Abstract: Implementations of techniques and systems are disclosed for detecting a fiber fault in a point-to-point optical access network based on optical time domain reflectometry (“OTDR”) measurements. The techniques include identifying loss of service between a central office (“CO”) and a given optical network unit (“ONU”) of a plurality of ONUs. In response to the identifying the loss of service, configuring a test signal distribution unit to optically couple an OTDR unit to a selected subset of the point-to-point fiber links which includes the given ONU. An optical test signal is launched from the OTDR unit into the selected subset of the point-to-point fiber links via the test signal distribution unit. Test signal reflections are received from each of the point-to-point fiber links within the selected subset as a reflection signature, which is analyzed to identify a location of the fiber fault.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a passive optical network (PON) and provides a method for maintaining the PON, the optical network unit (ONU), and the optical line terminal (OLT) to solve the problem of the ONU being in a constant light emitting state. The method of the present disclosure allows the OLT to determine whether the continuous seizure time of an upstream channel exceeds the preset threshold, and if so, detect the failed ONU that continuously seizes the upstream channel and use a control message or control signal to instruct the failed ONU to turn off power supply to its transmitting circuit.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, based on system requirements or in response to an increase in optical signal-to-noise level of an optical channel, such as a WDM channel, additional FEC bits are inserted into and replace selected data payload bits in each frame carried by the channel. The replaced data payload bits may then be transmitted in subsequent frames on the same channel. As a result, the transmitted frames have a reduced data payload rate, but a higher coding gain. Alternatively, the replaced data payload bits may be included in frames transmitted on another optical channel. In that case, the frames carried by the two channels typically have the same bit length or number of bits and may thus be compliant with the frame length requirements of G.709, for example. Preferably, the number of coding bits may be changed dynamically to obtain different coding gains.

Abstract: An OSNR monitor device includes an optical receiver including a delay interferometer which inputs an optical signal in accordance with a given bandwidth and outputs two optical signals and causes the optical signals to interfere with each other and optical detectors which outputs currents in accordance with optical powers of the optical signals output from the interferometer, an optical power monitor configured to obtain the optical powers of the optical signals received by the optical detectors included in the optical receiver, and an OSNR calculator configured to calculate an optical signal-to-noise ratio in accordance with the optical powers obtained from the optical power monitor and the reception bandwidth.

Abstract: A method and a device for an optical power budget in a passive optical network are disclosed in the present invention, wherein said method includes: acquiring a corresponding minimum optical link loss according to a transmission requirement of a passive optical network with a large splitting ratio or long distance (710); selecting an optical transmitter with large power and an optical receiver with high sensitivity as a combination of an optical transmitter of an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and an optical receiver of an Optical Network Unit (ONU) in an optical link, as well as a combination of an optical receiver of the OLT and an optical transmitter of the ONU in the optical link according to the minimum optical link loss to compose a passive optical network system comprising the OLT, an Optical Distribution Network (ODN), and ONUs connected in sequence (720).

Abstract: A system is provided for identifying signal propagation information. The system includes at least one component configured to receive an optical input signal and to emit an optical output signal. The emitted optical output signal is representative of the optical input signal, and is associated with characteristic information indicative of the component. A processor is also included, the processor being configured to sense the optical output signal and correlate the characteristic information with said component.

Abstract: A network component comprising a control plane controller configured to implement a method comprising transmitting routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) information to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the RWA information is transmitted using an interior gateway protocol (IGP). Included is a method comprising communicating a message comprising RWA information to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the message comprises an indication whether the RWA information is static or dynamic. Also included is an apparatus comprising a control plane controller configured to communicate data to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the data comprises RWA information, and wherein the data comprises an indicator that indicates whether the RWA information is associated with a node, a link, or both.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexer is provided by the present invention, which implements the wavelength division multiplexing and de-multiplexing of the optical signals in the basic and upgrade bands by reasonably arranging the filters and selecting the spectral properties of the filters, so that the existing time division multiplexing passive optical network (TDM-PON) can transmit the next generation passive optical network (NG-PON) simultaneously and the existing TDM-PON can be smoothly upgraded to the NG-PON, meanwhile, it provides the deployed TDM-PON with the subsequent network compatibility. The wavelength division multiplexer provided in the present invention can meet the high isolation requirement of the optical signals in working band with low cost, and takes both the isolation requirement and the optical network insertion loss requirement into account, thus it has high reliability, is easy to use and for system upgrade.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a hybrid SOA-Raman amplifier in a central office in order to enable multiple passive optical networks to share one or more enhancement service sources, e.g., to share a source for a broadcast service are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for converting a first temporally short and spectrally broad optical pulse into a train of spectrally narrow and distinct optical pulses. This involves receiving, on a first I/O channel, the first optical pulse associated with a plurality of wavelengths and performing wavelength division demultiplexing on the first optical pulse at an optical unit housed on an optical chip to output a plurality of second optical pulses on different ones of a plurality of second I/O channels, each of the second optical pulses associated with a unique wavelength range from the first optical pulse. This also involves receiving the second optical pulses at loop mirrors in the second I/O channels, wherein the second I/O channels are patterned as waveguides in the optical chip and reflecting, at the loop mirrors, the second optical pulses back to the optical unit.

Abstract: A method of generating an information-bearing optical signal (614) from input digital information (602) includes generating (604, 606) an information-bearing electrical signal comprising an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component. Each of the components has a predetermined baseband bandwidth requirement (B). The I and Q signal components are combined (610) with corresponding I and Q components of a radio frequency (RF) carrier (608). The carrier has a central frequency greater than the signal bandwidth requirement (B). An optical source is modulated (612) with the combined I and Q signal and carrier components, in order to produce a modulated optical signal (614) which comprises an optical carrier corresponding with the RF carrier, and substantially only a single information-bearing optical sideband in an optical frequency domain, corresponding with the information-bearing electrical signals. Transmitters implementing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for clearing an optical channel for transmitting data through free space between a first and second location includes a light beam, wherein the light beam has a spatially and/or time-dependent modulated intensity profile, and is substantially collimated so that the intensity profile is conserved over a specified distance of operation. The light beam includes a cross-sectional profile having regions of low and high intensity, portions of which are provided for the transmission of an optical data signal. A light source wavelength and intensity are selected for types of obscurant particles having optical properties whereby the radiation pressure acts on the particles, and the particles may then be either attracted into or repelled from portions of the spatially modulated optical beam, leaving certain portions of the optical channel beam absent of obscurant particles, thereby enabling transmission of optical data through the cleared optical channel with low attenuation.

Abstract: Infrared control signals are communicated between an infrared remote control unit (16) and an infrared controlled device (18) via network gateways (14). A sub-network of a backbone network (10) is automatically set up prior to transmission of messages. The sub-network comprises a selection of devices coupled to a backbone network (10). The setting up of the sub-network comprises automatically sending out a request from the first one of the network gateways (14) to detect network gateways (14) that indicate ability to transmit infrared control messages prior to transmission of the message and storing information defining the sub-network in the first one of the network gateways dependent to a response to the request.

Abstract: The invention relates to base stations in communication networks. In more particular the invention relates to cellular base stations such as 3G/4G and WLAN base stations. Some or all of the aforementioned advantages of the invention are accrued with a fully photonic base station (200) that powers itself with solar photons, provides radio network access and relays an optical photonic beam (220, 221, 230, 231) through air encoded with the data from radio signals of computer users and mobile phone users to the Internet and the global telecommunication network. A system engineer can build a network with the inventive base stations in a matter of days. He simply walks to the roof of houses and points the optical beams to other base stations in adjacent houses.

Abstract: An optical transmission/reception module including a filter holder on which filter mount surfaces for mounting wavelength division multiplexing filters and light wavelength band limiting filters are formed and in which a hole for guiding a light signal is formed in each of the filter mount surfaces incorporated into a housing. The wavelength division multiplexing filters and the light wavelength band limiting filters are mounted to the filter mount surfaces formed on the filter holder, respectively.

Abstract: An optical transceiver with a bus selector for selecting one of I2C inner busses is disclosed. One of inner I2C buses connects the controller with a nonvolatile memory, while another I2C bus connects the controller with a volatile memory with a priority to the non-volatile memory. When the volatile memory is selected during the controller communicates with the non-volatile memory, the controller sets a command to the bus selector to select the second I2C bus and hold the first I2C bus.

Abstract: An optical transceiver includes an internal optical fiber coupled to optical sub-assemblies in the transceiver and is capable of maintaining a bend diameter of the internal optical fiber above a minimum bend diameter. The optical transceiver thus allows optical fiber to be used within a relatively small space within a housing of the optical transceiver without significant power loss in the optical signal carried on the optical fiber. The optical transceiver may be a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver used, for example, in an optical line terminal (OLT) and/or optical networking unit (ONU) in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) passive optical network (PON).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a higher-order dispersion compensation device (210), the device being adapted to cooperate with a pair of optical components (P1, P2), e.g. a pair of prisms, being arranged to compensate first-order dispersion by separating different wavelengths spatially. The compensation device (210) has the form of a phase plate, wherein the phase change for each wavelength is adjusted by designing the height (h) at the corresponding position (x) of the plate so as to substantially compensate for higher-order dispersion. The invention is advantageous for obtaining a higher-order dispersion compensation device which is relatively simple to construct and use making it a quite cost-effective device. The invention also relates to a corresponding optical system and method for compensating dispersion where this is important, e.g. in a multiple-photon imaging system.

Abstract: An optical node disposed along a transmission line that uses optical fiber. The optical node includes a first signal generator and a monitor. The first signal generator generates a first measurement signal for measuring polarization mode dispersion values and transmits the first measurement signal along the transmission line. The monitor detects a second measurement signal from the transmission line and measures polarization mode dispersion values by performing signal processing with respect to the second measurement signal.

Abstract: A reconfigurable wavelength selective dispersion compensation device RWSDCD for selective compensation of dispersion in optical channels having different wavelengths. The RWSDCD comprises a controllable wavelength selective unit WSU having a plurality of local, wavelength related input/output (I/O) ports. The RWDSD also comprises a dispersion compensation cascade comprising at least one chain of successively connected dispersion compensation units DCUs, wherein one or more of the DCUs in the chain are respectively connectable to one or more of the local I/O ports. The RWSDCD outputs one or more of the incoming optical channels upon selectively compensating chromatic dispersion in them, by controllably passing these channels via one or more DCUs of the dispersion compensation cascade.

Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.

Abstract: A driver circuit includes a plurality of delay circuits and an inverter. The plurality of delay circuits delay branched driving signals. The inverter inverts at least one of the branched driving signals. At least one of the plurality of delay circuits is at least one variable delay circuit delaying a variable amount of delay. The output driving signal is output by combining the inverted signal of the branched driving signal output via at least one inverter and at least one non-inverted signal of the branched driving signals output from the delay circuits.

Abstract: An optical modulation system includes a metamaterial structure configured to receive and process an input optical signal at at least one operational wavelength, where the metamaterial structure changes between a transmissive state and a non-transmissive state with respect to the optical signal(s) at the operational wavelength(s) in response to an external stimulus applied to the metamaterial structure. An external stimulus source is coupled with the metamaterial structure and is configured to change the metamaterial structure between its transmissive and non-transmissive states by applying selected stimulus pulses to the metamaterial structure. The optical modulation system processes the input optical signal to output a modulated optical signal that modulates in correspondence with the selected pulses applied to the metamaterial structure.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, data, in digital form, is received by a transmit nodes of an optical communication, and converted to analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to drive a modulator. The modulator, in turn, modulates light at one of a plurality of wavelengths in accordance with the received data. The modulated light is then transmitted over an optical communication path to a receive node. At the receive node, the modulated optical signal, as well as other modulated optical signals are supplied to a photodetector circuit, which receives additional light at one of the optical signal wavelengths from a local oscillator laser. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided in the receive node to convert the electrical signals output from the photodetector into digital form. The output from the ADC is then filtered in the electrical domain, such that optical demultiplexing of individual channels is unnecessary.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for providing clock and data recovery in a receiver for receiving a high speed coherent polarization division multiplexed optical signal using a digital signal processing block including a spectral domain spatial combiner are provided.

Abstract: A polarization diversity optical system device includes: a polarization split unit that splits a first coherent light into a first split light and a second split light whose polarization components are orthogonal to each other, and splits a second coherent light into a third split light and a fourth split light whose polarization components are orthogonal to each other; and a light combining unit that combines the first split light with one of the third split light and the fourth split light, and combines the second split light with the other of the third split light and the fourth split light.

Abstract: Provided is an optical multilevel transmission system, comprising at least one optical multilevel transmitter for transmitting an optical multilevel signal obtained and an optical multilevel receiver for receiving the optical multilevel signal. The received optical multilevel signal has a larger noise in an angular direction than in a radial direction. The optical multilevel receiver sets, in a symbol decision of the received optical multilevel signal demodulated on the complex plane, for positions of all or some of ideal signal points, a width in the angular direction of a decision area, to which each of the ideal signal points belongs and which is measured along a circumference of a circle centered at an origin and passing through a center of the each of the ideal signal points, larger than a width in the angular direction of a decision area defined based on a Euclidean distance.

Abstract: A method and system for mitigating distortion in coherent single-ended photo-detection is disclosed. The methodology comprises: receiving an optical signal carried on an optical transmission medium and coherently detecting the received optical signal to produce a digitized signal; estimating a time-dependent random variable introducing distortion to the coherently detected signal; and subtracting the distortion from digitized signal to produce a distortion mitigated output signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an average length magnitude detecting apparatus and method, and an optical coherent receiver. The average length magnitude detecting method is adopted for detecting whether an average length of an averager used by a polarization crosstalk canceling apparatus in a receiver is long or short, comprising: determining a magnitude of a residual polarization crosstalk coefficient of the receiver; and determining an index that indicates whether the average length of the averager is long or short according to the determined magnitude of the residual polarization crosstalk coefficient.

Abstract: This invention relates to a phase control circuit for an optical receiver (1). The phase control circuit (9, 19) comprises a non-linear element (22) and a power detector (24). The non-linear element (22) has a rectifying characteristic, inputs the received electrical signal (7, 17) and provides a rectified signal at its output. The power detector (24) provides an error signal which is used to obtain a phase control signal (5) which is output by the phase control circuit. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for phase control of an optical receiver (1).

Abstract: An electronic paper structure is disclosed, which includes a hard substrate, a flexible substrate, at least one magnetic device for fastening the flexible substrate on the hard substrate temporally, a drive substrate formed on the flexible substrate, an electronic paper display layer formed on the drive substrate, and a protect layer formed on the electronic paper display layer. An electronic paper fabricating method using the same is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a toner container mount, first and second toner containers removably insertable into the toner container mount horizontally, container guides formed in toner container mount to guide lateral side portions of the first and second toner containers, respectively, and an insertion opening forming member positioned defining first and second insertion openings through which the first and second toner containers are inserted, each including a laterally projecting portion. The second toner container is greater than the first toner container in cross section perpendicular to a direction of insertion, and the second insertion opening is greater than the first insertion opening. The first and second toner containers include guided portions projecting laterally, and the guided portion of the first toner container has a vertical length longer than that of the guided portion of the second toner container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an original, an image forming unit configured to form an image of the original read by the reading unit on a sheet, a detecting unit configured to detect whether or not the image of the original read by the reading unit includes an irregular part formed by a stray dust particle adhered to the original, and a control unit configured to control, in response to detection of the irregular part by the detecting unit, the image forming unit to make an additional copy of the image of the original including the irregular part.

Abstract: A controlling system comprising an image forming device and a controlling device for the image forming device, the image forming device having an indicating device which can indicate that a toner cartridge is in a toner near empty state and a communication part for communicating with the controlling device via a communication network, and when the toner near empty state of the toner cartridge is detected, the communication part transmits the information to the controlling device. The controlling device has a controlling condition table in which a controlling condition set for each image forming device to be controlled is recorded, and when a toner near empty signal is received from the image forming device to be controlled, the controlling device refers to the controlling condition of the image forming device recorded in the table, and outputs or does not output a toner near empty indication instruction signal depending on the controlling condition.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a toner cartridge which includes a storage section; a toner motor; a toner-motor driving section; a count measuring section configured to measure a driving time of the toner motor and calculate a consumption count value of the toner; an event detecting section configured to detect operation events; a main body counter configured to sequentially update a main body counter value with the consumption count value and stores the main body counter value; a toner counter configured to store a toner counter value in the storage section; a counter comparing section configured to perform counter comparison of the main body counter value and the toner counter value; and an event processing section configured to perform processing for keeping consistency of the main body counter value and the toner counter value on the basis of the counter comparison.

Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating portion: a rotatable toner stirring member; a sensor for detecting a remaining amount of the toner; wherein the sensor includes a first flexible sheet portion, a second sheet portion, a first opening, a first electroconductive portion, a second electroconductive portion, wherein the first sheet portion flexes by a stirring operation of the stirring member, and the first electroconductive portion is contacted to the second electroconductive portion, by which the remaining toner amount is detectable, and wherein the toner accommodating portion is provided with a second opening for communicating the first opening and an outside of the toner accommodating portion with each other.

Abstract: A toner supply control system for an image forming apparatus includes a supply controller to compute a toner supply amount required for a toner supply operation to cancel a toner concentration fluctuation in the developing agent. The supply controller includes an image-information-based consumption prediction unit to predict toner consumption amount based on image information used for forming an image; a toner-concentration-based consumption prediction unit to predict toner consumption amount based on a detection result of a toner concentration detector; and a toner supply determination unit to determine a toner supply timing and amount and initiate a toner supply operation based on the toner consumption amount predicted by the toner-concentration-based consumption prediction unit right after the toner consumption occurs.

Abstract: An induction heating device includes a resonance circuit including an exciting coil and a resonance capacitor; a switching unit that turns on and off a high-frequency current flowing through the switching unit; a temperature detector that detects a temperature of the heated body; a power amount detector that detects a power amount sent to the exciting coil; a turned-on time setting unit that sets a turned-on time of the switching unit; a timing generation unit that generates a signal indicating a timing when a voltage between both ends of the switching unit is zero; and a timing setting unit that sets a turned-on timing of the switching unit based on the signal generated by the timing generation unit.

Abstract: A waste toner container includes a waste toner reservoir extending in a depth direction, an inlet portion provided above the waste toner reservoir, in which at least one waste toner inlet is formed, a first conveyance member provided in the waste toner reservoir to transport the waste toner in the depth direction, the first conveyance member movable upward as the amount of the waste toner in the waste toner reservoir increases, a second conveyance member provided in the inlet portion to transport the waste toner in a width direction and including a drive transmitter to transmit a driving force from the second conveyance member to the first conveyance member, and a waste toner detection unit to detect whether an amount of the waste toner in the waste toner container reaches a predetermined amount by detecting upward movement of the first conveyance member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which transfers clear toner and at least one of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color toner onto a recording medium to form an image based on image information and image classification information, the apparatus including a clear priority determiner configured to determine a clear priority based on the image classification information; a toner adherence amount determiner determining amounts of the color toners and the clear toner to be adhered to the recording medium based on the image information and the clear priority; and a toner transferer transferring the color toners and the clear toner onto the recording medium in amounts determined by the toner adherence amount determiner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller which carries developer and contacts the photosensitive member, and a control device which is configured to apply, to the developing roller, a developing bias having a direct current component and an alternating current component overlapped with each other so as to supply developer from the developing roller to the photosensitive member. The control device is configured to execute either one of a first mode in which an amplitude of the alternating current component of the developing bias is set with a first set value and a second mode in which the amplitude of the alternating current component of the developing bias is set with a second set value larger than the first set value, based on whether or not a temperature of the developing roller is a first predetermined value or larger.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs control so that a wrinkle is formed at a predetermined position of an intermediate transfer belt and, when forming a toner image having such a large size that the toner image overlaps the wrinkle formed in the intermediate transfer belt, the leading edge and the trailing edge of the toner image overlap the wrinkle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a toner image, comprising: electrically charging a photoreceptor by a charging roller being brought into contact with the photoreceptor, the photoreceptor comprises a photosensitive coating layer on a cylindrical conductive substrate; correcting line width variation using an exposure adjustment calculation (y); and, wherein the exposure adjustment calculation uses a factor based on a ratio (m) of a coefficient of line width variation due to toner age divided by the coefficient of line width variation due to laser power.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, developer bearing members to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image while bearing developer, a secondary transfer roller to transfer the toner image to a sheet, an operation apparatus to which smoothness of the sheet having the toner image transferred, and a CPU which controls to decrease fog elimination potential difference between non-image portion potential of the photosensitive drum and direct current component potential of bias applied to developer bearing members in a case that smoothness inputted to the operation apparatus is information that the smoothness of the sheet having the toner image formed is equal to or higher than a predetermined smoothness as compared to a case of being lower than the predetermined smoothness.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt; a pressing rotary body disposed outside a loop formed by the fixing belt; a nip formation pad disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and pressed against the pressing rotary body via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressing rotary body and the fixing belt through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The nip formation pad includes a protrusion disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of the recording medium and protruding toward the pressing rotary body without contacting the pressing rotary body. The fixing device further includes a pressing rotary body mover to contact and move the pressing rotary body bidirectionally in the conveyance direction of the recording medium to move the fixing nip toward and away from the protrusion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the image formed on the recording medium at the image forming unit while nipping and transporting the image formed on the recording medium at the image forming unit; a transporting section provided downstream from the fixing device in a direction of transportation of the recording medium, the transporting section nipping and transporting the recording medium; and a controller that performs control for changing a transporting velocity of the fixing device and a transporting velocity of the transporting section on the basis of information used for triggering a change in the transporting velocity of the fixing device when the recording medium is held by the fixing device and the transporting section.

Abstract: An image heating device includes: a rotatable heater for heating an image on a recording material; a pressor for pressing the heater to form a nip in which the recording material is to be nip-conveyed; a belt for heating and contacting the heater; a first member for heating the belt while pressing the belt against the heater; a second member, provided downstream of the first member with respect to a rotational direction of the heater, for heating the belt while pressing the belt against the heater; a first portion for heating the first member by energization; and a second portion for heating the second member by energization. Each of the first and second portions is supplied with power so that a maximum of the power supplied to the first means is smaller than that of the power supplied to the second portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing unit configured to fix a not-yet-fixed image on a recording medium, includes a fixing target temperature changing part configured to change a fixing target temperature at a time of a fixing process; and a gradation processing part configured to carry out gradation processing on image information. For each sheet of a recording medium on which the fixing process is carried out, the fixing target temperature is changed based on whether halftone processing is carried out and a type of gradation processing to be used.

Abstract: A method for reducing wear upon an electro-photographic printer drum includes the steps of determining a non-image region of a page to be printed, applying a halftone pattern of toner to a portion of the printer drum corresponding to the non-image region, and rotating the printer drum against a cleaning blade, the halftone pattern of toner providing lubrication between the drum and the cleaning blade.

Abstract: A switching power supply device including: a transformer configured to include a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an auxiliary winding; a switching unit configured to switch a current that flows through the primary winding of the transformer; a control unit configured to control a switching operation of the switching unit; a starting resistor connected between a voltage input side of the primary winding and a power supply terminal of the control unit; a voltage supply unit configured to rectify and smooth a voltage output from the auxiliary winding and supply the resultant to the power supply terminal; and an activation control unit configured to control activation timing of the control unit by inputting a voltage to an ON/OFF terminal of the control unit, the activation control unit being connected between the voltage input side of the primary winding and a ground side of the auxiliary winding.