path for conveying a transfer material. An opening/closing member is attached to the main body and is displaceable between a closed position and an opened position where the conveyance path is exposed. A cover is set to cover a part of the image bearing member facing the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is open and is retracted from the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is closed. A moving mechanism slides the cover. Front and rear frames are held movably by the moving mechanism and are attached respectively to front and rear edges of the cover in a sliding direction. A tension applying mechanism acts on the frames to apply tension to the cover in the sliding direction during a sliding movement of the cover.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there is a method of forming a toner. The method can include blending two or more colorants to form a sample toner and forming a sample color specimen including a printed image comprising the sample toner. The method can further include comparing spectral distribution curves of the sample color specimen with that of a target color specimen including a target color and repeating the disclosed steps until acquiring a desired spectral match between the sample toner and the target color.

Abstract: To provide an image forming method for obtaining excellent image quality under high humidity. The image forming method including charging a surface of a latent electrostatic image bearing member, exposing the charged surface of the latent electrostatic image bearing member so as to form a latent electrostatic image, developing the latent electrostatic image using a developer so as to form a toner image, and transferring the toner image from the latent electrostatic image bearing member to a transfer medium, wherein in the developing step, a toner is used that has an interparticle adhesion force of 500 nN to 1,200 nN when pressed at 500 nN and a volume average particle diameter of 4 ?m to 8 ?m, and in the transferring step, the transfer pressure applied to the transfer medium is 20 N/m to 60 N/m, and wherein a tandem image forming apparatus is used in the image forming method.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises charging means, etc. sequentially arranged around a periphery of an electrophotographic photoconductor, wherein, when a projection area of the charging means per time relative to the photosensitive layer surface of the electrophotographic photoconductor is set to be S (cm2) and a current value applied to the charging means is set to be ICC (?A), an inflow current value represented by ICC/S (?A/cm2) is set to a value within the range of from 5 to 25 ?A/cm2, and the electrophotographic photoconductor is a monolayer type electrophotographic photoconductor and also a specific amine compound is contained.

Abstract: An image developing apparatus includes an upper case; a lower case disposed on a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent, and having an opening. A photoconductive drum is disposed on the upper case for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof. A charging roller is disposed on one side of an outer circumference of the photoconductive drum for charging the photoconductive drum. A developing roller having one part is exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum for developing the electrostatic latent image. A scattering preventing unit disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller, to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller. The scattering preventing unit includes a blocking curtain which covers a part of the opening and having one side in contact with the outer circumference of the photoconductive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a mainframe; a photoreceptor; an exposing unit that exposes a surface of the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image; and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image by supplying a charged developer on the surface of the photoreceptor having the electrostatic latent image formed thereon. The photoreceptor is loadable in and unloadable from the mainframe separately from the developing unit.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide bias-able devices for use in electrostato-graphic printing apparatuses using conformable and electrically relaxable rubber materials. The rubber material can include a plurality of nanotubes distributed uniformly and/or spatially-controlled throughout a rubber matrix for providing the rubber material with a uniform mechanical conformability and a uniform electrical resistivity. The rubber material can be used as a functional layer disposed over a conductive substrate such as a conductive core depending on the specific design or engine architecture. Other functional layers can also be disposed over the conductive substrate and/or the rubber material of the bias-able devices including bias charging rolls (BCRs) and bias transfer rolls (BTRs).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a charging member for being supplied with a charging voltage which is a DC voltage not having an AC voltage component and for contacting the bearing member to electrically charge a surface of the bearing member using an electric discharge; a transfer member for transferring onto a transfer material a toner image formed on the surface of the bearing member by developing the electrostatic latent image, at a transfer position; wherein the charging potential of the charging member is different between when the charging member provides a first region with a potential and when the charging member provides a second region with a potential, thus providing a predetermined potential difference between the first region and the second region, and wherein the transfer member is not supplied with a voltage when the second region is at the transfer position, where the first region is a region on the image b

Abstract: The exposure apparatus is provided with: an optical member; and a holding member that holds the optical member. Both end portions of the optical member are held by the holding member with a first adhering unit that is cured by light irradiation for first duration and a second adhering unit that is cured by light irradiation for second duration which is longer than the first duration.

Abstract: The exposure apparatus is provided with: plural light emitting elements that are arranged in a line; a substrate that the plural light emitting elements are arranged thereon; plural temperature measuring units that are arranged along the arrangement direction of the plural light emitting elements and measure temperatures of the substrate on which the plural light emitting elements are arranged; and plural heating units that are arranged along the arrangement direction of the plural light emitting elements and heat the substrate on the basis of the temperatures measured by the temperature measuring units respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having at least a latent electrostatic image bearing member, and a recharging unit configured to recharge a residual toner remaining on the latent electrostatic image bearing member, wherein after transfer, the residual toner is passed through the recharging unit and is then recovered in a developing device; a charging component of the recharging unit that comes into contact with the latent electrostatic image bearing member is a polymer sheet having a surface roughness (Ra) of 0.12 ?m to 0.51 ?m; the toner contains at least a pigment, a binder resin, and a releasing agent, and contains inorganic fine particles as an external additive, and the amount of the inorganic fine particles and the amount of the releasing agent satisfy three specific Expressions.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer consumption calculator, a consumption shift unit, a supply amount setting unit and a developer supply controller. The developer consumption calculator calculates consumptions of developer in zones and stores the consumption in each zone into a corresponding storage region. The consumption shift unit shifts the consumption stored in the storage region corresponding to each zone to a storage region corresponding to a zone located on a downstream side in a developer conveyance direction in response to the conveying of the developer by the circulation conveyance member. The supply amount setting unit sets a supply amount from a developer supply portion based on the consumption stored in the storage region corresponding to the zone corresponding to the developer supply position. The developer supply controller controls supply of the developer from the developer supply portion based on the set supply amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photoconductive member on which a latent image is to be formed, a developing roller for developing the latent image on the photoconductive member by a first bias. A magnetic roller forms a magnetic brush thereon with a two-component developer and forms a thin toner layer on the developing roller by a second bias. The developing roller is aluminum with a surface treated for high resistance. The thickness (T) of the toner layer and the duty ratio (D1) of the first alternating-current bias satisfy relationships of the following equations for calculating the duty ratio (D1) using an application period of a voltage in a direction to transfer the toner from the developing roller towards the photoconductive member as a positive period: 7 ?m?T?13 ?m, and 35%?D1?70%.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a photoconductive member on which a latent image is to be formed, a developing roller for developing the latent image formed on the photoconductive member by a first bias, and a magnetic roller for forming a magnetic brush thereon with a two-component developer and forming a thin toner layer on the developing roller by a second bias. If (D1) denotes the duty ratio of a first alternating-current bias included in the first bias and (D2) denotes the duty ratio of a second alternating-current bias included in the second bias, the duty ratios (D1, D2) satisfy the following relationship: D1>100?D2.

Abstract: The development device of this invention includes a developer bearing member, a magnet, and a developer regulation member. The magnet is fixedly disposed within the interior of the developer bearing member. The developer regulation member includes at least a magnetic member. And the thickness of this magnetic member along the rotational direction of the developer bearing member is between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm inclusive. Moreover, if the distance over the developer bearing member, from the position thereupon which the center of the magnetic member along the rotational direction opposes, to the position thereupon at which the magnetism of that magnetic pole which is disposed closest to that position is a maximum, is termed L (mm), and the diameter of the developer bearing member is termed D (mm), then the magnetic member is disposed within the range in which the relationship 0?L/D?0.044 holds.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photoconductive member, and a developing roller develops a latent image on the photoconductive member by a first alternating-current bias in the form of a rectangular wave. The following relationships are satisfied in calculating the duty ratio (D1) of the first alternating-current bias using an application period of voltage in a direction to transfer the toner from the developing roller towards the photoconductive member as a positive period: a CV value in the number particle size distribution of the toner is ?25%, 4 ?m?Dt?7 ?m, 105 ?·cm?pv?109 Q?cm, 0.4 ?m?Ra?1.5 ?m, and 35%?D1?75%. where Dt denotes the volume average particle diameter of the toner, pv denotes the intrinsic resistance value of a developing roller surface, Ra denotes the arithmetic average roughness of the developing roller surface.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus 1 including a photoconductive drum 31 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a developer carrier that is allowed to carry a developer thereon by a developing bias voltage applied thereto composed of a DC component and an AC component and that is arranged in the vicinity of the photoconductive drum 31, the image forming apparatus 1 visualizing the electrostatic latent image using the developer carried on the developer carrier, a high-frequency region A with respect to which image forming is performed with the frequency of the AC component of the developing bias voltage increased and a low-frequency region B with respect to which image forming is performed with the frequency of the AC component of the developing bias voltage decreased are formed in an image to be formed on recording paper.

Abstract: To provide a developer supply roller including:a shaft core; and an elastic layer over the shaft core, wherein the elastic layer is composed of at least a first elastic layer and a second elastic layer, the first elastic layer and second elastic layer made of elastic bodies with different moduli of elasticity, the first layer being an outermost layer of the supply roller, and wherein the relationships 0%?k1?20% and 20%?k2?70% are satisfied, where k1 is the modulus of repulsion elasticity of the first elastic layer and k2 is the modulus of repulsion elasticity (%) of the second elastic layer.

Abstract: A magnet roller for use with a hollow cylindrical structure made of a non-magnetic material includes a roller body and a reinforcing member. The roller body, encased in the hollow cylindrical structure, has at least one magnetic pole to form an agent releasing area on a skin of the cylindrical structure. The roller body is integrated with a shaft on each end portion of the roller body as one solid body. The reinforcing member is embedded in a portion of the roller body corresponding to the agent releasing area. The reinforcing member is made of a material different from a material used for the roller body and extends in an axial direction of the roller body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt-shaped image carrier that carries an image, an image transfer unit that transfers the image onto a recording medium, and a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium to the image transfer unit. The image carrier has a sloping surface that slopes down from upstream of the image transfer unit in a conveying direction. The conveying unit includes a linear conveying path that is arranged upstream of the image transfer unit in the conveying direction, below the sloping surface and above a horizontal line passing through the image transfer unit.

Abstract: In a transfer nip roller operative to transfer an image from an image carrier to a recording medium, a ratio (We3/Wt3)/(We30/Wt30) is 0.47 or more, where We3 is an elastic workload and Wt3 is a total workload measured by applying a load on a covering portion under a load push-in condition of 3 mN/10 seconds, and We30 is an elastic workload and Wt30 is a total workload measured by applying a load on the covering portion under a load push-in condition of 30 mN/10 seconds.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; an image forming unit; a first fixing device; and a second fixing device, the first and second fixing device being selectively attached, and the apparatus body including: a first attaching region that is formed by detaching the first fixing device; a sheet-discharging region in which, in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the apparatus body, a sheet subjected to a fixing operation by the first fixing device is discharged into an upper portion of the apparatus body while downwardly directing a face on which the fixing operation is performed; and a second attaching region to which the second fixing device is attached, and that includes the first attaching region and the sheet-discharging region.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a first conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, a first fixing unit that fixes a toner image on a sheet conveyed on the first conveying path, a second conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, wherein the second conveying path branches from the first conveying path in a bifurcation provided on a upstream of the first fixing unit and joins into the first conveying path in a confluence provided on a downstream of the first fixing unit, and a second fixing unit provided on a upstream of the bifurcation or on a downstream of the confluence or on the second conveying path. Time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the first conveying path and time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the bypass conveying path are nearly equal.