Abstract: There is provided a charging technique in which the generation of ozone is suppressed and charging efficiency can be improved. A charging device includes a contact unit configured to include a magnetic brush coming in contact with a body to be charged, the contact unit including, as a magnetic particle forming the magnetic brush, the magnetic particle containing at least a particle having a negative electronegativity, and a voltage application unit configured to negatively charge the body to be charged by applying a specified bias voltage through the magnetic brush in the contact unit to the body to be charged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes developing units designed to have an appropriate developer storage capacity in consideration of developer consumption, and improved convenience of use. The image forming apparatus also includes an image carrier, and plural developing units arranged along a rotating direction of the image carrier to supply developers to the image carrier. The plural developing units include a first developing unit having the largest developer storage capacity and a second developing unit having the second largest developer storage capacity after the first developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing the number of toner concentration detection errors caused by variation in the volume of a toner includes a reverse vane for transferring developer in an opposite direction and protruding from the rotary shaft member in a region where a lower side faces a bottom wall of a first transfer chamber and two lateral sides that are orthogonal to the rotary axis direction face respective side walls of the first transfer chamber, and a toner concentration detection sensor is disposed to detect the toner concentration of the developer as the developer is transferred between the reverse transfer vane and a location of the screw vane adjacent to the reverse transfer vane.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holder; a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image holder with developing material; a developing material cartridge that has a supply developing material container to contain developing material; and a developing material conveyance unit, having a connection portion connected to the developing device, that conveys the developing material from the supply developing material container to the developing device. The developing material cartridge is provided in a direction approximately orthogonal to the developing device. At least a part of the connection portion is provided within a heightwise directional width of the developing material cartridge.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a development device including a rotatable development sleeve which supplies developer to a photosensitive drum, the development sleeve being disposed such that a rotational axis of the development sleeve is orientated toward a vertical direction; a conveying screw which conveys the developer along a rotational axis direction of the development sleeve; and a developer supply guide which guides the developer conveyed by the developer conveying device to the development sleeve. The plural developer supply guides are disposed at predetermined intervals in the rotational axis direction of the development sleeve and between the development sleeve and the conveying screw.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for a self-cleaning toner roller device adjacent a toner roller. The cleaning device having one or more shields to capture the toner debris from the toner roller, a toner debris receptacle to collect the toner debris, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a developing roller in which increase of residual potential is inhibited during repetitive operation without deteriorating adhesion to an elastic layer, scattering and leakage of toner are prevented, appropriate elasticity is exhibited and a resin layer capable of preventing uneven charging of toner and image unevenness is prepared, and also to provide a image forming method employing the developing roller. Disclosed is a developing roller possessing an elastic layer made of silicone rubber provided around a conductive shaft, and a resin layer further provided on the elastic layer, wherein the resin layer contains polyurethane resin-silica hybrid as a principal component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of always performing image registration adjustment with a high accuracy and realizing a higher image quality without lowering the productivity and deteriorating a cleaning member. A first conveying speed of a sheet being conveyed on a conveying path is changed to a second conveying speed at a predetermined position to thereby perform registration of an image on an image bearing member with the sheet, at a position of the image being transferred to the sheet. Detecting an registration-use image on the image bearing member causes a first reference signal to be generated, and detecting a top end of the sheet conveyed on the conveying path causes a second reference signal to be generated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit to control a latent image support with a target rate; a first unit to detect patterns; plural parts to be detected revolving with the support; a second unit to detect passing of the part; a first generating unit to obtain an amplitude and a phase of fluctuation and a pattern for canceling out the fluctuation from the amplitude and the phase; a second generating unit to perform a process to obtain an amplitude and a phase of fluctuation while the support rotates once or more, perform the process again, calculate a change in the amplitude and phase, and generate another pattern for canceling out the change; and a correcting unit to correct the target rate by superimposing the patterns with the target rate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers and a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly includes a plurality of transferees, a supporter, and a plurality of transferee holders. The plurality of transferers is each configured to electrostatically transfer a toner image carried on one of the image carriers onto an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium. The supporter is configured to support the transferers. The transferer holders are each configured to hold one of the transferers. Each of the transferee holders and the transferer held thereby form an integrated individual unit independently attachable to and detachable from the supporter.

Abstract: A technique capable of preventing deterioration of image quality resulting from a band-shaped toner image created on a photosensitive surface in order to prevent so-called carrier attraction is provided. An image forming method involving an abutting and separation step that allows a first image carrier (YMC) and a second image carrier (K) to abut on an intermediate transfer body to form an image and thereafter that allows only the second image carrier to abut on the intermediate transfer body by separating the first image carrier from the intermediate transfer body; and then a collecting step that collects a toner band on the first image carrier in situ to conduct new image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image and a fixing device to fix the toner image transferred from the image carrier onto a recording medium by applying at least heat to at least one of the toner image and the recording medium. Such a fixing device includes: a magnetic flux generator to generate a magnetic flux; and a heat generating member disposed at least partially in the magnetic flux. The heat generating member includes a heat generating layer to generate heat via eddy currents therein induced by the magnetic flux, magnitudes of the eddy currents varying according to positions thereof in a width direction of the heat generating layer. Included within the heat generating layer is a magnetic layer having a Curie point in a range, e.g., from about 100 degrees centigrade to about 300 degrees centigrade.

Abstract: A low-heat loss, belt nip-type fixing device achieves good recording medium separation performance without increasing the size of the device, prevents image misalignment, and achieves a high-quality image without placing a major burden on the recording medium. This fixing device comprises a heat-fixing roller having an elastic layer and a heat source; and a pressurizing unit having an elastic member with a flat surface for pressing an endless member. The endless member conveys a recording medium, against the elastic layer. A pressurizing spring biases the elastic member toward the side of the recording medium. Biasing is carried out using the pressurizing spring such that the amount of deformation of the elastic member approaches the saturation region (maximum amount of deformation) inside a region of a nip portion, which is formed between the elastic layer of the heat-fixing roller and the endless member of pressurizing unit, and through which is passed a recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for clearing paper jams in a module along a print path of a printer, the module having nip baffles and a rotatable and removable core element defining a print path therethrough. The apparatus comprises at least one cam, a rotatable handle mechanism and a ramp drive mechanism to facilitate the paper jam clearing and removal of the core element from the module.

Abstract: In a fixing unit which drivingly rotates an endless fixing belt having a lubricant applied to an inside surface thereof and which presses the fixing belt against a recording medium formed with a toner image thereon thereby fixing the toner image to the recording medium, the inside surface of the fixing belt is formed with a plurality of grooves extended along a circumferential direction of the fixing belt or extended from a widthwise center of the fixing belt toward the opposite ends thereof as inclined in a moving direction of the fixing belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a spacer roller that contacts a photosensitive drum outside a running region of a transfer member. The spacer roller forms a gap between a developing roller and the photosensitive drum. A cleaning device is positioned at downstream side of a nip position formed between the photosensitive drum and the transfer member. A toner removing blade is disposed between the downstream side of the nip and an upstream side of the cleaning device. The toner removing blade has a contact portion that contacts a contact region between the photosensitive drum and the spacer roller. The rotation axis of the photosensitive drum extends along an inner end of the contact portion. This inner end of the contact portion is positioned within a toner collecting region in which toner is scraped off by the cleaning device.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator, which is included in a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus, includes a fur brush disposed downstream from a cleaning member in a direction of rotation of the image carrier that moves in the direction of rotation of the image carrier, scrape a solid lubricant disposed opposite to the image carrier while rotating, and apply powder scraped from the solid lubricant to the surface of the image carrier; a lubricant fixing member to fix the powder to the surface of the image carrier; and a first guide member disposed between the lubricant fixing member and the fur brush to convey the powder scattered from the fur brush to the surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a document feed unit that feeds a document along a document feed path extending from a document loading section to a document output section via a scanning position. The document feed unit includes a first feed roller pair nipping and feeding a document opposed to the scanning position at a position downstream in a feed direction from the scanning position, and a second feed roller pair nipping and feeding the document fed by the first feed roller pair at a document feed speed higher than that of the first feed roller pair at a position downstream in the feed direction from the first feed roller pair.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tray, a sensor, and a transport mechanism. The tray holds a media stack. The transport mechanism moves the tray past the sensor to scan a side of the media stack.

Abstract: Generating a visual three-dimensional model specific to a user for personal care education. A request for instruction regarding a personal care product is received from a user. Data defining physical characteristics of the user that relate to the personal care product is also received from the user. A three-dimensional model demonstrating use of the personal care product is generated. The three-dimensional model is a function of the received data and the personal care product. The generated three-dimensional model is provided to the user for display.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for receiving data from a satellite radio network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a datagram broadcast via a satellite radio network is received utilizing a receiver. The datagram includes broadcast identifier information that identifies a segment of receivers in the satellite radio network to which the datagram is directed. Utilizing the broadcast identifier information, a determination is made as to whether the recipient receiver is a member of the identified segment of receivers to which the datagram is directed. If the recipient receiver is determined to be a member of the identified segment of receivers to which the datagram is directed, then the datagram is processed.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes an RFID reader, an RFID tag, and a network connection module. The RFID reader includes a reader radio frequency (RF) bus transceiver. The network connection module includes a network connection RF bus transceiver, wherein the reader RF bus transceiver exchanges at least one of inbound RFID data and outbound RFID data with the network RF bus transceiver via an RF bus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio node apparatus, a multi-hop radio system and a multi-hop radio system constructing method, capable of constructing a tree type multi-hop radio system in which mutual radio nodes determine a radio node which becomes a root node of a tree in an autonomous manner and the root node is set as a root in an autonomous manner.

Abstract: Providing network security includes detecting network traffic associated with an ad hoc network that includes a first station and a second station, and preventing data sent by the first station from reaching the second station.

Abstract: A vehicle control system communication method, including: receiving, at an in-vehicle unit (IVU), a command message from a hand-held unit (HHU), wherein the command message includes a first command frame and a second command frame; and sending, from the IVU, a response message to the HHU, wherein the response message includes a first response frame, wherein the first response frame is sent in a time period between the reception of the first command frame and the reception of the second command frame.

Abstract: A method and system for interference reduction for telecommunication systems are disclosed. The system comprises a base station control device (BCD) for configuring one or more parameters for operating one or more base stations (BSs), a first BS covering a first cell having one or more mobile terminals therein, a second BS covering a second cell neighboring to the first cell and sharing a predetermined frequency band with the first cell, wherein one or more radio frames constructed for communications between the first BS and any mobile terminal of the first cell and one or more radio frames constructed for communications between the second BS and any mobile terminal of the second cell are distinguishable by defining different channel configuration sets having one or more operation parameters, wherein the parameters includes a training sequence, a spreading code, and a channel observation window position.

Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus, communication system, communication method, and program are provided that enable a decoding section of a mobile communication apparatus to be controlled and operated only when necessary even when receive data retransmission occurs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing measurement assistance in a survey of a wireless communication network includes a first step (1) of defining a scope of measurement targets to complete the survey. A next step (2) includes measuring an RF parameter at a specific spatial coordinate. A next step (3) includes analyzing the measurement to determine if the measurement is valid. A next step (5) includes storing the measurement. A next step (6) includes recommending further measurement locations for survey completeness. A next step (4) includes determining whether the survey is complete. A next step (7) includes implementing the wireless communication network in accordance with the final survey.

Abstract: A transceiver includes a receiver configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal via a wireless communication link. The wireless link has a predetermined link characteristic. The RF signal includes a plurality of encoded Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) symbols. A receive baseband processor recovers each OFDM symbol encoded within the RF signal. The baseband processor includes an estimation unit configured to continuously measure a signal quality of the wireless communication link based on each recovered OFDM symbol. A MAC layer controller is configured to selectively alter the predetermined link characteristic of the wireless link on an ongoing basis based on the continuously measured signal quality of the wireless communication link.

Abstract: Methods and devices in a wireless communication system are provided, in which a first portion and a second portion of signals are transmitted on a physical channel to a first transceiver from a second transceiver. A method for controlling transmission parameters in the wireless communication system comprises the steps of: transmitting an indication indicating that the first and the second receiver processing algorithms are used in the first transceiver to process the first and second portions, respectively, of signals received on the physical channel; receiving the indication at the second transceiver; and adjusting, at the second transceiver in response to the indication, a transmission parameter for at least one of the first and second portions of signals to be transmitted on the physical channel to the first transceiver. The indication could be transmitted from the first transceiver, or it could be determined through evaluations carried out at the second transceiver.

Abstract: A multimedia mobile communication system and method capable of updating functions of a multimedia mobile communication terminal is provided, wherein the system and method may add to or modify the functions by modifying a software program. The multimedia mobile communication system and method comprises an intermediate frequency processing unit for correcting an error of an intermediate frequency signal through a convolution coding method or a turbo coding method, downloading a software program and allocating, setting, modifying and upgrading specific functions corresponding to the downloaded software program.

Abstract: A transceiver for wirelessly transmitting process variables with a radio interface and a field device interface is provided. The transceiver has two operating states. The transceiver is designed to receive a field device signal at the field device interface and relay the field device signal via the radio interface in the first operating state. In the second operating state, the transceiver receives a field device signal via the radio interface, and makes the field device signal available at the field device interface.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a on-chip pressure sensing circuit that generates a pressure signal based on a pressure of the integrated circuit. A processing module, generates a control signal based on the pressure signal. An RF transceiver generates an outbound RF signal from outbound data and to generate inbound data from an inbound RF signal, based on the control signal.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to solve a problem that malfunction of communication is generated by varying a frequency of a clock due to noise from outside in a case where there is no supplied signal in a circuit which performs negative feedback control so that the supplied signal and the feedback signal can maintain a fixed phase relationship between the signals. The present invention provides a configuration including a PLL circuit and an oscillator circuit, where a switch for switching an output between a signal from the PLL circuit and a signal from the oscillator circuit to the signal output portion is provided to switch from a connection to the PLL circuit to a connection to the oscillator circuit in a case where there is no received signal.

Abstract: A multiband high-frequency circuit comprising a first switch SPDT1 for switching the connections of a multiband antenna to transmitting circuits 11bg-T, 11a-T and receiving circuits 11bg-R, 11a-R of first and second communications systems, and a transmitting/receiving circuit BLT-TR of a third communications system, a diplexer circuit Dip1 for branching a high-frequency signal to 11a-R and 11bg-R or BLT-TR and a diplexer circuit Dip2 for branching a high-frequency signal to 11bg-T and 11a-T, both of which are disposed downstream of SPDT1, each diplexer circuit Dip1, Dip2 comprising a lower-frequency-side filter and a high-frequency-side filter, a bandpass filter BPF1 being disposed downstream of the lower-frequency-side filter of the diplexer circuit Dip1, and a second switch SPDT2 being disposed downstream of the bandpass filter BPF1.

Abstract: An antenna switch (31) that is arranged to alternately operate in a receive mode and a transmit mode, comprises adaptive filter (30). Herewith, signal processing means (Rx1, Rx2 and Rx3) can be coupled to an antenna (1) during the receive mode and be insulated from the antenna during the transmit mode.

Abstract: In a push-to-talk device having two processors where one of the processors is a radio chip and one of the processors is a microprocessor, a method and apparatus for synchronizing the microprocessor and the radio chip includes the steps of checking the status of a radio push-to-talk key on the radio chip when a user push-to-talk button is turned on or off on the microprocessor; if the user push-to-talk button is on and the radio push-to-talk key is off, performing the steps of sending a command to the radio chip to turn on the radio push-to-talk key; and waiting for a response from the radio chip, and if the response indicates the radio push-to-talk key is on, remaining in this synchronized state, otherwise repeating the sending and waiting steps; if the user button is off and the radio push-to-talk key is on, performing the steps of: sending a command to the radio chip to turn off the radio push-to-talk key; and waiting for a response from the radio chip, and if the response indicates the radio push-to-talk k

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending an event from user equipment operating in a mobile network, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring whether an unrelated opportunistic event has occurred; and sending said event with said unrelated opportunistic event.

Abstract: A base station (10) according to the present invention includes: a plurality of amplifiers (15a, 15b) configured to amplify radio frequency signals; a plurality of antennas (16a, 16b) configured to transmit the RF signals amplified by the plurality of amplifiers (15a, 15b); a judging unit (123) configured to judge whether or not to transmit the RF signals by applying a transmission diversity using the plurality of antennas (16a, 16b); and a baseband signal processor unit (12) configured to generate baseband signals having an identical symbol pattern and an identical amplitude, as baseband signals that are bases of the RF signals to be transmitted from the plurality of antennas (16a, 16b), when the judging unit (123) determines not to apply the transmission diversity.

Abstract: Collecting calibration data includes receiving signals, where each signal is transmitted from a channel of a plurality of channels of a transmit diversity device. The signals are generated according to command points, where a command point comprises command parameter values of command parameters. A signal feature value is determined for each command point to yield a plurality of signal feature values. At least one signal feature value is associated with a command point that substantially yields the signal feature value.

Abstract: Diversity radio transmission is accomplished with excellent performance using multiple antennas receiving a transmission signal from a single power amplifier. A data signal to be transmitted is provided to a first antenna, and a phase-shifted version of the data signal is applied a second antenna. The relative phase shift between the data signal transmitted over the two transmit antennas ensures the two antenna signals can be constructively combined at the receiver. In one non-limiting example embodiment, the relative phase shift is determined by processing pilot signals sent along with the data signal and which are transmitted with predetermined phase shifts.

Abstract: A receiver circuit comprising a quadrature passive mixer having an input and an output, and an input impedance of the quadrature passive mixer provides a band-pass response. One or more output impedances coupled to the output of the quadrature passive mixer. A low noise amplifier (LNA) having an input and an output coupled to the quadrature passive mixer, the LNA configured to provide substantially linear transconductance over a predetermined input range.

Abstract: A receiver according to the present invention includes a first receiving (RCV) quality detector and a second RCV quality detector connected before a combining unit. The second RCV quality detector determines a quality of a signal output from at least one of a first receiving unit and a second receiving unit by a method different from that of the first RCV quality detector. A controller allows the receiver to operate in a single receiving mode when a determination result of the second RCV quality detector is not better than a predetermined level regardless of a determination result of a determination result of the first RCV quality detector not being a predetermined level. When the receiver passes in an area where the receiver cannot receive a broadcast signal, the determination result of the second RCV quality detector is not better than the predetermined level. In response, the controller allows the receiver to operate in the single receiving mode, thereby reducing power consumption of the receiver.

Abstract: An entertainment system comprising a base unit with a transceiver for interacting, at times, with a control unit via a communications link, and a control unit for controlling the base unit, the control unit being dockable with the base unit to establish direct electrical connection between them, and including a transceiver for interacting with the control unit via said link when undocked. The control unit is a separate aspect of the invention or system. The base unit may contain a tuner, preferably with bandless tuning capability, and may be designed to receive into a universal docking arrangement a digitally controllable auxiliary audio source such as a portable MP3 player or other device. The base unit may further provide alarm clock functionality with numerous features including a “fail-safe” volume control system and fail-safe alarm time setting capability.

Abstract: A frequency tunable arrangement (ICT) comprises a tunable oscillator circuit (TOC) that provides an oscillator signal (OS). A controllable frequency divider circuit (CDIV, DBT1, DBT2, DBT3, MUX) provides a frequency-divided signal (MO) on the basis of the oscillator signal. The frequency-divided signal has a frequency that is equal to the frequency of the oscillator signal divided by a division factor. The controllable frequency divider circuit provides any division factor among a set of division factors (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) in which for any division factor a ratio between that division factor and a lower division factor closest thereto, if existing, does not exceed 1.25.

Abstract: A communication system with variable filter bandwidth includes a first mixer circuit configured to receive a communication signal and shift the frequency range of the communication signal to a first frequency range. A second mixer circuit is configured to receive the same communication signal and shift the frequency range of the communication signal to a second frequency range. An activation circuit is coupled to the first and second mixer circuits so as to provide an activation signal that activates at least one of the mixer circuits. A plurality of filter circuits are provided such that each filter circuit is configured to receive a signal from a corresponding mixer circuit, when the corresponding mixer circuit is activated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to perform radio frequency (RF) analog-to-digital conversion are described. According to one example, a receiver includes an amplifier to amplify received analog RF signals and a mixer-free circuit for converting the received analog RF signals to digital signals.

Abstract: A transceiver suitable for larger scale of integration employs direct conversion reception for reducing the number of filters. Also, the number of VCOs is reduced by utilizing dividers to supply a receiver and a transmitter with locally oscillated signals at an RF band. Dividers each having a fixed division ratio are used for generating locally oscillated signals for the receiver, while a divider having a switchable division ratio are used for generating the locally oscillated signal for the transmitter. In addition, a variable gain amplifier for baseband signal is provided with a DC offset voltage detector and a DC offset canceling circuit for supporting high speed data communications to accomplish fast cancellation of a DC offset by eliminating intervention of a filter within a feedback loop for offset cancellation.

Abstract: An OFDM wireless transceiver uses a digital automatic gain control (AGC) module. The digital AGC module is configured for setting a gain to an initial gain value for mapping a received wireless signal to a first power value for an input circuit having a prescribed input range. The initial gain value is set relative to the prescribed input range and a prescribed signal to noise ratio. If the digital AGC module determines that the first power value of the received wireless signal does not exceed the prescribed input range, the digital AGC module calculates an optimum gain for the received wireless signal relative to the initial gain value and the first power value; if the first power value exceeds the prescribed input range, the AGC module determines the optimum gain based on setting the gain to a minimum gain value.

Abstract: An FM tuner that has a multipath reception detection unit and an adjacent-channel interference detection unit while reducing expansion of the scale of the circuit is available. A control signal for a stereo separation level is generated on the basis of a signal SM-DC corresponding to a reception field strength and of a signal SMP corresponding to a multipath noise component. The SMP is extracted from a fluctuation component signal SM-AC from an S-meter circuit 92 by a multipath noise extraction circuit 104. The multipath noise extraction circuit 104 used for control of the stereo separation level is shared as a portion of the circuitry for detecting the multipath signal reception state. A multipath reception detection unit 108 compares the SMP with a threshold value to detect a multipath reception state.