Abstract: An apparatus, with moving parts, having a flexible circuit configured such that its fatigue life is enhanced. The apparatus includes a first component, a second component, and a positioning mechanism between the first component and the second component. The positioning mechanism enables movement of the first component and the second component between at least a proximate position and a spaced-apart position. Also included between the first component and the second component is a flexible circuit that has a first end coupled to the first component and a second end coupled to the second component. The flexible circuit is configured as a compliant spring that can extend and collapse in a predefined shape when the components are spaced-apart and proximate, respectively.

Abstract: In a position controller, a driving mechanism and an image pickup system according to the present invention, an operation of controlling a position of a movable member is performed by using, as a reference value, a first resistance value giving a first change point at which a resistance change rate per unit temperature change in a shape-memory-alloy member changes from a first rate to a second rate different from said first rate. Thus, the present invention makes it possible to control the position of the movable member based on a resistance of a shape-memory-alloy member, without a position sensor.

Abstract: Currently, there are many compact cameras from multiple vendors. These come in all shapes and sizes. The majority of the cases (e.g. for protection, security, and safety) on the market are generic loose-fitting cut-and-sew products. The camera is stowed in the case and then brought out to take a picture. The person then has to find a place to put the case while they take the picture and often the case becomes misplaced or damaged (e.g. by water or dirt). The solution that we are showing is a wrapping cover which is permanently attached to the camera (as one example), to protect the camera, for example. The cover wraps around the camera and forms a very close fitting protective cover for the camera. Because the user wraps the material around the camera, the size of the cover is as small as possible (for better stowing in pockets and purses (for better mobility and more convenience)). There are no extra air spaces because of a generically sized cover (in this example).

Abstract: As an example, we are introducing an elastomeric molded skin, that covers the camera and provides rigorous protection against drop, dirt, and general wear-and-tear on the camera. The skin covers most, many, or all possible surfaces and replicates the existing camera buttons with elastomeric/rubber buttons, which the user can press on, to activate all the existing functions of the camera, without exposing the buttons to any dirt or moisture. The skin has both open and “open-able” areas, to allow the user access to functional areas on the camera (in this example), e.g. to replace the battery or memory card. This is particularly useful for all SLR cameras, and compact cameras with one or more LCDs.

Abstract: A printed circuit board comprises at least one printed circuit board with at least one electrical contact and one circuit board connector. The circuit board connector includes a printed circuit board provided with one or several open tracks on at least one side for connection with electrical contact(s) of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electro-optical transceiver module having at least one parallel optical transmit lane and at least one parallel optical receiver lane, the module comprising optical receiver lane signal detection circuitry to detect a loss of signal on one or more of the receive lanes, and optical transmit lane control circuitry to control a optical transmit lane corresponding to the receive lane, on which a loss of signal was detected to transmit a signaling mode optical signal indicating the loss of signal on the receive lane. In a multiple lane parallel optic embodiment, and by signaling a loss of a signal on a per lane basis, a break or fault in a sub-set of fibers of a parallel optical link will not result in the entire parallel optic link being lost.

Abstract: An optical switch assembly is provided having a plurality of optoelectronic switching nodes. Each node is a three terminal optical device having a first optical input, a second optical input and an optical output. Each node can be electrically activated or deactivated via an electrical control input. Each node has a transmittance between its second optical input and its optical output. This transmittance depends on the signal at the first optical input if the node is activated, and is independent of the first optical input if the node is deactivated. Thus modulation at the first optical input can be selectively imposed on the optical output. The switch includes at least two chains of nodes, each chain having two or more nodes connected in series such that each pair of adjacent nodes is connected from optical output to second optical input. Switches according to the invention can be configured as optical crossbar switches or optical routers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting timeslot fragments of multiple links in an Automatically Switched Optical Network (ASON). The method includes the steps of: obtaining link information of multiple links necessary for timeslot fragment adjustment, calculating adjusted link information of each link according to the link information, and adjusting a timeslot allocation of each link according to the adjusted link information.

Abstract: A circuit for transmitting signals in a network node, particularly for a channel card for an optical WDM signal transmission device, with a first holding device assigned to the local side of the network node, which can be freely equipped by means of a local-side transceiver unit and which has an internal transmitting port connection and an internal receiving port connection which, in case first holding device is equipped with local-side transceiver unit, are connected to the respective transmitting or receiving ports of local-side transceiver unit, with two additional holding devices assigned to the remote side of the network node having similar ports. A controllable signal switching unit is provided with novel construction to configure connections between the respective internal ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting a WDM optical signal. The method begins by modulating an odd number of optical channels that are each located at a different wavelength from one another with (1) a respective one of a plurality of information-bearing electrical signals that all embody the same broadcast information and (2) a respective one of a plurality of RF signals having a common functional broadcast waveform, at least one of the RF signals being out of phase with respect to remaining ones of the plurality of RF signals. Each of the modulated optical channels are multiplexed to form a WDM optical signal. The WDM optical signal is forwarded onto an optical transmission path.

Abstract: A method of controlling a device with a universal remote control includes obtaining and storing an image of an operation panel of a remote control that controls the device, assigning a control command received to control the device to an input key area contained in the image, storing the input key area and the assigned control command, displaying the image of the operation panel of the remote control, and outputting the assigned control command in response to a touch signal is input to the input key area.

Abstract: A combined radio and laser positioning system comprising: a network of ground based radio communication devices, a laser transmitter configured to generate at least one laser beam, and at least one user unit. Each user unit comprises a radio receiver configured to receive at least one ranging radio signal transmitted by at least one ground based radio communication device, a laser detector configured to receive at least one laser beam generated by the laser transmitter, and a processor configured to convert a set of data including: {a set of data transmitted by at least one ranging radio signal, and a set of data transmitted by said at least one laser beam} into position coordinates of the user unit, wherein a set of vertical coordinates of the user unit is obtained with a laser-assisted (LA) accuracy.

Abstract: The current options for wireless communication have changed the way people work and the way in which networks can be deployed. However, there remains unresolved problems in the setup and configuration of wireless communication links. Both known cellular and ad hoc wireless networking protocols and systems are deficient in that the ability for users to communicate without a priori knowledge of MAC addresses (represented by phone numbers, IP addresses and the like) is limited or may be compromised in a hostile environment. In contrast, provided by aspects of the present invention are devices, systems and methods for establishing ad hoc wireless communication between users that do not necessarily have MAC addresses and the like for one another. In some embodiments, a first user visually selects a second user and points a coherent light beam at an electronic device employed by the second user.

Abstract: A system for wireless alarm reporting is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network interface device (NID) having a translator element to convert an optical signal supplied by a communication system to one or more electrical signals supplied to one or more communication devices served by the NID, and a wireless transmitter to transmit a notice to a portable alerting device responsive to a UPS asserting an alarm. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A pluggable optical transceiver with a function not affecting the command status of the host system appeared in the internal bus, which is coupled with the command line within the transceiver, even when the transceiver is plugged in the host system. The optical transceiver provides a power supply circuit and a control unit. The power supply circuit, by receiving an external electric power, generates an internal electric power with a substantial time lag from a moment when the optical transceiver is plugged in the host system. The control unit communicates with the host system through the command line pulled up to the external electric power within the optical transceiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new releasing mechanism form a cage on the host system for a pluggable optical transceiver. The transceiver includes an optical receptacle, an actuator with a hook that latches with the key hole of the cage, a bail attached so as to rotate in front of the receptacle and a release button. Rotating the bail or pushing the button will bring the seesaw motion of the actuator that disengages the hook with the keyhole and the transceiver is enabled to be extracted from the cage by picking the bail positioned in front of the receptacle.

Abstract: A method for generating D-N-PSK optical signals is disclosed wherein a laser is modulated to generate optical signal pairs including phase modulated and fixed phase portions, the phase modulated portions having a frequency encoding one or more data symbols and the fixed phase portion having a carrier frequency and a phase corresponding to the immediately preceding phase modulated portion. The output of the laser is passed through an optical spectrum reshaper having a transmission function chosen to attenuate a plurality of the phase modulated portions relative to the fixed phase portions. The phase modulated portions may have N frequency levels located on either side of the carrier frequency. One of the N frequency levels may be equal to the carrier frequency.

Abstract: A method of synchronising an optical transmitter and modulator comprising transmitting a calibration sequence of pulses from the transmitter to the modulator; varying a control timing drawn from the set comprising the transmit interval timings and the modulator transmission interval timings; monitoring the resulting pulses transmitted by the modulator and selecting a preferred control timing; controlling the optical transmitter and/or modulator responsive to the selected control timing. Corresponding apparatus, systems, signals and programs for computers to implement or control the arrangement are also provided.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to an optical filter for a fiber optic communication system. An optical filter may be used, following a directly modulated laser source, and converts a partially frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal. The optical filter may compensate for the dispersion in the fiber optic transmission medium and may also lock the wavelength of the laser source.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for an improved ROSA that has increased sensitivity for permitting greater numbers of ONTs to be connected to an optical network per defined transmission line distances. ROSA configuration includes a digital optical module with improved performance characteristics. This digital optical module has replaced a conventional photodiode with a PIN detector that is coupled with the TIA. The resulting the digital optical module containing this PIN/TIA configuration when incorporated in a ROSA provides a single ROSA solution that will meet or exceed the ITU/IEEE FTTx standards for short and long distances under substantially all operating conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for prioritizing service or maintenance of networked printers based on affinities between printers and users determined from job tracking data so that printers shared by large numbers of users or high volume printers used by only one or a few users can be serviced or maintained before other printers to provide overall printer support while mitigating user disruption due to unavailable printers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include an image forming device to form and fix an image on a paper, a paper conveyer to convey the paper from a sheet feeder through the image forming device to a finisher, at least one door configured to uncover and cover a part of the paper conveyer, a jam detector to detect whether a jam occurs in the paper conveyer, at least one door sensor to detect whether each door is open or closed, a display, a memory, and a controller to control the jam detector, the door sensor and the display. The controller may be configured to execute control to display a jam detection result detected by the jam detector and jam removal guidance, corresponding to the jam detector which detects the jam occurring in the paper conveyer, based on the information of preset display orders of the jam removal guidance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of keeping reproducibility and gradation in balance and outputting high-quality images. A primary electrostatic charger charges a photosensitive drum. A polygon scanner irradiates the drum with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the drum. A developing device develops the latent image into a toner image by applying a developing bias to the drum. In performing development by the developing device at a preset environmental contrast potential, a CPU determines a required contrast potential for obtaining a target maximum density. The CPU compares between the environmental contrast potential and the required contrast potential. Further, the CPU sets an upper limit value for a set contrast potential to be set to the developing device according to the result of the comparison, and sets an output level of the laser light to be output from the developing device.

Abstract: A printer or other marking device forms a first desired image in a first area, such as a main image area, of a first substrate; forms a first portion of a set of test patches in a margin area of the first substrate; forms a second desired image in a first area, such as a main image area, of a second substrate; and forms a second portion of the set of test patches in a margin area of the second substrate. A measuring device such as a spectrophotometer may be used to measure each test patch, and based on the measured values, a color calibration is performed for use in a subsequent marking operation. The color calibration may include generating or modifying a tone reproduction curve based on the measured values. The margin areas may be later trimmed off, thereby removing the portion of the substrates on which the test patches are formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a turnable image bearing body for bearing a latent image; a turnable developer bearing body for bearing liquid developer, the developer bearing body and the image bearing body being pressed in contact with each other at a predetermined press-contact position, the developer bearing body being capable of carrying the liquid developer toward the press-contact position by turning, the image forming apparatus performing development of the latent image, which is bore by the image bearing body, with the liquid developer that has been carried toward the press-contact position; and a controller for causing the development of the latent image to start after a predetermined period of time has passed from when the turning speed of the developer bearing body and the image bearing body reached a predetermined turning speed for development at which the development is performed.

Abstract: In a xerographic copying apparatus of the invention, a control unit to control a stepping motor to cause rotation of an image supporting body to synchronize with running of a transfer medium performs acceleration and deceleration of a rotation speed of the image supporting body while the image supporting body is rotating in a reverse rotation direction, and accordingly, paper powder or foreign matter accumulated in a cleaning mechanism to clean a developer on the image supporting body can be collected, the occurrence of abnormal noise is prevented, and a definite amount of reverse rotation of the image supporting body can be realized while avoiding damage of the image supporting body due to a speed difference between the image supporting body and the transfer medium.

Abstract: New information can be added to an information medium, and the information is certainly managed such that the information is not leaked when the information is outputted. An image reading section 2 reads the information medium and inputs images including a unique image and a code image. A detecting section 64 of a code processing section 63 determines the code image and the unique image from inputted images to detect the code image. An extracting section 65 restores the code image to obtain confidential information. Alternatively, the extracting section 65 restores the code image and obtains access information. A control section 7 accesses a management apparatus 8 based on the access information and requests confidential information related to the information medium. The management apparatus 8 transmits the specified confidential information to an image processing apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image forming section, a sheet storage space, and a dehumidifier device which dehumidifies the sheet storage space includes the dehumidifier device which has a dehumidifier member of a heating regeneration type, a dry space being dehumidified by the dehumidifier member, a regeneration space regenerating the dehumidifier member, a heating section provided in the regeneration space and heating to regenerate the dehumidifier member, a driving section transferring the dehumidifier member in a route between the dry space and the regeneration space, and a partition member dividing the dehumidifier member into a plurality of parts and enabling to partition the dry space and the regeneration space.

Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a seal spooling mechanism of a printer cartridge, the printer cartridge defining a seal passage, the seal passage providing access to a toner port of the cartridge to be covered by a toner seal, the seal spooling mechanism comprising a spool where a first toner seal may be wound, the seal spooling mechanism further comprising a spool frame where the spool may be mounted, the method comprising detaching the spool frame from the printer cartridge; inserting a second toner seal through the seal passage; sealing the toner port with the second toner seal, the second toner seal comprising a toner seal extension configured to extend out of the seal passage upon sealing the toner port; winding the toner seal extension around the spool; providing a replacement spool frame, the replacement spool frame being configured to be attached to the printer cartridge at a location that is different from the location where the spool frame was previously attached on the printer cartridge; and attaching

Abstract: A developing unit is detachably mounted on a photosensitive unit to form a combined unit called a process unit. In use, the process unit is loaded into an electrophotographic image forming device. A rotational shaft of a photosensitive drum projects out from the photosensitive unit. When the process unit is loaded into the image forming device from a top open space, both ends of the rotational shaft are engaged with a pair of guides formed in side walls of the image forming device and guided down along the guides. The process unit is accommodated in an accommodating section when both ends of the rotational shaft have been brought into abutment with stops at the ends of the guides and a trailing end of the process unit is rotated downward about the rotational shaft.

Abstract: A heating assembly for a printing device includes a heating device configured to be energized or deenergized. A switching device includes a bimetallic element efficiently thermally coupled to the heating device and configured to deenergize the heating device in a defined period of time in the event of an over temperature condition.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive rubber member which exhibits small environmental dependency and stable electrical resistance. The conductive rubber member is formed of a conductive elastic layer which has been imparted with conductivity by means of a conductivity-imparting agent. The conductive elastic layer has, at a surface portion thereof, a surface-treated layer which has been formed through impregnating the surface with a surface-treatment liquid containing an isocyanate component and an ion-conducting polymer.

Abstract: This is a specifically configured roller used in a belt transport system that minimizes ripples or wrinkles in the belt. Based upon a roller having a cylindrical configuration and a one inch diameter, the roller has a concave shape having a 0.005 to 0.1 inch smaller diameter in the center compared to the end portion diameters.

Abstract: The invention provides an endless belt for an image forming apparatus, the endless belt having at least: a belt body; a convex member; and a bonding portion for bonding the belt body and the convex member, the bonding portion having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about ?10° C. or less. The glass transition temperature (Tg) is preferably about ?60° C. or less. The invention further provides a belt suspending apparatus for an image forming apparatus, the belt suspending apparatus having at least: the endless belt; and a plurality of suspending members for suspending the endless belt rotatably in a tensioned state from the inner surface side of the endless belt. The invention further provides an image forming apparatus having at least the endless belt.

Abstract: A belt drive controlling device for controlling drive of an endless belt supported and driven by plural support rollers including a driving roller configured to drive the endless belt to rotate; and a driven roller which is rotated by the endless belt. The device performs arithmetic processing to extract one of two pieces of rotation variation information on two rollers of the support rollers, and perform controlling drive of the belt on the basis of the rotation variation information. A belt device including a belt, plural support rollers, a driving source, the belt drive controlling device, and a detector configured to detect rotation angular displacement or rotation angular velocity of two of the support rollers. An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, a developing device and a transfer device, wherein the image bearing member and/or the transfer device includes the belt device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a primary transfer unit to transfer toner images of plural colors on image carriers onto an intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer unit to transfer the toner images onto a transfer material; and a pre-secondary transfer discharge unit to discharge charges of the toner images, wherein the discharge unit includes a scorotron having a grid electrode and a discharging electrode; an opposing electrode opposed to the grid electrode through the intermediate transfer member; a first voltage unit to apply a reverse polarity voltage of the toner images to the discharging electrode; a second voltage applying unit to apply a same polarity voltage of the toner images to the grid electrode; a cleaning unit of the grid electrode; a current detecting unit; and a controller to control a timing to clean the grid electrode according to the detected current.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus containing a developing device containing a toner housed therein and feeding the toner onto a photoreceptor to form a toner image, and a cleaning blade removing the toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transferring the toner image formed on the photoreceptor to a transfer medium, a toner having a particle diameter of from 5 to 8 ?m and a degree of circularity of from 0.925 to 0.965 and having a lubricant added to a surface thereof in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.125 wt % is used, and the cleaning blade has a hardness of from 60 to 80, a 300% modulus of from 100 to 420 kg/cm2, a tear strength of from 35 to 120 kg/cm, a repulsive elasticity at 10° C. of from 10 to 50%, and a repulsive elasticity at 40° C. of from 40 to 80%.

Abstract: A developer container for an image forming apparatus includes a developer accommodating chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the opening; a feeding member, provided in the developer accommodating chamber and having an elasticity, for feeding the developer by rotation thereof; a deforming portion, provided in the developer accommodating chamber and contactable to the feeding member, for deforming the feeding member against the elasticity with the rotation of the feeding member; and a restoration portion for permitting the feeding member deformed by the deformed portion to restore elastically, thereby to throw the developer toward the opening, wherein a boundary portion between the deformed portion the restoration portion is disposed below a lower end of the opening.

Abstract: A pattern forming apparatus brings a masking panel having a pattern-like through hole into tight contact with the inside surface of a front panel, and positions the through hole to the inside of a recess of the front panel. In this state, liquid developer is supplied through a developing roller, and an electric field passing through a developing recess where the recess and through hole are continued. Therefore, charged developer particles are collected in the developing recess, and the recess of the front panel is developed.

Abstract: A disclosed developing device includes a developer carrier including a developing sleeve and a magnetic roller provided inside the developing sleeve. The magnet roller includes a regulating magnetic pole and a pump-up magnetic pole that have different polarities from each other. Among an entire region of the moving surface of the developing sleeve in the surface movement direction, a maximum pump-up magnetic force position where the pump-up magnetic force of the pump-up magnetic pole is maximum faces an upstream position with respect to a supplying position at which the developer is supplied from a supplying screw to the developing sleeve.

Abstract: To provide a positive charge control resin with which an electrophotographic functional component part coming into contact with a toner can be made chargeable in a polarity reverse to the polarity of the toner, and which has superior dispersibility in, and compatibility with, a main binder. The present invention is a positive charge control resin having a copolymer obtained by polymerizing specific acrylate or methacrylate monomer, amino-group-containing monomer(s) and carboxyl-group-containing monomer(s) as copolymerization components.

Abstract: Provided are a toner containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, the toner having a specific hue angle and an absorbance at a specific wavelength in reflectance spectrophotometry, and a full-color image-forming method involving the use of the toner, the method including the steps of: forming an electrostatic image on a charged electrostatic image bearing member; developing the formed electrostatic image with the toner to form a toner image; transferring the formed toner image onto a transfer material; and fixing the transferred toner image to the transfer material to form a fixed image.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller, a fixing belt which is made to rotate by a rotation force received from the fixing roller, a nip forming unit to form a nip zone at a contact area between the fixing roller and the fixing belt, and a first heating unit, which is separated from the nip zone, to apply heat to the fixing belt. The nip zone and the heating unit are separated, so that the heating unit can be prevented from being broken as a result of the pressurization and thermal deformation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a heating roller 2 fixed at a predetermined position, a pressurizing roller 3 press-fitted to the heating roller 2 by a pressurizing mechanism 4 to be movable, and a hardness change detecting mechanism 310 which becomes electrically conductive when the pressurizing roller 3 moves due to thermal expansion of the heating roller 2, and which detects a hardness change of the heating roller 2.

Abstract: A developer level control blade is provided which can form a developer layer on a developer carrying member in a proper thickness and in a uniform state and can keep the developer, in particular, color toner particles from melt-adhering to the charge control face so that faulty images such as lines and non-uniformity can be kept from occurring. Also provided is a process for manufacturing this developer level control blade. The process for manufacturing the developer level control blade is characterized by having the steps of extruding a blade member material melted to liquefy, covering therewith a support member thin-plate metal member at an edge portion thereof to join the both together, and cooling the blade member material to solidify, followed by cutting in a preset length.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having driving conditions for plural image forming modes such as color and monochrome, when an original with a blank sheet (inter-sheet) inserted at an arbitrary position therein is to be printed, the image forming mode for the position where the blank sheet is inserted is properly determined and a transfer belt is caused to contact and separate from an image carrier related to image formation, thereby improving printing productivity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage for conveying the recording sheet extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit.

Abstract: An image forming device comprises: an image forming unit adapted to execute image formation on a recording medium; and a writing unit adapted to be able to execute at least an information writing operation in a non-contact manner to a non-contact IC added to the recording medium. It is controlled whether or not the image forming unit should execute the image formation on the recording medium, according to a result of the information writing operation executed by the writing unit to the non-contact IC added to the recording medium.

Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing toward the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.

Abstract: A device, method and program for automatically adjusting a paper curl of media in an imaging device are provided. The imaging device includes a decurler having two rollers defining a nip. A first roller has a substantially uncompressible surface, and a second roller has a substantially compressible surface. The first roller penetrates the second roller at the nip. The amount of curl of the media is adjusted at the nip by automatically adjusting the penetration of the second roller into the first roller. The amount of penetration of the second roller into the first roller is based on a set of factors and conditions. A penetration value based on the factors and conditions is used to adjust the position of the first roller and the second roller respective to each other, which in turn, will alter or reduce the media curl to a target curl.