Having Power Supply Patents (Class 399/88)
  • Patent number: 11921451
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus connected to a user terminal includes: an apparatus side connecting part; a connection detecting part; an apparatus side mode switching part; and an apparatus side mode setting part. The apparatus side connecting part connects to the user terminal and outputs connection information. The connection detecting part detects whether or not the apparatus side connecting part is connected to the user terminal based on the connection information and outputs detection information. The apparatus side mode switching part outputs, based on the detection information, mode information indicating a mode to which a consumption amount of a resource consumed by the image forming apparatus is allocated. The apparatus side mode setting part sets, based on the mode information, an energy saving mode in which the consumption amount is reduced as compared with the consumption amount when the apparatus side connecting part and the user terminal are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 11909325
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifier control circuit, used with a synchronous rectification circuit having a primary switch and a synchronous rectifier, having: a drain-source threshold setting circuit, configured to provide a dynamic drain-source voltage threshold based on a drain-source voltage across the synchronous rectifier; a primary switch detecting circuit, configured to provide a primary switch state indicating signal based on a comparison result of the drain-source voltage and the dynamic drain-source voltage threshold; and an on-control circuit, configured to provide a synchronous on signal to turn on the synchronous rectifier when the drain-source voltage decreases to the turn-on threshold, on the premise that the primary switch state indicating signal indicates an on state of the primary switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuedong Chen
  • Patent number: 11892795
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a housing having an opening; a top cover configured to cover the opening; a short-range wireless communication circuit board attached to the top cover; a relay circuit board attached to the top cover; and a first wiring connecting the short-range wireless communication circuit board and the relay circuit board to each other. The short-range wireless communication circuit board includes: an antenna configured to transmit/receive radio waves; and a circuit electrically connected to the antenna. At least a part of the circuit and at least a part of the relay circuit board are overlapped with each other in an up-down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Yokoi, Yohei Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11880150
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller provided in a rotatable manner, a heat source for heating the fixing roller, and a controller for controlling AC power supplied to the heat source. The fixing device fixes an unfixed image on a sheet held and conveyed by the fixing roller and the pressure roller. The controller causes a current to flow including current-carrying waveforms having different phase angles in half-wave units during preset control cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsunori Mitsuoka
  • Patent number: 11841666
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus generates an output voltage. A boost circuit boosts a voltage supplied from a reference voltage source and generates a first power supply voltage. A processor controls switching the boost circuit on and off. A first transistor is connected to the first power supply voltage. A second transistor is connected to a collector of the first transistor. A resistance element is connected to a collector of the second transistor. A voltage source is connected to the resistance element and generates a second power supply voltage. A collector voltage, which is an output voltage, of the second transistor is controlled by controlling an amount of base current of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Sakai, Shuichiro Sugimoto, Toshiaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11841938
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for activating at least one sensor among a plurality of sensors embedded in a multi-unit device, said at least one sensor being configured to detect attacks during an execution by said multi-unit device of a software code comprising computer code instructions, wherein: said multi-unit device comprises at least two code execution units and a sensor activation circuit, and each sensor is associated to one code execution unit, and said method comprising, performed by said sensor activation circuit before execution of a computer code instruction of said software code by one of said code execution units: —determining (S1) the code execution unit configured to execute said instruction, —activating (S2) only the sensors associated with the determined code execution unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: THALES DIS FRANCE SAS
    Inventors: Sylvain Charbonnier, Philippe Loubet Moundi
  • Patent number: 11842858
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a power device. The power device includes a circuit board provided to intersect a horizontal plane. The power device includes an electrolytic capacitor, an electric element, and a plate-shaped member that is provided between the electrolytic capacitor and the electric element in a vertical direction and including a first surface extending in a second direction intersecting the vertical direction. The plate-shaped member includes a cutout or a hole, and a position of at least part of an area where the cutout or the hole is formed is farther in the first direction from the mounting surface of the circuit board than a position of the electric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junya Kobayashi, Masaki Inagaki
  • Patent number: 11835912
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer portion, a fixing portion to fix the toner image onto the sheet, and a charge adjusting portion. The charge adjusting portion adjusts charge to the sheet on which the toner image is fixed. The charge adjusting portion is provided with first and second rollers, a supplying rotatable member and a power source. The first roller includes a shaft having conductivity and an outer circumferential portion including an ion conductive material formed on an outer periphery of the shaft, and is electrically floating. The second roller is disposed so as to nip the sheet between itself and the first roller. The supplying rotatable member is in contact with the first roller and supplies a current to the first roller. The power source applies a voltage of one polarity of a positive polarity and a negative polarity to the supplying rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuusuke Torimaru
  • Patent number: 11835909
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first rotating member, a heater, a second rotating member, a detecting unit, a switching unit, a controlling unit, and a power source device. In a first period, a resultant current of first and third currents is supplied to a first heat generating element, and the resultant current in a unit cycle of a first period is a current at which a first current supplying timing and timings of a maximum and a minimum of the third current do not overlap with each other. In a second period, a resultant current of second and third currents is supplied to a second heat generating element, and the resultant current in a unit cycle of the second period is a current at which a second current supplying timing and the timings of the maximum and the minimum of the third current overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nozomu Nakajima, Atsushi Nakamoto, Kohei Wakatsu
  • Patent number: 11789400
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print engine which forms an image on a sheet; a high voltage power source substrate which applies output voltage to the print engine and which has a high voltage generating circuit for generating a high voltage by boosting inputted low voltage and a high voltage maintaining circuit for maintaining the high voltage at a predetermined value, the high voltage maintaining circuit being driven by the inputted low voltage; a low voltage power source which inputs the low voltage to the high voltage generating circuit and the high voltage maintaining circuit; and an ON/OFF circuit which switches whether or not the low voltage is inputted from the low voltage power source to the high voltage generating circuit and the high voltage maintaining circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Tanaka, Yoshiyuki Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 11740571
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a developing unit with a developing container configured to contain a developer including a toner and a carrier, and configured to develop the electrostatic latent image by using the developer in the developing container. A sensor, which is provided on an outer wall of the developing container, is configured to output a pulse signal that changes in frequency depending on a toner concentration of the developer in the developing container. A controller is provided to control supply of the toner to the developing unit by detecting the toner concentration based on the time required for the pulse number to reach a predetermined count number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Nakazato
  • Patent number: 11733630
    Abstract: An image forming system comprises a first housing, a second housing and a third housing. The second housing may comprise a motor, a first door and a first switch. The first switch is provided on an electrical path connecting a power supply and the motor, for switching between a first state and a second state and for switching from the first state to the second state. The third housing may comprise a load. When the first door is opened in a state where the first switch is in the first state, the first switch switches from the first state to the second state to cause supply of electric power to the load to be cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Funaba
  • Patent number: 11675290
    Abstract: A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Lynn Triplett, Kevin Dean Schoedinger, Todd Allison Quinn
  • Patent number: 11664751
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: a switching power supply; a first motor configured to operate with a voltage from the switching power supply; and a control unit configured to control the first motor, wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the switching power supply to supply power of the switching power supply to a load other than the first motor before detecting an initial position of a rotor of the first motor using a current flowing through the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Odate, Hidetoshi Hanamoto
  • Patent number: 11650527
    Abstract: A heater includes a heat-resistant insulating substrate, a plurality of heat generating members arrayed in a first direction on a first surface of the substrate, and a plurality of heat radiating bodies disposed on a surface different from the first surface of the substrate at positions corresponding to gap portions between the heat generating members to passively radiate heat generated thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 11601054
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device protection circuit includes: a drive circuit that drives a power semiconductor device; a current detector which includes a first resistor and an inductor connected in parallel; and a detection circuit that detects a short-circuit condition of the power semiconductor device. One end of the first resistor and one end of the inductor are connected to one terminal of the power semiconductor device. The detection circuit detects the short-circuit condition of the power semiconductor device by comparing a voltage of the one terminal of the power semiconductor device, which changes as a function of current flow through the first resistor and the inductor, with a short-circuit detection voltage. A reference potential of the drive circuit is connected to the other end of the first resistor and the other end of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Morokuma, Takuya Sakai
  • Patent number: 11591178
    Abstract: A post-processing unit includes a stapler, a driving section, and a controller. The stapler is moved in a Y direction and executes a stapling process on a paper sheet. The driving section moves the stapler in the Y direction. The controller controls an operation of the stapler and an operation of the driving section. The controller executes first control to supply a set current or a set voltage to the driving section, second control to supply, to the driving section, the same supply current as the set current or the same supply voltage as the set voltage, and third control to stop the supply of the supply current or the supply voltage. When the stapler executes the stapling process a plurality of times, the controller repeatedly executes the second control and the third control and causes the stapler to execute the stapling process during the execution of the second control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Namiki Hashiguchi, Masahide Moriyama, Masayoshi Miyakawa
  • Patent number: 11526120
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a development unit, a circuit board, a conduction member, a coil spring, and a holding member. The development unit develops an electrostatic image formed on a photoconductive drum. The circuit board supplies a voltage to the development unit. The conduction member electrically connects the development unit and the circuit board. The coil spring includes a coil part in contact with the conduction member and an arm part of the coil spring provided integrally with the coil part and extending from an end of the coil part outward in a radial direction with respect to the coil part. The holding member includes a spring regulation part to regulate movement of the coil spring in the radial direction. The holding member holds the coil spring in contact with the conduction member. The arm part includes a hook portion to engage with a portion of the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Hara
  • Patent number: 11526112
    Abstract: A post-process apparatus may include: a first operation portion that accepts a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus and performs a first operation based on a job involved with the sheet, a second operation portion that accepts a sheet manually inserted into the post-process apparatus and performs a second operation different from the first operation, and a control unit that determines timing to perform the second operation in accordance with a condition of the first operation performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Noda, Yasuomi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 11493969
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to switch a voltage to be supplied to a power source switch in accordance with a state of a power source of an apparatus and restrain power consumption of the power source switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryotaro Okuzono
  • Patent number: 11487235
    Abstract: A printer system includes a first apparatus including a first voltage source for converting an inputted AC voltage to a first DC voltage and for outputting the converted first DC voltage, and a first controller operable by a voltage based on the first DC voltage outputted from the first voltage source; and a second apparatus including a second voltage source for converting an inputted AC voltage to a second DC voltage and for outputting the converted second DC voltage, and a second controller operable by a voltage based on the first DC voltage outputted from the first voltage source. The second apparatus includes a first switching portion for switching a state thereof between a connection state in which the AC voltage is supplied to the second voltage source and a non-connection state in which supply of the AC voltage is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuya Hirano
  • Patent number: 11435684
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus including a high-voltage generation unit generating a DC voltage VA includes a Zener diode that drops the DC voltage VA to a DC voltage VB, a resistor connected to a line to which the DC voltage VA is output, and a voltage divider that generates a DC voltage VC by dividing the DC voltage VA with the resistor, and the voltage divider adjusts the DC voltage VC such that the potential difference between the DC voltage VB and the DC voltage VC is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Saito
  • Patent number: 11415929
    Abstract: A high-voltage electrical circuit board is located in a first region that is a region at one side of photosensitive drums in a first direction and outside of the photosensitive drums in the first direction. A first motor drives a conveyance mechanism. A second motor is located in a second region and drives each photosensitive drum. A third motor is located in the second region and drives each developing roller to rotate and to drive a separation mechanism configured to individually move the developing rollers between a contact position and a separation position. A control board is located in the second region. The control board includes a controller configured to control a first applying circuit, the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor. The first motor, the second motor, the third motor, and the control board are located at different positions from one another in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Takahashi, Masaaki Wakizaka, Kentaro Aoyama, Shunsuke Hachiya, Toshinori Araki, Keita Inoue, Shinta Sugiura
  • Patent number: 11372031
    Abstract: A high voltage power supply apparatus includes: a comparator, a transformer, a rectifier, and a detector. The comparator is to control output of a basic voltage. A high voltage based on the basic voltage is used to perform an image forming job in an image forming apparatus. The transformer is to output an alternating current voltage of a second side of the transformer by amplifying an alternating current voltage of a first side of the transformer, the amplifying being based on a resonance phenomenon induced from the basic voltage. The rectifier is to output the high voltage by rectifying the alternating current voltage of the second side. The detector is to sense a voltage applied to the comparator and a voltage applied to the transformer, and is to output operational state information of the high voltage power supply apparatus based on the sensed voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Kwanghoon Cheon, Jinyun Park, Jonghwa Cho
  • Patent number: 11347171
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect an object and a power-supply control unit. The power-supply control unit shifts the image forming apparatus to a second power state, in response to a lapse of a predetermined time following no detection of the object, when a job has not been executed until the detection unit detects no object, after the power-supply control unit shifts the image forming apparatus to the first power state. The power-supply control unit shifts the image forming apparatus to the second power state before a lapse of the predetermined time, when a job has been executed until the detection unit detects no object, after the power-supply control unit shifts the image forming apparatus to the first power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryotaro Okuzono
  • Patent number: 11196365
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: a switching power supply; a first motor configured to operate with a voltage from the switching power supply; and a control unit configured to control the first motor, wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the switching power supply to supply power of the switching power supply to a load other than the first motor before detecting an initial position of a rotor of the first motor using a current flowing through the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Odate, Hidetoshi Hanamoto
  • Patent number: 11188019
    Abstract: A power control apparatus includes a voltage detection circuit configured to generate a voltage signal as an analog signal corresponding to a voltage value of AC power supplied from a commercial power supply to a predetermined load, and a current detection circuit configured to generate a current signal as an analog signal corresponding to a current value of the AC power. The power control apparatus further includes an A/D converter configured to convert each of the voltage signal and the current signal into a digital signal, a switch, a signal processor configured to control a switching operation of the switch based on a detection timing for the voltage value and a detection timing for the current value, and a controller configured to control supply of the AC power to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshifumi Kakutani
  • Patent number: 11184965
    Abstract: An LED driving circuit includes a power source, a first voltage stepping-down module, a constant current driving module, a second voltage stepping-down module, a DIP switch module, a control module and a loading module. The power source provides a source voltage. The first voltage stepping-down module reduces the source voltage's voltage level and correspondingly generates a first buck voltage. The second voltage stepping-down module reduces the first buck voltage's voltage level to generate a second buck voltage. The DIP switch module generates a maximal current indicating signal according to the second bulk voltage. The control module generates a PWM signal based on the second buck voltage and the maximal current indicating signal. The constant current driving module generates a drive current according to the first buck voltage and the PWM signal, and drives the loading module using the drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: XIAMEN ECO LIGHTING CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Shuisheng Wen, Liping Lin
  • Patent number: 11092916
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable in a first small-sheet printing mode in which power is supplied to a first heat generating element and a second heat generating element and in a second small-sheet printing mode in which power is supplied to the first heat generating element and a third heat generating element. A first power ratio, which is a proportion of power supplied to the first heat generating element to power supplied to the second heat generating element in the first small-sheet printing mode, is higher than a second power ratio, which is a proportion of power supplied to the first heat generating element to power supplied to the third heat generating element in the second small-sheet printing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Kazuhiro Doda, Kohei Wakatsu
  • Patent number: 11036172
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device; a fixing device including a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image to a recording sheet; a first AC receiving portion configured to receive power for the image forming device from an AC power source; a second AC receiving portion configured to receive power for the fixing device from the AC power source; a third AC receiving portion, which is removably connected to the image forming device, and is configured to receive power to be supplied to the fixing unit via the first AC receiving portion; and a connection detecting portion configured to detect whether power is supplied from the third AC receiving portion to the fixing device. The image forming device detects whether the third AC receiving portion is connected to the image forming device based on a detection result of the connection detecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshinori Kimura, Teruhiko Suzuki, Naoki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11006013
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a CPU for controlling the image processing apparatus and a microcomputer that verifies alteration of a program that is stored in a nonvolatile memory and that the CPU executes, and that outputs a notification signal that indicates the verification result. The image processing apparatus comprises a power source control unit for controlling a power source of the image processing apparatus, and the power source control unit, when the image processing apparatus is activated, supplies power to the microcomputer, and when a notification signal outputted from the microcomputer is received, holds the verification result that the notification signal indicates and shuts off the supply of power to the microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyokazu Umimura
  • Patent number: 10955776
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a fuser having a heater connected to a power source via a switch. A controller generates a heater control signal for driving the heater without synchronizing the generation of the heater control signal with zero crossings of an AC voltage of the power source. The heater control signal changes between a first state indicating for the heater to be turned on and a second state indicating for the heater to be turned off. A trigger circuit receives the heater control signal and detects whether the AC voltage is within a predefined voltage span around zero volts. The trigger circuit generates a trigger signal for the switch when the AC voltage is within the predefined voltage span while the heater control signal is in the first state such that the switch causes current to pass through from the power source to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jichang Cao, John Lemaster, William Alan Menk, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10938997
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of functions for forming an image, which are implemented by a power supply, a signal output unit, a control circuit, and a load operation unit operating in cooperation with one another. The load operation unit includes a sensor for detecting an abnormality. When the sensor has detected an abnormality, the image forming apparatus identifies a failure portion being a cause of the abnormality by checking failure portions of the power supply and the signal output unit, checking a failure portion of the control circuit when there is no failure portion in the power supply and the signal output unit, and checking a failure portion of the load operation unit when there is no failure portion in the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Yoshimoto, Shuji Obata
  • Patent number: 10915051
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus is characterized in that information about an input voltage detected on the primary side of a transformer is transmitted from a primary-side switching control unit to a secondary-side controller for controlling a heating device, and the controller controls the temperature of a heater of the heating device based on the transmitted information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Izaki, Yasuhiro Shimura
  • Patent number: 10908542
    Abstract: During a period of a low power state, an image forming apparatus causes a system controller to stop an operation of a second power source and cut off voltage supply from a first power source to each of a power relay, an AC voltage detector, a fixing controller, and a printer controller. At a time of return from the low power state, the system controller starts the power supply from the first power source to each of the power relay, the AC voltage detector, the fixing controller, and the printer controller, and then activates the second power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Funaba
  • Patent number: 10782627
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoconductive drum charged by a charge roll and opposed by developer roll. The developer roll adds toner to the drum to develop a latent image on the drum for transfer to media. One or more high voltage power supplies communicate with a controller to set voltages on the rolls. The controller determines whether imaging of the media is to occur at a time when the drum is rotating. If not, a laser beam discharges the drum and the voltage on the charge roll is decreased to reduce the charge on the drum, but the controller maintains the voltage differential between the drum and the developer roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Pryse Dale, Matthew David Heid, Christopher David Strack
  • Patent number: 10747163
    Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus including a standby state and a power saving state in which power consumption is lower than in the standby state, the printing apparatus comprising: a control unit that integrally controls the apparatus; a plurality of engines for providing functions of the apparatus; and a power source control unit that controls power supply to the control unit and the plurality of engines in accordance with the standby state and the power saving state, wherein, when the apparatus is caused to transition to the standby state from the power saving state, the power source control unit controls power in the standby state after it is confirmed that the plurality of engines can return to the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kensuke Kawajiri
  • Patent number: 10719330
    Abstract: A communication device includes: a communication unit which receives control data; and a main control unit which controls an operation of the communication device, based on the control data received by the communication unit. The communication device operates in a first standby state where the main control unit stops at least a part of operations and where the communication unit detects only an access to a specific port that designates the communication device as a destination, and in a second standby state where the main control unit can execute the operations and controls the operation of the communication device, based on the control data. The communication unit wakes up the main control unit if an access to the specific port is detected in the first standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichiro Tomita
  • Patent number: 10698357
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus includes a first and second object. A first urging member is provided between the electrically conductive wire, and arranged to urge towards the first object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive wire and the first object to each other. A second urging member is provided between the second object and the electrically conductive wire, and arranged to urge towards the second object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive wire and the second object to each other. The electrically conductive wire is formed of a material having an elastic coefficient that is lower than that of the first urging member and that of the second urging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Imaizumi, Kazuhiko Shinoda
  • Patent number: 10691057
    Abstract: A controller controls a secondary transfer power source such that a current having a first value flows in a secondary transfer portion in a case where a transfer material with an image formed on a first surface thereof has been conveyed for less than a predetermined amount of time in a second conveyance path. Moreover, the controller controls the secondary transfer power source such that a current having a second value larger in absolute value than the first value flows in the secondary transfer portion in a case where the transfer material with an image formed on the first surface thereof is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion after waiting for the predetermined amount of time or more in the second conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taisuke Minagawa, Ken Yokoyama, Yasuharu Hirado
  • Patent number: 10674767
    Abstract: There is provided method of controlling an electrically operated aerosol-generating system, including: receiving an input being a first request to adjust a first parameter of the system; comparing the input to a first range of allowable values for the first parameter; providing an authorizing signal indicating that the input is within the range of allowable values for the first parameter; determining an adjustment to a second range of allowable values for a second parameter, which is dependent on the first parameter, and in dependence on the input; and adjusting the first parameter and the second range of allowable values for the second parameter, in dependence on the authorizing signal. There is also provided an electrically operated aerosol-generating device and an electrically operated aerosol-generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Stephane Antony Hedarchet
  • Patent number: 10672317
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel; a power management circuit configured to: perform a short detection operation with a first short detection condition during a start-up operation; supply first and second power supply voltages in the normal mode; and stop supplying the first and second power supply voltages in the low power mode; and a display driver configured to provide a first image signal in the normal mode and a second image signal for in the low power mode, the display driver comprising a power block configured to supply first and second standby power supply voltages in the low power mode, wherein, in a transition frame between the low power mode and the normal mode, the display driver provides the second image signal for the standby image to the display panel, and the power management circuit performs the short detection operation with a second short detection condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon Young Lee, Sungchun Park
  • Patent number: 10663896
    Abstract: A fixing device to fix a toner image on a recording paper while transporting the recording paper bearing the toner image through a nip portion includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a heating unit, a temperature measuring element, a control unit, and a voltage applying unit. The second rotator forms the nip portion together with the first rotator. The heating unit heats the first rotator. The temperature measuring element measures temperature of the first rotator or the heating unit. The control unit controls power supplied to the heating unit in accordance with the temperature measured by the temperature measuring element. The voltage applying unit applies voltage to the second rotator. The second rotator includes a conductive layer having an attribute of changing resistance depending on temperature. The fixing device measures temperature of the second rotator by measuring the resistance of the conductive layer of the second rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 10564588
    Abstract: A controller, which is a high-voltage power supply apparatus, includes: a secondary transfer high-voltage output device including a first high-voltage generator, which is configured to generate a first voltage having a positive voltage value, and a second high-voltage generator, which is connected in series to the first high-voltage generator, and is configured to generate a second voltage, the secondary transfer high-voltage output device being configured to output an output voltage, which is a sum of the first voltage and the second voltage; and a secondary transfer high-voltage control device, which is configured, in a case where the high-voltage power supply apparatus is switched from a state in which the first high-voltage generator is driven to output a first target voltage as the output voltage, to a state in which a second target voltage is output as the output voltage, to perform feedback control on the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yohei Shiraki
  • Patent number: 10509341
    Abstract: A charged positive toner having a positive polarity that attaches to a charge roller is moved from the charge roller to a photosensitive drum, and the positive toner is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt at a primary transfer portion at which a primary-transfer power supply forms an electric potential having a negative polarity. The primary-transfer power supply forms an electric potential having the positive polarity at the primary transfer portion, and the positive toner transferred to the intermediate transfer belt is moved together with the intermediate transfer belt and is collected by the charge roller in contact with a downstream photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Tanaka, Shinji Katagiri, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Shuichi Tetsuno, Takahiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10496907
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a convertor, and a discharge circuit, and a controller. The convertor controls supply of power to a load according to one of a state of a switch and an operational mode of the electronic apparatus. The discharge circuit discharges a capacitor of a power supply when the convertor stops operating. The controller detects completion of discharge performed with the discharge circuit according to a voltage in the discharge circuit, and restores operation of the convertor in response to a detection of the discharge completion detector indicating the completion of the discharge of the capacitor, when the switch is in the closed state or when the operational mode is switched from the sleep mode to the operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ogino
  • Patent number: 10427400
    Abstract: A printhead comprises a printing element, a driving circuit configured to drive the printing element, an analog signal processing circuit configured to process one or more analog signals, a bias circuit configured to supply a bias voltage to the analog signal processing circuit, and a control terminal to which a control signal is inputted. In a state in which the analog signal processing circuit and the bias circuit are receiving a supply of power, it is possible to switch starting and stopping of at least one of the analog signal processing circuit and the bias circuit based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Yamato, Hideo Kanno, Masataka Sakurai, Ryo Kasai, Kengo Umeda
  • Patent number: 10423115
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image carrying member, an intermediate transfer belt having conductivity, a toner image on the image carrying member being primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt, a secondary transfer member in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt, the secondary transfer member secondarily transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to a transfer material, a power supply applying a voltage to the secondary transfer member, the toner image being primarily transferred from the image carrying member to the intermediate transfer belt by having a voltage be applied to the secondary transfer member from the power supply, a contact member in contact with the intermediate transfer belt, and a constant current diode, an anode side thereof being connected to the power supply, and a cathode side thereof being connected to the contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi Tetsuno, Shinji Katagiri, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Koji An
  • Patent number: 10409213
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including an object, an electrically conductive member; and an urging member arranged to urge the electrically conductive member towards the object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive member and the object to each other. In the image forming apparatus, the electrically conductive member is formed of a material having a low elastic coefficient that is lower than that of the urging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Imaizumi, Kazuhiko Shinoda
  • Patent number: 10394173
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a high productivity image forming apparatus in which a control unit calculates power to be used in the apparatus in a case where a throughput thereof is increased and compares the power to be used and suppliable power to the apparatus to determine whether the throughput is to be increased or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yamamoto