Patents Issued in July 31, 2014
  • Publication number: 20140212125
    Abstract: A camera module includes a main body, a lens module, and a connecting member mounted between the main body and the lens module. The lens module includes a cable connected to the main body. The connecting member includes a cable position structure for positioning the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: INGRASYS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: MING-CHIH HSIEH, CHI-YUAN CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140212126
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a camera body 1 including a monitor unit 11, a lens barrel 2 and a lens body 3 which include an image pickup optical system L, a rotary portion 8 provided between the camera body 1 and the lens body 3, and rotatably supporting the lens body 3 with respect to the camera body 1, absorption portions 12a and 12b attached to the camera body 1, and a cover portion 4 movably connected with respect to the camera body 1 and covering the absorption portions 12a and 12b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chifuyu Inagaki, Hiroshi Akada, Makoto Miyawaki
  • Publication number: 20140212127
    Abstract: A dual camera module includes a first flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) with a first camera module, and a second FPCB with a second camera module. The first FPCB includes a first connector and an external connector electrically connected to the first connector and the second FPCB includes a second connector connected to the first connector. The geometry of the placement of the camera modules, and the manner of connection, allows each camera module to be tested independently before being tested together, thus improving the dual camera module's overall rate of passing quality control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD
    Inventor: WEI CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140212128
    Abstract: A method and system for channelizing a Passive Optical Network (PON) Media Access Controller (MAC) includes increasing a clock rate of each of one or more PON MAC(s) to create communication lanes each comprising a plurality of N channels. The PONs are channelized according to NX, where N equals a number of ports supported by the MAC and X equals a designated operating PON MAC clocking rate allowing for leveraging of existing Passive Optical Network (PON) infrastructures to provide a more power efficient and physically smaller MAC layer for OLTs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan Hirth, Sourigno Outsama, Ngo Ho, Simon Ray Lee
  • Publication number: 20140212129
    Abstract: Techniques for optimizing data transmission efficiency and accuracy in cellular network environments using remote radio headers are presented. In an aspect, a mobile device includes a collection component configured to collect fiber loss data from a plurality of remote radio devices in a cellular network. The fiber loss data can include data representative of data transmission loss over fibers respectively connecting the plurality of remote radio devices to a base station device. The mobile device further includes a selection component configured to select a remote radio device from the plurality of remote radio devices with which to access based in part on the fiber loss data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Ching-Yao Huang, Chie-Ming Chou
  • Publication number: 20140212130
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enabling supervision of fibres in an optical communication network, where a Central Office provides data signals to a Remote Node for distribution to Optical Network Terminals ONTs. The Central Office generates and sends test signals of different monitoring wavelengths associated to predefined groups of said ONTs, to the Remote Node. The Remote Node routes each test signal to a corresponding associated group of ONTs according to the wavelength of the test signal. When receiving a back-scattered and back-reflected test signal caused by a faulty optical fibre, the Central Office is able to identify the faulty optical fibre based on the wavelength of the back-scattered and back-reflected signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Patryk Urban, Gemma Vall-Llosera
  • Publication number: 20140212131
    Abstract: A repeater that enables both bi-directional optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) and loop gain monitoring techniques that may be employed, for example, in particularly long repeater spans. In one embodiment, the repeater includes high loss loopback (HLLB) paths configured to couple test signals between incoming and outgoing fiber paths. The HLLB paths are coupled from the outputs to the inputs of amplifiers within the repeater and couple both OTDR and loopback signals from an outgoing fiber path to an incoming fiber path so that may be returned to line monitoring equipment that transmitted the test signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS SUBSEA COMMUNICATIONS LLC
    Inventor: TYCO ELECTRONICS SUBSEA COMMUNICATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20140212132
    Abstract: A method of tap coefficient correction includes: obtaining a synchronization symbol difference between a first polarization and a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization; obtaining a delay amount of each of the first polarization and the second polarization in an adaptive equalizer; calculating, in a case where a horizontal axis represents a tap number and a vertical axis represents a tap coefficient and a tap number or a nearest tap number with which an area of a drawn figure is halved is set as a gravity center of tap coefficients, a correction reference gravity center of the tap coefficients set in the adaptive equalizer, based on the synchronization symbol difference and the delay amount; and performing a correction of shifting an entire tap coefficients in units of symbol to cause the correction reference gravity center to be closest to a tap center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Taku Saito, Nobukazu Koizumi, Hisao Nakashima, Osamu Takeuchi, Hirofumi Araki
  • Publication number: 20140212133
    Abstract: A control device for an optical channel monitor includes: at least one of a processor and a circuit configured to stop calibration of a measured wavelength when no peak intensity of a wavelength of incoming light is detected, the optical channel monitor measuring a light intensity at the measured wavelength, the at least one of processor and circuit configured to determine presence of a peak intensity in the incoming light when detecting the incoming light with a light intensity equal to or more than a given intensity, the at least one of processor and circuit configured to permit the calibration of the measured wavelength which has been stopped to be resumed when the wavelength peak is determined to be present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masumi Kobayashi, Tatsuo Nagayoshi, Masanori Eiro, Yoshikazu Nakanishi, Masato Miyake
  • Publication number: 20140212134
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates automatic adjustment of logical channels in a Fibre Channel (FC) network. During operation, the system receives FC data frames. A respective data frame is associated with a logical channel. The bandwidth on an FC link can be allocated into a plurality of logical channels, and a respective logical channel is associated with a dedicated buffer and can transport a plurality of data flows with data frames of variable length. The system then identifies a slow data flow in a first logical channel. Next, the system assigns the slow data flow to a second logical channel, thereby preventing the slow data flow from slowing down other data flows in the first logical channel. The system subsequently forwards the data frames in the slow data flow on the second logical channel onto an outgoing link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Amit Kanda, Kung-Ling Ko
  • Publication number: 20140212135
    Abstract: A communication system enabling a switching procedure for a multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO OFDM) based flexible rate intra-data center network DCN, includes a MIMO OFDM DCN with optical burst switching OBS capability, an optical burst switching OBS procedure for influencing the MIMO OFDM DCN, and a centralized control configuration coupled to the MIMO OFDM DCN and enabling a software defined network SDN configuration in the communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Nan Ji, Ting Wang
  • Publication number: 20140212136
    Abstract: An optical transmitter includes: an optical modulator including a first modulation unit and a second modulation unit respectively configured to propagate a first optical signal and a second optical signal that are obtained by splitting input light; a signal generator configured to generate a first drive signal and a second drive signal that are respectively supplied to the first modulation unit and the second modulation unit; a phase controller configured to control a phase difference between the first optical signal and the second optical signal in the optical modulator; and a phase difference detector configured to detect the phase difference between the first optical signal and the second optical signal controlled by the phase controller. The signal generator generates the first drive signal and the second drive signal based on the phase difference detected by the phase difference detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuichi Akiyama, Takeshi Hoshida, Tamotsu Akashi, Yoshio Sakai
  • Publication number: 20140212137
    Abstract: A planar lightwave circuit and an optical receiver which reduce degradation in signal quality is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Shinya Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140212138
    Abstract: An access network includes an access device having an optical interface module that outputs a plurality of pairs of optical communication signals, each of the pairs of optical communication signals comprising a modulated optical transmit signal and an unmodulated optical receive signal, each of the pairs of optical communication signals having a different wavelength. A customer premise equipment (CPE) comprises an optical interface module to receive the modulated optical transmit signal and the unmodulated optical receive signal for any of the plurality of pairs of optical communication signals. The optical interface module includes a receive module to demodulate the modulated optical transmit signal into inbound symbols and a transmit module having an optical modulator and reflective optics to modulate the unmodulated optical receive signal in accordance with a data signal and reflect a modulated optical receive signal to communicate outbound data symbols to the access device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep Sindhu, Jayabharat Boddu, Roberto Marcoccia, Theodore John Schmidt, Christian Malouin, Abhijit Kumar Choudhury, James Michael Murphy
  • Publication number: 20140212139
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a station side device having a plurality of PON lines and connected thereto. A fallback mode where a partial access control unit is not allowed to communicate communication frames is performed by switching an upper switch and a lower switch in the manner shown in the following (a) and (b): (a) output destinations of downstream frames to the first and second PON lines and inputted to the upper switch are aggregated into a first access control unit, and output destinations of the downstream frames inputted from the first access control unit to the lower switch are distributed to first and second optical transmitting and receiving units and; and (b) output destinations of upstream frames inputted from the first and second optical transmitting and receiving units and to the lower switch are aggregated into the first access control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Murata
  • Publication number: 20140212140
    Abstract: We describe and demonstrate a novel and simple scheme to generate flattened optical subcarriers using only phase modulators driven by single frequency fundamental sinusoidal sources. 160.8 Gb/s PM-QPSK experiment over a single subcarrier has been demonstrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: ZTE (USA) INC., ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Jianjun Yu
  • Publication number: 20140212141
    Abstract: Provided is a light output apparatus for increasing an output of an optical source. The light output apparatus includes a pulse generator generating a plurality of optical pulses, a pulse distributor dispersing the optical pulses generated from the pulse generator in time domain, an optical coupler allowing the dispersed optical pulses to travel along one path. The light output apparatus also includes an optical amplifier amplifying output intensities of optical pulses output from the optical coupler, a pulse separator separating the optical pulses amplified by the optical amplifier for each corresponding wavelength, a time delaying unit individually delaying each of the optical pulses separated for each wavelength to be reached a combination point at an identical time, and a pulse combiner combining the optical pulses arrived at the combination point at the identical time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Bong Kyu KIM, Hyun Woo SONG, Chang-Geun AHN, Eun-ju JEONG, Won Ick JANG, Jong-Moo LEE, Hong-Seok SEO, Hyung Wook NOH
  • Publication number: 20140212142
    Abstract: A method of optical underwater communications comprises applying a Fountain code to a plurality of data blocks. A sequence of optical data packets is transmitted through an underwater communications channel. Each optical data packet comprises one of the plurality of data blocks preceded by a preamble. The sequence of optical data packets transmitted through the underwater communication channel is received to generate a sequence of received data packets. The sequence of received data packets is sampled with the sampling clock to recover the plurality of data blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Marek W. Doniec, Daniela Rus
  • Publication number: 20140212143
    Abstract: A field device provided with a first communication unit for communicating over a communication network, a second communication unit for communicating via infrared with an external device, a converter for converting a message transmitted by the external device and received by the second communication unit into data that can be transmitted over the communication network, and a first controller for controlling the first communication unit and transmitting the data converted by the converter to the communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoru Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20140212144
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and system for supporting MIMO technologies which can require the transport of multiple spatial streams on a traditional Distributed Antenna System (DAS). According to the invention, at one end of the DAS, each spatial stream is shifted in frequency to a pre-assigned band (such as a band at a frequency lower than the native frequency) that does not overlap the band assigned to other spatial streams (or the band of any other services being carried by the DAS). Each of the spatial streams can be combined and transmitted as a combined signal over a common coaxial cable. At the other “end” of the DAS, the different streams are shifted back to their original (overlapping) frequencies but retain their individual “identities” by being radiated through physically separate antenna elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Corning Optical Communications Wireless, LTD
    Inventors: Igor Berlin, Yair Oren, Rami Reuven, Ofer Saban, Isaac Shapira
  • Publication number: 20140212145
    Abstract: An information communication method is provided that transmits a signal using a change in luminance. The information communication method includes determining a pattern of the change in luminance by modulating the signal to be transmitted, and transmitting the signal by a display, which is a light emitter, changing in luminance according to the determined pattern. Additionally, in the transmitting, a part of the display changes in luminance according to the pattern to display the image, the part emitting light with predetermined brightness or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSHIMA, Hideki AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140212146
    Abstract: An information communication method is provided that transmits a signal using a change in luminance. The information communication method includes determining a pattern of the change in luminance by modulating the signal to be transmitted, and transmitting the signal by a display, which is a light emitter, changing in luminance according to the determined pattern. The method also includes detecting, by a sensor, a person within a viewing angle of the display or a person near the viewing angle. Further, in the transmitting of the signal, the signal is transmitted by changing in luminance by a larger change amount in the case where the person near the viewing angle is detected than in the case where the person within the viewing angle is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSHIMA, Hideki AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140212147
    Abstract: A system includes an optical transmitter package comprising an optical transmitter to generate optical transmission signals based on electrical transmission signals. The system also includes an optical receiver package comprising an optical receiver to generate electrical reception signals based on optical reception signals. The system further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the optical transmitter package and the optical receiver package are mounted. The PCB includes a heat generating circuit component. The optical transmitter package can be mounted to the PCB to subjected to less heat from the heat generating circuit component than the optical receiver package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
  • Publication number: 20140212148
    Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) dongle may include an optical transceiver having a USB interface for engagement to an electronic device such as a laptop computer or other USB-configured device. The USB dongle may include a converter or buffering, isolation, modulation or amplification circuitry. The USB dongle sends and receives data signals which may be carried upon an optical transmission as generated by an LED light source which in turn is in communication with a host device such as a network processor. The USB dongle may also include operational amplifiers (op-amps) and transistor amplifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Federal Law Enforcement Development Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Pederson, Paul R. Brown, Timothy J. Vogt
  • Publication number: 20140212149
    Abstract: In a coherent optical receiver receiving a polarization multiplexed optical signal through an optical communications network, a method of compensating noise due to polarization dependent loss (PDL). A Least Mean Squares (LMS) compensation block processes sample streams of the received optical signal to generate symbol estimates of symbols modulated onto each transmitted polarization of the optical signal. A decorrelation block de-correlates noise in the respective symbol estimates of each transmitted polarization and generating a set of decorrelated coordinate signals. A maximum likelihood estimator soft decodes the de-correlated coordinate signals generated by the decorrelation block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CIENA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amir Keyvan KHANDANI, Han SUN, Kim B. ROBERTS
  • Publication number: 20140212150
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a photonically enabled complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip are disclosed and may comprise in an integrated circuit comprising a driver: amplifying a received signal in a plurality of partial voltage domains, and generating the partial voltage domains in a domain splitter in the driver. A voltage domain boundary value between two partial voltage domains may be controlled utilizing a differential amplifier that samples an output voltage of a cascade amplifier that is an input to the driver and controls a current supplying said cascade amplifier. A series of diodes may be driven in differential mode via the amplified signals. An optical signal may be modulated via the diodes, which may be integrated in a Mach-Zehnder modulator or a ring modulator. The diodes may be connected in a distributed configuration. The amplified signals may be communicated to the diodes via transmission lines, which may be even-mode coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: LUXTERA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Welch, Daniel Kucharski
  • Publication number: 20140212151
    Abstract: A replaceable unit is removably inserted into an apparatus. An installation detecting board has a first edge, a second edge a third edge, and a fourth edge. The first edge is located on a side of the installation detecting board opposite the second edge. The third edge is located on a side of the installation detecting board opposite the fourth edge. The replaceable unit has a body in which a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion are formed. The first and second positioning portion are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the replaceable unit such that the first positioning portion abuts the first edge and the second positioning portion abuts the second edge. A retainer is mounted on the body, and abuts at least one of the third edge and the fourth edge to prevent the installation detecting board from moving relative to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukiyoshi ODA
  • Publication number: 20140212152
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body movably supporting an openable-and-closable portion, and the openable-and-closable portion is provided with a detection sensor. A first detection lever configured to be movable by being pushed by a sheet is provided on the main body, and a second detection lever configured to be capable of moving in conjunction with the movement of the first detection lever is provided on the openable-and-closable portion. The detection sensor is activated by the movement of the second detection lever based on the movement of the first detection lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Masaya Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20140212153
    Abstract: According to the exemplary embodiments, there is provided an image forming apparatus that has an image forming mode and an image erasing mode. The image forming apparatus has a display unit configured to perform an error display at the time of conveyance failure of a recording medium in the image forming mode and at the time of conveyance failure of the recording medium in the image erasing mode. In the image forming apparatus, the display unit changes the content of the error display at the time of conveyance failure of the recording medium in the image forming mode and at the time of conveyance failure of the recording medium in the image erasing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Norio Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140212154
    Abstract: An electro-photographic print system or method for regulating a supply of toner based on a required toner amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P
  • Publication number: 20140212155
    Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner remaining in a reservoir of a replaceable unit for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes receiving by processing circuitry pulses from a magnetic sensor. Each pulse is indicative that the magnetic sensor detected a magnet on a moving paddle positioned in the reservoir. The processing circuitry counts the number of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor. Upon receiving a request from a controller of the image forming device, the processing circuitry sends to the controller of the image forming device the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor and resets the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Craig Leemhuis, Jeffrey Alan Abler, Charles Alan Bast, Todd Alan Dutton, David Anthony Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140212156
    Abstract: An image forming device including: an image forming unit; a heating body; a power supply unit; a temperature sensing member; and a controller. The image forming unit is configured to form an image on a recording sheet. The heating body is configured to heat the recording sheet on which the image is formed. The power supply unit is configured to supply power to the heating body. The temperature sensing member is configured to detect a temperature of the heating body. The controller is configured to: control the power supply unit based on the detected temperature; determine whether or not a high-power output state of the power supply unit has continued for a first duration under a print control process; and judge that the temperature sensing member is in an abnormal state when determination is made so that the high-power output state has continued for the first duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Koyama, Atsushi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20140212157
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit and a processing unit. The first image forming unit forms an image using an erasable image forming material. The second image forming unit forms an image using an inerasable image forming material. The processing unit forms an image to be printed using an erasable image forming material with the first image forming unit, and forms a specific pattern for duplication prevention using an inerasable image forming material with the second image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Satoshi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20140212158
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: including: an image forming unit; and a controller. The image forming unit includes: an image bearing member; a charging member; a transfer member; and a cleaning member. The controller selectively applies first and second transfer biases to the transfer member. A first transfer current flows between the image bearing member and the transfer member upon application of the first transfer bias. A second transfer current flows therebetween upon application of the second transfer bias. The controller selectively applies first and second charging biases to the charging member. The image bearing member has a first surface potential upon application of the first charging bias, and a second surface potential upon application of the second charging bias. The controller applies the first charging bias when applying the first transfer bias, and applies the second charging bias when applying the second transfer bias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Aya Adachi, Masatoshi Shiraki
  • Publication number: 20140212159
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressurizing member, a heat source, and a temperature sensing device. The fixing belt is rotatably provided. The pressurizing member is rotatably provided and is in pressed contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressurizing member and the fixing belt. The heat source heats the fixing belt. The temperature sensing device detects the temperature of the fixing belt. The temperature sensing device has a sensing element that is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt in a neighboring region of an end portion of the fixing nip and a pressing member configured to press the sensing element against the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Shoji Koda, Ryo Matsuyama
  • Publication number: 20140212160
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a control unit and a heating unit for fixing an image on a recording medium and erasing the image on the recording medium. The control unit controls a heating temperature of the heating unit such that the heating temperature of the heating unit falls within any one of a first temperature range which is capable of fixing an inerasable developer, a second temperature range which is capable of fixing an erasable developer, and a fourth temperature range which satisfies both of the first temperature range and a third temperature range which is capable of erasing the erasable developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Hideaki Fukaya
  • Publication number: 20140212161
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a fuser assembly including a heat transfer member and a backup member positioned to engage the heat transfer member thereby defining a fusing nip therewith. A motor is coupled to the backup member for rotating the backup member. A controller coupled to the fuser assembly controls the motor using time-based commutation for a period of time to rotate the backup member at a slower speed relative to a speed for performing a toner fusing operation. In memory, at least one lookup table is stored having entries which, when sequentially accessed by the controller during the time-based commutation, are used to generate one or more drive signals for the motor to cause current flowing through windings of the motor to have a substantially sinusoidal waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ross Cutts, Aaron M. Lambert, Jason W. Lawrence, Kevin Dean Schoedinger, Roger M. Smith, Christopher Yaeger
  • Publication number: 20140212162
    Abstract: The development roller adheres toner to an electrostatic latent image on the photo conductor drum in order to develop a toner image. The pattern image generating unit develops two pattern images that are two sets of plural test patches for calibration on the photo conductor drum. Each one of the pattern images includes the test patches corresponding to densities in gradation. Further, the pattern image generating unit sets an interval between a top of the first pattern image and a top of the second pattern image so that a remainder for the interval divided by a density fluctuation pitch is larger than a length of the test patch. The density fluctuation pitch is the product of a periphery length of the development roller and a ratio between a rotating speed of the development roller and a rotating speed of the photo conductor drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Taro Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20140212163
    Abstract: A power source apparatus includes a transformer configured to output a voltage, a feedback unit configured to output a feedback signal based on the voltage output from the transformer, and a driving unit configured to drive the transformer according to a setting signal for setting the output voltage and the feedback signal. Whichever of a voltage of positive polarity and a voltage of negative polarity is output, the feedback unit controls the voltage output according to a value of a difference between the output voltage and a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Kawakatsu
  • Publication number: 20140212164
    Abstract: A cooling device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes multiple air blowers to cool a cooling target provided to the image forming apparatus and a duct to connect with the multiple air blowers and to flow airflow generated by the multiple air blowers therethrough and to have an opening formed thereon and disposed at a position shifted to a part of the multiple air blowers. Respective outputs of the multiple air blowers are different from each other according to respective positions of the multiple air blowers with respect to the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki MIYAGAWA, Koji KAWAHARA
  • Publication number: 20140212165
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable fixing member; an air-blowing unit for blowing air onto an end portion of the rotatable fixing member with respect to a generating line direction of the rotatable fixing member, wherein the air-blowing unit includes a fan, a duct for guiding the air generated by drive of the fan, and a shutter, provided at an outlet of the duct, for switching an outlet width of the duct with respect to the generating line direction; and a partition, provided in the duct, for partitioning an air passing region inside the duct into a plurality of regions with respect to the generating line direction, wherein the partition extends to a neighborhood of the shutter with respect to an air-blowing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Murasaki
  • Publication number: 20140212166
    Abstract: An accommodating container includes: an accommodating chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer; a seal member for unsealably sealing the opening; and a rotatable member rotatably supported inside the accommodating chamber. The seal member includes a sealing portion for sealing the opening, a connecting portion connected with the rotatable member, and at least one hole provided between the sealing portion and the connecting portion. The rotatable member includes a shaft portion and at least one projection extending in a direction of being spaced from the shaft portion. The hole and the projection are provided to establish a non-overlapping positional relationship with respect to a direction along the shaft portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takeuchi, Yoshiyuki Batori, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi, Gosuke Goto, Makoto Tokudome, Yu Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20140212167
    Abstract: A connection mechanism includes a connecting portion including a rotation arm rotatable around a rotation shaft, an urging unit configured to urge the rotation arm, and an engagement pin provided on the rotation arm; and a connected portion having an engagement groove formed in a tapered shape in an urging direction of the urging unit so as to allow entering of the engagement pin and holding of the engagement pin by the urging force of the urging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Agata
  • Publication number: 20140212168
    Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive member in which it is possible to control a variation in resistance due to physical stress from a contact member, and an uneven density in a halftone image can be prevented. The conductive member is a development roller which includes a conductive shaft core, a conductive elastic layer, and a conductive surface layer. The conductive elastic layer contains silicone rubber and a basic carbon black dispersed in the silicone rubber. The surface layer contains a urethane resin having a carboxyl group in its molecule and an acidic carbon black dispersed in the urethane resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Nakamura, Kazuaki Nagaoka, Yosuke Ata, Masahiro Inami
  • Publication number: 20140212169
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photoconductor drums; a plurality of exposure members; a drum supporting member having a pair of side walls disposed opposite to each other in an axial direction of the photoconductor drum and configured to support the photoconductor drums and the exposure members between the side walls; a belt disposed below and opposite to the photoconductor drums; a pair of guide members configured to support the drum supporting member while allowing rectilinear movement of the drum supporting member; and a main body circuit board provided in the main body and connected to the exposure members via a cable. The main body circuit board is arranged above the drum supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Hiroshi Nakano, Hirotaka Mori
  • Publication number: 20140212170
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a photosensitive member; a moving mechanism; a movable member; and a cartridge. The photosensitive member is provided in the main casing. The movable member moves between an inside position in which the movable member is inside the main casing and an outside position in which the movable member is at least partly outside the main casing. The movable member includes: a frame; a protection member; and an exposure member. The protection member is fixed to the frame. The moving mechanism moves the exposure member between an exposing position in which the exposure member exposes the photosensitive drum to light and a protected position in which the exposure member is protected by the protection member. The cartridge includes a developer bearing member. The cartridge is supported at the movable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Kato, Toshio Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20140212171
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a process unit configured to be attached to and removed from the main body, the process unit being configured to integrally hold a plurality of image carriers arranged in a first direction; a plurality of developing cartridges provided in corresponding association with the image carriers, the developing cartridges configured to be attached to and removed from the process unit, each of the developing cartridges including a corresponding developer carrier, each of the developing cartridges being configured to supply developer to a corresponding image carrier; and a pressing mechanism provided in the main body, the pressing mechanism configured to press the developing cartridges, when attached to the process unit, in a direction that the developer carriers contact the image carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshito Takakuwa, Yoshiya Tomatsu, Atsushi Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20140212172
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a receiving member which receives a driving force from outside; a first rotary member which rotates by the driving force; a second rotary member which takes a driven position where the second rotary member rotates by the driving force from the first rotary member and a non-driven position where transmission of the driving force from the first rotary member is cut off; a detectable member which moves as the rotation of the second rotary member, and a first portion which rotates by the driving force. The second rotary member includes a second portion. When the second rotary member is in the non-driven position, the second portion is provided on a rotating locus drawn by the first portion. The first portion engages with the second portion as the first portion rotates, so that the second rotary member rotates from the non-driven position to the driven position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeyuki TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20140212173
    Abstract: A developing unit and image formation device in which a developer carrier is reliably pressed towards and separated from an image carrier is described. A separation and pressing mechanism is provided for separating and pressing the developer carriers of developing cartridges installed in a drum unit onto image carriers. This separation and pressing mechanism has a pair of direct cam members. Each direct cam member has a release action portion that engages with the releasing projection of a developing cartridge when the developer carrier is to be separated from the image carrier. Each direct cam member may also have a pressing action portion that engages with the pressing projection of the developing cartridges when the developer carrier is to be pressed onto the image carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20140212174
    Abstract: The rotary power transmission mechanism includes a flange member fitted to one end of a cylindrical member, a shaft inserted through an axial center of the flange member, and a pin member inserted through the shaft in a radial direction of the shaft. The flange member has a first contact portion and a second contact portion that have point symmetry with respect to an axial center of the shaft. When the pin member is rotated in one direction by the shaft rotating in the one direction, the first contact portion contacts a first end portion of the pin member and the second contact portion contacts a second end portion of the pin member. The pin member, when rotating in the one direction, pushes against the first contact portion and the second contact portion, rotates the flange member in the one direction, and thereby transmits rotary power to the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideji HAYASHI