Abstract: A multi-core optical fiber interconnection structure has a first multi-core optical fiber with a slanted end face and a second multi-core optical fiber with a slanted end face. In a state in which the slanted end faces face each other, each of cores of the first multi-core optical fiber is optically coupled to a corresponding one of cores of the second multi-core optical fiber in a one-to-one correspondence relation. The facing condition between the slanted end faces is adjusted so as to minimize variation in core pitches of pairs of the cores each in the one-to-one correspondence relation.

Abstract: The NTU receiving structure (14) is further adapted to receive a demountable casing (15) for enclosing a second network termination unit (16). The fiber management unit (11) is further adapted for accommodating the outer end of a second optical fiber with a second optical connector (32). The fiber termination unit (10) further comprises a second NTU connection unit (23) for positioning the second optical connector (32) in a position suitable for connecting the second optical connector (32) to a connector part of the second network termination unit (16) when the demountable casing (15) with the second network termination unit (16) is received in the NTU receiving structure (14).

Abstract: Optical fiber ferrules with complementary mating geometry that are suitable for making optical connections are disclosed along with fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies using the same. In one embodiment, the fiber optic ferrule includes a body having a plurality of optical pathways and a mating geometry that includes at least one slot monolithically formed in the body of the fiber optic ferrule. The slot of the ferrule permits a relatively high number of mating/unmating cycles without generating excessive wear and debris, thereby making it suitable for consumer electronic devices or the like. The disclosure is also directed to fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies using the ferrule.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation shield for an electronic module. In one example embodiment, an EMR shield for an electronic transceiver module includes a conductive carrier sized and configured to surround a shell of an electronic transceiver module. The conductive carrier defines a plurality of extended elements located on at least one edge of the conductive carrier and an orientation element. Each extended element is configured to bias against the shell in order to create a physical and electrical contact between the conductive carrier and the shell. The orientation element is configured to engage a corresponding structure in the shell in order to correctly orient the conductive carrier with respect to the shell.

Abstract: A method for detecting faulty laying down of an optical cable exhibiting a measured cut-off wavelength includes providing an optical cable for transmitting optical signals including at least one single-mode optical fibre having an attenuation equal to or larger than a first threshold value as measured when wound for one turn around a bending radius equal to or smaller than 5 mm at at least one predetermined test wavelength, the test wavelength being smaller than the measured cut-off wavelength, and an attenuation smaller than a second threshold value as measured when wound for one turn around a bending radius equal to at least a minimum bending radius at an operative wavelength equal to or larger than the measured cut-off wavelength; laying the optical cable; and measuring the attenuation in the at least one optical fibre at the predetermined test wavelength.

Abstract: A device (1) for connecting together tubes (101, 102) for protecting an optical fiber cable (103), the device comprising a tubular body (2) defining a channel (3) having a first housing (4.1) and a second housing (4.2) each arranged to receive one of the tubes and provided with means (5) for sealed retention of said tube, and an annular step (9) extending between the housings to form an abutment against penetration of the tubes into the housings, an annular sealing element (10) being arranged in the first housing beside a flank of the step and being arranged to be taken, under the effect of axial compression exerted by the tube, from a first state in which the sealing element defines a section through which the cable can pass freely to a second state in which the sealing element defines a section less than a section of the cable. A segment, of an optical transmission circuit including such a connection device.

Abstract: A structure is presented for use in optic and electro-optic devices. The structure comprises at least one region of an amorphous KLTN-based material in a KLTN-based material. Also provided is a method of processing a KLTN-based material, comprising at least one of the following: bombarding said KLTN-based material with light ions: and etching said KLTN-based material when in amorphous state by an acid; thereby allowing fabrication of one or more optical components within the KLTN-based material.

Abstract: A signal receiver unit for retail systems is provided. The signal receiver unit may include a receiver, a processor, and an output transmitter, and may be configured to receive and process an alarm signal and to transmit an output signal in response. The output signal may be configured to be received by an output receiving device such that store personnel may be alerted to a possible theft.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, method and computer-readable medium that generates a plurality of movement trace tracks based on stored position information, generates a content track based on acquired content information, generates a track list by combining the plurality of movement trace tracks and the content track, and outputs the track list.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an information playback method, comprising reading out management information used to manage one or more video titles from an information storage medium, the medium storing an advanced content including the management information in which a title timeline indicating playback timings of objects of each video title being individually defined, and playing back objects of each video title in accordance with the title timeline defined in the readout management information.

Abstract: A method for dividing and displaying a content unit includes: extracting a sub-content unit which is generated by dividing an original content unit by a preset time interval; displaying the entire sub-content unit when receiving a sub-content unit display command; receiving a jump command that selects a replay time point for an arbitrary sub-content unit among the above sub-content units; and replaying and displaying the original content unit from the replay time point.

Abstract: Recording television programs for future playback by enabling the user to record a plurality of programs that have sequential units of commercial content. There is sequential sensing for commercial content units. When a commercial content unit is reached, it is removed for separate storage. A determination is made as to whether the removed commercial content unit is the same as a previous commercial content unit that has been removed. Any previous commercial unit that has been removed has been stored in a file and a pointer to the file inserted in place of the commercial in the sequential stream of the television program being recorded. Thus, if the removed commercial unit has the same content, i.e. is a repeat of a previous commercial, the inserted pointer will point to the file of the previous commercial.

Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RS-DVR) system is disclosed. The RS-DVR system includes a network interface to communicate data between the RS-DVR system and a subscriber system via a network, a file system module coupled to the network interface, an ingest agent coupled to the file system module to receive encoded media segments that represent media content files encoded at a plurality of different bitrates; and a storage architecture coupled to the file system to store the encoded media segments, resulting in stored media segments. The RS-DVR carries out a number of functions and operations to service multiple subscribers and associated subscriber systems, such as various storage device management operations, file structure techniques, assignment of recorded media to subscribers, file system indexing, and supporting shared and per-subscriber content rights.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airborne reconnaissance system which comprises: (a) optical unit for acquiring light rays from a terrain portion, said optical unit comprises a plurality of optical components that are positioned along an optical path and designed to maneuver said light rays to produce at a focal plane an acquired image of a terrain portion, said acquired image having an area S which is several times larger than the area A of a focal plane array which is positioned at same focal plane; (b) gimbals unit for performing a continuous back and forth across-track scanning movement of a respective line of sight formed between said optical unit and the terrain below the aircraft; (c) a first back-scanning mirror along said optical path, for compensating for said continuous across track movement of the line of sight, said compensation is performed during a respective integration period for a section of said acquired image of area S which falls during said period on said focal plane array; and (d) a second,

Abstract: To provide a camera that can perform a removal operation for particles adherent to a surface upon which light is incident, of a pickup device and a transmitting member disposed on an optical path of the pickup device in such a condition that the particles are properly removed. According to the present invention, a camera comprises a driving mechanism section to drop and remove particles on a cleaning target that is a surface of an image pickup device and/or a surface of a low-pass filter provided closer to a side of a subject in an optical path than the image pickup device, the subject light passing through the low-pass filter, which is provided with: a tilt sensor to detect an orientation of the camera; and a control section to judge whether a removal operation for the particles by the driving mechanism section should be carried out or not in accordance with the detected value from the tilt sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a camera module including: a housing; a lens unit mounted in the housing; a hand shake correction unit correcting a movement of the lens unit with respect to the housing; and a damping member disposed between the housing and the lens unit to thereby reduce the movement of the lens unit through the hand shake correction unit.

Abstract: A shutter device for a camera is provided, which effectively provides an operating space of a shutter blade and a light-amount adjuster, improves assemblability of a top cover, and improves mechanical stability according to the assembly of the top cover by modifying the geometry of the top cover. The shutter device includes a driving unit driving a shutter blade and a light-amount adjuster, the shutter device including: a base where the driving unit is installed; a first plate placed on the top of the base; a second plate disposed on the top of the first plate; a top cover including first supports bent downward and supports projecting downward, where the first supports extend to pass through the second plate and support the top surface of the first plate, and the second supports are supported on the top surface of the second plate.

Abstract: Described herein is a two part camera module. A first part includes a lens assembly, a lens assembly holder, a printed circuit board (PCB) with an image capture device and a terminal block. The second part includes mounting elements, a connector shroud, an endcap, and an o-ring. The first part and the second part are configured to interconnect using a snap assembly. The first part is universal for all device applications and the second part is adaptable/interchangeable for each device application.

Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for camera module alignment. A camera module comprises a terminal block and an endcap with a connector shroud. The terminal block includes flexible terminal legs connected to a circuit board and terminal pins for connection with an external connector through the connector shroud. The terminal block includes alignment ribs and an endcap includes alignment pockets. Placement of the alignment ribs into the alignment pockets flexes the flexible terminal legs, moves the terminal block across the circuit board surface and aligns the terminal pins for connection with the external connector through the connector shroud.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an optical modulation feedback circuit. The feedback circuit includes a low frequency comparison circuit configured to receive a monitoring signal generated by an optical detector, the monitoring signal being proportional to an amount of light generated by an optical transmission device that transmits based on a data signal that is received by an optical driver. The comparison circuit is further configured to generate a modulation control feedback signal that is transmitted to the optical driver based on a comparison of a low frequency component of the monitoring signal and a low frequency component of the data signal.

Abstract: A PDL compensation technique is provided that reduces the number of and the number of types of the PDL compensators even if it is uncertain to determine which of the two polarization principal axes of an optical device has a larger loss. The PDL compensator according to the present invention is configured to, before an optical signal input from a first or a second input/output terminal enters a PDL compensation device, switch between the first polarization principal axis and the second polarization principal axis of the optical signal depending on which of the first and the second polarization principal axes has a larger loss or gain.

Abstract: A method of configuring a path between an ingress node and an egress node in an optical communications network, the path comprising a first hop and a subsequent hop. The method includes: a) selecting a candidate hop for the first hop of the path; b) obtaining a value of a signal feasibility parameter for the candidate hop; c) determining whether said value lies within an acceptable value range and if one is, accepting said candidate hop for the first hop of the path, and if one is not, repeating steps a. to c.; d) selecting a candidate hop for the subsequent hop of path; e) obtaining a value of a signal feasibility parameter for a combined path comprising the first hop and the candidate hop for the subsequent hop of the path; f) determining whether said value lies within an acceptable value range, if one is, acceptable value range accepting said candidate hop for the subsequent hop of the path, and if one is not, repeating steps d. and e.

Abstract: An Optical Transport Network (OTN) mode management system includes a controller communicatively coupled to at least one OTN port. The controller is configured to operate an OTN line Optical channel Data Unit level k (ODUk) mode management system for the at least one OTN port, and the OTN line ODUk mode management system is configured to support different multiplexing scenarios on the OTN port with no loss of control plane packets on aggregated links. A network element includes at least one port with a plurality of lines associated therewith, a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one port, and an OTN line ODUk mode management system executed on the controller for managing the plurality of lines on the at least one port. A method includes configuring and dynamically managing modes of a plurality of OTN lines in a link.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer. The reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer includes a first optical equalizer to precompensate a received optical signal for optical filtering effects to produce a first compensated optical signal. A first interleaver, coupled to the first optical equalizer, separates the first compensated optical signal into an odd optical signal and an even optical signal. A plurality of wavelength selective switches processes the odd optical signal and the even optical signal. A second interleaver, combines the odd optical signal and the even optical signal to produce a combined optical signal. A second optical equalizer, coupled to the second interleaver, postcompensates the combined optical signal for optical filtering effects to produce an output optical signal.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to automatically configure packet based network services over Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex (DWDM) network communication links. An optical wavelength is detected at an optical interface of a network device configured to send traffic between a packet switched network and an optical network. A message is sent to an optical control plane comprising information configured to request optical configuration information for the optical wavelength. A response to the message is received comprising the optical configuration information and the wavelength is activated at the optical interface using the optical configuration information. A frame is received over the wavelength that is formatted according to an optical protocol. Packet switched network information is extracting from an overhead portion of the frame that is configured to identify network parameters for configuring a packet switched network link and the associated routing.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an optical port; a first optical transmitter; a second optical transmitter; a partially reflective mirror positioned between the first optical transmitter, the second optical transmitter, and the optical port; and an optical rotator positioned between the partially reflective minor and the first optical transmitter.

Abstract: A coaxial line terminal (CLT) comprising an optical port configured to couple to an optical line terminal (OLT) via an optical distribution network (ODN), an electrical port configured to couple to a coaxial network unit (CNU) via an electrical distribution network, and a processor coupled to the optical port and the electrical port, wherein the processor is configured to receive from the OLT a plurality of first frames addressed to the CNU, receive from the OLT a plurality of second frames not addressed to the CNU, forward the first frames to the CNU, and prohibit the second frames from being forwarded to the CNU.

Abstract: An optical line terminal (OLT) comprising a processor configured to assign a logical node identifier (LNID) to a coaxial line terminal (CLT), wherein the CLT intermediates between the OLT via an optical portion of a unified optical-coaxial network and a coaxial network unit (CNU) via an electrical network portion of the unified optical-coaxial network, and transmit a plurality of frames to the CLT via the optical portion of the unified optical-coaxial network, wherein the frames have a CNU address as a destination address, and wherein at least some of the frame comprise the LNID. Included is a method implemented at a CNU, the method comprising receiving a first frame comprising a LNID for a CLT, and transmitting a second frame comprising the LNID for the CLT, wherein the CNU is part of an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) over Coaxial (EPoC) network.

Abstract: A method comprising receiving a coaxial network unit (CNU) registration request from a CNU via a coaxial portion of a network, wherein the registration request is addressed to an optical line terminal (OLT), and forwarding the CNU registration request to the OLT via an optical portion of the network. Included is an OLT comprising a processor configured to receive a registration request including a logical node identifier (LNID) assigned to a coaxial line terminal (CLT) in a payload of the registration request, wherein the CLT intermediates between the OLT via an optical portion of a unified optical-coaxial network and a CNU via an electrical network portion of the unified optical-coaxial network, assign a logical link identifier (LLID) to the CNU, and send the LLID to the CNU via the CLT.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer including a wavelength selective switch configured to filter wavelengths of an optical signal; and an optical equalizer, coupled to the wavelength selective switch, configured to equalize the optical signal to mitigate optical filtering effects caused by the wavelength selective switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a controllable selective optical add/drop channel for a fiber-optic communication system provided with 2N of wavelength-division multiplexing channels, whose optical frequencies are returnable at a constant frequency separations ?v between adjacent channels, with the aid of the inventive controllable optical add/drop multiplexers (70, 80, 90) that comprise multi-stage structures of optical filters ({75-i}, {85-i}, {95-i}), that are connected in a different manner and provided with devices, for example electro-optical and thermo-optical phase shift devices, for controllable tuning the transmissions characteristics thereof. The optical filters are embodied in the form of single-stage (20), two-stage (40) and/or multi-stage (60) asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers. The controllable optical add/drop multiplexer can be produced according to integrated optic technique in the form of monolithic solid-state device.

Abstract: An optical transmission module includes an optical transmitting unit and an optical receiving unit. The optical transmitting unit includes a first laser diode and a second laser diode. The optical receiving unit includes a first photo diode and a second photo diode, in which the second photo diode is electrically connected to the first photo diode. The second photo diode converts the light energy of the light transmitted by the second laser diode into electrical energy to drive the first photo diode so as to convert the optical signal transmitted by the first laser diode into an electrical signal.

Abstract: An optical microphone includes: a propagation medium portion; a light source to output a light wave passing through the propagation medium portion across the acoustic wave propagating through the propagation medium portion; a reflecting section to retroreflect the light wave having passed through the propagation medium portion; and a photoelectric conversion section to receive the light wave having been reflected by the reflecting section and passed through the propagation medium portion to output an electric signal. 0th-order, +1st-order and ?1st-order diffracted light waves are respectively produced on outward and return paths, by virtue of a refractive index distribution across the propagation medium portion caused by the propagation of the acoustic wave therethrough. The photoelectric conversion section detects interference light between the +1st-order or ?1st-order diffracted light wave of the outward path and the ?1st-order or +1st-order diffracted light wave of the return path.

Abstract: When a high data rate optical signal travels through a fiber link, its high frequency components tend to experience higher losses due to fiber dispersion (modal and/or chromatic). The loss of high frequency components causes the optical eye to close and the sensitivity to degrade. Disclosed is an apparatus and method for an optical transmitter that relies on anti-causal pre-emphasis to counteract the effect of relaxation oscillation, and therefore brings improvements to optical eye symmetry and mask margin (MM).

Abstract: An electro-optical single-sideband modulator comprising: an electro-optical substrate; a bimodal optical waveguide structure formed in the substrate to support different optical modes having associated optical frequencies and optical propagation constants and comprising an optical input to receive an input optical carrier signal having an optical frequency, and a pair of optical outputs to output corresponding SSB modulated optical signals, each having an optical frequency spectrum with a single side lobe; and an electrode structure formed on the substrate to receive an input electrical modulating signal having an associated electrical frequency and electrical propagation constant, and to responsively apply an electrical field to the bimodal optical waveguide structure.

Abstract: A differential circuit with a function to compensate unevenness observed in the differential gain thereof is disclosed. The differential circuit provides a low-pass filter in one of the paired transistors not receiving the input signal in addition to another low-pass filter that provides an average of output signals as a reference level of the differential circuit. The cut-off frequency of the filter is preferably set to be equal to the transition frequency at which the self-heating effect explicitly influences the trans-conductance of the transistor.

Abstract: A image forming apparatus includes: a motor; a mounting unit for receiving a cartridge including a detection target moved by a rotational driving force of the motor; a printing unit; a detecting unit for detecting the detection target at a detection position on a movement trajectory of the detection target; and a control unit for controlling the motor and the detecting unit. The control unit performs: a rotation control process of: accelerating the motor; rotating the motor at a constant speed in a time period when accelerating a rotational speed of the motor up to a target speed; detecting the detection target by the detecting unit while the motor rotates at the constant speed; and accelerating again the motor after completing the detection; and a determining process of determining a kind and/or a state of the cartridge on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit.

Abstract: A unit installable in an apparatus and a method of managing a unit installable in an apparatus are provided. The unit includes a processor mountable to a container. The chip includes a first memory to store data that is accessible and decodable by the apparatus to authenticate the unit. The chip includes a second memory to store recycling prevention information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing section, a de-curling section, and a control section. The de-curling section has a de-curling nip portion that presses a sheet to correct a curl caused in the sheet, and a corrective force thereof to press the sheet changes at least in two steps. The control section increases the conveyance speed of the sheet after a rear end of the sheet has passed the fixing nip portion when the de-curling section supports by sandwiching the sheet with a weakly-pressing force. When the de-curling section supports by sandwiching the sheet with a strongly-pressing force, the controller increases the conveyance speed of the sheet after the rear end of the sheet has passed the fixing nip portion and the de-curling nip portion.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with a detachable fixing unit having fixing paired-rollers, a heating unit heats at least one of the fixing paired-rollers, and a temperature detecting unit detects a temperature of the detachable fixing unit. The image forming apparatus is further provided with an adjustment mechanism for preventing the detachable fixing unit from being taken out from the apparatus body, when the temperature detecting unit determines that the temperature of the detachable fixing unit exceeds a predetermined value, and allowing the detachable fixing unit to be taken out from the apparatus body, when the temperature detecting unit determines that the temperature of the detachable fixing unit is the predetermined value or less, whereby protecting users from getting their hands burned when taking out the detachable fixing unit from the apparatus body.

Abstract: A developer supply device supplies a toner supply amount to a developing chamber based on an output of an inductance sensor. An elapsed time is set such that the toner supply amount is smaller with respect to the same output of the inductance sensor when the elapsed time after conveyance start of a developer according to an image formation start signal is less than a predetermined time until a surface level of the developer is stabilized than when the elapsed time is equal to or greater than the predetermined time. As the elapsed time approaches the predetermined time, a ratio at which the toner supply amount is set to be small with respect to the same output of the inductance sensor is reduced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging unit, an image exposure unit configured to form image portion potential by exposing the photosensitive member to light, a weak exposure unit configured to form non-image portion potential by exposing the photosensitive member to weak light having a lower exposure amount than the light for forming the image portion potential, and a developer bearing member configured to carry developer, wherein a relationship of Ldev<Lvd<Lbg is satisfied, where the photosensitive member exposed to the weak light by the weak exposure unit has a weak exposure area having a length of Lbg in a photosensitive member longitudinal direction, a length of the developer carried by the developer bearing member in the photosensitive member longitudinal direction is Ldev, and the photosensitive member charged by the charging unit has a charging area having a length of Lvd.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image carrying member on a surface of which a latent image is formed, a developing roller to develop the latent image on the surface of the image carrying member by providing a developer to the latent image, a smoother, an applying roller to apply the smoother to the surface of the image carrying member, and a controller to determine whether the image forming apparatus is in a waiting mode wherein the image carrying member is moved and is ready for a subsequent image forming operation. The controller controls a rotation and a stop of the rotation of the developing roller when the controller determines that the image forming apparatus is in the waiting mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photoconductor, a charging unit, an exposure unit to expose the photoconductor to reduce an electrical potential at the photoconductor, a developing unit to charge the toner held on a toner bearing member with friction and attract the toner to the exposed portion on the photoconductor by supplying a development voltage from a first power source and using an electrical potential difference between the toner bearing member and the photoconductor in the development area, a reverse development voltage controller to supply a reverse development voltage while a non-charged portion on the photoconductor passes the development area, and a developer reducing potential applier to supply a development restraining potential and an absolute value smaller than a target charging potential to the photoconductor while the reverse development voltage is supplied.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is a transfer device including: a nip forming member that abuts against a surface of an image carrier carrying a toner image; and a transfer voltage application unit that applies a transfer voltage including a DC component and an AC component. The transfer voltage is an alternating voltage in which a supply voltage having polarity in a transfer direction and a return voltage having polarity opposite. A time average value Vave of the transfer voltage is set to be at polarity in the transfer direction and is set to be closer to a peak value Vt of the supply voltage relative to a center value Voff between a maximum and minimum value. An absolute value of the peak value Vr of the return voltage is set to be larger than an absolute value of the time average value Vave.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to be able to switch a target temperature of an image heating member from a standby target temperature during a standby state in which a pressurizing member is separated from the image heating member to a first target temperature or a second target temperature which is lower than the standby and first target temperatures. The image forming apparatus controls a contacting/separating mechanism such that a time from when an image forming signal is input until when the pressurizing member in the standby state contacts the image heating member and forms a nip is shorter in a case when the target temperature of the image heating member is the second target temperature than in a case when the target temperature of the image heating member is the first target temperature.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device comprising: a fixing rotating body; a magnetizing coil; a pressing member forming a fixing nip through which a recording sheet passes; a demagnetizing coil unit set including a pile of demagnetizing coil units each including demagnetizing coils of different sizes, and canceling out part of magnetic flux generated by the magnetizing coil in a non-sheet-passing region; a sheet information acquisition unit acquiring sheet information including information relating to a width of the recording sheet; and an operation control unit controlling each demagnetizing coil according to the width, wherein in each demagnetizing coil unit, the demagnetizing coils are arranged such that a smaller demagnetizing coil is surrounded by a larger demagnetizing coil and the demagnetizing coils are in a same plane extending along a surface of the magnetizing coil, and a combination of sizes of the demagnetizing coils differs among the demagnetizing coil units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second. image-forming portions and an intermediate transporting portion. A control unit checks fixing units in the image-forming portions and determines whether or not the fixing unit, in the first image-forming portion is a fixing unit for an envelope. If not, the control unit controls a manipulation and display unit to display guidance for urging a user to exchange the first fixing unit. If so, the control unit determines whether or not too fixing unit in the second image-forming portion is a fixing unit for an envelope. If not, the control portion controls a manipulation and display unit to display a guidance for urging a user to exchange the second fixing unit, If both of fixing units in the first and second image-forming portions are fixing units for the envelope, the control unit allows an envelope mode control operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having two or more different rated voltages, the image forming apparatus including a voltage detecting unit, which detects a voltage level of alternating current (AC) power supplied from outside of the image forming apparatus; a control unit, which outputs a control signal according to the detected voltage level; a fusion driving circuit, which controls a number of waveforms and phase of the AC power according to the control signal and outputs the controlled AC power as fusing power; and a fuser including a heat generating body having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) characteristic, which receives the fusing power and generates resistance heat; and a heating member, which is heated by the heat generated by the resistance heat generating body and fuses an image formed on a printing medium.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus for heating a toner image beard on a recording material while conveying the recording material at a nip portion, the image heating apparatus including a heater; a fixing member; a pressure member; a first temperature detecting member; a second temperature detecting member configured to detect a temperature on a non-sheet-passing-area; a control device; and an air supplying member supplying an air to the non-sheet-passing-area, the air supplying member is started to drive when a temperature detected by the second temperature detecting member reaches a predetermined temperature which is higher than the target temperature, wherein the control device controls a quantity of the air in response to an information related to the power which is supplied to the heater when a temperature detected by the second temperature detecting member reaches the predetermined temperature.