Light Emitting Diodes Patents (Class 347/130)
  • Patent number: 11984701
    Abstract: A computer adapted to convert images into raw data can provide the raw data to a control interface adapted to transmit the raw data with timing information to an electronic driver circuit. The electronic driver circuit can convert the raw data with the timing information provided by a control interface into regulated current signals provided to the semiconductor laser array at 300 dpi and higher. The semiconductor array can convert the current signals into light to illuminate an imaging member. The laser array can comprise vertical cavity surface emitting lasers providing imaging greater than 300 dpi. Each semiconductor laser can operate at 50 mW or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joerg Martini, Sourobh Raychaudhuri, Christopher Chua, David K. Biegelsen, Joseph Lee
  • Patent number: 11827037
    Abstract: A laser imager for a printing system, comprising a plurality of independently addressable surface emitting lasers arranged in a linear array on a common substrate chip and including a common cathode and a dedicated control channel associated with an address trace line for each laser of the plurality of independently addressable surface emitting lasers, and optical elements arranged in a linear lens array configured to capture and focus light from the plurality of independently addressable surface emitting lasers onto a imaging member, wherein the plurality of independently addressable surface emitting lasers arranged in a linear array and the optical elements arranged in a linear lens array operate together to image the imaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joerg Martini, Christopher Chua, Zhihong Yang, Mark Teepe, Patrick Y. Maeda, Sourobh Raychaudhuri, Elif Karatay, Noble M. Johnson, David K. Biegelsen, Joseph Lee
  • Patent number: 11442310
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a board on which light sources are disposed; a sectioning member including a ridge part having segments that configures a grid pattern, and a wall part surrounding the light sources, and extending from the ridge part toward the board such that an interval between two adjacent portions of the wall part joining along the ridge part becomes wider toward the board; and one or more integrated circuits configured to drive the light sources. The sectioning member and the integrated circuits are disposed on the same side of the board as the light sources. A space is defined between the back surface of the sectioning member and the board. One of the one or more integrated circuits is square or rectangular, and overlaps an intersection of segments of the ridge part, such that the sides are oblique with respect to the ridge part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichiro Sonobe
  • Patent number: 11433805
    Abstract: A lighting unit for a motor vehicle having at least one light guide and at least one circuit board having at least one light-emitting diode. The circuit board and the light guide are attached to one another. The lighting unit is elongate and curved in the manner of a crescent with a light guide extending over the length of the lighting unit and with multiple elongated, rigid circuit boards that are each equipped with multiple light-emitting diodes, wherein the circuit boards are identically constructed and lined up in their longitudinal direction along the light guide in such a manner that the light of the light-emitting diodes can be coupled into the light guide perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent thereof, and wherein the circuit boards are connected to one another electrically and in terms of signaling by cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Franke
  • Patent number: 11312075
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator outputs modulated light including: modulated first light when the spatial light modulator receives first light; and modulated second light when the spatial light modulator receives second light. Projection optics project the modulated light onto: a first pixel region when a component or the spatial light modulator has a first position; and a second pixel region when the component or the spatial light modulator has a second position. The first and second pixel regions partially overlap. A pixel shifter moves the component or the spatial light modulator between: the first position when the spatial light modulator outputs the modulated first light; and the second position when the spatial light modulator outputs the modulated second light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhongyan Sheng, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Steven Edward Smith
  • Patent number: 11290600
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure device, a developing device, an intermediate transfer body, a sensor, and a controller. The exposure device may irradiate light corresponding to a test pattern onto a photoconductor, the developing device may supply a developing agent to the photoconductor to form, on the photoconductor, a toner image corresponding to the test pattern, the intermediate transfer body may receive the toner image corresponding to the test pattern formed on the photoconductor, and a sensor may sense the test pattern transferred onto the intermediate transfer body. The controller may control the exposure device to adjust the irradiated light so the test pattern becomes a contone pattern having a uniform tone, and may diagnose a condition of a component of the image forming apparatus based on the sensed test pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Ki Youn Lee
  • Patent number: 11204564
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a charger, an exposure unit, and a control unit. The charger charges a surface of the photoreceptor. The exposure unit exposes the photoreceptor charged by the charger using a light-emitting diode. The amount of light of a light-emitting diode gradually decreases over time. The control unit controls the exposure unit so that exposure energy by the exposure unit is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunari Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11036158
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print head, a detector, and a controller. The print head includes one or more light emitting element arrays, each light emitting element array includes a plurality of light emitting elements. The detector is configured to detect an emission time of the print head that emits light according to image data. The controller is configured to control a time interval to a print start corresponding to second image data, the second image data following first image data, based on a detection result of an emission time corresponding to the first image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Tanimoto, Takeshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11011101
    Abstract: A method of controlling a display device is disclosed including receiving a plurality of sub-pixel values for a target pixel among a plurality of pixels of an image frame, wherein the sub-pixel values of the target pixel comprise red, green, and blue sub-pixel values; calculating a pixel-based boosting ratio corresponding to the target pixel according to the sub-pixel values of the target pixel; and adjusting at least one of a plurality of backlight duties associated with the target pixel and the plurality of sub-pixel values of the target pixel according to the pixel-based boosting ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Xiao Zhang, Danyu Fu, Yuanjia Du, Jianhua Liang, Qiqiang Han
  • Patent number: 10962898
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a charger, an exposure unit, and a control unit. The charger charges a surface of the photoreceptor. The exposure unit exposes the photoreceptor charged by the charger using a light-emitting diode. The amount of light of a light-emitting diode gradually decreases over time. The control unit controls the exposure unit so that exposure energy by the exposure unit is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunari Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 10939528
    Abstract: An electronic circuit and a method are disclosed. The electronic circuit includes an LED circuit, wherein the LED circuit (1) includes: an input (11, 12) configured to receive an input voltage (VIN); a drive circuit (2A) connected to the input (11, 12); and an LED module (3A) connected to the drive circuit (2A) and comprising an LED string (41) with at least one LED. The drive circuit (2A) is configured to monitor the LED module (3A) for the occurrence of an LED short in the LED string (41) and to change from a normal mode to a defect mode upon detection of the LED short, and the drive circuit (2A) is configured, in the defect mode, to operate the LED string (41) in at least one defect cycle that includes deactivating the LED string (41) for a deactivation period, activating the LED string for an activation period, and checking for the persistence of the LED short in the activation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Damiano Sartori, Fabrizio Cortigiani, Marco Pamato, Gernot Unterweger
  • Patent number: 10838341
    Abstract: A controller controls a charging unit to charge a photosensitive member so that a surface potential of the photosensitive member is controlled to a first potential, controls an exposure unit to expose the photosensitive member so that a potential of an exposure region on the photosensitive member is controlled to a second potential, controls a surface potential of a developing sleeve of a developing unit to a third potential, and forms a test image on a sheet by controlling the photosensitive member, the charging unit, the exposure unit, and the developing unit. An absolute value of the first potential is higher than an absolute value of the second potential. An absolute value of the third potential is higher than the absolute value of the first potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihisa Yago, Sumito Tanaka, Hiroshi Tomii
  • Patent number: 10809645
    Abstract: A light emitter includes: plural light emitting thyristors that each have an anode, a cathode, and a gate and are connected in parallel between a reference voltage line to which a reference voltage is supplied and a lighting voltage line to which a lighting start voltage for starting lighting is supplied, in which the anode and the cathode are connected respectively to the reference voltage line and the lighting voltage line; and a gate voltage setting section that, when at least one of the plural light emitting thyristors transitions from an off-state to an on-state, sets a voltage on the gate of each of the plural light emitting thyristors to a voltage between the lighting start voltage and an on-state voltage of the light emitting thyristor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji Ono
  • Patent number: 10780689
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for coating selected regions of a surface of a substrate with a film are disclosed. A cyclically moveable transfer member has an imaging surface which is coated with individual particles formed of, or coated with a thermoplastic polymer, and substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the imaging surface are removed so as to leave a uniform monolayer particle coating on the imaging surface. Selected regions of the imaging surface are exposed to radiation to render the particles tacky within the regions, and the coated imaging surface and the substrate are pressed against one another to cause transfer of only the particles rendered tacky in the coating, such that the transferred particles form a film on the substrate. The monolayer on the imaging surface of the transfer member is replenished with fresh thermoplastic particles and the cycle repeats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Landa Labs (2012) LTD.
    Inventors: Benzion Landa, Anton Krassilnikov, Michael Nagler, Moshe Fahima, Nir Rubin Ben Haim, Ofer Aknin, Ronen Yogev
  • Patent number: 10775736
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes: a substrate that extends in a longitudinal direction intersecting with a gravity direction and has light emitting elements emitting light toward a gravity direction; a housing that extends in the longitudinal direction, to which the substrate is attached; a support section that supports both end side portions of the housing in the longitudinal direction against gravity; and a structure section having a weight that is attached to an intermediate portion of the housing in the longitudinal direction and supported by the support section in the gravity direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Moroka, Satoshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10732561
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaner, and a controller. The image carrier holds an image on a surface thereof. The cleaner cleans the surface of the image carrier. The controller forms, at timing at which a developer is fed to the cleaner, a feeder image that feeds the developer to the cleaner. The feeder image includes toner whose amount is smaller on a downstream side than on an upstream side in a travel direction of the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiya Mashimo
  • Patent number: 10596834
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a light irradiation device which can improve curability of photo-curable materials. A light irradiation device includes a first supply section having a porous portion, the first supply section being capable of supplying a gas to a photo-curable material through the porous portion; and an irradiation section disposed in alignment with the porous portion or disposed downstream from the porous portion, the irradiation section being capable of irradiating the photo-curable material with light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Taguchi, Masami Takubo
  • Patent number: 10574954
    Abstract: A multi-beam scanning system and methods of operating the same to compensate for distortion are provided. Generally, the method involves illuminating a spatial light modulator including SLM pixels arranged in parallel, each pixel including a multiple address pixels. Drive signals including image data are provided to the pixels to generate beams of modulated light reflected therefrom, which is scanned to a linear swath of a two-dimensional imaging plane using a collimate lens, a scan mirror moved about a first axis, and an imaging lens. The swath is scanned across the imaging plane in a direction orthogonal to a long axis of the swath by moving the scan mirror about a second axis. To compensate for distortion along the long axis of the swath compensated image data is provided to at least some of the address pixels generating beams of modulated light distal from an optical axis of the imaging lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Silicon Light Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshimi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10562320
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a light irradiation device which can improve curability of photo-curable materials. A light irradiation device includes a first supply section having a porous portion, the first supply section being capable of supplying a gas to a photo-curable material through the porous portion; and an irradiation section disposed in alignment with the porous portion or disposed downstream from the porous portion, the irradiation section being capable of irradiating the photo-curable material with light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Taguchi, Masami Takubo
  • Patent number: 10537002
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a lighting array is disclosed. In one example, the system and method detect the presence or absence of short circuiting current flow through a light emitting device and provide an indication of the same. The system and method may also increase or decrease current flow through the lighting array to compensate for reduced lighting output or to reduce the possibility of lighting array degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff A. Smith, Edward A. Kiyoi, Ken McAllister
  • Patent number: 10529944
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting diode display is provided. The organic light-emitting diode display has an anode layer, an organic layer disposed on the anode layer, and a cathode layer disposed on the organic layer and comprising a plurality of cathode lines. The organic light-emitting diode display comprises a plurality of pixel columns corresponding to the cathode lines. Pixels in the same pixel column have the same color, and the cathode lines corresponding to the pixel columns having different colors are inputted with different cathode voltages, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Weijing Zeng, Baixiang Han
  • Patent number: 10379459
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: element arrays each including light emitting elements arranged in main scanning direction, the arrays being arranged in sub scanning direction; a photoreceptor whose surface moves relative to the light emitting elements in the sub scanning direction; a controller outputting control voltage instructing light emission amount for each light emitting element; and drivers each supplying drive current to a corresponding light emitting element according to the control voltage, thus causing the light emitting element to emit light to expose the moving surface of the photoreceptor. Intervals L between the arrays satisfy (D/2)×(V/F)?((V/F)×0.1)?L?(D/2)×(V/F)+((V/F)×0.1) where F expresses frequency of AC noise to be superimposed on the control voltage, V expresses system speed of the surface of the photoreceptor moving relative to the light emitting elements, and D is an odd number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Watanabe, So Yano, Sotaro Yokota
  • Patent number: 10295927
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a print head comprises a transparent substrate, a drive circuit, a first light emitting element (emitter), a second light emitting element (emitter) and a lens. The drive circuit supplies a current. The first light emitting element (emitter) which is an element on the transparent substrate outputs first light with a predetermined wavelength through supply of the current. The second light emitting element (emitter) which is an element on the transparent substrate outputs second light with the predetermined wavelength through the supply of the current. The lens converges a third light generated by overlapping the first light and the second light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 10281866
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearer, an exposure device, a development unit, an adjuster, and a magnetic member. The exposure device forms a latent image on a surface of the image bearer. The developing unit renders the latent image visible with developer including toner and carrier. The adjuster contacts each of the image bearer and the exposure device to regulate a distance between the image bearer and the exposure device. The magnetic member is arranged side by side with the adjuster in a direction of rotation of the image bearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiya Okamoto, Nobuyuki Taguchi, Takeshi Fukao, Shinya Karasawa, Takuma Iwasaki, Kentaro Nodera, Masanari Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 10225421
    Abstract: The likelihood of a medium jamming is reduced or avoided during discharging media to a discharged-sheet receiving tray, and a plurality of media are appropriately discharged to, and stacked on, the discharged-sheet receiving tray. A scanner includes an apparatus body including a reading section that reads a sheet, a discharge roller pair that is provided inside the apparatus body and discharges the sheet after reads in the reading section, and a discharged sheet tray that receives the sheet being discharged by the discharge roller pair. The discharged sheet tray includes a first member that has at least a portion that is located inside the apparatus body. The first member is that supports the medium at a position higher than the placement surface of the discharged sheet tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenori Harada
  • Patent number: 10009584
    Abstract: A display device includes a solid-state light source driven by a PWM signal, a light modulation device that modulates light emitted by the solid-state light source in response to an image signal, and a signal output unit that determines a duty ratio and a current value of the PWM signal in response to brightness of an image represented by the image signal. The signal output unit outputs a PWM signal having a predetermined first current value to the solid-state light source if the duty ratio is equal to or more than a predetermined first threshold value and outputs a PWM signal having a current value less than the first current value to the solid-state light source if the duty ratio is less than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Toyooka
  • Patent number: 9989881
    Abstract: An exposure device includes: a substrate that includes a plate-shaped main body that extends in one direction, a plurality of light emitting elements that are mounted on one surface of the main body, and a heating element that is mounted on the other surface of the main body generates heat in accordance with a light emitting operation of the light emitting elements; a housing that includes resin and that extends in the one direction, has a frame shape in which a through hole is formed, and to an inside of the through hole of which the substrate is fixed so that a thickness direction of the substrate is a penetrating direction of the through hole; and a suppression member that extends in the one direction, is fitted in the through hole, and suppresses thermal deformation of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Kasuya, Satoshi Maeda
  • Patent number: 9911106
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for enabling dynamic pricing of services to users. The amount of usage all or different services are quantized into quanta of minimum usage units, such as to an amount of effective bits (eBits) in communications services. The amount of usage of the different services is weighted differently, such as according to service cost or demand, to obtain corresponding amount of quanta of usage or eBits for each service. The amount of quanta of usage or eBits for the different services is summed up to provide a total amount of quanta of usage or eBits. The total amount of quanta of usage or eBits is converted into a total charge, as a product of the total amount of quanta of usage or eBits, or a monotonic function of the total amount, and a fixed charge rate per quanta of usage or eBit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rainer Schoenen, Halim Yanikomeroglu
  • Patent number: 9787324
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for both displaying graphical output and for sensing, e.g., multi-touch input are provided. A light-emitting diode (“LED”) matrix-array may be configured to both emit and sense light. The array may be driven in such a way so as to enable the array itself to act as the illumination source preferable for either reflective or scattering optical touch sensing. The need for additional opto-electronic components, or an external illumination source, is thus eliminated or at least reduced. Additionally, the matrix-arrays have large dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventor: Jefferson Y. Han
  • Patent number: 9703229
    Abstract: An optical writing device writes an image on a photoconductor with light emitted from a light-emitting element array including a plurality of light-emitting elements lined in one direction. The optical writing device includes: a thinning unit that thins pixels in input binary image data depending on a pattern of the image data; a thinning rate setting unit that sets a thinning rate by the thinning unit for each predetermined range of the image data; and a light-emitting time changing unit that changes a light-emitting time of the light-emitting element array for each predetermined range of the binary image data thinned by the thinning unit depending on the thinning rate set by the thinning rate setting unit and a set toner saving rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirata, Yuuya Ogawa, Atsushi Yamazaki, Hiroyuki Yanagi
  • Patent number: 9684269
    Abstract: Provided is a transparent belt which is wound around a transparent roll and pressed at a nip portion and through which light from a light source transmits, the transparent belt including a base material layer, and an elastic layer that is exposed on a transparent roll side with respect to the base material layer and is elastically deformed greater than the base material layer in the nip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsubara, Tetsuro Kodera, Tomoko Miyahara
  • Patent number: 9658559
    Abstract: A determination unit determines a bias current caused to flow through at least plurality of light-emitting portions regardless of image data during an image period by determining a first drive current for setting a light quantity of a light beam incident on a light reception unit during the non-image period to a first target light quantity, and determining a second drive current for setting a light quantity of a light beam incident on the light receiving unit to a second target light quantity that is different from the first target light quantity. The determination unit determines a drive current for performing switch-driving of the plurality of light-emitting portions, based on image data, the drive current corresponding to the first drive current and the bias current upon the image data being generated in a second section of a non-image period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Akagi
  • Patent number: 9594327
    Abstract: An optical writing device includes a plurality of current driven light emitting elements, first and second power source lines, a designation circuit that outputs a designation potential, first driving circuits provided for each of the light emitting elements to supply driving current to the corresponding light emitting element, second driving circuits provided for each of the light emitting elements to supply driving current to the corresponding light emitting element, and a switching control unit that alternately switches respective states of the first and second driving circuits between a state where one of the first and second driving circuits receives the designation potential while the other driving circuit supplies the driving current, and a state where the other driving circuit receives the designation potential while the one driving circuit supplies the driving current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Masuda, Makoto Obayashi, Yoshikazu Watanabe, Masayuki Iijima, So Yano, Takaki Uemura
  • Patent number: 9568626
    Abstract: Disclosed are flexible printed circuits incorporated into marine geophysical streamers. An embodiment discloses an apparatus comprising: a streamer; and a flexible printed circuit located in the streamer. Another embodiment discloses an apparatus comprising: a jacket; a strength member extending along a length of the jacket and disposed inside the jacket; geophysical sensors disposed inside the jacket; spacers disposed at spaced apart locations along the jacket; and a flexible printed circuit assembly extending along a length of the jacket. Another embodiment discloses a method comprising: towing at least one streamer in a body of water, wherein the at least one streamer comprises a flexible printed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventor: Jamie Alexander Ricks
  • Patent number: 9565737
    Abstract: An illumination system and method is disclosed. In one example, the illumination system comprises a lamp assembly for generating color-variable light, a controller for generating control signals for the lamp assembly, source color input means, preferably a color sensor, for inputting to the controller information defining a source color; a memory associated with the controller, containing information defining at least one color harmony rule. On the basis of the input source color, and using the harmony rule from the memory, the controller calculates a target color and generates its output control signals accordingly. Thus, the light output from the lamp assembly harmoniously matches the measured color of surroundings or objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Petrus Wilhelmus Baaijens
  • Patent number: 9541864
    Abstract: A transfer device can make more stable contact with a belt, thus yielding preferable transfer performance. In an image-forming apparatus in which the transfer device has a sheet member, the sheet member includes a conductive sheet, and an electrical connection path section (power source connecting section) for supplying voltage to the conductive sheet from the primary transfer power source, and the power source connecting section is arranged outside an image formation enabling region where a toner image can be formed on a photosensitive drum, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Inaba, Masaaki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9535359
    Abstract: A system and method to compensate for ghost appearances on a print due to a previous job, the method comprising defining areas in which ghosting is expected or detected and recording the image on a photoreceptor by selectively changing the parameters of the system as a function of position, to compensate for the effects of ghosting in ex-image and ex-nonimage areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Sandler, Shai Lior
  • Patent number: 9442409
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes, a unit including at least a photosensitive member and a charging member detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus, a current detection unit configured to detect a current flowing between the charging member and the photosensitive member, an operation unit configured to be operated by an operator to give an instruction to the image forming apparatus, a display unit provided in the operation unit, and a control unit configured to apply to the charging member a predetermined test voltage having an absolute value greater than a discharge starting voltage based on the instruction from the operation unit, and to perform an operation in a mode for causing the current detection unit to detect a current, wherein the control unit determines, based on the current detected in the mode, whether an error indication is to be given on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masami Hano, Yutaka Koga
  • Patent number: 9372432
    Abstract: An optical print head for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body, including: current-driven light-emitting elements disposed in a line shape; an indicator circuit that outputs indicator current indicating light emission amounts to the light-emitting elements; and for each light-emitting element: a holding circuit that, during a main scanning period, accumulates indicator current during a sample period to generate an indicator potential and holds the indicator potential during a hold period; and a drive circuit that supplies drive current to the light-emitting element according to the indicator potential, wherein each of the sample periods is divided into writing periods, and each of the holding circuits holds the indicator potential corresponding to the holding circuit according to a total of indicator current amounts in the sample period corresponding to the holding circuit, the indicator current amounts each indicative of indicator current during one of the writing periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: So Yano, Yoshikazu Watanabe, Makoto Obayashi, Masayuki Iijima, Takaki Uemura, Satoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 9358807
    Abstract: An optical print head performs optical writing onto target, and includes: current-driven light-emitting elements arranged in rows in a predetermined direction; driving transistors that are each electrically series-connected with the light-emitting elements in one-to-one correspondence, and each supply a driving current to a corresponding light-emitting element; a current control unit that controls, for each light-emitting element, a driving current amount in accordance with variation in light-emitting properties of the light-emitting element that indicate relation between the driving current amount and a light amount emitted by the light-emitting element; an application unit that, upon receiving electrical power supplied from an external power source, applies application voltage to circuits each consisting of a light-emitting element and a corresponding driving transistor; and a voltage control unit that suppresses variation in divided voltage applied to each driving transistor by controlling the application
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC
    Inventors: So Yano, Yoshikazu Watanabe, Makoto Obayashi, Masayuki Iijima, Takaki Uemura, Satoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 9360839
    Abstract: A light exposure unit includes: a board on which to mount light-emitting elements; an optical system configured to cause light emitted from the light-emitting elements to converge; a support member holding the board and the optical system; and a heat sink member configured to dissipate heat from the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Manabu Imai
  • Patent number: 9335652
    Abstract: An optical writing device having; a plurality of light-emitting points; a plurality of drive circuits for supplying drive currents to the plurality of light-emitting points respectively; a photodetector for outputting signals indicating quantities of light entering thereto from the respective light-emitting points; a gain switch circuit for outputting photodetection signals obtained by amplifying the signals output from the photodetector in regard to the respective light-emitting points with gains preset for the respective light-emitting points; and a control circuit for controlling the drive circuits such that the photodetection signals output from the gain switch circuit in regard to the respective light-emitting points coincide with a value substantially equal to a predetermined reference value. The gains for the respective light-emitting points are preset based on the distances between the photodetector and the respective light-emitting points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Watanabe, Satoshi Masuda, Makoto Obayashi, Masayuki Iijima, So Yano
  • Patent number: 9283788
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a fixed frame, a slide frame, a head supporting frame, a cam structure, and an operation body. The fixed frame is arranged adjacent to a photosensitive body. The slide frame is supported in a slidable manner along a first axis line by the fixed frame. The head supporting frame is supported in a slidable manner along a second axis line, which intersects the first axis line, by the fixed frame, and supports an exposure head. The cam structure converts an operation in which the slide frame slides to an operation in which the head supporting frame slides. The operation body moves the exposure head between a separated position and a proximate position by sliding the slide frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideatsu Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 9250838
    Abstract: A terminal device to which an information processing device and an output device are connected, includes a substitute user setting unit configured to set a substitute user as an executor capable of executing output of output data specified by a user requesting the output of the output data, the substitute user being different from the user requesting the output of the output data; an output information transmission unit configured to send, to the information processing device, the specified output data and output data relevance information including substitute user information identifying the substitute user; an output data acquisition unit configured to acquire the output data, of which the output is set as being executable by the executor, from the information processing device; and an output data transmission unit configured to send the output data acquired by the output data acquisition unit, to the output device connected to the terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Minako Takigawa
  • Patent number: 9249967
    Abstract: A lamp includes an outer shell having heat conductivity, a base provided in the outer shell, and a cover provided in the outer shell. The outer shell has a light source support, and a heat radiating surface exposed to the outside of the outer shell. The light source support is formed integral with the heat radiating surface. A light source is supported on the light source support. The light source is heated during lighting, and thermally connected to the light source support. The light source is covered with the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Osawa, Kazuto Morikawa
  • Patent number: 9217946
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes: a substrate that has a light emitting element mounted on a front surface of the substrate; a casing to which the substrate and an optical element are fixed so as to allow the substrate to face the optical element that focuses light emitted from the light emitting element; a sealing material that seals a fitting portion between the substrate and the casing from a rear surface side of the substrate; and a conductive component that is mounted on a ground terminal formed on the rear surface of the substrate and has a height from the rear surface higher than a height of the sealing material at an end portion on a central portion side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sachiya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 9205670
    Abstract: A printhead for a device capable of printing, including: a frame; a light-emitting diode (LED) assembly including a housing engaged with the frame, a plurality of LEDs on the housing and extending in a first transverse direction, and at least one lens parallel to the plurality of LEDs in the first traverse direction and arranged to focus light from the LEDs; and a lens cleaning assembly engaged with the frame and including an arm portion extending across the frame in the first traverse direction and a cleaner portion including a cleaning element. The lens cleaning assembly is displaceable, with respect to the frame, in the first transverse direction to slide the cleaning element across the at least one lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Vinoth Kumar Ganesan, Aravindan Ekambaram, Kumaran Vairavan, Richard David Emms
  • Patent number: 9191540
    Abstract: An image forming section includes a bearing member configured to bear an image, and a plurality of light-emitting-element groups each having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged linearly in an arrangement direction. The image forming section forms an image on the bearing member by using the light-emitting-element groups to transfer the image on a sheet. The reader reads an image on a sheet. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to perform: a pattern reading process of controlling the reader to read a pattern image, the pattern image being an image for detecting density deviation and formed on the sheet by using the light-emitting-element groups; and a calculating process of calculating an amount of density deviation of each of the light-emitting-element groups based on a reading result by the pattern reading process. Each light-emitting-element group is a unit of calculation of the amount of density deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 9128408
    Abstract: An exposure device includes a first lens plate including first lenses arranged substantially linearly and configured to form an intermediate image being an inverted reduced image of an object, a second lens plate including second lenses arranged substantially linearly in an arrangement direction of the first lenses and configured to form an inverted enlarged image of the intermediate image on a light reception surface, and light emitting elements arranged substantially linearly at pitch PD in the arrangement direction. A shift s in an arrangement pitch between the first lenses in the arrangement direction satisfies 0<s<(m÷(1?m)×PD) where magnification m of the first lenses is a ratio of a size of the intermediate image to a size of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Yamamura
  • Patent number: 9111831
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprising an optically transmissive first substrate which includes a first surface, a plurality of lenses which oppose the first surface and focus incident light from the opposite side to the first substrate, a light emitting layer on a surface of the first surface, and a plurality of light receiving elements which are arranged on the opposite side to the plurality of lenses so as to interpose the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tsuchiya, Tsukasa Eguchi, Hideto Ishiguro