Driving Circuitry Patents (Class 347/247)
  • Patent number: 11819941
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes: a laser light source configured to emit a laser beam; an optical scanner located along a path of the laser beam and configured to adjust the path of the laser beam; a lens unit located along the path of the laser beam, the lens unit being configured to condense the laser beam; a first adapter located between the lens unit and the optical scanner and coupled to the lens unit; and a second adapter located between the first adapter and the optical scanner, the second adapter being coupled to the first adapter and the optical scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinwon Baek, Seokjoo Lee, Sangsun Han, Kyongho Hong
  • Patent number: 11563869
    Abstract: A communication device includes a transmission-side board that transmits a signal, a reception-side board that receives the signal transmitted from the transmission-side board, a cable for connecting the transmission-side board and the reception-side board, and plural noise attenuation units that attenuate high frequency noise and are disposed at plural positions in a maximization region of a high frequency current corresponding to plural n-th order resonance frequencies, the plural positions including portions of the cable other than an end portion of the cable, the plural n-th order resonance frequencies being determined by a length of the cable, and n being an integer of 1 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Akihiro Narusawa
  • Patent number: 11513193
    Abstract: A multi-line laser radar includes a first radar component, where the first radar component includes n lasers, an optical collimating unit, a scanning rotating mirror, and a detector, where n is greater than 1. Each laser is configured to emit one laser beam to the optical collimating unit. The optical collimating unit is configured to collimate n laser beams, where the collimated n laser beams are incident on a target reflector of the scanning rotating mirror. The scanning rotating mirror includes m reflectors rotating around a rotation axis, where a rotation plane of the rotation axis is perpendicular to an arrangement direction of the collimated n laser beams, and m is greater than 1. The target reflector reflects the received collimated n laser beams to a detection area of the first radar component. The detector receives echo signals of the reflected n laser beams in the detection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liding Fu, Guangyuan Shi, Song Li
  • Patent number: 11448955
    Abstract: A mask includes a substrate, a light-reflecting structure, a patterned layer, and a plurality of bumps. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The light-reflecting structure is located on the first surface of the substrate. The patterned layer is located on the light-reflecting structure. The bumps are located on the second surface of the substrate. The bumps define a plurality of voids therebetween and protrude in a direction away from the second surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Hung Liao, Yueh-Lin Yang
  • Patent number: 11423828
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) display driver circuit includes: a set of channels, each channel of the set of channels having a respective current control circuit; and control circuitry coupled to each respective current control circuit and configured to adjust a respective control signal to each respective current control circuit responsive to an LED brightness estimate for each channel of the set of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Haibin Shao, Yan He, Qingjie Ma, Wei Xu
  • Patent number: 11076466
    Abstract: A light intensity adjustment circuit includes a delay circuit, a switching circuit and a light-emitting circuit. The delay circuit includes a capacitor and is used to receive a first pulse width modulation signal and generate a delay signal according to the first pulse width modulation signal. The switching circuit includes a switching unit and an isolation circuit. The switching unit includes a control terminal coupled to the delay circuit and used to receive the delay signal, and a first terminal used to generate a current according to the delay signal. The isolation circuit is coupled to the first terminal of the switching unit and generate a second pulse width modulation signal according to the current. The light-emitting circuit is used to receive the second pulse width modulation signal and emit light accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Tsung-Hsun Wu, Chi-Jen Chen, Yuan-Ting Fang
  • Patent number: 10897115
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for using a chromatic lens system to provide a “flying focus”—i.e., an advanced focusing scheme enabling spatiotemporal control of a focal location. In a method, a photon beam is emitted from a source at a wavelength. The photon beam may have more than one wavelength. The photon beam is focused to a focal location using a chromatic lens system. The focal location is at a first longitudinal distance along an optical axis from the chromatic lens system. The wavelength of the photon beam is changed as a function of time to change the focal location as a function of time. The wavelength may be changed such that the focal location changes with a focal velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Dustin H. Froula, Terrance Kessler
  • Patent number: 10670985
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a light source, a deflecting unit, a storing unit, a correcting unit, and a light source driving portion. Magnification correction data is determined using a quadratic function of a variable representing a scanning position with respect to a scanning direction. Coefficients of two quadratic functions corresponding to adjacent two regions included in a plurality of scanning regions are set so that a differential value calculated at the variable corresponding to a boundary of the two regions by a differential of the quadratic function for one region and a differential value calculated at the variable corresponding to the boundary of the two regions by a differential of the quadratic function for the other region are equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoji Takeda
  • Patent number: 10472203
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus the invention is a method for automatic configuration of an elevator drive in a traction elevator comprising an elevator car, a counterweight, a traction sheave, an electrical motor and a plurality of elevator ropes arranged to hoist the elevator car in response to the electrical motor rotating the traction sheave. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of electrical motor parameters from a memory associated with the electrical motor. A drive computer unit determines a roping ratio of the elevator by driving the elevator a distance based on elevator position sensor information and determines a plurality of torque values required to hoist the elevator with a predefined starting acceleration when the elevator car is loaded with a respective plurality of different loads. The torque values per each load are stored to a memory of the drive computer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Jyrki Laaksonheimo
  • Patent number: 10469693
    Abstract: An optical PH includes: a plurality of current-driven light emitting elements that are arranged in a line-shaped region; a controller that outputs a control voltage instructing an amount of a drive current to be supplied to each of the light emitting elements; and a plurality of drivers that correspond one-to-one with the light emitting elements, and each supply the drive current to a corresponding one of the light emitting elements, wherein the drivers each operate as one of: a high-voltage referring driver that supplies the drive current according to a voltage difference between the control voltage and a reference voltage higher than the control voltage; and a low-voltage referring driver that supplies the drive current according to a voltage difference between the control voltage and a reference voltage lower than the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Watanabe, So Yano, Sotaro Yokota
  • Patent number: 10394159
    Abstract: A CPU controls an image forming unit such that toner images for density detection are formed in parallel in a scanning direction of light beam under an image forming condition in which a period of time in which the light beam are emitted per unit time is changed and sets a target light amount of the light beam based on density information of the toner images for density detection formed by the image forming unit and relational data stored in a ROM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Takezawa, Takahiro Kamikura
  • Patent number: 10345731
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member rotatable in a first direction; an exposure unit configured to scan the photosensitive member with a light beam in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction to form a latent image; a generation unit configured to generate data corresponding to a gradation of a predetermined pixel of input image data by dividing the predetermined pixel by a predetermined division number; a calculation unit configured to calculate an ideal division number depending on a position of the predetermined pixel in the second direction; and a determination unit configured to determine the predetermined division number based on the ideal division number, wherein the determination unit feeds back an error between an ideal division number and a division number for a pixel at a position preceding the predetermined pixel in determining the predetermined division number for the predetermined pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Izuru Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 10303100
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a light source; a photosensitive member rotatable in a first direction; a deflecting unit configured to deflect the light beam in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a conversion unit configured to convert image data into a plurality of bit data corresponding to a density on a pixel-by-pixel basis; a specifying unit configured to specify a pixel size that is a number of divided pixels forming a pixel according to a position of the pixel in the second direction; and a correction unit configured to correct the plurality of bit data according to the pixel size, wherein the specifying unit specifies pixel sizes of pixels after an arrangement of the pixels in the second direction is replaced for each pixel group, the pixel group being obtained by dividing, with respect to each predetermined number of pixels, pixels arranged in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Izuru Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 10178274
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that employs a laser scanning optical system that does not use an f? lens, in the case where magnification correction by insertion/removal of an auxiliary pixel is performed based on the premise of digital PWM, an insertion/removal position of an auxiliary pixel is controlled in accordance with a purpose of each piece of image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoki Oyama
  • Patent number: 10108122
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a light source; a photosensitive member rotatable in a first direction; a deflecting unit configured to deflect the light beam in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a conversion unit configured to convert image data into a plurality of bit data corresponding to a density on a pixel-by-pixel basis; a specifying unit configured to specify a pixel size that is a number of divided pixels forming a pixel according to a position of the pixel in the second direction; and a correction unit configured to correct the plurality of bit data according to the pixel size, wherein the specifying unit specifies pixel sizes of pixels after an arrangement of the pixels in the second direction is replaced for each pixel group, the pixel group being obtained by dividing, with respect to each predetermined number of pixels, pixels arranged in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Izuru Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9912828
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light receiving element configured to receive light from an image to perform photoelectric conversion, an amplification unit configured to amplify a signal generated by the photoelectric conversion, a switch element electrically connected to first and second ends of the amplification unit to be in parallel with the amplification unit, and a capacitor. The capacitor is electrically connected to the first and second ends of the amplification unit to be in parallel with to the amplification unit, and includes a first wire electrically connecting a first end of the light receiving element, the first end of the amplification unit, and a first end of the switch element, and a second wire electrically connecting the second end of the amplification unit and a second end of the switch element. The capacitor includes capacitance that is interconnect capacitance between the first and second wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Sano
  • Patent number: 9906683
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a displacement amount acquisition unit to acquire an amount of displacement of an image, a geometric correction unit to apply image processing to an input image according to the amount of displacement to perform geometric correction of the input image, a write timing control unit to control write timing of the input image according to the amount of displacement to perform correction of the input image, and a correction mode determination unit to select a first correction mode or a second correction mode according to the amount of displacement when the image is printed-out. With the first correction mode, the geometric correction unit corrects the input image in a first and a second direction. With the second correction mode, the geometric correction unit corrects the input image in the first direction and the write timing control unit corrects the input image in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriko Miyagi
  • Patent number: 9849692
    Abstract: A method for transferring a printing substance provided as a coating on a carrier onto a substrate by laser radiation from a laser beam source that comprises an amplifier and that has an output power includes initiating a transfer process at the start of an active phase during a first time period by a temporary increase in the output power above an upper power threshold of the laser radiation, and adjusting the output power during a second time period of the active phase following the first time period, wherein the output power is adjusted during the second time period constantly in the range between the upper power threshold and a lower power threshold. The laser radiation and the carrier are moved relative to one another and the output power of the laser beam source is time modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: LPKF LASER & ELECTRONICS AG
    Inventors: Udo Buenting, Bostjan Podobnik, Rok Petkovsek, Roman Ostholt
  • Patent number: 9620926
    Abstract: A laser machining apparatus includes: a laser oscillator; a control device controlling the laser oscillator; a power-down detection unit detecting a decrease in supply power; a time measurement unit measuring power-down time until the supply power is returned to a predetermined value from when the supply power is decreased under the predetermined value; an electricity storage unit supplying electric power to the control device upon a power outage; and equipment operating abnormally when the supply power is decreased under the predetermined value, and recovering from an abnormal operation when a state of the supply power being smaller than the predetermined value continues for a first predetermined period or longer, the control device stopping the laser machining apparatus when the power-down time is smaller than the first predetermined period and not stopping the laser machining apparatus when the power-down time is equal to or larger than the first predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9614988
    Abstract: A formatter cage is disclosed. The formatter cage includes a three point mounting system for expansion modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeff D. Ward, Eric Young
  • Patent number: 9606472
    Abstract: A pixel distance corrector configured to correct a pixel distance in the main scanning direction so that latent images corresponding to each pixel of image data are formed on the surface of the photosensitive member at substantially equal intervals in the main scanning direction. A controller configured to control a light source to emit light with a first light emission luminance with respect to an image part of the photosensitive member, and a second light emission luminance which is lower than the first light emission luminance, with respect to a non-image part of the photosensitive member. The controller is configured to correct light emission luminance so that the second light emission luminance decreases as the scanning speed decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Fujii, Hidenori Kanazawa, Takashi Kawana
  • Patent number: 9525795
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a reading device; an operating portion; a light source; a rotary polygon mirror; a motor configured to rotate the rotary polygon mirror; and a motor control portion configured to start the motor to control the motor at a first rotation speed in response to a fact that a predetermined action is performed on one of the operating portion and the reading device in a stopped state of the rotary polygon mirror, and then to control the motor at a second rotation speed higher than the first rotation speed in response to an instruction to start image formation from the operating portion, the motor control portion being configured to control the motor at the second rotation speed, without controlling the motor at the first rotation speed, in response to a fact that the receiving portion receives image data before the motor reaches the first rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumi Sato, Toshifumi Kakutani, Yousuke Hata, Shinya Suzuki, Takayuki Iikura, Kazunori Miyake, Shuji Obata, Manabu Koseki, Takeyuki Suda, Hirohisa Nakajima, Mitsuhiro Sugeta, Toshiyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 9386725
    Abstract: A printed circuit assembly includes a printed circuit board, a heat generating component attached to the printed circuit board at a first location, a formed conductive substrate including a protrusion extending toward the printed circuit board corresponding to the heat generating component, and a thermally conductive pad disposed between the printed circuit board and the protrusion of the formed substrate. The formed conductive substrate is configured to flex the protrusion to relieve stress at the heat generating component attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Clinton Jensen, Dan Rothenbuhler, Linden M Boice
  • Patent number: 9343950
    Abstract: The present invention is to reduce the possibility that a DC-DC converter stops in the case where supply power is small and load current is large. Output terminals use a DC output voltage of a DC-DC converter so that an external battery can be charged or power can be supplied to a power-reception-side system on the outside, and a current limiting circuit limits load current of a power supply switch transistor flowing from a converter output terminal to the output terminals. An input voltage detecting circuit detects level of a DC input voltage of an input terminal, generates a detection signal, and supplies the detection signal to the current limiting circuit. In the case where the DC input voltage of the input terminal is at the low level, the current limiting circuit controls the maximum current by current limitation of the power supply switch transistor to a small current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masanori Kayama
  • Patent number: 9319540
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that enables to suppress the cost rise caused by increasing the number of sensors for original size detection and suppress the degradation of user operability. Paper sizes of papers are registered on a plurality of paper supplying units in advance. One of the registered paper sizes is determined as the original size if the original size cannot be detected by a detecting unit. An image of the original is formed on a paper, which corresponds to the original size determined by the determining unit and is fed from the paper supplying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritsugu Okayama
  • Patent number: 9250562
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus causes a BD sensor to generate two BD signals based on laser beams emitted from first and second light-emitting portions and measures the generation timing difference therebetween. When measurement is to be executed, the image forming apparatus executes APC as light power control on the first light-emitting portion that emits a laser beam for causing the BD sensor 210 to generate the first BD signal. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus executes ACC, rather than APC, as light power control on the second light-emitting portion that emits a laser beam for causing the BD sensor to generate the second BD signal that follows the first BD signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Akagi
  • Patent number: 9186907
    Abstract: A laser marking system including a laser apparatus to supply a laser beam having a non-Gaussian irradiance distribution over a beam cross-section, the non-Gaussian irradiance distribution of the laser beam has a substantially uniform irradiance distribution over the beam cross-section, a spatial light modulator coupled to receive the laser beam, the spatial light modulator is controlled to generate an output laser beam including an optical pattern across the beam cross-section to mark a target object with the data code matrix, and an optical amplifier coupled to the spatial modulator to receive the laser beam output from the spatial light modulator and generate an amplified laser beam containing the same optical pattern as generated by the spatial light modulator, the amplified laser beam from the optical amplifier having a substantially uniform amplification across the cross-section of the beam, the amplified beam maintaining the substantially uniform irradiance distribution over its beam cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: VARDEX LASER SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Farzan Ghauri
  • Patent number: 9172202
    Abstract: A laser apparatus of the present invention has a first laser oscillator that emits a first laser beam; a passive fiber that is a double-clad fiber that transmits the first laser beam through a core; and a second laser oscillator that emits a second laser beam that is coupled into inner cladding of the passive fiber. Additionally, a laser materials processing apparatus of the present invention is provided with the laser apparatus; and an irradiation optical system having a collimating lens and a condenser lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Imai, Koji Hirano
  • Patent number: 9158223
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, deterioration of images is suppressed when distortions of scanning lines of a plurality of light sources are corrected. Image data is corrected each in a sub-scanning direction corresponding to the plurality of light sources, in accordance with distortion characteristics of the scanning lines of the plurality of light sources, for each of divided regions, common to a plurality of light sources, divided in a main-scanning direction, and the plurality of light sources are driven based on the image data each corrected corresponding to the plurality of light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Komiya
  • Patent number: 9118848
    Abstract: An image data combining apparatus combines m lines (m is an integer equal to or greater than 2) of pixel data that have been output from a reading unit. An access unit accesses a memory. A determination unit determines an upper address used for accessing the memory, based upon first data that relates a position, along a height direction, of the m lines of stored pixel data, and determines a lower address used for accessing the memory by the access unit, based upon second data that relates a position of the width direction in the m lines of stored pixel data. The lower address includes values in which a portion of a plurality of bits constituting the second data are interchanged. P items (an integer equal to or greater than 1) of pixel data output from each of the m lines of pixel data are successively extracted from the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisashi Ishikawa, Yoshinari Ikegami
  • Patent number: 9111203
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image according to light emitted from a light source is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a first image processor that performs image processing on image data having a first resolution and outputs the resulting image data; a resolution converter that acquires the image data having the first resolution output from the first image processor and converts the image data to image data having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution; a modulation signal generator that modulates the image data having the second resolution according to a clock signal to thereby generate a modulation signal; a light source driver that drives the light source according to the modulation signal; and a second image processor that performs image processing on the image data having the second resolution to be modulated to the modulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Muneaki Iwata, Masaaki Ishida, Atsufumi Omori, Hayato Fujita
  • Patent number: 9041757
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a control unit configured to cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at an image forming portion to which toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a first light emission amount, and cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at a non-image forming portion to which no toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a second light emission amount that is smaller than the first light emission amount. The image forming apparatus further includes an adjusting unit configured to adjust the first light emission amount and the second light emission amount, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a speed of surface of the photosensitive member. The adjusting unit is configured to change the second light emission amount according to information acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayakawa, Kengo Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 9041758
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a driving unit that drives a light source that outputs multiple light beams; a deflecting unit that scans a scanning surface in a main-scanning direction by deflecting the light beams, the scanning surface moving at a predetermined line speed in a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit that changes number of the light beams according to the line speed by controlling the driving unit, changes a scanning speed of the deflecting unit in the main-scanning direction according to a difference between an exposure amount per unit length in the main-scanning direction after a change in the number of the light beams and a predetermined exposure amount, and changes light intensity of each of the light beams output by the light source according to an amount of a change in the scanning speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Kaima
  • Patent number: 9041759
    Abstract: A laser scanning unit includes a laser light source, rotating polygon mirror, drive motor, and entry detection, intensity detection, intensity adjustment, and drive control portions. The laser light source radiates first and second laser lights in first second directions, respectively. The drive motor rotates the polygon mirror reflecting the first laser light. The intensity adjustment portion adjusts the first laser light in accordance with the second laser light detected by the intensity detection portion, until a second time after a first time has elapsed since the first laser light entry detection by the entry detection portion. The drive control portion, upon adjustment by the intensity adjustment portion, drives the drive motor at a first rotation speed, wherein a return light entry timing is included within the first time or from when the second time has elapsed to the timing of the entry detection portion detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hironobu Oi
  • Patent number: 9024992
    Abstract: The oscillation element according to the present invention includes a torsion bar mounted on a base, and an oscillating member having a light reflection surface for reflecting light from a light source, which is fixed on the torsion bar protruding from the base. The oscillating member oscillates about a longitudinal axis of the torsion bar with an elastic deformation of the torsion bar, thereby deflecting the light that reflects at the light reflection surface in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis. The oscillating member has two plates that are joined together so as to sandwich the torsion bar. On joining surfaces of the plates are provided with grooves for receiving the torsion bar, respectively. The plates have a symmetrical shape that the longitudinal axis serves as the axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Wakabayashi, Naruki Suzuki, Katsumi Arai, Yaomin Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150116445
    Abstract: Each data line includes base parts covering contact holes and line parts extending in an array direction of pixel circuits and connecting adjacent base parts to each other. The line parts have a smaller width in a direction perpendicular to the array direction than the base parts and are connected to the base parts while being offset in the direction perpendicular to the array direction from each other on both sides of at least two base parts that include first and second base parts. A connection position of the first base part with the line part on one side among both sides of the base units is located on the pixel circuit side with respect to the other side, and a connection position of the second base part on the one side is located on an opposite side to the pixel circuit side with respect to the other side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Kouji Ikeda, Masami Iseki
  • Patent number: 9013532
    Abstract: A light source control apparatus which controls, based on image data input, light emission of a light source which forms an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing body in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a pattern generating unit which generates an internal pattern for position aligning and concentration correcting according to the image data; and a mirroring processing unit which performs a process of mirroring the image data and the internal pattern at a later stage of the pattern generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Komai, Masayuki Hayashi, Hiroaki Ikeda, Takeshi Shikama, Akinori Yamaguchi, Tatsuya Miyadera, Motohiro Kawanabe, Yoshinori Shirasaki, Takuhei Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9001175
    Abstract: An optical scanning device comprising: a light source that emits a laser beam; and a driving unit connected to the light source and configured to drive the light source; the driving unit comprising: a first storage unit that stores in advance therein a setting value for controlling output of the laser beam; a second storage unit that stores temporally therein the setting value stored in the first storage unit; a storage controller connected to the first storage unit and the second storage unit; and a voltage detector connected to the storage controller and configured to detect a voltage value supplied to the driving unit, wherein the storage controller, upon the voltage detector detecting that the voltage supply is resumed, transfers the setting value stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takao Watanabe, Shinji Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Izawa
  • Patent number: 8994984
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of output circuits that output a plurality of pieces of information to an external device. Each of the output circuits includes a synchronization control unit that synchronizes an operation clock of the output circuit with an operation clock of a separate output circuit; an information receiving unit that receives a piece of information that is different from a piece of information that is received by the separate output circuit; and an output control unit that outputs the received piece of information to the external device in accordance with the synchronized operation clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hideaki Yamamoto, Tetsuya Satoh
  • Patent number: 8988476
    Abstract: An exposure device includes a board on which a light source for emitting a light beam is mounted and on which a circuit is disposed, a housing that contains an optical system for guiding the light beam, a positioning member that positions the light source relative to the housing in an optical axis direction by contacting a reference portion disposed around the light source, and a deformable portion disposed in a region of the board that is different from a region on which the circuit is disposed. The deformable portion urges the reference portion toward the positioning member by being elastically deformed when the board is attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Haginoya
  • Patent number: 8982172
    Abstract: The oscillation element according to the present invention includes a torsion bar mounted on a base, and an oscillating member having a light reflection surface for reflecting light from a light source, which is fixed on the torsion bar protruding from the base. The oscillating member oscillates about a longitudinal axis of the torsion bar with an elastic deformation of the torsion bar, thereby deflecting the light that reflects at the light reflection surface in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis. The oscillating member has two plates that are joined together so as to sandwich the torsion bar. On joining surfaces of the plates are provided with grooves for receiving the torsion bar, respectively. The plates have a symmetrical shape that the longitudinal axis serves as the axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Wakabayashi, Naruki Suzuki, Katsumi Arai, Yaomin Zhou
  • Patent number: 8963978
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus according to this invention uses both a first light source which outputs a light beam corresponding to a drive current corresponding to image information, and a second light source to irradiate the surface of a photosensitive drum with a plurality of light beams. The second laser light source irradiates the photosensitive drum with a laser beam in accordance with a drive current corresponding to a correction value according to which unevenness of potential characteristics due to unevenness of sensitivity of the surface of the photosensitive drum is reduced. The same region on the surface of the photosensitive drum is irradiated with laser beams which are output from the first and second laser light sources onto the photosensitive drum in superposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Seki
  • Patent number: 8957933
    Abstract: An optical writing device forming an electrical latent image on a photoreceptor includes an optical writing unit configured to apply light to the photoreceptor, a power supply unit configured to supply power to the optical writing unit, a power supply status detector configured to detect a power supply status of the power supplied from the power supply unit to the optical writing unit, and output power supply information or power cutoff information, a power cutoff information retaining unit configured to retain the power cutoff information when the power cutoff information is output from the power supply status detector, and a power sensor configured to sense a power supply status of the power supplied by the power supply unit based on the power cutoff information retained by the power cutoff information retaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Shirasaki, Tatsuya Miyadera, Masayuki Hayashi, Motohiro Kawanabe, Hiroaki Ikeda, Tomohiro Ohshima, Akinori Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8957934
    Abstract: A light source drive circuit which drives a light source is disclosed, including a drive current generating unit which generates a drive current, the driving current including a predetermined current for obtaining a predetermined light amount from the light source; and first and second overshoot currents which are applied to the predetermined current in synchronization thereto; and a control unit which sets, to the drive current generating unit, a value of the first overshoot current to a fixed value, and a value of the second overshoot current in accordance with a light amount output from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Fujita, Atsufumi Omori, Muneaki Iwata, Masaaki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8957932
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus according to this invention uses, as a correction value, the difference between a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of a single laser light source when only the single laser light source emits a laser beam, and a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of the single laser light source when the single laser light source emits a laser beam while the bias currents are supplied to the remaining laser light sources other than the single laser light source. The exposure apparatus uses the correction value to correct bias currents and switching currents determined by APC, and exposes the surface of an image carrier with laser beams output from the plurality of laser light sources based on the corrected bias currents and switching currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Patent number: 8947485
    Abstract: A drawing control device includes: a fill-stroke generating unit that generates a fill stroke that includes a plurality of strokes that fill a drawing area; a shape-stroke generating unit that generates a shape stroke which is a stroke of a shape to be formed on the drawing area; a first detecting unit that detects an overlap portion where the fill stroke and the shape stroke overlap with each other; a modifying unit that removes the overlap portion from the fill stroke to modify the fill stroke to obtain a drawing stroke; a drawing-instruction generating unit that generates a drawing instruction for drawing each stroke in the drawing stroke; and a drawing control unit that controls a drawing device by using the drawing instruction to cause the drawing device to draw the drawing stroke on an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Fumihiro Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20150009272
    Abstract: A system directs a laser beam to mark a material with an alphanumeric code. Character and quality information corresponding to a mark to apply to the material with the laser beam can be received, a font definition that specifies character segments can be obtained, a set of multiple spaced locations can be generated from the character segments in accordance with the character and quality information, and the material can be marked with the laser beam by directing the laser beam to dwell at the locations and move between the locations without deactivating the laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew Yohn, Mark Rapposelli, Kevin Franklin
  • Patent number: 8928715
    Abstract: A light source driver includes a controller which outputs an undershoot current in synchronization with lighting complete timing in lighting information, wherein the controller is configured to output the undershoot current such that a voltage in a light source when the output of the undershoot current is complete is equal to a voltage in the light source before being turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsufumi Omori, Masaaki Ishida, Muneaki Iwata, Hayato Fujita
  • Patent number: 8928714
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser driver to drive at least one semiconductor laser, the semiconductor laser including a storage device, an emission-intensity setting device, and a drive circuit. The storage device stores emission-intensity switching data to control light-emission intensity of the semiconductor laser, the emission-intensity setting device sets the light-emission intensity based on the emission-intensity switching data stored in the storage device, and, the drive circuit generates a driving current to drive the semiconductor laser based on the light-emission intensity set in the emission-intensity setting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kyogoku
  • Patent number: 8922613
    Abstract: A light beam scanning device which is capable of performing high-accuracy light amount control without complicated control even when the device includes a laser diode having non-linear I-L characteristics. Gain circuits set the amount of light to be emitted from the laser diode. A PD circuit board detects the amount of the emitted light. A laser controller controls the amount of the emitted light by adjusting drive current applied to the laser diode based on a detection output from the PD circuit board. A CPU corrects data for correcting the drive current. The CPU decides a light amount correction range for correcting the light amount based on the correction data, calculates the slope of the I-L characteristics in the light amount correction range based on light amounts at two points within the light amount correction range and drive currents associated with the respective light amounts, and corrects the correction data using the calculated slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Akagi