Driving Circuitry Patents (Class 347/247)
  • Patent number: 7965397
    Abstract: A defect once around signal time period of a defect source inherent in a marking device is determined, the defect source having one or more banding frequencies. A reference scanline time delay, which is a time between a page sync signal and a writing of a reference scanline, is determined. A test target is written, sensed and analyzed. A reference scanline phase offset of each banding frequency relative to the reference scanline is determined. A banding phase of each banding frequency is determined based at least on the defect once around signal time period, reference scanline time delay and reference scanline phase offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Paul
  • Patent number: 7961209
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of driver circuits includes a first 3-terminal switch element, a second 3-terminal switch element, and a 3-terminal light emitting element driven by the first 3-terminal switch element. The first 3-terminal switch element in a first circuit of adjacent driver circuits is driven by one of first and second clocks and the first 3-terminal switch element in a second circuit of the adjacent driver circuits is driven by the other of the first and second clocks. The second 3-terminal switch element in the first circuit supplies a signal to the second driver circuit, the signal representing an operational state of the first circuit. The second 3-terminal switch element in the first circuit includes a control electrode to which a third clock is supplied. The second 3-terminal switch element in the second circuit includes a control electrode to which a fourth clock is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Nagumo
  • Patent number: 7948512
    Abstract: A main controller controls drive of an LSU for irradiating laser light onto a charged photoreceptor, based on control data read from a non-volatile memory. The main controller causes the LSU to irradiate a beam of light onto the photoreceptor so as to form on the photoreceptor an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image to be formed. A controlling section reads through an image reading section control data from the non-volatile memory at a different timing from a timing at which the main controller controls the LSU. The controlling section controls drive of the LSU based on the read control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Yoshida, Kazuyuki Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 7944582
    Abstract: A carriage drive control method capable of detecting the acceleration of a carriage at low cost, improving external disturbance suppression of the carriage, and thus improving image quality. This method is applied to a printing apparatus which prints by relatively moving on a printing medium a carriage to which a printhead is mounted. In the printing apparatus, the moving velocity of the carriage is detected, the acceleration of the carriage is detected on the basis of outputs from first and second strain gauges which are respectively attached on the two sides of a fixing portion for fixing the carriage on a belt for transmitting a drive force from a carriage motor to the carriage, the carriage velocity is compensated on the basis of the carriage acceleration detected for the detected moving velocity of the carriage, and driving of the carriage motor is feedback-controlled on the basis of the compensated carriage velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kato
  • Patent number: 7940421
    Abstract: A tandem type color image forming apparatus, which can continuously form color images each containing two or more colors, including: a signal creating section having, for each color, two or more image area setting counters for generating an image valid area signal to set a starting position and a width of an image formation area in a sub-scanning direction; and a control section for executing color image formation control on a predetermined face of paper, based on an image top signal for controlling writing of an image on an image carrier and the image valid area signal for each color, wherein the control section sets each of the outputs of the image area setting counters independently according to a preset image formation mode, and selects and controls one of the image area setting counters for each image formation of each color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kouichi Takaki
  • Patent number: 7936368
    Abstract: Positioning displacement characteristics of each of scanning beams are obtained in advance. The positioning displacement characteristics is indicative of a relation between temperature and a displacement amount by which each of the scanning beams is displaced in a sub-scanning direction. A displacement control is performed based on the positioning displacement characteristics by shifting the positioning displacement characteristics in a direction opposite to that of a trend of the positioning displacement characteristics within a pixel pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kozo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7916162
    Abstract: A light output device includes: an output unit including a light source; a control voltage generation unit that detects output power of the light source, and generates a control voltage for controlling a drive current of the light source; a control unit that sets a target value of the output power; a voltage-current conversion unit that converts the control voltage into the drive current; a setting unit that sets an inclination of a characteristic line of control voltage-drive current conversion in the voltage-current conversion unit; and an adjustment unit that adjusts the voltage-current conversion unit such that the drive current becomes a target current value for setting the output power to the target value in a predetermined control voltage value on the characteristic line, wherein the setting unit sets the inclination of the characteristic line to a first inclination where the drive current does not reach a maximum current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsumi Inukai
  • Patent number: 7872663
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting elements, a first storage unit that stores first correction values corresponding to the light emitting elements, a counting unit that counts the number of pixels whose gray-scale values designated by image data are within a predetermined range included in an image, a selection unit that selects a first mode or a second mode according to the relationship between the number counted by the counting unit and a threshold value, and a driving unit that drives the light emitting elements corresponding to the predetermined number of pixels to emit amounts of light corresponding to the first correction values when the first mode is selected by the selection unit, and drives the light emitting elements corresponding to the predetermined number of pixels to emit amounts of light corresponding to the image data when the second mode is selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Taketo Chino
  • Patent number: 7859559
    Abstract: A memory read control unit (606) reads out image data of one pixel from a memory (603) in synchronism with a clock signal. On the basis of the image data of one pixel, a converting unit (604) converts the density of a corresponding pixel into digital data of a plurality of bits and stores the digital data in a shift register (606). A pixel-piece insertion and deletion control unit (607) inserts data of one bit into the shift register or deletes data of one bit from the shift register. The pixel-piece insertion and deletion control unit (607) estimates a data storing state in the shift register and controls image data read-out from the memory (603) in accordance with the estimated data storing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidefumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7852363
    Abstract: A light scanning apparatus includes a plurality of light sources. A detection unit detects the light power of a light beam output from at least one of the plurality of light sources. A control unit controls the driving current of at least one selected light source on the basis of the detection result by the detection unit such that the light power of the selected light source equals a target light power. The light source is selected from the plurality of light sources on the basis of the light-emitting characteristic of each light source. The control unit controls, on the basis of the driving current of the selected light source, the driving currents of light sources which remain unselected in the plurality of light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 7852364
    Abstract: A line head, includes: a head substrate; a first light emitting element group which is arranged on the head substrate and includes a first light emitting element and a second light emitting element; a second light emitting element group and a third light emitting element group which are arranged in a first direction on the head substrate; a first wiring which is arranged between the second and the third light emitting element groups on the head substrate and is electrically connected with the first light emitting element; a second wiring which is arranged between the second and the third light emitting element groups on the head substrate and is electrically connected with the second light emitting element; and a connecting portion which is arranged on the head substrate and is electrically connected with the first and the second wirings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tsujino, Nozomu Inoue, Yujiro Nomura
  • Publication number: 20100289866
    Abstract: An information processing device for generating a piece of drawing information of a line image, including a shape information storing part to store pieces of shape information for respective combinations of a thickness and a size of a line image, a thickness information obtaining part to obtain a piece of thickness information, a code information obtaining part to obtain a piece of code information of a target image, a size information obtaining part to obtain a piece of size information of a target image, a shape information selecting part to select a piece of shape information out of pieces of shape information for each character based on the thickness information and the size information, and a drawing information generating part to read out the selected shape information from the shape information storing part and to generate a piece of drawing information from the shape information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Fumihiro HASEGAWA
  • Patent number: 7834897
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus in which an exposing signal is generated from pattern data indicating a position to be exposed by a light beam on a surface-to-be-scanned. A corrected exposing signal is generated by varying the width of pulses of the exposing signal in accordance with a distance between an exposing area corresponding to the pulse and an optical axis of the scanning optical system. The light beam is emitted and modulated by the corrected exposing signal. The pulse width and/or the light quantity of the light beam is/are varied in accordance with the distance between the exposing area and the optical axis of the scanning optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toyama, Yujiro Nomura, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7808516
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging apparatus arranged to charge the photosensitive drum, and a developing apparatus arranged to supply toner to an electrostatic latent image in a development region, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image to a toner image. The image forming apparatus further includes a laser unit, an LED array unit which is located downstream of the laser unit in a moving direction of the photosensitive drum and is disposed inside the photosensitive drum to be able to perform exposure within the development region, and a control unit configured to control the laser unit and the LED array unit such that the LED array unit is able to expose the same area on the photosensitive drum which has been exposed by the laser unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100245530
    Abstract: An optical disk image drawing method includes: rotating the optical disk by a spindle motor; reading a predetermined information recorded on a track of a data recording layer; detecting a predetermined position on the track based on the read predetermined information; measuring a position of the spindle motor in a rotating direction using the detected predetermined position as a reference position; changing a focus position of the laser beam to the image drawing layer; starting forming the visible image on the image drawing layer from a predetermined position of the spindle motor in the rotating direction relative to the reference position based on the measured position of the spindle motor in the rotating direction; and sequentially moving an optical pick-up in the radial direction synchronously with the rotation of the spindle motor to proceed to form the visible image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hisanori ITOGA, Tatsuo Fushiki, Seiya Yamada
  • Patent number: 7800793
    Abstract: A control device and a method for controlling scanning speed of a scanner. The control device includes a decision device and a driving device. The decision device further includes an image buffer, an up-down counter and a comparator. The decision device receives the input image data and utilizes the up-down counter to compute data access volume inside the image buffer. The comparator decides whether to increase or decrease the scanning speed according to the data access volume and also outputs decision data to the driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Kuo-Jeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20100231684
    Abstract: An optical writing apparatus includes a light source device that includes a VCSEL having an alignment of at least two channels in a sub scanning direction configured to emit plural light beams in a block. A deflector deflects the plural light beams toward an image bearer that forms an image by changing a line speed of image formation. A control device decreases a number of light beams by turning off a prescribed same number of the channels symmetrically from the both ends of the alignment in accordance with the line speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Tomoaki Suga
  • Publication number: 20100225731
    Abstract: An exposure head includes a light emitting segment that emits light; an electrical load that is electrically connected to a circuit in which a current to be supplied to the light emitting segment flows; and a current supply controller that supplies a first current to the light emitting segment to cause the light emitting segment to emit light and supplies a second current to the electrical load during the time when the current supply controller blocks the supply of the first current to the light emitting segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nozomu INOUE, Yoshio ARAI, Kiyoshi TSUJINO
  • Patent number: 7791629
    Abstract: An exposure device for a non-impact printing apparatus which includes a plurality of light-emitting elements for forming images, a driver element for individually applying energy output levels to the light-emitting elements, lens for focusing the light emitted by the light-emitting elements, storage ability for storing a list of setting values for setting the energy output levels, wherein the list includes a plurality of series of setting values, each one of the series enabling to attribute at least one setting value to each one of the light-emitting elements, each one of the series being selectable as a function of an exposure device condition. A method is also provided for adjusting a non-impact printing apparatus which includes the step of selecting the most adequate series of setting values on the basis of an analysis of the optical density of printed images on a receiving medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Océ-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Paulus A. C. Groenen, Hendrikus G. M. Ramackers, Catharinus Van Acquoij
  • Patent number: 7777776
    Abstract: A frequency modulation device for use in an image forming apparatus. The image formation apparatus includes an image carrier and a laser device for scanning the image carrier along a plurality of scan lines. Each scan line is divided into segments having segment boundaries in which the same segment boundary in adjacent scan lines are offset. The frequency modulation device generates frequency data for use in modulating the input image data, which is utilized by the laser device to scan the image carrier, which permits output of an electrophotograph of high image quality by suppressing segment boundaries caused by moiré fringes or color shifting to below a level at which such boundaries are not visually detectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Izuru Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7760222
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method that detects a light beam deflected by a polygon mirror at least at two separate locations on the line in the horizontal scanning direction, measures the difference in time of passage between these locations, makes a comparison between the thus determined interval and a reference interval, and generates a proper amount of correction corresponding to the determined interval, such as either correction data adapted to change the frequency of a pixel clock, or further correction data to change the period of the pixel clock by pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Maeda
  • Patent number: 7746370
    Abstract: One scanning interval of a laser beam is divided into a plurality of blocks, correction data, which corresponds to optical characteristics of an optical unit placed between a laser element and a photosensitive drum, is stored in memory in association with each block, the correction data corresponding to a block being scanned by the laser beam is read out of the memory, and the laser is driven upon correcting the laser drive signal based upon the correction data read out and correction data corresponding to a block adjacent to the block being scanned by the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Hata, Katsuhide Koga
  • Publication number: 20100141731
    Abstract: Disclosed is a line printer head that exposes an object, e.g., a photoconductor body, of an image forming apparatus. The line printer head includes multiple light emitting devices in a linear arrangement along a main scanning direction. Each light emitting device includes a light emitting region, a first electrode on a lower portion of the light emitting region, a second electrode on an upper portion of the light emitting region and an optical waveguide disposed above the second electrode and configured to guide light generated by the light emitted region such that the light is output through an opening of the optical waveguide. The integrated circuit is configured to drive the light emitting devices and has multiple output terminals, each of which is connected to the first electrode of the respective corresponding one of the light emitting devices. The light emitting devices and the integrated circuit are formed on the same substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Chul KO, Woo-Kyu Kim, Shang-Hyeun Park
  • Patent number: 7728856
    Abstract: A light amount correcting method for a light emitting apparatus having a plurality of light emitting devices, includes: measuring light amount values of a plurality of the light emitting devices; extracting high frequency components from the measured light amount values; extracting low frequency components from the measured light amount values; calculating a first correction value for correcting a light amount value of a first light emitting device on the basis of the high frequency components; and correcting a second correction value for correcting the light amount value of the first light emitting device on the basis of the low frequency components; and correcting a light amount value of a second light emitting device such that it is included in both of the first allowable range and the second allowable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Taketo Chino
  • Patent number: 7714883
    Abstract: A control method for controlling an optical head having a plurality of light emitting devices, includes: dividing the plurality of light emitting devices into a plurality of blocks by grouping adjacent light emitting devices of the plurality of light emitting devices; adjusting levels of driving signals supplied to the adjacent light emitting devices for each of the plurality of blocks so that emission luminances of the adjacent light emitting devices belonging to the each of the plurality of blocks become substantially equal to each other; and adjusting emission periods so that the equalized emission luminances of the plurality of blocks become substantially equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Fujikawa, Hiroaki Jo
  • Patent number: 7701480
    Abstract: A circuit for driving a plurality of light emitting units includes a current biasing unit that biases a light emitting current with an overshoot current and supplies the resultant current to each of the light emitting units. The light emitting current is determined based on an amount of light emitted from each of the light emitting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Atsufumi Omori, Masaaki Ishida, Yasuhiro Nihei, Jun Tanabe
  • Patent number: 7701477
    Abstract: A scanning system is adapted to scan an image beam across a photoconductive surface. The scanning system includes an oscillating mirror and is operable to generate an image beam and to reflect the image beam off the oscillating mirror to bidirectionally scan the image beam across the photoconductive surface and thereby discharge regions on the surface. The system is further operable to dynamically scale an intensity of the image beam as a function of a position of the image beam on the photoconductive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Marvell International Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Keithley
  • Patent number: 7675532
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus sets a DAC output voltage 1602, a VI conversion current ID 1603, and a laser current IL 1604 using a correction profile 1601, and performs density nonuniformity correction that addresses various factors contributing to density nonuniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken-ichi Iida, Hiroshi Kita, Hidetoshi Hanamoto
  • Patent number: 7671882
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser modulation signal is generated for modulating a semiconductor laser. The semiconductor laser is driven based on the semiconductor laser modulation signal. An output impedance of a semiconductor laser modulation signal generating unit and an input impedance of a semiconductor laser driving unit are corrected. The semiconductor laser modulation signal is transmitted as a low amplitude differential signal, from the semiconductor laser modulation signal generating unit to the semiconductor laser driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Dan Ozasa, Masaaki Ishida, Yasuhiro Nihei, Atsufumi Omori
  • Publication number: 20100045768
    Abstract: An exposure head includes a substrate in which a first light emitting device and a second light emitting device are arranged in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to a moving direction of an exposed side to the imaged light. An imaging optical system is provided for imaging light from the first light emitting device and the second light emitting device to expose the exposed side. A control unit selects one light emitting device from the first light emitting device and the second light emitting device, allowing the selected light emitting device to emit light in accordance with a driving signal, and allowing the non-selected light emitting device to not emit light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio ARAI, Nozomu INOUE
  • Publication number: 20100045769
    Abstract: In an exposure apparatus employing an over filled optical system, the light quantity distribution on a scanning plane is kept nearly constant for a plurality of scanning light quantities. It selects the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body from a plurality of levels, and sets the light quantity selected. According to the light quantity, it selects one of a plurality of correction current profiles, and supplies a light source with a current passing through the correction based on the correction current profile selected. Since the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body is corrected by the correction current, the light quantity of the light beam on the photosensitive body becomes nearly constant in the scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro TOMIOKA
  • Publication number: 20100045766
    Abstract: In a beam-spot position compensation method for use in an optical scanning device which scans a surface of a photosensitive medium by a light beam emitted by a light source, a plurality of sections are defined by dividing a scanning region on the scanned surface. An emission timing of the light beam for every section is adjusted so that a spacing between beam-spot positions corresponding to pixels of start and end of each section is changed by a predetermined amount. The sparseness or denseness of beam-spot position spacings of the plurality of sections in the whole scanning region is compensated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Shigeaki IMAI, Tomohiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7649544
    Abstract: An improved ROS driver circuit for an electrophotographic printing system includes a sub-pixel clock generator, a parallel to serial converter, and a raster output scanner (ROS) light source. The sub-pixel clock generator generates a sub-pixel clock signal that has a period less than a period of a video data clock and this clock signal is used by the parallel to serial converter to convert a parallel video data stream into a serial video data bit stream. The serial video data bit stream modulates the ROS light source to provide sub-pixel control of the light signal generated by the ROS light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Mostafa R. Yazdy
  • Publication number: 20090315970
    Abstract: A drawing apparatus (1) is provided with: a drawing device (13) for drawing a predetermined pattern onto a label surface (120), which is provided for a recording medium (100), by irradiating the label surface with a laser beam (LB); a driving device (15) for driving the drawing device along the label surface; a voltage applying device (17) for applying each of a first voltage and a second voltage for driving the driving device, to the driving device; and a controlling device (31) for controlling the voltage applying device such that the first voltage and the second voltage have a same polarity and amplitude when the drawing device is located at an initial position corresponding to a position at which the drawing of the desired pattern is started with respect to the label surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Wataru Hasegawa, Toshiyuki Kaneko, Takashi Nakamura, Tetsuya Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7633515
    Abstract: In an exposure apparatus employing an over filled optical system, the light quantity distribution on a scanning plane is kept nearly constant for a plurality of scanning light quantities. It selects the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body from a plurality of levels, and sets the light quantity selected. According to the light quantity, it selects one of a plurality of correction current profiles, and supplies a light source with a current passing through the correction based on the correction current profile selected. Since the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body is corrected by the correction current, the light quantity of the light beam on the photosensitive body becomes nearly constant in the scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20090296763
    Abstract: A light output device includes: an output unit including a light source; a control voltage generation unit that detects output power of the light source, and generates a control voltage for controlling a drive current of the light source; a control unit that sets a target value of the output power; a voltage-current conversion unit that converts the control voltage into the drive current; a setting unit that sets an inclination of a characteristic line of control voltage-drive current conversion in the voltage-current conversion unit; and an adjustment unit that adjusts the voltage-current conversion unit such that the drive current becomes a target current value for setting the output power to the target value in a predetermined control voltage value on the characteristic line, wherein the setting unit sets the inclination of the characteristic line to a first inclination where the drive current does not reach a maximum current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsumi INUKAI
  • Patent number: 7623148
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes an approximation formula determination unit, a sensitivity correction value determination unit and a bias current controller. The approximation formula determination unit determines an nth-order approximation formula and an mth-order approximation formula, which represent the sensitivity characteristic of the image carrier along the main-scanning direction thereof, from sensitivity data representing the sensitivity of each area obtained by dividing the surface of the image carrier into a plurality of areas. The sensitivity correction value determination unit determines a sensitivity correction value, which is a correction value of sensitivity in each area, from the nth-order approximation formula and mth-order approximation formula. The bias current controller controls a bias current in accordance with the sensitivity correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Seki
  • Patent number: 7619644
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods presented herein allow for the alignment of images. In some embodiments, a plurality of PWM modules each receive input data and corresponding input phase-shifted clock signals. In some embodiments, each PWM module generates an output phase-shifted PWM signal based on the input data and its corresponding input phase-shifted clock signal. In some embodiments, a selector selects one of the output phase-shifted PWM signal based on timing relationships between an event signal and the phase-shifted clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Johnston
  • Patent number: 7586507
    Abstract: A method for forming a pixel (20) having a predetermined density onto a sensitized recording medium moving in a length direction energizes a pixel exposure source (14) to begin exposure at the leading edge (34) of a pixel (20) and for a first predetermined time interval. The pixel exposure source (14) is de-energized for a period depending on the predetermined density and on media transport speed, then re-energized at the termination of the period. The pixel exposure source (14) is then de-energized at the end of a second predetermined time interval to terminate exposure at the trailing edge (36) of the pixel (20), whereby spatial dimensions of each pixel (20) are maintained at variable transport speed or density of pixel (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Scott P. MacKenzie, Nelson A. Blish
  • Publication number: 20090201358
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source; a light source driving unit configured to modulate/drive the light source; a pulse width information holding unit configured to hold pulse width information items of predetermined pixels corresponding to scanning positions on a scan target surface; a deflecting unit including a reflection surface configured to deflect/scan a light beam from the light source; and a scan-imaging optical system configured to image the light beam deflected by the deflecting unit on the scan target surface. The pulse width information holding unit holds the pulse width information items which cancel out deviations of main scanning beam spot diameters among the scanning positions on the scan target surface; and the light source driving unit drives the light source based on the pulse width information items held by the pulse width information holding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Tadashi NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 7573495
    Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a light-emitting element which emits light having the intensity corresponding to an amount of a driving current; a driving transistor which supplies the driving current to the light-emitting element; a storing circuit which writes a data signal instructing the light-emitting brightness of the light-emitting element during a writing period of time to store the data signal; and a buffer circuit which supplies a signal output from the storing unit to the driving transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Kanda
  • Patent number: 7564205
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a motor, a detector, and a controller. The detector detects a rotational speed of the motor. The controller selects a gain from a plurality of gains based on the rotational speed and controls rotation of the motor through feedback control. The controller uses a first gain from startup of the motor until the motor initially reaches a predetermined rotational speed after the startup. The controller switches to a second gain smaller than the first gain when the motor initially reaches the predetermined rotational speed after the startup, and uses the second gain in a predetermined range with respect to the rotational speed. The predetermined range is defined between a lower limit smaller than the predetermined rotational speed and a higher limit larger than the predetermined rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tasuku Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7564472
    Abstract: In an optical control apparatus, a semiconductor laser emits a laser beam having a power corresponding to an energizing current. A light power detecting device detects a light power of the laser beam. A monitor voltage generating device generates a monitor voltage set based on the light power. A reference voltage generating device generates a reference voltage set based on a target light power of the laser beam. A current control device controls the energizing current such that the monitor voltage approaches the reference voltage based on a deviation of the monitor voltage from the reference voltage. A pseudo voltage input device inputs a predetermined pseudo voltage to the current control device instead of the monitor voltage under a predetermined condition such that a variation range of the deviation lies within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Kubo
  • Publication number: 20090167836
    Abstract: A light emitting apparatus includes optical thyristors, a driver circuit that supplies a drive current to the thyristors so that the thyristors emit light, and a control circuit that controls the thyristors. Each thyristor includes an anode, a cathode connected to the ground, and a gate. The thyristor emits light when the drive current flows therethrough. The control circuit controls the gate, causing a control current to flow from the anode to the gate to turn on the thyristors. The control circuit applies a control voltage to the gate, the control voltage being higher than a voltage appearing across the gate and the cathode when the thyristor remains turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira NAGUMO
  • Patent number: 7542062
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main motor that drives a photosensitive element; a polygon motor that drives a polygon mirror; a main motor drive circuit that drives the main motor; a polygon motor drive circuit that drives the polygon motor; a package; and a board, wherein: the package is mounted on the board and is disposed in a vicinity of the main motor; and the main motor drive circuit and the polygon motor drive circuit are formed in the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tasuku Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7542064
    Abstract: Whether an image to be formed has a prescribed M×N pixel pattern is determined by a comparator. If it is determined that the image has the prescribed M×N pixel pattern, then a light-quantity correction signal that is for reducing the current that flows through a semiconductor laser is output to a laser driving circuit when the laser emits a laser beam of a pixel of interest contained in the M×N pixel pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Moriyama, Katsumi Takahashi, Atsushi Chaki, Takahiko Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 7535483
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes plural photoconductive bodies for forming a color image, an exposure unit to scan a laser light in a main scanning direction of each of the plural photoconductive bodies and to perform exposure, and a light amount correction unit to create, for each of the plural photoconductive bodies, light amount correction data for correcting a light amount of the laser light outputted form the exposure unit so that a light receiving sensitivity of each of the plural photoconductive bodies in the main scanning direction becomes uniform, and the light amount correction unit includes a first storage unit to store reference correction data, a second storage unit to store reference correction data, a second the reference correction data is made an absolute amount, by a relative amount correspondingly to each of the plural photoconductive bodies, and a combining unit to combine the reference correction data and the relative correction data to create the light amount correcti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumasa Takada, Hidenori Kobayashi, Shunichi Ono
  • Patent number: 7536129
    Abstract: A driving apparatus of a multi-function machine includes a scanner unit scanning data recorded on a sheet of document and a document transport part to transport the sheet of document. A printer unit prints data on a sheet of paper for an output and includes a carrier including a print head with an ink jet nozzle mounted thereon to carry out the printing operation by moving the print head. The driving apparatus includes a driving motor, a scanner driving part driving the scanner unit, a printer driving part driving the printer unit, and a power switching part disposed with the driving motor, the scanner driving part, and the printer driving part. The power switching part selectively transmits a power of the driving motor to at least one of the scanner driving part and the printer driving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-hyun Lee, Dong-gyoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20090109274
    Abstract: Problems, which occur when printing is performed on the surface of a rotating disk using by using a print head arranged in the outer circumferential direction from the center of rotation, are resolved. Light emitting sections performs exposure in synchronism with rotational driving for rotating a medium, and pixels which are adjacent in the circumferential direction of rotation are exposed in a partially superimposed fashion by making the amount of movement in the circumferential direction along which the outermost circumference of the medium moves between exposures smaller than the width in the circumferential direction of the pixels formed by exposure. In a plurality of light emitting sections provided in an optical unit, the quantity of light for exposing a pixel on the inner circumferential side in the radial direction is set to be smaller than the quantity of light for exposing a pixel on the outer circumferential side in the radial direction for the respective exposure positions for the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihisa Hori, Chikashi Osakama, Hiroyuki Murayama, Makoto Chida
  • Patent number: 7515169
    Abstract: A beam light scanning apparatus capable of speeding up transfer of image data used for scan with a beam light while suppressing an increase of the parts cost. The beam light scanning apparatus includes a laser oscillator for emitting a beam light for scan, and a unit for processing and supplying image data of a target image in each line in a direction of main scan in response to a sync signal. The apparatus further includes a unit for acquiring the supplied image data after a certain time from generation of the sync signal, and a unit for controlling operation of the laser oscillator by a driving signal which is generated based on the acquired image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Komiya, Koji Tanimoto, Daisuke Ishikawa