Abstract: Hard imaging devices and hard imaging methods are described. According to one embodiment, a hard imaging device includes an image engine configured to provide a marking agent upon media to form hard images, and a media sensing system configured to sense the media and to provide at least one signal comprising information indicative of a direction of grain of the media responsive to the sensing of the media, and processing circuitry configured to receive the at least one signal provided by the media sensing system and to control an operation of the hard imaging device using the information indicative of the direction of the grain of the media of the at least one signal.

Abstract: There is provided a recording medium imaging device capable of properly selecting pixels used for determining the kind of the recording medium from the captured surface image to remove pixels from which the surface property of the recording medium cannot be properly determined because the pixels extremely high in light quantity are affected by some sort of dirt or scratches in determining the kind of a recording medium. This allows the determination of kind of the recording medium based on the normally captured surface image to reduce the decrease in accuracy in determining the kind of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member; charging device for electrically charging the photosensitive member by being supplied with a charging bias; a current detecting device for detecting a DC current flowing when a test bias in the form of a predetermined DC voltage biased with a predetermined AC voltage is applied to the charging device so as to cause discharging between the photosensitive member and the charging device; and a control device for controlling the charging bias on the basis of an output of the current detecting device.

Abstract: Provided are a development apparatus and an image forming apparatus which, in a hybrid development apparatus provided with a plurality of toner carriers, a toner supply capability to supply toner to each toner carrier is controlled independent of development electric fields between the toner carriers and an image carrier, whereby each toner carrier is allowed to exhibit a desired development capability, and even in the case of high speed development, a high quality image is provided. The phases, the frequencies, and/or the duty ratios of the alternating current components of the voltages applied to the plurality of the toner carriers are made to be different, whereby the toner supply amount for each toner carrier from the developer carrier is controlled independently of the development electric fields between the toner carriers and the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an encoder that detects a first pulse signal relevant to a conveyance velocity of an intermediate transfer belt, an encoder that detects a second pulse signal relevant to a conveyance velocity of a transfer-paper conveying belt, a print control unit that performs feedback control by using a count value of the first pulse signal per unit time and a target conveyance velocity value common between the conveyance velocity of the intermediate transfer belt and that of the transfer-paper conveying belt so that the conveyance velocity of the intermediate transfer belt attains the target value and also performs feedback-control by using a count value of the second pulse signal per unit time and the target value so that the conveyance velocity of the transfer-paper conveying belt attains the target value.

Abstract: A fixing device irradiates an unfixed toner image formed on the recording paper that is conveyed by an endless belt for conveying recording paper, with laser light so as to fuse the toner and fix the toner image. The fixing device includes a controller which makes such control as to convey the recording paper so as to pass through the position of the focal point of the laser light and bring the surface of the endless belt away from the position of the focal point of the laser light when conveyance of the recording paper is stopped.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image to a sheet, a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image transferred to the sheet on the sheet, a conveyance unit disposed between the transfer unit and the fixing unit to convey the sheet, a moving unit configured to move the conveyance unit, and a control unit configured to controls the moving unit to move the conveyance unit so that a speed of a leading edge of the sheet conveyed from the transfer unit to the fixing unit is reduced, when the leading edge of the sheet reaches the fixing unit.

Abstract: A color printer of the invention is controlled to select DC motors needed to be newly activated according to a print mode when a print job occurs, determine an activation start time of each selected DC motor by sequentially going back activation times stored in relation to the selected DC motors from an image start reference time, activate one or ones of the DC motors to be activated according to the determined activation start times, measure an actual activation time of the activated DC motor and update a stored content about the activation time based on a measurement result of the actual activation time, and determine an activation start time of each DC motor based on the updated activation time. An image forming apparatus capable of preventing the motors from rotating more than necessary and effectively utilizing the life of components to be driven by the motors can be provided.

Abstract: A thick film charging device is used to simultaneously heat a photoreceptor as it is being charged in order to mitigate image quality defects associated with the photoreceptor in high humidity conditions.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing containing toner having an opening at a side thereof, a developing roller supplying the toner supplied through the opening to a photoconductive drum, and a regulator contacting the outer circumference of the developing roller to regulate the amount of the toner supplied to the photoconductive drum. The housing also includes a lower frame having both side portions and a lower end portion respectively forming both edges and a lower edge of the opening in a lengthwise direction, and an upper frame welded and coupled to the lower frame and including a leading end portion forming an upper edge of the opening and a recess portion recessed from the leading end portion at both end portions of the leading end portion in the lengthwise direction. Both side portions of the lower frame includes a first surface contacting the recess portion to prevent the upper frame from being pushed toward the developing roller when the upper frame is welded and coupled to the lower frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a door on a side surface of a body of the apparatus. Three pivot points for supporting the door to be capable of pivoting horizontally are disposed in the rear side of the apparatus body, in an upper section, in a middle section and in a lower section, respectively. The upper pivot point and the lower pivot point are adjustable with reference to the middle pivot point.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes an apparatus body having an endless belt incorporated therein configured to transfer toner images formed on a plurality of image bearing members to the recording medium, and a supporting member configured to support the plurality of image bearing members and to be slidable between inner and outer positions of the apparatus body along the arranged direction of the plurality of image bearing members, wherein when the supporting member slides between the inner and outer positions of the apparatus body while at least one of the plurality of image bearing members is in contact with the belt, a force is applied to the belt to rotate the belt along the moving direction of the supporting member.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a drum unit containing a movably connected to a developing unit containing a developing roller between a contact position where the roller contacts the drum and a spaced position where the roller is spaced from the drum, a drum coupler engaging a first main assembly drive transmitter transmitting a first rotational driving force to the drum, when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, a shaft coupler transmitting a second rotational driving force with a deviation permitted between an axis of a second main assembly drive transmitter and an axis of the roller, from the second main assembly drive transmission member to the roller when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

Abstract: A toner supplying device is provided with a container body formed with a toner replenishment opening and adapted to contain toner, a shutter for opening and closing the toner replenishment opening, and an opening/closing structure for causing the shutter to perform opening and closing operations as the container body is mounted into and detached from the apparatus body. The opening/closing structure includes an arm projecting from the shutter in a mounting direction of the container body into the apparatus body and a locking portion attached to the arm. The locking portion includes a first locking claw engageable with and disengageable from a first engageable portion for locking formed at the guiding portion and a second locking claw engageable with and disengageable from a second engageable portion for locking formed at the container body.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which is equipped with at least a latent electrostatic image forming unit, a developing unit, a transferring unit, and a fixing unit, wherein the transferring unit is configured to apply a positive electric potential to a visible image formed on the latent electrostatic image bearing member via a recording medium, the latent electrostatic image member has a surface layer which comprises a hardened material hardened by irradiating at least a trifunctional or more radical polymerizable compound having no charge transporting structure, a radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure, and a reactive silicone compound having any one of an acryloyloxy group and a methacryloyloxy group, and the concentration of the reactive silicone compound is varied in between the surface part and the innerlayer part of the surface layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are image processing methods and systems to control the synchronization of two or more photoreceptor belts associated with an image processing system. According to one exemplary method, the phase error of a slave printing engine photoreceptor belt is controlled by modifying the speed of the slave printing engine photoreceptor belt by an increment which is a function of a predetermined image on image registration tolerance associated with the slave printing engine. Notable, the phase error is controlled while the slave printing engine develops an image on its respective photoreceptor belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second drums subjected to image formation by exposure to light at exposure positions to form latent images and then transferring toner images, formed by developing the latent images with toner, onto a transfer material at transfer positions; first and second gears provided coaxially and integrally with the drums; a driving source for rotationally driving the drums; and a branch gear, meshable with the first and second gears at first and second mesh points, for transmitting a driving force from the driving source to the first and second gears. A sum of a time of movement of a portion of the branch gear located at the first mesh point to the second mesh point and a time of integer-time rotation of the branch gear is equal to a time of movement of the transfer material from the transfer position of the first drum to that of the second drum.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing magnetically attractable toner particles from an image-forming device and an image-forming device for performing the same are provided. The image-forming device includes a cleaning magnet system, configured to provide an activatable second magnetic field. The method includes a step of switching the image-forming device into a cleaning mode, the cleaning mode including the steps of stopping the toner supply to the image-recording medium, rotating the rotatable sleeve in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, such that the magnetically attractable toner particles are transported out of the developing zone towards the cleaning magnet system, and activating the second magnetic field so as to remove the transported magnetically attractable toner particles from the rotating rotatable sleeve of the developing element.

Abstract: A tubular body 101 includes a layer containing a resin and conductive particles 112, the layer having a first region 111C that is free of conductive particles and lies at the outermost surface, and a second region 111B that has higher conductivity than other regions and lies closer to the innermost surface than the first region. A coating film of a coating liquid containing the conductive particles and resin material is dried, and then an eluting solvent for eluting the resin material from the film is applied thereto. As a result of this, the conductive particles are localized in the coating film at the side coated with the eluting solvent. Thereafter, upon drying the eluting solvent, the resin material dissolved in the eluting solvent deposits on the region where the conductive particles are localized, whereby a particle-free resin region free of the conductive particles is formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable belt member; stretching means for stretching the belt member; steering means for stretching and steering the belt member, wherein the steering means includes a rotatable portion rotatable with rotation of the belt member, a frictional portion, provided at each of opposite axial end of the rotation portion, for slidable contact with the belt member, supporting means for supporting the rotatable portion and the frictional portion, a rotation shaft rotatably supporting the supporting means, and the steering means is capable of steering the belt member by rotation thereof by forces resulting from sliding between the belt member and the frictional portion, wherein each of the frictional portions is provided with an inclined surface which is inclined to be further from a rotational axis of the rotation portion axially toward an outside, and wherein the belt member is contacted to at least one of the inclined portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member configured to bear the toner image; a transfer element configured to transfer the toner image to the sheet; a first application element configured to apply a transfer voltage to the transfer element; a separator configured to separate the sheet from the image bearing member, the separator including a separation electrode configured to discharge an electrical current and the separation electrode including first and second separation electrodes aligned along the transfer element; and a partition configured to project between the transfer element and the separator so as to allow a current to flow from the transfer element to the first separation electrode while the partition suppresses a current flowing from the transfer element to the second separation electrode.

Abstract: A cleaning device including a first blade contacting a surface of an image carrier and a second blade separate from the first blade to contact the surface of the image carrier at a position downstream from the first blade in a direction of rotation of the image carrier relative to a transfer position on the surface of the image carrier. A leading end of the second blade facing up is positioned upstream from a trailing end of the second blade relative to the direction of rotation of the image carrier. A first edge of the leading end of the second blade contacts the surface of the image carrier at a point on the surface of the image carrier below a second edge of the leading end of the second blade.

Abstract: A cleaning brush for use in an electrostatographic imaging apparatus, including a plurality of individual electrically conductive fibers secured to a brush core and having fiber tips relatively remote from the brush core, wherein the cleaning brush includes an electrically conductive plane at a surface of the brush core, or between a surface of the brush core and the electrically conductive fibers, effective for inducing an electrical potential to the conductive fibers when an electrical potential is applied to the electrically conductive plane, and at least one of a relatively non-conductive layer electrically insulating the conductive plane from the conductive fibers, or electrically insulating coatings on tips of the electrically conductive fibers remote from the brush core. The insulative, or non-conductive, layer between the fibers and the conductive plane of the brush prevent excessive current draw.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first and a second image forming sections, a paper feeding section, and a paper output section. The image forming sections form an image on paper independently. The apparatus is laterally dividable into a first and a second portions where the first and second image forming sections are respectively positioned. The feeding section is arranged below the first image forming section in the first portion. The output section is arranged above the second image forming section in the second portion. The apparatus has two simple transport paths that run vertically through the image forming sections, respectively, without intersecting each other and detouring around the second or first image forming section.

Abstract: An access node comprising a processor configured to promote allocation of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) resource to a relay node. The PDCCH resource is configured for use by the relay node. The access node is further configured to exclusively control allocation of the PDCCH resource.

Abstract: A relay station that relays radio signals between a base transceiver station and a mobile station includes a downlink amplifier that amplifies a downlink signal from the base transceiver station to the mobile station, an uplink amplifier that amplifies an uplink signal from the mobile station to the base transceiver station, a paging response signal detection unit that detects a paging response signal with which the mobile station responds to a paging signal for paging the mobile station, and an amplification control unit that starts amplification control with respect to the downlink amplifier and the uplink amplifier when the paging response signal has been detected by the paging response signal detection unit.

Abstract: A technique for interference cancellation in a satellite communication system involves an autocorrelation on the hub signal to detect a periodicity in the hub signal, determining a search range for a delay in the hub echo signal in accordance with the periodicity, locating the delay in the hub echo signal, and performing the interference cancellation in accordance with the delay. In the case of periodicity, a delay is acquired (either true or false) that provides cancellation (provided that the period does not change). When the period changes, cancellation is discovered to be poor, and another delay (that may be true or false) is acquired that provides good cancellation and so on.

Abstract: An underwater communications system is provided that transmits electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals to a remote receiver. The transmitter includes a data input. A digital data compressor compresses data to be transmitted. A modulator modulates compressed data onto a carrier signal. An electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna transmits the compressed, modulated signals. The receiver that has an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna for receiving a compressed, modulated signal. A demodulator is provided for demodulating the signal to reveal compressed data. A de-compressor de-compresses the data. An appropriate human interface is provided to present transmitted data into text/audio/visible form. Similarly, the transmit system comprises appropriate audio/visual/text entry mechanisms.

Abstract: A communication apparatus and a method used by the communication apparatus to perform magnetic-field communication with an external apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus determines the communication distance between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus based on the voltage level of a radio signal, a distance measuring device, or other means. The communication distance is compared to a predetermined distance and the communication apparatus dynamically adjusts its resonance frequency for improved magnetic-field communication with the external apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for channel pairing a transmitter and a receiver are provided. In this regard, a representative method, among others, includes selecting a channel in a radio frequency (RF) band; transmitting a carrier and alert tone on the selected channel in the RF band; responsive to detecting the transmitted carrier and alert tone, demodulating the carrier and alert tone on the selected channel in the RF band and producing the demodulated alert tone; and responsive to detecting the produced alert tone, using the selected channel to establish a wireless link between the transmitter and receiver.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal includes a proximity wireless communication unit and a control command generating unit. The proximity wireless communication unit performs wireless communication directly with another mobile communication terminal present in a communicationable range. When the proximity wireless communication unit is capable of communicating with another mobile communication terminal, the control command generating unit generates a control command which is associated with an internal state and which is for controlling another mobile communication terminal, and transmits the control command to another mobile communication terminal through the proximity wireless communication unit.

Abstract: A device may include a communication interface configured to transmit and receive communications from a second device. The device may further include logic configured to determine whether a user of the device is in a social interaction with a user of the second device, obtain identification information associated with the second device when the user of the device is in a social interaction with the user of the second device, and store the obtained identification information associated with the second device to track the social interaction with the user of the second device.

Abstract: A user equipment senses a plurality of wireless signals it receives; estimates cyclic correlation of the received signals using a multi-variate sign function; determines from the estimated cyclic correlation which ones of the signals are detected based on cyclostationarity present at known cyclic frequencies; and a frequency resource is selected for opportunistic communications based on the frequencies over which were received the signals that were determined to be detected. In specific embodiments, the multi-variate sign function is bivariate; the detected signals are primary user signals and the selected frequency resource avoids frequencies on which they were received; and/or the detected signals are secondary user signals and the selected frequency resource can either avoid those frequencies on which they were received or use those frequencies for the UE's own opportunistic communications.

Abstract: Techniques for using at least one of omni-directional and directional antennas for communication are described. A station may be equipped antenna elements selectable for use as an omni-directional antenna or one or more directional antennas. The station may select the omni-directional antenna or a directional antenna for use for communication based on various factors such as, e.g., whether the location or direction of a target station for communication is known, whether control frames or data frames are being exchanged, etc.

Abstract: A maintenance method and system is provided. The method includes providing a device comprising a thru state switch and condition circuits. The device is permanently connected between a feed system and an antenna. The device receives a first control signal and disables a connection between the analyzer and the antenna. The device receives additional control signals and enables conditions. The device generates altered responses of the feed system. The altered responses are associated with the conditions. The altered responses are used to normalize an analyzer and the feed system or troubleshoot a communication system.

Abstract: A resource configuration method includes acquiring capability information of a base station (BS), in which the capability information of the BS includes information indicating whether the BS has channel power boost capability. Capability information of a user equipment (UE) is acquired. The capability information of the UE includes information indicating whether the UE has the channel power boost capability. The BS is notified to configure resources for performing channel estimation by using the channel power boost capability for the UE if the UE and the BS both have the channel power boost capability.

Abstract: Provided are a first filter 63a and a second filter 63b each having a pass band in the range of a frequency band that is obtained by, for example, substantially bisecting a frequency band of f1 to f4. In that case, the regions of the first filter 63a and the second filter 63b partially overlap with each other with the center frequency f5 interposed therebetween. In practice, even if the division is not bisection, a configuration is adopted in which a frequency region of the wider band (the first frequency band 61a) closer to a second frequency band 61b side is covered by the second filter 63b. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the influence of load fluctuation in a multiband-compatible radio communication device.

Abstract: One high-frequency switch Qm supplied with transmit and receive signals to ON, and another high-frequency switch Qn supplied with a signal of another system to OFF are controlled. In the other high-frequency switch Qn, to set V-I characteristics of near-I/O gate resistances Rg1n-Rg3n of a near-I/O FET Qn1 near to a common input/output terminal I/O connected with an antenna are set to be higher in linearity than V-I characteristics of middle-portion gate resistances Rg3n and Rg4n of middle-portion FETs Qn3 and Qn4. Thus, even in case that an uneven RF leak signal is supplied to near-I/O gate resistances Rg1n-Rg3n, and middle-portion gate resistances Rg3n and Rg4n, the distortion of current flowing through the near-I/O gate resistances Rg1n-Rg3n near to the input/output terminal I/O can be reduced.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to compute beamforming weight vectors for pre-coding broadcast signals. First, system parameters for a device configured to wirelessly transmit one or more broadcast signals via a plurality of antennas are determined. Based on the system parameters a plurality of beamforming weight vectors are computed. The beamforming weight vectors are computed such that they have omni-directional like characteristics and such that correlation between beamforming weight vectors is relatively low. The plurality of beamforming weight vectors are applied to each of the one or more broadcast signals for transmission by the device to produce beamformed transmit signals for transmission via the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a load modulation arrangement adapted to be connected to an amplifying device. The load modulation arrangement comprises a first reactive element, a second reactive element and at least one variable capacitive element. Further, the load modulation arrangement comprises a quarter wave transforming element adapted to be connected to the first reactive element. The present invention also concerns a method for load modulation, a wireless transceiver and a radio transmission device.

Abstract: A communications system, including a transmitter and a receiver that performs radio communications with the transmitter in a plurality of types of communications services, the transmitter includes, a controller that controls guard intervals at a plurality of codes, which are unique to respective cells and correspond to any one of the plurality of types of communications services, so that lengths of guard intervals of the plurality of codes become same; and a transmitting unit that transmits first codes among the plurality of codes using a first band set in a transmission band, and also transmits second codes among the plurality of codes different from the first codes using a second band set in the transmission band that is different from the first band set, and the receiver includes, a receiving unit that receives the plurality of codes transmitted from the transmitter.

Abstract: A receiver device, A system and a method for reception of a signal having an amplitude that has been modulated with information, wherein a resistive element is provided that converts an electrical quantity into a physical parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically controlling an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in order to conserve power are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a receiver device comprises a tuner configured to receive a signal, at least one programmable analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a digital signal processing hardware comprising a control logic. The exemplary control logic is configured to generate a control signal to configure components within the receiver device to conserve power at the ADC.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a method and apparatus wherein a proxy control function may forward an emergency session to a serving control function, the serving control function forwarding the session to a default emergency control function. The default emergency control function may return an address or identity of an emergency control function or may forward the session to an emergency control function.

Abstract: In a communication system, Position Determining Equipment (PDE) receives location queries from wireless communication devices, determines geographic location data for the wireless communication devices using a plurality of different position fix types, and transfers the geographic location data to the wireless communication devices. The PDE also determines location session data indicating cumulative session time for each of the different position fix types. A PDE data processing system adds the cumulative session time for each of the different position fix types to determine total session time for all of the position fix types. The PDE data processing system divides the total session time for all of the position fix types by the total time to determine an indicator of average concurrent use of the PDE.

Abstract: A method for authenticating user terminal in IMS network, the method includes: with regard to user request, Service-Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) entity creates the authentication challenge utilizing Digest Authentication Algorithm, and sends the authentication challenge to user terminal through Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) entity; the user terminal creates the authentication response utilizing Digest Authentication Algorithm according to the user key and associated parameters with said authentication challenge, and sends the authentication response to S-CSCF entity through S-CSCF entity; S-CSCF entity authenticates said authentication response utilizing Digest Authentication Algorithm according to HAI and associated parameters, if the authentication passes, determines that the user terminal is authenticated successfully, otherwise, determines that the user terminal is authenticated failure.

Abstract: A key control system includes at least one premise, a lockbox capable of securing a key to the premise and at least one mobile telephone associated with a user and having a stored access device program capable of communicating an access request to the lockbox. The premise is subject to authorized access by others, such as the user, based on preferences of an approval party established with the system. If specified by these preferences, the mobile telephone automatically initiates a communication to a selected destination to request approval of the access request.

Abstract: Identification information used to identify a wireless-communication apparatus is acquired from a portable storage medium, a search for the wireless-communication apparatus is made based on the acquired identification information, and it is determined whether or not wireless parameters should be set to the wireless-communication apparatus according to the search result.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a node comprising an access controller (AC) and an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) proxy (AAA-P), wherein the AC is configured to manage authentication for a user equipment (UE), and wherein the AAA-P is configured to exchange authentication information related to the UE with an AAA server. Included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a first tunnel with a home gateway (HG), wherein the HG communicates wirelessly with a UE, and establishing a second tunnel between the UE and a Network Access Server (NAS). Also included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a Pairwise Master Key (PMK) from an AAA mediator (AAA-M), and authenticating a UE using the PMK.

Abstract: A system for verifying the authenticity of an item. At least one cellular telephone has an image recorder, a receiver and a transmitter. A cellular telephone network receives a recorded image transmitted by the cellular telephone and forwards the recorded image to at least one remote server. An image-recognition device is accessible to the remote server, the image recognition device being configured to decode a latent image embedded within the recorded image and to generate a dataset corresponding to the latent image. A processor accessible to the remote server generates a response corresponding to the dataset and indicating the authenticity status of the item, the response being forwarded from the remote server to the receiver of the cellular telephone by means of the cellular telephone network.